Pick 40: Kane McAuliffe

[one-eyed]

Welcome to Tigerland, Kane 

[one-eyed]

Kane McAuliffe profile

Height: 187cm
Weight: 86kg
D.O.B: 01-03-2005
Clubs/Leagues: North Adelaide/South Australia AFL U18 Championships



SNAPSHOT: “An enforcer on the inside, Kane McAuliffe does plenty of grunt work through midfield and has a deceptively powerful athletic profile.”

Coming into his top-age year as one of South Australia’s most highly touted prospects, Kane McAuliffe proved an integral part of the state’s Under 18 side. The Port Augusta product came through the ranks at North Adelaide and progressed nicely since opting to board at Prince Alfred College in Adelaide, taking out the James Goss Medal for his school football dominance in 2021. He went on to have success with the Roosters and played in the losing 2022 SANFL Under 18 Grand Final, before being selected in the annual Under 17 Futures showcase.

This year, McAuliffe turned out six times in the junior grade and also broke through for a senior berth at Reserves level, playing seven games for North who fell short of finals in each competition. Some of his best form was observed at the Under 18 National Championships, where McAuliffe brought bull-like intensity to the midfield battle and set a consistent tone in what was otherwise a struggling side. He capped off his campaign by tearing up the National Draft Combine, achieving top five results in three of the five testing events to demonstrate his explosive streak.

https://central.rookieme.com/afl/player/kane-mcauliffe/

[Simonator]

Big bodied mid, would you believe we drafted one

[lamington]

Had quick skim and apparently his weakness is lack of outside game and hurt factor?

At least he’s not skinny!

[one-eyed]

Videos & Highlights:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-zryyKBr-k



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIWuRRqlmFQ



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUOGBxuBlKE

[Diocletian]

Had quick skim and apparently his weakness is lack of outside game and hurt factor?

At least he’s not skinny!

So we'll probably turn him to a winger...or a forward pocket....

[one-eyed]

Kane McAuliffe becomes a Tiger



Richmond has used its first selection (No. 40 overall) in the 2023 AFL Draft to recruit North Adelaide midfielder Kane McAuliffe.

Recruited from: North Adelaide
Position: Midfielder
DOB: 01/03/2005
Height: 187cm

What the Richmond recruiters say about McAuliffe...

"Kane is the ultimate professional. He made the decision to move out of home at the age of 14 and attend boarding school at Prince Alfred College in Adelaide, where he matured and grew up quickly. He credits his diligence, professionalism, and standards to his experience of moving out of home, which will hold him in great stead coming to live in Melbourne.

"His 2022 SANFL form saw him selected in the AFL Academy where he played against Carlton’s VFL and Port Adelaide’s SANFL side.

"Kane is a super competitor, an inside midfielder who thrives on contested ball, tackling and body contact. He tests very well for speed, registering 2.92 seconds in the 20-metre sprint at the combine, which allows him to use his speed and power to burst out of congestion and generate ball movement from stoppage.

"Kane played for North Adelaide in the SANFL. His early season dominance at Under 18 level saw him average 27 disposals and move into the reserves where he was a super consistent performer, averaging 19 disposals and 6.6 tackles against mature aged footballers. He was selected in all four games for the South Australia Under 18s in the National Champs, where he averaged 8.5 tackles and 18.5 disposals.

"He's a 187cm, strong bodied, competitive midfielder with speed who likes to hit bodies and challenge the tackler. Kane has raw power, showcased in his speed and his penetrating left foot kick. Rain, Hail or Shine, we know we will get maximum effort and commitment from Kane, a true tiger trait."

https://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/1467816/kane-mcauliffe-becomes-a-tiger

[georgies31]

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2023/11/09/the-south-aussie-bull-in-the-dangerfield-category-who-has-been-inspired-by/

[the claw]

Big bodied mid, would you believe we drafted one

Hooray hooray hoooray unbelievable.
What was his draft testing like anyone.

[Diocletian]

Big bodied mid, would you believe we drafted one

Hooray hooray hoooray unbelievable.
What was his draft testing like anyone.

These were his most notable results - Top 5 in three categories:

20m sprint

Aiden O’Driscoll (Perth/Northam Saints) - 2.871 seconds
Will Graham (Gold Coast Suns Academy/Palm Beach Currumbin) - 2.915
Caleb Windsor (Eastern Ranges/South Belgrave) - 2.916
Lance Collard (Subiaco/North Beach) - 2.923
Kane McAuliffe (North Adelaide/Central Augusta) - 2.930


Standing vertical jump

Zane Zakostelsky (Claremont/North Beach) - 80cm
Phoenix Gothard (Murray Bushrangers/Albury) - 78
Will Graham (Gold Coast Suns Academy/Palm Beach Currumbin) - 78
Mitchell Edwards (Peel Thunder/South Mandurah) - 78
Kane McAuliffe (North Adelaide/Central Augusta) - 77


Running vertical jump

Darcy Wilson (Murray Bushrangers/Wangaratta Rovers) - 98cm
Zane Duursma (Gippsland Power/Foster) - 97
Will Graham (Gold Coast Suns Academy/Palm Beach Currumbin) - 95
Kane McAuliffe (North Adelaide/Central Augusta) - 95
Mitchell Edwards (Peel Thunder/South Mandurah) - 94


 

[one-eyed]

A big-bodied and powerful midfielder who wins his own ball and is a penetrating left-foot kick. Is a strong and aggressive tackler as well as being an accomplished extractor of the ball from stoppages using his clean hands and vision to set up the play. Progressed from dominating under 18s games at club level to playing seven matches at reserves level averaging 18.7 disposals. Featured among South Australia’s best in the National Championship matches against the Allies and Victoria Metro and averaged 18 disposals, 3.8 clearances and 8.5 tackles across the tournament. Showcased his power and speed at the national Draft Combine with his running vertical jump of 95cm ranking third and 2.93 seconds for the 20m spring ranking fifth.

https://www.afl.com.au/draft/prospect/2023?playerId=CD_I1019916

[one-eyed]

Kevin Sheehan’s 2023 AFL Draft top 40 prospects

afl.com.au
16 November 2023

Kane McAuliffe

State: South Australia
State League Club: North Adelaide
Community Club: Central Augusta
Date of Birth: 01/03/05
Height: 187cm

A powerful midfielder who wins his own ball and is a penetrating left-foot kick. Is a strong and aggressive tackler as well as being an accomplished extractor of the ball from stoppages using his clean hands and vision to set up the play. Progressed from dominating under-18 games at club level to playing seven matches at reserves level averaging 18.7 disposals. Featured among South Australia’s best in the National Championship matches against the Allies and Victoria Metro and averaged 18 disposals, 3.8 clearances and 8.5 tackles across the tournament. Showcased his power and speed at the national Draft Combine with his running vertical jump of 95cm ranking third and 2.93 seconds for the 20m spring ranking fifth.

Weapon: Power and left-foot kick

Player Comparison: Jack Crisp (Collingwood)

https://www.nmfc.com.au/news/1465957/kevin-sheehans-2023-afl-draft-top-40-prospects

[one-eyed]

McAuliffe's interview on the SANFL website (Oct 27):

Starts from 24:00 min mark: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6JDOzzKOG3eFdv5LPT69OU

--------------

North Adelaide’s Kane McAuliffe opens up on his initial homesickness when moving down to Adelaide from Port Augusta to chase his AFL dream.

An extremely talented sportsman who represented SA Country in both cricket and basketball, McAuliffe is now well-adjusted to city life having boarded at Prince Alfred College before spending this year living with his grandparents in the western suburbs.

The speedy left-footer idolised Hawthorn captain Luke Hodge growing up, watching the Hawks skipper’s ability to read the play across half-back.

McAuliffe was SA’s strongest performer at the national AFL Combine in Melbourne, clocking an impressive 2.93 seconds in the 20m Sprint, which placed him fifth while also landing top-10 finishes in both of the jump categories.


https://sanfl.com.au/league/news/south-aussie-select-with-the-slades-and-kane-mcauliffe/

[one-eyed]

THE SOUTH AUSSIE BULL IN THE DANGERFIELD CATEGORY WHO HAS BEEN INSPIRED BY MODERN HAWKS GREATS

By Andrew Slevison
SEN
9 November 2023

“Anywhere would do” is the mantra being lived by AFL draft prospect Kane McAuliffe.

The Port Augusta product from SANFL club North Adelaide is acutely aware that he may not end up at either the Adelaide Crows or Port Adelaide at the 2023 AFL Draft later this month.

With that in mind, the 18-year-old insists that it would not bother him to move interstate.

“Nah, not at all,” McAuliffe replied when asked on SEN SA’s The Run Home.

“I’d just love to end up somewhere. Anywhere would do.”

The powerful midfielder, who loves the contest, was a key contributor for South Australia at the Under-18 National Championships this year.

SA state coach Tony Bamford has placed McAuliffe in the Patrick Dangerfield category and the youngster himself admits the former Crow and now Geelong captain is one player he has watched closely over the years.

McAuliffe’s dad played played under-17s and some reserves footy at Port Adelaide, but was a Leigh Matthews-loving Hawthorn supporter which opened his son’s eyes to modern day Hawks greats like Luke Hodge and Sam Mitchell.

“I really thrive on the contest,” McAuliffe added.

“At times a little bit too much and I forget to work on the outside stuff, just get caught up in the contest.

“I love the contested ball, I love to try and tackle and then try to use my turn of foot to get to the outside and use my kick as well.

“Watching Hawthorn games mostly when growing up, I watched a fair bit of Luke Hodge and Sam Mitchell.

“Of the SA teams, I’d get to the Adelaide Oval and watch a fair bit of Paddy Dangerfield when he was at Adelaide to see how he went about it.”

The 187cm left-footer has spoken to 14 AFL clubs in the lead-up to the draft with the Crows among those showing the most interest.

“I’ve spoken to Adelaide a couple of times and had the training week there at the start of the year in pre-season,” he said further.

“It was really cool to get into the AFL environment and see how they do it.

“I’ve spoken to Port, but I haven’t spoken to Collingwood, Carlton, Gold Coast and Brisbane.”

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2023/11/09/the-south-aussie-bull-in-the-dangerfield-category-who-has-been-inspired-by/

[Willy]

Sounds pretty good.

What’s the catch? Can’t kick?