AFL Draft Weekly Wrap: Pendlebury-like midfielder impresses for WAChris Doerre
ESPN
1 Sept 2021Player focusRangey midfielder
Matthew Johnson enhanced his first-round credentials with an impressive performance for Western Australia in their 29-point win against South Australia in the opening game of the Under-19 Championships on Saturday.
The 192cm Johnson exhibited class and composure similar to Scott Pendlebury. There was a sense with Johnson that whenever he had ball in hand that he would make something happen. He sidestepped players, changed direction fluidly, and created time and space for himself at will.
Unusual for a tall midfielder, Johnson appears to think and move faster than others following the ball. He possesses not only a quick first step, but before he even wins or receives the ball, he appears to have already planned how he is going to move and what he's going to do.
His ball use was just as impressive. Johnson delivered with precision by both hand and foot to targets. No matter the pressure he was under, Johnson took his time, assessed his options and made the right decision. His kicks both into the corridor to targets to open the game up, and his vision to hit targets inside 50 was similarly a highlight.
Johnson has had an up-and-down year. He started the season slowly and struggled to find the football at WAFL League level, but more recently though in the Colts and Reserves has improved - continuing his strong vein of form on Saturday.
While Johnson has the tools to be one of this draft's best, he'll need to continue developing as a ball winner and improving his consistency. His 25 disposals in the WAFL Reserves in his previous match, and 19 disposals in an influential performance against South Australia is the progression recruiters have been waiting for.
Western AustraliaSimilar to how Matthew Johnson has hit form at the right time of year, the same seems to be the case with key position prospect
Jacob Van Rooyen. Van Rooyen who has kicked 11 goals over his past two WAFL Colts games proved just as adept in defence as one of Western Australia's best. Van Rooyen played with a distinct aggression and hunger to prove himself. In one-on-one contests he was competitive either taking the mark or spoiling, he attacked the ball aerially flying for intercept marks and tackled with aggression. Van Rooyen if he closes out the season strongly may re-emerge as a first-round contender.
Sharing the spotlight in defence with Van Rooyen,
Rhett Bazzo put on an intercept marking clinic. A 195cm defender, Bazzo's reading of the ball in flight and how he attacked the ball was a highlight. Playing in front of his opponent, Bazzo played a confident brand of football. He flew for and took just about every mark he went after, backing in his intercept marking capabilities. Bazzo in 2021 has struggled for consistency, but his performance against South Australia won't quickly be forgotten by recruiters and should enhance his draft stocks.
Starring through the midfield and providing both a contrast to the play of Matthew Johnson,
Kade Dittmar was the physical bull to complement Johnson's class. There was a liveliness to Dittmar's play where any time he was around the ball he exerted his influence. He won first possession at stoppages, won ground balls around the field, broke tackles, demonstrated good speed and agility with ball in hand and was busy when South Australia had the ball, applying pressure. Dittmar looks like Western Australia's premier two-way midfielder and like Jason Horne-Francis is one of the few midfielders in this pool who can influence games both ways. Dittmar may not be regarded as an early pick but could be a value choice mid-late draft.
South AustraliaThe standout for South Australia and one of the players to enhance his draft stocks was
Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera. Emerging as a first-round fancy on the back of consistently strong play this season, Wanganeen-Milera showed that he is South Australia's classiest. Every time he had the ball in his hands, he felt like he would make something happen. Wanganeen-Milera effortlessly created more time and space for himself, with his agility and quick mind among the most impressive in this pool. His decision making, vision and kicking were further highlights and what further to his agility made his influence felt so regularly with ball in hand.
Under-the-radar nameAsked mostly to play deep in defence for Western Australia, overager
Jack Avery played a fundamentally sound game. He didn't lose one-on-one contests, moved well, intercepted to a high level and generated drive from defence. Averaging a competition high 34-disposals in the WAFL Colts as a rebounding defender and more recently translating his play to WAFL League football, he's ready-made and someone whose standard of play merits early draft discussion.
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