Pick 14 - Adelaide - Daniel Venables Western Jets 186cm 81kg
This is a pick where I wanted to recruit a midfielder who can be dangerous forward of centre, an attacking player with pace and one who can also win his own ball if required. It is no secret the Adelaide midfield is the weak point in the side, forward line stacked with talent, and a very good young defensive unit, but the middle has been the question and more power and class is needed there and Venables was the best available fitting that mould.
Venables is a strong bodied midfield/half forward if you like who has a well balanced inside/out game. He can win his own ball with strength in the packs and has a good burst of power, almost explosive but I keep that term for the Judd's and Dangerfield's of this world. Has the strength to get the ball, get the arms free or push off his opponents and dish out quick and clean hands. If not, he can purely put some steps in and break away into space himself. When in space he is a good user of the footy and makes smart decisions on the whole. His kicking is solid, although not spectacular, it is definitely AFL competent. He thinks and moves like an AFL player but his biggest knock would be his consistency. You see some fantastic episodes of play but it is spasmodic. Sometimes he'll do it for a whole game and you truly think a seasoned AFL player has been dropped to the Under 18's and is running around doing as he pleases. He's tougher and stronger than most of his peers his age and has the type of frame that will really muscle up and bulk up to add further strength.
He can impact the scoreboard as well forward of centre, plays an attacking brand and has some agro about him which I love and when he goes for a run it is great to watch, has a style similar to Shuey but also see some of Heath Scotland there from yesteryear. Ready to go in 2017 for a few games but a body which will quickly fill out. Needs to add some endurance base perhaps to improve his consistency and allow him to spend more midfield time but would be very happy to accquire a player as damaging as he is at Pick 14.
I also considered Florent very strongly here, and also Bolton, but in the end I went for the stronger and most powerful player in Venables. If Powell-Pepper was available I may have taken him instead, would have been a lineball call as I rate his burst play very highly. But I feel Venables in the end will end up slightly better at AFL level.
This is a pick where I wanted to recruit a midfielder who can be dangerous forward of centre, an attacking player with pace and one who can also win his own ball if required. It is no secret the Adelaide midfield is the weak point in the side, forward line stacked with talent, and a very good young defensive unit, but the middle has been the question and more power and class is needed there and Venables was the best available fitting that mould.
Venables is a strong bodied midfield/half forward if you like who has a well balanced inside/out game. He can win his own ball with strength in the packs and has a good burst of power, almost explosive but I keep that term for the Judd's and Dangerfield's of this world. Has the strength to get the ball, get the arms free or push off his opponents and dish out quick and clean hands. If not, he can purely put some steps in and break away into space himself. When in space he is a good user of the footy and makes smart decisions on the whole. His kicking is solid, although not spectacular, it is definitely AFL competent. He thinks and moves like an AFL player but his biggest knock would be his consistency. You see some fantastic episodes of play but it is spasmodic. Sometimes he'll do it for a whole game and you truly think a seasoned AFL player has been dropped to the Under 18's and is running around doing as he pleases. He's tougher and stronger than most of his peers his age and has the type of frame that will really muscle up and bulk up to add further strength.
He can impact the scoreboard as well forward of centre, plays an attacking brand and has some agro about him which I love and when he goes for a run it is great to watch, has a style similar to Shuey but also see some of Heath Scotland there from yesteryear. Ready to go in 2017 for a few games but a body which will quickly fill out. Needs to add some endurance base perhaps to improve his consistency and allow him to spend more midfield time but would be very happy to accquire a player as damaging as he is at Pick 14.
I also considered Florent very strongly here, and also Bolton, but in the end I went for the stronger and most powerful player in Venables. If Powell-Pepper was available I may have taken him instead, would have been a lineball call as I rate his burst play very highly. But I feel Venables in the end will end up slightly better at AFL level.
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