TheMase
Brownlow Medallist
Found this on the AFL website.
Story by Paul Gough.
Here are afl.com.au’s top 10 players to watch in the 2003 season in order of their potential.
10. Tadgh Kennelly (Sydney): This talented Irish youngster thrilled Swans fans last season with some of his unique skills with his Gaelic football background often much to the fore. But with his athleticism and courage he has also adapted superbly to Australian football and was one of the competition’s most improved players in 2002. But with the experience of his first full season behind him (Kennelly played every game last season after eight in his debut season in 2001) he looks set to become a handful for opposition teams this season.
9. Leigh Harding (Kangaroos): Clever goalsneak who managed to play 21 games and boot a more than creditable 31 goals in only his second AFL season. Despite playing in one of the most difficult positions in the competition, as a permanent small forward, this 21-year-old got better as the 2002 season progressed and kicked six match-winning goals as the Roos thumped Geelong at Skilled Stadium in round 18. With quality small forwards among the most difficult players to find, the Roos look to have a real find on their hands.
8. Andrew Welsh (Essendon): This tough cookie made his debut in round seven last year and then held his spot all season in the talented Essendon line-up and more than acquitted himself well in the Bombers’ two finals matches. Does not even turn 20 until just before the start of the 2003 Wizard Cup campaign, but already looks assured of a long future. Blessed with a stack of courage, he has that rare ability to play on small and tall forwards and is the kind of player veteran Bombers coach Kevin Sheedy just loves to have in his side.
7. Quinten Lynch (West Coast): This man-mountain does not turn 20 until early in 2003, but already looks capable of putting fear into opposition defenders for years to come. At 191cm and 101kg, Lynch is unmistakable on the field and made a big impact playing at full-forward for the Eagles in his debut season in 2002. Despite not making his debut until round 12, he kicked 17 goals for the season including five against Adelaide in only his second game and acquitted himself in the Eagles’ game finals defeat to Essendon at the Telstra Dome.
6. Graham John**** (Adelaide): No wonder this exciting youngster was not ordered to sacrifice his number 18 guernsey by Crows officials to accommodate the arrival of former Kangaroos skipper Wayne Carey in Adelaide. On the evidence of his debut season, John**** will be wearing the number 18 jumper at Adelaide for as long as Carey made the number his own at the Roos. Capable of playing in attack and in defence and blessed with great acceleration, he played in all of the Crows’ 25 games in his debut season and managed a respectable 14 goals.
5. Mark McGough (Collingwood): Became a household name overnight when as a 17-year-old high school student he won the Anzac Day Medal for best afield in the AFL’s biggest home-and-away game of the season in only his second AFL match. As the competition’s youngest player last season he understandably tired towards the end of the year and missed out on a place in the Pies’ grand final side. But with another pre-season under his belt this powerfully-built midfielder, who has the great ability to find the ball, will be a huge asset to the Magpies in 2003.
4. Steve Johnson (Geelong): Came from seemingly nowhere to stamp himself as potentially one of the game’s most exciting key forwards in 2002. Drafted at pick number 24 from the Murray under 18s in the 2001 draft, he did not arrive with some of the fanfare of other first-year hopefuls. But at 188cm and 85kg, he is already physically capable of playing in the demanding key forward positions. Showed his potential when he kicked four goals against Collingwood in the Cats’ big round 15 win at the MCG before playing a key role in the Cats’ VFL grand final win. With 12 games and 16 goals under his belt and his body likely to be even further developed by another pre-season, Johnson is capable of becoming a key man for the Cats for years to come.
3. Steven Armstrong (Melbourne): With his blond hair, pace, powerful playing style and skilful disposal, this teenager reminds many Demons fans of their former star wingman Stephen Tingay. On the evidence of his first season with Melbourne, this soon-to-be 19-year-old could be just as good, if not better than Tingay. Played 17 games in his debut season but it was his performances in the finals that stamped him as a player of genuine potential when he gathered a season-high 19 possessions in the Demons’ victory over the Kangaroos in the elimination final.
2. Mark Coughlan (Richmond): It takes a special player to run third in his club’s best and fairest award in only his second AFL season, even if that club finished the season in 14th place on the ladder. But when you achieve that feat despite playing only five games in the first half of the season, then clearly you are a player with the world at your feet. Put simply this tough 20-year-old midfielder was virtually the only highpoint of Richmond’s disastrous 2002 season and managed 20 possessions or more in his last 10 games of the season to not only stamp himself as a future star midfielder but the heir apparent to take over as the Tigers’ number one on-baller from skipper Wayne Campbell.
1. Justin Koschitzke/Nick Riewoldt (St Kilda): Koschitzke was one of the forgotten men of the AFL in 2002 after taking out the AFL’s prestigious Rising Star Award in his debut season in 2001. Played only four games in 2002 because of a back problem, which was partly due to the fact the 196cm giant grew another 2cm between the 2001 and 2002 seasons. In his debut season this 20-year-old showed he could take anything dished up to him by more experienced players and held down the key centre half-back position in his first season, often playing on and beating some of the game’s superstars. In his absence last year, his close friend Nick Riewoldt burst on to the scene in much the same way Koschitzke did in 2001, also winning the Rising Star Award and showing he could easily hold down either centre half-back or centre half-forward after missing most of the previous year because of injury. With these two young champions fit at the same time, the Saints have two players they can build their side around for the next decade.
Story by Paul Gough.
Here are afl.com.au’s top 10 players to watch in the 2003 season in order of their potential.
10. Tadgh Kennelly (Sydney): This talented Irish youngster thrilled Swans fans last season with some of his unique skills with his Gaelic football background often much to the fore. But with his athleticism and courage he has also adapted superbly to Australian football and was one of the competition’s most improved players in 2002. But with the experience of his first full season behind him (Kennelly played every game last season after eight in his debut season in 2001) he looks set to become a handful for opposition teams this season.
9. Leigh Harding (Kangaroos): Clever goalsneak who managed to play 21 games and boot a more than creditable 31 goals in only his second AFL season. Despite playing in one of the most difficult positions in the competition, as a permanent small forward, this 21-year-old got better as the 2002 season progressed and kicked six match-winning goals as the Roos thumped Geelong at Skilled Stadium in round 18. With quality small forwards among the most difficult players to find, the Roos look to have a real find on their hands.
8. Andrew Welsh (Essendon): This tough cookie made his debut in round seven last year and then held his spot all season in the talented Essendon line-up and more than acquitted himself well in the Bombers’ two finals matches. Does not even turn 20 until just before the start of the 2003 Wizard Cup campaign, but already looks assured of a long future. Blessed with a stack of courage, he has that rare ability to play on small and tall forwards and is the kind of player veteran Bombers coach Kevin Sheedy just loves to have in his side.
7. Quinten Lynch (West Coast): This man-mountain does not turn 20 until early in 2003, but already looks capable of putting fear into opposition defenders for years to come. At 191cm and 101kg, Lynch is unmistakable on the field and made a big impact playing at full-forward for the Eagles in his debut season in 2002. Despite not making his debut until round 12, he kicked 17 goals for the season including five against Adelaide in only his second game and acquitted himself in the Eagles’ game finals defeat to Essendon at the Telstra Dome.
6. Graham John**** (Adelaide): No wonder this exciting youngster was not ordered to sacrifice his number 18 guernsey by Crows officials to accommodate the arrival of former Kangaroos skipper Wayne Carey in Adelaide. On the evidence of his debut season, John**** will be wearing the number 18 jumper at Adelaide for as long as Carey made the number his own at the Roos. Capable of playing in attack and in defence and blessed with great acceleration, he played in all of the Crows’ 25 games in his debut season and managed a respectable 14 goals.
5. Mark McGough (Collingwood): Became a household name overnight when as a 17-year-old high school student he won the Anzac Day Medal for best afield in the AFL’s biggest home-and-away game of the season in only his second AFL match. As the competition’s youngest player last season he understandably tired towards the end of the year and missed out on a place in the Pies’ grand final side. But with another pre-season under his belt this powerfully-built midfielder, who has the great ability to find the ball, will be a huge asset to the Magpies in 2003.
4. Steve Johnson (Geelong): Came from seemingly nowhere to stamp himself as potentially one of the game’s most exciting key forwards in 2002. Drafted at pick number 24 from the Murray under 18s in the 2001 draft, he did not arrive with some of the fanfare of other first-year hopefuls. But at 188cm and 85kg, he is already physically capable of playing in the demanding key forward positions. Showed his potential when he kicked four goals against Collingwood in the Cats’ big round 15 win at the MCG before playing a key role in the Cats’ VFL grand final win. With 12 games and 16 goals under his belt and his body likely to be even further developed by another pre-season, Johnson is capable of becoming a key man for the Cats for years to come.
3. Steven Armstrong (Melbourne): With his blond hair, pace, powerful playing style and skilful disposal, this teenager reminds many Demons fans of their former star wingman Stephen Tingay. On the evidence of his first season with Melbourne, this soon-to-be 19-year-old could be just as good, if not better than Tingay. Played 17 games in his debut season but it was his performances in the finals that stamped him as a player of genuine potential when he gathered a season-high 19 possessions in the Demons’ victory over the Kangaroos in the elimination final.
2. Mark Coughlan (Richmond): It takes a special player to run third in his club’s best and fairest award in only his second AFL season, even if that club finished the season in 14th place on the ladder. But when you achieve that feat despite playing only five games in the first half of the season, then clearly you are a player with the world at your feet. Put simply this tough 20-year-old midfielder was virtually the only highpoint of Richmond’s disastrous 2002 season and managed 20 possessions or more in his last 10 games of the season to not only stamp himself as a future star midfielder but the heir apparent to take over as the Tigers’ number one on-baller from skipper Wayne Campbell.
1. Justin Koschitzke/Nick Riewoldt (St Kilda): Koschitzke was one of the forgotten men of the AFL in 2002 after taking out the AFL’s prestigious Rising Star Award in his debut season in 2001. Played only four games in 2002 because of a back problem, which was partly due to the fact the 196cm giant grew another 2cm between the 2001 and 2002 seasons. In his debut season this 20-year-old showed he could take anything dished up to him by more experienced players and held down the key centre half-back position in his first season, often playing on and beating some of the game’s superstars. In his absence last year, his close friend Nick Riewoldt burst on to the scene in much the same way Koschitzke did in 2001, also winning the Rising Star Award and showing he could easily hold down either centre half-back or centre half-forward after missing most of the previous year because of injury. With these two young champions fit at the same time, the Saints have two players they can build their side around for the next decade.
