WA Draft Standing

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11 - Ben Sokol

Sokol is an oddly shaped footballer with a massive engine and a genuine ability to kick multiple goals whilst operating as a half forward pseudo key forward. Sokol's contested marking capability belies a player of his size, tips in at 183cm and a heavy 86kg.

Sokol will test very well from an endurance perspective on Sunday, he truly has an elite engine and core level of fitness, the concern with Sokols game is similar to Sheeds in that his top end speed may open him up to become a target for sides to play through in the opposite direct, he won't give up the chase, he just might not be able to catch anyone.

That said, he does offer the a massive engine and genuine demonstrated ability to push forward and impact on the scoreboard, Sokol finished with 28 goals from 12 colts games this season, although I have to subtract 6 goals from his tally for his game against Swan Districts. South Fremantle won by 167 points. His two standout games came against East Perth in a reserves fixture toward the tail end of the season where he was able to get on the end of some quality supply, for ressies level, and more importantly on GF day, it was a genuinely pleasing performance. Sokol tackled well in the wet, used the ball well through the middle and hit the scoreboard.

The query on Sokol is the top end speed, his ability to keep his body in shape, genuinely different body shape, think Dane Swan, how he maintains his fitness is anyone's guess, but he's clearly not a kid who enjoys a weight session which raised questions over his application to his footy.

I look to Sokol as a half forward operator with an engine capable of running through the middle, he will get to multiple stoppages, the concern is whether the pace at the next step will be too much, may end up being draft gold as a natural footballer with plenty to extract, or could end up as a 150 game WAFL player, it's really up to Sokol.

 

[clipboardbinocs]

Turns out it's Paul Connors, or at least it was when this video was made:



(5 minutes in).

Fair enough, was under the impression Carr had dazzled him earlier in the year, don't really pay too much attention to those fleas.

 

[clipboardbinocs]

12. Charlie Cameron

Charlie is a very, very dangerous small forward who competes with vigour on the ground and in the air. His greatest strength at this present point in time is his ability to apply consistent, quality forward pressure which will appeal to clubs with a strong focus on setting up behind the ball. Cameron's ability to pressure the ball carrier as they seek to exit the back 50 was very encouraging particularly at League level for the Swans where he managed 47 tackles from 15 matches.

Finding a forward who enjoys and has a key focus on applying consistent forward pressure is not as easy as it may appear, find a forward who enjoys this element of the game, but also provides a genuine threat as a forward from a scoreboard perspective, even rarer. Cameron would be the first to admit he would have wanted more goals as a forward 17 from 15 games isn't great output, but it was capped by a day out where he booted 5 and had a real presence in the forward 50.

Cameron has genuine pace, excellent agility and is a fierce tackler for a man of his stature, I look to him as a very late pick and perhaps a rookie, his size will be the only concern to clubs from here on in, his ball use, pace and tackling pressure are all very good.

Will be limited in the roles he can play moving into the AFL system, will effectively be pigeon holed as a small forward, with the potential run in as an impact player through the centre in short bursts. My pick of the small forwards from WA.

 

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13. Steven Edwards

This kid started like a bat out of hell, his pre-season and first 5 games of the season were outstanding, absolute quality. Another Albany lad, Steven toyed with his opponents running off the half back line, he sold candy in bulk, ran away from opponents and delivered some beautifully weighted kicks to running players heading toward goal. He was outstanding.

And then it stopped, almost as if someone flicked the off button on his jet pack. I'm not buying it. This boy has the potential to be an outstanding offensive half back flanker. His ball use by foot in particular is first class, just a smooth moving, agile offensive minded sweeper. I really do rate his kicking, picks out his targets very early in the piece and decides where he wants the player to run to, a skill in itself.

Now, some will say he just couldn't cope with attention after his outstanding start, I don't buy it, I think he was playing within himself, for whatever reason. Needs to improve his defensive game, lay more tackles and look to physically impose himself on more contests rather than consistently look to put the ball out in space, but I don't think he's totally against winning his own ball.

A genuine smokey for me, I wouldn't be surprised to see him snaffled up earlier than many think.

 

[WAFLfan1969]

Is Steven Edwards a tall or a small?

 

[WAFLfan1969]

No height or weight listed on WAFL Online

 

[Richo83]

How many of these players do we think will be drafted?

 

[Eastern Rangers]

No height or weight listed on WAFL Online

182cm and 73kg.

 

[WAFLfan1969]

Nice work thanks

 

[WAFLfan1969]

Clipboard must be watching Beauty and the Geek has only added one name tonight

 

[Eastern Rangers]

How many of these players do we think will be drafted?

Acres, Sheed, Marsh, Cripps, Robertson, McCarthy and D.Cameron all certainties for the National draft.

So at least seven.

 

[WAFLfan1969]

Acres, Sheed, Marsh, Cripps, Robertson, McCarthy and D.Cameron all certainties for the National draft.

So at least seven.

Any surprises Eastern? Are you a big Simon Tunbridge fan?

 

[LemmingMaster]

Acres, Sheed, Marsh, Cripps, Robertson, McCarthy and D.Cameron all certainties for the National draft.

So at least seven.

Not sure about that mate, I would potentially have 5 of those names, two may be borderline.

 

[WAFLfan1969]

Not sure about that mate, I would potentially have 5 of those names, two may be borderline.

Any names outside of these Lemming?

 

[Patron]

Not sure about that mate, I would potentially have 5 of those names, two may be borderline.

Acres, Sheed and Mcarthy, Marsh are likely top 20 picks.

Cameron is considered by most the best ruck in the draft so its really hard to see nobody drafting him.

So you basically think Cripps and Robertson won't get drafted in the ND?

 

[wceblog]

Does anyone know the links to Pav's draft profiles from previous years?

 

[Ysaye]

Acres, Sheed and Mcarthy, Marsh are likely top 20 picks.

Cameron is considered by most the best ruck in the draft so its really hard to see nobody drafting him.

So you basically think Cripps and Robertson won't get drafted in the ND?

He didn't say that - he said borderline - that makes sense to me.

Can I also suggest that only two of your four will make top 20? To me there is normally a correlation to the number that play senior WAFL and the number picked. This year, Sheed played....the others weren't good enough and/or were injured.

 

[twce13]

Acres, Sheed, Marsh, Cripps, Robertson, McCarthy and D.Cameron all certainties for the National draft.

So at least seven.

would not be against west coast taking Jansen with a late pick or in the RD. Think he has upside.

 

[LemmingMaster]

Acres, Sheed and Mcarthy, Marsh are likely top 20 picks.

Cameron is considered by most the best ruck in the draft so its really hard to see nobody drafting him.

So you basically think Cripps and Robertson won't get drafted in the ND?

He said certainties to be drafted, I just disagreed with his statement. I think a few could be borderline selections come draft time.

Acres, Sheed, McCarthy and Marsh look likely selections. I would not even say that all those names are certain top 20 picks in themselves. I've heard comments that some people rate Sheed anywhere from 5-30.

McCarthy could slip outside the top 20, Marsh could be seen as someone with a heap of pace but lacks the kicking skills, defensive nature and ability to mark overhead for his height.

Just playing a touch of devils advocate with regards to our expectations.

As for Cameron being the best ruck, Grundy dropped low last year so rucks are an interesting bunch for ratings.

 

[2ugle]

Acres, Sheed and Mcarthy, Marsh are likely top 20 picks.

Cameron is considered by most the best ruck in the draft so its really hard to see nobody drafting him.

So you basically think Cripps and Robertson won't get drafted in the ND?

Robertson is being rated on his performances last year. This year he has only played 2 games due to injury, only one in which he played well. It may well be a case of "out of sight, out of mind" for this year. There are also the obvious concerns about his recovery. If he does get drafted, it more than likely wont be early but he is far from a certainty. You can discount the rumours about his attitude, he is quite a popular kid.

Normally, Sub 14 shuttle runs and post 3.0 second 20 meter sprint times for midfielders will raise concern amongst AFL clubs. Unfortunately Cripps and a few others were outside these parameters. He only had the one opportunity at ressies level this year in which he failed to have a great impact. Whether his "bullocking" style translates next year against the bigger bodies is also being questioned so again, whilst I think he will go a bit later than most are predicting, he is far from a certainty.

 

[LemmingMaster]

Cripps is also an awkward height that he will have to play as a key position player while being sluggish without a great endurance base. Just not sure he will get picked up.

 

[clipboardbinocs]

I hear the concerns on Cripps, however, I just think his upside is too large to ignore, outside of Acres, I think he may have the most upside of the mid options from WA.

As for certainties I'd have the following in that bracket.

- Acres
- Robertson
- Sheed
- Mcarthy
- Cripps
- Marsh

I couldn't list any others with confidence as certainties.

 

[Tundrawolf]

I can't split Sokol and Blaine Johnson, both very similar size and similar in ability.

 

[clipboardbinocs]

I can't split Sokol and Blaine Johnson, both very similar size and similar in ability.

Yep, and I'm not sold on Vandeluer, Main is next on my list.

 

[clipboardbinocs]

Tundra, I'm going to bow to your knowledge of the Souths boys, I wasn't able to get to as many doggies games as I would have liked.

Can you rate the Souths boys accordingly?