WA Draft Standing

[clipboardbinocs]

7. Darcy Cameron

The manchild from way down south. If you're from the school of Leigh Matthews, the school of thinking rucks with long torsos and short legs inevitably being less injury prone with better balance than D. Cameron is probably the pick of the rucks from WA, that said, there really isn't much competition for that crown in WA.

Cameron is fairly dexterous for a big man and his taps are generally waited to advantage his rovers, teamed up particularly well with Waterman and Hardisty this year at stoppages, does not mind the over the shoulder into space routine. He's quite diligent in securing front position at the stoppages, he's not only tall but has broad shoulders so it makes sense to secure that front spot when you are as big as he is. Secured a lot of free kicks simply because he was being climbed all over.

The most impressive feature for me in regards to Dacry is his forward play, he is strong over head, especially in the forward line when a goals on offer, and his kicking to a leading target is very good for a big man. This kid is not afraid of flashing some candy to give himself more time and space to find the right target, it's amazing how often kids follow his sell. Set shot is very crisp, nothing too complicated, much like Darcy, he's just a big lump of a lad from the country who is bigger than everyone else.

Where he falls down is when the game gets complicated, whether it be finding his spot in the zone, knowing who his opponent is at any given time when onball or having to deal with pressure in the back half he can freeze.

No doubt he will improve if given an opportunity at the top level, but I see clubs playing through him, knowing he won't always be switched on or in the correct position.

His role in the next level will not be dissimilar to what he has been doing down in Albany and for Claremont, he's the ruckman who rest forward and provides a target. Given the scarcity of his type he may leap ahead of some better players simply because of his size.

 

[aussierulesrules]

Good stuff so far.

 

[WAFLfan1969]

Good stuff so far.

What can you tell us? Any clues?

 

[ROYAL EAGLE]

This is terrific summary Pav of the WA boys.
I will add a couple of small notes.

Blake Acres -
I think me and you have been watching him for a while now, he just has that
extra something about him, just know he will succeed at the next level.
He is a very silky mover. Dean Kemp like just has more time than others., and never loses his feet.
I want him at pick 6. My favourite player of this draft.

Dom Sheed
He's going to be a very good footballer, a good clearance player and forward of centre
is very damaging. His ability to chase like you said is not there because his pace drops away.
For WCE him or Acres I want with pick 6.

Jono Marsh
As a key forward he leaves a lot to be desired doesn't chase and is a terrible set shot on goal.
He's more a forward flanker where he will have a height advantage, and his blistering pace can be used.
On a wing he would be a very hard match up, and provide a lot of run.
More a mid than a key forward. Xfactor

Patrick Cripps

He's a beast at clearances and is strong enough in tackle to give of to a good option.
His fitness like you said needs work he can get a lot fitter so has a big upside.
His short kicking game is very good strong low passes. His long kicking game needs work,
tends to take the short option more than the long option.

Robertson

He's a third round pick that could go in the second round.
Has elite endurance and is aggressive and strong at the footy.
Beau Waters is a good comparison, but Nick has more midfield ability.
Is injury prone because of his voracious attack at the footy.
He also has that touch of agro, likes the rough stuff.
Of field he has been called very arrogant, and doesn't have a great attitude,
so a lot of us think he wont interview well.

Dacry Cameron

I find him hard to judge, he had no quality to compete against in wafl colts.
Is a smooth mover for a big guy and his kicking skills are good.
His tap work is okay but not great, needs to develop more places he can hit the ball too.
As a forward leads well, is good kick on goal.
So he is well rounded I just query why his numbers where not higher as he was competing against crap
most weeks in the wafl.

 

[WAFLfan1969]

There is some good talent in the WAFL Colts and there needs to be the capacity to compete every week against good and bad teams.

 

[LukeK]

This is terrific summary Pav of the WA boys.
I will add a couple of small notes.

Blake Acres -
I think me and you have been watching him for a while now, he just has that
extra something about him, just know he will succeed at the next level.
He is a very silky mover. Dean Kemp like just has more time than others., and never loses his feet.
I want him at pick 6. My favourite player of this draft.

I think the fate of our first round pick depends on the other talent available (Billings, Sheed, Bontempelli, Lennon), but I reckon Acres could be that classy, big bodied midfielder West Coast need. I don't really see him sliding past pick 12 so I'll be very happy if he's taken at 6.

Marsh is a tough one. I don't think he'll go in the first round, I'm guessing early-mid second round. Could well be another Joel Wilkinson - top athlete, but he didn't succeed as well as first thought at the highest level. Hope not, he looks like he has a lot of potential.

I guess only time will tell.

 

[LemmingMaster]

6. Cameron Mcarthy

How do you feel his kicking action will hold up at AFL level? I just feel like his ball drop is all over the shop and it could lead to Fyfe styled kicking for goal.

 

[LukeK]

How do you feel his kicking action will hold up at AFL level? I just feel like his ball drop is all over the shop and it could lead to Fyfe styled kicking for goal.

I reckon his skills are raw enough to the point where they're able to be corrected with adequate development.

 

[tigs2010]

Great thread. Keep it up.

 

[clipboardbinocs]

How do you feel his kicking action will hold up at AFL level? I just feel like his ball drop is all over the shop and it could lead to Fyfe styled kicking for goal.

Chris Mayne used to be one of the worst set shot's I'd ever seen.

He gives me hope that anything is possible, it is a concern, but it isn't something that can't be rectified.

If it works, it works. Just ask Josh Kennedy - Is it play on when he stutter steps upward of 15 steps?

 

[clipboardbinocs]

8. Jared Jansen

Jansen weighs in at a measly 91 kg, standing at 189 cm it's fair to say he's ready to go. Jared played predominantly as a key defensive player in 2012 and made the move into the middle in 2013 where he was a very effective clearance player, utilising is frame and core strength to stand up in congestion and free up his outside runners.

I see alot of Harry Marsh in the way Jansen plays his football. He is a soldier, the type of player you can send into a number of roles and know that you will get 100% effort and at the very least a contest. Jansen looked really strong as a KPD in 2012, unfortunately he stopped growing. I still think he is capable of playing as a third tall defender, similar to a Josh Gibson further down the road, I personally think this is where he would play his best football and not through the middle.

Jansen quite simply, lacks weapons, his kicking is neat, it's not particularly damaging, his passes aren't flat and hard, but he has good control and plays within in his limitations. Perhaps his greatest strength is his marking ability overhead and his ability to pick the ball up in flight quicker than his opponent.

Hands in close are good, he's not sloppy but he just doesn't have the same punch as the other WA mids, Jansen picked up a lot of 20 + games for East but he's not the first player you notice playing through the middle.

That said he has attracted alot of attention and his solid frame and ability to seemingly rack up the pill hasn't gone unnoticed, I see him perhaps playing as a run with player at the next level and blocking for prime movers with his back to goal at the stoppage, he's a big boy and if he's trained to become a road block he'll be hard to get past.

Very fit, very good overhead and ready to go.

 

[2ugle]

Good work, nicely balanced arguments.

 

[LemmingMaster]

Chris Mayne used to be one of the worst set shot's I'd ever seen.

He gives me hope that anything is possible, it is a concern, but it isn't something that can't be rectified.

If it works, it works. Just ask Josh Kennedy - Is it play on when he stutter steps upward of 15 steps?

Kennedy has a terrible lead up, but those last two steps are very sound. I cannot remember Mayne being that bad with his ball drop.
I guess my concerns are more with where he is rated on BF by a heap of people around the 15-20 mark and I am not sure if he belongs that high in the draft. His raw talents are exciting, I just struggle to rate talls other than the obvious ones.

 

[Eastern Rangers]

Kind of disagree with Jansen, his kicking from stoppages was the first thing i noticed about him, if anything he has a propensity to over kick the ball when rushed. His hands could be cleaner given his size at the level, certainly agree with that aspect of his game.​

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​

 

[TheJaegerBomb]

Anyone know if Acres is actually now 190cm or was that mistake at the combine?

If he slides to our second pick at 18 I will start salivating. I know for a fact Gold Coast are extremely keen on him.

 

[Kawalsky]

Anyone know if Acres is actually now 190cm or was that mistake at the combine?

If he slides to our second pick at 18 I will start salivating. I know for a fact Gold Coast are extremely keen on him.

Appears when the guys were measured first the pointed was on an angle and the measurement were 5cm out. They adjusted the pointed to get it horizontal and remeasured everyone. So it looks like the final result are correct. Kids can grow over 12 months

 

[Richo83]

Chris Mayne used to be one of the worst set shot's I'd ever seen.

He gives me hope that anything is possible, it is a concern, but it isn't something that can't be rectified.

If it works, it works. Just ask Josh Kennedy - Is it play on when he stutter steps upward of 15 steps?

Is Marsh a bad field kick as well as a bad set shot kick?

 

[clipboardbinocs]

9. Tom Hodgson



Hodgson isn't the sexiest option from here on in, and there are certainly others who will no doubt be tossed up as next cab off the rank, but I have time for this type, give him a task and he will apply himself. Hodgson has played as an undersized key back for East Perth through season 2013, whilst not likely to play this role at the next level, his willingness to compete and halve a contest to get the ball on his terms, on the ground, demonstrates a level of application form a defensive perspective that very few fromm WA can match.

The number of frees against would be a concern for those who looked at the stat sheet without watching him play, but given that he was often giving away multiple centres, weight, I thought Hodgson held his own over the course of the year in the face of steady supply, didn't see him drop his head, didn't see him point fingers, just dusted himself off and went again.

Hodgson also displayed an ability to generate rebound ball from the defensive half and for me was one of the most consistent defenders of the carnival. Seems to enjoy taking possession of the ball running his full measure and off loading over distance. The biggest qualm I have about his game is his decision making when disposing of the ball by foot, has a real propensity to rush his disposal, when he doesn't need to, his top end speed will often give him metres of clear space, he's another that probably needs to realise and understand the weapons he has at his disposal.

I see Hodgson developing into a rebounding half back flank, a run with player through the middle or forward of the ball. Will never be an elite ball user, play maker or a "sexy" player, he will scrap, he will fight and he will force an opponent to win every possession, the ingredients of a top line stopper.

Physically he has the top end speed, the engine and the tackling technique and mental application to fill the roles listed above at the top level. How high of a price clubs place on these types will dictate where he goes, if he goes.

 

[clipboardbinocs]

Is Marsh a bad field kick as well as a bad set shot kick?

No, I don't think he's a bad field kick, when he goes for distance he can lose his shape but it's not a deal breaker. Can genuinely roost the ball.

 

[clipboardbinocs]

10. Tom Barass

Barrass is deceptive, he doesn't look as though he is moving at any great pace, he doesn't stand out as an exceptional athlete and his running style hardly screams athlete, but he gets the job done. I was genuinely surprised by his agility test results form the combine though I shouldn't have been, he also seems to find himself in the right spot as a CHB/FB.

Barrass performed particularly well as the key backman for Claremont's premiership side and for me was a stand out on the last day in the WAFL colts season, behind Waterman that is. His ability to read the flight of the ball before his opponent allowed Barrass on the day and over the course of the season to intercept a number incoming attacks. His position as a key defender is very good, does not allow his opponents to lead through the middle, guards the space through the middle and forces his opponents wide.

Biggest qualm with Barrass is that he doesn't tackle, it's almost a deal breaker, I'm stlll not sure if it's because he doesn't enjoy physical contact, or because he'd rather keep his feet, it's a major reason why I have Barrass at number 10, I just think defenders need to defend first, then rebound.

Didn't get to view Barrass on as many occassions as I would have liked which is why I still haven't made an assessment on his physicality but most times if you have to question it, there's a problem.

Barrass enjoys the responsibility of kicking with ball in hand, not a particularly punishing kick but an adequate means of clearing congestion in a contested situation and capable of spotting up an outlet target across half back

Size is also a worry, not so much the height aspect, but again, it's the frame, has rickety legs, I question the ability of the boy to size up and tackle the gorilla's at the next level, as a third tall I'm not sure he officers the rebound clubs will be looking for, not a natural carrier of the football. If he can't add size across the shoulders he becomes a tweener.

Perhaps too negative, but it's a ruthless gig the AFL, I think he will go, but as a late ND or rookie speculative pick.

 

[clipboardbinocs]

Will run through the next best 10, again in my order of preference. Less detail but enough to give an idea of the sort of player they are, and the role they can play at the next level should they make it.

 

[WAFLfan1969]

Will run through the next best 10, again in my order of preference. Less detail but enough to give an idea of the sort of player they are, and the role they can play at the next level should they make it.

Doing a great job Mr Clipboard

 

[dajesmac]

Loving your work Pav. Cheers for this.

Minor point, isn't Sheed's manager Colin Young?

 

[clipboardbinocs]

Loving your work Pav. Cheers for this.

Minor point, isn't Sheed's manager Colin Young?

The answer is in the description I've posted.

 

[dajesmac]

The answer is in the description I've posted.

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



(5 minutes in).