 The Bushrangers probably have more top line players than any other TAC Cup side. They weren’t as even as Calder, and this showed when they were thumped in the Grand Final. However, I suspect this team will produce more draftees than any other in 2003.
Josh Bartel
Details:
Club: Wodonga Bulldogs
DOB: 23 Apr 85 Hgt: 191cm Wgt: 72kg
Position: Forward/Wing
Natural foot: Right
Honours:
National Draft Camp Invitee 2003
TAC Stats:
2003: 15 games, 12 goals, 16.6 PPG.
Profile:
Probably the Murray player with the fewest credentials that would be in consideration, but I wouldn't let that fool you. Bartel has a lot going for him - he is over 190cm, yet spends more time on a wing than in a key position. He has a pretty good leap on him, and his kicking is very good, in both depth and accuracy. He is probably one of the longest kicks I've seen this year.
Josh was picked in the initial Vic Country squad but was cut after the trial match against Vic Metro. He is a fairly attacking player, I can't recall see him doing many defensive acts or working in the back half. Unfortunately he got injured late in the year and missed all but the Preliminary Final of the final two months. Took over 5 marks a game, including 10 or more twice and usually manages to kick at least one goal a game.
Not sure where he would be placed, I probably didn't get to see him at his best. Late pick or rookie list perhaps.
Mikal Bloom
Details:
Club: Wodonga Bulldogs
DOB: 16 Jul 85 Hgt: 173cm Wgt: 69kg
Position: Onballer
Natural foot: Right
Honours:
Victoria Country 2003
State Screening Camp Invitee 2003
TAC Stats:
2002: 19 games, 25 goals, 19.7 PPG.
2003: 18 games, 18 goals, 26.7 PPG.
Profile:
Bloom is the type of kid I would love to see make it to AFL, but in my heart I know it's pretty unlikely. He is a tiny onballer who is very skilled and has a sensational work rate, the only weakness is probably his size, but that's a pretty big hurdle these days.
Bloom has sensational hands - some of his handballs are so quick you don't even notice them. But as you see him a few times over the year you realise just how good some of his work by hand in close actually is. Mikal runs hard all day long, gathering possessions at will. He averaged almost 27 per game, with 16 or more in every game. Even in the Grand Final, where Murray copped a hiding, he could hold his head high with 30 touches.
He also likes a goal and will quite often sneak forward to be on the end of a Murray attack to finish the good work. He has a good footy brain, rarely takes the wrong option, and he can take a grab despite his size. His tackling (80 for the year) is also exceptional - he really works hard even without the footy.
However, there are a few things that might just stop him getting picked up in the end. He is very right-sided, will go with a banana on the right rather than use the left. He didn't have a great carnival for Vic Country, more solid. To get drafted when under 180cm, you have to be pretty special, and I think Bloom might fall just short. Possible rookie listing.
Ben Cosgriff
Details:
Club: Shepparton Bears
DOB: 19 Aug 85 Hgt: 186cm Wgt: 89kg
Position: Full forward
Natural foot: Right
Honours:
Victoria Country 2003
National Draft Camp Invitee 2003
TAC Stats:
2002: 16 games, 21 goals, 7.5 PPG.
2003: 16 games, 47 goals, 12.7 PPG.
Profile:
Cosgriff is a hard player to pigeonhole. Despite only being 6'1m, he plays much taller, most of the time at full forward, although he was used in defence with some success by both Murray and Victoria Country.
Ben is a very solid kid - 89kg, and he is not afraid to use it. If a player gets in his way when trying to get the footy that bloke invariably seems to end up on his backside. You have to admire the way Cosgriff goes about his footy, he is one of those players who sees the footy and just goes for it.
He has quite a few good skills. He is quick on the lead and very agile - he was good at showing up the slower TAC full backs with his speed off the mark and lateral movement. He is also a nice kick for goal, putting through 47.25 for the year. However, he does tend to do a 'Dutchy' and attempt to poke through goals from 30 metres out, and nearly always misses. Something to work on.
Cosgriff's 2nd efforts are also good. I remember on one occasion where he flew for the mark but didn't hold it. Almost in a flash he'd recovered and laid a good tackle. The other good thing about Cosgriff is his ability to play in defence if things aren't working up forward. After a very disappointing opening match for Vic Country he was much more successful down back against Vic Metro.
His determination, aggression and skills mean he should be drafted, but that in between height might mean around the middle of the draft, although I think he could be worth slightly earlier than that.
Shaun Daly
Details:
Club: Corowa-Rutherglen
DOB: 19 May 85 Hgt: 186cm Wgt: 83kg
Position: Defender/Onballer
Natural foot: Right
Honours:
New South Wales 2003
MVP of New South Wales 2003
All Australian 2003
TAC Stats:
2002: 14 games, 1 goal, 14.8 PPG.
2003: 18 games, 9 goals, 25.4 PPG.
Profile:
I'm very surprised this guy didn't get invited to draft camp, he has impressed me most times I have seen him play. Shaun plays a lot of his footy almost as a key defender despite his height, but gets away with it because he is super competitive, disciplined and is strong in the body.
Daly spent all but the first four games of last year in defence for Murray, but was moved up the ground into midfield this year. He had an excellent season, gathering 13 or more possessions in every match including an incredible 43 against Gippsland. However, in the carnival he was used in a variety of positions by NSW.
Daly had a superb carnival, winning the MVP for NSW and I thought he was unlucky not to win the Harrison Medal. In the first game he kicked 2 goals from a wing, in the 2nd he gave no less than Raphael Clarke a hiding, and in the 3rd he towelled Bill Cleary to help the Rams take the title.
He is a very good one-on-one player in a marking contest; it's unlikely he will allow his opponent to get an easy kick. He is an excellent mark and his skills are good too. He did fade a little late in the year, and had a disappointing Grand Final tagging Adam Bentick.
I do have a few concerns - Daly is caught in that in between height, and I wouldn't think he has the pace to play AFL. I still think he is definitely worth a rookie list (possible late pick?) with the view to turning him into a defender of the future.
Ryley Dunn
Details:
Club: Shepparton Bears
DOB: 7 Oct 85 Hgt: 182cm Wgt: 81kg
Position: Flanker
Natural foot: Right
Honours:
Victoria Country 2002, 2003
All Australian 2002, 2003
Half Back Flank in TAC Team of the Year
Mike Fitzpatrick/AFLPA Scholarship 2002
National Draft Camp Invitee 2002, 2003
TAC Stats:
2002: 15 games, 2 goals, 12.8 PPG.
2003: 18 games, 9 goals, 23.1 PPG.
Profile:
Dunn was touted as a top 10 prospect at the beginning of the season, and I'd say that's where he will go. There is a lot to like about this kid. His credentials are excellent, twice All Australian, in the team of the year and a great leader as well (was co-captain of Murray and Vic Country).
Dunn's versatility is very appealing. Over the past two years he has held Aaron Edwards (last year's leading goalkicker in the TAC) goalless in defence, tagged Daniel Wells, played off half-back, and played as a forward as well. He is reasonably quick so I suspect he will end up playing on a flank or wing at AFL level. But the ability to either play a close checking defender or a forward is pretty impressive.
The other thing to like about Ryley is his attack on the footy/man. He is TOUGH. He thrives on the physical stuff, the bumps, the push and shove, the throwing the body in recklessly to help the side. It's great to watch.
I would say his main asset is overhead - his marking ability is great for someone who is not particularly tall. His disposal is good, particularly by foot. Has a real classical kicking action that works nicely for set shots. He is an excellent decision maker and will cover a lot of ground throughout the game.
Hands are also very clean, I remember in a shocking day at Box Hill his ability to handle the ball made him stand out. He is also described as super competitive and a born leader. Had a very consistent year in the TAC, racking up a lot of touches as well as marks and tackles.
I don't really have too many queries about this bloke. It was only when I went back on my notes I realised just how good he'd been in all the games I'd seen. Somewhere between 5-10.
William Gayfer
Details:
Club: Corowa-Rutherglen
DOB: 12 Jul 85 Hgt: 192cm Wgt: 91kg
Position: Centre Half Back
Natural foot: Right
Honours:
Victoria Country 2002
National Draft Camp Invitee 2003
TAC Stats:
2002: 17 games, 15 goals, 13.0 PPG.
2003: 14 games, 14 goals, 16.7 PPG.
Profile:
Billy Gayfer is the youngest of eight brothers, including Mick, the former Collingwood defender.
With the lack of genuine key position talent, he will be keenly sought after you would think. Gayfer's best position is probably centre half back, as he has an excellent ability to read the play, possibly the best of all the talls I saw this year. He is also pushed up to centre half forward at times.
Gayfer was used in defence for Vic Country last year, but unfortunately required a knee arthroscope in the middle of this year and was forced to miss two months, including the carnival.
However, he returned in time for the finals, and along with Mikal Bloom was Murray's best player in their disappointing Grand Final. Gayfer is a true footballer, not an athlete learning the game, and that's what I like about him.
His marking ability is top notch. Extremely strong overhead, with the flight, in contested situations, whatever you want. The other great thing about him is his ability to read the flight. Gayfer is very good at floating across and cutting off attacks with his judgement.
William's decision making for the most part is also very good. He usually hits targets and takes the right options. Occasionally he'll have a brain fade and try a stupid switch of play or the like, but mostly he is pretty good.
I wouldn't say he is super athletic at this stage, but he does work very hard, and even spent some time on the ball in the Grand Final. I wouldn't say he is the complete package - he does drop chest marks and his kicking style is a bit iffy (must run in the family). But he is tall, a good grab, knows what he is doing and therefore will probably be a 1st round selection.
David Mundy
Details:
Club: Seymour
DOB: 20 Jul 85 Hgt: 190cm Wgt: 83kg
Position: Full Back
Natural foot: Right
Honours:
Victoria Country 2003
National Draft Camp 2003
TAC Stats:
2002: 13 games, 3 goals, 13.5 PPG.
2003: 17 games, 6 goals, 16.8 PPG.
Profile:
David Mundy has really come on this year to be one of the best full backs in the TAC. He has several assets that mean he is sure to be looked at early in the draft.
Mundy is very athletic, and beat nearly every opponent I saw him play on this year. He is extremely agile and will back his judgement to beat his opponent to the ball. One of the best games I saw him play was on Luke Herrington in the carnival. Mundy played in front and backed himself, taking a lot of marks and the points.
He is an extremely long and accurate kick, he always took the kickouts for Murray. He nearly always went long, and his short passes are nowhere near as classy.
Mundy is disciplined, does a lot of team acts that don't get credit such as spoiling and smothering. Hands are pretty clean, will provide rebound as well as closing man down.
I thought he played well in every game I saw him in, and would happily use a 2nd round pick on him, if not slightly earlier. Should make it at AFL level.
Lance Oswald
Details:
Club: Shepparton Bears
DOB: 16 Jan 85 Hgt: 176cm Wgt: 76kg
Position: Onballer/Half Back Flank
Natural foot: Right
Honours:
Victoria Country 2003
Forward Pocket in TAC Team of the Year
State Screening Camp Invitee 2003
TAC Stats:
2002: 17 games, 1 goal, 16.7 PPG.
2003: 17 games, 9 goals, 26.4 PPG.
Profile:
Lance is the grandson of the St Kilda champion of the same name from the late 1950's. Oswald captained Victoria Country in the under 16's and played in the carnival this year.
He spent most of 2002 working off a half-back flank, and did a fair bit of that again in 2003, although he also spent a fair bit of time in the midfield. Oswald is not afraid to kick on either side of the body, although his right is much better than left. The first time I saw him play this year he collected 38 possessions in one of the performances of the year, slashed North Ballarat to ribbons.
He has good speed, and loves kicking a goal. Kicked two magnificent goals from the boundary for Vic Country against Metro, both classy efforts on the run. He prefers to dispose by foot than hand, does most of his good work in space rather than in close.
Is capable of the very classy (ie blind turn and handball in the one motion). I'm really surprised he didn't get a draft camp invite, but I guess he is a good rather than spectacular midfielder. Deserves to be rookie listed.
Kane Tenace
Details:
Club: Shepparton Bears
DOB: 4 Jul 85 Hgt: 181cm Wgt: 80kg
Position: Wing
Natural foot: Right
Honours:
Victoria Country 2002, 2003
All Australian 2003
Wing in TAC Team of the Year
National Draft Camp Invitee 2003
TAC Stats:
2002: 14 games, 11 goals, 18.1 PPG.
2003: 18 games, 11 goals, 27.3 PPG.
Profile:
There have been strong rumours for a couple of months that Carlton will be taking Kane Tenace with pick 2 in the National draft. Whilst I'm not sure if he is the 2nd best available talent, he is easily within the top 10 and is just the type of quick wingman we could do with.
Tenace has all the tools you would want. He is blindingly quick, particularly over the first five yards (2nd at draft camp in the 20m sprint). He can really just take the pill and leave a congested pack of players standing.
He is a superb kick, with distance, on either side of the body (he is almost dual footed). Nearly always hits targets. He has an uncanny knack of knowing where the ball will end up. I wouldn't call him a downhill skier, but at times he just knows when to run slightly forward of the play and he will almost certainly end up with the ball.
Tenace had an excellent carnival in 2002, was very impressive against SA. He went one better this year and was named All Australian. Kane was also co-captain of Vic Country.
He has the ability to just break a game open with a great goal, usually after a couple of bounces. He attacks the ball hard, isn't a receiver and will work when required. Has excellent judgment, and will gain a lot of distance with his ball carrying and long kicking. As can be seen from his stats, gathers a lot of the pill, had over 30 possessions 8 times.
The only thing I can fault him for is he tends to flash in and out of games, can have quiet patches. I'd write more but there isn't much point, he won't be around by Hawthorn's 1st pick. Top 10, probably top 5.
Other Draftee Profiles can be viewed by clicking on the link below:
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