 Harry Miller
Details:
Club: Mallee Park/Port Adelaide Magpies
DOB: 11 Jun 85 Hgt: 174cm Wgt: 75kg
Position: Forward Pocket
Natural foot: Right
Honours:
South Australia 2003
National Draft Camp Invitee 2003
Profile:
No, not the ambulance chasing media mogul, this Harry Miller is an Aboriginal small forward who has spent most of the year playing seniors for the Port Adelaide Magpies in the SANFL.
Given we are possibly looking for a small forward, Miller is a player that we might be studying closely. He has some traits that are very exciting, but he also does some things that make me wary.
He is very much a goalsneak in the Leon Davis or Jeff Farmer mould. Miller's pace is simply explosive. He is an absolute rocket when he gets going, fewer quicker in the whole draft pool. He has a good leap on him, but his small size means he kicks nearly all of his goals from roving and crumbing.
He has an uncanny goal sense, kicked 5 goals for the carnival, a couple of them from very tight angles. However, he is very fond of playing for free kicks, something I can't stand. I reckon he did it half a dozen times in the games I saw - bad habit that he needs to lose. Also, he is a one trick pony, I very much doubt he could play midfield.
Melbourne's recruiting manager declared he was worth a 2nd round pick, which surprises me. I would have thought later than that, but he'd know better than me! Harry is an exciting talent no doubt and we need a player like him, but he would be very hot and cold.
Jay Nash
Details:
Club: Nuriootpa/Central Districts
DOB: 21 Dec 85 Hgt: 185cm Wgt: 75kg
Position: Wing
Natural foot: Right
Honours:
AIS/AFL Academy
South Australia 2002, 2003
National Draft Camp Invitee 2003
Profile:
Son of former SA cricketer John Nash, Jay was nominated as a player to watch by John Turnbull last year. Nash spent most of his time at the carnival on a wing, although he can play on a half forward flank as well.
He has all the tools to make it as an outside midfielder at AFL level. He has good pace, and his disposal is exquisite. I would go as far as to say he is one of best kicks in the draft pool. He is good overhead for his size, can take a mark no problems (his 18 was the most by anyone at the carnival).
He has a good footy brain and will take the right option. Runs to space well and gathers possessions nicely. I really like this guy, I think he could turn into a very good player. Possible 2nd round selection based on what I saw.
Dylan Pfitzner
Details:
Club: Gawler Centrals/Central Districts
DOB: 13 Apr 85 Hgt: 195cm Wgt: 80kg
Position: Tall Forward
Natural foot: Right
Honours:
South Australia 2003
National Draft Camp Invitee 2003
Profile:
Dylan is a tall forward who showed glimpses at the carnival he could be worth a punt. He is very tall, will be a good size when he puts on a bit more weight. Is a great mark overhead, both on the lead and in a contested situation.
He is a nice kick for goal, and can kick on his left foot as well. I wouldn't say he did enough in the carnival to make you say he will be a certain star, but there is definitely something there to work with and he should be selected a little bit later in the draft.
Tim Schmidt
Details:
Club: Robertstown/West Adelaide
DOB: 14 Mar 86 Hgt: 178cm Wgt: 79kg
Position: Onballer
Natural foot: Right
Honours:
AIS/AFL Academy
Kevin Sheehan Medal (Best player in Under 16's Division 1)
South Australia 2003
National Draft Camp Invitee 2003
Profile:
Schmidt is another of the blonde SA onball brigade that impressed me greatly during the carnival. He was also nominated by JT as a player to watch this time last year. As you can see by the honours above, he has a very good record, and is also extremely young.
I was ultra-impressed with his performance against Vic Metro, he gathered a stack of possessions, and importantly many of them were clearances. He has a good ability to get a kick away, even when under heavy pressure. His kicking is very good.
Is OK overhead, but he is not that tall so I wouldn't call it a strength. He is still pretty slight as well, would take a couple of years to come on.
Tim is a smart footballer who should make it at AFL level. I think he will definitely be taken this year, and probably in the first two or three rounds as well.
Brad Symes
Details:
Club: Gawler Centrals/Central Districts
DOB: 7 Mar 85 Hgt: 185cm Wgt: 75kg
Position: Wing
Natural foot: Right
Honours:
AIS/AFL Academy
South Australia 2003
All Australian 2003
MVP of South Australia 2003
National Draft Camp Invitee 2003
Profile:
Symes is yet another of the SA midfield brigade who impressed at the carnival. He was a bit of a surprise packet as he probably wasn't rated as highly as the likes of Schmidt and Nash before the carnival, yet he was excellent in all 3 games and ended up winning the MVP for his state.
Brad is yet another outside midfielder, although unlike quite a few at this level he does a lot of good work in heavy traffic. I remember being immediately impressed with his ability to dispose of the pill in a good fashion in a small space.
He was consistent over the three games, gathering more possessions than anyone else (81). He is a tremendous mark, I remember a great grab against Vic Metro that resulted in a goal. Symes can kick on the left foot and does work hard around the packs. He works very hard to get in the right spots and uses the footy well. Has clean hands too.
My only query is pace, he is not super quick and tends to accumulate touches rather than tearing sides apart. Worth a mid pick in the draft I would think.
Beau Waters
Details:
Club: Happy Valley/West Adelaide
DOB: 30 Mar 86 Hgt: 185cm Wgt: 83kg
Position: Defender
Natural foot: Left
Honours:
AIS/AFL Academy
South Australia 2003
All Australian 2003
National Draft Camp Invitee 2003
Profile:
Now here is a player I would like to see at Hawthorn. Waters is a tough-as-nails defender who has great courage and is willing to do anything for his side. Only Ryley Dunn springs to mind when thinking of harder footballers this year.
The fact he is a left footer also makes him a favourite of mine! Beau spent most of his time in defence for SA, although he did go forward after copping a knock against Vic Country, and was an inspirational part of their win.
Like a lot of lefties, he is a delightful kick on that side. Not so sure about his right though. He is very strong overhead - plays much taller than 6'1. His attack on the footy is great to watch - real bull-at-a-gate stuff. He takes a lot of marks in defence, and although he is too short to play key position, I reckon he could make it at AFL playing as a 3rd defender, such is his overhead ability and work rate.
Waters played seniors in the SANFL this year, was All Australian and invited to draft camp. I reckon he is worth as high as a 2nd round pick, but might go lower due to his in-between height.
Jason Whitehead
Details:
Club: Moonta/Eagles
DOB: 28 Aug 85 Hgt: 197cm Wgt: 84kg
Position: Ruckman
Natural foot: Right
Honours:
South Australia 2003
National Draft Camp Invitee 2003
Profile:
Whitehead is one of the few genuine ruck prospects in this draft pool, so no doubt will be looked at very closely. He rucked with Clint Dubienicki for SA in the carnival, and looked just OK - I wouldn't have said he did anything to make him standout.
What Jason does have however is a big leap, he was in the top 10 for vertical leaps at the draft camp. This combined with good disposal by hand means he should be picked up. I still have queries over his skills by foot and ability to find the footy, I reckon he would take some time to develop. But an athletic 197cm bloke is not easy to find, so he will probably be taken with a late pick.
Josh Willoughby
Details:
Club: Bordertown/Glenelg
DOB: 11 Jan 86 Hgt: 176cm Wgt: 69kg
Position: Forward Pocket/Onballer
Natural foot: Right
Honours:
AIS/AFL Academy
South Australia 2003
All Australian 2003
National Draft Camp Invitee 2003
Profile:
Willoughby is yet another Croweater mentioned as a player to watch by JT last year. If we are after a small forward in the national draft, Josh would surely be one of the main candidates. Certainly if I had to choose between him and Harry Miller I would take Willoughby.
The good thing about Josh is not only can he play really well as a small forward, he can also spend time on the ball and be quite damaging. He gathered 59 possessions for the carnival and kicked a couple of freakish goals as well.
Willoughby has real pace, clean hands and is just one of those guys who can kick a goal out of absolutely nothing. He kicked a crucial goal for SA in the final game of the championships. Has that unique ability to do some freakish, something that will excite the crowd and spark a side.
He is good in traffic and a good mark despite his small size. He is also a very smart player. A good example of this was when he took a mark in the forward line. He kept backing back into the man on the mark, creating enough space for his teammate to run into an open goal after a clever handball.
Willoughby works hard, gathers a lot of touches and has that extra flair that should see him go fairly early in the draft. The only thing that will see him fall is his size - Josh is still extremely light (another Mummy's Boy?) and is not that tall. He is sensible enough not to put himself in a situation where he could get hurt, but he needs more bulk. Possibly 2nd-3rd round, but may go later due to his size.
Other Draftee Profiles can be viewed by clicking on the links below:
Dandenong Stingrays
Murray Bushrangers
NSW and Tasmania
Geelong Falcons
South Australia - Part 1
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