 Once again, it's always hard to judge the Dragons players as they have so many players who have school commitments and seem to have 10 new kids every time I see them play. It was a disappointing year, missing the finals, but there is an interesting mix of potential talent.
Andrew Ericksen
Details:
Club: Scotch College
DOB: 17 Jul 85 Hgt: 203cm Wgt: 90kg
Position: Ruckman
Natural foot: Right
Honours:
AIS/AFL Academy
Victoria Metro 2003
National Draft Camp Invitee 2003
TAC Stats:
2002: 3 games, 0 goals, 4.3 PPG.
2003: 7 games, 1 goal, 11.3 PPG.
Profile:
Interesting this one. In a draft pool where ruckman are so rare, Ericksen is bound to be a highly valued commodity. However, I have some major concerns over whether he will make it - I couldn't see him playing regular senior footy before 2007 at the earliest.
Firstly, the good. Ericksen is a genuine tap ruckman. Some of his centre square work in particular is excellent. As I've said before, it's pretty rare at this level to have any idea, but he seems pretty good there.
Secondly, Andrew is very athletic for his size. Can move reasonably quickly, is a good handball and not totally hopeless below his knees given his size. Is a bit handball happy however, doesn't seem to trust his kicking, which is awkward and would need work, but is not totally a lost cause.
He is also very skinny and would be a very big boy given a few years on the weights. He reminds me a bit of David Loats. Gathers a lot of hitouts at TAC level (over 25 per game)
However, my MAJOR concern with Ericksen is his lack of physical presence. He seems to dislike physical contact, a big concern when you are a ruckman. I would hate to see him up against a Primus or Keating, he would be pulverised.
His form was so bad in the carnival he was actually dropped for non-ruckman Murray Boyd in the final match. So many times at boundary throw-ins he will just hope the ball will land on his head rather than making the running himself. He might get away with that at underage level where he towers over most opponents, but not at senior level. Whenever I see the phrase ex-basketballer I get wary, and I have a feeling that's where a lot of it comes from.
He does have talent, no doubt about that. But he is going to require a lot of work, patience and someone putting some mongrel in him if he is going to make it. Late pick.
Luke Jackson
Details:
Club: Brighton Grammar
DOB: 25 Aug 85 Hgt: 185cm Wgt: 84kg
Position: Flanker
Natural foot: Right
Honours:
State Screening Camp Invitee 2003
TAC Stats:
2002: 4 games, 0 goals, 5.8 PPG.
2003: 9 games, 10 goals, 15.2 PPG.
Profile:
Jackson is one of those players who doesn't stand out, but just does one or two things each time you see him play that make you think he might be a chance to make it. He is basically a flanker, although he can play a bit taller at underage level.
He was picked in the initial Vic Metro squad but dropped after the first trial match, which I can't understand as he kicked two out of his team's seven goals and was very good as a leading forward. I can only presume he played some poor games for the Dragons.
Jackson is very versatile, could play as a leading forward or as a rebounding defender. He excelled in the latter role for the APS against the AGS, marking absolutely everything and acting like a sponge in the backline, mopping everything up.
His kicking is generally good under pressure, although he can fail to steady at times. As already mentioned, he is good overhead for his size and makes good decisions. His TAC stats are a bit up and down - 8 goals in the first two games before he was moved into defence.
There is something about him that makes me think he might be worth a punt on a rookie list, but once again he is caught in between positions. Worth a look.
Xavier Leslie
Details:
Club: Melbourne Grammar/Yarrawonga
DOB: 25 Feb 86 Hgt: 180cm Wgt: 75kg
Position: Onballer
Natural foot: Right
Honours:
Victoria Country 2003
TAC Stats:
2003: 8 games, 3 goals, 27.6 PPG.
Profile:
The grandson of 1961 Carlton Brownlow Medallist John James, Leslie is a boarder at Melbourne Grammar and played most of his footy in the APS this year.
He made a great start to the year for Sandringham, but unfortunately got injured in the first term of the first carnival match for Vic Country and played no further part. As can be seen from his possessions per game, he is a constant ball winner, getting between 22 and 32 touches in all eight matches.
Although he is listed as 180cm, he looks much smaller than that on the field, playing as a rover. He is very much a clearance specialist. His handballing is very good and creative. However, he doesn’t seem to steady when disposing by foot, and his kicking can be very wayward as a result. Doesn't straighten up enough when kicking either.
I'm not quite sure if he could go on at the next level despite his ball winning ability, doubtful I would say but he is eligible to play TAC next year.
Tom Mentiplay
Details:
Club: Brighton Grammar
DOB: 11 Dec 85 Hgt: 195cm Wgt: 90kg
Position: Forward/Ruckman
Natural foot: Right
Honours:
National Draft Camp Invitee 2003
TAC Stats:
2003: 7 games, 3 goals, 8.6 PPG.
Profile:
Very much a surprise invitee to the national draft camp, Mentiplay was actually in the ruck group although he tended to spend time up forward as well in the limited games he had for Sandringham in 2003.
His TAC stats are hardly anything to write home about, although he did spend a lot of time on the bench as they have two other ruckman as well. Unfortunately I only got to see him play once, in the APS v AGS game, and I suspect that played a large part in getting him an invite to Canberra.
Tom had a huge 1st term in this game, hitting the ball really hard and kicking a sensational goal where he turned around and slotted it through from 50 metres easy as you like. Is a big boy, but looks pretty athletic as well. Was apparently an outstanding rower at Brighton.
I haven't seen him enough to make an informed comment, but he looked to have some raw talent, and if he grows another inch will be tall enough to ruck. Possible late pick or rookie list.
Luke Peel
Details:
Club: Brighton Grammar
DOB: 26 Jun 86 Hgt: 187cm Wgt: 84kg
Position: Defender
Natural foot: Right
Honours:
AIS/AFL Academy
Victoria Metro 2003
National Draft Camp Invitee 2003
TAC Stats:
2003: 5 games, 0 goals, 19.2 PPG.
Profile:
Peel is an extremely promising defender who is only eligible for the draft by 4 days, he won't be 18 until halfway through next year. Hopefully by then he will have grown another inch to get to 190cm, because that might be all that is stopping him from going first round.
Basically Peel is a rebounding defender who is a magnificent kick and loves to break lines. He plays taller than his height, but that is often the case at this level. He is one of those players that always look balanced and composed on a footy field, he has clean hands as well.
His kicking is brilliant, long and precise, even under intense heat. Can struggle on taller opponents such as Chaplin, but you would hope he wouldn't be used in that role normally.
Luke's marking is fantastic, can take some great saving marks with the flight. Reads the play well and has all the skills you need in a good defender. Is also very athletic, as shown by his 6th finish in the shuttle run at draft camp.
I think this kid has some serious talent. My only concern is his hardness at the footy, can pull out occasionally. But there is a lot to like and he should go in the top half of the draft.
Darren Rochford
Details:
Club: Mordialloc/Braeside
DOB: 31 Jan 85 Hgt: 186cm Wgt: 85kg
Position: Full Back
Natural foot: Left
Honours:
Victoria Metro 2003
State Screening Camp Invitee 2003
TAC Stats:
2002: 13 games, 0 goals, 8.4 PPG.
2003: 12 games, 2 goals, 14.0 PPG.
Profile:
Rochford is yet another of those TAC defenders who are probably too short to play key position at the highest level. He is a pretty handy player that might be looked at as a possible rookie.
Rochford's strength is his marking ability, particularly in contested situations and his long left foot kicking. Darren usually took the kickouts for Sandringham and is a booming kick. He has pretty good vision when disposing, although he tends to always go long, his kick to handball ratio is very high.
Had a very solid year in the TAC, taking 70 marks (nearly 6 a game) and providing some good drive out of defence. He has courage and will put his body on the line when required or back into a pack.
I'm concerned about where he would play at AFL level, does he have the agility to play as a smaller defender? He is also 'old' for this draft, January 85. Has promise, but has a lot of competition as well. Possible rookie list.
Lachlan Smith
Details:
Club: Xavier College
DOB: 10 Aug 85 Hgt: 186cm Wgt: 76kg
Position: Onballer/Defender
Natural foot: Right
Honours:
State Screening Camp Invitee 2003
TAC Stats:
2002: 4 games, 1 goal, 4.0 PPG.
2003: 6 games, 1 goal, 13.8 PPG.
Profile:
It's pretty rare for Xavier College not to have a player drafted in any year, so I'm guessing that makes Lachlan Smith, the school's first XVIII captain, a pretty good shot.
As you can see by his stats Smith spent nearly all of his time playing for Xavier, mostly as an onballer. He was used in this position for the APS v AGS game as well.
However, with the Dragons he spent the entire year holding down a key position in defence. He is good one-on-one and reads the play well, which makes him well suited to defence. He has extremely clean hands and goes hard.
Once again, query is where would he slot in at AFL level, obviously too short to play full back! I would have liked to see him a bit more to make a more informed decision, but perhaps a rookie list or season in the VFL.
Fergus Watts
Details:
Club: Wesley College
DOB: 21 Sep 85 Hgt: 193cm Wgt: 86kg
Position: Centre Half Forward
Natural foot: Right
Honours:
Victoria Metro 2003
All Australian 2003
National Draft Camp Invitee 2003
TAC Stats:
2002: 7 games, 0 goals, 9.1 PPG.
2003: 6 games, 6 goals, 15.5 PPG.
Profile:
The son of former Saints CEO Jim Watts, Fergus is a powerful centre half forward who runs straight at the footy and is one of the best marks in the draft pool.
Watts was captain of Wesley so didn't play much for Sandringham, but it was his performances at the carnival that drew attention. After an ordinary performance against SA, Watts was simply awesome in the final two matches.
Some of his marks defy belief. He will look out of the contest for sure and then all of a sudden soar across the pack, blonde hair flying, grabbing the ball and sending bodies everywhere. A couple of them had to be seen to be believed - real heart in the mouth stuff.
Watts' is so competitive and hard-at-it you almost fear for him at times. He has no fear at all. And the great thing is he will back it up at ground level too. Fergus will throw himself in packs and dive on the ball to keep it in possession or tap it on to his team's advantage.
The fact he played the final two games of the carnival with a broken toe shows how keen he was. His kicking is reasonable, certainly not the feature his marking is. He has footy smarts though, for example holding a handball off until his teammate had made enough space to run clear.
When he baulks up he will be a great sight on the footy field. I think the way he plays will lead to a lot of injuries, especially at centre half forward. I wouldn't say he is the complete package though. While Watts is great in a straight line his agility is pretty average. He can also go missing for long stretches and almost appear to lose interest. He is very much a burst player - can tear a game apart in 15 minutes.
I think he got slightly overrated after his performance at the carnival, but he was still pretty bloody good. Probably worth a late 1st round pick.
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
South Australia - Part 2
Oakleigh Chargers
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