 Bendigo has two clear standouts, Colin Sylvia and Andrew Walker. However, they also have several other players that should be looked at closely in November in what was a strong side.
Leigh Burke
Details:
Club: Donald
DOB: 15 Feb 86 Hgt: 189cm Wgt: 83kg
Position: Forward
Natural foot: Right
Honours:
State Screening Camp 2003
TAC Stats:
2003: 12 games, 10 goals, 5.9 PPG.
Profile:
Bit of a surprise invitee to the state screening camp, Burke had an average season for Bendigo but missed 8 weeks during the middle of the year through injury.
He plays pretty much as a leading forward, and plays pretty tall. He is a good mark and has a huge right foot kick on him. I only saw him play once, but in that game he really provided a target for Bendigo and he looked to have a bit of promise but is pretty raw.
TAC Stats are pretty average, 5 goals in his first three games, but much quieter on his return from injury. Burke is young enough to play TAC football again next year, and I have a feeling that's what will happen unless a team takes a punt very late.
Brad Comer
Details:
Club: Newbridge
DOB: 27 Mar 85 Hgt: 185cm Wgt: 83kg
Position: Onballer
Natural foot: Right
Honours:
Victoria Country 2003
State Screening Camp 2003
TAC Stats:
2002: 17 games, 4 goals, 17.1 PPG.
2003: 19 games, 11 goals, 19.9 PPG.
Profile:
Comer had a solid year for Bendigo, playing mostly as an onballer. He is capable of doing some good work in close, excellent vision with his hands. He was in the Victoria Country squad but only played against Vic Metro, where he had a limited impact on the match apart from a late goal.
Brad had a very good first half of the season, but faded after the carnival, and I'd be surprised if he was taken.
Cameron Hall
Details:
Club: Mildura
DOB: 24 Jul 85 Hgt: 176cm Wgt: 76kg
Position: Onballer/Forward Pocket
Natural foot: Left
Honours:
Victoria Country 2002, 2003
TAC Stats:
2002: 14 games, 15 goals, 32.5 PPG.
2003: 19 games, 11 goals, 31.2 PPG.
Profile:
Cameron Hall is one of those tiny onballers who gather stacks of possessions every week in the TAC yet tend not to be picked up. I'd say the same fate awaits Hall as he wasn't invited to state screening camp.
Hall tended to spend most of his time at Bendigo on the ball, but was also used as a forward pocket by Victoria Country at the carnival. He was excellent last year as an underage player for Vic Country, winning a lot of clearances and he never stopped running.
He has a very good goal sense, can snap a goal out of nothing when sitting in a pocket and is a clever player. However, he tends to gather a lot of possessions yet not really harm the opposition. Also, he is very small, and I think this will count against him in the end. Will be a good VFL player if given the chance, but doubt he will get put on an AFL list.
Jake Matthews
Details:
Club: Tyntynder
DOB: 25 Feb 85 Hgt: 188cm Wgt: 79kg
Position: Tall defender
Natural foot: Right
Honours:
AIS/AFL Academy
Victoria Country 2003
National Draft Camp Invitee 2002
TAC Stats:
2002: 14 games, 10 goals, 4.6 PPG.
2003: 17 games, 1 goal, 7.7 PPG.
Profile:
Matthews was expected to come on in 2003 and be a real player for Bendigo, but it didn't really eventuate. Jake was used in the forward line early in the season but failed to fire and spent most of the year in defence where he was far more successful.
Jake attended the draft camp last year but wasn't picked up, and interestingly wasn't invited this year. He was in the Vic Country squad but I can't recall him playing a game.
Matthews is a very good mark, plays tall and moves well. I'd say he is better suited to defence than attack. Handling of the ball be uncertain. I wouldn't think he will be picked up but you never know. Doubtful.
Colin Sylvia
Details:
Club: Merbein
DOB: 8 Nov 85 Hgt: 183cm Wgt: 82kg
Position: Onballer/Forward
Natural foot: Right
Honours:
Victoria Country 2003
All Australian 2003
TAC Coaches Award 2003
2nd Morrish Medal 2003
Centre in TAC Team of the Year
National Draft Camp Invitee 2003
TAC Stats:
2002: 17 games, 28 goals, 21.9 PPG.
2003: 18 games, 21 goals, 25.4 PPG.
Profile:
Now here is one exciting prospect. Colin Sylvia will be a star at AFL level. The youngster was solid last year, but was outstanding in 2003 for Bendigo, Victoria Country and Bendigo Secondary College. Originally from Merbein, Sylvia actually boards with Nathan Brown's family in Bendigo.
He is basically a barrel-chested midfielder who can do everything, but just as impressive is he ability to go forward, be the go-to man and dominate. He could play anywhere from centre to a flank to forward pocket at AFL level no worries at all.
It was well known that Sylvia carried osteitis pubis for a lot of the year, and this meant he spent perhaps more time up forward than he would have liked. Despite this, he still had the ability to win games on his own. He is one of those players who will see a game isn't going the way he likes and will just take it by the scruff of the neck and drag his way.
Colin's kicking is excellent. Can kick a long way, and is very accurate with the weighting of his passes. Not afraid to use his left, which is adequate. Tends to prefer to dispose by foot than hand, and if I did have a query it is his handballing, can miss targets.
His marking ability for his size is simply incredible. Sylvia had the highest vertical leap of ANY player at draft camp. The guy is capable of winning the car one year, that's how good a grab he is. Is also unbelievably strong in the hips - he loves to work one-on-one with someone in a marking contest, keeps his feet really well.
Does all the team things and is hard at the footy - 111 tackles including 13 in a game give you some idea of his work ethic. He is super competitive and even when he is struggling with injury still gives his all. Colin is usually poised and calm in traffic as well. The list of achievements as long as your arm gives you some idea how good he was this year.
I saw him play a full game in the midfield early in the year and he was awesome. I think once he gets over his OP he will be a superb player. Definite top 5 selection for mine.
Andrew Walker
Details:
Club: Echuca
DOB: 18 May 86 Hgt: 189cm Wgt: 83kg
Position: Wing/Half-back flank
Natural foot: Right
Honours:
AIS/AFL Academy
Victoria Country 2003
All Australian 2003
MVP of Victoria Country 2003
Wing in TAC Team of the Year
National Draft Camp Invitee 2003
TAC Stats:
2002: 1 game, 1 goal, 16.0 PPG.
2003: 14 games, 5 goals, 22.5 PPG.
Profile:
Walker is an extremely exciting half-back flanker who could also spend time on a wing or may even end up holding down a key defensive post. He has grown 4cm this year, and is still very young - he is only eligible for this draft by a month.
Walker has a lot of attributes that suggest he will be taken extremely early. His aerobic capacity is sensational, he won the 3km run at draft camp and came 2nd in the shuttle run. He also has a massive leap on him - one of his marks for Vic Country was a genuine screamer. Andrew is a fantastic mark, reads the play well and times his leaps to perfection.
He spent most of the year providing drive off half-back for Bendigo, but was used as a centre half back in Vic Country's final game and excelled there, was best on ground to win the MVP for his side.
Walker is a good kick on either foot, but better on his right. He has a very unusual habit of bouncing the ball with his left hand and gathering it back with one hand. Something that he might have to work on.
He has tremendous pace over the first 5 yards as well and is another who prefers to dispose of the ball by foot rather than hand. He started the year a little slowly after returning from Ireland but was exceptional after that, went right on with after the carnival.
The only possible query I can think of is his consistency, does tend to flash in and out of games a little, but when you consider he is a year younger than most players I wouldn't worry about that too much. Certain top 10 selection for mine, should go in the top half dozen.
Chris Worner
Details:
Club: Lalbert Eagles
DOB: 9 Oct 85 Hgt: 185cm Wgt: 76kg
Position: Forward
Natural foot: Right
Honours:
Victoria Country 2003
State Screening Camp Invitee 2003
TAC Stats:
2002: 1 game, 0 goals, 0.0 PPG.
2003: 19 games, 22 goals, 13.3 PPG.
Profile:
Worner spent the year playing as an undersized centre half forward for Bendigo with some success. He usually managed to get at least 1 goal in every match and presented well. He is a good mark and fairly athletic, although he needs to put on some pounds.
Once again, I'm not sure where he would play at AFL level, and although his season was pretty good I would not have thought it was enough to get picked up. Possibly in the mix for a rookie selection.
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
Sandringham Dragons
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