 Watching the Northern Territory play is always enjoyable; they have so much natural ability and a real exciting style of play. Although their side wasn't as strong as the winning team of 2002 there are still a few boys who will be looked at closely. Apparently the Lions are also looking closely at Mark McLean, son of Magic. He is a small wingman or half-back flanker with that bit of flair about him.
Rowan Bonson
Details:
Club: Nightcliffe/NT
DOB: 8 Oct 85 Hgt: 183cm Wgt: 70kg
Position: Forward
Natural foot: Right
Honours:
Northern Territory 2003 (picked but didn't play)
Profile:
Earlier in the year I was watching NT playing Gippsland in the TAC Cup. It was the first time I'd seen them for the year so didn't know what to expect. One of the first players to catch my eye was this skinny Aboriginal with a ridiculous rat-tail haircut. He kicked 3.1 and set another goal up without even seeming to get out of 1st gear.
I thought nothing of it at the time, but it seems I was lucky, because it was the only game he played for the Northern Territory this year. He didn't come to the Nationals because his girlfriend didn't want him to come down!
Bonson is from Burunga, a tiny settlement about 100km from Katherine. Apparently he considered Darwin a big city, so any club drafting him would have a lot of work to do. It would be a HUGE gamble given how little football he played at a high level.
The reason I've included him however is both Darren Bewick and Chris Lewis say he is better than Raph Clarke - the best player in the state for his age. That's a huge wrap.
He looks tiny, but has a huge leap for his size, and once he bulked up could play forward. Already in the game I saw he was using his body well to get better position in the marking contest. He has very clean hands, great skills and a stuttering approach to goal, but it works. He could be anything, he could be nothing, we might never hear from him again. But from what I saw he has the raw talent to play at the highest level.
Cameron Illet
Details:
Club: Port Adelaide Magpies/St Mary's/NT
DOB: 12 Mar 85 Hgt: 180cm Wgt: 80kg
Position: Centre
Natural foot: Right
Honours:
Northern Territory 2002, 2003
AIS/AFL Academy
MVP Northern Territory 2003
Profile:
I would describe him more as an inside midfielder than anything else, winning clearances is his speciality.
Although he is a right footer he is prepared to use his left foot. Disposal is pretty good by hand or foot - he has a good kick. Loves carrying the footy before disposing of it, prefers to kick long and has pretty clean hands.
My only concerns are discipline (copped a spray from Bewick for not working in a Challenge Cup match and gave away a silly free right in front of goal) and his willingness to try and find space every time. At times just banging the ball on the boot would have been better, but Illet would try to clear the pack by running around it and get himself into trouble. Most of the time he does find space however. Possible rookie list.
Raphael Clarke
Details:
Club: St Mary's/NT
DOB: 24 Sep 85 Hgt: 189cm Wgt: 78kg
Position: HFF/onballer
Natural foot: Right
Honours:
Northern Territory 2002, 2003
AIS/AFL Academy
All-Australian 2002
Mike Fitzpatrick Scholarship 2001
National Draft Camp Invitee 2002, 2003
Profile:
This kid is going to be an exciting AFL footballer, of that I have no doubt. The brother of Xavier, Raph is taller than his brother, and is probably more suited to a forward flank role, although he did spend some time onball when I saw him play.
The first time I saw him play was at the 2002 Nationals, and you couldn’t help but be impressed. His hands were so clean considering the greasy conditions, and I have no doubt he would have gone 1st round if eligible.
John Turnbull touted him last year as a player to watch, and called him a "terrific young bloke who could play senior football in 2003". He seems to have slipped a little in people's eyes after a disappointing Carnival, but I doubt the scouts will be fooled.
Clarke has a huge leap like his brother (had the 4th highest vertical leap at draft camp), although at times he can jump too early and put himself out of the contest. He can also be led under the ball too easily at times.
His teammates clearly look up to him and he was the go-to man in the warm-up games for NT. His work rate is impressive, will win the hard ball if he has to, can rack up 7 possessions in 5 minutes no worries. Covers the ground with ease (Was 8th in the 3km run at draft camp), reads the play well, really covers the angles well.
Seems pretty calm in traffic, rarely takes the wrong option and has good balance. He can wander in and out of the play a bit, and tends to be a bit of a moth in that he is attracted to the ball a lot when he might be better off staying a kick ahead of play or on his man. The way he seems to lose focus at times is perhaps my main concern.
People accused him of tanking in the Carnival to get to the Saints, I think that's rubbish. He kicked 4 goals and had 16 possessions up forward in the first game, was thrashed by Shaun Daly from NSW in the 2nd yet still managed 3 goals, always the sign of a good player. He was suspended for the final match thanks to a stray elbow. He spent little time on the footy in the Nationals which was a bit disappointing, but was carrying an injury.
But there are some things I saw him do which were silk - absolute silk. He can kick classy goals on the run that look easy when in reality they are anything but. His disposal is very good by foot, and he can use his left. He sort of places the ball on the boot. Clarke really glides around the field - I wouldn't call him explosive, it just all looks effortless for him. I can only wonder how he will go after he gains a bit of weight and does a full pre-season.
One bit of play I saw in a Challenge Cup game sums him up best. Clarke delivered a sensational pass lace-out at pace. He then ran to full forward, and as the set shot fell short he flew above four blokes all bigger than him to take a strong mark. It was a truly sensational passage of play, one of the best I've seen at any level all year. I still think he is worth a top 5 pick, but his in-between size may see him drift a little. I'm a real fan.
Joel Campbell
Details:
Club: Pioneers/NT
DOB: 21 Dec 85 Hgt: 187cm Wgt: 73kg
Position: Full forward/defence
Natural foot: Right
Honours:
Northern Territory 2002, 2003
National Draft Camp Invitee 2003
Profile:
Flashy Aboriginal full forward that did a few things at the Carnival that showed real talent, but would require a fair bit of work.
Campbell was used at either end by Bewick during the year, but looked far more at home up forward. Although he has some good attributes for defence (speed, usually calm under pressure) he is prone to the occasional brain explosion that proved costly. Just silly things like dropping chest marks or needlessly going 3rd man up in a contest.
Joel looked much more comfortable up forward, kicking 4 goals in the Carnival. He is quick on the lead, has a good set shot and has a huge leap (8th highest vertical jump at draft camp) that saw him take a couple of speccies. Good at ground level as well, as seen by a great roving goal and a clever flick up to set up another one. He is not afraid to go on a run. He doesn't have any real left foot to speak of, and this was exposed a few times. Has raw talent but a few deficiencies as well. Maybe a punt later on.
Ronald Smith
Details:
Club: Nightcliffe/NT
DOB: 28 Aug 85 Hgt: 186cm Wgt: 69kg
Position: Flanker
Natural foot: Right
Honours:
Northern Territory 2002, 2003
Profile:
Exciting Aboriginal talent that can look like a potential gun one minute and a battler the next. Like Clarke, I saw him last year at the Carnival and he looked promising, even confident to use his wrong foot at that age.
This year he was used mainly as a HBF providing run out of defence. Smith's main asset is pace - he is very quick! He can really burst away with his acceleration, but one of the best things about him is how balanced and fluid he is - very nice to watch.
He likes a goal - kicked a beauty in one game where he grabbed the ball on the wing, took two bounces and kicked it into the wind. He also won the Michael McLean award for the best player in the NT competition.
However all I can say is expect the unexpected with this guy, he did a lot of things that had me tearing my hair out, I hate to think what Darren Bewick was thinking! Things like baulking the man on the mark from a set shot and giving away three free kicks in a half for flying too early. Although when his flys come off he can take a very good mark.
Didn't put his body on the line a couple of times and it was obvious. There is no doubting the guy's ability, but he looked inconsistent and had a lot to learn. Might be worth the effort though. Another who showed glimpses of raw talent at times but would require work to harness it. Possible late pick or rookie list.
Tom Logan
Details:
Club: Waratahs/NT
DOB: 2 Jul 85 Hgt: 185cm Wgt: 76kg
Position: Flanker/onballer
Natural foot: Left
Honours:
Northern Territory 2002, 2003
All-Australian 2003
National Draft Camp Invitee 2003
Profile:
There is a lot to like about this kid. Logan had a good 2002 Carnival, kicking two goals in the game I saw whilst playing up forward. However, he spent most of the games I saw in 2003 either playing on the ball or as a half-back flanker.
Logan's main strength is his marking - despite being only 6'1 he is a tremendous grab, he has a great leap. His other main attribute is courage. Tom would constantly back back into packs and take hits when he had to. He is also surprisingly athletic, winning the 3km run and the vertical jump off the right leg at draft camp, as well as coming second in the agility test and fourth in the shuttle run.
His pace is pretty good, and he has a nice left foot, although I'm not so sure about his right. You wouldn't say he is a polished player but he gives his all and then some. He can win clearances and is a reasonable set shot as well. Gathered 54 possessions over the 2003 Carnival to be the only NT player to win All-Australian honours. His marking ability and work ethic looked great to me. I would be happy to use a 2nd-3rd round pick on him, but I suspect he will go lower.
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
Bendigo Pioneers
Eastern Ranges
Northern Knights
Calder Cannons
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