Draft Profiles - Eastern Ranges   Written by: Dominic Milesi www.hawkheadquarters.com 7/11/2003   Being the feeder club for the Box Hill Hawks, I've kept a closer eye on the Eastern Ranges than most TAC teams this year. Unfortunately the side was nowhere near as strong as the premiership winning team of 2003 and I wouldn't expect too many draftees from this squad. Quite a few should end up at City Oval next year. Jeremy Everett Details: Club: Gembrook-Cockatoo DOB: 15 Nov 85 Hgt: 194cm Wgt: 80kg Position: Ruckman Natural foot: Right Honours: State Screening Camp Invitee 2003 TAC Stats: 2002: 8 games, 0 goals, 6.5 PPG. 2003: 19 games, 2 goals, 10.1 PPG. Profile: Everett is another one of the TAC ruckman who might be an inch or two too short to make it at the elite level. He had an OK season for Eastern, but he didn't overly impress me in the games I saw. Everett spent nearly the entire year rucking, although he was actually used in defence for the Vic Metro trial game (he was cut after the trial match against Vic Country). I'm not sure if he would have the mobility to play a key position. He is a pretty good tap ruckman and does OK around the ground, has nice clean hands. But he only kicked 2 goals for the season, so I wouldn't think he would play forward either. Blokes of his size are always going to come under consideration, but I'd have to say he'd be doubtful for anything more than a rookie list. Nick Kane Details: Club: Upwey-Tecoma DOB: 4 Sep 85 Hgt: 187cm Wgt: 84kg Position: Defender Natural foot: Right Honours: National Draft Camp Invitee 2003 TAC Stats: 2002: 3 games, 0 goals, 9.7 PPG. 2003: 18 games, 4 goals, 17.3 PPG. Profile: The brother of Ben, naturally I've watched Nick Kane very closely during the year, and he has really come on with a big 2nd half to the season. The first time I saw him playing he was used up forward with limited success, ending in a frivolous report for striking (that was chucked out). However a move to defence after the first month of the season was the change Kane needed, and he really took off from there. He is taller than his brother, and plays more as a key backman rather than a running player. Like Ben, he has a massive kick on him and was Eastern's designated kicker. He is also tremendous overhead - really reads the play well and takes mark after mark in defence, constantly repelling attacks. His kick to handball ratio is very high, he usually doesn't muck around, just takes a couple of steps and bombs long. His work ethic and desperation is excellent, made a couple of brilliants saves by either smothering kicks or holding the footy up. Will tackle hard too. Doesn't mind a goal, kicked a ripper against Sandringham where he smothered a handball and just took off and bombed from 50 metres out. Can provide good run out of defence. I think he is worth a look, either late in the draft or on a rookie list. He certainly has talent. Steven Kenny Details: Club: Emerald DOB: 15 Nov 85 Hgt: 192cm Wgt: 91kg Position: Centre Half Forward Natural foot: Left Honours: State Screening Camp Invitee 2003 TAC Stats: 2003: 18 games, 8 goals, 13.2 PPG. Profile: The brother of former Essendon rookie Marcus, Kenny is a bullocking centre half forward who also spent a bit of time in key defensive posts and relief rucking. He is a good mark and will use his body to get better position in a contest. His work ethic and team acts are very impressive for a big man, always got praised by the coach for doing the right things such as laying shepherds or running to the right positions. Kenny is very strong and would often outmuscle smaller opponents with ease. However, I'm not sure about his agility, especially in defence he would get shown up at times. He was in the initial Vic Metro squad but didn't make the final 30. His kicking can also be a bit wayward - will do all the hard work with a good mark than let himself down with a poor kick. I'm not sure if he has the agility or skills to get picked up, possible rookie list. Daniel McConnell Details: Club: Vermont DOB: 21 Jun 86 Hgt: 190cm Wgt: 83kg Position: Centre Half Forward Natural foot: Right Honours: AIS/AFL Academy Victoria Metro 2003 National Draft Camp Invitee 2003 TAC Stats: 2002: 6 games, 1 goal, 11.2 PPG. 2003: 11 games, 12 goals, 18.5 PPG. Profile: Daniel McConnell is a player who really impressed me this year and deserves to be drafted. His year was interrupted by the trip to Ireland with the AIS and two compound dislocations of the finger, but he was still very good. I'm surprised he hasn't been mentioned a bit more as a player to watch. McConnell only scrapes into this draft by 9 days, yet is already 190cm and still has to fill out a bit. He is surprisingly quick and agile for his size - can play in a number of the key positions in both attack and defence. Daniel was in the top 10 for the 3km run and 4th in the shuttle run at draft camp. In every game I saw him play he was always very busy for a big man, constantly gathering possessions and burning opponents off. He is a good worker in traffic, has clean hands will do team acts such as tackling and shepherding. Use of the footy seems pretty good, and he is a good grab as well. Would think he is better suited to forward than defence, although he had an excellent game for Vic Metro against WA, mopping up everything in defence. Can make mistakes such as not punching from behind, and can flash in and out, but given he is a year younger than most other draftees that doesn't concern me too much. Is capable of a very big day out, as 31 possessions and 6 goals against North Ballarat shows. Given his age, size and endurance qualities I reckon he is worth as high as a 2nd round pick with a view to the future, but he might go a bit later. Josh Moore Details: Club: Scoresby DOB: 7 Sep 85 Hgt: 190cm Wgt: 77kg Position: Flanker Natural foot: Right Honours: Victoria Metro 2003 Interchange in TAC Team of the Year National Draft Camp Invitee 2003 TAC Stats: 2002: 10 games, 1 goal, 11.5 PPG. 2003: 19 games, 12 goals, 21.8 PPG. Profile: Moore was a handy player for Eastern last year in their premiership team, and had a top season for the Ranges in 2003. Moore spent most of the year as a key forward but was used in defence on occasions. The cousin of Adelaide player Brent Reilly, Josh's most impressive asset is his willingness to work up the ground to get possessions. He really does cover a lot of territory and gathers a hell of lot of footy for someone who is supposed to be playing a key position. He had a great start to the year playing almost as an onballer including 34 possessions round 1. Josh was selected for Victoria Metro as first emergency but didn't get a run during the carnival. Moore works hard to cover ground and has good defensive skills such as tackling. He seems to read the play well and runs to position well, always ends up on the end of a lot of plays. Not 100% sure on his skills, but they are usually OK. My main query would be physicality, he is still pretty light and doesn't use his body much at all. Given his size and knack of finding the footy I think he should be taken around the middle of the draft, but he needs to bulk up and learn the physical side of the game a bit more at this stage. Brendan Weinert Details: Club: Upper Ferntree Gully DOB: 6 May 85 Hgt: 187cm Wgt: 80kg Position: Forward Natural foot: Left Honours: State Screening Camp Invitee 2003 TAC Stats: 2002: 15 games, 12 goals, 8.9 PPG. 2003: 16 games, 23 goals, 20.2 PPG. Profile: Brendan doesn’t seem to be mentioned much as a possible draftee, but he is one of my smokies to be a possible late selection or rookie list. I really think this kid has some potential. Weinert is a left-footed forward who also plays a bit further up the ground, but for mine does his best work in the forward 50. However, he can gather plenty of footy playing on the ball and can be damaging too. His left foot is very damaging, really raking kicks that cover a lot of ground. He is a tremendous pass by foot and is calm under pressure, even when right under the pump he stays calm. He is not afraid to back his evasive skills and is very good at baulking when in trouble. But his main attribute is his marking. Weinert can take some genuine screamers and pack marks despite only standing 187cm. I saw him kick 6 goals one day and three of them were from contested grabs. He flies for a lot of marks, but importantly recovers well if he doesn't take the grab. Is not afraid to use his body either, will crunch blokes if they are in the way. Was a nice set shot in the games I saw, but he kicked 23.20 for the year so perhaps I was lucky. I'm not sure about the defensive side of his game or his pace, and he does tend to be very left-sided. As I said above, he probably won't get picked up because I haven't heard much said about him, but I think he is worth a shot. If not, I'll be hoping he is down at Box Hill in 2004. 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

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