Mr.Craig's Rookie Spotlight

[Mr.Craig]

Liam McBean



Birthday - 25/8/94
203cm/86kg
Calder Cannons
Price/Position - $102,700 Fwd/Ruck

Drafted Round 2 Pick 33 Richmond

McBean was one of the few ruckmen to be picked up in this year's draft. He averaged 12.6 disposals and 47DT in his three Under 18 Championship games and played 11 times with the Cannons for scores of 40, 96, 100, 67, 55, 38, 91, 70, 42, 79 and 95 (ave: 70.2). While his bargain basement price and DPP will tempt some coaches, it's highly unlikely we'll see Liam in action for Richmond any time soon. Given his ability to play back, forward and ruck hopefully he'll get his opportunity at some point but it would take a series of LTI's for that to occur in 2013.

Kevin Sheehan says: Lightly framed ruckman/key defender who can win the ball in the air and at ground level. Very agile player who is gifted athletically and makes good decisions with the football. Is an accurate shot for goal when he goes forward. Played mainly as a key defender in 2012 AFL U18s Champs where he’s still developing his game. Dangerous as a tall forward.

Richmond Recruiting Manager Francis Jackson says: “Liam has played the last two years as a forward/ruckman with the Calder Cannons, combining his time with school football commitments at St Bernard's College. He is a highly rated young developing ruckman who has also been a member of the AFL AIS Academy in 2011 and 2012. Liam's strengths are his abilities to read the flow of the game and get to many contests with his running ability.

His overhead ruckwork is very good, but his standout feature is his ability to play as an extra midfielder on the ground, making good decisions with the football and damaging with his possessions. Liam is an excellent user of the ball by foot and is a big man who we genuinely want to have the ball in his hands due to his creativity and efficiency. He will be given very chance to develop into the versatile tall at AFL level we think he can be, and will be pushing for his chance in the next few years.”

Media -

http://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/6301/newsid/151555/default.aspx
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/afl/localfooty/mcbean-joins-tigers/story-fn53khk2-1226526374084
http://www.contestedfooty.com/2012/09/liam-mcbean-2012-afl-draft-prospect/

YouTube -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JABIiLDdLC8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yejJZ-LiMxU

[stew42]

203cm/86kg  :o :o :o
That's a skinny lad!

[Jroo]

203cm/86kg  :o :o :o
That's a skinny lad!

Yeah very skinny. Won't see him in 2013. Will be given time to bulk up. I've heard he moves pretty good for a big guy and has good foot skills. Great work with the write up Craigy!

[The_Captain]

hha his last name BEAN. BEANPOLE! not for about 2-3 years i reckon !!

[Mr.Craig]

Dylan Van Unen



Birthday - 22/6/90
189cm/88kg
Frankston
Price/Position - $102,700 Def

Drafted Round 3 Pick 51 Essendon

Listed in the Herald Sun's "20 Draftees Set To Make The Biggest Impact Next Season", Van Unen is a mature age defender who failed to make an impression in three seasons at Box Hill but has resurrected his career at Frankston. He was named in the best for 10/18 games in 2012 (including the last 4) and produced DT scores of 32, 64, 84, 70, 59, 67, 66, 60, 54, 95, 59, 89, 48, 54, 65, 55, 52 and 63 (Ave: 63.1). Given the positive signs coming out of Essendon about his prospects he needs to be seriously considered.

Kevin Sheehan says: A flexible defender for Frankston in the VFL, Van Unen's form may have been underrated because Frankston had very few wins. He is noted for his speed and agility and is comfortable playing on talls or smalls.

Essendon Recruiter Adrian Dodoro says: “Van Unen is a defender who can play tall and small, we think he is the sort of player who can step up and play senior footy straight away for us."

Essendon Coach James Hird says: “Dylan Van Unen who has been playing at Frankston is a half back flanker who can probably fit straight into our team after we get him big and strong.”

Media -

http://essendonfc.com.au/mobile/news-article.asp?nid=10216
http://www.footballnation.com.au/afl/afl-clubs/van-unen-and-jones-become-quick-fixes-for-clubs/
http://www.footballnation.com.au/latest-news/draft-prospect-in-focus-dylan-van-unen/

YouTube -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?hl=en-GB&v=_qxhHj8pfKc

[6ft Hick]

Hi Mr Craig, what can you tell us about Aidan Riley from the Crows.
Has had some reasonable scores and looked OK in the NAB Cup.
Has played the last 2 seasons but only the last 4 rounds of each year.
He is twice the price of Crouch but i feel he may get more games this year.

[Mr.Craig]

Hi Mr Craig, what can you tell us about Aidan Riley from the Crows.
Has had some reasonable scores and looked OK in the NAB Cup.
Has played the last 2 seasons but only the last 4 rounds of each year.
He is twice the price of Crouch but i feel he may get more games this year.

I'm just keeping this thread for draftees but I will do an individual player profile for you. Will get to it after I've done one more rookie profile. :)

[Mr.Craig]

Nicholas Kommer



Birthday - 28/9/90
179cm/80kg
East Perth
Price/Position - $102,700 Mid

Drafted Round 4 Pick 73 Essendon

One of the more unique personalities to be drafted, Kommer has taken a different route to AFL ranks than most. He's a rough as guts, tough as nails larrikin who apparently is adept at sledging and could end up in a tagging role at Essendon. After an unsuccessful stint at Claremont he returned to amateur club Scarborough before finding his feet at East Perth. He had a number of 20+ possession outings in his 15 games at WAFL level for 2012, kicking 12 goals and averaging a healthy 76DT. His scores for the season were 59, 86, 55, 76, 78, 60, 74, 59, 60, 50, 64, 96, 117, 81 and 126. I think Nick is a chance to play 6 to 8 games next season if all goes well, maybe someone to look at if and when he hits the bubble.

Kevin Sheehan says: Kommer trained with Essendon in the early part of the pre-season after a strong year with East Perth in the WAFL. At 22, Kommer's hard, competitive style should see him capable of playing at AFL level in 2013.

Essendon Coach James Hird says: “Nick Kommer is a guy we are looking to play senior footy next year, he is very fast, very good with the ball and very fit.”

Essendon Recruiter Adrian Dodoro says: Nick Kommer is very, very hard. We think we might have got a bit of a smokey there to be honest."

Media -

http://www.scarboroughafc.com.au/sysnews/126

[kilbluff1985]

Mr.Craig do you mind if i copy&paste that to a Bombers Chat facebook page?

[Mr.Craig]

Mr.Craig do you mind if i copy&paste that to a Bombers Chat facebook page?

No worries. :)

[Mr.Craig]

Just a little sneak peek at the exciting prospects for 2014. :D

        James Aish - SANFL Seniors Ave: 69.8

    Luke Dunstan - SA Under 18's Ave: 104.1
                              SANFL Reserves Ave: 49.6

      Jesse Hogan - WAFL Colts Ave: 99.6

       Matt Crouch - TAC Ave: 94.2

       Jack Billings - TAC Ave: 87.8

          Josh Kelly - TAC Ave: 84.3

       Lewis Taylor - TAC Ave: 82

         Jack Martin - WAFL Colts Ave: 77.5

Matt Scharenberg - SA Under 18's Ave: 91.5
                                SANFL Reserves Ave: 74.6
                                SANFL Seniors Ave: 61.5

     Thomas Boyd - TAC Ave: 76.3 (excluding a 0 which was presumably due to injury)

    Luke Reynolds - SANFL Reserves Ave: 59.6

    Dominic Sheed - WAFL Colts Ave: 85
                                WAFL Seniors Ave: 70.6

[Ziplock]

you can grab sme stats from here as well :

http://www.fanfooty.com.au/forum/index.php/topic,69078.msg921822.html#msg921822

:P

AverageS:
Aish: 80.2
Dunstan: 75
Hogan: 71
Crouch: 85.75
Billings: 83.25
Kelly: 69.75
Taylor: 73.75
Martin: 101.75
Scharenberg: 82
Boyd: 59.5
Reynolds: NA
Sheed: 56

[Mr.Craig]

Looks like Kane Mitchell might be going to Collingwood. :)

http://www.sportsnewsfirst.com.au/articles/2012/12/06/collingwood-look-to-mature-runner/

[Jukes]

Looks like Kane Mitchell might be going to Collingwood. :)

http://www.sportsnewsfirst.com.au/articles/2012/12/06/collingwood-look-to-mature-runner/

It's great for him to learn from the best at the pies under Swanny, Pendles, Ball, Beams and of course Bucks, not good for a dt point of view unless at least one of the pies premium mids goes down or Kane impresses in training and nab cup.

Also two Claremont boys in that list above Craigy :D :D :D Martin and Hogan, both guns. We're a flowering dynasty, won the league two years in a row, two reserves titles in a row and getting a whole load of our boys going into the afl (Tom Lee, Mitchell, Hogan and Martin)

[Mr.Craig]

Looks like Kane Mitchell might be going to Collingwood. :)

http://www.sportsnewsfirst.com.au/articles/2012/12/06/collingwood-look-to-mature-runner/

It's great for him to learn from the best at the pies under Swanny, Pendles, Ball, Beams and of course Bucks, not good for a dt point of view unless at least one of the pies premium mids goes down or Kane impresses in training and nab cup.

Also two Claremont boys in that list above Craigy :D :D :D Martin and Hogan, both guns. We're a flowering dynasty, won the league two years in a row, two reserves titles in a row and getting a whole load of our boys going into the afl (Tom Lee, Mitchell, Hogan and Martin)

You've got a bit to go before reaching the 9 premierships from the last 13 seasons achieved by Centrals in the SANFL but you're certainly pumping out the talent!