Mr.Craig's Rookie Spotlight

[Tominator]

And I thought I knew rookies... Hats off to you mate you're doing a ripper job

[Mr.Craig]

Jaeger O'Meara



Birthday - 23/2/94
182cm/78kg
Club - Gold Coast Suns
Price/Position - $108,500 Mid

O'Meara was selected in the 2011 mini draft after receiving massive wraps for his performances in the WAFL and Colts. Upon arriving at Gold Coast he was promptly given the No.1 jumper which provides an indication as to the high hopes they've got for his future at the club. Last year he became the youngest ever player to appear in the NAB Cup and went on to play 6 NEAFL matches before succumbing to a groin injury which required surgery. All the indications coming from GC point to Jaeger playing Round 1 and having significant AFL exposure this season. I don't have any NEAFL DT stats but in the Colts he averaged 98.6 and in the WAFL 80.6 which are healthy numbers indeed.

There's more than a few people who believe O'Meara has superior abilities and potential than No.1 draft pick Lachie Whitfield. 

Kevin Sheehan says - "He's got freakish natural talent, all around athletic ability, as well as ball winning ability, and evasiveness to get through traffic, acceleration, a brilliant level of natural speed and endurance, at the elite category in both, and he'll be a fine leader, so there's not much more to talent ID than that. Even off the ground he's an outstanding young fellow, so to use the old cliché, he ticks every box. It's very rare. There might be only one every few years as good as that."

Media -

http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2013/01/26/446120_gold-coast-afl.html
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/afl/more-news/suns-gun-recruit-moves-like-jaeger/story-e6frf9jf-1226537532395
http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/151275/default.aspx
http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/129489/default.aspx
http://www.sportsnewsfirst.com.au/articles/2012/07/02/young-sun-o-meara-sent-for-surgery/
http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/afl/afl-great-tim-watson-backs-gold-coast-suns-youngster-jaeger-omeara-to-defy-the-age-barrier/story-e6frepex-1226326550210
http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2012/02/01/386931_gold-coast-afl.html
http://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/afl/jaeger-omeara-has-scouts-in-spin/comments-e6frg1xu-1226161058011

YouTube -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E11bE6sPJtc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sswIAfYatXo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZrt60tGOlA&feature=relmfu

[Tominator]

can you do Brad Crouch please?

[Mr.Craig]

can you do Brad Crouch please?

He's up next but I won't get around to it until tonight probably. ;)

[Tominator]

can you do Brad Crouch please?

He's up next but I won't get around to it until tonight probably. ;)

not good enough  ::)

[Mr.Craig]

Brad Crouch



Birthday - 12/1/94
184cm/83kg
Club - West Adelaide, Adelaide Crows
Price/Position - $108,500 Mid

Crouch joined O'Meara in being picked up as part of the 2011 mini draft and was then on-sold to the Crows. Despite suffering a hamstring injury early in the season he still managed 17 games for West Adelaide in the SANFL and was named in the best on 9 occasions while averaging close to 20 touches. One of Brad's best games came in September when he racked up 31 disposals against the Roosters however he was well down on that in the grand final humiliation at the hands of Norwood. He's probably thinking what could have been given that the Crows wanted to send him to Norwood but were knocked back by the SANFL. Brad's DT scores in the senior side for the season were 51, 96, 78, 25, 92, 65, 76, 60, 66, 76, 57, 61, 65, 90, 53, 119 and 32 (Ave: 68.3).

Anyway, the kid is a beast. He's AFL ready and even with the Crows coming off an excellent season I can see him breaking into the side and making an early impact. His story has mirrored Dangerfield's in many ways and it wouldn't surprise me if he becomes an elite midfielder in 4 or 5 years time. As for his DT potential, he gets a lot of the ball but handballs far too much and needs to take a few more marks in order to bring those scores up a bit. Keep a very close watch on him.

Andy Collins says - "I rate him really highly, as high as I rated Patty Dangerfield when I took Patty," said Collins, who claimed Crouch at the SANFL mini-draft four years after securing Dangerfield the same way. "I had Patty at 17, and Brad at 17 is nearly identical in personality, drive and competitiveness. Isn't it wonderful for Adelaide to have a player of similar speed, power and aggression? Like Patty, his thinking is at a different speed to most footballers of a young age. I think Patty's love to be physical towards the opposition may be a little bit superior to Brad but then Brad's offensive game and ball getting ability is probably superior to Patty's at the same age."

Media -

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/151201/default.aspx
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/brad-crouch-has-big-things-in-store/story-e6freckc-1226489531615
http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/teenage-crouch-ready-to-pounce/story-fndv7pj3-1226436157992
http://www.afc.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/4417/newsid/148589/default.aspx
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/brad-crouch-shines-in-crows-trial/story-e6frecoc-1226272152874

YouTube -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RYaj1Zjx4U
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GitAybhqCWI&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UM305D50XgY

[henry]

Both O'Meara and Crouch are in my team currently. A real bonus of them is that they are 50k cheaper than the likes of Whitfield and Wines. If you have time, would you be able to have a look at my schoolmate Josh Kelly? I know he won't play next year even if he gets drafted but I'd be interested in seeing your thoughts on him  :)

[Jukes]

Extra media on Sam Colquhoun (page 3)

THERE's a good reason why Sam Colquhoun was largely missing in action at last week's NAB AFL Draft Combine.

During one of the most important weeks of his football life, Colquhoun understandably had more pressing things on his mind.

On Sunday afternoon, the South Australian teenager will line up for Central Districts in the SANFL reserves Grand Final at AAMI Stadium.

All eyes will be on the 17-year-old in the SANFL decider, much like they will be in November's NAB AFL Draft.

Colquhoun is considered a likely top 20 pick, but the talented youngster told AFL.com.au he just hoped a club would pick him up.

"I've got no expectations, just hoping for an opportunity," Colquhoun said.

As a junior, Colquhoun represented South Australia in cricket at under-15 and under-17 level.

But his focus is now firmly fixed on football this week, and in to the future.

While he was a notable absentee for much of the combine, Colquhoun flew in to Melbourne on Thursday and was interviewed by a number of AFL clubs.

"We didn't quite get to see the best of him test out here, but I'm sure there'll be plenty of eyes on him Sunday, that's for sure," AFL Academies Development Manager Michael Ablett told AFL.com.au.

Those same eyes would have marvelled at his consistent performances for South Australia right throughout the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships earlier in the year.

So much so, the rebounding defender was adjudged his state's MVP and earned All-Australian under-18 honours.

"He had a super championships and was probably the most consistent performer out of everyone in the five games," Ablett said.

Colquhoun was damaging off half-back, averaging 28.4 disposals and six marks for the carnival.

His overlap run was piercing and his unflappable nature engineered much confidence in South Australian teammates.

South Australian under-18 coach Brenton Phillips said Colquhoun has a rare sense of knowing, at all times, where the football is heading.

"His ability to be one and two steps in front of the contest and read it and get to the next play is quite amazing," Phillips told AFL.com.au.

Ablett agrees, saying Colquhoun is an outstanding talent with the necessary football nous.

"He's a little from the old school. He's grown up with a fantastic knowledge of the game and his ability to read it; that's why he finds it so well," Ablett said.

Central Districts is renowned for its one-on-one brand of football, but Phillips rang Colquhoun's reserves coach before the under-18 championships with the specific role for him to be the "drop off" player.

Importantly, Phillips said Colquhoun has successfully reverted back to the Bulldogs' accountable style of football during the SANFL finals series.

But it is his attacking flair and a knack of thinking through different scenarios on the football field that will appeal to prospective AFL clubs.

"You sort of always look at the guy who gets the most football at championship level and he's the one," Phillips said.

Colquhoun admits even he exceeded his own expectations during the season.

"My goal at the start of the year was to play state footy and senior footy at Centrals," he said.

And while he didn't manage a senior game for Centrals, you get the feeling a reserves premiership on Sunday and being drafted in November will make up for all of that.

Source: http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/149297/default.aspx

[Tominator]

Sam Colquhoun is gonna be a gun. Hoping he slips through to the Crows but I doubt he will given how dramatically his draft stocks have risen this year. A bit like Brent Reilly: sets up the play from defence and very good at the 1-2. Him and Toumpas off half back for SA were utterly devastating at this years champs

[LaHug]

Does the fact that Viney will now be taken in the second round (due to father son) make him cheaper than first round draftees?
If so, definitely likely to be in my team.

[monstrum]

I thought goldcoast were making melbourne use theyre 2nd pick...  :-\

[Mr.Craig]

Does the fact that Viney will now be taken in the second round (due to father son) make him cheaper than first round draftees?
If so, definitely likely to be in my team.

He probably should be a bit cheaper but we'll have to wait and see on that. As it stands I'm not keen on Viney at all, I'd rank a bunch of other guys ahead of him in terms of scoring potential plus I worry about Melbourne pulling another Tom Couch on us and letting him linger in the seconds.

Both O'Meara and Crouch are in my team currently. A real bonus of them is that they are 50k cheaper than the likes of Whitfield and Wines. If you have time, would you be able to have a look at my schoolmate Josh Kelly? I know he won't play next year even if he gets drafted but I'd be interested in seeing your thoughts on him  :)

If they do end up being at that price then I'd imagine a lot of people will be bypassing Whitfield/Toumpas/Viney and picking those two instead. I'd probably prefer not to do a profile on Kelly just to avoid confusion but since you asked I'll whip something up.

Kelly, Jack Martin, Jesse Hogan and James Aish should be all the buzz come DT 2014.

[Mr.Craig]

I thought goldcoast were making melbourne use theyre 2nd pick...  :-\

Gold Coast went with Jack Martin and Melbourne got their (boy) man.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/149328/default.aspx

[Jukes]

Tom Lee (page 6) has been snared by St Kilda.

ST KILDA has secured West Australian forward Tom Lee on day one of the Gillette AFL Trade Period.

The 21-year old tall forward comes to the Saints as part of a pre-draft selection trade with Greater Western Sydney. The Saints traded away pick 12 for Lee and will also receive picks 24 and 43.

The Giants had the rights to Lee as he had spent a year on an AFL list when he was drafted to Adelaide in 2008.

Lee, who stands at 195cm and weighs 94 kilograms, kicked 60 goals for WAFL club Claremont this season and was part of its premiership win.

St Kilda head of football Chris Pelchen said the Saints had scored a coup by landing the ready-made forward while still holding a strong position in the coming NAB AFL Draft.

"Full credit to our list manager Ameet Bains and recruiting manager Tony Elshaug on securing a player who is capable of playing senior football for the Saints in 2013, while also maintaining our position within the first 25 selections at this year's draft," Pelchen said in a statement released by the Saints.

The Saints could still feature in the first round of the draft as they are expected to be awarded pick 13 as compensation for losing Brendon Goddard to Essendon in free agency.

Long-term tall forwards are a priority for the Saints as veterans Justin Koschitzke and Nick Riewoldt both start next season aged 30.

Source: http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/149378/default.aspx

[henry]

Don't worry about doing one on Josh then mate, I agree now it would probably lead to confusion. Cheers for all the effort you have put into the profiles, I've loved reading them.