Mr.Craig's Rookie Spotlight 2014 (Index On Page 1)

[Mr.Craig]

Our reputations are saved. :P

I will do a profile on Isaiah Miller when I get the chance. Today or tomorrow sometime.

[specky92]

Our reputations are saved. :P

I will do a profile on Isaiah Miller when I get the chance. Today or tomorrow sometime.

Bendigo lad!  8)

[Nige]

The word is that the Pies are confident of getting Bontempelli at 10 because Brisbane will take McCarthy at 7.

[Mr.Craig]

Isaiah Miller



Bendigo Pioneers 7/1/95 187cm/82kg

2013 TAC Ave: 87.1
2013 VFL Ave: 54.5

Profile

Miller is one of the most promising rebound defenders in the draft pool. His composure, marking and speed have been highlighted as key attributes and he's shown the ability to move through the midfield and even kick a few goals (5.1 in the TAC this year). The AIS/AFL graduate didn't have a huge U/18 carnival from a DT perspective, only averaging 56.7 points per game but in the TAC he should the ability to put in 25+ disposal games and was a consistent scorer, particularly in the back end of the season. His numbers for 2013 were 77, 65, 112, 54, 84, 82, 78, 121, 117 and 81. Isaiah was given the opportunity to play two games in the VFL for Bendigo Gold and while he didn't get a lot of it he was named in the best in one of the matches (51 and 58 DT). With his skill set, decent size and early birthday he strikes me as someone who could play games in 2014.

Mad Monday: The AIS Academy Player is a reliable medium defender who uses the ball with extreme precision. Isaiah Miller was responsible for the kick in duties for Vic Country due to his consistency to make good decisions and hit targets. Reads the play really well, allowing him to leave his man and become that third man up and use his reliable overhead marking to his team's advantage. Miller has the capabilities to win his own ball, but usually due to his hard running more so than winning contested ball. Isn't a big contested ball winner but is still very good in the air and along the ground in one on one contests. Not only is a Miller reliable third man, he is also a very talented rebounder, where he can really use his elite kicking to set up play from defence.

SC Paige: When allowed to play his natural game, Miller is a damaging half back flanker, who loves to rebound, run and carry and hit up a target with his elite kick. Very much a play-maker, Miller gets involved in lots of scoring chains, and his attack from defence propels his team forward into attack, with a brilliant ability to read the play, and assess options under pressure. Although not long penetrating kick, Miller's ability to find targets around the ground is uncanny, he is super reliable with the ball in hand. In a modern era of which teams demand versatility, Miller has shown he is more than capable of playing through the midfield, which is where his athleticism and good aerobic capacity allows him to get to plenty of contests, and always manages to find plenty of space.

Bound For Glory: Miller isn't someone you're likely to play on a key defender given he isn't of the build that could match a hulking forward for strength. Miller is more of a Josh Gibson type who drops into the hole, takes an important mark and then pinpoints a kick through the opposition's zone. In may ways, Miller can be compared to Gibson's teammate Grant Birchall who is also of a similar build and kicking efficiency. While neither player is overly contested, they don't particularly need to when they have the deadly boots that they do. In terms of medium defenders, Isaiah Miller will be battling with Launceston's Kade Kolodjashnij for the first picked in the 2013 National Draft. Kolodjashnij can play a little taller and has more versatility while Miller is the better kick and can move a little better.

Fantasy Prospects

I think he's in the best handful of backline rookie prospects on offer. Hopefully he finds an accommodating team and gets a decent chink of games. I wouldn't expect any big scores but one thing I do like about him is his kick/handball ratio which sometimes exceeds 4:1.

Media

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-10-20/isaiah-miller
http://madmondayshow.com/2013/08/20/player-profile-isaiah-miller/
http://www.scpaige.com.au/draftees-in-focus-isaiah-miller/
http://boundforglorynews.com/2013-draft-profile-isaiah-miller/
http://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/story/1725002/isaiah-miller-stays-in-zone-as-draft-camp-approaches/

[KoopKicka]

looks a bit like Vlastuin this year sorta (I think :P) just, as you said, needs a club that will give him some game time.

Did you manage to find anything on Jacka? Can imagine it might be a bit hard :P

[Mr.Craig]

looks a bit like Vlastuin this year sorta (I think :P) just, as you said, needs a club that will give him some game time.

Did you manage to find anything on Jacka? Can imagine it might be a bit hard :P

I'll put his stats up for you in a bit. SANFL players are a pain to do. :(

[specky92]

Wow, battling with Kade Koladjashnij? And he's potentially going to GC with pick 5 isn't he? I didn't realise Isaiah was that highly rated

[Mr.Craig]

Liam Jacka

SANFL U/18: 47, 104, 43, 70, 79, 103, 71, 69, 73, 129, 93, 72, 37, 76, 68, 97, 116, 144, 77, 73 (Ave: 82)
SANFL Reserves: 44

A few things I noticed from those stats - when he's on he's on but there's some inconsistency in his output. Sometimes he'd be up the top of the stats sheet and other times in the middle of the pack. Also, he didn't tackle much at all, I wasn't keeping count but I'm pretty sure he averaged less than one a game. Ironically his season high was five tackles and that was in the reserves game he played. Also seemed to spray his shots at goal a bit.

[KoopKicka]

Liam Jacka

SANFL U/18: 47, 104, 43, 70, 79, 103, 71, 69, 73, 129, 93, 72, 37, 76, 68, 97, 116, 144, 77, 73 (Ave: 82)
SANFL Reserves: 44

A few things I noticed from those stats - when he's on he's on but there's some inconsistency in his output. Sometimes he'd be up the top of the stats sheet and other times in the middle of the pack. Also, he didn't tackle much at all, I wasn't keeping count but I'm pretty sure he averaged less than one a game. Ironically his season high was five tackles and that was in the reserves game he played. Also seemed to spray his shots at goal a bit.

Thanks a million MC, he's a chance to sneak onto a rookie list, so if that happens he could be a very interesting option down the track, plays as your typical M/F

[Nige]

Time for the 'Sharpshooters'. Kicking them off... Ben Lennon

[Mr.Craig]

So pissed off, just spent 90 mins doing a profile then it suddenly disappeared off the screen. :o :'(

[Nige]

So pissed off, just spent 90 mins doing a profile then it suddenly disappeared off the screen. :o :'(

:o :(

Who for?

[Mr.Craig]

So pissed off, just spent 90 mins doing a profile then it suddenly disappeared off the screen. :o :'(

:o :(

Who for?

You'll see. I'm doing it all again now. >:(

[Nige]

So pissed off, just spent 90 mins doing a profile then it suddenly disappeared off the screen. :o :'(

:o :(

Who for?

You'll see. I'm doing it all again now. >:(

I'm now looking forward to this one more than I have others.

[Mr.Craig]

Sam Gray



Port Adelaide Magpies 1/2/92 176cm/75kg

2013 SANFL Senior Ave: 105.5

Profile

Gray had a stellar 2013 which saw him easily win the Port Magpies B+F while also finishing runner up in the Magarey Medal. He is a small midfielder/forward who is a certified ball magnet, in Round 22 vs West Adelaide he had a whopping 33 kicks, 3 handballs, 16 marks, 4 tackles and a goal. His DT scores for the season were 102, 121, 104, 120, 109, 85, 84, 135, 112, 124, 94, 74, 96, 121, 87, 86, 108, 116, 170 and 63. Sam has begun training with the Power and speculation is rife that Port will use a rookie draft selection to pick him up (that's if another team doesn't steal him first).

While Sam probably lacks the height and endurance to be a full-time member of an AFL midfield, his 40 goals in the last two years suggests he has the potential to be used further up the ground at half forward or in the pocket. This would likely put him in competition with Hitchcock, Neade and Mitchell but I think the scope is there for Gray to become a regular in the senior side if he puts in the hard yards.

Fantasy Prospects

Gray will need to follow the same path as Mitchell did in 2013 by fighting his way up from the rookie list. It would be no surprise if he ended up doing just that and his scoring potential means he could be a handy DT selection. I wouldn't expect tons from him every week but an averaging around the low 70's isn't beyond him (although green vests may put paid to that).

Media

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/port-adelaide-swoops-on-magarey-medal-runnerup-sam-gray/story-fnia6ojc-1226751569161
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/port-adelaide8217s-sam-gray-could-up-his-value-on-magarey-medal-night/story-fnii0294-1226719244779
http://www.portadelaidefc.com.au/news/2013-10-14/gray-wins-first-mclean-medal
http://www.sanfl.com.au/news/sanfl_news/2148/

YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dVgEmKS9Ps