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

[Bill Manspeaker]

Aish still there at #8??? theres more chance of Melbourne winning the flag :P

[tbagrocks]

Aish still there at #8??? theres more chance of Melbourne winning the flag :P

Yeah just the scenario thing :P

Where do you think Aishy will go? IMO about where Toumpas went #4

Outside mids, no matter the skill, seem to slip, crazy yes, but it will happen again

Look at Chad Wingard ;)  Jimmy the Gun could do that next year ;D  Aish at the crows would be perfect, not sure how, but watch for us to trade!

Surely the Dee's won't pick Aish, Dogs would be a nice fit for them! There's my tip

[Bill Manspeaker]

Dees will get him for sure. if they don't,  the Saints will snap him right up

[Master Q]

Aish goes #2 unless Boyd doesn't go #1  :P

[Nige]

Dees will get him for sure. if they don't,  the Saints will snap him right up

That's if the Dees keep the #2 Pick and don't trade it.  :o

[Vinny]

Yeah can't see Aish going lower that #5 :P

[Master Q]

Yeah can't see Aish going lower that #5 :P

*#2

[Mr.Craig]

Luke Dunstan



Woodville-West Torrens 29/1/95 185cm/83kg

Drafted: Round 1, Pick 18 St Kilda

2012 SANFL U/18 Ave: 104.1
2012 SANFL Reserves Ave: 49.6

2013 SANFL U/18 Ave: 94
2013 SANFL Reserves Ave: 91.2
2013 SANFL Seniors Ave: 82.6

Profile

As a DT coach whenever I hear the words "leadership qualities" associated with a rookie it makes me stand up and take notice and Dunstan has that in spades having captained SA in the Under 18 Championships. Not only was he a co-winner of the South Australian MVP award but he was a deserving recipient of All Australian honours. At the Champs Luke averaged 22.6 disposals, 5 marks and 3.8 tackles for 90 DT per game. He transitioned between junior, reserve and senior football in 2013 with it barely having an impact on his output. Dunstan played a single U/18 game for 94 DT and four reserves games (52, 141, 92 and 80) before stepping up to the Eagles' senior side late in the year (74, 93 and 81). His potential to not only play in the midfield but also work off half forward and provide a goal kicking option greatly improves the likelihood he'll be given early opportunities.

SC Paige: Best described as a Luke Ball type, Dunstan is the type of player who has the attributes to one day lead an AFL club as captain, and carve out a 200+ game career. He is physically imposing at the contest, offers leadership above and beyond expectations and had a standout National Championships, fittingly taking home MVP honours with teammate Matthew Scharenberg. Dunstan is one of the most prolific ball winners in the National Championships,  and dominates the stoppages with clearances and his strong tackling.

Bound For Glory: His ability to amass a heap of disposals, combined with the ferocity of his tackling and contested ball-winning ability, makes him a standout prospect this year. However, perhaps Dunstan's biggest strength is his leadership ability. He was made captain of the South Australia under-18 Championship squad this season, and was an integral member of the AFL-AIS Academy. On the AIS trip to Europe, Dunstan was touted as a future leader, as he was, according to the AFL's Cal Twomey, one player who would always bring his teammates back into line, and ensure everyone was working their hardest. For a young player to come to a club with this leadership ability already under his belt is a massive benefit, and is something the Eagles would also benefit from in their young midfield.

Chris25 (BigFooty): His performances over the last 18 months would suggest him to be a very early pick, in the SANFL U18s in particular he has just dominated. Consistently picking up 30+ touches and being named in the bests pretty much every week, as a 17 year old he was often overshadowing his older teammates. And he has carried that form through to the Championships this year. But something makes me think he could slide, just a tad. I'm not sure his kicking is quite as good as some people are making it out to be, I suppose he gets it done but its not always pretty to look at. The fact that he, more often than not, makes the right decisions certainly makes his disposal look a little better.

Fantasy Prospects

There's not much I can knock about Dunstan apart from maybe his weakness on his non preferred right foot and his somewhat poor kick/handball ratio. I think he's the kind of guy you'll be able to rely on for 65-75 scores and a solid price rise (dreaded vests permitting). As always, much hinges on where he ends up but given he should be decently priced you could do a lot worse than pick him.

Media

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-11-01/20-days-to-the-draft-meet-luke-dunstan
http://boundforglorynews.com/2013-draft-profile-luke-dunstan/
http://www.scpaige.com.au/draftees-in-focus-luke-dunstan/
http://madmondayshow.com/2013/07/17/player-profile-luke-dunstan/
http://www.sanfl.com.au/news/sanfl_news/2061/

YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89BAkFONEXg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skoLO3sC4b4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9N5Y6LOZBB4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-sE8aNURJA

[JBs-Hawks]

Come to the Hawks Dunstan :)

[Mr.Craig]

Kade Kolodjashnij



Launceston 9/8/95 188cm/80kg

Drafted: Round 1, Pick 5 Gold Coast

2013 TSL Ave: TBC
2013 TAC Ave: 83

Profile

A rebounding defender from Tassie, Kolodjashnij leapt to prominence with his exceptional Under 18 Championship performances. He averaged 27.4 disposals, 6.4 marks, 2.8 tackles and 106 DT from his five games. He has been likened to Grant Birchall due to his ability to read the ball well, take intercept marks and use his footskills to damaging effect. Also like Birchall, Kade was (jointly) awarded the Harrison Medal as the best Div 2 player in the Champs. Previous winners also include Mitch Robinson, Jake Neade, Sam Darley and Craig Bird. The biggest knock on Kolodjashnij is a lack of competitiveness in one on one contests and this is one of the major aspects he'll need to work on prior to an AFL debut. 37% of his possessions in the Champs were contested so hopefully he is well on the way to improving that side of his game.

Bound For Glory: His performance in the National Championships was sensational. Going into the Under 18s Championships there were queries regarding whether he could find the ball enough to be effective. It was widely known that he could read the play and provide damaging rebounds, but whether he could prove his worth as a high calibre midfielder which was yet to be determined. With an average of just over 27 disposals across the five games, he showed that he could indeed rack up the ball. On top of that, what he did with it was outstanding.

He has a booming left foot, but you're more likely to see him use it for short passes or rebound 50s than bomb it out of the centre square or roost 65-metre goals. He's that type of intercept player who will hurt the opposition on the rebound with his foot skills and also his pace. For his size, he's not as good defensively as he should be. He can take a contested mark and play that Josh Gibson type third up. But as soon as he doesn't have support around him, he becomes exposed.

SC Paige: Kolodjashnij earned a late call up to the 32 man AFL-AIS squad, the only Tasmania in this year's crop, and the 188cm utility impressed throughout the European leg of the journey, and backed that up with a stunning performance in Division 2 of the carnival, which has seen him go from a third to fourth round prospect, to now a first round, possibly as high as top 10. Kolodjashnij loves to play the flanks, he led the way in Division 2 for rebound 50's, and his left foot is a weapon - slicing through zones, and penetrating well over 50m, very much in the way that Grant Birchall sets up play from defence for Hawthorn.

Mad Monday: Kade is one of, if not the most impressive playmaking defender I've seen in the U18 Championships, with elite kicking and decision making attributes to identify an attacking opportunity for his Tasmanian side and capitalise with an instant counter-attack. Standing at 188cm, he possesses the height to also rotate as a third tall in a "worst case" scenario and has great stride to be potentially pushed into an outside midfielder's role during a game. This kid has tremendous potential, and has everything to show that he could even nab a half-back flank position in the All-Australian team within the next 5-10 years!

Fantasy Prospects

I expect Kade to be named as a MID/DEF and depending on which team he goes to I could see a similar DT output to Vlastuin with some really nice games mixed with some average 40-60 efforts. As long as the team that drafts him is willing to persist and give him an extended run he should be a decent cash cow in the backline.

Media

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-11-19/two-days-to-the-draft-meet-kade-kolodjashnij
http://boundforglorynews.com/2013-draft-profile-kade-kolodjashnij/
http://www.scpaige.com.au/draftees-in-focus-kade-kolodjashnij/
http://madmondayshow.com/2013/07/17/player-profile-kade-kolodjashnij/
http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2013/07/06/382916_sport-news.html
http://www.examiner.com.au/story/1670264/twin-success-for-kolodjashnij-brothers/
http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-04-08/late-starter-making-most-of-europe-trip

YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wm0-LPwFDdI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buY-hk0ug9c

[Mr.Craig]

TAC Cup Future Stars Top 10 -

1. Boyd
2. Aish
3. Kelly
4. Scharenberg
5. J.Billings
6. Sheed
7. Ben Lennon
8. McDonald
9. Kolodjasnij
10. Bontempelli

[Mr.Craig]

I read last week that Josh Glenn from Centrals has knocked back an opportunity to attend the national combine. Bit of a shame because I felt like he was a chance to be picked up, most likely in the rookie draft.

[Mr.Craig]

I've amended Tom Boyd's profile to reflect his performance in the TAC grand final.

[specky92]

Hey MC do you know much about Sam Heavyside? If so, what are his chances of getting drafted?

[Mr.Craig]

Hey MC do you know much about Sam Heavyside? If so, what are his chances of getting drafted?

I hope so because his numbers have been amazing this year.

He missed out in 2012 and hasn't received an invite to the national combine this year which suggests there isn't a huge amount of interest about him but he'll be at the state combine and I think he's done enough to be a late pick or rookie draft selection.