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

[specky92]

Thanks MC, I used to watch him and Stringer tear games apart in juniors playing in the same team as my brother.

[Nige]

Ranges absolutely dominated the Rays today. Boyd starred, get around him.

[Nige]

It's looking increasingly likely that former-Hawk Mitch Thorp will be picked up this year with 8-10 clubs interested. He's been very impressive in the TSL.

[Mr.Craig]

Marcus Bontempelli



Northern Knights 24/11/95 191cm/83kg

Drafted: Round 1, Pick 4 Western Bulldogs

2012 TAC Ave: 65.1
2013 TAC Ave: 93.3

Profile

Bontempelli is one of the rare taller midfielders in the draft pool this year but in the short term clubs will probably view him more as a potential back flanker. He has a great skill set that includes a solid pair of hands, a penetrating kick and good speed. Marcus is pretty handy when he's pushed forward too, kicking multiple goals on a number of occasions this season including a 5.1 effort against North Ballarat. His TAC scores for the year have been 72, 138, 96, 104, 113, 69, 97 and 58. While Bontempelli was a little disappointing during the Champs (averaging 52 DT over 4 games) there is plenty to suggest he will be a high level footballer in the years to come.

Knightmare (BigFooty): Best known for his 50 disposal, 10 goal game in school footy through the midfield. Bontempelli can play pretty much anywhere. Off a back flank he can really break the lines with his pace but also has a nice leap on him making him a weapon in the air when he pushes forward. He has a nice combination of athletic gifts with above average speed, agility and endurance at his height. He also has some real penetration on that left foot and has the ability to do some major damage. As a midfielder he's still developing his inside game but it's coming along nicely with his clean hands and his improving ability to win his own ball and distribute by hand so there's plenty to work with.

Mad Monday: Marcus has many weapons in his football arsenal to persuade all AFL recruiters and scouts that he can be a very effective outside midfielder in years to come at the next level. The one thing that has impressed me when watching him at both the Northern Knights and for Vic Metro in the U18 Championships is that he possesses terrific footy IQ, an intangible quality that is almost as important as the tangible attributes (speed, agility, kicking etc.). He knows when and where to get on the end of the footy and disposes of it very cleanly, either short or long due to his booming left boot!

Bound For Glory: As a half back, I liken him to Luke Hodge. Firstly, his long kicking makes him an offensive threat. Secondly, he reads the play so well when it comes into the defensive 50. He knows where the ball is going and he backs himself to get it whilst always knowing where his man is. He applies plenty of defensive pressure through chasing and tackling. In 2012, he regularly had five or more tackles in TAC Cup games. Bontempelli's height and offensive skills make him a potent rebounding half back. When he puts on size, he'll be able to get the inside ball. Once he builds a more rounded game at AFL level, the opposition better watch out, because he will be the type of player who can do serious damage.

SC Paige: Bontempelli - the cousin of St Kilda's Nick Dal Santo, also has a fantastic leap, and when forward can play like a key position forward, down back he can fly over packs to kill the ball or take an intercept mark, and below his knees he has sticky fingers. If this wasn't enough, Bontempelli has elite endurance - he just runs all day. He's not afraid to take on the responsibility of the kick-in's, and will transition to AFL level with ease.

Fantasy Prospects

There are some concerns about Marcus going missing at times and also questions about how his skills will translate to the AFL but on the plus side he is a good shot at receiving DPP status and he does have decent scoring potential. I'm not sure at this stage if he'll play regular games in 2014 so he might be one to look at if and when he hits the bubble.

Media

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-11-22/bontempellis-dog-delight
http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-10-26/26-days-to-the-draft-meet-marcus-bontempelli
http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-10-07/bontempellis-extra-mile
http://madmondayshow.com/2013/07/16/player-profile-marcus-bontempelli/
http://boundforglorynews.com/2013-draft-profile-marcus-bontempelli/
http://www.scpaige.com.au/draftees-in-focus-marcus-bontempelli/

YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSfIZWQt48c
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdLI4iAKODo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VoEooAi__8

[Nige]

I really like Bontempelli. Draft range of about 10-15 would you say, Craig?

[Mr.Craig]

I really like Bontempelli. Draft range of about 10-15 would you say, Craig?

Mid to late first round, yeah.

[Ricochet]

Jeez he looks pretty handy.

[roti]

I really like Bontempelli. Draft range of about 10-15 would you say, Craig?

Mid to late first round, yeah.

Reckon he will be this year's bolter, could be just about the best of the lot if developed correctly

[Mr.Craig]

Christian Salem



Sandringham Dragons 15/7/95 183cm/82kg

Drafted: Round 1, Pick 9 Melbourne

2012 TAC Ave: 87.1
2013 TAC Ave: 102.4

Profile

There is plenty to get excited about with Salem, both from a football and fantasy perspective. While he is unlikely to ever rack up huge disposal numbers, Salem is incredibly consistent with his output and knows where the goals are (8 from 5 games this year). While player comparisons to Scott Pendlebury and Luke Hodge seem to be trotted out every year, in this case they are close to the mark because Christian has incredible awareness and ball use combined with imposing physicality. He has shown the ability to play both as an inside and outside mid as well as off half forward. By all reports he's a good young man too, Salem's family are very supportive and he doesn't seem to have let his natural talents go to his head.

Due to Champs and school football commitments Salem was restricted to five TAC games in 2013 with scores of 86, 127, 106, 100 and 93. He was pretty quiet at the Championships, only averaging 15.2 touches and 61.2 DT but I don't think that will harm his draft prospects. He should go somewhere in the mid to late first round.

Bound For Glory: While Salem doesn't rack up the disposals like Matt Crouch or Lewis Taylor, Salem rarely wastes a disposal and can hurt opposition teams with only a handful of kicks. In terms of versatility, Salem has been played off a half forward flank and also as an inside midfielder at times. While he is primarily an outside midfielder, he has that strength to win his own ball at the contests and weave out of a pack to find a target that many others wouldn't have seen. Behind Aish and Kelly, Salem is probably the next best ball user, if he isn't on par with them as it is.

Mad Monday: This kid has class written all over him, and is in my opinion the most efficient and intelligent kick in the country right now! He both plays the inside AND outside game extremely well, as he possesses great strength and determination to win his own ball as well as utilising his speed and clean ball use to complement his outside game. His agility and burst gives him that upper hand to weave out of sticky situations and drive the ball into an attacking position for his club, and also has terrific vision to spot up a teammate within his periphery.

SC Paige: Draft enthusiasts have nick-named Salem as "the hunter", and it's not hard to see why. He hunts the ball carrier, he harasses, corrals and puts pressure where the ball is - more often than not coming out with the ball himself, or at the very least causing a turnover. Tackling is the highlight of Salem's game, along with innate ability to use the ball either side of his body, Salem is a beautiful kick and knows how to finish on goal. Salem has a lot of Luke Hodge in the way that he plays.

Callum Twomey: Salem probably didn't have the brilliant national championships he would have liked. but that says more about his high standards than anything else. The left-footer still worked his way into games and showed his natural class in setting up play through the wing, midfield and occasionally half-forward. We'll hear more about his precision kicking as the year goes on.

Fantasy Prospects

I'm not 100% sure he'll be there Round 1 but he's the kind of guy I could see making a debut sometime between Rounds 6-10. There a bit of a chance he could snag M/F DPP and that would be really handy because I'm sure he can maintain some reasonable scoring at AFL level.

Media

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-10-25/27-days-to-the-draft-meet-christian-salem
http://boundforglorynews.com/2013-draft-profile-christian-salem/
http://boundforglorynews.com/christian-salem-is-all-business/
http://madmondayshow.com/2013/07/16/player-profile-christian-salem/
http://www.scpaige.com.au/draftees-in-focus-christian-salem/
http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-05-03/footy-in-the-blood
http://www.hamptonrovers.com.au/news/news.php?newsid=1554

YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwVSiHjSzCQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghGV7USl0iI

[Nige]

Seen a few phantom drafts with Salem going at 11 to the Tigers, I would be really happy with that.

[Ricochet]

Are you taking requests MC?

[Ricochet]

Are you taking requests MC?

If you are can I get a look at some WA boys. Patrick Cripps (East Fremantle), Rory Lobb (Swan Districts) and Shane Nelson (West Perth)

[Mr.Craig]

Are you taking requests MC?

If you are can I get a look at some WA boys. Patrick Cripps (East Fremantle), Rory Lobb (Swan Districts) and Shane Nelson (West Perth)

I'm on holidays for two weeks from today so I can start pumping out some more profiles. Have some other requests pending I have to get to first.

Dunno about Nelson, did a profile for him last year and then he didn't get drafted. :-\ Looks like he's had a great season...

Might be a PSD/Rookie draft prospect.

[Ricochet]

Are you taking requests MC?

If you are can I get a look at some WA boys. Patrick Cripps (East Fremantle), Rory Lobb (Swan Districts) and Shane Nelson (West Perth)

I'm on holidays for two weeks from today so I can start pumping out some more profiles. Have some other requests pending I have to get to first.

Dunno about Nelson, did a profile for him last year and then he didn't get drafted. :-\ Looks like he's had a great season...

Might be a PSD/Rookie draft prospect.

Yeh pretty sure his father passed away. Not sure if it was last year or year before. But i think that obviously affected him being drafted.

[Mr.Craig]

Shower, yeah that's right. Came home and found his dad dead on the driveway. :(