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

[Nige]

Sharenberg and Billings tend to swap between themselves a bit,  ::)

That's how it all works though. Darcy Gardiner was in the top 10 two months ago.

[JBs-Hawks]

Dumont + Dunstan to the Hawkas. Yes please!

[Nige]

The compo picks for the Pies (Daisy) and Hawks (Buddy) are going to be huge. They'll both get very good players with those picks, especially having them back-to-back.

[JBs-Hawks]

The compo picks for the Pies (Daisy) and Hawks (Buddy) are going to be huge. They'll both get very good players with those picks, especially having them back-to-back.

Not really,  Buddy/Daisy a mile better than any one they will draft and both former top 5 picks

[Nige]

The compo picks for the Pies (Daisy) and Hawks (Buddy) are going to be huge. They'll both get very good players with those picks, especially having them back-to-back.

Not really,  Buddy/Daisy a mile better than any one they will draft and both former top 5 picks

Oh yeah, I don't doubt that for a moment. I mean it in the context of only the top 20-25 picks in the year's draft being of any real value and that both Hawthorn and Collingwood are both pretty good sides as it is.

[Ricochet]

Pies are looking at pick 11 and Hawks pick 19, do i have that right?

[Nige]

Pies are looking at pick 11 and Hawks pick 19, do i have that right?

Spot on.

[Ricochet]

Pies are looking at pick 11 and Hawks pick 19, do i have that right?

Spot on.

Hawks getting pounded then

[Nige]

Pies are looking at pick 11 and Hawks pick 19, do i have that right?

Spot on.

Hawks getting pounded then

The whole free agency/compo system is whack. Never gonna have it work in a way that makes everyone happy or see it as fair. A bit like the DRS in cricket really.

[Mr.Craig]

Dumont + Dunstan to the Hawkas. Yes please!

8)

We can only hope.

[T Dog]

Dumont + Dunstan to the Hawkas. Yes please!

8)

We can only hope.

Dermott and Dunstan are past it.... ;D

[Mr.Craig]

Mitchell Harvey



North Adelaide 17/8/95 197cm/97kg

Drafted: Round 3, Pick 45 Port Adelaide

2013 SANFL U/18 Ave: 102.2
2013 SANFL Reserves Ave: 41

Profile

The big redheaded forward/ruck had an interrupted start to 2012 when he was forced to take three months off after a basketball accident which could have cost him his life. This year Harvey used his size to good advantage, kicking 24 goals in 7 Under-18 games and having an influence in the ruck. His mobility stood out in some excellent performances during the Champs, averaging 11.6 disposals, 4.4 marks, 5.5 hitouts and 2 goals a game for a DT average of 66. While most potential draftees are busy trying to put on weight, Harvey went the opposite way - dropping six kilos during the year. He'll need to turn some of that weight into muscle if he's to have an impact on the AFL as a forward and pinch hitting ruckman.

SC Paige: Known initially for being seconds away from death after an attempted slam-dunk on a basketball court went horribly wrong, the nephew of Collingwood recruiter (and former Adelaide) Matt Rendell, has made the most of his "second chance", and his football in 2013 has developed so rapidly, that he is now pushing as a first round selection in November's National Draft. The big power forward-come-ruckman has plenty of attributes that'll see him carve out a successful AFL career. Harvey has fantastic poise, and gives you a bit of everything; endurance, goal kicking, elite marking inside 50, very good by hand and by foot, can pick the ball up off the ground, dodge, weave and snap truly, can ruck well and also brings others into the game - having the most goal assists of any other player in the National Championships.

Bound For Glory: Despite being larger than the other key forwards, Harvey is no less athletic being quite agile below his knees. Against Vic Metro at Simonds Stadium, the ball was spoiled away from Harvey but he scooped it up with one hand and turned his opponent inside out to snap a goal like a much smaller player. He also showed in the same match and against Western Australia that he can also slot goals from distance and the boundary line with reasonable accuracy. The main question mark over Harvey is whether or not he can utilise his build against much stronger opponents. Much like Chris Dawes at the start of his career, Harvey is build like a freight train but needs to build more strength in his arms to begin out-muscling opponents like Dawes did after a few years in the AFL system. If he can do this without losing his athleticism, Harvey has the potential to go far.

Mad Monday: His ability to provide an option for midfielders is what makes Harvey stand out; he is a strong mark overhead and he always looks like a marking threat inside 50. He has the size to out-reach most under 18 defenders and it is highly likely that he will retain this size advantage at AFL level. To add to all this, Harvey is quite athletic despite his size. He is capable of winning the ball at ground level and he has a nice first burst of speed. Harvey also possesses a long, accurate kick which makes him a dangerous player around the 50m line and from all angles. Harvey has a terrific goal to point ratio and he is a reliable shot for goal no matter the angle he faces.

Fantasy Prospects

It's hard to see him having a huge impact in his debut year, particularly from a fantasy perspective. I wouldn't pick him as a forward but if he's R/F there might be a temptation to stick him in at R4. There'll probably end up being better options for that position too however.

Media

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-11-07/14-days-to-the-draft-meet-darcy-hourigan
http://boundforglorynews.com/2013-draft-profile-mitch-harvey/
http://www.scpaige.com.au/dratees-in-focus-mitch-harvey/
http://madmondayshow.com/2013/09/02/player-profile-mitch-harvey/
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/mitch-harvey-was-near-death-now-hes-part-of-sas-fight-against-vic-metro-in-afl-under-18-championships/story-fnii00l5-1226670461451

[Nige]

Hey Craig, not sure whether you've done profiles on these guys or not, but Rory Lobb, Michael Apeness and Ben Brown are guys I'd like to see profiles for.  :)

[Nige]

Also, this article was a nice read.

[Mr.Craig]

Darcy Hourigan



South Adelaide 18/9/95 190cm/94kg

2013 SANFL Reserves Ave: 66
2013 SANFL Senior Ave: 78

Profile

Hourigan is a powerful lead-up forward who has been playing in the SANFL reserves competition since way back in 2011 when he was just 15. At his best he can gather 20 odd disposals a game and boot multiple goals but there are times when he can go missing a bit and suffer from poor conversion. His reserves scores for the year were 67, 98, 28, 75, 20, 56, 69, 65, 61 and 121. Darcy played one game in the seniors and did quite well, kicking a couple of goals and scoring 78. He showed his goal scoring ability throughout the Champs, booting the most of any player with 16 and averaged 74 DT over 5 games.

Mad Monday: When watching Darcy at both SANFL and U18 Championship levels I have always been a fan of his style of play... He is a big boy, he is great in a one-on-one contest, very strong hands and possesses a strong kick for goal! Many do not have him rated on the same level as Tom Boyd or Cam McCarthy, but this kid could be a great third tall within the arc and has really provided an impact for both South Adelaide and the South Australian U18 team this year. Like most key forwards, his true weakness is the ground-ball, but at times during the national carnival he has shown that he can pick it up and make something out of nothing! Already has the body to compete at the next level, so the question is if he could provide a presence against experienced defenders in the AFL.

Bound For Glory: Against Vic Metro, Hourigan showed just how dominant he could become in the forward line. He was too good for his opponent, leading him up the ground several times to get the ball and also staying deep in the forward line and taking contested marks. He took nine marks, had five inside 50's and kicked three goals that day. He was just too strong and too good, which lead to SA getting the victory by just three points in the end. His best game of the Championships may have come in the final round, against Western Australia. Hourigan again was dominant in the forward line, taking nine marks and kicking three goals. At times, Hourigan came as far as centre wing to receive the ball, and was then the man that set up the forward attack with his big left boot. He is also quite an accurate set shot, and can kick a goal on the run, which isn't that easy for a man of his size.

SC Paige: On the lead, Hourigan is unstoppable, he has a huge burst of speed over 20-40 metres, has serious power in his kicking (can let loose from outside 50 with ease), and marks strongly out in front, is clean overhead and relishes the opportunity to be isolated one on one. Protects the drop of the ball, and out-muscles opponents like ease, often rag-dolling defenders out of the way, in similar fashion to Collingwood's Travis Cloke. The standout attribute of Hourigan is his leading, his patters replicate what elite forwards in the AFL are doing, which means at Under 18 level he has gotten quite a bit of the football, having more scoring shots than any other player in Division 1. The other standout prospect about Hourigan, is that he has demonstrated his ability to play in defence, a huge attribute that is favourably looked upon by recruiters, and when down back, draws comparisons to Geelong's Tom Lonergan.

Fantasy Prospects

If he plays you're far more likely to see 40's and 50's from him than 70's or 80's so I think he's best left alone.

Media

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-11-07/14-days-to-the-draft-meet-darcy-hourigan
http://madmondayshow.com/2013/07/17/player-profile-darcy-hourigan/
http://boundforglorynews.com/2013-draft-profile-darcy-hourigan/
http://www.scpaige.com.au/draftees-in-focus-darcy-hourigan/

YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfDlnH6svHI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsBd7C8w_nc