Harper Sercombe finds out more about the key draft prospects from Melbourne’s northern and western suburbs who could work their way onto an AFL list come November.
As the boys’ under-18s championships come to end, it’s time to start working out who may work their way onto an AFL list.
The Calder Cannons, Western Jets and Northern Knights have long been touted as ‘footy factories’ producing some sensational AFL players such as Dane Swan, Eddie Betts, Marcus Bontempelli, Trent Cotchin, Matthew Lloyd and many, many others.
However, it’s been a long nine years since a first round boys’ selection has come from all three clubs, but that could change come November.
Of the 36 boys selected in this year’s Vic Metro squad, 11 came from the three Coates Talent League clubs. Five as bottom agers, six as draft candidates.
Of the eligible, three stand tall, the Knights’ Nate Caddy, the Jets’ Logan Morris and the Cannons’ Jordan Croft.
The trio are poised for early selections on draft night.
Caddy, the highest ranked of the three, is a powerful 192 centimetre forward-mid, with elite aerial prowess and goal nous.
The Knight had an interrupted start to his draft year, missing round one of the talent league season due to a hairline fracture in his leg.
Since then Caddy has gone from strength to strength, building upon the fitness that he says was lacking upon return from injury.
“[I] probably [came back] a bit too quick, but I was very eager to get back,” he said.
“It’s normally about a six week injury, I think I only gave it about three and half, four weeks.
“I came in with not much fitness … but I used that time over the community break to really build on it.
“I think I’ve come back a better player and a lot more fit.”
This is evident in his performance. Caddy has only played the four games for the Knights this season. In rounds two and three he had a combined five goals, three behinds and 25 disposals.
That’s compared to his 10 goals, six behinds and an average of 23 disposals from his two most recent appearances.
The fitness Caddy gained has allowed him to be utilised as a burst midfield weapon for the Knights, being placed in the guts for the first five minutes of each quarter.
Vic Metro coach Rob Harding said Caddy is the complete package.
“Nate’s obviously a fantastic talent, his aerial power and his ability to follow up, and get after the ball on ground level, he’s smart around the goals, he just does everything well,” he said.
The dangerous forward also demonstrated his abilities in his Victorian Football League debut for Carlton where he scored two goals.
Caddy missed the first of Metro’s four carnival games to illness, but returned in its loss to the Allies on July 2.
Metro teammate of Caddy, the Jets’ Logan Morris is another highly ranked draft prospect.
Morris is a 191 centimetre hybrid player who has been dominating up forward for the Jets booting 21 goals in his six outings for the club. However, he has been thrown down back for Vic Metro in an attempt by recruiters to test out his versatility.
Harding said the move was to try and fill a void within the AFL for key defenders.
“In our case at Metro this year we have Ollie Murphy (Sandringham Dragons) and Christian Mardini (Northern Knights) as genuine tall defenders … there’s probably a lack of key defenders at the moment,” he said.
“For Logan … it’s about giving those guys an opportunity in a role where there’s a clear need.”
Morris said he sees the change as a major positive for his football.
“It’s just great having that flexibility to be able to play both forward and back,” he said.
“I think I fit in pretty well, and I’m enjoying playing down back.”
Morris said he could see himself playing a more permanent role as a defender and enjoying the freedom that comes with it.
“It’s probably a bit easier to read the ball and I find it a bit easier to play back than play that forward role,” he said.
For Morris, fitness has also been a major focus point to help get himself prepared for the year, with running sessions three times a week in the preseason trying to get really fit.
Western Bulldogs father-son prospect Jordan Croft from the Calder Cannons is another that has been turning heads.
Son of Matthew, who played 186 games for the Dogs, is 200 centimetres and has been in outstanding form.
Kicking 14.3 from his last four talent league matches as well as a four goal performance for Vic Metro against the Young Guns and a three goal display against South Australia in the champs.
“He’s got a fantastic work rate to get up the ground and reset.. when he gets on the move he’s pretty hard to stop at the size that he is, I really like that part of his game,” Harding said.
With forwards such as Croft and Caddy, complemented by a whole host of other exciting players like the highly ranked Nick Watson from the Eastern Ranges, the Metro forward line looms as an extremely dangerous threat.
“I think we can be the most dominant forward line in the champs,” Caddy said.
Harding added, “our forward line has a lot of creativity and flair in it.
Mahmoud Taha (Cannons), William Green (Knights) and Christian Mardini (Knights) are also live chances to be selected on draft night after all contributing for Vic Metro.
Taha, a next generation academy prospect for Essendon, scored a goal in the clash against South Australia.
Green, a 202 centimetre ruckman, had 11 disposals and 30 hit outs against the Allies. While Mardini “acquitted himself pretty well,” in his first game for Metro, Harding said.
Vic Metro played Western Australia on July 9 before facing the old foe Vic Country to round out the championships on July 16.
“I think we’ll finish the next two champs games off pretty well,” Caddy said.
