AFL Draft scouting notes: Top performers, SuperCoach points from Devils v Falcons thriller

The Tasmania Devils and Geelong Falcons played out a thriller, and plenty of AFL draft prospect turned heads. See the top performers and SuperCoach scorers.

A host of draft prospects boosted their draft stocks as Tasmania Devils claimed a Coates Talent League thriller over Geelong Falcons on Sunday afternoon.

And the star of the show was a potential top-five pick who produced another best-on-ground display.

See the full scouting report, stats and SuperCoach points.

GEELONG FALCONS

Patrick Hughes

Midfielder, 182cm, Torquay

21 disposals, 15 contested possessions, seven tackles, 154 SuperCoach points

It is understood Hughes was left out of the Vic Country squad due to recruiters’ question marks over his outside game. But his work at the coalface is just too good to ignore. Hughes was a ball-at-a-gate at stoppages with his clearance work and tackling, and he kicked a classy goal on his non-preferred foot after cleverly sharking a Devils tap and slotting it under heavy pressure. Hughes burst through traffic with strength and speed on numerous occasions and if he keeps up this kind of form, he could enter Vic Country calculations.

Patrick Hughes in action in a Vic Country trial game earlier this year. He dominated in the clinches for the Falcons on Sunday. Picture: Morgan Hancock/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Hamish Pierson

195cm, key defender, Grovedale

16 disposals, nine intercept marks, five intercept marks, 145 SuperCoach points

Wore No. 28 instead of his usual 35 and he may want to stick with it, as this was his most emphatic performance of the season by a long way. Pierson was unstoppable in the air, clunking five intercept marks, including a massive pack mark in the dying minutes with the game on the line. He also went at 100 per cent by foot, finishing as the third-ranked player on the ground. The 195cm key defender showcased his strong hands, nice leap and ability to read the play and work off his opponent in 1-on-1 contests. If he can continue this kind of form with Vic Country, watch his draft stocks rise.

Josh Sanders

Small defender, Lara

14 disposals, seven contested possessions, one goal, 106 SuperCoach points

Sanders announced himself as one to watch next year in just his third Coates Talent League game. The main highlight came at the start of the second quarter when he took off after receiving a 50m penalty and launched a long bomb goal from outside the arc. The bottom-age defender has a good turn of speed and plenty of power, and he was super competitive in 1-on-1 throughout the day. Plus, all but one of his 10 kicks were effective.

Michael Rudd (right) kicked three for Vic Country last week and impressed again. Pocture: Graham Denholm/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Michael Rudd

Medium forward, 192cm, St Mary’s

12 disposals, six marks (two contested), one goal, 94 SuperCoach points

Coming off three goals against South Australia at nationals, Rudd didn’t have the same scoreboard impact but showed his aerial and ground level traits against the Devils. Rudd clunked two contested marks, one which led to a goal in the third term, and worked his way up the ground nicely. The St Mary’s product is a likely type as a medium forward and is another who can boost his draft stocks further for Vic Country on Sunday.

Joe Pike

Ruck, 203cm, Barwon Heads

34 hit-outs, eight hit-outs to advantage, nine disposals, 107 SuperCoach points

Pike recorded his highest hitout tally for the year with 34 – while sharing the duties – but wasn’t able to fully capitalise on the dominance, with 23.5 per cent of them going to advantage. The Vic Country ruckman’s follow-up work was solid and he worked his way around the ground well, finishing as the third-ranked Falcon on the ground behind Hughes and Pierson.

Zekiah Davey

Key forward, Lara

11 disposals, two contested marks, one goal, 77 SuperCoach points

An impressive first outing in Falcons colours for the top-age key forward, starting with a bang with two contested marks in the opening term. Davey slotted a clever goal in the final quarter, snapping on his left boot under pressure after a deft pick-up off the deck. The Lara prospect is athletic for his size and has good hands overhead.

Tobyn Murray

Midfielder, 178cm, Colac

18 disposals, 10 contested possessions, five clearances, 65 SuperCoach points

Gave the Falcons drive through the midfield and finished the day with five clearances – two of those being won out of the centre inside in the opening two minutes of the final quarter to give the Falcons the momentum. He also pulled off a big fend off on Colby McKercher in the second quarter. However McKercher got the last laugh when Murray gave away a 100m penalty that gave up a goal after not giving the ball back.

Colby McKercher was everywhere. Picture: Linda Higginson

TASMANIA DEVILS

Colby McKercher

Midfielder, 181cm, Launceston

33 disposals, 16 contested possessions, 11 score involvements, seven clearances, 2.5, 199 SuperCoach points

Kicked 2.5, but maybe it should read 2-5: because that’s where he sits in the pecking order across the whole country. After an astounding national championships display last week, McKercher produced yet another best-on-ground performance where he looked to be toying with the Falcons at times. He logged a nomination for behind of the year after roving a hitout, spinning past a tackler and putting on the afterburners to fly past Falcons tacklers before hitting the post from 45m. In another memorable play he handballed to a teammate in defence, received it back and accelerated with three bounces along the wing, eventually hitting a target on the Devils’ attacking 50. Inaccuracy in front of goal was the only blemish for him throughout the day and it’s crazy to think his game could have been even better than it was.

James Leake

Forward/defender, 188cm, Launceston

15 disposals, six tackles four contested marks, three goals, 167 SuperCoach points

Undoubtedly his biggest game for the year and his purple patch in the third term had to be seen to be believed. Having played at both ends this year, the 188cm prospect almost single-handedly turned the game after being swung forward after halftime, booting three goals and clunking four contested marks in the space of 15 minutes. Leake’s vice-like hands and spring were eye-catching, and he wasn’t afraid to get his hands dirty either, laying six tackles for the match. The Launceston prospect has already caught the eye in defence for the Allies during the national championships and certainly has some exciting traits.

James Leake had a big third term. Picture: Linda Higginson

Beau Nash

Midfielder, 183cm, Devonport

21 disposals, 12 contested possessions, six clearances, six tackles, 127 SuperCoach points

A strong all-round game from Nash, winning plenty of hardball, applying defensive pressure and hitting the scoreboard. He was gifted a goal in the second quarter when he had the ball kicked straight to him from a kick-in, but he worked hard throughout and waxed nicely with McKercher in the midfield.

Oscar Van Dam

Defender, 188cm, North Launceston

17 disposals, 10 contested possessions, three intercept marks, 119 SuperCoach points

Van Dam took two strong intercept marks in the final term. One of those came at a critical time with just a couple of minutes left on the clock, with Van Dam reading the play to perfection to mark in front of his opponent. He was also clean at ground level, winning 10 contested possessions from the back-half, and used the ball well by hand and foot. Van Dam also showed his desperation with a goal-saving tackle in the third, laying a handful of tackles for the game.

Tom Beaumont

Midfielder, 186cm, Launceston

16 disposals, 14 contested possessions, five clearances, 105 SuperCoach points

It was Beaumont’s lowest disposal tally in the Coates Talent League this year but he won a whopping 77 per cent of his possessions in a contest. Beaumont competed strongly in the clinches and while his kicking let him down at times, going at 30 per cent for the match, he set up two scoring opportunities by foot with two important plays late in the final term. One was from a contested mark, and another was a classy gather and fend-off before spotting up an option under pressure while tucked up against the boundary line.

Arie Schoenmaker

194cm, key defender, Launceston

14 disposals, eight rebound 50s, 86 SuperCoach points

Not as productive as he had been in his previous two matches, where he averaged more than 30 disposals, but his lethal left boot was there for all to see. On one occasion Schoenmaker managed to bang a long ball down the line under pressure off just a step, and a razor sharp kick-in went straight to a teammate close to the centre circle. Schoenmaker had a good duel with Michael Rudd and he competed well defensively throughout, putting on five spoils.

Jack Callinan

179cm, small forward, Clarence

13 disposals, eight contested possessions, four tackles, 81 SuperCoach points

Callinan didn’t hit the scoreboard – his only goalless game for the season – but he still managed to have an influence with his manic defensive pressure. In the second term he laid a great crunching tackle dispossess which won him a free kick and he finished with four tackles for the game. He spent time through the midfield throughout the contest and looked lively but he went at just 50 per cent from his eight kicks.

Jack Callinan in action for the Allies earlier this month. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images

SUPERCOACH POINTS

DEVILS

Colby McKercher 199

James Leake 168

Beau Nash 127

Oscar Van Dam 119

Tom Beaumont 106

Arie Schoenmaker 87

Zach Barrow 83

Jack Callinan 81

Heath Ollington 76

Harry Elmer 74

Connior Ling 66

Oliver Depaoli-Kubank 60

Harry Summers 56

Max Mapley 55

Tommy Bennett 50

Liam Ling 48

Jack Dolliver 48

Josh Curtis 43

Lenny Douglas 35

Oliver Dean 34

Blake Harper 34

Tiernan McCormack 31

FALCONS

Patrick Hughes 154

Hamish Pierson 145

Joe Pike 107

Josh Sanders 107

Michael Rudd 93

Zekiah Davey 78

Rhys McWaters 73

Liam Kershaw 73

Tobyn Murray 65

Angus Hanley 64

Zac McInnes 60

Tom Bartlett 59

Ethan Borys 54

Thomas Burke 53

Tom Peirce 53

Brady Hall 50

Kobe George 48

Will McLachlan 48

Fergus Chirgwin 45

Matthew Jones 40

Mackenzie Butcher 35

Lachie Jaques 31

Archie Sinnott 27

Originally published as AFL Draft scouting notes: Top performers, SuperCoach points from Devils v Falcons thriller