AFL Draft: Get the latest intel, analysis and news ahead of the mid-season draft
Recruiters were out in force at North Port Oval on Saturday as likely No. 1 AFL Draft pick Harley Reid lined up for Carlton – and he didn’t disappoint.
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Likely No.1 draft pick Harley Reid has made a successful VFL debut for Carlton as hype continues to build around the prodigious talent.
Reid lined up as an onballer at the first centre bounce against Footscray on Saturday morning and won the first clearance of the match.
He played the first half entirely as an onballer, attending every centre bounce for which he was on the field.
However, close checking from Bulldogs opponents limited his ball-winning ability as he went into the main break with just five disposals to his name.
Despite the difficulties, Reid looked clean and composed around the contest and was tough in the clinches with his tackling and pressure.
He was moved forward in the third quarter but had limited opportunities – outside of a nice contested mark and subsequent inside 50 – as the Blues struggled to move the ball down to him.
The 18-year-old was swung to half back in the final term and was able to find more space there.
Reid put his powerful right foot on display and pushed forward to set up two prime scoring opportunities for his side.
He weaved between opponents to set up Lachie O’Brien by hand for a goal, before later hitting a leading Harry Lemmey on the chest with a long kick inside 50.
The boy from the Victorian town of Tongala finished the day with 13 disposals, three marks and two tackles.
A lovely smother and a signature fend off we’re among his other highlights.
Among those in the crowd for the match at North Port Oval were club list managers Adrian Dodoro (Essendon), Rohan O’Brien (West Coast), Kinnear Beatson (Sydney), Stephen Silvagni (St Kilda), Sam Power (Western Bulldogs) and Nick Austin (Carlton).
Reid, who looks up to Richmond’s Dustin Martin, is playing with Bendigo in the Coates Talent League this year.
He has averaged 22.3 disposals, 6.7 inside-50s, 5.3 clearances, 1.7 goals and 7.3 score involvements from his first three matches in that competition.
However, the Pioneers had a bye this weekend, leading to the VFL opportunity.
There is a view among recruiters that Reid is largely wasting his time playing in the Coates Talent League, with scouts keen to see him pitted against stronger opposition.
Carlton’s VFL side is coached by former AFL Academy coach Luke Power.
Reid trained with the Blues last year as part of the AFL Academy program, before spending time taking part in Essendon’s pre-season program in January this year.
Reid is widely regarded by clubs as one of the most exciting draft prospects in recent years, with the gap between him and the next best player in this year’s draft pool being sizeable.
LATEST DRAFT WHISPERS: KEY INTEL FROM ACROSS AUSTRALIA
This time last year, mid-sized forward Ryan Maric was playing country football for Drouin’s Thirds in the Gippsland League.
Last weekend he was catching the eyes of AFL recruiters while playing in a trial match for Vic Country, as he emerges as a potential mid-season draft bolter.
Maric, who turned 18 last September, kicked 3.3 from 15 disposals and eight marks in the under-18 trial match against Vic Metro last Saturday.
He also recorded three direct score assists.
Over recent years, the 193cm tall has put in a power of work on his fitness and now has the ability to work hard up the ground and become a link-up player, as well as getting back into attack and slotting goals.
Maric played just three games for Gippsland Power in the second half of last season in what was his top-age year, but was given another chance as a 19-year-old.
He averaged 19 disposals, 6.7 marks and 2.7 goals from his first three games in the Coates Talent League this season.
“He’s got some real speed and his ability to lengthen his stride at all times of the game has been really good,” Gippsland Power talent manager Scott McDougal said.
“He’s a prodigious kick, so that’s always been his secret weapon.
“He shows there’s enough baseline there in him if someone is looking for a forward, which a lot of clubs are.”
Maric nominated for last year’s national draft, making him eligible for the AFL mid-season rookie draft on May 31.
He is now targeting the two Young Guns games in the lead up to the mid-season draft, which will be played on May 7 and 14.
TASSIE DUO STAR IN THUMPING WIN
Two Tasmanian AFL draft prospects with serious talent again put their names up in lights last weekend.
Midfielder Colby McKercher and forward Jack Callinan both starred for the Tasmania Devils in the sole Coates Talent League match of Round 5.
The pair were both outstanding as they helped the Devils to a thumping 27.14 (176) to 6.4 (40) victory over the Northern Territory Academy.
While it should be noted that NT Thunder is not a particularly strong side this year, the performances of McKercher and Callinan still very much impressed AFL talent scouts.
McKercher racked up 32 disposals, 11 inside-50s, six clearances and six score involvements through the midfield for a total of 114 KFC SuperCoach ranking points.
Callinan had 17 disposals and six marks for the day up forward, booting a bag of seven goals from a total of 12 score involvements.
He finished with a whopping 159 ranking points.
Both McKercher and Callinan are members of the AFL Academy squad this year, which is set to play a second exhibition game against Carlton’s VFL side on May 13.
YOUNGER BROTHER STARS IN WA
Just days before his older brother’s breakout game for Melbourne on Monday night, a young key forward caught the attention of recruiters in Western Australia.
Samuel Van Rooyen – the younger brother of Demons young gun Jacob – booted 5.5 for Claremont in its WAFL Colts win over Subiaco last weekend.
Van Rooyen’s day out also included 15 disposals, nine marks (four contested) and one score assist.
He finished the match with a bumper 177 KFC SuperCoach ranking points.
Listed at 193cm, Van Rooyen is a strong overhead mark much like his brother and uses his body well in the contest.
The 18-year-old had booted three goals against West Perth and two goals against South Fremantle in the first two rounds of the season.
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