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.
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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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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