AFL Draft 2014: Ed Vickers-Willis the draft’s Mr Fix It with clubs lining up to select the versatile defender
PICK ME: A WEEK after Ed Vickers-Willis was sent to blanket 174cm goalsneak Jack Lonie, he found himself standing next to giant Sam Durdin.
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A WEEK after Ed Vickers-Willis was sent to the Vic Metro backline to blanket 174cm goalsneak Jack Lonie, he found himself standing next to giant Sam Durdin.
The change from Lonie to a South Australian 23cm taller and 20kg heavier epitomised Vickers-Willis’ breakout season, which included All-Australian honours as the standout full-back.
MEET ED VICKERS-WILLIS AND SEE HIM IN ACTION IN THE VIDEO PLAYER ABOVE
Dubbed by some recruiters as the draft’s “Mr Fix It”, Vickers-Willis was used as Sandringham Dragons’ hole-plugger.
“If we needed a job we’d turn to Ed or Brayden Maynard to solve it,” Dragons talent manager Ryan O’Connor said.
“If there was a danger man or someone creating headaches, Ed would go and get the job done under pressure.”
And while some would have liked to see the Melbourne Grammar school captain settle and unlock his attacking flair, Vickers-Willis knows his greatest strength is tailor-made for modern footy.
“I’m a versatile player and with the interchange cap and the sub rule, being able to play multiple positions and having a decent tank will be highly valued in the future,” he said.
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It makes him an ideal target for the Western Bulldogs, with list manager Jason McCartney telling the Herald Sun this year that size and flexibility would be their point of difference as they develop against the talent-laden expansion sides.
But while Vickers-Willis would slot nicely into a Dogs’ backline under transformation, clubs aren’t certain he will last to their first pick (26), with some recruiters anointing him a future AFL captain.
“He’s one you look at and think he can play 200 games. Reliability and elite character are major positives and he’s a dependable shut-down man,” one noted.
The ultimate utility could sneak into the first round and has the capability to develop into a tall inside midfielder.
The Demons are known fans but don’t expect Vickers-Willis to be available at pick 40, while Carlton, Essendon and Fremantle are expected to consider the no-fuss talent.
“I like the challenge of playing above my height,” Vickers-Willis said.
“Shifting from talls to smalls is about being proactive in your positioning. Having athleticism and reading the footy in the air is important and while people wouldn’t expect me to beat some of those players, I enjoy the challenge and just back myself.”
Vickers-Willis was best-afield in a school match against Scotch this year but coach Michael Ford said he earmarked the 190cm academic star when he was in Year 10.
“It was 2012 and we were playing Caulfield Grammar. Ed played as a high half-forward picking up their attacking midfielder and he smashed it, just smashed it,” Ford said.
“He’s an outstanding citizen and outstanding on-field. He can play forward, in defence, inside, outside and on talls and smalls.”
Ford said Vickers-Willis was the complete package, while his ambitions to study commerce-law have prompted some clubs to ask if there’s a chance he could prematurely retire to enter the corporate world.
Vickers-Willis has assured them otherwise.
“If I’m lucky footy might last until I’m 31 or 32, whereas you can do that the rest of your life. Study is actually a release and helps my footy, too,” he said.
ED VICKERS-WILLIS
AGE: 18
HEIGHT: 190cm
WEIGHT: 82kg
CLUB: Sandringham Dragons
POSITION: Utility
SUPERCOACH AVG: 97 points
PLAYS LIKE: Sean Wellman
PREDICTED DRAFT RANGE: 17-34
IN THE MIX: Essendon (17/20), Carlton (19/28), Western Bulldogs (26/27), Gold Coast (29), Fremantle (34)
TOMORROW: The next Hayden Ballantyne
Originally published as AFL Draft 2014: Ed Vickers-Willis the draft’s Mr Fix It with clubs lining up to select the versatile defender
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