AFL Outer East’s high flyers: David Johnson, Robbie Allen, Jafar Ocaa, Mitch Tharle
Who are the AFL Outer East players who consistently drag down huge marks? We’ve listed the top high-flying aerialists. Who did we miss?
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The speccy is alive and well in AFL Outer East.
There are plenty of players throughout the league who love to launch and clunk eye-popping marks.
Here’s our list of the best current-day Outer East high-flyers:
Robbie Allen, Woori Yallock
Known for dragging down wow-factor marks, often on the intercept. Flies without fear and is always entertaining. Likes to launch and sit on the back of opponents.
Michael Firrito, Gembrook-Cockatoo
The former Kangaroos 275-gamer’s height and long reach make him hard to beat in the air. At At 37, he’s still a valuable player at full-forward for the Brookers.
Jack Garthwaite, Powelltown
A great mark of the footy, the 2018 B&F winner flies for them regularly at centre half-back, often seen going back with the flight and also flying across packs.
Pat Hodgett, Wandin
One of the best contested marks in the comp, strong overhead with a good vertical leap and regularly gets over the top of defenders to take one-grab marks.
David Johnson, Yarra Junction
A renowned aerialist, the Norwood Division 1 premiership player is still taking hangers — he took a screamer over three players against Powelltown in the wet a few weeks ago that would’ve made Collingwood high-flyer Jeremy Howe proud.
Jafar Ocaa, Beaconsfield
The exciting half-forward has pace to burn — but he can also get up high and take a big grab. He’s got courage, too, as he showed when he ran back with the flight of the ball to take an eye-popping grab a few weeks ago.
Nathan O’Keefe, Seville
The former North Melbourne forward flies without fear and likes to ride on the shoulders of his opponents. Wiry with a long reach and a good leap. Been a brilliant player in the local comp.
Lachie Taylor, Olinda Ferny Creek
The centre half-forward is known for his strong contested marks and he also enjoys soaring high — as he did when he beat seven opponents in a classic high mark against Healesville in 2019.
Mitch Tharle, Cranbourne
The young forward with loads of X factor loves to run and jump at the ball. “We tell him to launch for his marks and he will land a beauty one day,’’ Eagles coach Steve O’Brien said.
Callum Urquhart, Mt Evelyn
The former Coburg VFL player has a background in gymnastics which might explain his spring-heeled ability to rise high. Reads the ball well in flight and has a knack of getting to the right spots. One of the best marks in the comp.
Dermott Yawney, Pakenham
A true high-flying aerialist who is known for taking jaw-dropping marks. A broken arm, though, grounded him last month.
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