Daniel Mott has plenty of class with ball in hand but he’s also proved he’s got an eye for talent
Calder Cannons midfielder Daniel Mott has plenty of class with ball in hand but the draft hopeful has proved he’s got an eye for talent off the field as well, helping secure a teammate a shot at the big time.
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If AFL football doesn’t work out for Daniel Mott he might have a future as a talent scout.
The Calder Cannons gun would have been excused for focusing on himself this season as he prepared for his all-important draft year.
However, with a keen eye for talent, Mott brought Brunswick NOBS and Maribyrnong Secondary College teammate Francis Evans to the attention of Cannons’ talent manager Tom Lonergan and coach Ross Smith.
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Thanks to Mott’s good word, Evans was invited to train, picked the following week and went on to earn a state draft combine invite off just three NAB League games.
“I always thought he was a great player and he’s developed late as a lot of players do,” Mott said.
“I sort of said to Tom and Ross ‘I’ve got a kid at my school, he’s a bloody good player, he’s playing in (Brunswick) seniors as a 17-year-old and kicked eight goals’.
“If it doesn’t work for him this year, then he will have next year at Cannons as a 19-year-old and I’m sure he’ll find his way on to a list somehow.”
Scouting may have to wait with Mott expected to be a mid to late-round pick at this month’s draft.
A standout 24-disposal performance against national champions Western Australia gave AFL recruiters a glimpse of his talent.
A classy outside midfielder, Mott can also be used as a dominant inside ball-winner and finished the under-18 carnival among the leading clearance winners.
The breakout game sparked the classy midfielder’s into action after a slow start to his NAB League campaign.
After returning from Vic Metro duties, Mott averaged 23 disposals in the final six games of the season, highlighted by a 34-possession, two-goal showing in Calder’s wildcard round win over Dandenong.
The Richmond supporter proved his power with a fourth-place finish in the standing vertical jump test at the national draft combine.
“I started off a bit slow … but when nationals came around I was lucky enough to play all four games,” Mott said.
“My first game wasn’t great against Vic Country, but I responded the next week against WA with my best game of the carnival.
“Coming back in at Cannons, I found my feet again … into the finals I sort some form at the right time.
“I have to do a bit of work with my endurance but that’s an easy fix, I guess, if I get a chance in an elite environment I’ll go really well.”
The AFL national and rookie drafts will be held at Docklands on November 27 and 28.
For all the latest news from the Northern Football League and other suburban competitions over the off-season, log on to localfooty.com.au