Anthony Caminiti’s huge growth spurt put him back on the AFL Draft radar

Anthony Caminiti represented Victoria as a agile midfielder in under-12s, six years later he’s hoping to be drafted as an imposing key forward.

Anthony Caminiti in action for Northern Knights.

Anthony Caminiti might appear an AFL Draft bolter but he’s no stranger to the elite talent pathway.

Now an imposing 196cm key forward, Caminiti first represented Victoria in under-12s as a midfielder.

He was also represented the state in athletics.

Overlooked for Vic Metro squads in the following few years, a 15cm growth spurt in 2019-20 put him back on AFL recruiters’ radar.

Dominant early season form for Carey Grammar earned the Heidelberg junior an invite to NAB League club Northern Knights and he booted five goals on debut against the Brisbane Lions Academy.

Anthony Caminiti after being selected in the Victoria under-12s in 2015.

Caminiti was rushed into the Vic Metro trial games, named in the APS Merit Team and earned a National Draft Combine invite.

He said it felt like a whirlwind but he’d always believed he could play at the highest level.

“In Year 7 I was fortunate enough to represent Victoria, in the school boys team, but I think I’ve been a bit of a late bloomer and took time to develop my game,” he said.

“I used to be a midfielder, I was quite small, but I’ve grown 15cm in the last two years,” Caminiti said.

“I worked really hard during COVID last year, so I had more trust in my game this year, and maybe no one knew the ability I had.

“So, yes, it has come all at once but I’ve always had the belief deep down that I could play at the level.”

Caminiti remembered being shocked when Knights coach Leigh Clarke told him he’d earned a late Vic Metro call-up and hopes recruiters saw enough to hear his name called out on Wednesday or Thursday.

“I wasn’t initially invited, didn’t go to any of the training sessions, and then I rocked up to training at Knights and Clarkey was like ‘do you want to play in the (Vic Metro) game, you’ve been invited’.

“I said ‘of course I want to’ so I went along to the game and no one even knew who I was.

“I wasn’t happy with my game at the time, I felt like if I had the opportunity again I’d do much better, but I think I did show a few glimpses.”

Quick off the mark, Caminiti can create separation from his defender and presents a strong marking target in attack.

Modelling his game on Western Bulldogs star Aaron Naughton, he possesses impressing leaping power, can crash a pack and bring down contested marks.

But if the ball hits the ground his background as a midfielder gives him the ball skills and mobility needed to win the loose ball.

Caminiti used the cancelled 2020 lockdown to improve his fitness, training regularly with a school mate Bede Waters.

It’s an area he believes he needs the most improvement.

“I was lucky enough to have a mate (Waters) who’s pretty dedicated, so we’d go for a run every day, go to the gym a couple of times a week and focus on skills,” he said.

Anthony Caminiti in action for Northern Knights.

“My aerobic power is probably my biggest weakness, I really want to work on that (in an AFL system).

“I think I’ve still got a bit more to grow, a little bit vertically, but I also need to bulk up a lot. I’m not the biggest frame.”

Caminiti is expected to be a late to rookie draft pick on Thursday.

The developing key forward has been linked to Melbourne but is happy to go anywhere to live the AFL dream.

Despite being a Hawthorn supporter growing up he watches Naughton closely and received some sage advice from Carey coach Vince Datoli.

“I love the way Aaron Naughton goes about it, the way he attacks the ball in the air,” Caminiti said.

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“I try to base my game on his because he’s able to attack the ball in the air but good on the ground as well.

“Vince had a lot of belief I could become a good key forward and his main message was to compete, compete, compete – compete in the air even if you don’t mark the ball.

“He wanted me to show that while I am tall I can play small as well.”

The AFL Draft will be run over two nights with the first-round on Wednesday, November 24, before wrapping up on Thursday night.