Herald Sun Shield: Scouting notes from Parade v Emmanuel and St Kevin’s v Western Heights
A host of talented young guns impressed at the Herald Sun Shield boys finals — including AFL draft prospects, the brother of an Essendon livewire and more. Full scouting notes on more than 25 players.
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Western Heights College did well to make the intermediate boys Herald Sun Shield final, but they were overwhelmed by a talent-stacked St Kevin’s.
Western Heights, based in Hamlyn Heights, didn’t give up until the very end, winning the last quarter despite the game being over at three-quarter time.
It was a similar story in the senior boys with Parade College bursting out of the blocks against Emmanuel College to secure back-to-back Herald Sun Shield crowns
See who impressed on the big stage.
SENIOR BOYS FINAL
PARADE
Zak Johnson
In a very even team performance, Johnson’s impact in the first quarter when the game was up for grabs and in the third term to put the result completely out of reach was sensational. Parade’s captain looked like he had a point to prove after missing out on a national combine invite and he started with a goal early in the piece and assisted another to Jordyn Gillard for a goal shortly after. The Vic Metro representative’s explosion out of the contest and overhead marking around the ground provided plenty of highlights throughout the day. His second goal in the last quarter was just reward for his efforts, cementing his best-on-ground display.
Tom Sims
The most highly-touted draft prospect on the ground was kept relatively quiet by his lofty standards. Sims was well held by Amon Radley playing as a deep forward and his teammates didn’t look for him as much as was probably expected. Sims got better as the game went on, moving into the ruck in the second half and finishing with a goal. The 199cm tall still shapes as a second-round selection after impressing for both the Northern Knights and Vic Metro this season, highlighted by a three-goal haul against Vic Country.
Angus Smith
One of the few Parade players not in the elite talent pathway, Smith was right in contention for the medal at three quarter time after an imposing showing up forward, with his contested marking a feature. After five goals in the semi-final, Smith had the perfect start, bending through a snap tucked up in the pocket to put Parade’s first on the board. He had his second on the stroke of quarter-time after taking an impressive mark on the lead with his opponent on his hammer, and booted his third before halftime. Smith took a couple of strong grabs in the third term, one of which he passed off to Seb Murphy for a goal.
Kristian Lawson
Lawson formed an unstoppable one-two punch with Johnson in the midfield. The Northern Knights prospect burst through the middle and hit up Angus Smith for a goal late in the first quarter. His brute strength was a feature from thereon, winning the ball at the source and swatting off tacklers with ease – including a huge fend-off in the last quarter.
Seb Murphy
Murphy continually got in the right spots in the forward 50 to finish with three goals, two of those coming in the third quarter. The Northern Knights bottom-ager showed his impressive speed with a bursting run in the second term, winning a downfield free kick after being shoved in the back. It could have been an absolute day out for Murphy, missing another couple of chances.
Jordyn Gillard
Gillard was another who was pivotal in Parade’s hot start, booting two goals in the first quarter. The second of those was the highlight of his day, snapping on his left boot under heavy pressure. He set up an opportunity for teammate Noah Scott at one stage in the third quarter where he had several disposals in the one play.
Tyson Gresham
The younger brother of Essendon livewire Jade Gresham, who was there watching on, certainly has some tricks. Gresham span on a dime at one point in the second quarter to evade a tackler and nearly created a goal out of nothing. The 2025 draft prospect, who represented Vic Metro at the U16 championships last year, also got involved up the ground and used it nicely.
Dylan Constantin
Constantin has speed to burn, using it to his advantage on the wing to fly past opponents. The Montmerency product also used the ball well by foot throughout and finished with a eye-catching snap goal in the final quarter.
EMMANUEL COLLEGE
Reggie Mast
If the result had been closer, Mast would have been in contention for the medal – that’s how influential he was in a losing side. Mast looks relatively unassuming and then would bob up with a brilliant flying mark or drill a teammate inside 50. The GWV Rebels prospect’s contested marking was a feature and he set up several scores with his precise ball-use and clever decision making. He also tackled hard, one of which won him a holding ball free kick in attack.
Charlie McKinnon
McKinnon has exciting traits as a forward, as he has shown at Coates Talent League level averaging 1.4 goals per game as a bottom-ager. The elusive and competitive 189cm goalkicker played a lone hand for Emmanuel in the attacking arc and could have finished with a big haul, instead kicking an inaccurate 3.4. Two of those goals came from the goal line: one from a strong contested mark, and another where he came from nowhere and snapped over his head in heavy congestion. He regularly slipped past defenders with his rapid sideways movement and used his leap to take some great marks. One to keep an eye on next year.
Oliver Myers
Emmanuel’s captain was relentless at the contest all day, throwing his weight around to win the ball at the source and apply pressure. He used his strength to fend off a tackler in the third quarter. It should come as no surprise that Myers has been playing senior footy all year for Port Fairy, and also represented the under-23 Hampden Football League side while still at school.
Amon Radley
The GWV Rebels had the unenviable task of stopping Vic Metro representative Tom Sims and he managed to blanket the highly touted key forward. Sims had close to no impact until he was moved into the ruck, where he kicked his solitary goal. Radley was named as his school’s best player for his efforts, which were no doubt highly recognised internally.
Des O’Keefe
He isn’t in the elite talent pathway but there is plenty to like about the lively small forward – and not just his haircut. The highlight of O’Keefe’s day came in the second quarter when he won a holding the ball free kick and slotted the set shot, marking it by mimicking the viral celebration of Turkish shooter Yusuf Dikec. His pressure and evasiveness in traffic were impressive and there is no doubt these traits have helped him kick 12 goals from 15 games at senior level for Koroit this year.
INTERMEDIATE BOYS FINAL
ST KEVIN’S
Archie Fogarty
Fogarty was impassable in defence for St Kevin’s on his way to a best-on-ground medal. By my count he had 10 intercept marks for the game, many of those contested, and most of those were in the first half when the game was up for grabs. Fogarty’s reading of the play was outstanding and his strong hands overhead were just as good, seeing him. He has already debuted at Talent League level for the Oakleigh Chargers as a 16-year-old so there is no doubt we’ll be seeing more of him in the future.
Ben Baker
Baker was another who dominated the air and hit the scoreboard early, taking several big grabs in the first quarter that showcased his leap and contested marking ability. The Sandringham Dragons under-16 prospect booted two of their first three goals, one coming from a mark and the other an advantage free kick, and could have had a couple more in the first half had he kicked straight. Baker moved into the midfield in the second half and showed some good signs as a tall on-baller.
Alex Dreaver
An imposing size for the intermediate age group, Dreaver gave his midfielders first use with his tapwork and had a huge presence at stoppages and around the ground. Took a couple of strong marks in the third quarter and was impressive at ground level throughout, gathering cleanly below his knees and also winning a holding the ball free kick.
Barnaby Smith
It wasn’t just his first name that made you take notice. A few times in the first half it looked like it was Fogarty taking yet another intercept mark, but instead it was the blond-haired Smith. He took several key grabs deep, zoning off his defender to get himself into the hole. Smith also helped turn defence into attack with his run and penetrating kicks out of defence.
Gustavo Teixeira
Teixeira found plenty of the Sherrin through the midfield, with his burst from congestion and decision making with ball in hand impressing. He was also rewarded with a goal and was named in St Kevin’s best players in both the final and semi-final.
Ashwin Currie with the banana from a ridiculous angle! ðŸŒ
— KommunityTV (@KommunityTV) August 14, 2024
A brilliant finish and @SKCToorak is on top in the @theheraldsun intermediate boys grand final.
Watch live: https://t.co/VGW3vBPSAJpic.twitter.com/L2sh1w1h3O
Ashwin Currie
Currie is incredibly agile for a player his size and while he only kicked the one goal – a nice banana from the boundary – he certainly caught the eye. On one occasion the elusive forward collected the ball off the deck and got around an opponent on his hammer with a silky sidestep. Missed a couple of chances, one of those a quick gather and snap. Has been a goalkicking machine for Williamstown at U16 level with 42 goals in 14 matches.
Max Mahoney
Mahoney started hot. He coolly slotted two goals on the run inside the first quarter-and-a-half and also missed a set shot tucked up on the boundary after taking a strong mark on the lead. The Moonee Valley product was always looking to get involved in offensive chains.
Archie Duray
Was perhaps unlucky to finish with just one goal to his name given his immense impact aerially. The best of those came in the second quarter with a fantastic leap in a big pack, but he was unable to convert the set shot.
Louis Lefoe
Lefoe had two goals on the board in the first half, both of those finding space off his man to mark unopposed. A gang tackle from him and a teammate also set up another goal early. The forward was recognised among the best for St Kevin’.
WESTERN HEIGHTS
Blake Keating
The under the pump Western Heights defence would have been a lot worse had it not been for Keating’s efforts. The Lara product stood tall to take a couple of great intercept marks where he charged at the ball with confidence. He also saved a goal with a spoil on the last line of defence in the final quarter.
Nathan Howe
After missing an earlier chance in the third term, Howe put Western Heights’ first goal on the board in the last quarter with a snap set shot. Howe fought tirelessly throughout the day both in the ruck and up forward.
Kye Smith
Battled hard in the midfield in difficult circumstances, getting involved at the clinches and using the ball well inside 50. The side’s vice-captain set up a late goal for Will Nicholls and also hit up Howe in the third term.
Joey Davidson
Was hard to miss with the long rats tail but his defensive acts were equally impressive. Davidson was able to neutralise and win one-on-one contests and stripped Ben Baker in the third quarter when he looked like putting through another goal.
Daniel May
One of several Year 8 students taking the field against much older opponents, May didn’t look out of place. He caught the eye with one play in particular in the third quarter, bursting away with speed and clearing the ball long. Former Western Bulldogs coach Brendan McCartney expects May to get more attention for his performances into the future.
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Originally published as Herald Sun Shield: Scouting notes from Parade v Emmanuel and St Kevin’s v Western Heights
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