taccup.com.au recently chatted to Western Jets Talent Manager Shane Sexton about the club’s top individual talent and team prospects for season 2017.
FACT FILE:
2016 FINISH: 10th (5-13)
2016 BEST AND FAIREST: 1. Brodie Romensky / 2. Oscar Junker / 3. Daniel Foley
2016 DRAFTEES: Daniel Venables (pick no.15 to West Coast) / Oscar Junker (rookie pick no.28 to North Melbourne)
OTHER FORMER PLAYERS CURRENTLY ON AFL LISTS:
- Selected in 2003: Michael Rischitelli (Brisbane/Gold Coast)
- 2006: Bachar Houli (Essendon/Richmond)
- 2007: Callan Ward (Western Bulldogs/GWS)
- 2009: Jack Fitzpatrick (Melbourne/Hawthorn), Trent McKenzie (Gold Coast), Majak Daw* (North Melbourne)
- 2011: Will Hoskin-Elliott (GWS/Collingwood), Adam Kennedy (GWS)
- 2012: Lachlan Hunter (Western Bulldogs)
- 2013: James Sicily (Hawthorn)
- 2014: Liam Duggan (West Coast), Corey Ellis (Richmond), Jayden Laverde (Essendon), Connor Menadue (Richmond)
2017 COACH: Torin Baker (fifth season)
TOP 2017 NAB AFL DRAFT PROSPECTS:
Cameron Rayner (pictured - eight games, 17 goals, ave. 18 disposals, four marks and four tackles in 2016): “Cameron had a really good year as a bottom-age player to the point where he played himself into the AFL Academy right at the finish. He’s strongly built, very hard at the football and a terrific competitor. He has a penetrating kick, is excellent over his head and is a versatile type of player who we’ll be working really hard with to ensure he becomes a very effective inside midfielder. There’s no question he can take a mark and kick a goal, but he’s about 189/190cm so he’s a great size to be a midfielder.”
Lachlan Fogarty (five games, ave. 24 disposals and eight tackles in 2016): “Lachie’s very highly skilled, an excellent decision-maker, and really, really competitive. He needs to build a bigger tank but certainly has a capacity to get to where the ball is around the ground. He was our best player in his 16-year-old season in 2015 when he represented Vic Metro. He’s also a member of the AFL Academy.”
Tristan Xerri (11 games, 13 goals, ave. seven disposals, two marks and 11 hitouts in 2016): “Tristan’s a late developer – we picked him up halfway through 2016. He’s over 200cm tall, a good athlete, very mobile, excellent below his knees and very capable over his head. He can not only get it in the air but also on the ground so he’s going to be a bit of an all-rounder, and at that height with the potential to grow a little bit more, we think he’ll be someone that’s right in contention.”
POTENTIAL SURPRISE PACKETS:
Nick Stuhldreier (15 games, ave. 17 disposals and four marks in 2016): “Nick had a fantastic season last year as a bottom-age player and received our Best First-Year Player Award. He has a fantastic attitude, a great desire to succeed, a fantastic work ethic and is someone who has fantastic leadership qualities.”
Luke Hitch (14 games, ave. 12 disposals and four tackles in 2016): “Luke is a fantastic competitor, really hard at the footy, never gives up and is capable of being a small defender. We’ll also try to run him through the midfield to give him that opportunity.”
Josh Mould (no games in 2016): “We’re looking forward to seeing Josh play this year. He suffered a stress fracture of the foot which was really nasty and took a while to diagnose, and he missed all of last year and a fair part of 2015 trying to get over it. His training has been outstanding so if he can strike a little bit of confidence early in the year and play a couple of good games, he’ll put himself into contention.”
Riley Ham (nine games, ave. six disposals and 11 hitouts in 2016): “Riley’s a big boy who, along with Tristan Xerri, got an opportunity in the middle of last year. He had a couple of really good games playing at centre half forward and if he can play well again this year, he’ll give himself some sort of chance.”
CONFIRMED OVER-AGE PLAYERS:
Judah Dundon (eight games, six goals, ave. 19 disposals in 2016): “He was absolutely flying as a 17-year-old in 2015 but had to have a plate inserted into his forearm and that was the end of his season. At the start of last year he was full of confidence but got a fracture in his tibia. He played eight or nine games in the middle of the season and started to get a bit of form back, but then exactly the same injury occurred in his other leg so that was the end of his season. If he can find some really good form, we think he’ll be a good player.”
Harrison Bult (eight games, ave. nine disposals and three marks in 2016): “Harrison’s a tall, athletic, mobile centre half back. He played for Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School last year so didn’t play a lot of TAC Cup footy.”
Brock McGregor (seven games, four goals, ave. 12 disposals, five marks and 17 hitouts in 2016): “Brock’s had a back issue for a long time now but he’s training really well at the moment. He’s a power forward. He also played for Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School last year and didn’t play a lot of TAC Cup footy.”
Matthew Volkanovski (four games, ave. six disposals and 15 hitouts in 2016): “Matthew’s a big boy who’s played very little football. He’s a 202/203cm ruckman.”
Alex Bouris (four games, ave. nine disposals in 2016): “Alex played early on last year but hurt the medial ligament in his knee and missed pretty much the rest of the season. He showed a bit of promise playing at centre half forward. He’s a mobile, lead-up forward who’s good over his head and a nice left-foot kick.”
FAMOUS SURNAMES:
Nathan Ellis: Bottom-age brother of Corey (17 AFL games for Richmond). “Nathan’s going to be a bit taller than Corey. He’s skilful but he’s more of a developer at the moment so it’s going to take him a bit of time.”
Oskar Manton: Bottom-age son of Glenn (178 AFL games – 21 for Essendon from 1992-94, 157 for Carlton from 1995-2003) “Oscar’s had some injury setbacks and has played next to no footy. He’s still trying to gain a bit of confidence and we’re going to be patient with him.”
Jacob Smith: Top-age son of Rohan (300 AFL games for the Western Bulldogs from 1992-2006).
TEAM PROSPECTS:
“We’ve got a solid enough contingent of good players who’ll be going to private schools. As you saw last year, it was on for young and old at the start of the season – we nearly beat eventual premier Sandringham when we had a full side available and we beat preliminary finalist Oakleigh in the first round, but then we also had a shocking run with injuries. The start and end of the season – when we have all our players available – will be crucial. Our best side will be good, it’s just a matter of how often we can get the best side on the ground.”
COACHING PANEL CHANGES:
“By and large we’re the same. The major change is Matthew Cape who’s come on as an assistant coach. He’s a local and played really good football for Williamstown in the VFL over a number of years. He’s a very capable all-round sportsperson and is a really good cricketer as well.”
Next preview: Gippsland Power
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Last Modified on 27/02/2017 14:58