4. Callum Mills (NSW - SYDNEY ACADEMY – MID)

Height: 188cm, Weight: 78kg, DOB: 04/02/1997

Recruited from: Sydney Swans

Reminds me of: David Mundy

Best position/role: Midfield – on the ball.

Strengths:

The hard stuff – Excellent contested ball winner, strong tackler and very good clearance winner. He gives the second and third efforts and demonstrates good activity, consistently involving himself in little ways around the ball.

Ability in traffic – Not only can Mills win the contested ball but critically he has the composure and some evasive tricks allowing him to avoid tackles at times in traffic.

Hands in close – Mills rarely fumbles ground balls and is a one touch player. His work by hand is very impressive with the speed with which he can deliver handballs on target. Mentally he seems to operate quicker than everyone else on the field often delivering handballs as soon as he gets it. He also has the ability by hand to deliver passes quickly and on target when under pressure or getting tackled.

Ability to read the flight – Mills in general play can pick and choose his times to get behind the ball, and when he does he shows excellent ability to read the flight and get to the drop of the ball and take intercept marks.

Marking ability - Overhead Mills has strong hands and has demonstrated the ability to take marks at the highest point be it leading up to the ball or in the air. He is a one grab, consistent, clean mark overhead.

Leadership ability/character – Leadership ability highlighted by his captaining of the U16 NSW/ACT squad. Reports regarding his character are positive with suggestions that he is a student of the game and puts in the work on the track.

Production – There is no disputing Mills’ production. Through the 2014 season he dominated during the U18 Champs as well as the NEAFL and TAC Cup seasons and has the numbers in all competitions to back up his case as consistently one of the top performers in all competitions he has competed in.

Questionmarks:

Versatility – Mills at this stage is a proven midfielder but has yet to in any of the games I have seen demonstrate that he is a multi-positional player. Perhaps he could learn to play in the back half given he reads the flight well. Or perhaps he learns to play forward given the strength of his marking ability. But until then his versatility is something I’m waiting for him to prove to me before I regard him as someone I’d be comfortable playing in other positions as well as just on the ball. If he was an elite athlete and was an above average or better kick, I wouldn’t have this question, but given the nature of his game, his versatility is something he will have to prove to me before I put a tick next to this box.

Scoreboard impact – Scoreboard impact is something Mills has the scope to improve and while he has kicked some goals over the course of last season, I’d like to see him get closer to that goal a game mark in the future to add that string to his bow.

Athleticism – Mills’ athleticism is average overall. His endurance is good and he will get to every contest and cover the ground pretty well. His agility and leap both fine. But his pace is while not poor none the less below average and is not a threat to break the lines or provide any meaningful outside run and carry at this stage.

Weaknesses:

Footskills - Footskills by AFL standards are below average. Mills is someone who can land his kicks in the general region of his targets but isn’t so skilled that he’ll kick it out in front of targets or to a players advantage with his kicks or hit his targets lace out. He can on occasion also shank some kicks by foot. Though I get the sense given he has not played AFL all his life that his footskills can improve at least beyond the level its currently at.

Summary:

Mills projects to become a 250 gamer who can play from season one and become one of the better midfielders in this draft with his ability to find and win the footy in bunches. Mills has the ability to play from round one, season one, and become a regular best 22 player from the get go if the opportunities are there.







5. Joshua Schache (VIC – KPF)

Height: 199cm, Weight: 96kg, DOB: 21/08/1997

Recruited from: Murray Bushrangers

Reminds me of: A less dominant Tom Lynch (Gold Coast version)/a taller, better Jay Schulz

Best position/role: Centre Half Forward with ability to play Full Forward.

Strength:

Footskills – Schache is an excellent kick of the footy. He has 50-55m of penetration but critically is a precision kick over all distances. In front of goal Schache is reliable whether he is attempting set shots or shots at goal from general play. He consistently hits his targets around the ground over a variety of distances. He has composure with ball in hand consistently making the right decisions. He lowers his eyes and at the right times and is unselfish and will hit the targets inside 50 in better positions to more easily convert. Schache overall has the ability to become one of the best general kicking big men in the game.

Vision – Schache does well to spot meaningful targets up the field or inside 50 and has the footskills to execute these kicks. He demonstrates at times an unselfishness to his game and will consistently lower his eyes and find short – medium distance targets rather than just kick long for the sake of kicking long, in order to find a meaningful target.

Decision making – Schache makes good decisions with ball in hand. He will take his time with ball in hand, make the right decision, and execute by hand or foot to his target.

Set shot goalkicking – Schache is an ultra-reliable set shot goalkicker and can be relied on in front of goal to consistently convert. He can convert consistently from a variety of distances, variety of angles and has for him what is a reliable set shot routine.

Endurance – Schache is only an average athlete by position, but where his real strength lies athletically is in his endurance. Schache is an excellent endurance running key forward and covers the ground as well as any key forward in this draft over the course of four quarters. He will go on his leads up the ground, and will work opposition key defenders over with his endurance superiority.

Marking ability – Schache is a strong mark overhead. He marks near the highest point consistently and is a one grab mark overhead. He can be at times a threatening contested mark but also will take his share of marks on the lead, and he shows a willingness at times to lead up as far as a wing to get some marks. If required Schache can push back into the back half to take intercept marks with his ability to read the flight also excellent.

Contested marking – Schache is not a dominant but still capable if not good contested mark. He can win some 1v1 marking contests and take some strong pack marks. In 1v1 contests he demonstrates excellent ability to read the flight and uses his body well in the contest to take 1v1 marks. Similarly in pack situations Schache is aided by his superior ability to read and get to the drop of the ball for best position, and has the height and strength of marking overhead to take the grab. Overall as a marking thread I consider Schache more finesse than power stylistically, though still effective.

Ability to read the flight – Schache reads the flight of the ball very well. He gets to the drop of the ball consistently and rarely if ever caught out of position in a marking contest. He also while he does not usually play in defence, also has the ability behind the play to take intercept marks.

Ground level ability – Schache has excellent co-ordination below his knees for a key forward. He picks the ball up relatively cleanly off the deck and does not normally fumble when collecting the ground balls. So he is more than just a marking forward and has the blend of marking and ground level ability.

Ability to keep his feet – Schache has a real balance to him and in the contest he consistently keeps his feet and rarely goes to ground which makes him a real threat when the ball hits the deck and he only has the one defender to beat, with his strength and ability to win the ground ball.

Size and strength – Schache is a tall key forward and also has good size and strength to him for his age. He has good strength through the legs for his age to stand up in 1v1 contests and in pack situations he has reasonably good strength overhead but also excellent bodywork to allow him to take his share of contested marks with regularity. Schache has small looking arms and small shoulders which may mean that he does not develop into a beast of a contested marking target, but he should still be more than strong enough to have an impact.

Ability to play multiple positions – Schache while best suited as a key forward also has the ability to be a plausible relief ruckman at AFL level. His limitation through the ruck is a lack of leaping ability or that real towering strength so he won’t win many hitouts but he covers the ground well and has an excellent skillset and could push forward or back and take a mark so as a relief ruckman given his height he would also be sufficient in that role. He also has the attributes to become a very good key defender and swing back if required because he reads the flight so well and as a result with his marking ability can take intercept marks, so if the situation requires it, that’s something he can certainly do if required. Through the ruck though I feel Schache will struggle at AFL level, he isn’t 200cm+ or a particularly good leaper. He has the endurance so as a ruckman he could find the ball around the ground and he could certainly push forward or back and take some marks, and probably follow up reasonably well at ground level and win some ground ball at times, making good decisions when he does win it, but none the less it’s not something I’d be personally comfortable with, and something I hope he isn’t pushed into doing as someone who certainly looks best suited as a forward.

Questionmarks:

Athleticism – Schache is only an average athlete overall. His endurance is an excellent by position. Outside of endurance, Schache has good agility by position as a fluid mover for someone at his height and is able to change directions fine which are further positives. Schache is not extremely explosive over shorter distances though he can at times create separation on the lead due to his sheer work rate and working his guys over. Additionally his leaping ability although he is able to leap and take marks, his limited leaping ability will to some extent limit him slightly in terms of marking ability in the air but more so from the standpoint that it will likely limit his ability to play minutes through the ruck, not that I’d necessarily want to see him in the ruck anyway with Schache a natural key forward.

Weaknesses:

Tackling and pressure game – The relative weakness with Schache is in his tackling and pressure game. His tackle per game numbers are low, and his chasing and tackling effort by position are below average and will require further growth and should be much better for someone with his motor.

Dominance – Schache while he is good at a lot of things and a particularly impressive kick with excellent height but he doesn’t have one point of difference that makes me see him as an out and out star, and other than through the u18 championships where Schache played some really impressive footy, the rest of his season was good without being great and given this he most probably will only be a very good but not great key forward.

Summary:

Schache has the ability to be a 200 gamer and has the ability to develop into one of the better young key forwards in the game if things go right. Schache I expect will take a few seasons to develop and likely around season three or four come into his own and be a key piece to build around.









6. Ben Keays (QLD – BRISBANE ACADEMY – MID/FWD)

Height: 183cm, Weight: 78kg, DOB: 23/02/1997

Recruited from: Brisbane LionsPlayer Comparison: A less dominant Robbie Gray.

Best position/role: Rotational midfielder (inside leaning)/forward.

Strengths:

Marking ability – Keays has strong hands overhead and is a genuine marking threat forward of centre which is a terrific weapon for a midfielder and greatly increases his versatility. He can take 1v1 marks, marks on the lead and also marks in the air. He takes his marks overhead and takes his marks one grab. Also with body contact or bodies crashing into him he has the ability to take his marks cleanly.

1v1 ability – Keays in the 1v1 contest has excellent strength and against similar sized opponents consistently through superiority of body work and strength overhead outpoints his opponents.

Scoreboard impact - Keays is an excellent finisher from general play and set shots, and loves a goal, hitting the scoreboard with frequency and accurately whether he is playing through the midfield or in the front half.

Decision making ability – Keays consistently chooses the correct options be it in general play or after a mark/free kick. He has composure and takes the time to assess his options, does not rush, and picks out a high percentage target by both hand and foot.

Vision – Keays demonstrates excellent vision consistently lowering his eyes and finding the best and open targets inside 50 and up the field.

Ball use – Keays is a highly efficient user of the footy as demonstrated by his 81.43% disposal efficiency through the 2014 u18 championships. By hand he is reliable and by foot over short, medium and long distances also hits his targets, kicking it out in front of his targets or to the space for them to lead onto easily. Keays has good hurt factor and a 50-55m kick on him.

Contested ball winning ability and work at stoppages – Keays is an excellent contested ball winner and manages consistently high contested possession numbers. He also is a threat at stoppages and will get his share of meaningful clearances where he not only gets the clearance be it by winning first possession himself or receiving, but also can find targets by foot up the field with his kicks, taking his time with ball in hand to find a meaningful target, and can hit his targets in this situations at a good frequency.

Running ability – Keays is an exceptional endurance runner. He runs a 15+ beep and runs all day out on the field. He also has excellent agility and uses his agility well in game demonstrating a quick first step and excellent side to side movement particularly impressing.

Inside/outside balance – Keays has ability both inside and outside the contest. As an inside midfielder Keays can win the contested ball, tackles strongly and can also win the clearances. He uses the ball reasonably well under pressure and by hand and foot can execute. Then outside the contest Keays can also find the footy, take a mark around the ground and also hits his targets with consistency and have an impact. Keays is slightly better suited in my view as an inside player it is unusual that a junior has such a well balanced combination of an inside/outside game, so that is a big advantage with Keays.

Production – Keays is already a proven performer finishing the 2014 and 2015 U18 Championships as an All Australian, proving that he can find the footy in bunches, take a grab and hit the scoreboard.

Defensive side of his game – Keays while he is exceptionally damaging offensively also has a great balance of offense and defence to his game. Keays is a strong tackler and gives good tackling and pressuring effort and will also provide good two way running and push back and help out the defence at opportune times.

Weaknesses:

Ability v strong teams – Keays I have found against inferior opposition tears them to shreds, but against stronger teams while he still will perform strongly, he doesn’t dominate to the same extent. So finding that next level to his game against better competition will be one of the elements Keays will need to work on and find a way to improve.

One sided – Keays at this point seems a left footer only and unwilling to use his right foot in the games I have seen. That ability to use both sides or at least use his right side when he needs to is something Keays would benefit from building into his game. In saying that he has so much time and composure, and is so great with his ball use on his left, it’s not going to make much of a difference, with so few players today duel sided anyway.

Summary:

Keays projects to become a 200 gamer who can play from season one and has the ability to be the most damaging midfielder in this draft with his class and ability to hit the scoreboard. Keays has the ability to play regular senior games from season one if the opportunity presents.