The Majak Daw Thread

[Mousey 47]

First saw a glimpse of him on the footy show last week.

What does everyone think of taking a punt on him in the draft?

Obviously not first round maybe not second round but i think with the success and excitement surrounding Jurrah someone will take a punt on him earlier than expected.

First Sudanese player to play AFL, another good story and will generate a lot of interest in a an untapped demographic.

195cm i think he is.

Looks like he is not afraid of contact either which is please too see.

[beelzebub 22,762]

Seek,...and ye shall find. Much discussion regarding Daw is already here rookies 09

[Bingo 254]

I like the look of him. Seems to have good balance, comfortable with the ball (including bouncing) and has a nice jump at the ball in the ruck and when marking.

Where do people think he will go in the draft?

[Clanger King 9]

First saw a glimpse of him on the footy show last week.

What does everyone think of taking a punt on him in the draft?

Obviously not first round maybe not second round but i think with the success and excitement surrounding Jurrah someone will take a punt on him earlier than expected.

First Sudanese player to play AFL, another good story and will generate a lot of interest in a an untapped demographic.

195cm i think he is.

Looks like he is not afraid of contact either which is please too see.

I love him i mean we would be losing anything if we had his height and LEAP in the ruck. Looks more then capable when the ball is in his area. hes quick, tackles like a cheetah. To me he is a better footballer then Spencer and younger. Also in the clip he was kicking multiple goals. Spencer can't even drop the ball on to his boot. If he was around by pick 34 i would seriously consider taking him. People are saying Rookie but thats what i mean when i say look at Spencer we took him as a Rookie and Majak Daw in my opinion head and shoulders ahead of Spencer was and is.

[BAMF 3,922]

I love him i mean we would be losing anything if we had his height and LEAP in the ruck. Looks more then capable when the ball is in his area. hes quick, tackles like a cheetah. To me he is a better footballer then Spencer and younger. Also in the clip he was kicking multiple goals. Spencer can't even drop the ball on to his boot. If he was around by pick 34 i would seriously consider taking him. People are saying Rookie but thats what i mean when i say look at Spencer we took him as a Rookie and Majak Daw in my opinion head and shoulders ahead of Spencer was and is.

Spencer is playing against much better opposition. But i can see where your coming from. He's got height, strength, speed and a decent kick for a big man.

From that footage he really seems to know how to use his body weight. Something that we have been lacking from all our ruckmen for awhile.

What is his confirmed height? might need to be a little bit taller to make a really good ruckman. Wouldn't mind picking him up as a KPF anyway.

With the draft so shallow this year i reakon he will be taken higher than people expect. I reakon 3rd or 4th round.

[beelzebub 22,762]

the biggest diference between Spencer and Daw is very much a debatable quality called.... confidence. Spencer still has that...'what the hell am I doing out here "about him. Hes getting better but still has that young star struck look about himat times. I dont see that in Daw Yes, for sure, Majak hasnt played yet at teh highest level , something Spencer has, but in wathcing him ( albeity only ontape ) you can see that Daw just eats up this game. Hes very purposeful, backs himslef and given a few preseasons and good coaching thi skid will be something. I would be very happy to see him in Red and Blue. He has all the potential of a Nic Nat ..but without the awkward fumbling !!.Daw has much beter poise and balance.

[Dee tention 611]

I like the look of him. Seems to have good balance, comfortable with the ball (including bouncing) and has a nice jump at the ball in the ruck and when marking.

Where do people think he will go in the draft?

He should be coming to Melbourne with Pick 24 or 25 wich we have hopefully traded for. This allows us to pick him before Essendons Pick 26. He will be gone at Pick 26 if nobody swoops in I believe.

[H_T 2,941]

Having seen a bit more of him, I think he'll get picked up in the draft not the rookie draft (my first thoughts). He can't be ignored in the draft for mine. Those tap outs are impressive, and his willingness to chase and tackle is excellent.

Good highlights package too.

[H_T 2,941]

the biggest diference between Spencer and Daw is very much a debatable quality called.... confidence. Spencer still has that...'what the hell am I doing out here "about him. Hes getting better but still has that young star struck look about himat times. I dont see that in Daw Yes, for sure, Majak hasnt played yet at teh highest level , something Spencer has, but in wathcing him ( albeity only ontape ) you can see that Daw just eats up this game. Hes very purposeful, backs himslef and given a few preseasons and good coaching thi skid will be something. I would be very happy to see him in Red and Blue. He has all the potential of a Nic Nat ..but without the awkward fumbling !!.Daw has much beter poise and balance.

The biggest difference is mobility & ball control if you're comparing Spencer & Daw. Spencer is also taller. I agree about the confidence. But that's U/18's for Daw, not the AFL. Let's see his confidence at a much higher level first.

[Tatu 416]

looks to be the ruckman of the future.

he could be anything.

he's worth a punt at pick 34, if he's still there.

[Demon Disciple 11,218]

He seems to be able to kick a ball, so on that alone he has to be better than Natanui.

[Cards13 9,117]

He should be coming to Melbourne with Pick 24 or 25 wich we have hopefully traded for. This allows us to pick him before Essendons Pick 26. He will be gone at Pick 26 if nobody swoops in I believe.

Inside info Dee T?

[Einstein 1]

Will be interesting to see where this kid lands.

What I have seen of him, which isnt much, he looks to have tremendous potential.

He isnt alone. I used to regularly travel past the Flemington housing blocks and every day I would see African kids playing kick to kick. Some serious athletes amongst them. In ten years time, who knows how many of these kids will be playing in the AFL. Very exciting.

Would love to see him in a Melbourne jumper. Just depends on the price.

[RalphiusMaximus 6,005]

It's worth remembering that Daw wasn't invited to the main Draft camp. He's one of the guys being tested locally rather than the group going to the AIS. That means that recruiters rate him outside the top 75 youngsters in the competition. I'm not going to stress too much about someone snapping him up in the second round.

However, I do like the look of the guy. I've seen a few clips and I love the way he moves and jumps. As has been said, better skills than Nik Nat. He's also a scary looking bugger which is never a bad thing on the footy field, and he's already pretty big. Could have an impact in his first season with muscles like that.

All in all I'd be thrilled if we nabbed him with our 3rd round pick, but i'm not sure he's worth more than that (not sure he isn't either ). Bulldogs have shown some interest in him and given their need for KP's they could well move early, but if so good on them and I hope a gun slips to us because of it.

[Dee tention 611]

Inside info Dee T?

Just my gut! But Essendon has already had him down the club. Knights could do a Sheedy! Pick 26 would'nt be out of the question I dont think. His highlights do enough for me. Has loads of potential to be a superstar bigman. Cox is a great ruckman but I think Daw will take the bigman name to another level.

There is alot of upside commercialy for the club also. Jurrah and Daw! Special!

[RalphiusMaximus 6,005]

The bombers have had him visit as well? I saw an article where he was having a kick with some Bulldogs. Didn't know other clubs were sounding him out.

[w00dy 146]

It's worth remembering that Daw wasn't invited to the main Draft camp. He's one of the guys being tested locally rather than the group going to the AIS. That means that recruiters rate him outside the top 75 youngsters in the competition.

Not exactly true, perhaps there are recruiters who want to keep him in the dark from the others... Even though most clubs would be aware of him you would think, bringing him to draft camp would parade him around in front of everyone...

[Dee tention 611]

The bombers have had him visit as well? I saw an article where he was having a kick with some Bulldogs. Didn't know other clubs were sounding him out.

I am 99% sure he was at the Bombers. I thought the Bulldogs had someone down from elsewhere. Papua New Ginni Land or Fiji, etc.

[RalphiusMaximus 6,005]

Posted this as part of another discussion, but it is relevant here also. I couldn't dig this up from the Heraldsun website, so no direct link.

Herald Sun (Melbourne); 27.08.2009, p81-81, 1

Section: SPORT Edition: 1 - FIRST

THE first Sudanese-born footballer has been chosen to attend the AFL's draft selection camps next month.

Majak Daw, who plays for the Western Jets in the TAC Cup, is among 200 players named to attend the camps where they will be tested for the 2009 national draft.

AFL talent development manager Kevin Sheehan agreed yesterday that the selection of Daw showed there was a great potential to find overseas-born players ``in our own backyard''.

Western Jets regional manager Shane Sexton said Daw had the talent to impress at the camp.

``He's had a good season with the Jets,'' Sexton said.

The 193cm Daw, who plays in the ruck and at full-forward for the Jets, had his best game in the elite under-18 competition two weeks ago when he booted five goals.

Sheehan and Sexton said he had a big leap and was a good mark and kick -- he just needed to learn how to position himself around the ground and where to run.

The top 75 players selected from around Australia will attend a camp at the AIS in Canberra. Daw will be among the remainder who will be tested in Melbourne and other cities.

Sheehan said a good proportion of this group still made it on to AFL lists either as draftees or rookies.

Daw watched the Western Bulldogs train yesterday morning. He was warmly congratulated on his selection by coach Rodney Eade and met Jarrod Harbrow, Josh Hill and Malcolm Lynch.

Daw is an impressive young man and has taken to Aussie rules with a passion.

He was introduced to the game by a couple who taught him English as a 12-year-old through the Sudanese Australian Integrated Learning program at a church in Footscray.

From a Wyndham Vale family of nine children, he was hooked after watching his first AFL game and took to it despite his older brothers and sisters playing soccer and basketball.

[Melon22 174]

I am amazed at that you all think he has better skills than Nik Nat and Jake Spencer, there is a reason the highlights package doesn't show where the ball is landing after he kicks. He tries to avoid kicking as much as Nik Nat does.

He is most likely heading for a rookie list, but someone might love the upside and take him late.

Edited September 2, 2009 by Melon22

[torpedo 33]

I am amazed at that you all think he has better skills than Nik Nat and Jake Spencer, there is a reason the highlights package doesn't show where the ball is landing after he kicks. He tries to avoid kicking as much as Nik Nat does.

He is most likely heading for a rookie list, but someone might love the upside and take him late.

Agreed. Its a great story to follow back people are pumping him up far too much.

The comparisons to NikNat are absoultely ridiculous, he plays nothing like him & is light years behind where he was at at 17...

[Viney Vidi Vici 138]

one thing I love though, is how his work rate. He seems to always be looking for an opportunity to help out team mates, either with a shepherd, or just running hard for support. He's a big body already, and I can see him making a big impact as a marking forward/pinch-hitting ruck. Not of Naitinui calibre, but I would go for him with maybe pick 34, if he's there. Maybe earlier if trades work our way.

[beelzebub 22,762]

some of his 3rd and 4th ( yes..you read right ) efforts are fantastic. He just doesnt let up. Yes AFL is a diferent world.... but that sort of unbridled enthusiasm is to be commended and encouraged.

[cooko 124]

MAD JACK DAW!! Lets get him!!

[Doggo 32]

Huge wrap for the kid, already mentioned this in 'Rookies' thread. Plenty of info and discussion about him in that thread.

Let's draft him! Hopefully he's still there at 50 or our first rookie pick, otherwise lets take him at 34 if we have to.

Unbelieveable athletic upside and potential to this kid, and he's been playing footy for about 5 years, about as long as Stef Martin, comparable or even favourable to most basketball converts. At his current rate of improvement, he could be special in a few years time.