Top notch footballer from the Amateurs. 183 cm, 76 kg.

Super speedy half-back with precise delivery who dominated the Victorian Amateur competition. Considered to have the goods to step up.

AFL clubs cast net far and wide in search of that special talent

DAN NICHOLSON

Height: 183cm

Weight: 76kg

DOB: 02/11/90

Club: Uni Blues (Vic)

Bio: Pacy midfielder/running defender who has dominated Melbourne's amateur footy competition for two seasons while playing with University Blues. Grew up in Victoria's western district then went to school at St Pat's in Ballarat. Is 20, but has plenty of improvement to come.

In his own words

What type of player are you?

Agile half-back player who loves to run and create plays. I try to stop my man and run off him, and make him accountable for what I do.

Which AFL player do you feel you resemble and why?

Robert Murphy, who doesn't have the heaviest build but plays bigger than he is. I offer run and creativity from the back half and can play as a utility.

What are your strengths as a footballer?

I have a decent engine when it comes to endurance but my speed over 10-20m is my greatest asset. Solid left foot.

What parts of your game would you like to improve?

Contested marking and mid-range kicking.

Which AFL team do you support and how did you come to barrack for them?

Hawthorn. Dad always tried to make me barrack for Richmond so that pushed me away from them. My best friend barracked for Hawthorn, so I did as well.

Who has been the biggest influence on your career so far, and why?

Dad. Living in the country, opportunities are hard to come by so Dad drove me everywhere. He eventually sent me to boarding school at St Pat's

hopefully a better version of james strauss.

Not quite the same type of player.

Is Gilbee the same type as Enright?

Pacy go get it type- a real get for our team.Several clubs were chasing him.

BP in the rookie draft summary video on the MFC website mentioned that Nicholson did some contested work against Frawley and "did him".

They caught it on video and at some stage it will pop up on the site, apparently.

A skilled back flanker with speed and endurance who can beat chip in constested work..???

How did he slip through the net?!

Can't wait to see him go about it.

With a bit more size so he doesn't get smashed to dust he could be a player of the ilk of Harbrow.

A speedy defender who breaks the lines with a nice left foot he ticks all the boxes now it's up to him and footy department to see how far he'll come.

hopefully a better version of james strauss.

Sounds a little bit like Gram when he started.

My two sons played footy for amateur teams, the elder one in B Section and I still follow the ammos a fair bit and really enjoy watching. The difference between the highest level of amateurs and the AFL in intensity and skills is enormous but Nicholson is one who could make it coming up to the highest level. His testing results have been very impressive and a pre season at the club will make a big difference. The good judges believe he can do it and, at his age, might be more ready to move up to AFL football than some of the blokes we picked up in the main draft last month.

Reckon we may see this kid sooner rather than later. Has already played against men (albeit in the Ammos) but with his pace and skills i reckon they are keen to see what he can bring. NAB cup and if he shows enough he may be a darkhorse for an early season debut.

Correct me if I am wrong but Rookies can only play if we get injuries?

Correct me if I am wrong but Rookies can only play if we get injuries?

Not true.

Bruce has left a spot so a rookie can be upgraded immediately if so desired.

Also another rookie can be upgraded at the midpoint of the season, regardless of injuries.

Not true.

Bruce has left a spot so a rookie can be upgraded immediately if so desired.

Also another rookie can be upgraded at the midpoint of the season, regardless of injuries.

A b it more fully:

We have 8 spots not counted in the senior list that can be filled by veterans or rookies. If you have no veterans you can have 8 rookies, and two of them can be nominated for senior selection even if you have no injuries. If you have one veteran you can have 7 rookies and one of them can be nominated for senior selection without having any injuries. If you have two veterans you can have 6 rookies and none can be nominated for senior selection unless you have long term injuries. If you have three veterans you can have 5 rookies .... and so on.

In 2011 we have 1 veteran (Green). Therefore we can have 7 rookies and one can be nominated for senior selection withoiut any of our players being on the LTI list. While I am unsure if this must be the same rookie all season, or if we get the chance to change during the season, it does mean that we can go into round 1 with one of our rookies available for senior selection in round 1.

If during the season we get players injured and out for at least 6 weeks (ie, on the LTI list), we can n ominate another rookie to replace them on the senior list. That rookie must then revert to rookie status when the injured player retirns.

And just in case all that is too simple, after round 11 we can elevate one of the rookies to the senior list (as we did with McKensie this year).

The Dees are high on Dan, I haven't seen much of him but am interested in what all the noise is about. I get the impression he was going to be our first selection regardless of who was on the table. Had heard some rumblings amongst other dees fans, and they were on the money with this pick.

I like Daniel as a player and he can do many things well, he has the speed and endurance to run out a full game of footy, he can also take oppenents on with his pace and really break the game up. However, we are all too aware of his limitations with his kicking under pressure. For this reason, I wouldn't mind seeing him utilised in a different way to the small defender role he frequently plays.

One would be as a tagger to shut down a dangerous oppenent and bring others into the game using his hands rather than his feet. He has the endurance and a defensive mindset as well as the speed to compete with the likes of an explosive player like a Dangerfield. Or alternatively, have him playing on a wing where he has more of an open ground to run and carry, perhaps giving him time and space to deliver into the forward 50 with a bit more precision. I think he is too good a talent to waste and hope he can cement himself as a best 22 player.

Tried it against Essendon. Failed.

Is an athlete not a footballer. It's not just bad kicking, its poor vision, way too many fumbles and a lack of physicality.

More time in the VFL might help but I feel his ceiling is limited. He's been a good runner since he came in but I haven't seen much else improve.

He's best games to date were coming on as the sub where he could use his speed to really get him out of trouble when the game opened up. Before any positional change I'd try him in that role again.

Oh and at the start of 2012 Neeld tried him as a defensive forward. That didn't really work either.

Edited April 30, 201312 yr by the master

He has got some ability and speed. However the guy is scared. I watched him chicken out of half a dozen contests during the PA and Ess matches. Hopefully for his and our sake he has got confidence back and toughened up back at Casey.