2013 UNDER 18 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

[Whispering_Jack 29,085]

Young South Australian centre half-back Matthew Scharenberg leads state to under-18 title

SA claim under-18s championship

Big Boyd may not be a Giant

Billings the star as Metro win battle of the Vics

Vic Country 1.1 3.3 5.4 6.6 (42)

Vic Metro 2.1 5.4 7.5 9.7 (61)

GOALS

Vic Country: Willsmore 2, McCartney, Herbert, Nelson, Taylor

Vic Metro: Billings 3, Apeness, Lennon, Honeychurch, Sicily, Walker, Bontempelli

Best:

Vic Country: Taylor, Crouch, Holman, Jones, Leslie, Impey

Vic Metro: Honeychurch, Kennedy-Harris, McDonald, Billings, Kelly, Bontempelli, Byrne-Jones, Ritchie

SA breaks drought

SOUTH AUSTRALIA 3.2 8.4 10.6 11.9 (75)

WESTERN AUSTRALIA 3.1 5.2 8.4 10.5 (65)

Goals

SA: Hourigan 3, Battersby 2, Reynolds, Karpany, McKay, Knight, Dumont, Harvey

WA: Sokol, McCarthy 2, Lim, Cameron, Marsh, Johnson, Keitel, Pickett

Best

SA: Dunstan, Scharenberg, Pitt, Hourigan, Battersby, Combe, Durdin, McKay, Spina

WA: Smith, Lim, Cripps, Jansen, Edwards

[What 18,810]

Dom Sheed for me. Brilliant kick on both sides, born leader, match winning ability.

Oh and this -

[whatwhat say what 22,046]

righo then, decision made!

[Clark_Kent 315]

Haha that's awesome. Yep make it happen. Midfielders who can kick 50m on either foot are very rare.

[Clark_Kent 315]

Should we just let all recruiting decisions be made by Hogan? Maybe he should also double as CEO. I would not be against it.

[Whispering_Jack 29,085]

Zac Jones named MVP for Victoria Country. He's had a meteoric rise through the championships. Well done.

Although he missed out on selection at the business end of the championship, it looks like Billy Stretch is set for better things in 2014.

[Machsy 2,858]

Zac Jones named MVP for Victoria Country. He's had a meteoric rise through the championships. Well done.

Although he missed out on selection at the business end of the championship, it looks like Billy Stretch is set for better things in 2014.

Brenton Phillips gave Stretch some brief but good wraps on SEN yesterday.

There's a podcast, but it's only about 30 secs of a 15 minute interview.

Said Billy has all the attributes of his father, who BP played against.

Really has the desire to go with the skills. Will play for SA next year.

Also should grow another couple of inches.

(That is, SA U/18 coach Brenton Phillips)

[Nascent 8,602]

We've been linked to James Aish (article here) and I suspect he will be our man. He is supposedly a better prospect than Toumpas who both come from the same club.

Would not be upset with Kelly, Scharenburg or Sheed either, but in no way am I an informed individual when it comes to these things and will have trust in Jason Taylor to make the right call. Just another 4 and bit months to go, lol.

[rjay 24,570]

We've been linked to James Aish (article here) and I suspect he will be our man. He is supposedly a better prospect than Toumpas who both come from the same club.

Would not be upset with Kelly, Scharenburg or Sheed either, but in no way am I an informed individual when it comes to these things and will have trust in Jason Taylor to make the right call. Just another 4 and bit months to go, lol.

We will be linked to all 4 players you have named before draft day and you may as well throw in Dunstan and Billings for good measure.

Jay Clark article????

[jazza 1,323]

anybody got news on country vic players

loius Herbert

lewis taylor

[Clark_Kent 315]

I think if it's pure mid we suely couldn't go past Sheed, Aish or Dunstan. Half back we are fairly well stocked in so I doubt Scharenberg will be on our radar. Also Billing's seems to be a half forward which again we have covered with Watts, Howe and Sylvia if he stays. We have to get a ball magnet and for min Sheed has the runs on the board averaging 28 possessions a game which is very good at that level.

[Nascent 8,602]

We will be linked to all 4 players you have named before draft day and you may as well throw in Dunstan and Billings for good measure.

Jay Clark article????

True, a lot can happen in the next 4 and half months. There seems to be high end quality talent which includes but not limited to Freeman, Dumont, Lennon, Taylor, Crouch, Kolodjashnij.... and Boyd would have to be in the mix still on talent alone.

My line of thinking is I would rather a Cotchin (i.e. class) than a Cunnington (i.e. bigger body).

[rjay 24,570]

I think if it's pure mid we suely couldn't go past Sheed, Aish or Dunstan. Half back we are fairly well stocked in so I doubt Scharenberg will be on our radar. Also Billing's seems to be a half forward which again we have covered with Watts, Howe and Sylvia if he stays. We have to get a ball magnet and for min Sheed has the runs on the board averaging 28 possessions a game which is very good at that level.

He, Scharenberg shows the capabilities to move to the midfield though and height is a factor here. Uses the ball very well, knows how to get it.

I like what I've seen of Sheed, need to have a good look at Kelly.

[Theo 272]

After watching all 4 games of the champs I am somewhat underwhelmed by the talent available. Sheed as an inside and outside midfielder was the standout in game one and Kelly was good but is seen as a light framed outside player. Aish didn't impress me but he is coming off shoulder surgery.

Only teams that finish low on the ladder have a chance of snaring a player like Boyd. I.e Hawthorn with Buddy and Roughead and St.Kilda with Riewoldt.They don't come around too often and if you can grab them when available just do it.

Lewis Taylor (VC) also impressed me as did Smith form WA. If these guys are available for our second pick I would look at them.

Dayle Garlett will also be taken this draft and we should seriously consider him. I now wish we had taken a chance on him as a rookie last year..

[Machsy 2,858]

It's thin, isn't it.

Aish I'm not sold on based on the last 2 games, but I accept that he has form on the board and is recovering from injury.

Has looked like he has the tools in isolated moments.

Finds time and has good agility and lateral movement, the sort that makes Beams and Sidebottom so damaging.

Kelly is class, but a lot more outside than inside.

Knows where to go to get the footy, can use it.

How his body will develop is key.

Sheed is a solid bet.

Inside, outside and goalkicking mid.

Not sure of his ceiling, but he's pretty good now.

Maybe a bit one-paced?

Scharenberg looks very good, but I'd rather have seen him play in the midfield rather than picking up cheap kicks sweeping across half back.

[rjay 24,570]

It's thin, isn't it.

Aish I'm not sold on based on the last 2 games, but I accept that he has form on the board and is recovering from injury.

Has looked like he has the tools in isolated moments.

Finds time and has good agility and lateral movement, the sort that makes Beams and Sidebottom so damaging.

Kelly is class, but a lot more outside than inside.

Knows where to go to get the footy, can use it.

How his body will develop is key.

Sheed is a solid bet.

Inside, outside and goalkicking mid.

Not sure of his ceiling, but he's pretty good now.

Maybe a bit one-paced?

Scharenberg looks very good, but I'd rather have seen him play in the midfield rather than picking up cheap kicks sweeping across half back.

Summed up pretty well.

I would like to see Scharenberg in the mids as well, he is likened to Goddard and I can see that. Like Goddard he plays the sweeper well but can he get his own ball in the middle.

[rjay 24,570]

It's thin, isn't it.

That brings up an interesting point on Boyd, there weren't any stand out tall defenders that I could see in the games played this week so it's pretty hard to mark a kid at his size against minimal competition.

[Moonshadow 17,458]

How bout we make Honeychurch (VM) a Demon!

[Machsy 2,858]

That brings up an interesting point on Boyd, there weren't any stand out tall defenders that I could see in the games played this week so it's pretty hard to mark a kid at his size against minimal competition.

That's my contention re: Boyd.

Not much competition.

Only Darcy Gardiner looks a half decent KPD and Boyd was injured when VM played VC.

There's things like him having skill, being able to execute under pressure and taking marks at the peak of his leap, but I'd like to see how he competes against kids his own size and ability.

So far, we've not seen that.

[Fat Tony 5,068]

Jonathon Marsh looked the goods to me in the little bit I saw.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-06-14/marshs-small-order

[dazzledavey36 52,648]

Jonathon Marsh looked the goods to me in the little bit I saw.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-06-14/marshs-small-order

Do we really need more tall forwards.

[Fat Tony 5,068]

Do we really need more tall forwards.

No, but we should still pick best available. Marsh will be a late first round pick at the earliest.

[rjay 24,570]

Do we really need more tall forwards.

He's not really a tall forward more a high half forward very quick who could develop into a tall mid at 191cm. Worth a look late first round early 2nd.

[thedirtydog24 18]

Kelly is the Dees man. Sheed is more likely to be taken at around 10-12, Dunstan in the 20s.

I'd take Garlett in the second round. Put him at the feet of Dawes/Clark/Hogan

[Trengove the Magnifique 9 23]

Haven't seen a lot of Kelly, how does he go about it on the inside? Does he tackle, put his head over it etc? Don't really want pure outside player, would rather a Sheed or Scharenberg with a bit of size on them. Aish looks really classy, was getting paid a lot of attention from opposition and is coming back from a shoulder reco, so he is better than what he was showing.