National Under 18 Championships - 2015

[whatwhat say what 19,679]

Looks like one of the weakest drafts in some time.

[Fat Tony 4,533]

I didn't see much but Schache and Weitering looked the best players in a weak draft. Gach Nyuon also impressed in the ruck.

Hopefully we trade our picks.

[Ted Lasso 17,123]

certainly a draft that doesn't have the obvious talent of some in recent years, but that doesn't mean someone can't pluck a gem out of it

[Whispering_Jack 28,094]

U18s: Ah Chee shines as WA downs Vic Metro

VIC METRO 0.5 3.6 7.9 7.12 (54)

WESTERN AUSTRALIA 2.2 3.3 6.4 11.6 (72)

GOALS

Vic Metro: Gresham 2, Kerbatieh, Moore, Crocker, Cuningham, Silvagni

Western Australia: Strnadica 3,Ah Chee 2, Parish 2, Stewart, Schoenfeld, Waterman, Smith

BEST

Vic Metro: Gresham, Perry, O'Kearney, Moore, Morgan

Western Australia: Hackett, Ah Chee, Hinchliffe, Petrevski-Seton, Powell-Pepper

U18s: Josh Schache kicks another bag as Vic Country seals title

VIC COUNTRY 4.2 5.3 10.5 11.6 (72)

SOUTH AUSTRALIA 1.0 5.2 5.5 9.7 (61)

GOALS

Vic Country: Schache 6, Ainsworth 3, McKay, Simpkin

South Australia: Allan 3, Redman 2, McKenzie, Snelling, Dew, Markov

BEST

Vic Country: Schache, Weitering, Nyuon, Mathieson, Rice, McKay

South Australia: Snelling, Scharenberg, Combe, Partington, Milera, Allen

[ChaserJ 4,007]

I watched both games on foxtel and without giving a full report on rhe games the players to standout were:

Schache and Weitering were a class above the rest in my opinion. Weitering has bucket hands and reads the play like Harry Taylor.

Schache is a Travis Cloke type, however he is a beautiful and accurate kick.

Of the rest Mathieson was the best of the on-ballers and would be a good get. More an inside player but hard as nails.

Tucker was pretty good down back and got plenty of the ball.

Parish was a disappointment and had no real impact.

McKay is a big bodies type who is fairly new to the game. He impressed the foxtel commentators and looked a good prospect.

Rice and Collins also did some good things down back.

For SA Partington started well but faded. Francis tried hard and will be a player but turned the ball over at critical times. Their captain Snelling was very good but is only 176cm. Caleb Daniel that the doggies drafted last year was far more impressive than any of the South Australians this year

For Vic Metro O'Kearney and Moore impressed. Balic did not standout and on this performance is behind the VC kids such as Mathieson.

For WA I thought the player to standout was Callum Ah Chee. He will be a classy player at AFL Level.

Summed it up pretty well.

Schache and Weitering the standouts for sure. Francis' intercept work was very good, but was beaten in his matchup with Schache. Looked to just follow the ball and had a few 'Goddard' attitudinal moments. His game reminds me a bit of Brendon's, so maybe his attitude is appropriate. Liked Bonner's game today. Reminds me a lot of Kolodjashni. Matthew Allan looked handy up forward too. Set shot finishing very impressive.

I think McKay and Moore showed there's some key position depth beyond the guys tipped to go top 3, an both may have played themselves into the fringes of the top 20. Wanted to see more from Balic and Clark. Still plenty of time for them to impress, but thought Clark was pretty poor by foot.

Was very impressed with Ah Chee. Showed he was capable of being much more than a flashy forward. May not end up having a tank to join a midfield rotation, but could see him playing a Michael O'Loughlin type specialist half forward role very well. He was excellent today.

If this years draft crop is shallow (it is), next year's crop already looks miles better. Probably 10 or 12 bottom agers out there today who look like they have high potential.

Here's a wrap from todays games:

Under 18s National Championships: Round five wrap

[ChaserJ 4,007]

Callum Twomey speculating on who could go at pick 1:

Who will be the No.1 pick this year?

[Pennant St Dee 11,481]

Summed it up pretty well.

Schache and Weitering the standouts for sure. Francis' intercept work was very good, but was beaten in his matchup with Schache. Looked to just follow the ball and had a few 'Goddard' attitudinal moments. His game reminds me a bit of Brendon's, so maybe his attitude is appropriate. Liked Bonner's game today. Reminds me a lot of Kolodjashni. Matthew Allan looked handy up forward too. Set shot finishing very impressive.

I think McKay and Moore showed there's some key position depth beyond the guys tipped to go top 3, an both may have played themselves into the fringes of the top 20. Wanted to see more from Balic and Clark. Still plenty of time for them to impress, but thought Clark was pretty poor by foot.

Was very impressed with Ah Chee. Showed he was capable of being much more than a flashy forward. May not end up having a tank to join a midfield rotation, but could see him playing a Michael O'Loughlin type specialist half forward role very well. He was excellent today.

If this years draft crop is shallow (it is), next year's crop already looks miles better. Probably 10 or 12 bottom agers out there today who look like they have high potential.

Here's a wrap from todays games:

Under 18s National Championships: Round five wrap

What did you make of Sam Powell-Pepper Chaser, been watching him since he was in U11 at Mt Hawthorn really like this kid a lot going to go very high next year in the draft

[ChaserJ 4,007]

What did you make of Sam Powell-Pepper Chaser, been watching him since he was in U11 at Mt Hawthorn really like this kid a lot going to go very high next year in the draft

I thought he looked very promising, definitely one of the bottom agers that caught the eye. From memory think WA had around 5 or 6 who could go first round next year.

Powell-Pepper was clean in his handling, though turned it over a bit. I put it down to Metro's pressure more than anything else. Thought he had quite a nice kicking action and won his own ball out there today.

Really like his size and athleticism too. I'd expect he and Petrevski-Seton to be making some headlines this time next year.

[DeeSpencer 23,483]

WA seem the kings of having star 17 year olds go missing the next year. But Pepper Pig did look the goods as did the other hyphenator.

Vic Metro are trash. Crap talent. Crap game plan. Crap everything.

Country on the other hand have a fair bit of talent led by the bookend talls. At first I got a bit of a Watts vibe about Schache but he kept finding it on the lead so well and slotting goals. I'm not sure how much 'power' will be in his power forward game though. I need to see more of him. Today he was just all about smart reading on the play, strong leading and clean hands.

The Cloke comparisons come from a dominant marking left footer from what I've seen. But I get a more Joe Daniher vibe from him. I think he'll need careful development.

The kid at the other end won't. He could play next week at CHB and dominate.

I can't help but think that the academies are really going to [censored] with our selection this year. We might go from pick 4 or so back to pick 7 behind 3 academy kids.

[Demon Disciple 11,133]

I can't help but think that the academies are really going to [censored] with our selection this year. We might go from pick 4 or so back to pick 7 behind 3 academy kids.

Yes they could be forced to make picks before us, but those kids are never going to come to MFC anyway. So we might get pushed down the order, but the same kids will still be available to us (we won't have any stolen away from us).

[Skuit 9,380]

From media reports I heard he pronounces his name as Shack.

Oh god - those idiots on the Gold Coast that draft him are going to market him as Schache-attack.

[Return to Glory 7,795]

This whole Gold Coast injury thing is one big beat up. Yes they have injuries but it will play out as one long tank by a side with more than enough concessions given to them already.

[Machsy 2,858]

Oh god - those idiots on the Gold Coast that draft him are going to market him as Schache-attack.

To be fair, I think any club's marketing geniuses would.

We've got Hulk Hogan FCS.

[The Great Pretender 430]

This whole Gold Coast injury thing is one big beat up. Yes they have injuries but it will play out as one long tank by a side with more than enough concessions given to them already.

Agreed. In fact, the investigation should have started already.

[ChaserJ 4,007]

Div 2 footy streamed on AFL website from 12pm, Tas v Qld. Lovell and Keays could put up big numbers again for their respective sides. Hibberd looks a good prospect from Tas:

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-06-27/u18s-champs-live-tasmania-v-queensland

[Whispering_Jack 28,094]

Next week's games in both divisions also being shown on Foxtel. Check your local guides.

[What 18,810]

Next week's games in both divisions also being shown on Foxtel. Check your local guides.

Who do you think the Dees will pick if we keep our first round selection, WJ?

Must admit I haven't been paying attention to the draft or carnival for the first time in years. Probably cos we actually seem to be drafting and developing great kids now and we don't need to look for the great white hope like every other season to take our minds off our crap list and not winning games. Thats a bit of a contradiction though, I guess I should be even more keen to read up on the draft in that case... some more kids for B Mac to weave his magic on.

It sure is nice to be wanting to be looking forward to watching the Demons play each week instead of studying phantom drafts by round 8.

[Biffen 12,431]

I think we need someone with blistering pace and good skills.

We should be looking to fill gaps on the forward pocket,hff.

The tackling pressure can be developed.and will be in the right culture.

You cant teach speed.

I think we are right for talls.

[Machsy 2,858]

I think I'd like us to pick up Weideman personally.

Hogan can't do it on his own forever, and Dawes & Pedersen are on borrowed time.

If it's a mid, Parish, Tucker or Mathieson maybe, based on who is expected to be there.

Probably prefer to move the pick for Coniglio, but I'm not sure picks have a lot of currency for GWS considering what they'll have to fork over for Hopper & Kennedy.

Probably need some clarification on how these bidding rules work, but there's no point trading in early picks then having them taking away for your academy selections - much better to use your accumulated late picks.

[Whispering_Jack 28,094]

Who do you think the Dees will pick if we keep our first round selection, WJ?

I think we need someone with blistering pace and good skills.

We should be looking to fill gaps on the forward pocket,hff.

The tackling pressure can be developed.and will be in the right culture.

You cant teach speed.

I think we are right for talls.

We've spent the last two years building up our midfield and I expect that to continue with both our trading and drafting later this year. Even if we get midfield players in the trade/free agency period, I still think our target will be a mid assuming we keep our first round draft pick.

I was impressed by Darcy Parish in the vision of his first game back for Vic Country and although his form dropped off a fair bit yesterday (which could be explained by the fact that it was his second or third game back after time out with an injury), he's clearly a class act.

What makes him a "like" for me is the fact that he has good pace and, in the early days of his AFL development, he could also fill that hff role that Biffen mentions.

Rhys Mathieson is the other player in contention for where I expect our pick to be and he looks very classy as well. Then there's Harley Balic from Vic Metro who hasn't been outstanding in the last few games but has been impressive at the Dragons and for the AIS and early on in the carnival. However, he doesn't have the pace of a Parish and in fact, could be classed as a bit slow but that's what they were saying about Ollie Wines a few of years ago.

[Fat Tony 4,533]

I feel Mathieson would be our most likely pick given our ladder position and Roos's preference for drafting inside mids. He was likened to Jordan Lewis by one of the commentators yesterday.

[angrydee 842]

I like the look of Eades with a later pick. His running patterns are good as are his pace and decision making.

[Lil_red_fire_engine 10,332]

Watched the recording of both games today and found Schashe and Weitering daylight ahead of anyone else. The mids were all underwhelming and none really had any run or the toe that we need. Ah Chee and Moore had some eye catching moments but everyone else that caught my is bottom age when I checked. Expecting we wont be in the spot for a top 3 pick so I would be very open to trading or if we are picking a player go higher risk and potential or one of those who are missing the champs through injury.

[Machsy 2,858]

I feel Mathieson would be our most likely pick given our ladder position and Roos's preference for drafting inside mids. He was likened to Jordan Lewis by one of the commentators yesterday.

I honestly hope we don't end up with Mathieson.

I know he has a lot of ability, but I know someone who has had a bit to do with him in juniors, and I'm told he's prone to taking shortcuts.

He could also grow out of it, and he has achieved a fair bit in spite of this perception, but it's not a great starting point.

[Whispering_Jack 28,094]

U18s: Likely Giant impresses in NSW/ACT win over NT

NSW-ACT 3.4 7.7 10.10 14.10 (94)

NORTHERN TERRITORY 0.1 1.2 5.2 9.3 (57)

BEST

NSW-ACT: Hopper, Cornell, Macreadie, Baron-Hay, Himmelberg, Flynn, McFadden


Northern Territory: Parfitt, Hagan, Maroney, Tilmouth-Turner, Rioli

GOALS

NSW-ACT: Cornell 4, Himmelberg 2, McFadden 2, Hopper, Flynn, Macreadie, Minogue, Tiziani, Sproule

Northern Territory: Hagan 2, Rioli 2, Jeffrey 2, Turner, McMasters, Frank

U18s: Lions academy players star for Queensland

TASMANIA 2.1 3.3 3.3 4.3 (27)

QUEENSLAND 1.3 5.3 7.7 8.18 (66)

GOALS

Tasmania: Pearce, Sushames, Webb, Rainbird

Queensland: Hipwood 4, Buzza 2, Allison, Wagner

BEST

Tasmania: Pearce, Hayden, Lovell, Gardner, Reynolds, Webb, Donnellan

Queensland: Hipwood, Weller, Allison, Dennis, William, Keays