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Hugh McCluggage


Whispering_Jack

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The winner of the Morrish Medal and one of the favourites for the top draft selection is Hugh McCluggage. 

Here is Bigfooty writer Knightmare's pen picture:-

1. Hugh McCluggage (VIC) 
Position: Outside midfield
Height, weight: 185cm, 75kg
Recruited from: North Ballarat Rebels
Plays like: Jason Akermanis
Projected draft range: top 10
Rated last month: 1
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: Has continued to elevate his standard of performance since the AFL Under-18 Championships. With 17 goals from eight TAC Cup games and an average of 30 disposals per match, McCluggage is arguably this year's best-performed player through any of the junior competitions nationally.
Strengths:
- Production
- Incredible cleanness at ground level
- Freakish finishing ability from all angles both from set shots and general play
- Lowers eyes and finds inside 50m targets by foot
- Excellent crumbing ability, getting to right positions and quickly gaining possession
- Instant decision maker with ball in hand
- Quick and accurate disposal by hand and foot
- Confidence to play on or move ball on quickly
- Keeps his feet and has natural balance
- Football smarts
- Reads ruck taps
- Strong, clean hands overhead
- Marking threat in the air and on the lead
- Tackling energy/pressure
- Works hard on outside to find space, creates options outside stoppages and provides overlap run
- Acceleration to break away from stoppages
- Outside run and carry
- Rapid rate of improvement
- Standard of performance this season given his limited pre-season suggests substantial upside
Weaknesses:
- Light bodied and can get pushed around in the contest
- Attack on the ball
- More a ground ball winner than a contested ball winner, with the hard contested ball something he would benefit from winning more of

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Not sure the draft is all that strong this year, probably as good a year as any to not have a first round pick.  

reckon this kid will be alright though, not super impressed that he'll be at Essendon and not the Lions but that's a totally different conversation 

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