As per Fox Footy

MELBOURNE

Dyson Sharp (MID; Central District)

The Dees have had somewhat of an exodus this off-season as they look to reset under new coach Steven King. Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver were both traded away, while Judd McVee and Charlie Spargo also found new homes. It’s left Melbourne’s on-ball brigade pretty thin, and Jack Viney isn’t getting any younger either. At the top of Melbourne’s priority list should be finding some midfield support for the likes of Harvey Langford, Trent Rivers and Xavier Lindsay. South Australian beast Dyson Sharp would be a superb fit, especially when you consider he’s a terrific off-field character who could one day captain an AFL club. Sharp had a brilliant National Championships campaign that was both consistent and eye-catching, which saw him win the Larke Medal and South Australia MVP. The big-bodied midfielder averaged 27 disposals, 7.5 score involvements and six tackles a game, showcasing his strengths around the coalface and his ability to burst from stoppage. There’s a general consensus amongst recruiting circles that Sharp is ready made and could play round one in 2026. Melbourne president Brad Green said earlier this year that the Dees’ centre bounce for round one would be Gawn, Petracca, Viney and Oliver, but there’s a genuine chance it could instead be Gawn, Viney, Langford and Sharp.

Would he be available ? Surely not !! He’s a ready to go inside midfielder. He’s a bombers supporter and they surely pick him. Cannot see him dropping to pick “7”. If he did, wow he’d be hard to pass on.

nickname The Vacuum

So, uh, is Steele injured or just not someone Fox is aware of?

Other than that, the logic is simple enough and Sharp is a genuine possibility who I'd be happy for us to get.

We definitely need a succession line for the inside mids.

STRENGTHS:

+ Clean hands
+ Competitiveness
+ Contested game
+ Leadership
+ Strength
+ Tackling

IMPROVEMENTS:

- Kicking
- Outside game
- Speed

If there's one thing Sharp does better than anyone in the crop, it's winning contested ball. He was utterly dominant in that domain during the National Championships, averaging 11.3 contested possessions, six clearances and five tackles per game. Such feats helped further establish his reputation as a tone-setting, lead-by-example captain.

Central to Sharp's contested nous is his toughness. He simply doesn't flinch in the face of contact and has the strength to absorb physical pressure while distributing the ball. As far as primary possession winners go, few were more effective by hand this year than Sharp. He handles the ball cleanly on the inside and had stood up to the rigours of senior footy.

Sharp has become used to playing up the age groups for some time. He was a dual Under 16 All-Australian and established himself in South Australia's Under 18 side as a bottom-ager. Further to that, his SANFL League exposure across the last two years has been significant. Each experience has also leant to his growth of versatility; learning to play back in the state program, and as a high forward for Centrals' League side.

Although, midfield is where Sharp shines - particularly in the cut and thrust of stoppages. It's there where his competitive nature comes to the fore, with the 18-year-old exhibiting first rate intent and effort. It lends to his leadership quality, as does his vocal nature out on the field. He has an abundance of footballing knowledge and always seems eager to impart it onto his teammates.

While he leads the crop at what he's best at, Sharp remains entrenched in the ever evolving footballer vs. athlete debate. He is the type who has a high floor, but arguably lower ceiling than others in the same draft range. The likes of Ben Hobbs and Jhye Clark are similar stylistic examples who have gone on to the next level as first round draftees.

On pure performance, Sharp was among the best of the crop, but a crystal ball approach may favour others in the draft class. The way top level football is headed leans towards fast transitional play, where leg speed and foot skills are king. Sharp's skillset fits outside that category, but still has a place in the modern game to help enhance those who thrive on that style.

He did well to add weapons to his game this year, hitting the scoreboard at the National Championships and improving his ability to accumulate outside possessions. Those areas can still be enhanced, helping grow Sharp's ability to hurt the opposition. As it stands, he's the type of player who will be ready to go, helping those around him shine with his strong extraction work.

Areas of improvement: kicking and speed

Welcome to the MFC!

In all seriousness, is this a worry? Has anyone watched him play live?

We've already got Harry Sharp. How many Sharps do we need?

Here are some more potential sharps. They'd go in pretty hard from what I remember.

2 minutes ago, spirit of norm smith said:

IMPROVEMENTS:

- Kicking
- Outside game
- Speed

Someone wrote on here that King was looking to draft (someone can correct me if I’m wrong):

Speed

High footy IQ

Ability to score

Is Sharp that player?

Not doubting his ability to be a good player, I mean more, is he the kind of player that fits those attributes we’re looking to draft?

10 minutes ago, Demonstone said:

We've already got Harry Sharp. How many Sharps do we need?

Here are some more potential sharps. They'd go in pretty hard from what I remember.

11 minutes ago, Demonstone said:

We've already got Harry Sharp. How many Sharps do we need?

Here are some more potential sharps. They'd go in pretty hard from what I remember

11 minutes ago, Demonstone said:

We've already got Harry Sharp. How many Sharps do we need?

Here are some more potential sharps. They'd go in pretty hard from what I remember.

Not too many Sharps please, to be perfectly blunt…

27 minutes ago, chook fowler said:

nickname The Vacuum

Hopefully not because he ‘sucks’ as a footballer ;)

I read somewhere that Adelaide are very keen on him and willing to trade up using 16 and F1st to get him. Would 16 be too late to get Pickett or Nairn ?

30 minutes ago, Demonstone said:

We've already got Harry Sharp. How many Sharps do we need?

Here are some more potential sharps. They'd go in pretty hard from what I remember.

Lacking speed and kicking skills? BIG pass under all circumstances.

55 minutes ago, Spirit of '87 said:

Not too many Sharps please, to be perfectly blunt…

You'll be needing the chisel point, then.

1 hour ago, BC_1718_DC said:

Lacking speed and kicking skills? BIG pass under all circumstances.

Not saying I want us to pick Sharp, but he was MVP for the South Australian team that won the comp this year. He can't be terrible - right?

He's a competitive beast and the best inside midfielder in this draft. His kicking is decent too. He is not quick, but for his role his speed is fine. He's a similar player to Tom Green. He projects as a future captain and is a big game player. When the whips are cracking, he goes and tears the game apart. He'd be like Gus Brayshaw was for our culture and leadership.

The media and uneducated footy watchers can go on about speed and the "modern game", but reality is contest will always be king. When pressure goes up in finals, it becomes a scrap. Recent premierships and finals have been won by the team that controls the contest and clearances. The Brownlow is won every year by the best inside midfielder because they have a big impact on the outcome of games. Gotta get the ball before you can move it.

Sharp will have a long AFL career and possibly be the best player from this draft. If he is available at our pick, we should take him as a long term inside bull to replace Viney and Steele properly in a few years. With midfield balance, he'd allow Langford to play both inside, outside, and forward using his brilliant kicking and marking skills. He would feed the likes of Kozzy, Windsor, Rivers etc to use pace and skill on the outside.

15 minutes ago, Sydee said:

Not saying I want us to pick Sharp, but he was MVP for the South Australian team that won the comp this year. He can't be terrible - right?

Deven Robertson also won the Larke Medallist in his junior year....

1 minute ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Deven Robertson also won the Larke Medallist in his junior year....

Good point - I was also a bit surprised the other day reviewing past results at draft combines. A lot of players that tested well went on to do not much or zero.

Tough job being a recruiter that gets it right most of the time - let us hope JT is in very good form

Lol at us talking like we don't need talent at every possible position.

He won't slip to us, and if he does we'd be mental not to take him.

4 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Deven Robertson also won the Larke Medallist in his junior year....

And if I recall properly, we rated him top 5, and couldn't believed how far he slipped (start of 2nd I think). If we had the pick there, we would have taken him. Lucky we didn't.

5 minutes ago, Sydee said:

Good point - I was also a bit surprised the other day reviewing past results at draft combines. A lot of players that tested well went on to do not much or zero.

Tough job being a recruiter that gets it right most of the time - let us hope JT is in very good form

I actually think Sharp would be a decent pick up just fyi.

1 minute ago, 2021 said:

And if I recall properly, we rated him top 5, and couldn't believed how far he slipped (start of 2nd I think). If we had the pick there, we would have taken him. Lucky we didn't.

Hmm not sure it was top 5? I know we were keen on him but dont think it was that high. .

The footage of him being snapped up before our pick doesn't exactly scream of a recruiting team that was shattered in missing out.

Seemed we were more shattered to missing out on Mitch Georgiades.

6 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Hmm not sure it was top 5? I know we were keen on him but dont think it was that high. .

The footage of him being snapped up before our pick doesn't exactly scream of a recruiting team that was shattered in missing out.

Seemed we were more shattered to missing out on Mitch Georgiades.

Impossible to see if you can't zoom in, but Robbo is at #5

What's most interesting is that we still went with Pickett @ 12 even with Dev Robbo available. Sometimes it pays to go for needs I guess.

Chad Warner at 48!

Edited 1 hour ago1 hr by adonski

2 minutes ago, adonski said:

Impossible to see if you can't zoom in, but Robbo is at #5

What's most interesting is that we still went with Pickett @ 12 even with Dev Robbo available. Sometimes it pays to go for needs I guess.

Chad Warner at 48!

Yeah wow there you go.. my apologies @2021

41 minutes ago, Sydee said:

Not saying I want us to pick Sharp, but he was MVP for the South Australian team that won the comp this year. He can't be terrible - right?

By no means am I saying he’s terrible but he’s not what we need. Even with the hole left by Oliver and Trac. I’m sure he’ll be a fine footballer and have a long career, I personally just don’t think a slow inside accumulator is what we lack.