Who I hear you ask?
Mason Shaw, 197cm, 95kg key forward/part time ruckman who was delisted today by the Power.
Shaw was someone I had my eye on in his draft year of 2012, however I knew we never had the pick to land him.
Was selected by Port Adelaide at Pick 30. Here's a bit of what Knightmare wrote up about him pre-draft:
Mason Shaw (WA KPF)
Height: 197cm, Weight: 82kg, DOB: 15/01/1994
Recruited from: South Fremantle
Style: Kurt Tippett
Player comparison:
Range: 15-45
Profile: Strong marking key forward. Has a presence, marks out in front and can take a contested grab. Had a sensation 2011 season scoring 66 goals which is a great return for the young key forward. Has good accuracy from both general play and set shot attempts. Also Shaw is a serious big game player kicking 7 goals in the grand final which is a big return and shows potential to continue being a big game player into the future. Good finisher around goal and in general play. Endurance very good for a key forward. Has played in the ruck but I most like Shaw as a key forward and see that as the position where he can impose himself on matches most as a big marking target.
Kicked over 20 goals in the SANFL (Reserves/seniors combined) in both 2013 & 2014 despite missing several games each year. Struggled to get on the park this year. Over the course of his three seasons he's mainly played key forward/relief ruck and sometimes specialist ruck, collecting over 20 hit outs on a couple of occasions and also kicked between 4 - 6 goals on a few occasions.
Now a few players have been mentioned for the 2nd ruck/forward role like Josh Walker,Casboult etc. But this is a kid with real upside that we could land for nothing. Another WA boy, so Hoges may enjoy sharing the forward line with Mason.
I for one would love to see Melbourne go down this path. Wonder what others, especially supporters in South Australia who may have watched him in action think?