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This kid is on the fringe on the Eagles best 22. Cannot get a go in their midfield. He is tough, a good stoppage player, a good tackler, skilled and "muscled". A boy from Gippsland. Pick 25 in 2009 draft. He would be cherry ripe for our midfield and help the core Jones, Trengove, Grimes, Viney (a nice fit IMO). Thoughts? here was his Under 18's recuitment bio & spec. KOBY STEVENS – GIPPSLAND POWER U/18'S > Good all-round ball winning skills– 18.6dpg at 2009 U18 Championships level, 25dpg at 2009 TAC Cup level – he can play both inside (get 1st hands quite frequently) and out, but I don't think he stands out at either (mainly due to his middle of the road decision making and disposal) – he will most likely become a genuine workhorse hard ball getter with no frills or possibly even a big bodied defensive midfielder that can get the ball ala Ling (this would be the role he should be developed in IMO) > Very strong, well balanced and keeps his feet well - rarely brought down in a tackle > Good height for a midfielder/flanker and strong body – large, lean build for an U18 – definite AFL ready (if fit) next season > Good level of production and consistency both throughout a game and game by game – has the ability to step it up in the bigger games/rise to the occassion > Good overall work-rate in both directions – is a ferocious tackler that will ground opponents in close, but doesn't possess the pace to run down players – I think he has good running capacity when at full fitness > Reports suggest he has very good leadership potential Weaknesses > Pace-wise off the mark is not in the elite class. This may be ok at under 18's but will need further aerobic pace at AFL Other > He is a good kick, with power and decent penetration behind the ball – although watching his U18 Championships games on tape it seems his current technique could be tightened up a bit – I'm not sure maximise his extension through the footy – he does lack hurt factor with his passing due to his somewhat high trajectory kicking, modest decision making (tends to go long and straight to contests too often) and having only a reasonable accuracy and reliability at best > He is an OK DM at best, but in no way creative/damaging or very reliable- inside traffic he doesn't seem to possess great vision to open up the play as you would want from a midfielder without pace or evasive ability, outside traffic he seems to play mainly in straight lines - on occasions he can be caught out for lack of quickness (doesn't seem to have sharp reflexes) Overall Stevens is an old fashioned, no-nonsense footballer that plays a team orientated brand of footy with a good-very good level of production and consistency as a strong inside midfielder..