With the NAB AFL Draft fast approaching, we sat down with GIANTS Academy Head Coach Jason Saddington to see what he thinks of the nine academy products who have nominated for the draft.
Sam Fisher (Midfielder/ Forward)
From: Ainslie/ Canberra Demons/ GIANTS Academy
Height: 180cm
Weight: 76kg
D.O.B: 23/2/1998
NEAFL Games: 7
The teenager's best traits are his work rate – he is an elite endurance athlete – and his ability to kick on both feet. His dual-sided skills allow him to spin out of stoppages and hit targets with a minimum of fuss, and he collects plenty of the ball. Fisher was consistent at the division two under-18s national carnival, where he averaged 25 disposals across three games. He was also a consistent performer for the Canberra Demons in the NEAFL this season and also lined up for the WSU GIANTS late in the year. Fisher played seven games for the GIANTS, including the NEAFL Grand Final win over the Sydney Swans.
Saddington: “A clever younger footballer from Canberra, Sam is a skillful left-footer who has generally plays in the forward line. He pushed into the midfield this year after working really hard on his endurance base. Sam had a really good season for the Allies in the National Championships and played in the GIANTS NEAFL Premiership team. He’s a very clever player but he needs to continue to develop his endurance base and work ethic to have a real impact at the next level.”
Plays Like: “He plays a little bit like Toby Greene, Sam is that small forward who can play in the midfield and have some impact on the scoreboard.”
Isaac Cumming (Defender)
From: Broken Hill / GIANTS Academy
Height: 183cm
Weight: 72kg
D.O.B: 11/8/1998
NEAFL Games: 1
Medium defender with good closing speed and ball-winning ability. Represented NSW/ACT and the Allies in the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships, using the ball effectively by hand and foot. Also played Under 18s at North Adelaide this year and represented the WSU GIANTS in their round 17 NEAFL win over Swans’ reserves.
Saddington: “Isaac has developed so much this year. He’s from Broken Hill with great athletic abilities and is very driven. His form in the back end of the year saw him shoot up in draft calculations and he tested well at the draft combine. He’s got great speed and endurance; he’s solid and has a lot of upside. Isaac is still underexposed to the next level practices but he’s got all the attributes.”
Plays Like: “I’d liken him to an outside running midfielder, perhaps a Lachie Whitfield or a off half-back like Nathan Wilson.”
Kobe Mutch (Midfielder)
From: Bendigo Pioneers/ GIANTS Academy/ NSW-ACT
Height: 184cm
Weight: 79kg
D.O.B: 18/3/1998
NEAFL Games: 1
Mutch stamped himself as one of the most improved players in this year's pool with a consistent display at the division two under-18s national carnival, where he averaged 25 disposals across three games. The teenager's best traits come in his work rate – he is an elite endurance athlete – and his ability to kick on both feet. His dual-sided skills allow him to spin out of stoppages and hit targets with a minimum of fuss, and he collects plenty of the ball.
Saddington: “Koby has amazing footy IQ. He just keeps on popping up and winning the football. Koby plays as a midfielder and is good on his left and right side with his feet and hands. He has great running endurance but isn’t too quick however, he gets around the field and collects plenty of the footy. Once he get the ball he uses it quite well and had a really good year at all levels including a few NEAFL games.”
Plays Like: “Koby is like a Stephen Coniglio, he just keeps on finding the footy and plays his role. He finds the footy without having some of the x-factor that some of the other midfielders do.”
