With the NAB AFL Draft fast on Friday, 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.”
Harrison Macreadie (Defender)
From: Henty/ GIANTS Academy/ NSW-ACT
Height: 196cm
Weight: 89kg
D.O.B: 11/4/1998
NEAFL Games: 11
Macreadie showed some impressive signs last year as a bottom-ager with his run and drive through half-back for New South Wales-ACT. He can run well with the ball and although at key position size, Macreadie sometimes looks most at home on a wing or half-back flank. That's unlikely to be his position at the next level, however, as some more time in the gym should see him build a bigger frame to hold down some taller marking forwards. Macreadie played 11 games for the WSU GIANTS in the NEAFL, including their four-point Grand Final win over the Swans’ Reserves.
Saddington: “Harry is from Henty in country New South Wales and relocated to Sydney this year to be closer to our Academy program. He had an up and down season but is an incredible athlete.
Standing at 196cm he’s a smooth mover and the best thing about Harry is that he’s skilful. He also reads the game quite well and is composed under pressure.
He’s played in the backline but he’s got the ability to go into the midfield and forward.”
Plays Like: “Harry is similar to our younger players like Harry Himmelberg and Jeremy Finlayson. He’s like Himmelberg in that he’s got great composure with the footy in tight spaces and Finnlayson with his size and skill execution.”
Ryan Garthwaite (Defender)
From: Murray Bushrangers/ Corowa-Rutherglen
Height: 192cm
Weight: 84kg
D.O.B: 30/6/98
NEAFL Games: 2
Tall defender who excels in one-on-one contests and is strong overhead. A reliable type who can play on a tall or small forwards and provide good rebound from defence. Overcame a number of injuries to show his promise with the Allies this year. Garthwaite played two games for the WSU GIANTS in the NEAFL in 2016, acquitting himself well in the games against Swans reserves and Gold Coast reserves.
Saddington: “An incredible competitor, Garthwaite plays as a key back and rarely gets beaten one-on-one. He has really good closing speed so quite often with Ryan you’ll think he has been beaten by his opponent, but he manages to get an arm in and effect a spoil. He’s an extremely coachable kid and will put into practice anything he has been told. He’s an interesting kick aesthetically but he’s quite efficient with the ball.”
Plays Like: “He’s similar to Phil Davis, your rock-solid defender who might not win 20 disposals per game but doesn’t get beaten one-on-one.”
Lachlan Tiziani (Forward)
From: Broken Hill/ Murray Bushrangers / GIANTS Academy
Weight: 189cm
Weight: 80kg
D.O.B: 13/3/1997
Originally from Broken Hill, the 189cm 19-year-old Tiziani is a member of the GIANTS Academy and played four NEAFL games for the GIANTS in 2016, following four in 2015.
A gifted and athletic forward, Tiziani possesses an incredible vertical leap having topped the 2015 NAB AFL Draft combine rankings with a leap of 97cm
Saddington: “He played TAC Cup this year as a 19-year-old after missing out in last year’s draft. Lachlan played in a couple of NEAFL games earlier this year and showed that he is a very explosive player. He’s got an incredible jump and can do some special things; he has a little bit of x-factor. He has struggled a little with consistency but if he’s able to get that right and have an impact from start to finish he’s got the ability to be a very good player.”
Plays Like: “Lachlan’s like a Stevie Johnson, he’s got that x-factor. He pops up and does some brilliant things.”
Harry Perryman (Midfielder/ half-forward)
From: Collingullie/ GIANTS Academy/ NSW-ACT
Height: 184cm
Weight: 75kg
D.O.B: 19/12/1998
NEAFL Games: 1
A quality player who just moves like a natural footballer. Perryman isn't quick but twists and turns his way out of trouble and rarely gets caught. He has a background playing as a half-back, but this year has moved into the midfield where his strengths have come to the fore. He's equally as clever and classy on both feet, and knows where the goals are. Perryman plays in an unflustered and uncomplicated manner but always seems to make the right decision when in possession. Perryman made one appearance for the WSU GIANTS in their round 15 NEAFL win over Southport Sharks.
Saddington: “He’s a natural footballer and a student of the game. Harry is absolutely focused on his skills, understanding the game and most importantly enjoying it.
He’s developed a lot this year with his fitness and flexibility really growing which enabled him to have a super successful season.”
Plays Like: “I liken him a lot to Heath Shaw because Harry is quite flexible and reads the game in a similar way.”
Will Setterfield (Midfielder)
From: Sandringham Dragons/ GIANTS Academy/ NSW-ACT
Height: 190cm
Weight: 80kg
D.O.B: 5/2/1998
One of the smoothest movers in the draft, Setterfield combines a solid inside game as a midfielder with strong run and flow with ball in hand, and he rarely wastes a touch. The 18-year-old is the prototype for the new-age midfielder given his height and athleticism, and can play all over the ground. He finished his under-18s division two carnival for the winning Rams with 28 disposals and six tackles in a commanding showing. Despite living in Melbourne at boarding school and playing TAC Cup footy for the Sandringham Dragons, Setterfield is eligible for GIANTS academy, having moved from Albury.
Saddington: “Will is a classy, tall midfielder that I think every club is looking for these days. He’s an extremely intelligent individual. He’s very silky and has really good skills, and at 197cm he’s able to play some inside and outside roles”
Plays Like: “He might be a little taller than Josh Kelly but he’s got that silky aspect to his game and I know Josh is balanced inside and outside, and Will plays very similar.”
Zachary Sproule (Forward)
From: Murray Bushrangers/ GIANTS Academy
Weight: 197cm
Weight: 84kg
D.O.B: 12/5/1998
NEAFL Games: 1
Versatile tall forward or defender with a huge tank and an excellent long kick, whether from defence or at goal. Played mainly forward for NSW/ACT and Allies this year and played back for Murray Bushrangers in the TAC Cup. Member of the NAB AFL Academy and GIANTS Academy, he has elite running capacity for his size and has modeled his game on Carlton’s Patrick Cripps and Fremantle captain David Mundy. Sproule made his NEAFL debut for the WSU GIANTS in round 15 kicking a goal in their win over the Southport Sharks.
Saddington:
“Zach is an incredible athlete, at 197cm he’s extremely fit and has great endurance and pace for his size.He outruns his opponents and works so hard in games from the start to the finish, which is incredible for his size.
Zach is a key forward who can also play down back and is a very good set shot. If he adds some weight to his frame I think he can have a real impact at the next level.”
Plays Like: “Zach plays a bit like Jeremy Cameron in that he’s just got great running ability and is a little unpredictable at times.”
The 2016 NAB AFL Draft will take place from 7:00PM AEDST on Friday, November 21 at Sydney's Horden Pavillion.
