PETER Wright entered the season as a leading candidate to be thefirst player picked at this year's NAB AFL Draft, a weight that wore himdown.
The Calder Cannons big man struggled at times with the pressurethat he was placing on himself to perform, and felt his every kick, markor handball was being scrutinised.
Having dealt with ongoing back and hamstring complaints headinginto the season, it was always likely he started a little slower.
He worked his way into things ahead of the NAB AFL Under-18Championships, and played some strong games towards the end of the TACCup season.
A knee injury in the preliminary final ruled him out of the TAC CupGrand Final and from testing at the draft combine, but Wright will stepinto a club ready to start pre-season after recovering from theligaments sprain.
Everyone will have an opinion where Wright plays his best footy –in the ruck or as a leading and marking centre-half forward – and that'spart of the reason he'll be an attractive proposition for some clubs.
As a ruckman, Wright can move around the ground, get involved atthe tap-outs and use his footy nous to make an impact. His best game ofthe championships came as a ruckman when, against South Australia, hekicked three goals from 16 disposals, pulled in 10 marks and had 29hit-outs.
For the Cannons he tended to be more of a true leading forward,using his endurance and agility to push up the ground. And when the ballis in his window, opponents find it hard to spoil Wright's markingattempts.
He had an enormous game late in the season for the Cannons,gathering 29 disposals, hauling in 14 marks and kicking four goals,which confirmed his talent. A key trait of Wright's is his elitekicking, and he is one of the best shots at goal in the draft pool.
Wright can be more consistent in his marking and occasionally getspushed out of contests and under the ball a little too easily. Becauseof his back and related injuries over the years he hasn't done as muchcore strength work as other players.
If he can put on some muscle and then start to throw it around a bit more, he'll be hard to beat.
There's a bit of Brad Ottens about Wright in his ability to be usedas a key forward and ruckman and be very good at both. Ottens was alsoan excellent kick for goal for a taller player, one of Wright's keystrengths and a point of difference for a forward his size.
He has been forecast as a possible No.1 pick for some time but thatappears unlikely now. Set to be picked in the next handful of picksafter that.
It's hard to find players who are 203cm, let alone ones who possess the attributes of Wright. 
