NATIONAL and international talent manager Kevin Sheehan expects four players to be in the mix for Melbourne’s No. 2 pick in this year’s NAB AFL Draft.
Although the Demons could trade selection two in the upcoming trade period, Sheehan said if they retain the pick, it’s likely to come from “group of midfielders or maybe a key defender”.
Sheehan said Eastern’s Tom Boyd, who has been likened to Cat Tom Hawkins and Giant Jonathon Patton, was likely to be the No.1 pick and would probably be “off the table” for Melbourne.
But he said Glenelg’s Matthew Scharenberg was the best defender available at No. 2, and would be strongly considered.
“The key defender is Matthew Scharenberg, who’s a 190 cm [tall] and can play across half back, but he can play forward as well. He reads it magnificently. He just knows when to drop off and when to contest and play on his man,” Sheehan told melbournefc.com.au.
“He’s a magnificent kick and a precision kick on his right and left foot. He’s got all the qualities to be a terrific AFL player and he’s already played some senior footy there at Glenelg. I do like the fact that he’s a back-to-back All Australian at under 18 level, so he’s performed on the biggest national stage available to date, which is the under 18 national championship. He’s done it two years in a row and he looks a real talent. He’s the best of the tall defenders.”
Norwood’s James Aish is another right in the mix, according to Sheehan.
“This week, he’ll play in another Grand Final at senior level in South Australia. He plays for Norwood and he’s still not 18 [years old] yet, so he might be a back-to-back All Australian at under 18 level and a back-to-back senior premiership player at Norwood. That looks pretty good on the CV,” he said.
“He’s a beautifully poised midfielder, who just has time and space and is able to get through the congested areas so well, with his beautiful step through the traffic.
“He’s a great user and winner of the footy and he’s from a very famous [football] family – the Aish family. It was his uncle who played State of Origin and his Dad played at Norwood, so he’d be in the mix, I think.”
Sheehan also nominated some Victorian prospects, including Oakleigh’s Jack Billings.
“Jack Billings is more of the Nicky Dal Santo [type]. He’s a left footed midfielder/forward and [I] love his work overhead,” he said.
“He’s a great contested mark for a medium sized forward. There’s a little bit of Chad Wingard about him, I reckon too. So he’s a combination of Wingard and Dal Santo, but he finds the goals, this guy, in freakish fashion.
“Jack Billings would be a chance there.”
Josh Kelly from Sandringham Dragons was the other genuine contender for Sheehan.
“Josh Kelly’s the other one who may well be in the mix for Melbourne. Again, he’s a left footer and he’s a guy who can play in a number of positions. You like the blokes that might play half back, full mid or across half forward,” he said.
“He’s got the elite engine, so we’d expect that he’ll probably break the record for the three km [time trial] and the beep test [at the Draft Combine]. He runs all day with the Rolls Royce-type engine.
“Josh Kelly might be one who you’ll consider there.”
With the Demons set to look closely at midfielders, Sheehan said the Demons could also opt for Woodville West Torrens’ Luke Dunstan with their second round pick.
“Getting to the 20s, this boy might not be there in the 20s, but I looked at a Phantom Draft the other draft and he wasn’t in 18 or 19, so maybe he’s sitting there [in the early 20s]. His name is Luke Dunstan,” he said.
“He was the joint winner of the most valuable player for SA this year when he captained the side. He shared that honour with Matthew Scharenberg. We’ve seen him come through the AIS/AFL Academy - we know his qualities as a person and he works so hard in a group.
“He’s a future leader and a prolific ball winner as a left footed midfielder. He can play inside and use his vision and clean hands to set the play up and even provide run on the outside. So Luke Dunstan might be around that mark, and you might top up with another South Australian.”
