MELBOURNE has drafted Lucas Cook (No.12), Jeremy Howe (No.33), Troy Davis (No.50) and Tom McDonald (No.53) with its four picks in this year’s NAB AFL Draft.
The Demons got their man Cook, a natural forward who can play down back, with their first pick.
National recruiting manager Barry Prendergast was delighted to snare Cook.
“He is a tall, lead-up forward and at 196cm is an elite kick and great decision-maker,” Prendergast told melbournefc.com.au.
“He also possesses great skills and has a massive engine.
“He also has great work rate.”
Cook has excellent foot skills on both sides and can hit a range of kicks both stationary and on the run.
AFL national and international talent manager Kevin Sheehan said Cook was a fine big man prospect.
“Lucas is a tall forward who reads the game well and has sure hands,” he said.
“He is a mobile player who can go back and makes good decisions. He received under-18 All-Australian honours in 2010 and averaged 14 disposals and kicked nine goals at the under-18 championships.
An extremely accurate kick, he possesses a very strong work rate.
He makes great decisions and his handballing is elite. He weights his handballs perfectly to the advantage of his teammates. When he gets the footy, it stays with his team.
Regarded as a modern day player with his skill and decision-making, he will either kick the goal or set up a player to do so.
Not the quickest, but makes up for it with footy smarts and awareness.
He can run all day and is regarded as a lead-up forward or third tall defender. Cook continually presents up forward.
Tasmanian Howe is an athletic full-forward who loves to take a screamer.
He has a huge leap and is skillful on both sides of his body. Howe also reads the play well and has good running ability.
Terrific marking forward who mainly takes high marks with 1 grabs, yet can still mark on the lead as well.
He times his jump to perfection and has an amazing leap - he can jump 102cm.
Howe can take an old-fashioned screamer.
Howe can also run a level 14.1 beep test.
He is a very accurate kick for goal, has strong fielding kicking skills and is a good decision-maker.
Howe has been likened to former Demon high-flier - and Tasmanian - Russell Robertson.
Davis is a tall defender who is very fast for his size.
He has strength and can take a hanger. A big body defender who is strong in the contest, he is quick and spoils well. He reads the play pretty well and has a purpose when defending.
A clean mark and good below knees, Davis is a hard nut who will compete and not be overawed by the occasion. Agile, he is a country lad with a hard edge.
He could play on the monsters in time and also on the lead up mid quick forwards.
McDonald is a highly rated tall forward/ruckman who hails from Edenhope in western Victoria.
He travelled long distances to train and play with North Ballarat in the TAC Cup, so there's no doubting his commitment.
A tall ruckman come forward, he has great endurance and work rate. He never stops running and presenting.
McDonald can take pack marks as a forward and is able to fly across packs as a ruckman.
He is also has clean hands below knees.
New Demons
The Demons got their man Cook, a natural forward who can play down back, with their first pick.
National recruiting manager Barry Prendergast was delighted to snare Cook.
“He is a tall, lead-up forward and at 196cm is an elite kick and great decision-maker,” Prendergast told melbournefc.com.au.
“He also possesses great skills and has a massive engine.
“He also has great work rate.”
Cook has excellent foot skills on both sides and can hit a range of kicks both stationary and on the run.
AFL national and international talent manager Kevin Sheehan said Cook was a fine big man prospect.
“Lucas is a tall forward who reads the game well and has sure hands,” he said.
“He is a mobile player who can go back and makes good decisions. He received under-18 All-Australian honours in 2010 and averaged 14 disposals and kicked nine goals at the under-18 championships.
An extremely accurate kick, he possesses a very strong work rate.
He makes great decisions and his handballing is elite. He weights his handballs perfectly to the advantage of his teammates. When he gets the footy, it stays with his team.
Regarded as a modern day player with his skill and decision-making, he will either kick the goal or set up a player to do so.
Not the quickest, but makes up for it with footy smarts and awareness.
He can run all day and is regarded as a lead-up forward or third tall defender. Cook continually presents up forward.
Tasmanian Howe is an athletic full-forward who loves to take a screamer.
He has a huge leap and is skillful on both sides of his body. Howe also reads the play well and has good running ability.
Terrific marking forward who mainly takes high marks with 1 grabs, yet can still mark on the lead as well.
He times his jump to perfection and has an amazing leap - he can jump 102cm.
Howe can take an old-fashioned screamer.
Howe can also run a level 14.1 beep test.
He is a very accurate kick for goal, has strong fielding kicking skills and is a good decision-maker.
Howe has been likened to former Demon high-flier - and Tasmanian - Russell Robertson.
Davis is a tall defender who is very fast for his size.
He has strength and can take a hanger. A big body defender who is strong in the contest, he is quick and spoils well. He reads the play pretty well and has a purpose when defending.
A clean mark and good below knees, Davis is a hard nut who will compete and not be overawed by the occasion. Agile, he is a country lad with a hard edge.
He could play on the monsters in time and also on the lead up mid quick forwards.
McDonald is a highly rated tall forward/ruckman who hails from Edenhope in western Victoria.
He travelled long distances to train and play with North Ballarat in the TAC Cup, so there's no doubting his commitment.
A tall ruckman come forward, he has great endurance and work rate. He never stops running and presenting.
McDonald can take pack marks as a forward and is able to fly across packs as a ruckman.
He is also has clean hands below knees.
New Demons
No.12 - Lucas COOK - Video highlights
Height: 196cm
Weight: 81kg
DOB: 03/03/92
Club: North Ballarat Rebels (Vic)
No.33 Jeremy HOWE
Hobart
Height: 192cm
Weight: 85kg
DOB: 29/06/90
Club: Dodges Ferry/Hobart Tigers (Tas)
No.50 Troy DAVIS - Video highlights
Height: 192cm
Weight: 90kg
DOB: 10/06/92
Club: Kerang/Geelong Falcons (Vic)
No.53 Tom McDONALD - Video highlights
Height: 196cm
Weight: 81kg
DOB: 03/03/92
Club: North Ballarat Rebels (Vic)
No.33 Jeremy HOWE
Hobart
Height: 192cm
Weight: 85kg
DOB: 29/06/90
Club: Dodges Ferry/Hobart Tigers (Tas)
No.50 Troy DAVIS - Video highlights
Height: 192cm
Weight: 90kg
DOB: 10/06/92
Club: Kerang/Geelong Falcons (Vic)
No.53 Tom McDONALD - Video highlights
Height: 194cm
Weight: 88kg
DOB: 18/09/92
Club: North Ballarat Rebels (Vic)
Weight: 88kg
DOB: 18/09/92
Club: North Ballarat Rebels (Vic)
