CRAFTY and clever, Harrison Wigg helped lift South Australia to theNAB AFL Under-18 Championships division one title with a consistentdisplay in defence.
He was named an AllAustralian – one of only four representatives from his state – andshowed his traits as an attacking small defender capable of shiftinginto the midfield.
Wigg returned to his localclub, North Adelaide, after the carnival hoping to build on his form,but woke up one day with a pain in his right foot after a game of schoolfooty.
Scans showed a stress reaction in his third metatarsal, which ruled him for eight weeks and saw him sidelined for the draft combine.
In a nutshell, Wigg can use the ball and he can find it, two qualities that don't go out of fashion.
Wigg is under consideration having proved across the season he's more than adept at both getting the ball and delivering it.
Playingmainly as a small, rebounding defender for South Australia during thechampionships, he averaged 19 disposals a game and used the ball at 80per cent efficiency.
It was also about hisspeed of ball movement – Wigg has the conviction to go for long kicksand doesn't waste too much time doing it. When he's got the ball, he'slooking forward and one recruiter said he was close to the best kick inthe draft.
In four games with North Adelaide'sunder-18 team he averaged nearly 30 disposals and five clearances,showing he can also shift up the ground if required.
At178cm and 77kg, Wigg isn't big. For some clubs that won't matter toomuch, because the things he does well are desirable, but for others whoalready have his type of player on their lists, they might not besearching for another.
Because of his largelyuncontested role and being used in that sweeper position, his ballwinning is also something he can keep improving. Unfortunately for Wigg,his foot injury came at a bad time and just as he was ready to take hisgame further.
There'sa little bit of Matt Suckling in the way Wigg wheels onto his left sideand streams out of defence, but he's slightly shorter and at the nextlevel might be suited to a back pocket instead of a flank or wingmanrole.
It'shard to see Wigg breaking into the top 40, but like a number of thisyear's even South Australian prospects, he could be picked anywhereafter that.
Aneat and tidy player who you can trust with the ball, Wigg's weapon ishis left foot. Give him the ball and he'll find a target.
