Pick 7: Matthew Johnson 192cm, 80kg, Midfielder, 16/03/2003, Subiaco (WA)
The Hawks were hoping desperately for Josh Ward as he is perfect fit for the club to fall their way, however the footy gods had other plans. Johnson gets the nod as their first pick due to adding a dynamic the existing midfield lacks: height, class and a short burst of acceleration which I believe is cruical for his long term inside midfield aspirations.
"At over 190cm, Subiaco’s Matthew Johnson is a very desirable midfield prospect. Players of his prototype have been all the rage in past years with the likes of
Patrick Cripps and
Marcus Bontempelli, but Johnson shares more similarities to
Jackson Macrae and
Hugh McCluggage who rely more on their skills and smarts rather, than their height to make an impact on the footy field. Johnson has great skills and clean hands and moves like a player 10cm shorter, with his agility rare to see in players of his height.
STRENGTHS:
+ Clean Hands
+ Composure
+ Agility
+ Skills
+ Size
+ Upside
IMPROVEMENTS:
– Production
– Contested game
Johnson has been an impressive performer for Subiaco for a number of years now and was a consistent contributor to the flag winning side in 2020. He proved one of his team’s better players on grand final day along with teammate
Neil Erasmus, rewarded along with Erasmus by earning selection for the AFL Academy earlier this year against the Geelong VFL side. It is safe to say Johnson has been on recruiters’ radars for a while now and despite an injury at the start of the year, he managed to play out the season well, highlighted by a best on ground performance against South Australia in the AFL Grand Final curtain raiser. Johnson played a few games at League level, playing wing and half-forward which aren’t natural positions for him, but he found his feet playing midfield in the Reserves side late in the year; averaging 25 disposals and almost eight marks a game.
Johnson has a fairly good athletic base with top 10 finishes in the vertical jump tests and agility test, along with very good showings in the 20m sprint and 2km time trial. The leap hasn’t been a feature of his game but can be hard to showcase in the midfield, though the high testing for agility would come as no surprise. Johnson displays this trait often in his games, which has led to some fantastic bits of play that often set up goals, or ones he kicks himself.
Johnson is one of the cleanest players in the draft pool, whether that’s taking the ball cleanly at ground level or hitting teammates with a creative handball or well weighted kick. These traits will hold him in good stead in any role he may play at AFL level, and he might even find himself playing at half-back which could better highlight his leap and ball use. If he can make it as a midfielder, those skills and composure will serve him well nonetheless. Speaking of his composure, Johnson displays that trait in spades as he is rarely rushed with ball in hand, which allows him to make the best choice where other players would panic or just get ball on boot. His use of the ball inside 50 is another great trait he possess with well weighted kicks to advantage, and he knows his kick is his strongest asset which shows in his kick-handball ratio. Despite that, he could be a bit more adventurous by foot around the ground to hurt the opposition further.
Johnson is a consistent player disposal-wise but doesn’t get the pure volume like fellow prospects
Ben Hobbs and
Josh Ward. It comes down to a mixture of contested game and pure gut running to get to as many contests as possible. The contested game is something that can certainly be developed, with Johnson a fair bit lighter than Hobbs and Ward despite the height difference, so once Johnson adds some size to his frame he could develop the confidence to really attack the ball and ball carrier to make full use of that strong frame. The improvements for Johnson aren’t big issues in his game, so even if he can’t make huge inroads it shouldn’t impact his standing as a very promising prospect.
SUMMARY:
There aren’t many players in the draft more reliable with ball in hand than Johnson, who supporters would feel comfortable with when he is in possession by hand or foot. Although an improved attack on the ball and production could help him become a more well rounded player, Johnson is still a safe bet for a club looking to bolster its midfield in the first round of the draft."
afl.draftcentral.com.au
Pick 24: Campbell Chesser 186cm, 83kg, Midfielder/Defender, 27/04/2003, Sandringham U/18 (VIC)
Chesser fits another of many needs at the club, he brings zip, class and will most likely play wing/half back when ready for senior action.
"Coming into the year widely regarded as a top 10 prospect, Campbell Chesser suffered a meniscus injury in his second NAB League outing of the season, limiting his opportunities across a highly anticipated top-age campaign. What Chesser had shown in the previous fixture and his Under 16s year, was his clean ball use and athleticism, allowing him to strive through the midfield with his classy ball movement going forward. To complement this, Chesser is a two-way runner, winning possession in the defensive 50 and moving it on well, then generally running hard to impact up the field in the same passage of play.
STRENGTHS:
+ Speed
+ Kicking
+ Class
+ Versatility
+ Outside run
+ Breaking the lines
IMPROVEMENTS:
– Contested game
– Tackling
AFL Academy member, Chesser entered the year as one of the players to watch and started his season well before being struck down by a meniscus injury. What was supposed to be a short-term injury unfortunately turned into a decent lay off, seeing Chesser return for just two games prior to the season cancellation for Victorian prospects. Despite this time off, what Chesser showed prior and in his Under 16s year will be enough to see him make it through to the next level, although slightly likely lower than was predicted.
At the next level, Chesser is going to offer classy use of the footy, particularly by foot, whether he’s playing on the wing, off half-back or through the middle. Chesser remains composed going in the thick of things, threading kicks out to teammates in space with solid placement to make them as easy to mark as possible. When given space by his opponents, Chesser will run the ball forward, eagerly taking bounces to advance as far as possible before having to kick it. Chesser maintains his composure and class by foot even at full speed, making his outside work particularly dangerous.
An impressive part of Chesser’s game is his work rate off the ball, where he’ll run both ways to be an option for teammates or provide an extra body in defence to be a dangerous player in transition. That work rate doesn’t apply just defensively, as he runs hard when his side has the ball to be a genuine option, or to get forward and sweep up spilled balls from contests. With his high level athletics background, that repeat running at speed isn’t a surprising trait and remains one of his biggest weapons.
Whilst work rate certainly isn’t an issue for Chesser, he may look to improve his tackling at the next level. He is able to keep up with opponents easily enough, but sometimes struggles to execute or keep hold when he grabs on. Another area Chesser may look to improve is his contested ball winning, especially if he looks to play more inside in future, complementing his composure under pressure and clean ball use.
SUMMARY:
There’s no doubt that 2021 has been a frustrating year for Chesser, who could arguably have pushed for top 10 contention if not for injury and pandemic-related disruptions. With consistency hard to come by, he slid down the order a touch but remains a player with serious athletic weapons and the footballing nous to match. On top of that, the 18-year-old is a great character who presents well and brings elite standards which clubs will love. He is a first round candidate and may well be a bargain any further down the line."
afl.draftcentral.com.au
Pick 27: Connor Macdonald 184cm, 77kg, Inside Midfielder, 19 years old, Dandenong U/18 (VIC)
The final piece of what the Hawks hope for what the future midfield will start to resemble. With the likes of Mitchell & O'Meara in the latter part of their careers, it is hoped with the likes of Macdonald and Johnson they take over the mantle long term and offer different strengths and a dynamic which is hoped will add more needed creativity and speed throughout the middle.
"Connor Macdonald is an inside midfielder with a speedy burst out of congestion and some nice all-round athleticism. With some terrific inside skills, as well as his decision making generally being on-point, it is more about ironing out Macdonald’s kicking and finishing execution than anything else. With the Dandenong Stingrays this year he picked up no less than 24 disposals from his four games, including two matches of 30-plus disposals in what was an outstanding showing of consistency, catapulting himself into draft calculations.
STRENGTHS:
+ Acceleration
+ Stoppage positioning
+ Accumulation
+ Inside game
+ Athleticism
+ Tackling
IMPROVEMENTS:
– Kicking consistency
– Finishing
Macdonald looms as a value pick for an inside midfielder from the second round onwards, given his traits and potential areas of improvement. At home around the stoppages, Macdonald is able to pick the right places to stand to win the ball, with his stoppage positioning among his key strengths. From winning the ball, Macdonald is most effective bursting away and firing off a long handball or flicking one to a teammate in a better position, with his decision making also sound. His burst makes him very hard to contain at the stoppages, and is a first possession player, but can think his way out of a stoppage.
A lot of Macdonald’s ball is won in close, which automatically adds extra pressure to his disposal. When using it by hand, Macdonald is able to effectively open up the game, whilst by foot, he can hit targets, but at times blazes away and can overcook the kick. Within games Macdonald can look to be efficient by foot, and is best when having time and space to utilise his booming kick, but over a full game, the Stingrays midfielder still has strides to make in order to improve that area of his game. Similarly, his finishing when he sets his sights on goal could use some work, kicking 3.7 from his four games and having plenty of chances, but missing more or equal to his successful shots in each NAB League game.
From a defensive standpoint, Macdonald is a fierce tackler whose 12-tackle game against the Rebels perhaps bolstered his average considering he laid seven in the other three games combined. However, he had to go up against the fierce Rebels midfield in that match, whilst had more freedom in the other games. Switching from a defensive to an offensive standpoint, Macdonald has no trouble finding the ball and looking to drive it in transition, being a kick-first player and one who racks up the inside 50s with ease. If he irons out that kicking consistency going forward, he could be a really damaging player in the future.
SUMMARY:
Connor Macdonald is an accumulating inside midfielder who has a nice blend of offensive and defensive traits. At his best, Macdonald is a run and carry player who can pump the ball inside 50 and be a valuable option in transition. His kicking and finishing execution, or finesse if you like, could definitely be ironed out, but from a big picture perspective, the Stingrays midfielder has enough about him to suggest to clubs he can improve and be a potent threat on offence."
afl.draftcentral.com.au
Pick 50: Charlie Dean 195cm, 86kg, Tall Defender, 19/06/2001, Williamstown (VIC)
The plan was to nab 2-3 inside midfielders (Johnson and Macdonald) and or a speedy line breaker winger (Chesser), and with the following pick a key defender. Aleer and Bazzo were never a chance to drop at this stage so Dean was always the plan and fortunately lasted just in time. Missed out on some on the short list however on this occasion it went the Hawks way. It is hoped he will be a Jake Lever type that can play alongside Grainger-Barras, Nyuon long term.
"Dean is a developing and athletic young tall who can play at either end of the ground. He combined his NAB League and APS school commitments throughout the season and was part of the under 18 Vic Metro side in 2019. Dean was also invited to the State Combine at the end of the year and the Club are excited about the versatility and flexibility he will offer the Seagulls this season."
Williamstown Football Club home of the Seagulls since 1864.
www.williamstownfc.com.au
"STARTED the 2019 season like a house on fire and genuinely pushed himself up as one of the top key position forwards available in the AFL Draft. Unfortunately he did not have the championships he would have liked for Vic Metro, and was eventually sent back to defence for Sandringham to build his versatility, showing he can play at either end, but is still a promising forward. He was much-loved by the Dragons’ coaching staff for that facet of his game, taking on the more selfless defensive roles of his bottom-age year while still having an impact when swung back forward – as shown in his two-goal effort against Geelong in Wildcard Round. Building more consistent form and adding greater athleticism to his footy smarts will be the next step for Dean, who is high-level at his best.
STRENGTHS: Leading patterns, versatility, scoreboard impact, work rate, footy IQ
IMPROVEMENTS: Agility, consistency
afl.draftcentral.com.au
Pick 56: Bigoa Nyuon 197cm, 92kg, Tall Defender, 18/05/2001, Dandenong U/18 (VIC)
The Hawks see Nyuon has plenty of scope for improvement and still see him as a long term tall defender despite the premature
delisting and subsequent promise from Richmond to be rookie listed. With time on his side, Nyuon should develop and build on his strengths which is his athleticism and reading of the play which will complement a long term tall defensive unit comprising of Grainger-Barras and Dean.
"The Tigers took Nyuon with pick 54 in the 2019 NAB AFL Draft after developing in St Kilda’s Next Generation Academy.
An athletic key-position player with an excellent vertical leap, his first season in the AFL system was a strange one given the circumstances created by COVID-19.
Nursed a shoulder injury for much of the year before showing off his athletic ability in the Grand Final Sprint."
~ RFC Website
Pick 70: Noah Cumberland 183cm, 80kg, Forward, 15/03/2001 Maroochydore/Brisbane Academy (QLD)
Hawthorn really likes the spunk Cumberland brings on field, this
will help rile/spice up a pretty laconic at times forward line. Brings much needed speed and aggression, plays tall for his size which is unique to the current forward set-up.
"The youngster endured a difficult 2020 after rupturing his ACL at training in May. The medium-sized forward/midfielder made his way to Punt Rd via the 2019 NAB AFL Draft, but saw his first season in the system cut short. A talented left-footer from Maroochydore via the Brisbane Lions Academy."
~ RFC Website