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Young guns ready to fire
7:27:06 PM Thu 2 January, 2003
Paul Gough
afl.com.au
The AFL is blessed to have some of the most exciting young talent for years within its ranks.
One of the most notable aspects of the 2002 season was the number of exciting newcomers to make an impact on the competition as young stars such as Nick Riewoldt of St Kilda and West Coast running machine Chris Judd became household names overnight.
While it is difficult to predict how this year’s crop of first-year draftees will perform, many of those youngsters with one, two or three years' experience under their belts look ready to make the step from promising youngsters to genuine stars for their clubs.
Here are afl.com.au’s top 10 players to watch in the 2003 season in order of their potential.
10. Tadgh Kennelly (Sydney): This talented Irish youngster thrilled Swans fans last season with some of his unique skills with his Gaelic football background often much to the fore. But with his athleticism and courage he has also adapted superbly to Australian football and was one of the competition’s most improved players in 2002. But with the experience of his first full season behind him (Kennelly played every game last season after eight in his debut season in 2001) he looks set to become a handful for opposition teams this season.
9. Leigh Harding (Kangaroos): Clever goalsneak who managed to play 21 games and boot a more than creditable 31 goals in only his second AFL season. Despite playing in one of the most difficult positions in the competition, as a permanent small forward, this 21-year-old got better as the 2002 season progressed and kicked six match-winning goals as the Roos thumped Geelong at Skilled Stadium in round 18. With quality small forwards among the most difficult players to find, the Roos look to have a real find on their hands.
8. Andrew Welsh (Essendon): This tough cookie made his debut in round seven last year and then held his spot all season in the talented Essendon line-up and more than acquitted himself well in the Bombers’ two finals matches. Does not even turn 20 until just before the start of the 2003 Wizard Cup campaign, but already looks assured of a long future. Blessed with a stack of courage, he has that rare ability to play on small and tall forwards and is the kind of player veteran Bombers coach Kevin Sheedy just loves to have in his side.
7. Quinten Lynch (West Coast): This man-mountain does not turn 20 until early in 2003, but already looks capable of putting fear into opposition defenders for years to come. At 191cm and 101kg, Lynch is unmistakable on the field and made a big impact playing at full-forward for the Eagles in his debut season in 2002. Despite not making his debut until round 12, he kicked 17 goals for the season including five against Adelaide in only his second game and acquitted himself in the Eagles’ game finals defeat to Essendon at the Telstra Dome.
6. Graham Johncock (Adelaide): No wonder this exciting youngster was not ordered to sacrifice his number 18 guernsey by Crows officials to accommodate the arrival of former Kangaroos skipper Wayne Carey in Adelaide. On the evidence of his debut season, Johncock will be wearing the number 18 jumper at Adelaide for as long as Carey made the number his own at the Roos. Capable of playing in attack and in defence and blessed with great acceleration, he played in all of the Crows’ 25 games in his debut season and managed a respectable 14 goals.
7:27:06 PM Thu 2 January, 2003
Paul Gough
afl.com.au
The AFL is blessed to have some of the most exciting young talent for years within its ranks.
One of the most notable aspects of the 2002 season was the number of exciting newcomers to make an impact on the competition as young stars such as Nick Riewoldt of St Kilda and West Coast running machine Chris Judd became household names overnight.
While it is difficult to predict how this year’s crop of first-year draftees will perform, many of those youngsters with one, two or three years' experience under their belts look ready to make the step from promising youngsters to genuine stars for their clubs.
Here are afl.com.au’s top 10 players to watch in the 2003 season in order of their potential.
10. Tadgh Kennelly (Sydney): This talented Irish youngster thrilled Swans fans last season with some of his unique skills with his Gaelic football background often much to the fore. But with his athleticism and courage he has also adapted superbly to Australian football and was one of the competition’s most improved players in 2002. But with the experience of his first full season behind him (Kennelly played every game last season after eight in his debut season in 2001) he looks set to become a handful for opposition teams this season.
9. Leigh Harding (Kangaroos): Clever goalsneak who managed to play 21 games and boot a more than creditable 31 goals in only his second AFL season. Despite playing in one of the most difficult positions in the competition, as a permanent small forward, this 21-year-old got better as the 2002 season progressed and kicked six match-winning goals as the Roos thumped Geelong at Skilled Stadium in round 18. With quality small forwards among the most difficult players to find, the Roos look to have a real find on their hands.
8. Andrew Welsh (Essendon): This tough cookie made his debut in round seven last year and then held his spot all season in the talented Essendon line-up and more than acquitted himself well in the Bombers’ two finals matches. Does not even turn 20 until just before the start of the 2003 Wizard Cup campaign, but already looks assured of a long future. Blessed with a stack of courage, he has that rare ability to play on small and tall forwards and is the kind of player veteran Bombers coach Kevin Sheedy just loves to have in his side.
7. Quinten Lynch (West Coast): This man-mountain does not turn 20 until early in 2003, but already looks capable of putting fear into opposition defenders for years to come. At 191cm and 101kg, Lynch is unmistakable on the field and made a big impact playing at full-forward for the Eagles in his debut season in 2002. Despite not making his debut until round 12, he kicked 17 goals for the season including five against Adelaide in only his second game and acquitted himself in the Eagles’ game finals defeat to Essendon at the Telstra Dome.
6. Graham Johncock (Adelaide): No wonder this exciting youngster was not ordered to sacrifice his number 18 guernsey by Crows officials to accommodate the arrival of former Kangaroos skipper Wayne Carey in Adelaide. On the evidence of his debut season, Johncock will be wearing the number 18 jumper at Adelaide for as long as Carey made the number his own at the Roos. Capable of playing in attack and in defence and blessed with great acceleration, he played in all of the Crows’ 25 games in his debut season and managed a respectable 14 goals.