Former Essendon star and Eastern Ranges coach Darren Bewick rates top national draft prospect Adam Cerra as talented as any player to have come through the Ranges’ program.
High praise given the club’s recent list of top draft picks includes Christian Petracca (pick 2, 2014), Tom Boyd (pick 1, 2013) and Jon Patton (pick 1, 2011).
Cerra, a likely top five draft selection, has been linked to Fremantle (picks 2 and 5) and Collingwood (pick 6). It’s believed St Kilda would swoop if the talented midfielder somehow slipped through to the Saints at pick 7.
Bewick believes only injury has stopped the natural playmaker from being the first overall selection at next month’s national draft.
“Adam hasn’t played a lot with us over the past two years because of knee and shoulder injuries last year, and another shoulder problem late this season, but had he played through for a majority of the past two years I reckon he’d be getting selected with pick one,” Bewick said.
“He’s as near good as I’ve had come through the Ranges’ program and that includes guys like Jon Patton, Tom Boyd and Christian Petracca.
“He’s a ripping kid, a great size… to the point where he is ready to go at AFL level.”
After averaging 18 disposals for Vic Metro at the national championships the skilled midfielder missed the Eastern Ranges finals campaign after undergoing shoulder surgery. He did not complete any of the physical testing at the national draft combine earlier this month.
But Bewick had high praise for his young charge.
“He can play inside and outside the contest, he can play half-back and I played him forward for a half one day and he kicked 3.5,” he said.
“There’s not a lot he can’t do as a player. He’s got all the tools to be a star at AFL level down the track.”
Cerra first arrived on recruiters’ radars in 2015 when he starred for the Ranges as a 15-year-old, including a solid performance in the 2015 TAC Cup Grand Final.
Surprisingly, Cerra missed All-Australian selection at this year’s national championships despite some solid performances in the midfield.
But the former Bomber goalkicker was adamant the snub would only act as a spur.
“He’s so coachable which is very important,” he said.
“Whoever takes him will be getting themselves some sort of player for many years to come.”
The national draft will be held at the Sydney Showgrounds on November 24.
Brisbane has the first overall selection, with Carlton, Fremantle and St Kilda all holding two picks inside the top 10.
Inside Football Draft profile...
ADAM CERRA
07-Oct-99 | 186.3cm | 80.3kg | Eastern Ranges
“Adam hasn’t played a lot with us over past two years because of a knee injury early last year and a shoulder injury towards the back end this year. If he had played all year for the past two years I reckon he’d go No.1 in the draft. He’s a ripping kid, a great size to a point where he is ready to go at AFL level. He can play inside and outside the contest, half back and I played him forward for a half one day and he kicked 3.5. He’s nearly as good as I’ve had come through the Ranges program and that includes guys like Jon Patton, Tom Boyd and Christian Petracca. I’d be shocked if he doesn’t go in the top five.” – Eastern Ranges coach Darren Bewick.
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