This time of year there is constant talk surrounding which young players will be selected in the AFL National Draft.
There’s always speculation as to the types of players clubs need and who will end up where.
Dandenong Stingrays talent manager Darren Flanigan has shed some light on some of the key players from his club who are likely to be picked up in next month’s draft.
The former Geelong and St Kilda ruckman highlighted a trio of Stingrays who are expected to make their way onto an AFL list this year.
THE Stingrays young gun who is a "bulletproof" draft choice
Cody Weightman
“He’s certainly electric, his highlight reel is going to be enormous.
“He’s a great finisher, he’s strong overhead for his size. He actually won a yo-yo test at the start of the year so he has got a motor that would probably indicate he can play higher up the ground.
“He had the job of balancing school footy and NAB League footy but he’s a really professional young man who leaves no stone unturned with his physical preparation.
“He’ll be a really good player.”
Ned Cahill
“Ned’s another one who wasn’t in our program as a 16-year-old but ended up playing in the finals as a 17-year-old and played in the premiership in 2018.
“He wanted to be more than just a small forward. He did play high up the ground, his running capacity is enormous. He will get up and get balls at half-back then work his way back down the ground and be kicking a goal from a yard out.
“He does work over his small defenders really well. He’s got an outstanding front and centre crumb and causes a lot of turnovers in the front half.
“I rate Ned really highly. Probably hasn’t received the same plaudits as a Cody Weightman has but there’s not much between the two.”
Sam de Koning
“Sam is best as a tall defender. He is 199 (cm), his ground balls are excellent, his speed is good, he kicks it really well, he takes a really good intercept mark.
“But he has gone forward and bene really effective as a tall forward as well. He’s a three-position player, I think.
“He’s 20 kilos off being able to compete against the A-grade AFL ruckman at this stage and even a tall defender or forward. He’s so light, he’s just go to put on a lot of beef over the next couple of years and not lose his athleticism.
“The club that drafts him will be playing the long game and understand he needs a couple of really good seasons in the gym so he can be physically strong enough to compete.”
Listen to last Thursday’s edition of Time On below: