Hype has begun to build around Melbourne draftee Caleb Windsor after vision emerged of his performance in an intra-club match on social media.
The post, which was shared by the club, showed the No. 7 pick covering the ground, using his speed, linking up with his teammates and making quick decisions with ball in hand.
Caleb Windsor is only a first-year player...we repeat...Caleb Windsor is only a first-year player 🤯 🤯
— Melbourne Demons (@melbournefc) February 4, 2024
Match-sim highlights 🎥 | https://t.co/FfoHvfr7Zp pic.twitter.com/pw2UFvGvhs
While it was only a pre-season highlights package, SEN hosts Kane Cornes and Sam Edmund liked what they saw … enough to compare the ‘draft bolter’ to some AFL stars who share similar characteristics to the teenager.
Cornes thinks Windsor could help rectify Melbourne’s biggest concern which has long been their connection between the midfield and forward groups.
Cornes: “You’ve been big on the hype train of the young draftees and you've got a couple that have led the list.
“Ryley Sanders is one of those.”
Edmund: “Huge.”
Cornes: “We're not talking enough about Caleb Windsor are we from Melbourne?
“Granted, I haven't been down to see the Dees train, but they did post some vision of him in an intra-club game.
“He was pick seven in the draft, ‘speedy wingman’ is the way that he's been described, ‘draft bolter’, is another way he’s been described.
“But from what I saw on the weekend, he's no draft bolter. He's Sam Walsh, is he not?”
Edmund: “He reminds me a little bit of Bailey Smith just the way he moves around.
“The post from Melbourne was, ‘Caleb Windsor is only a first-year player…we repeat…Caleb Windsor is only a first-year player.”
Cornes: “How good did he look?”
Edmund: “Good speed, good skill and most importantly I reckon - and they all are when they're taken at that level of the draft, I suppose - he looks like an excellent decision maker too.
“He makes the decision, goes quick, goes with conviction, there’s no hesitation and he has great poise for a young fella. He’s happy to take them on.”
Cornes: “Just put him up on the hype train rankings if you can.
“With endurance, those that can run with speed that are a good size and use the ball well …. aren't Melbourne crying out for that to increase their connection between mid and forward.”
Windsor will be hoping to make his AFL debut when the Demons face the Swans in Opening Round at the SCG on Thursday, March 7.