Some of the best draft prospects in the country were in action against Carlton’s VFL side, and it is clear one club has hit the jackpot. Check out the scouting notes and stats here.
Suns Academy player Jake Rogers stole the show during the Australian under-18 match against Carlton’s VFL side on Saturday, with the midfielder-forward continuing to climb up draft boards.
Rogers won the medal as the best player across the AFL Academy squad’s two matches, which also included a clash against Port Adelaide’s SANFL side in April.
He gathered 12 disposals, three clearances and kicked a goal against the Power, before backing that up with 26 disposals (13 contested), six clearances and four marks against the Blues.
While he is on the smaller side at 171cm, Rogers is tough, quick, clean and creative and knows how to find the footy and kick goals.
“We spoke as midfielders about the contest and I thought I started off really well based on my contest,” Rogers said.
Jake Rogers took out the medal in AFL Academy’s clash against Carlton’s VFL side. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images
“The team was really up and about, too. It was our second camp so we took a lot of learnings out of the first one, playing against bigger bodies and a lot quicker footy. I think all of the boys really adapted for this second game.”
Rogers was born in Melbourne and still barracks for Collingwood but moved to the Gold Coast at a young age and has played all his football there, joining the Suns Academy in under-12s.
Having finished school last year, he spent the whole off-season training with the Suns’ senior group.
“We pretty much did the full pre-season. The full three months,” Rogers said.
“The first week as soon as I got home from training, my head was straight on the pillow. It was the hardest training I’d ever done. But it kept me in good stead for this year and I feel like I’ve really developed my game from there.”
Rogers was not the only Suns Academy player to catch the eye for the Australian team on Saturday, with Jed Walter and Ethan Read both exciting in attack.
The AFL under-18 national championships kick off on June 4.
Harley Reid fends off an opponent with ease. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images
SCOUTING NOTES FROM AFL ACADEMY GAME v CARLTON VFL
Harley Reid (13 disposals, 2 marks, 2 tackles, 1 clearance)
The likely No.1 draft pick started in the midfield but was kept relatively quiet, before being switched to defence in the second quarter. He read the play well behind the ball and took two intercept marks down back, as well as providing good run and rebound from the defence half. Reid’s pressure and tackling was excellent and he pulled out a signature fend off or two. Unfortunately, he suffered a head knock in a tackle in the third quarter and sat out the rest of the game.
Nick Watson (10 disposals, 2 marks, 1 clearance, 1 goal)
The exciting small forward kicked a goal in the opening quarter on the back of a clever mark in the goalsquare, before again being sent to defence in the second quarter. While he did not have a stack of the ball, he dazzled with some of the plays he was able to set up from the back half through some run and receive plays. Watson came from the field at three-quarter time with a minor ankle complain, sitting out the final quarter.
Rogers gets a kick away. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images
Jake Rogers (26 disposals, 13 contested possessions, 6 clearances, 4 marks)
The Gold Coast Suns Academy member was his side’s best player on the day, leading the way through the midfield. He was clean, tough, worked hard contest-to-contest, showed some good speed and helped to set up play through his handball game.
Ryley Sanders (24 disposals, 5 inside 50s, 4 marks, 3 clearances, 2 tackles)
A prime ball winner through the midfield across the match, Sanders was seemingly everywhere at stages. He gets to the right spots and runs hard to provide an outlet for teammates outside of the contest.
Ryley Sanders won a stack of the footy. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images
Colby McKercher (20 disposals, 3 marks, 3 clearances, 2 tackles)
Like Rogers and Sanders, McKercher was one of the staples through the midfield in this match and made his presence felt. He has good pace and works his way through traffic well. Recruiters have compared him to being a quicker version of Essendon’s Zach Merrett.
Nate Caddy (14 disposals, 4 marks, 3 inside 50s, 1 goal)
The 192cm key forward was a key target in the attacking half for his side and presented well across the game. He worked hard up the ground, took some nice marks and kicked a lovely goal from beyond the 50m arc during the second quarter.
Jed Walter with a big celebration after slotting a goal. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images
Jed Walter (9 disposals, 2 marks, 3 inside-50s, 1 goal)
Another Gold Coast Suns Academy member, Walter certainly caught the eye as he worked in tandem with Caddy as a lead-up key forward. He is a strong and powerful athlete who presented well up the ground and snapped a nice goal around the corner in the opening quarter.
Archie Roberts (17 disposals, 6 marks, 3 rebound 50s, 2 clearances)
Another week, another good game from Roberts across half-back. He takes the game on and generally uses the ball very well.
Daniel Curtin (15 disposals, 5 marks, 4 rebound 50s)
The 195cm key defender from Western Australia looked composed down back and was good in the contest against some more physically developed opponents.
Cooper Simpson (17 disposals, 4 marks, 1 goal)
Used the ball well and made good decisions across the match, capping off his game with a lovely goal on the run in the final quarter.
Cooper Simpson runs with the ball. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images
MORE STATS
Jack Delean (16 disposals, 4 marks, 4 inside-50s, 1 goal)
Koltuyn Tholstrup (13 disposals, 4 marks, 2 tackles, 2 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s)
Caiden Cleary (13 disposals, 5 tackles, 3 clearances, 1 mark)
Darcy Wilson (12 disposals, 6 marks, 1 goal)
Ethan Read (12 disposals, 5 marks, 2 inside-50s, 1 goal)
Will Lorenz (11 disposals, 2 clearances, 1 mark)
Nathan Philactides (10 disposals, 5 marks, 3 inside-50s)
Jack Callinan (10 disposals, 2 marks, 2 inside-50s, 1 goal)
George Stevens (10 disposals, 2 marks, 2 tackles, 2 clearances)
Riley Hardeman (10 disposals, 2 inside-50s, 1 mark)
Orlando Turner (9 disposals, 2 marks, 2 inside-50s, 2 goals)
Zane Duursma (9 disposals, 3 clearances, 3 inside-50s, 2 tackles, 1 goal)
Archer Reid (9 disposals, 4 tackles, 4 hitouts, 3 inside-50s, 1 goal)
Mitchell Edwards (9 disposals, 5 marks, 13 hitouts, 1 clearance, 1 goal)
Connor O’Sullivan (9 disposals, 1 tackle, 1 rebound-50)
Will Patton (7 disposals, 3 marks, 2 rebound-50s)
Kane McAuliffe (7 disposals, 2 marks, 2 clearances, 2 inside-50s)
Ashton Moir (6 disposals, 1 mark, 2 tackles, 1 clearance)
Lachlan Cabor (6 disposals, 2 marks)
William Green (6 hitouts)