Guy McKenna jokingly said he wants all of Essendon’s top picks at the National Draft to be used on midfielders.
It’s unlikely all four of the Bombers top 25 selections will pan out that way, but one draft prospect that may be on the radar is Rhys Mathieson.
The Geelong Falcon averaged 25 possessions per game in the TAC Cup and 20 a match at the National Championships.
He stands 186 centimetres and has shown he can perform well in the air. He was also one of the best performers at the Draft Combine in the clean hands test.
Mathieson is highly regarded for his work around the stoppages, averaging seven clearances per game in 2015.
Why pick him:
- Ability to win contested ball
- Consistency
- Clean hands
- Aggression
Similar to:
The AFL’s draft expert Callum Twomey has likened Mathieson to West Coast’s Brownlow medal winner Matt Priddis due to his ability to win the contested ball. Twomey said Mathieson could play AFL football next season and is the type of player likely to play well in finals because of his appetite for the contest.
Draft range:
There is a small chance Mathieson could slide through to Essendon’s second round picks. He’s tipped to be snapped up between selection 12 and 25.
