The young guns of 2016 have been in fine form in the early stages of the season.
Jacob Weitering is one who exemplifies this, as he has defied the pressures of being a #1 draft pick and is already shaping up to be one of Carlton’s most important players.
His excellent decision making, efficient ball use and general composure as a big bodied half-back has earned him the respect of the experienced players in the competition.
With Round 5 being played this week, he still has plenty of time to develop his form even more and become one of the elite defenders of the competition.
However, he does have some competition, as the variety of No.1 draft picks over the last decade have been stellar in their approach to the tough conditions out on the footy field.
A team who had a handful of No.1 picks were the Demons, whose disappointing form earned them a crucial opportunity to recruit some talent to inject into their deflating side.
In 2009, Melbourne had recruited a young kid who was anticipated to take the competition by storm.
This kid went by the name of Tom Scully, a midfielder who had the capacity to move the ball swiftly through the middle to open up the corridor and provide scoring opportunities- which the Dees were in desperate need of.
In his first year at the club, Scully racked up a career-high 39 disposals against the Bulldogs, impressing the selectors – not just from Melbourne.
The Giants selectors had their eye on the young midfielder, and offered a promising deal that saw Scully leave the Demons.
Although the move was a negative one for Melbourne, it was a positive for the 24-year-old, whose game flourished into elite magnificence in orange colours.
Over the years at GWS, the handy midfielder has been able to play more games, more consistently.
Currently, Scully has played 106 games and is a key factor in the Giants’ midfield.
2016 looks to be a breakout year for him, as he intimidated one of the best midfields in the competition at Startrack Oval.
The Geelong midfield were no match for Scully’s 32 disposals, which included 21 kicks and 11 handballs, as they succumbed to his strong pressure that combined with the best of the Giants’ young guns.
In its fourth year as an AFL club, the Giants’ young guns are now becoming more experienced, and now, Scully has the potential to become a significant addition to the GWS leadership group.
Matthew Kreuzer was the first draft pick of this decade, and when in good form and injury-free, he is one of the best.
Kreuzer boasts a height of 200cm and has a thirst to be involved in the contest, no matter where it’d be on the ground.
The 26-year-old has only managed 122 games in since his initiation in 2007, due to being plagued by nasty injuries.
However, in the games that he has played, he has brought with him a spirit that ignites the young rovers around him.
This was present against Richmond in 2012, where he dominated with 45 hitouts.
He also specialised in the ‘non-ruckman’ stats, by recording nine tackles against the Bulldogs in 2015, a performance that certified him as one of the most damaging ruckmen in the competition.
Kreuzer’s big body is one that provides stability to an otherwise, small and inexperienced Carlton attack.
If he plays consistently this year, the ruckman will continue to lead the way for his team, providing continual energy and hard efforts to get his beloved side back on track.
Jack Watts is a name that constantly floats around the headlines.
In the past, it was to scrutinise the many qualities that earned him an opportunity to play in the AFL.
However, the tables have turned, as Watts has stepped up to the criticism in a big way.
The 25-year-old is arguably in career-best form at the moment, as he is continually stepping up to the plate with straight kicking and heated one-on-one contests.
The 2008 #1 draft pick has managed 118 games for the Demons, playing through all the tough times and now, all the good times to come.
Not only is he a dangerous goal-kicker, he is also a man that can rack up the possessions.
In Round 1, Watts accumulated 18 disposals (14 kicks, 4 handballs), as well as 10 marks against the Giants, proving that his worth extended beyond the forward 50.
However, he hasn’t completely left behind his goal-kicking.
In fact, just this weekend, the former No.1 pick kicked four goals, equalising his personal best.
2016 looks set to be the year for him to improve and state his position among the competition’s best forwards.
This is largely due to the level of intensity and spirit coming from the Demons’ footy.
The addition of 2015 rising star, Jesse Hogan, has also meant that the pressure has been taken off Watts to be the club’s star forward, enabling him to run through the different positions of the ground to test his versatility.
Jack Watts will be a future leader of the club in the years to come.
Being picked at No.1 is, no doubt an amazing feat that would remain important to the players for the rest of their lives.
However, it also comes with the added pressures, as spectators often anticipate a miracle from the newly-appointed teenagers of the competition.
Tom Scully, Matthew Kreuzer and Jack Watts have all dealt with this pressure remarkably, as they’ve shown resilience after being picked to play a crucial role in the team’s bottom sides.
Despite each individual’s different qualities, these boys-turned-men all share the same talent.
They’ve overcame the speculation in their first years of AFL and have fought on to prove their worth in the cut-throat Aussie rules industry.
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