Article courtest of www.afl.com.au
WITH the scrutiny of inaccuracy intensifying in recent seasons, key forwards with a reliable kick for goal have become vitally important players.
That could put Victorian young gun Lucas Cook in a fairly strong position when the NAB AFL Draft takes place on the Gold Coast on Thursday, November 18.
The 196cm key forward was one of only 11 attendees of the national and state combines who registered a score of 5/5 in the Nathan Buckley-designed kicking test.
Cook, who grew up in the farming community of Hopetoun in north-west Victoria and has spent the past two years playing with the North Ballarat Rebels in the TAC Cup, is also regarded as having great endurance and ball-winning ability.
He has recently been part of the AIS-AFL Academy program and was outstanding when playing for Victoria Country in the national under-18 championships.
"He just reads the ball so well in the air and he's a one grab player," AFL national talent manager Kevin Sheehan said earlier this year.
"As many supporters know, you like players to be able to convert when they've got the ball in their hands and he's a dead-eye shot at goal."
The results of the kicking test also indicate that Gold Coast could field a highly-skilled combination when it makes its AFL entry next season.
Midfielders David Swallow and Harley Bennell and big forward Sam Day, who are expected to be taken by the Suns with at No.1, 2 and 3, all recorded 5/5 for kicking.
This year's TAC Cup competition has produced plenty of potential draftees with the ability to consistently deliver accurate kicks.
They include Geelong Falcons forward Jayden Pitt, Calder Cannons duo Matthew Watson and Dion Prestia, Oakleigh Chargers ball-magnet Andrew Gaff and Gippsland's Jed Lamb, who stood out in 2010 thanks to his fluorescent yellow boots.
The other two players to record perfect scores in kicking at the state and national combines were Perth midfielder Reece Conca and Port Adelaide Magpies small forward Terry Milera.
Conca, who has been compared to Western Bulldogs star Ryan Griffen, also has a career-path outside footy mapped out. He is currently studying psychology and commerce at university.
Last Modified on 18/11/2010 15:43
