Craig O'Donoghue for thewest.com.au
Geelong 1989 grand final ruckman Darren Flanigan declared yesterday that new West Coast speed machine Ashley Smith was the fastest junior footballer he had seen in almost 15 years.
Smith, whose 20m sprint time of 2.80sec. was the fastest recorded by a non-indigenous player in AFL draft camp history, will today join fellow draftees Nick Naitanui, Tom Swift, Luke Shuey and Jordan Jones at Subiaco Oval for West Coast's induction weekend.
Flanigan, who has worked in development roles for Victorian under-18 teams the Dandenong Stingrays and Oakleigh Chargers since 1995, said Smith, a Dandenong midfielder, stood out as the fastest player he'd seen in the TAC Cup competition.
"Absolutely" Flanigan said. "He gets the ball in his hands and when he takes them on, they don't get near him. He takes them on, runs past them or runs away from them. He's played as a centreman but he's mainly an outside half-back or wing run and carry-type person.
"He's super quick. He's been a 100 and 200m champion in the State school system. He was a 10.6 or 10.8 runner for the 100m. He flies. They'll release him across half-back and away he'll go. He'll just take them on, and as soon as he gets space in front of him, no one will run him down.
The Eagles picked an incredibly quick batch of players last Saturday. Smith won the 20m sprint, Naitanui finished third and Swift was fifth. Shuey was also in the top 10.
Flanigan said Smith's 185cm and 85kg body meant he could handle the rigours of senior footy, but warned the national draft's 36th selection needed to improve his endurance and adjust to different roles.
"He still needs to learn a bit about the intricacies of the AFL," Flanigan said. "If you're good enough and quick enough, you just get it and run and don't worry too much about the opposition or style of play. He will improve with that in time. He's gone to a good club and is playing on a ground that is going to suit him."Â
Jones and Shuey also have mature bodies and impressed during the under-18 national championships.
Shuey, recruited from the Oakleigh Chargers at pick 18, is a ball winner who excels at stoppages, while Jones, selection No. 52, is a 190cm key defender from Geelong.
Last Modified on 06/12/2010 15:19