AFL Draft guru Kevin Sheehan believes the stigma around short players has reduced significantly in recent years.
Talented players in the past have been overlooked or fallen in the draft because of their height, but success stories like Caleb Daniel, Kysaiah Pickett and Cody Weightman are proving it is worth betting on natural footballers.
“They’ve become pretty invaluable. I remember a couple of years ago the Kozzie Pickett and Cody Weightman year where there was discussion about what the clubs wanted and they both targeted a small forward,” Sheehan told SEN Mornings.
“Both those boys have played terrific roles for their clubs in the last few years.
“I think it has swung around more than ever. The small forward has become invaluable, particularly if he’s a pressure small forward with tackling pressure.
“We know that the average height of a player in the AFL now is 188cm – 40 years ago they were the ruckmen – these boys that we classify as smalls aren’t all that small.”
Sheehan sees Swan Districts midfielder Darcy Jones as someone in this mould to watch in the 2022 National Draft.
Jones dominated the AFL Draft Combine, breaking former Fremantle wingman Stephen Hill’s record in the agility test – one that stood for 14 years and also won the vertical jump test.
“He’s 174cm, but gee it won’t stop him,” Sheehan said.
“He has elite speed, elite agility, in fact (he) smashed a record Stephen Hill had set 14 years ago.
“That’s the way he plays. He accelerates through the traffic as a small midfielder and wingman and can play as a small forward.
“It’s a name we expect to bob up when the draft comes around.”