POSSIBLE 2018 top five pick Izak Rankine was the clear standout in Friday’s Under 17s NAB AFL All Stars game held at Simonds Stadium.

In the second year of the AFLs annual showcase, the contest pitted the best 50 2018 draft eligible prospects against each other, split into two sides named after former Geelong great Corey Enright (Team Enright) and North Melbourne champion Brent Harvey (Team Harvey).

MATCH REPORT: Exciting Rankine named best afield in 2017 NAB AFL Under 17 All Stars game

Scouting notes: 

Team Enright:

#1 Zak Butters – Played mostly outside midfielder and always made himself and option. Butters was attacking with his disposals and was clean by foot. Had a few pinpoint passes that were impressive.

#2 Tom Lewis – The tough strong inside midfielder showed great attack on the ball. Despite his size, he was able to make a couple of strong aerial contests – including a big contested mark on the wing. He was very team orientated and even called out a selfish teammate during the contest.

#3 Izak Rankine – Started with a quick left foot snap goal in traffic and got better as the clear best player on the day. His defensive pressure in the front half was fantastic (chasing and tackling) and he easily brushed off a tackle and slammed through an easy goal before half time.

#7 Tom McKenzie – Took a great contested intercept mark in defensive 50 and kicked well on both feet. The Northern Knights product was composed with ball in hand and made some good decisions. Might be a smokey for the AFL Academy squad.

#9 Bailey Smith – Won a lot of the ball, mostly as an inside midfielder – after only playing five days previously for the Sandringham Dragons in their TAC Cup Grand Final loss. His work rate was very high and he attacked his kicks, finishing with a goal.

#26 Riley Bowman – The Dandenong Stingrays tall started in the ruck and also showed he could be effective as a forward. Bowman presented well on the lead and finished with two set shot goals.

#31 Zane Barzen – The versatile forward missed a couple of shots at goal early, but worked up the ground and was able to deliver the ball inside 50 on multiple occasions. Barzen finished with three goals for the match.

Team Harvey:

#6 Jye Caldwell – Had a big impact in the midfield, winning a lot of the ball. Caldwell was able to get the ball moving forward and snapped a very nice left foot goal roving the pack inside 50. Also took a nice contested one-on-one mark during the game.

#13 Izak Rankine – After swapping teams at half-time, Rankine started the 2nd half with a nice set shot goal. He gathered the ball goal-side of his opponents on the wing, took off and had four running bounces but hit the post with a running shot on goal. He also made a great double lead to mark and kick from a set shot from about 45m out which he converted.

#23 Jack Bytel – The Vic Metro midfielder wonon a lot of the ball on the inside and moves well through traffic. Bytel is strong over the ball, but his kicking does need some work.

#24 Buku Khamis – Had a quiet 1st half, but started the 2nd half with a beautiful kick out of defensive 50, working up the ground running and carrying the ball as he waited for Rankine’s second lead before hitting him lace out. Khamis also had a great clean pick up in traffic after that and then nailed another perfect kick to a lead inside 50.

#25 Tarryn Thomas – The North Melbourne next-generation academy member won a fair bit of the ball at centre bounces where he’d get on a short run and clear the ball forward. He took a nice intercept mark at half forward and kicked it quickly and effectively back inside 50.

#27 Jack Lukosius – The possible no.1 pick had a quiet game due to a low number of forward enteries, but took a nice overhead mark on the wing. He was swung back in the fourth quarter and linked up in a nice chain going forward.

#30 Bailey Williams – Snapped a nice goal on the run and his follow up when in the ruck is very good and he took a strong contested mark from team’s kick in. He kicked a perfect set shot goal on a tight angle and then took an easy contested mark inside 50 against a smaller opponenent. Finished with two goals and did his AFL Academy call-up chances no harm.

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