THERE are many mercurial types among the fledgling crop of 2023 draft-eligible talents, and one to consider is Glenelg utility Ashton Moir. The utility has kicked off his bottom-age SANFL Under 18 campaign in style, booting five goals in Round 1 and backing it up with another promising showing on Sunday afternoon.

Moir only snared one major this time out, but notched the exact same amount of disposals (18) and marks (seven) while showcasing plenty of the aerial ability and versatility which have him poised to impress over the next two seasons. A player with many tricks in his bag, Moir proved an easy watch when placed under our Round 2 Player Focus microscope.

GlenelgForward

Ashton Moir

Height: 187cm

Weight: 85kg

DOB: 15-04-2005

Strengths:

Aerial ability

Character

Class

Dual-sided

Speed

Vertical leap

ROUND 2
Glenelg 14.12 (96) def. Norwood 9.6 (60)

Stats: 18 disposals (11 kicks, 7 handballs), 7 marks, 2 tackles, 4 inside 50s, 1 goal, 2 behinds

FIRST QUARTER

Starting up forward, Moir built into the game nicely with a couple of early looks inside 50. He read the flow of play well to win his first touch, pointing to the space he lead into and taking an uncontested mark, before immediately wheeling onto his left foot and sending the ball to the hot spot.

He was thrown into three centre bounces, and in his second midfield stint, managed to receive out the back of a stoppage and chisel a low ball forward as he broke to the outside. That moment aside, he looked a little more dangerous inside attacking 50.

Moir again displayed his smarts and anticipation by bolting towards goal as Glenelg broke over the back, getting front-and-centre to collect just outside the goalsquare and squeeze a handball to assist a Harry Francis goal.

His little shifts with ball in hand made him evasive, and with those short sideways steps, Moir was able to maintain enough space in tight spots to either accelerate away or make a good decision by hand. Overall, a promising start from the bottom-ager.

SECOND QUARTER

Moir backed up his opening term with another 25 minutes scattered with positive moments. One particular showing of his unique mobility saw him turn on a dime and shift towards goal on the wing, losing his opponent in an instant to eventually kick long down the line.

He again spent time rotating up into the midfield from the forwardline, playing more of an outside role as he held his width at the contest, and looked to pounce on any ground balls which spilled loose with clean pick-ups off the deck.

The bottom-ager got to good spots around the ground but could not quite impose himself on the inside game. In another forward shift, he lead well to get separation and leapt into the ball to earn a set shot 40 metres out. The right-footed attempt missed, but Moir’s vertical aptitude in that instance was a sighter of things to come.

A finish out of the Jordan Dawson playbook from @GlenelgFC bottom-ager Ashton Moir.

Kid can play – kicks set shots on both feet, massive leap, great hands, versatile. Player Focus going up on @RookieMeCentral on Wednesday ? #AFLDraft

? via @SANFL pic.twitter.com/gmC9YOLsct

— Michael Alvaro (@MichaelTAlvaro) April 4, 2022

THIRD QUARTER

Moir began to truly open up his bag of tricks in the second half, booting his lone goal of the game and showcasing more of his highly desirable traits. He was robbed of a couple of marking opportunities early on – being spoiled, and then having a two-grab effort go unpaid. His nonchalant style made an out-on-the-full snap on goal look lazy, but Moir turned it all around quickly.

After a brief midfield stint, the 16-year-old swung back into attack to good effect. His leap on the lead took the defender out of the contest as he marked just inside 50 and landed like a cat. The resultant set shot was reminiscent of Jordan Dawson’s match-winner for Adelaide as the left-footed shot swung from right to left and earned his side six points.

Yes, he kicks set shots on both feet. Ridiculous. The fact he was able to choose which foot to kick on depending on which side of the goal he lined up on also proved his footy smarts, and being able to make 40-metre shots on either foot takes great skill. Combine that with his marking prowess, and Moir conveyed his high ceiling in one play.

FOURTH QUARTER

Having unleashed the spring in his heels, Moir looked to produce more of the same plays in term four. He showed great confidence in leaping for marks, getting up high in packs but not quite having the strength to pull down any big grabs.

His unique athletic traits were conveyed in his quick touches in general play, as Moir looked to zig and zag out of tight spots with more of those hip shifts and baulks. Those short moments pointed towards strong creativity, where he has the potential to make something out of nothing.

Moir had one more shot on goal with a 20-metre set shot which missed, but the highlight of his quarter came later on. After marking well between a couple of defenders, he instantly turned inboard and hit a leading target at the heart of forward 50 on his right foot. It was a fitting way to cap off a day in which he produced plenty of high-level spurts.

Listing the traits Moir has at his disposal, it is clear why he may well be well within the first round conversation come 2023. He can play on all three lines, has exceptional vertical ability, kicks with ease on both feet, and shows the smarts which suggest he can only get even better in the next two years. One to watch.