THIS year’s National Championships have been the first full instalment since 2019, meaning the nation’s best Under 18 draft hopefuls have finally been able to test their mettle against each other once again. With that comes a number of mouthwatering contests between players vying for similar spots on draft boards, as their top-age campaigns turns for home.

In the return of our Marquee Matchups series, we highlight a pair of prospects who in one way or another, will continue to compete in 2022; comparing their vitals, stats, strengths, and improvement areas. First up, it’s a battle of the key forwards in a classic Country against Metro clash – Aaron Cadman vs. Matthew Jefferson.

>> POWER RANKINGS: July Top 25 update

PLAYER PROFILES:

Key Forward

Aaron Cadman

Height: 195cm

Weight: 91kg

DOB: 03-03-2004

Key Forward

Matthew Jefferson

Height: 195cm

Weight: 84kg

DOB: 08-03-2004

2022 STATS:

CADMAN:

2022 NAB League – 7 games | 14.4 disposals | 11.3 kicks | 3.3 handballs | 5.0 marks | 2.4 tackles | 3.4 inside 50s | 2.6 goals (18.14 total)

JEFFERSON:

2022 NAB League – 4 games | 10.3 disposals | 9.0 kicks | 1.3 handballs | 7.5 marks | 1.5 tackles | 2.5 inside 50s | 1.5 goals (6.9 total)

BEST GAME:

CADMAN:

NAB League Round 10 vs. Oakleigh Chargers
Key stats – 20 disposals, 7 marks, 4 goals, 4 behinds

Our scouts said…

“Cadman certainly had a case for being the best player afield, booting four goals from eight scoring shots in a dominant display from centre half-forward. The first round prospect got on the board within a minute of the opening bounce, and it set the tone for a game where he got separation on the lead time after time. Though inconsistent with his finishing and much scrappier at ground level, Cadman’s goalkicking routine looked fluent when on song, while his marking prowess was simply unstoppable. With a goal in each quarter, his impact was sustained.”

JEFFERSON:

Under 18 National Championships vs. Western Australia
Key stats – 10 disposals, 6 marks, 7 goals

Our scouts said…

“The star of the day with seven goals, Jefferson produced a true breakout performance on the big stage. Booting all of his majors at one end of the ground, he was the centrepiece of Metro’s dominant patches and proved unstoppable when on song. The skinny tall forward snared two of his side’s four first quarter goals, before coming to life in the third with five more, converting with aplomb on each occasion. That part of his game has not always been a strength, but was certainly no issue on Saturday. On top of his goalkicking feats, Jefferson gave his opponents a bath in terms of marking ability, defying his frame with a couple of strong pack efforts, and utilising his raw athleticism to rise high.”

STRENGTHS:

CADMAN:

+ Overhead marking
+ Leading patterns
+ Forward craft
+ Clean hands
+ Strength

An ominous figure on the lead, Cadman is a tall whose forward craft is through the roof. He presents with authority and uses his frame to not only create separation for his leads, but also when competing in one-on-one situations. The bigman’s strength also helps in general play, where he can snare snap goals from the thick of the action. Capable of clunking pack marks, his vice-like hands are also sticky when hitting up at the kicker, and he has proven a true spearhead for both Greater Western Victoria and Vic Country. With four hauls of three or more goals in his seven NAB League games, Cadman is unstoppable at his best.

JEFFERSON:

+ Aerial ability
+ Clean hands
+ Overhead marking
+ Impact per possession
+ Versatility

Jefferson is another aerially dominant tall forward, moreso through his greater athleticism and mobility, rather than pure power. His ability to leap straight up and clunk marks is terrific, but Jefferson also has the capacity to lead shrewdly on the back of that dexterity. With great range, reach, and clean hands defiant of his skinny frame, Jefferson’s overhead marking is clearly his one-wood. While he hasn’t quite shown it as a top-ager, Jefferson is also versatile enough to roam on a wing or be thrown down back, which adds strings to his bow. He tends to produce scores from his limited number of possessions, making his impact high when on song in front of goal.

IMPROVEMENTS:

CADMAN:

– Goalkicking consistency
– Versatility

A season goalkicking tally of 18.13 is hardly something to scoff at, yet it presents a clear area of improvement for Cadman. On four occasions, he has registered three or more behinds in a game, including on his best day (4.4 vs. Oakleigh in Round 10). While there are no glaring technical issues, getting his routine down pat to make full use of his marking dominance and long left boot will be key to his sustained success. Cadman is also a touch less dextrous in the sense of his overall versatility. He cut his teeth in altered roles as a bottom-ager, but looks like a true lead-up key forward who has mastered a trade, but can certainly add strings to his bow.

JEFFERSON:

– Strength
– Production/Consistency

Jefferson fits the mould of a raw tall with plenty of development ahead of him. While Cadman could well impact early in year one, the Oakleigh tall is more a project type who recruiters will imagine can dominate with an extra 15-20kg on his frame. A lack of strength hardly holds him back against his peers, but there are taller defenders with greater reach at the next level who will find him out as is. Jefferson can also look to up his production levels. He tends not to have too much sustained impact outside of his marks and goals, so taking a better hold on games when the ball isn’t streaming towards him inside 50 will be important. Like Cadman, his set shot goalkicking has also been an issue at times – not in his 7.0 effort against WA – with a total NAB League tally of 6.9, including a game of six behinds.

VERDICT:

Two tall forwards separated by a single spot in our Power Rankings, Cadman and Jefferson have their similarities and differences. While Cadman has the strength and power as a lead-up forward, Jefferson has a touch more dynamism in his marking range and defies his frame. Both have clear improvements to make in terms of being more consistent set shot converters, but Cadman gets the edge in our book for his readymade factor. Jefferson may well have a higher ceiling and greater potential, but that crystal ball work is always a risky exercise. Either way, both have stamped themselves as the draft’s top key forward options and look like first round locks.