SYDNEY Swans star Errol Gulden was a popular answer to the question ‘which AFL player do you mould you game on?’, at the recent Coates Talent League preseason testing day. 41 top-age players in the Vic Country, Vic Metro, and Allies training squads were surveyed, with 52 different AFL players put forward.

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Gulden was the best archetype for a high of six prospects, including Collingwood father-son candidate Thomas McGuane and National Academy member Josh Lindsay. The latter admired his inside-outside balance, while Jack Dalton and Felix Kneipp credited his kicking, two-way running and work rate.

Unsurprisingly, Nick Daicos was another popular choice among midfielders with five nominations. Oakleigh Chargers speedster Sam Grlj outlined his ball use and pace out of stoppages as desirable traits, while Pies fans Lucas Wootton, Hugo Mikunda, and Lachy Dovaston simply couldn’t look past him

Port Adelaide best and fairest Zak Butters is also in vogue among similar types, named four times. Dandenong’s Max Lee described his “aggressive running” as the go-to attribute, with Carlton NGA member Tyson Gresham (brother of Jade) lauding his cleanliness, explosiveness, and courage.

Among the bigger, taller midfielders, it was difficult name anyone other than captains Marcus Bontempelli (five nominations) and Patrick Cripps (four). They were mentioned together three times, by Bendigo pair Shaun Watson and Hunter Wright, and 194cm Murray talent Riley Onley.

After his star Opening Round showing, Hawthorn’s Will Day also got plenty of recognition amongst the junior group. Dandenong utility Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves said he drew from the South Australian’s versatility and ability to go inside and out, proving a difficult player to defend.

Leading Eastern Ranges prospect Oliver Greeves was another to put forward Day’s name, saying he was in awe of him during his preseason training stint at Hawthorn. The Hawks were recently denied priority access to Greeves, a relative of the great Carji Greeves, under their NGA program.

While there were less key position players in the mix, Luke Jackson, Jeremy Cameron, and Charlie Curnow were mentioned two times apiece. The former two, combined, made for Louis Emmett‘s ideal archetype as a ruck-forward, while high-flyer Archie Ludowyke highlighted the latter pair.

Among the most unique nominations, Carlton supporter Xavier Bamert said he aims to be a mix of Cripps and Sam Walsh. Two players nominated Isaac Kako, who is yet to play an AFL game, highlighting the rising profile of draft prospects. Zachary O’Keefe went slightly off broadway, naming Kane Lambert and Harvey Thomas in addition to Gulden.

PLAYER COMPARISONS

BENDIGO PIONEERS:
Shaun Watson – Patrick Cripps, Marcus Bontempelli, Isaac Heeney
Hunter Wright – Patrick Cripps, Scott Pendlebury, Marcus Bontempelli

CALDER CANNONS:
Cooper Duff-Tytler – Luke Jackson, Tom De Koning
Hussein El Achkar – Izak Rankine, Kysaiah Pickett, Isaac Kako
Felix Kneipp – Josh Kelly, Sam Walsh, Errol Gulden, Zach Merrett

DANDENONG STINGRAYS:
Tairon Ah-Mu – Lance Franklin, Jack Riewoldt, Harry Armstrong
Josh Granger – Darcy Moore, Harris Andrews
Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves – Will Day, Marcus Bontempelli
Max Lee – Nick Blakey, Luke Davies-Uniacke, Zak Butters
Toby Sinnema – Errol Gulden, Massimo D’Ambrosio

EASTERN RANGES:
Andrew Barker – Harris Andrews
Lachy Dovaston – Bobby Hill, Nick Daicos, Kysaiah Pickett, Izak Rankine
Oliver Greeves – Will Day, Christian Petracca
Xavier Taylor – Nathan Broad

GEELONG FALCONS:
Josh Lindsay – Errol Gulden, Scott Pendlebury
Hugo Mikunda – Nick Daicos, Bobby Hill
Ben Rongdit – Isaac Quaynor, Tom Stewart

GIPPSLAND POWER:
Willem Duursma – Will Day, Zach Merrett
Zack O’Keefe – Errol Gulden, Harvey Thomas, Kane Lambert
Jobe Scapin – Sam Walsh, Jarrod Berry
Mitchell Stevens – Will Day, Max Michalanney

GWV REBELS:
Harley Hicks – Isaac Kako
Archie Taylor – Tanner Bruhn, Max Holmes

MURRAY BUSHRANGERS:
Ryder Corrigan – Patrick Dangerfield
Harry Dean – Mitch McGovern, Nick Haynes
Liam Hetherton – Charlie Curnow, Aaron Naughton
Riley Onley – Patrick Cripps, Marcus Bontempelli, Jason Horne-Francis
Harrison Wilson – Lachie Whitfield, Nick Martin

NORTHERN KNIGHTS:
Tyson Gresham – Zak Butters, Tom Papley

OAKLEIGH CHARGERS:
Sam Allen – Connor Rozee, Chad Warner, Dylan Moore, Isaac Heeney
Louis Emmett – Luke Jackson, Jeremy Cameron
Sam Grlj – Zak Butters, Nick Daicos

SANDRINGHAM DRAGONS:
Xavier Bamert – Patrick Cripps, Sam Walsh
Jack Dalton – Lachie Neale, Errol Gulden
Archie Ludowyke – Jeremy Cameron, Charlie Curnow, Aaron Cadman
Miles Tyrer – Tom Hawkins, Matthew Kreuzer, Rowan Marshall, Max Gawn

TASMANIA DEVILS:
Jasper Hay – Harris Andrews
Lucas Wootton – Nick Daicos

WESTERN JETS:
Thomas Burton – Jason Johannisen, Zak Butters
Finn Davis – Marcus Bontempelli, Bailey Dale
Thomas McGuane – Nick Daicos, Zach Merrett, Errol Gulden