STRENGTHS:

+ Intercept marking
+ Speed
+ Upside
+ Versatility
+ Vertical jump

IMPROVEMENTS:

- Skills
- Consistency

It is no secret that Zakostelsky’s strongest traits derive from his supreme athleticism. Few players in the draft pool boast an athletic profile to rival Zakostelsky’s. At 196cm, he is exceptionally quick, running a 2.85 second time for a 20m sprint to be the fastest of all Western Australian Combine Invitees over that distance in the pre-season. He also has an outstanding vertical leap and has shown good endurance that sees him cover the ground well for a player of his size.

With these physical traits in his armoury, Zakostelsky puts them to good effect on gameday. When rucking against taller opponents, he will often outpoint them with his vertical jump and is an outstanding clearance player, courtesy of his excellent dexterity below his knees which sees him follow up at ground level. These attributes were on full display in the WAFL Colts Grand Final, where he was the catalyst for his side’s clearance dominance, as he out-jumped his opponent and grabbed the ball out of the ruck at will.

Given his height, it is unlikely that Zakostelsky will play as a frontline ruckman at AFL level, posing a question as to where he best fits in the top flight. As such, he found a home in defence in his two games for Western Australia in the Under 18 National Championships. During this stint, he showed promise as an interceptor, looking at his best when he could nudge his opponent under the ball or drift in unopposed to impact the contest.

While he demonstrated some good traits in defence, the 17-year-old’s inexperience in the position was exposed at times during the Championships, seeing him caught out of position or outpointed one on one. Given his status as a late developer, this is not surprising, and he will likely improve his defensive acumen the more experience he gets. With ball in hand, Zakostelsky’s disposal is sound, and his kick is quite penetrating and effective when clearing congestion from a stoppage. However, coming out of defence, his short kicking will be an area for improvement going forward.

Zakostelsky’s status as a late converter to Australian Rules Football, coupled with his obvious athletic traits, means his potential could be untapped. A December birthday, Zakostelsky is the youngest of the National Combine Invitees, arguably making his scope for development even greater. While these factors mean his consistency has fluctuated at stages as he continues to learn to game, they also mean he could thrive in a full-time professional environment where he can hone his craft on a more regular basis.