OVERVIEW

When the name Adam Sambono was thrown into the Allies squad mix, many draft watchers would have turned to Google. The 20 year-old who lives in a remote part of the Northern Territory was thrown into the spotlight after booting 32 goals in 11 games playing for NT Thunder in the NEAFL. He was a late addition to the Allies squad for the National Under 18 Championships and while he did not star, showed off some impressive traits. Sambono is an exciting forward who is quick, a great kick, has strong footy smarts and a keen goal sense not to mention serious X-factor. Coming from a remote community he has never previously been involved in an elite football program so the strides he made in a few years has been astounding. He is still raw and inconsistent and lacks endurance, but the promise is there.

STRENGTHS

• Goal sense
• X-factor
• Footy smarts
• Speed
• Kicking

Sambono is a human highlight reel and excitement machine around goals. He just oozes that X-factor and you expect him to do the unexpected when inside forward 50. He moves well with bursts of speed and has the footy smarts to collect and dispose of the football in very little time. He worries opposition defenders in the way he can breakaway from them, pounce on an opportunity and if they let their guard down for a second he can make them pay.

Sambono also is a smart kick of the football and can hit targets over short distances with pinpoint accuracy. He does not win a heap of the football - just the 11.7 disposals per game - but four marks and 2.9 goals in the NEAFL. It gave recruiters hope he could contend against the bigger bodies given he is just 62.6kg, one of the lightest players in the draft crop. He still has a lot to work on, but the positive signs are there and the future scope and high ceiling is clear.

IMPROVEMENTS

• Endurance
• Consistency
• Raw

Sambono is still viewed as a rookie prospect at this stage simply because he is so raw and struggles with consistency. He has some sensational games, but could not quite convert his NEAFL form into the National Under 18 Championships, managing two goals from as many games to go with his 12.5 disposals and 5.5 marks. He did player higher up the ground at times, but he will still look to improve in any way he can.

His endurance is another area which can naturally improve in an elite environment. He scored a 21.1 on the Yo-Yo test which is not the worst of results, but still very much in the lower half of the draft crop. If he can build that a bit more and improve over four quarters then he will increase his hurt factor for longer periods of time. The fact Sambono is so raw means recruiters will look to him as a long-term prospect and it will depend on what traits they are looking for in a forward and whether he meets their requirements.

DRAFT PROJECTION: Rookie

SUMMARY

Adam Sambono is an electrifying forward who burst onto the scene after an impressive season in the NEAFL. Practically unheard of prior to 2017, Sambono has made it into draft calculations and impresses with his clear abundance of X-factor, speed and footy smarts which he uses to be damaging around goal. He is that pure forward and he still has areas to improve, but he will be given time if drafted, as he is more of a long-term prospect with a big future. He might not go in the National Draft, if he does it will likely be late, but most likely a club takes a punt on the exciting 20 year-old in the rookie draft.