Aiden Riddle Draft Profile

ClaremontRuck

#29

Aiden Riddle

height: 200cm

weight:

D.O.B: 27-12-2005

Leagues: WAFL Colts, AFL U18 Championships

Snapshot
Analysis
Summary

SNAPSHOT: “A rising over-age ruck who held his own against stiff competition throughout 2024 as his club and state’s frontline option” – Denholm Melrose

Claremont ruckman Aiden Riddle had a stellar 2024 campaign, finishing as a West Australian State Under 18s representative and a WAFL Colts premiership player. Across 14 Colts appearances, the over-ager averaged 14 disposals, 26 hitouts and almost half a goal per game. He saved arguably his best performance for last, collecting 17 disposals and five marks to go with 30 hitouts in a dominant grand final display. Throughout the journey, he jostled with some of the state’s and nation’s best ruck prospects, showcasing his craft and potential having been overlooked for last year’s draft.

PLAYER HIGHLIGHTS:

STRENGTHS:

+ Athleticism
+ Follow-up work
+ Handballing
+ Overhead marking
+ Ruck craft
+ Strength

IMPROVEMENTS:

- Scoreboard impact
- Versatility

Riddle has been on clubs' radars for a while now, having played in four WAFL Colts games as a 16-year-old in 2022, before playing just two games in 2023. Returning this season as an over-ager, Riddle was able to put together 14 outstanding WAFL Colts performances and impress in the ruck for Western Australia.

Riddle excites scouts with his athleticism. For a 200cm ruckman, he moves well across the ground, getting involved in transition and proving unafraid to drive his legs and use the ball by hand or foot. He often roves his own ruckwork and delivers the ball inside 50 himself. He had several moments on the biggest stage at Optus Stadium on WAFL Grand Final day, where he showed off his agility by collecting the ball off the deck, weaving through traffic, stepping around much smaller opponents, and penetrating deep inside 50.

Riddle’s ruck craft is impressive, using smart bodywork to position himself well, then knocking down hitouts to the advantage of his midfield counterparts. As an over-ager, he is easily able to manipulate his opponents’ movements with his strength and tap the ball where he desires.

The 199cm ruckman has also demonstrated a unique dexterity with his handballing. He is skilful by hand, particularly in traffic and times his handballs well to put teammates in position to break away and go forward.

Riddle has also shown that he is able to take big pack marks right across the ground. He is a target coming out of defensive 50 as he can take contested marks to bail his side out of trouble, and at times has been able to take opposition ruckmen forward and take big marks inside 50.

He didn’t take his opponents forward as much as he probably could have, usually playing as the sole ruckman for the Tigers. In a matchup against fellow top Western Australian prospect Kayle Gerreyn, he went forward three times and thrice outmarked him in packs to kick three goals. It wasn’t enough on the day, and he didn’t show it enough over the course of the year, but this was a promising sign that at the next level Riddle may be able to develop some kind of forward presence as well.

DRAFT RANGE: Late-Rookie

SUMMARY:

Despite turning 19 this year, Riddle remains a chance to be drafted off the back of a successful and super productive season. In the ruck class of 2024, he sits among the likes of Alex Dodson, Floyd Burmeister and Logan Smith, and could hear his name called in November. Having missed much of his top-age campaign, to come back as an over-ager and put his potential on show is impressive. 200cm players who cover ground so well and can get involved in open play are of high value in the modern game.