STRENGTHS:

+ Follow-up work
+ Marking
+ Mobility
+ Production
+ Running capacity
+ Upside

IMPROVEMENTS:

- Ruck craft
- Strength

Read has set himself apart this year as the top ruck prospect, though not purely for his craft in that area. The 202cm, rangy tall presents high upside in the way he moves and the skills he offers for a player his size. He has the capacity to act as a fourth midfielder of sorts at stoppage, but also clunks marks around the ground as any tall should. The difference is, Read's running capacity is more akin to that of a midfielder.

The 18-year-old raised eyebrows at the recent National Draft combine, finishing as one of just three players to clock a 2km time of under six minutes. While his results in the other tests were less exceptional, Read arguably showcases enough agility, and aerial ability on the field to suggest that data matters little.

Conversely, his numbers in the way of gameday stats jump off the page across the board. Read averaged over 20 disposals at both Coates Talent League and representative level, clunking six marks per game in Suns colours to go with 19.5 hitouts (8.3 to advantage), and 3.8 clearances. Here, his follow-up work and marking presence around the ground are better reflected.

In the way of skills, Read is clean below his knees and relatively efficient with ball in hand. He often picks out the right options by hand and foot and possesses obvious aerial range. The fluency of his play is likely transferable to each key position post, and versatility is something which the Suns may continue to explore with him. It could see Read become a tall utility in the mould of Geelong's Mark Blicavs.

For all his upside, there remains some clear areas for improvement in Read's game. He has filled out his frame but was found out a little for a lack of strength at times this year, particularly while rucking in his lone VFL outing. Though, he beat AFL-listed opponents for mobility up forward, so will likely look to play to that style at the next level.

Developing his strength and contested game will also lend to better ruck craft, which Read himself said he was seeking to enhance in preseason. Even against the likes of Western Australia's Mitch Edwards this year, Read beat him around the ground but was trumped in the ruck. So, that begs the question of whether he's best suited there, or perhaps at either end of the ground.