OVERVIEW

Hugh Dixon is the Apple Isle's top draft hope in the 2017 AFL National Draft following it's barren spell last year when no draftee was selected. Dixon is a tall forward who is strong overhead and fairly agile, but lacks a yard with speed and question marks over his conditioning have been raised in the past 18 months. He has managed to get down to a better playing weight of 90kg, but still has a few areas to build upon including his endurance. But he has a number of strengths from which will attract recruiters eyes, with his ability to play forward or back and even pinch hit through the midfield. But his best position is inside forward 50 where he has plenty of scoreboard impact, booting nine goals in four games for the Allies in the National Under 18 Championships.

STRENGTHS

• Contested marking
• Agility
• Versatility
• Scoreboard impact

Dixon is a big-bodied tall who has a good turning circle when at ground level. He might not be overly quick, but he registered an 8.31 in the agility test at the National Combine, which of the tall forwards/rucks fell behind the very agile Ben Miller, Oscar Allen and Aiden Bonar. Dixon is able to clunk a fair few marks around the ground and provides a tall target for midfielders to kick to. At 195cm and 90kg, he is already built for senior football, however many expect he will need to drop some more weight to compete with the rigours of AFL football.

He showed in 2017 his ability to play across the field, whether it was up forward, down back or through the midfield. He was a shining light up forward for the Allies across the National Under 18 Championships, averaging 2.3 goals from four games, while also collecting 11 disposals and 3.5 marks. He took forward throw-ins and had two hitouts per game, while also laid 3.8 tackles which showed he does apply forward pressure and pressure around the stoppages when required. As a whole, Dixon has a number of traits which appeal as a tall forward and it is more of a conditioning improvement he needs to make because he has the tools to be a more athletic tall forward.

IMPROVEMENTS

• Speed
• Endurance

As mentioned, Dixon's two biggest queries are his speed and his endurance. I think both of these areas come down to the conditioning which has been the big knock on him the last 18 months. Dixon has certainly worked hard to improve his body shape, dropping weight and becoming fitter to play a bigger role in his team's National Under 18 Championships campaign. There is still some work to be done  however, and both these areas could be improved upon with further conditioning.

Dixon has shown he can be agile, and it is more the ongoing movement such as speed, or the gut running, which has let him down. If he can build his tank, get fitter and move better in terms of speed across the ground, then he will be a much more damaging prospect. These are areas which are improved with hard work and you get the feeling if he knuckles down he has a real chance of being a solid prospect at AFL level.

DRAFT PROJECTION: Third round onwards

SUMMARY

Hugh Dixon is a player that will have the football recruiting world divided. He is not overly quick and lacks a tank, but he is agile which shows he has future potential to improve his athleticism and endurance in the future. He is a strong contested mark and versatile to fill holes around the ground. Expect him to play as a forward at the elite level and once he improves the areas he needs to, could apply pressure to opponents inside forward 50. Many predict he will find a club from the third round onwards with a number of clubs in the market for a developing key position player.