STRENGTHS:

+ Agility
+ Creativity
+ Ground balls
+ Speed
+ Vision
+ X-Factor

IMPROVEMENTS:

- Composure
- Defensive output

Small forwards require pace and creativity, and Kako definitely possesses those traits. Few others have shown more excitement over the last few seasons of the Coates Talent League than him. With his effective ball use and his versatility between the midfield and as a high half forward, Kako was able to offer plenty of explosiveness out of the midfield with his clearance work, while also playing the high half forward role well.

His ability to either provide a leading option as a hit-up forward to present up the ground which now has to for smalls given the way the game is played today, while also using his reflexes to identify where to position himself the ball hits the ground from a pack spillage, where this proved crucial for the Cannons and Vic Metro, especially in the Championships final.

Overall, Kako averaged 18.7 disposals and kicked 20 goals for the season and on most occasions would be the one getting the Cannons off to a good start for the game, kicking their first goal.

Though there were occasions where Kako didn’t accumulate plenty of possessions in a game or hit the scoreboard for a major, he still managed to have an influence on the game by creating opportunities for his teammates. While earlier in the season there were times where he was ineffective in front of goal and should have gone the better option by looking for a teammate who was positioned better, Kako started to bring others into the game as the season went on which highlighted the reason why he was named as one of two vice-captains.

Though height-wise Kako may be on the smaller end of scale, he possesses sound strength for a player of his size and holds up reasonably well in contested situations and knows when to use his body, something that will hold him in good stead at AFL level, with a foundation in that area to build on after a full preseason and eventually against more matured and bigger bodies.

Kako has also shown abundent amounts of x-factor, highlighted by the goals kicked over the season. One which sticks out to mind was when in the last quarter of the championships opener against the Allies, he launched at the ball following a spoiled mark, then did a 360-spin as soon as he got it then snapped from deep in the pocket to virtually break the Allies' sprit.

No doubt there is still room for him to improve his defensive pressure with more output required with tackling, however this can and will be worked on. Composure under pressure is another area that can be enhances. One game saw him finish with 0.4 from 16 possessions having being marked by Oliver Badr of the Oakleigh Chargers throughout the game. Not only that, but in a narrow loss against the Bushrangers he had numerous opportunities to kick the winning goal, however the opportunities went begging. Despite this, he definitely still has the capabilities to win a game off his own boot.