POSITION: Inside Midfielder/Forward

DRAFT ANALYSIS: “Dakin is an over-age contested ball winner who can play defensive roles as well as find the football himself, while expanding his horizons in 2020 to spend time forward"

Jared Dakin earned a late call-up to the Tasmanian Draft Combine testing following a strong season with Launceston in the TSL. He made it to the Rookie Me Combine last year off the back of effectively one Tasmania Devils game late in the season, where he tore it up and almost dragged his team across the line in the Wildcard Round against Calder Cannons. A natural accumulator who is good one-on-one around the clearances and has high endurance, Dakin is just aiming to build his outside game and improve his kicking further as he has over the past 12 months.

STRENGTHS:

• Defensive attributes
• Inside game
• Clearance work
• Versatility
• Accumulation
• Endurance

IMPROVEMENTS:

• Kicking
• Outside game

Coming into the year, Dakin was not too far off being considered for an AFL Draft spot, interviewed by multiple clubs at the Rookie Me Draft Combine following his 25-disposal, eight-clearance, 10-inside 50 and one-goal game against the Cannons in the Devils' final match of the season. Whilst his ability to find the football was never in doubt, that outing was his way to stand up after missing the season due to injury. His performance at the combine was quite impressive as well, clocking in at just under three seconds for the 20m sprint and then 21.3 on the yo-yo test. Despite this, Dakin admitted he wanted to get faster and have a greater impact on the outside and more impact with his disposal.

Dakin is not a poor kick, it is more he can have greater impact with his disposal. In general he can hit targets at short range without doing anything special, which is why he is aiming to further develop that outside game and become more potent by foot. In the TSL this year he had a number of run-with roles on opposing midfielders and held his own, if not won the battles, then would even play as a defensive forward inside 50. He has enough speed on the lead to find space and the footy smarts to influence a game on the scoreboard, which was a big tick for his season - increasing his versatility. If Dakin can add some more strings to his bow through the midfield, then he will be more eye-catching and impactful going forward.

When it comes to his attack on the ball or ball carrier, Dakin certainly does not take a backwards step, with great courage and a determination to win the ball for his team. His inside game and clearance work - though not always able to show it being at a team like Launceston with the midfield the Blues have - are no worries whatsoever. It will be interesting to see what role and where he plays next season as he is not a huge midfielder by any stretch, so he might end up as more of a forward, but has the traits to succeed through the midfield in time.

DRAFT PROJECTION: Rookie

At this stage, the late call-up suggests Dakin might be on the radar of a team or two, and most likely as a rookie selection. He did have his suitors in his top-age year last year with interest based off little exposure. He has had some strong performances this season, and could be a readymade option at a team looking to add a hard-working mid/forward, but it is a tough year to be drafted.

OTHER CONTENT:

Player Focus
Player Focus vs. Jackson Callow