STRENGTHS:

+ Contested game
+ Kick penetration
+ Leadership
+ Tackling
+ Power
+ Size

IMPROVEMENTS:

- Hurt factor
- Outside game

Much of McAuliffe's best work this year was completed at the coalface, where he well and truly got his hands dirty. The big-bodied ball winner put up strong contested possession and clearance numbers at SANFL Under 18s level, averaging 13.8 and 5.5 in the respective categories. While able to win the ball himself, he also prevented opposition mids from breaking clear of stoppage in a canter, laying heavy tackles full of intent. McAuliffe averaged 8.5 during the National Championships and was often the two-way enforcer in South Australia's midfield.

There were few opponents who could escape McAuliffe's wrath, as he bullocked through contests and sat down a number of players along the way. Much of his contested proficiency is down to his size and power, with the 18-year-old very strongly built at 187cm and 86kg. He's an explosive athlete, perhaps deceptively so, as demonstrated at the National Draft Combine. McAuliffe finished fifth in the 20m sprint (2.930 seconds) and standing vertical jump (77cm), while rising for the equal-third best running vertical jump (95cm). Considering his build and play style, they are excellent numbers.

Given his presence and proficiency on the inside, there remains some room for development in McAuliffe's outside game. On paper, his kick-to-handball ratio and contested-to-uncontested numbers are quite even, but McAuliffe clearly thrives at the contest. He could perhaps better utilise his turn of speed to drive his legs to the outside, or lean on his strong running capacity to have a greater say away from stoppage. Once he gets into space, his kicking is penetrative and much more likely to hit up leading targets as he has been shown to do. At stoppage, he may be more inclined to dump clearances forward with less measure or effectiveness.

Having spent time down back, McAuliffe is no stranger to having to distribute the ball and playing a less urgent style. He's capable of spreading the play and using his long leg to change angles, but simply needs to do it more often as a midfielder. That kind of expansive play will help enhance his hurt factor. Another area McAuliffe could lift in is his scoreboard impact - which again ties into impacting outside of stoppages. It's hardly a case of him not having those strings to his bow, but more so implementing them at a greater frequency.

As an overall package, McAuliffe has plenty of the common attributes of any good inside midfielder, with strong potential to improve other facets of his game. He has shown glimpses of that, and has the capacity to be a Patrick Dangerfield type of midfielder down the line. Luke Hodge is another player he draws inspiration from, and it's no wonder both of the aforementioned AFL stars are also great captains. That's another trait of McAuliffe's which clubs will appreciate, given he has held leadership positions across many levels in his junior career.