Oakleigh ChargersOakleigh ChargersRuck Forward

#11

Louis Emmett

height: 199cm

weight:

D.O.B: 23-03-2007

Leagues: AFL U18 Championships, Coates Talent League Boys

  • Snapshot
  • Analysis
  • Summary

SNAPSHOT: “A mobile ruck-forward who covers the ground like a fourth midfielder and sets himself nicely for overhead marks.” – James Bell

Coming into the season with high expectations as a well credentialed junior footballer, Emmett’s resume is undeniably impressive: He was a member of the National Academy this year and trained alongside the Richmond Tigers in preseason, he played for Vic Metro as a bottom-ager and top-ager, and Oakleigh for the last three years – starting in 2023 as 16-year-old double bottom-ager. 

Although, his draft year didn’t go as smoothly as desired. After a relatively slow start to the campaign, the mobile ruck-forward experienced a hip issue, which interrupted his progress and kept him out of action across all levels. Eventually, he was able to string some form together at the back end of the year to serve a reminded of his potential.

Memorably, Emmett helped his side to a 14-point victory over the Calder Cannons in the Wildcard Round, rucking against the highly touted Cooper Duff-Tytler. He had a couple of good battles against his Vic Metro teammate, and tested himself against the best talls in the country over a number of seasons, well and truly holding his own.

He is a natural athlete and multi-sport athlete who was a rower throughout his junior athletic career and also a keen basketballer until 2023, when he stopped to focus on football. At October’s National Draft Combine, Emmett impressed particularly in the 2km time trial, where he registered a time of 6.07, good enough for third overall across entrants. 

When on the ball, he models his game on Fremantle star Luke Jackson, a ruck who can win hitouts and equally impact when the ball hits the ground. As a forward, two-time Coleman Medallist Jeremy Cameron is his preferred archetype as a mobile key position player. The latter makes plenty of sense, given Emmett is also a Geelong supporter.

Click the ANALYSIS tab for more

STRENGTHS:

+ Aerial ability
+ Clean hands
+ Mobility
+ Running capacity
+ Physicality
+ Versatility

IMPROVEMENTS:

- Consistency
- Contest craft

Emmett has the capacity to play as a mobile key position forward who can beat his direct defender on the lead through speed and running power. He also has the benefit of being around 200 centimetres, which endows him with the ability to out-reach his opponents amid forward 50 packs and clunk impressive contested marks with his solid grasp. When allowed a run and jump at the ball, or to hold his space, he's hard to beat. 

On the ball, he is the prototypical fourth midfielder type of ruck. He can reliably make first contact at centre bounces through his superlative leap and reach. Then, in general play, Emmett can link up with fellow on-ballers and run from end to end, leaving less aerobically gifted rucks in his wake. He translated that running power to his National Draft Combine results, placing third in the 2km time trial with an effort of 6:07.

Emmett can be a threat with his fairly penetrative left boot, but there is room for improvement in his field kicking and in relation to his set-shot conversion. Progress in this area will make Emmett an even more devastating presence around the ground. He averaged over a goal per game over the last two Coates Talent League seasons, but could become an even greater scoring threat with continually refined skills and consistency.

The factor of consistency also relates to his production levels from week to week, and throughout four quarters. Emmett was slightly down on his usual output to start the season, but showed glimpses throughout of the player he could become. Likewise, even in some of his better performances for Vic Metro and Oakleigh, he looked dominant for periods of the game before fading out slightly.

Something which will aid that cause is Emmett's competitive streak, which held him in good stead against more physically aggressive and defensively-minded opponents. As he steps up, he will need to lean on his athletic advantages, but the fact that he has demonstrated a want to compete will only further endear him to prospective suitors. He recaptured this trait in particular after the National Academy games, and carried on strongly from there.

DRAFT RANGE: 15-30

SUMMARY:

The young ruck-forward will be viewed as a project player with a high ceiling who possesses great versatility, whether as a key position player who can provide a tall target forward or as a mobile ruck with the athletic potential to impact post-stoppage. Although he didn’t get the opportunity to play in the backline this year, there is a view he has potential to be an effective swingman at the next level. Despite a slightly inconsistent year, Emmett is an appealing prospect whose junior football resume is littered with valuable experiences. Expect clubs with picks in the second half of the first round to seriously consider him.

AFL U18 Championships

SeasonTeamKHBDMCPUPTHOCLRI50R50GLGMKHDMHOTGDC
2024Vic Metro7142151111537122023.57.010.52.518.52.50.055
2025Vic Metro191938131621324630236.36.312.74.38.01.00.765
Total-263359182732861752255.26.611.83.612.21.60.4120

Coates Talent League Boys

SeasonTeamKHBDMCPUPTHOCLRI50R50GLGMKHDMHOTGDC
2023Oakleigh Chargers92331900411040142.35.87.82.32.81.00.331
2024Oakleigh Chargers599115029002211902861196.610.116.73.213.22.41.277
2025Oakleigh Chargers253661153725573990546.39.015.33.818.31.31.385
Total-9315024253372531203941617175.58.814.23.111.91.81.0193
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