Mitchell Harris Draft Profile

South AustraliaKey Defender

#38

Mitchell Harris

height: 196cm

weight:

D.O.B: 01-07-2008

Leagues: AFL U18 Championships, AFL U16 Championships

Snapshot
Analysis
Summary

SNAPSHOT: “An equal-parts brave, competitive, and athletic key defender who dominates the aerial realm.”

From being a late addition to last year’s National Under 17 Futures match, Mitchell Harris has come on leaps and bounds as a top-ager. The Yorke Peninsula native is now considered by many to be the best key defender in this year’s crop, leading a very competitive field.

Having grown up in a farming family just outside of Kadina, Harris was once also a keen basketballer. He began to realise his dream of playing AFL could come true upon boarding at Adelaide’s esteemed Prince Alfred College in Year 10. Being part of the state Under 18 program helped.

This year, barring a couple of injury setbacks, Harris was one of South Australia’s most reliable performers. Arguably the first name on the team sheet, he earned All-Australian selection and went on to make five SANFL League appearances for Woodville-West Torrens – including three finals.

STRENGTHS:

+ Aerial ability
+ Athleticism
+ Competitiveness
+ Defensive craft
+ Intercepting
+ One-on-ones

IMPROVEMENTS:

- Decision making
- Kicking

At his core, Harris is a genuine competitor. He hates to be beaten and that translates well to his role on-field, as a defender. While capable of shutting down the opposition's most dangerous forward, he is just as adept at peeling off to impact in the air and intercept. Aerially, he is an absolute nightmare to go up against.

Harris' gutsy nature is consistently observed in the way he throws himself into contests. He is most comfortable when allowed a run and jump at the ball, but just as readily runs back with the flight and can engage in one-on-one jostles. The tall also gets it done at ground level, applying pressure and looking to smother the crumbers.

His pack marking ability is quite brilliant, but Harris has the defensive craft and smarts to know when to play the percentages. When unable to clunk a strong grab, he'll use his closing speed, leap and reach to chime in with a timely spoil. He's a win-or-break kind of defender who rarely gets beaten to the ball.

While he is well-rounded in a defensive sense, Harris has put plenty of work into becoming more impactful going the other way. Central to that is his ball use. Sometimes an unconventional kick, he was previously guilty of simply going long down the line, but is beginning to trust his skills and take the game on more often.

For the most part, Harris' touches come off the boot of opposition players. As he continues to develop his attacking output, he has the athleticism and improving foot skills to aptly support his side's transitional phase. Given he intercepts so regularly, being able to counterattack more readily would make him a monster in the back half.

DRAFT RANGE: 8-15

Being a country kid who has boarded at college in the city, Harris is in the category of players unlikely to be struck by homesickness. Although, the Adelaide fan is said to be heavily courted by the Crows, who currently hold pick 13. The likes of Collingwood (pick 10) may be among those to step in even earlier. Harris models his game on the likes of Josh Worrell and Connor O’Sullivan, possessing similar athleticism and the ability to dominate aerial. He’s a keen interceptor, and most importantly, a fierce competitor. Clubs will love that. He’s arguably the best key defender available and should be called out on night one.