OVERVIEW

Ned Reeves is the tallest player in the draft crop, standing at 208cm. and 95kg. Naturally many can guess his strengths and improvements without needing to read on, but the big man is not just a one trick pony. Reeves is surprisingly effective with ball in hand despite winning very little of it, and wins his fair share of clearances, indicating good second efforts. His ruckwork is good, often using his size to outbody smaller of lightly framed opponents, with the former beanpole adding to his size to go up to 95kg by season's end. The Oakleigh Chargers ruck is not very mobile - understandably - and his endurance is poor, as is his accumulation. But like most 18 year-old rucks, clubs do not draft them to impact in year one, and instead look ahead four or five years. Reeves is more readymade from a football perspective than other rucks, but from an athletic perspective he needs to improve and therefore spend a few years in the state league.

STRENGTHS

• Disposal
• Ruckwork
• Clearances
• Size

Ned Reeves knows how to use his large frame to outbody opponents, averaging 25.6 hitouts a game at TAC Cup level. While he only registered eight disposals per game, he managed two clearances, which means one in every four disposals was a clearance. This indicates if he finds more of the football in close, he could be very effective in clearing the ball from a stoppage. When in space he uses the ball well by foot which is a refreshing change from a lot of bigger blokes, and naturally he will position himself well to give him and his teammates first chance at getting their hands on the football.

Reeves did not really have an impact up forward, but this can come with time as his dominance is usually in the centre square or at boundary throw ins. He still has plenty to learn, but the big fella' has a few nice traits and the emergence of fellow giant Sean Darcy has not done any harm to clubs taking a chance on him.

IMPROVEMENTS

• Mobility
• Endurance
• Accumulation

It is no surprise that a 208cm ruckman is not the most mobile of footballers. His speed and agility are both low and his endurance is poor. Athletically he needs a lot of work and it will be these areas from which clubs will look to address. He is never going to be that athletic ruck, but if they can build his endurance and alter his running patterns to make sure he covers enough ground to not be a liability defensively, then he could be a good prospect going forward.

Secondly, he just needs to find more of the pill. He averaged just under nine disposals per game and his lack of mobility and endurance is clearly a hindrance in this area. Once he builds his athleticism, he will find more of the football and have a greater impact around the ground. He could work on his marking a bit more too, but his second efforts are good.

DRAFT PROJECTION: Late-rookie

SUMMARY

Ned Reeves is a big-bodied ruckman who is by far the tallest prospect in this year's draft. He is not athletic or a gut runner and does not find a heap of the football. What he does well is his ruck work and second efforts, as well as his ability to use the football cleverly around the ground. He is seen as a long-term prospect and therefore arguably a few years away from impacting at senior level. He has the body to make an impact now, but still has to build his athletic profile in order to excel at the top level and not be burned running defensively. As a whole expect a team to take a punt on him late or in the rookie draft.