STRENGTHS:

+ Clean hands
+ Evasiveness
+ Power
+ Pressure
+ Speed
+ Toughness

IMPROVEMENTS:

- Endurance
- Size

Football is increasingly leaning towards speed being king and Byrne suits that trend down to the ground. He plays at 100 per cent intensity, possessing genuine power and explosiveness to keep the play flowing. He cracks in hard at the contest like any good country footballer, but just as importantly is able to break clear after prising possession. From there, his speed and potent left-foot kicking are enough to cause the opposition headaches.

Byrne's evasiveness and crumbing ability are central to why he would make a terrific small forward in any era. He positions expertly front-and-centre and is able to not only read the ball off hands, but also use his pace to arrive at the drop zone first. Once in prime position, his hands are wickedly clean and he has the smarts to navigate traffic en route to goal. Those traits make him a nightmare to contain inside 50 and at stoppages around the ground.

Another weapon in Byrne's arsenal is his overhead marking ability. He can hit up on the lead or find space in dangerous launch zones, possessing a powerful leap and vice-like hands. His gutsy nature is key to punching above his weight so often, particularly in an aerial or contested sense. Byrne is not afraid to put his body on the line and can produce highlight reel plays, like his speccy against Vic Metro at the National Championships.

Despite standing at 174cm, Byrne is also an incredibly tough one-on-one matchup. His core strength makes him difficult to move off the line of the ball in marking contests, or when chasing up the loose pill. It makes him a menace defensively too, as he applies desperate second efforts and is often seen diving over the ball. He is capable of laying crunching tackles too, shutting down opponents with a combination of strength and speed.

While certainly a high-impact type who seems full of energy, endurance is an area Byrne has sought to improve on. He will also inevitably have question marks raised over his size, although holds his own against bigger bodies and is more than willing to compete. It has never held him back, he's such a goer. As a small forward, Byrne may also seek to refine his finishing touch after booting 9.11 in a productive Coates Talent League campaign.