WEST PERTH AFL NATIONAL DRAFT PREVIEW

THE AFL National Draft for 2014 takes place this Thursday on the Gold Coast with several West Perth players a chance of being picked up.

Unlike last year with Blake Acres and Nick Robertson, there doesn’t appear to be any West Perth players certain of being picked up in the draft and to be on an AFL list in 2015, but there are a host of Falcons players who are being considered.

That includes Sandover Medal winner Aaron Black, dual Breckler Medallist Shane Nelson, premiership star Rohan Kerr, emerging key position player Marcus Adams and teenagers Will Michell, Tyson Moulton and Clinton Hinchcliffe.

Black has continually improved his game and added new facets throughout his 85-game career now with the Falcons since making his debut in 2010, and that was acknowledged with his Sandover Medal victory in 2014.

After five league games in 2010 while still at school, Black played 16 matches in 2011 and another 20 in 2012 mostly in run-with roles where he learned a lot from playing on the likes of Kris Miller and Josh Roberts which he credits for helping to developing his attacking side since.

By 2013, he was turned loose as an attacking wingman and delivered an outstanding season averaging over 25 possessions a game on top of starring State game and grand final roles, and then improved further with in excess of 30 disposals a game in 2014 both on the ball and on the wing.

He never had lower than 22 disposals a game and had a stunning finish to the season with 44 possessions in Round 19, 30 in Round 20, 32 in Round 21, 36 in Round 22 and 39 in Round 23.

AFL clubs could certainly do worse than giving him a chance and the same is for in-and-under ball magnet Nelson, who has now won back-to-back Breckler Medals as fairest and best at West Perth.

Nelson was the league's best ball winner averaging 31.1 disposals a game in 2014 and the 21-year-old had 30 or more possessions on 13 occasions including 52 in Round 23, 44 in Round 19, 38 in Round 2, 37 in Round 1 and Round 14.

Kerr is another West Perth player who was a massive ball winner in 2014 and given his previous experience with three years at Carlton, and now two outstanding seasons with the Falcons he might be primed for another opportunity.

Backing up his first season with West Perth which saw him star in the grand final with five goals, Kerr had an outstanding 2014 averaging 25.9 possessions a game while also taking 146 marks and kicking 10 goals.

While the amount of ball he won was impressive, it is his precise use of the ball by foot that makes him a standout.

Adams did play two league games while still a colts player with Swan Districts in 2011 and returned to the WAFL in 2014 with the Falcons and made a tremendous impact either as a key forward or defender with the Falcons.

With a big, powerful body, terrific pace for his size and a long kick on him, the 21-year-old played some strong football as a forward target kicking 21 goals but he also looked at right at home in stints in defence.

He could very well be worth the punt by an AFL club.

Meanwhile, Jordan Lockyer was unable to crack it for an AFL debut with the Sydney Swans again in 2014 and unfortunately found himself delisted at the end of the season. He could end up with another opportunity.