Westernbulldogs.com.au looks at how the AFL Draft experts rated the Club’s performance at last night’s event and how the new additions can contribute at the kennel.
The Herald Sun experts said:
If they unlock Marcus Bontempelli’s potential pick No.4 could look a bargain. Dogs fell in love with his Pendlebury-like moves as a 194cm midfielder. Value pick Mitch Honeychurch at 60 is a damaging midfielder who caps a successful night. RATING: 9/10
4. Marcus Bontempelli
A very mobile player with clean hands who has the ability to play either tall or small, makes good decisions with his disposal, reads the play well and has very good vision.
42. Matt Fuller
Mature-age medium defender who can go through the midfield. A beautiful kick who can add some grunt to the backline mix.
60. Mitch Honeychurch
A super competitive player with a real zest for the contested ball. Is very clean with his hands particularly around the stoppages and finds plenty of the ball.
The Age experts said:
4: Marcus Bontempelli
Tall defender-midfielder with a raking left foot who can penetrate the lines. A rangy player with good agility, excellent endurance and durability.
42: Matthew Fuller
An exceptional kick on both sides of his body, the natural left-footer was one of Norwood's most important in securing back-to-back SANFL premierships.
60: Mitch Honeychurch
Small midfielder with a ferocious attack on the ball and the opposition. A competitive player with a real zest for the contested ball.
The AFL.com.au experts said:
Marcus Bontempelli has huge talent and he's yet to turn 18. Look at their list and they don't have a midfielder like him - a tall, agile and athletic on-baller. Mature-ager Matt Fuller gives the young Dogs some senior experience, while Mitch Honeychurch is the Brendan McCartney type: hard and tough.
4. Bontempelli Player Assessment
A tall who can play forward, back or through the midfield. Possesses a raking left foot that can penetrate the lines. A rangy player with good agility, excellent endurance and durability. He makes good decisions with his disposal, reads the play well and has good vision. Mobile, he has clean hands and the ability to play either tall or small.
42. Fuller Player Assessment
An exceptional kick on both sides of his body, the natural left-footer was one of Norwood's most important in securing back-to-back SANFL premierships. Fuller reads the play well and has strong hands and was so often the driving force behind the side's attack this season. The 23-year-old drifted forward to boot seven goals including a 60mbomb in the grand final.
60. Honeychurch Player Assessment
Small midfielder with a ferocious attack on the ball and the opposition. A competitive player with a real zest for the contested ball. Clean with his hands, particularly around the stoppages, and finds plenty of the ball. Won All Australian honours in 2013.
The Sportal experts said:
4 Marcus Bontempelli - midfielder
42 Matt Fuller - defender
60 Mitch Honeychurch - midfielder
What they needed: Midfielders to complement an emerging young group.
What they got: A few years of scrutiny by rolling the dice at pick four. Bontempelli has been a late draft riser, and the Dogs choosing a raw midfielder at four means they overlooked some real quality players. Getting another good midfielder in to give Ryan Griffen and Tom Liberatore a chopout and veteran Matthew Boyd an eventual successor was the ideal. Clearly they think Bontempelli is that man. Have stolen Fuller, a 23-year-old SANFL defender at 42. He'll play straight away. Honeychurch, from Eastern Ranges, is a kamikaze-like midfielder and has plenty of go. Could become a cult favourite at the Kennel.
