MEDIUM DEFENDERS

Daniel Capiron  (Dandenong Stingrays)

Born 14.6.1996, 189cm, 81kg

AFL biography: Medium defender who is strong overhead. Courageous player who distributes the ball well on both sides of the body and provides good rebound, his composure is key. Averaged 16.2 disposals at 81 per cent efficiency and five marks in the under-18 championships.

Mark Wheeler, Dandenong Stingrays: "Daniel's best position is in the backline, but we've used him on a wing as a defensive winger. Daniel has everything it takes but he was played all over the place this year, in one school game he'd played in 14 positions by the end of the gane. We tried to settle him down but he's had so many coaches this year - AIS, Vic Country, Caulfield Grammar, us - and by the end he was battling on after two years of injuries with his knees and hamstrings. He's skilful, he has a lot of potential and he's Mr Consistency in terms of how he prepares and trains, but he just hasn't had a great run at it. He might go a bit later than we hoped, but he's a really brave player who sees the ball and goes after it, he doesn't hesitate even if he knows he might get hurt.

Jason Castagna  (Northern Knights)

Born 12.7.1996, 182cm, 76kg

AFL biography: Medium defender who provides excellent rebound from defence. His work ethic is exceptional as is his competitive will and endurance. He can be a damaging and penetrating kick when delivering the football inside the forward half. Averaged 14 disposals in five matches during the under-18 championships.

Peter Kennedy, Northern Knights: Jason has speed and agility, we played him as a small running defender this year and he's one who likes to take off with the footy and take the opposition on. He could do with some more poise and composure when he's delivering the ball, but his kicking's good, it's just that he likes to take players on and can run into some dead ends at times. He's strong overhead and he likes to take things on, that's the way he plays."

Jordan De Goey (Oakleigh Chargers)

Born 15.3.1996, 187cm, 82kg

AFL biography: Highly competitive and versatile medium defender/midfielder that is both strong overhead and in one on one contests.  Good decision maker by hand and foot.  Averaged 15.4 disposals (nine contested) in five under-18 championship games.

Mark Smart, Oakleigh Chargers: "Jordan is super competitive. He developed really well towards the end of last year and that's kept going this year even through some injuries. He's a real competitor who makes good decisions and kicks the ball really well. He kept working hard even when he was a bit injured and he's very versatile, he can almost play in any position on the ground. As a forward he's quite smart, he knows where and how to lead and he can take overhead marks or get the ball on the ground. He can play off half back and as a midfielder he's just one of those really aggressive types who plays at high intensity."

Liam Duggan  (Western Jets)

Born 11.12.1996, 183cm, 75kg

AFL biography: Left footer with excellent decision making and delivery by hand and foot. Poised under pressure and also displaying excellent leadership, he averaged 15.2 disposals at 76 per cent efficiency, four tackles and four inside 50s in five matches during the under-18 championships.

Shane Sexton, Western Jets: "Liam's impressed everyone this year, he has outstanding leadership skills and whoever gets him will get a really good kid. With his footy, he really improved his inside game this year. He was already good on the outside, he's someone who makes excellent decisions with the ball and is very capable overhead with the versatility to play in a number of positions, bt we spoke to him about his inside game and his ability to spread and he does that really well know. He's a good listener, he can turn things into action and he has that capacity to stand up in a bit of a crisis. Late in the year we had some close losses and tight wins and you could see him really lift a gear in those games, be aggressive at stoppages and do whatever he could to get us over the line."

Brayden Maynard  (Sandringham Dragons)

Born 20.9.1996, 186cm, 88kg

AFL biography: Left footer with powerful kick, excellent evasive skills and rarely beaten one on one. Averaged 15 disposals and five tackles in three under-18 championship games.  His penetration and accuracy in his disposal makes him dangerous wherever he is on the ground. Son of Peter, who narrowly missed out on being father/son eligible to Adelaide.

Ryan O'Connor, Sandringham Dragons: "Brayden really enhanced his reputation during the finals. He was already very high credentialled but he finished off the season amazingly well in some big games, his kicking was elite and he's always been competitive so we think he's one who has really elevated himself. He doesn't have the best endurance so he'll be challenged to improve that - it's not bad but it's not elite - but his contested stuff is fantastic, he has really good game sense and because his kicking is right at the elite end it gives him a huge chance. He was able to influence games as a bottom ager last year, he's done more of that this year and when Angus Brayshaw got injured late in the year he put his had up to be captain and really rose to the occasion. He has some of those intangible characters, a real bit of spunk."

Jackson Nelson (Geelong Falcons)

Born 15.3.1996, 187cm , 81kg

AFL biography: Medium defender/midfielder with excellent game sense, speed and use of the ball by hand and foot. Averaged 12.2 disposals and 4.3 tackles across six under-18 championship games.

Michael Turner, Geelong Falcons: "At the start of the year the clubs said to me, we know Jackson can play outside, can he play inside? So we asked him to do that and he played some fantastic games. He has a great attitude, he wins the footy, he has an elite kick and he's really athletic. The recruiters roll their eyes at me, but I find him very similar to Travis Boak when he was the same age. Travis was a bit scrappy back then and Jackson reminds me a lot of him. He could be one of those tall midfielders all the clubs are looking for."

Dillon Viojo-Rainbow  (Western Jets)

Born 8.2.1996, 185cm, 80kg

AFL biography: Elite left foot kick.  Sees the game very well and makes smart decisions when in possession.  Can also push forward and impact the scoreboard from long range when playing through the midfield. Averaged 12.6 disposals at 73 per cent efficiency and 5.2 marks in five games at the under-18 championships.

Shane Sexton, Western Jets: "Dylan's a bit of a different personality, he's very bubbly, at times you'd call him carefree. He's a great kid. His skills are his big selling point, he's a lovely kick and he's had a good season. He's been a little bit more inconsistent than some of the other boys but he has a lot of AFL qualities. His kicking is the first one but he's capable overhead and he can really impact a game. There was one game against the Knights where we were 20 points behind at three quarter time and we were under the pump, we had throw him onto the ball and he just kept getting it forward. I hope the recruiters watched that with a fair bit of interest and that they see him as someone who can go into the midfield and be a really dangerous player with the ball in his hands and a bit of room to run and carry."

Liam Dawson (Aspley)

Born 23.1.1996, 188cm, 81kg

AFL biography: Strong and versatile player that can lock down opponents or play a creative role for his team. Strong overhead and athletic, uses the ball effectively by hand and foot while making smart decisions.

Adrian Fletcher, AFL Queensland: "Liam's versatility will make him an elite AFL player. He can play down back as a third tall, he can go into the forward line and play as a marking player and he at 188cm he's also a midfielder who can win his own footy. He came back after five weeks out with a shoulder and kicked three goals and had 28 possessions, which I thought was pretty impressive".

Josh Glenn (Central District)

Born 10.3.1994, 180cm, 78kg

AFL biography: Medium defender with a penetrating and accurate left foot kick. His work ethic and level of consistency has risen over the past 12 months and been a significant factor in elevating his football to the next level. Averaged 21.7 disposals and 5.9 marks throughout season 2014 playing league football for Central District.

Brenton Phillips, SANFL: "Josh is a smooth moving left footer. He's played some really good league football for two years now and is a no-nonsense type of bloke.

Michael Mattingly  (Corowa-Rutherglen)

Born 25.6.1996, 184cm, 78kg

AFL biography: Comes from an elite cricket background and possesses excellent leadership qualities.  Shows good penetration with his kicking and often finds his target.  Mops up well in defence and provides excellent drive when countering.  Averaged 17 disposals and 2.3 marks during three games at the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships.

Jason Saddington, NSW/ACT Rams: "Mick is a very good reader of the play running off half back. He's one of those player that can set up play. He's played a lot of representative cricket and has got a really professional approach to his footy development."

Tom Faul  (Ainslie)

Born 24.1.1996, 187cm, 86kg

AFL biography: Powerful and explosive player with strong hands in the marking contest and a penetrating left foot kick that commits himself hard to the contest and quite often comes out on top. Had minor throat surgery in March and missed two weeks.

Jason Saddington, NSW/ACT Rams: "Tom's an extremely powerful, explosive sort of athlete. He's good off the mark, and he has a very good vertical leap. His left foot is realy nice, long and penetrating and his hands are clean. He's only into his third or fourth year of footy, he was an AIS volleyballer, so he's still learning the game, but he's come a fairly long way this year."

Josh McGuinness  (Lauderdale)

Born 20.9.1995, 189cm, 72kg

AFL biography: Medium defender that reads the game exceptionally well, has sure hands and uses the football neatly by hand or foot on the rebound. Had impressive NAB AFL Under-18 Championships, averaging 26 disposals and five marks winning All-Australian honours.  His ability to run and carry the ball through the midfield is his strongest attribute, often linking up on multiple occasions.

Adam Sanders, AFL Tasmania: "Josh was an overage player for us this year, he played for us last year and really improved, he's a bit of a late developer who's gone from strength to strength this year. He played mainly across half back with some roles through the midfield, but predominantly he's a half-back who is very clean and has good composure when the ball's in his hands. He links up well, and takes the ball well ground level. On the flipside, he's a very skinny kid who has a long way to go with his physical development. His selling point is his upside because we think in another couple of years he'll be a hell of a lot better than what he is now."

Francis Watson  (Claremont)

Born 29.9.1995, 186cm, 76kg

AFL biography: Medium Defender with terrific agility, natural leap and smooth kicking technique on his preferred right foot. Often plays as a rebounding half back that runs and carries the ball however he can also play a shutdown role on a dangerous forward. Shows good overhead marking strength and had a consistent NAB AFL Under-18 Championships averaging 12.5 disposals and 3.5 marks over four matches.

Raff Guadagnino, WAFL: "Francis has come late to the game - he only started playing when he was 13 or 14 - but he can really play. He's doing a traineeship with a diesel mechanic who rang us up to say he was the best, most respectful kid he'd ever had work for him and that he really wanted to see him be successful. He's from up north and he really wants to learn, he's a kid with a real desire to compete."

Paddy Brophy  (Ireland)        

Born 22.2.1994, 188cm, 81kg

AFL biography: Dashing defender who attacks the ball with aggression and certainty as well as being strong overhead. Impressed at European AFL Combine held in Dublin with his speed and agility as well as starring for the European Legion versus Australian Under-18s this year collecting 26 disposals and having five clearances in an exciting performance in London in April.