Midfielders
Jayden Laverde
Smooth-moving and creative medium forward/midfielder with neat disposal skills. In five games during NAB AFL Under-18 Championships, he averaged 17 disposals and five marks at 74 per cent efficiency, winning All Australian honours. Missed the Western Jets' finals series and NAB AFL Draft Combine due to a quad injury. Can turn opponents inside out with his agility and is dangerous around goals. Strong overhead and a difficult match-up when forward or in the midfield.
Paul Ahern
Smooth-moving midfielder with excellent balance and strong running capacity. Selected in the NAB AFL Under-18 All Australian team after averaging 17 possessions at 72 per cent efficiency in five matches. Make the difficult look easy, dangerous when pushes forward and can kick long goals on the run. Collected 26 disposals and kicked a goal in the Calder Cannons' TAC Cup Grand Final loss. Has excellent mix of speed and endurance and can play inside or outside.
Lachie Weller
Medium midfielder has pace, poise and neat disposal by hand and foot. Won McLean Medal at NAB AFL Under-16 Championships in 2012 and was a NAB AFL Academy Level 2 squad member. Averaged 18 possessions in his three games during the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships. After a month off, impressed in his last game of the season for the Allies against the NAB AFL Academy on Grand Final day until injured. Bone bruising in his leg ruled him out of testing at the NAB AFL Draft Combine. Brother of St Kilda's Maverick.
Jarrod Pickett
Small forward/midfielder with electrifying pace who can set the game alight. Smart around goals and has elite endurance. Finished equal-second in the 20m sprint at the NAB AFL Draft Combine with a time of 2.87 sec and recorded a time of 2.87 sec in the agility run. Played five senior games this season for WAFL side South Fremantle, mainly as a deep forward. He averaged 14 possessions and three marks in his six hit-outs during the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships and was a member of NAB AFL Academy Level 2 squad.
Jordan DeGoey
Competitive and versatile medium defender/midfielder. Strong overhead and in one-on-one contests. Good decision-maker by hand and foot, and impressed for Victoria Metro in the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships, averaging 15 possessions and three marks at 74 per cent efficiency. Provided a spark up forward by booting three goals in the Oakleigh Chargers' Grand Final win, playing mainly forward. Makes the most of his opportunities.
Liam Duggan
Left-footed medium midfielder/defender with excellent decision-making skills. Uses the ball well and poised under pressure. Finished equal-seventh in the 3km time trial in a time of 10:11 and registered 26/30 in the kicking test at the NAB AFL Draft Combine. Finished the home and away season for the Western Jets with 30 disposals and 12 tackles against Gippsland Power, and averaged 15 disposals at 76 per cent efficiency in five games in the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships. Won the Ben Mitchell Medal in the NAB AFL Academy Level 2 squad.
Nakia Cockatoo
Powerful medium midfielder with elite evasive skills. Can lose his opponent easily. Stress fracture in foot caused him to miss NAB AFL Under-18 Championships after impressing in 2013. NAB AFL Academy Level 2 member squad. Among top performers at NAB AFL Draft Combine, recording the best score in both the kicking test (29/30) and repeat sprint (23.93 sec), 2.90 sec in the 20m sprint, 73cm in the standing vertical jump and 89cm in the running vertical jump.
Forwards/Rucks
Peter Wright
The ruckman/tall forward is a long, accurate shot for goal and a sound overhead mark. Mobile and impressive in the ruck. Good below his knees and has great running capacity. Averaged 12 disposals and four marks at 83 per cent efficiency in five appearances in the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships, earning All Australian honours. Missed the Calder Cannons' TAC Cup Grand Final loss with a minor knee injury.
Backman
Hugh Goddard
Versatile tall defender/forward is strong overhead and an accurate left-foot kick. Reads the game well and was a solid performer for Vic Country in the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships, averaging 10 possessions and four marks from his six appearances. Played his best footy as a key defender, locking down on opponents while providing drive from the backline. Member of the NAB AFL Academy Level 2 squad and won the Cameron Ling Medal in 2013.
Sam Durdin
Tall defender/ruckman is strong overhead and good below his knees. Aggressive in contests and strong one-on-one. Played important role in South Australia's win in the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships, averaging 10 touches and three marks in six appearances. His up and down year ended on a high when named best-afield in West Adelaide's Under-18 Grand Final win in the SANFL, amassing 48 hit-outs, 12 touches and nine marks. Member of NAB AFL Academy Level 2 squad and won the AFL Life Membership Scholarship in 2013.
Jake Lever
Competitive and aggressive tall defender who can shut down opponents and provide good rebound. Missed 2014 season after injuring his anterior cruciate ligament but on the way to a full recovery. Member of NAB AFL Academy Level 2.
Caleb Marchbank
Competitive tall defender with excellent mobility and repeat efforts. Anticipates well coming off his man to support his defence and strong overhead. Continues his recovery from a meniscus injury in his knee, which ruled him out of the last part of the TAC Cup season. Averaged 14 disposals and four marks in six games in the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships. Can also push forward and provide a marking target. Won All Australian Under-18 honours.
