I thought this would be fun to put the spotlight on our academy's best draft prospect each year and share information about players who are very likely to end up on our list e.g. in the past it would have been Connor Budarick (2019), Bailey Scott (2018), Brayden Crossley (2017), Jack Bowes (2016), Jesse Joyce (2015), Lachie Weller (2014), Jared Ellis (2013), Andrew Boston (2012) and Alex Sexton (2011).
Alex Davies
Height: 191cm
Weight:85kg
Junior club/s: Cairns Hawks (Cairns AFL) / Broadbeach Cats (QAFL)
Plays like: Scott Pendlebury
Alex was raised in Cairns and is of part-Japanese heritage for those wondering. As is the case with many Aussie kids these days, he grew up playing basketball and footy. Scouted as an outstanding footy prospect during his early junior days with the Manunda Hawks (now known as the Cairns Hawks), Alex was placed in our developmental academy in his early teens. His promising junior basketball career included selection for multiple Queensland state representative teams at the junior national championships. At the age of 16 he had to choose between pursuing a career path in basketball or football but chose the latter with the intention of relocating to the Gold Coast to further his chances of being drafted. Last year he played for our academy team as a bottom ager in the NAB League and impressed enough to gain selection for the Allies as well as the U17 All-Australian team which defeated the senior New Zealand national team at the Marvel Stadium. He also played for our NEAFL team last year. Going into his final year of junior football in 2020, Alex has relocated to the Gold Coast and is considered first-round draft talent by many analysts, some of which consider him a top 10 prospect. At this point in time, we have automatic access to Alex but if our results continue to impress the league this year then I could easily see the AFL removing those concessions and forcing us into a situation where we need to match a bid for Alex at the national draft later this year.
Strengths: Contested ball-winning, distribution by hand, evasion, movement through traffic, clean at ground level
Weaknesses: Endurance, prone to rushing kicks rather than assessing and spotting options
What does everyone think of Alex? I'm super excited about him potentially joining our young and talented midfield later this year! Unfortunately I couldn't find any highlights of him playing but I'm sure we'll get some later this year. Click here to see an interview with him though.
Alex Davies
Height: 191cm
Weight:85kg
Junior club/s: Cairns Hawks (Cairns AFL) / Broadbeach Cats (QAFL)
Plays like: Scott Pendlebury
Alex was raised in Cairns and is of part-Japanese heritage for those wondering. As is the case with many Aussie kids these days, he grew up playing basketball and footy. Scouted as an outstanding footy prospect during his early junior days with the Manunda Hawks (now known as the Cairns Hawks), Alex was placed in our developmental academy in his early teens. His promising junior basketball career included selection for multiple Queensland state representative teams at the junior national championships. At the age of 16 he had to choose between pursuing a career path in basketball or football but chose the latter with the intention of relocating to the Gold Coast to further his chances of being drafted. Last year he played for our academy team as a bottom ager in the NAB League and impressed enough to gain selection for the Allies as well as the U17 All-Australian team which defeated the senior New Zealand national team at the Marvel Stadium. He also played for our NEAFL team last year. Going into his final year of junior football in 2020, Alex has relocated to the Gold Coast and is considered first-round draft talent by many analysts, some of which consider him a top 10 prospect. At this point in time, we have automatic access to Alex but if our results continue to impress the league this year then I could easily see the AFL removing those concessions and forcing us into a situation where we need to match a bid for Alex at the national draft later this year.
Strengths: Contested ball-winning, distribution by hand, evasion, movement through traffic, clean at ground level
Weaknesses: Endurance, prone to rushing kicks rather than assessing and spotting options
What does everyone think of Alex? I'm super excited about him potentially joining our young and talented midfield later this year! Unfortunately I couldn't find any highlights of him playing but I'm sure we'll get some later this year. Click here to see an interview with him though.
