ONE OF the game's greatest players and AFL coach-in-waiting Michael Voss believes South Australian Under-18 captain and 2007 All-Australian Brad Ebert is the one player he'd bank on playing in the AFL next season.
Voss said midfielder/forward Ebert had the necessary equipment to step up in 2008.
"Since coming back [from the AIS/AFL academy tour to South Africa] and before the championships, he's played league football and he's skippered the SA [under-18] team and he's gone up another level," Voss told afl.com.au at Casey Fields on the final day of the NAB AFL Under-18 championships.
"I've always looked at Brad and thought he could play league football next year – he's got a body type that could handle the rigours of the AFL and his body is in pretty sound shape.
"If I was to pick one that stood out to me, he'd probably be the one, but whether that means he'll be the best player out of the lot … it doesn't necessarily mean it'll go hand in hand.
Voss, who retired at the end of the 2006 season after captaining the Brisbane Lions to three successive premierships from 2001-03, was an assistant coach to AIS/AFL high-performance coach Alan McConnell with the AIS/AFL academy squad in 2006-07.
The 1996 Brownlow Medallist said he was particularly pleased with two other players he worked with at the AIS/AFL academy, Western Australia duo Cale Morton and Nicholas Naitanui, who both starred at this year's championships.
"The player most people have been talking about at the moment is Cale Morton. He's had a great carnival and he's one of those guys who has elevated himself in the draft pecking order," Voss said.
"I know Nick's not draft-age, but he's done enough to suggest we'll see more of him, which is pleasing. He's a character within himself and he has all the attributes which stand out – that's for sure.
"The thing you want to see out of the AIS/AFL academy program is always gradual improvement and there have been a few that have had so-so carnivals, but in general most have improved since they've been exposed to that [AIS/AFL academy] level.”
Voss was also impressed with previous 2005-06 AIS/AFL academy graduates – Tasmanian standout Tom Collier and NSW/ACT captain Craig Bird, who is a Sydney Swans scholarship holder.
"I wasn't involved with the AIS/AFL academy program in that year, but you tend to follow the guys who have been through and Tom's been one of those guys who has had a really good carnival – he was really good against
"The Swannies would be pleased that they've got young Bird, who has had a really good carnival."
On Vic Metro ruckman Matthew Kreuzer, who is a genuine possibility to be this year's No.1 draft pick, Voss said he was particularly impressed with the 199cm tall’s midfielder-like attributes.
"With Kreuzer, it's actually his ball-work that's impressive – he hunts the ball, as you'd want a midfielder to hunt the ball," Voss said.
"Although he plays in the ruck, he's a person that would actually get high clearances because he can tap it and then go after it, and he moves around the ground really well.
"Yes, he is a good player, but does he have the work ethic to go with it? He seems to have both, so his upside gives himself every chance."
And Voss was also impressed with Vic Metro small forward Addam Maric.
"He's got some great attributes and he's got some real football nous, which helps you a lot," Voss said.
On the championships itself, Voss said the obvious talent always stood out, yet the fascination for him was looking for the gems in the rough.
"You're always looking for cleans hands, a little bit of courage or hard-running that gives you a little bit of promise that might get people drafted," Voss said.
"Once you're starting to get down to pick 50 and 60 – that's where you're basing a lot of your judgment – and every recruiting manager out there has got their own secret beauty."
Voss said he now viewed football completely differently since retiring last year. His final appearance came while representing
"The difference with the carnival is that you're nitpicking," he said.
"Do they go on their left or right foot? Do they have a second effort? Can they mark overhead? Do they duck their head? Do they keep their eye on the ball? What are their idiosyncrasies which could potentially make them a player or not make them a player?
"You're more individually focused here at the championships, but of course the way they play as a team helps because you've got to see the way they perform as a team and how they work within it, but you're actually drilling even further.
"When you're in an AFL environment, you're not only focusing on a team environment, you're also working on the roles of the individuals' strengths and weaknesses, so I don't take much notice structure wise in these matches – it's the individual things."
