Position: Ruckman
Height: 202cm
Weight: 95kg
DOB: 12/5/1993
What Billy Longer says...
“It’s going to be amazing. I can’t wait to get up there (to Brisbane) and play with the likes of Leuenberger and Hudson - who has plenty of experience.”
"I model myself on guys like Dean Cox and Aaron Sandilands. You see them crashing packs and doing really well in the air and on the ground. They’re two ruckmen that I’d like to base my game around.”
“Hamish McIntosh has been giving me a lot of one-on-one help which has helped me in the ruck.”
“I’m pretty happy with my speed, but I’m probably not using it enough because I get pretty tired after a contest. That’s a key area that I’ll need to improve over the pre-season.”
“I did two years of Muay Thai to help with my cardiovascular endurance. I did boxing before that for a year and a half. I sadly had to stop that because you can get injured doing it, but I did really enjoy it. It really helps with body strength and manoeuvring other people.”
“From the moment they first pick up a football I think every kid dreams of playing at the highest level. I could wish for nothing more than to play in the AFL."
What Lions National Talent Manager Rob Kerr says...
"We're pretty thin in the ruck stocks. We've got Matthew Leuenberger and we've brought Ben Hudson in to provide some back-up."
"We were pretty keen to get a ruckman in this draft and Billy was available and he is clearly the best ruckman in the country for his age."
"We expected the Giants would probably take him but we started to get whispers he might fall to us, so we're pretty happy with that."
"It started to filter through earlier in the week because we were hearing they wanted a tall and that was either going to be Tomlinson or Haynes and it turned out to be Haynes."
What AFL National Talent Manager Kevin Sheehan says...
“He’s 202cm so is a genuine ruck size. He uses his left hand in the ruck, but is a right foot kick around the ground."
"He is very, very quick but needs to get endurance into his game. His second and third efforts are very good around the centre square. He’ll also work on his ability to be a danger up forward as a goal-kicker."
"He’s come up through the AIS-AFL Academy Program. People like Luke Darcy have influenced him."
What Northern Knights Coach Anthony Allen says...
“He is a real talent. He has made good improvements with the physical side of his game, with his tackling and his aggression. He has added that to his repertoire, apart from obviously competing really strongly in the ruck."
“There is no doubt in my mind that he is the best ruckman in the TAC Cup.”
“He is a solid young man but he is a pretty laconic sort of fellow. He has probably become a bit more focused and serious with his football this year. That’s not to say he is any less friendly, but you can see he is really hardening up with his attitude towards it.”
What afl.com.au's Jason Phelan says...
"Longer is a natural leader who was the dominant tap ruckman at TAC Cup level and at the national championships this year. He can also pose a significant threat up forward."
"He's a right footer, but goes up with his left hand at most stoppages, which is rare."
"He's also more than capable with his right hand, which makes him a tricky proposition for opposition ruckmen. He doesn't get a heap of possessions around the ground just yet, but his combination of speed, endurance and footy smarts has him well placed to slowly bring that into his game."
2011 TAC Cup Statistics
Avg hitouts: 29
Avg disposals: 12
Avg contested possessions: 8
Disposal efficiency: 54%
Avg marks: 4.2
Avg goals: 1.2
Career Highlights
TAC Cup Team of the Year 2011
Victoria Metro Representative 2010, 2011
Victoria Metro Captain 2011
All Australian U18 2011
AIS-AFL Academy Graduate
Quick Questions...
Which player in the AFL do you most admire, and why?
Dean Cox and Matthew Kreuzer. Kruezer played for the Knights, like me and I really enjoy watching him play. I also admire Dean Cox as both players have great mobility for ruckmen and can also play around the ground, taking marks.
What are your top few strengths as a player?
Hardworking, mid-field stoppages, contested ball around the ground.
What do you most need to to work on?
Kicking and endurance.
What's been the toughest or most challenging part of this year for you?
I had an interrupted pre-season due to a bout of glandular fever. Coming back from an illness is tough - I lost about 8kgs and had to work really hard to get back to a good condition.
What's been the highlight?
Playing in the nationals carnival, definitely. Getting to play in a successful and really tight-knit group of friends is always good fun.
What appeals to you most about playing AFL footy?
Being able to play footy at the highest level and all the challenges that it entails. Also being able to do something you love and have dreamed about since I was a kid is a huge bonus.
Who's played the biggest part in helping you get to this point in your career?
My step-father. He took me to my first Auskick session and was always available to take me to footy training as I got older. He is a great source of motivation and encouragement and at times, my biggest critic!
Which teammate or fellow draft prospect can you see becoming a top AFL player? (and why)
Dylan Shiel - He has great skills and I've never played with anyone quite like him.
Jon Patton - He is hard working, a strong target up forward and I feel confident kicking the ball to him. He's a really determined player and it will be interesting to see how he improves.
PICK NO.12 - SAM DOCHERTY (Gippsland Power, VIC)
Position: Medium Defender
Height: 183cm
Weight: 85kg
DOB: 17/10/1993
What Sam Docherty says...
"I love to run and carry the footy and use my skills and decision-making to create plays for the team. I also like to read the ball off the opposition to intercept play."
“I guess my right foot is my main weas a weapoapon. I prefer to kick on my right foot, but I can use my left as well."
"I played two years of seniors and have learned to take on the older blokes. I’ve been brought up around footy, so game smarts have never been a problem. I can usually hit the right targets when needed."
"At the start of the year I didn’t even think about being drafted, but as the season’s progressed it has become more real."
What Lions National Talent Manager Rob Kerr says...
"We had him at 12. That was about where we rated him."
"The mid-sized defender is an area we wanted to boost and Sam has got very good kicking skills. I've spoken to him a few times and he seems a quality kid."
What AFL National Talent Manager Kevin Sheehan says...
"From Phillip Island FC, Docherty was best-on-ground in Victoria Couuntry's U18 championship game against WA."
"He reads the play well and dashes from defence. Is a good kick under pressure."
What the Herald Sun's Jay Clark says...
"It’s hard to find a Draft hopeful with more damaging footskills than Sam Docherty."
"This man’s right foot is an absolute rocket launcher off half back. But he’s not a one-trick pony, he is an excellent reader of the play and is defensively very disciplined."
What afl.com.au's Jason Phelan says...
"Docherty missed out on the initial Vicatori Country squad, but the creative half-back flanker overcame that disappointment to force his way back in with a string of excellent performances for the Gippsland Power."
"He made the most of his opportunity when he was brought in for the fourth game of the carnival with an eye-catching display across half-back against WA at Skilled Stadium."
"He often handled the kick-ins for Gippsland, thanks to his ability to find a target, and his kicking under pressure is a feature of his game."
"He's strong overhead and knows when to go at the ball or throw a block to create space for a teammate."
2011 TAC Cup Statistics
Avg disposals: 22.1
Avg contested possessions: 7.8
Avg handball receives: 7.8
Disposal efficiency: 71.8%
Avg marks: 4.9
Avg tackles: 3.4
Career Highlights
Victoria Country Representative 2011
Quick Questions...
Which player in the AFL do you most admire, and why?
Marc Murphy, just for the way he goes about his football. He has been following in the footsteps of Chris Judd for a while and he has really taken it upon himself to step up to the plate. I really like the way he has gone about that.
What are your top few strengths as a player?
Kicking, game smarts and decision making. I try to take the game on as well and pierce the zone out of defence.
What do you most need to work on?
Developing my body to becoming stronger.
What's been the toughest or most challenging part of this year for you?
My injury at the end of the year. It was really disappointing to miss out on the final game, especially because my injury lingered on to draft camp as well and I wasn't able to do the testing.
What's been the highlight?
Playing my first game for Vic Country as I wasn't in the initial squad.
What appeals to you most about playing AFL footy?
It has always been a dream growing up. I really want to play at the highest level. To have my job as playing football as well would be amazing.
Who's played the biggest part in helping you get to this point in your career?
Definitely my dad. Growing up, he taught me how to play, came to all my games and helped me review things throughout this year with Gippsland. Obviously being a country boy, it's hard for mum and dad with driving and travel, but it has become second nature to them now and I owe them a lot for that.
Which teammate or fellow draft prospect (maybe someone you've played against) can you see becoming a top AFL player? (and why)
Hayden Crozier - he has all the tricks to become an A grade player. He is an extremely hard player to match up on as he is so good at ground level, has clean skills and can obviously take a big mark.
PICK NO.30 - ELLIOTT YEO (East Fremantle, WA)
Position: Medium Defender / Wingman
Height: 189cm
Weight: 76kg
DOB: 01/10/1993
What Lions National Talent Manager Rob Kerr says...
"He's got plenty of development in front of him. With a couple of years in the system he could develop into a good wing/half-forward/half-back - a bit (Nathan) Fyfe-like we think."
"Graham Hadley identified him early and brought him to our attention. He looks young and is still developing."
What AFL National Talent Manager Kevin Sheehan says...
"Elliott Yeo was a standout at the NAB AFL Draft Combine, being the quickest in the agility run (7.8 seconds), having the best standing vertical jump with a score of 78cm and running 2.91 seconds for the 20m sprint, showcasing his athletic ability."
"He represented Western Australia at the NAB U18 Championships, averaging 14 disposals as a medium defender."
"He is a speedy defender who shows good run and carry. He also uses the ball well on both his right and left side."
2011 WAFL Statistics
Avg disposals: 22.2
Avg kicks: 15.3
Avg marks: 4.5
Avg tackles: 3.9
Career Highlights
West Australian U18 Representative 2011
Quick Questions...
Which AFL player do you model your game on?
Nathan Fyfe. He's a great player with a good strong grab. He takes a good contested mark and I'd love to play like him.
How would your coaches and teammates describe you?
I've got good speed, versatility and leadership skills.
What parts of your game would you like to improve?
I'd like to improve my accountability and my physical strength.
PICK NO.47 - PATRICK WEARDEN (Murray Bushrangers, VIC)
Position: Tall Forward
Height: 191cm
Weight: 75kg
DOB: 06/8/1993
What Lions National Talent Manager Rob Kerr says...
"In terms of build, he reminds me a lot of Paul Kelly. Paul wasn't as tall but I think he is an exciting prospect."
"Living where he was, his pre-season was one night a week and during the season was two nights a week. The country boys have got a good margin for improvement, simply because they don't get the intensity of work the city boys do."
What AFL National Talent Manager Kevin Sheehan says...
"From Kyabram FC, Patrick is a long kick and strong mark."
"He reads the game well and can be dangerous around goals. Very athletic player with good repeat speed."
2011 TAC Cup Statistics
Total games: 14
Total goals: 8
Avg kicks: 10
Avg handballs: 7.6
Avg marks: 4.3
Avg tackles: 3.9
