Weight: 73kg
Preferred Foot: Right/Dual Sided
Role: Outside running and marking medium-tall utility
Potential: 7.5-8.5/10
Strengths
> Excellent ball use by hand – sharp reflexes, quick feeds, good power and vision/DM – excellent long sweeping handball to launch an attack
> Dual sided thumping kick (see more below)
> Clean reliable ball handling – one touch at pace and rarely fumbles
> Elite engine and amazing intensity and 2 way work ethic – has both natural and mental endurance – like an energise bunny – never stops running (both ways) – chasing, 1%ers, tackling, providing effective defensive pressure – often produces inspirational efforts i.e. long chase run down tackles
> Good all-round athleticism - Decent pace off the mark, but very good top speed – has the higher gears to click into and go on long piercing runs (ran the length of the field to kick a short range goal in his one and only reserves game), big vertical leap (played stints in the ruck as a junior and in colts 2008), very good evasive ability to get past opponents and buy more space and time for himself in traffic and elite engine (as per already mentioned) - first instinct is to go for a dash
> Good aerial ability – clean grabber with good attack, strong aerial presence (long arms and big vertical leap) and plenty of courage to go back with the flight – however lacks strength to consistently hold his position in contests – effective spoiler too
> Ball magnet (consistently over 20 possession, occasionally over 30, one game 39 possessions) – reads the game very well – good positioning inside and out of contests, anticipates well in defence – very good at dropping back in front as a third man up to take the relieving mark and can read and find the ball at stoppages fairly well.
> Versatility – could potentially play any of: running outside/inside midfielder/floating and rebounding 3rd tall defender/midfield tagger/pinch hitting CHB
> BIG upside – significant improvement shown in 2008 – still raw and physically immature, but his height, work ethic, versatility, athleticism and other attributes will hold him in very good stead for further development at AFL level
Weaknesses
> Often tries to do too much i.e. takes too many on and runs himself into trouble
> Lacks strength, muscle and power
> Kicking technique (see below)
> Unbalanced
Other
> Dual sided thumping kick – goes long whenever possible (lacks short range vision when kicking but can often creates 90m plays) – so-so control and weighting and prone to floaters – long load time (full arm extension but takes it too high) which gets the most out of his current power capabilities, but not economical - loose action, often high trajectory of the boot and lacks power
> Raw – looks to be still “growing into” and getting used to his body
> Bottom aged
> Didn’t make WA U18s squad – however has played schoolboys and U16s – big improver (particularly 2nd half of 2008)
> Very good leadership skills – has captained every team he’s been in according to junior coach
> 2x national 21 and under sailing champion in the “Javelin” class with his brother and holds state titles in several other classes
> Prolific junior basketballer – state squad grade and youth coach wanted him to pursue further
Overall
Blight has a range of very attractive attributes that will hold him in very good stead for the modern game. He won’t go down through lack of effort and I expect him to continue to show great improvement at AFL as he has done in 2008. At best could be one of the competition’s most effective genuine utilities (top 50 AFL player) such is his upside.
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