Deon Gordon (NT) – Draft Profile

Height: 184cm

Weight: 87kg

Position: HBF/BP

Potential: 5.5-7.5/10

Style like: Darren Milburn?

Strengths

> Good-very good and quite reliable kick coming out of defence – accuracy and weighting very good, decent-good depth - was the designated kicker and kick-out taker for NT – has a left if needed

> Finds plenty of the ball in defence as a receiver via marks in space and HBR – averaged 19.5dpg and 5.5mpg at the 2009 U18 Championships – doesn’t seem to cut off many attacks though or put himself in the position to - doesn’t seem to win much contested football either

> Very composed and good decision maker with the ball that is capable of being creative

> Clean hands

Weaknesses

> He has a low defensive work-rate and overall running capacity - despite playing in defence didn’t offer much defensively in terms of both ground level and aerial pressure, and at times was caught a out of position when needing to negate

> Versatility – he can play as a loose/rebounding defender, but I’m not sure what other roles he could fill – he played well up forward for a half against WA, but unsure if he’d be suited to such a role – I don’t think

> 3^rd highest skinfolds at DC – TBF he was coming off a knee re-co 6 weeks - but some may hold some concerns about his physical condition/being prone to putting on weight

Other

> OK pace and evasive ability - doesn’t standout, not sure it’s a weakness - but improvable if he gets himself in better shape and condition

> Decent OH – reliable, clean grabber with approx. 3cm reach advantage

> Good-very good, consistent level of form at the U18 championships in all games

> ACL injury late in 2009 season (6 weeks prior to DC)

Overall

Gordon is a solid rebounding defensive prospect, but once fit will need to improve his conditioning and defensive game in particular if he wants a good shot at AFL. At worst he may not get into AFL condition and be a non playing, depth player only, at best he could be a reliable defensive rebounder for his AFL team. He is worth a pick beyond the 3^rd round, possibly the rookie draft.