| PICK NO.8: SAM MAYES (above) |
Recruited From: North Adelaide (SA)
Position: Medium Forward/Midfielder
Height: 187cm
Weight: 78kg
Career Highlights
AIS-AFL Academy Graduate
All Australian U18 2011
South Australian U18 Representative 2011, 2012
South Australian U18 Vice-Captain 2012
Statistics
Averaged 18.4 disposals and kicked 4.6 from across five matches at the 2012 U18 championships
Lions National Talent Manager Rob Kerr says:
"Sam Mayes we feel is a forward who is developing into a midfielder. He will probably learn his footy up forward, but we expect him to eventually go into the midfield. He's a very clever player, spreads well, reads the game very well. We hope he can be one of those players who can play forward and mid."
North Adelaide Coach Josh Francou says:
"I think he's probably the perfect height and, potentially, the perfect build … he's almost like the perfect utility player. One, his running ability's so good and secondly his height, but also his skill level - he's got very good skills. He'll develop into a very good footballer at (AFL) level. You tend to see some young guys come through that might have the skills but don't have the work ethic, and eventually those sorts of players fall off the team. Nothing to me suggests he's one of those; everything I've seen suggests otherwise."
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 PICK NO.23: MARCO PAPARONE |
Recruited From: East Fremantle (WA)
Position: Tall Forward
Height: 193cm
Weight: 84kg
Career Highlights
West Australian U18 Representative 2012
West Australian U18 Best and Fairest 2012
East Fremantle Most Dedicated Player 2012
Statistics
Averaged 17 disposals and seven marks, and kicked 45 goals with the East Fremantle Colts in 2012. He averaged 16 disposals, four marks and 1.5 goals per game with WA in the U18 Championships - enough to earn him the team’s Best and Fairest award. He is also an elite runner, having recorded a 15+ beep test.
Lions National Talent Manager Rob Kerr says:
"Marco is a really long runner. He's 194-195cm tall and just runs and runs. He'll be a really good connector for us - connect the backline to the forward line. He's a young boy with lots of development. He kicked 40 goals in the WAFL Colts, and we think he's a boy with a lot of potential."
West Australian Talent Manager Raff Guadagnino says:
“Marco has elite endurance and has the ability to wear down opponents. He's a midfielder/forward who is strong overhead and can get outside well. For a boy of his size, he has excellent athletic attributes. I think Marco is a sleeping giant - he's capable of a lot more than we've seen so far. At the championships he was often able to out-run his opponents, so he really can be damaging toward the end of quarters. I think he can develop into a really dangerous player”
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 PICK NO.32: MICHAEL CLOSE |
Recruited From: North Ballarat Rebels (VIC)
Position: Tall Forward
Height: 195cm
Weight: 82kg
Career Highlights
Victoria Country Representative 2012
Statistics
His best performance in the 2012 TAC Cup came against Tasmania, when he collected 18 disposals, took five marks, had 22 hitouts, and kicked two goals. He also kicked a season-best five goals against the Eastern Ranges. Close is an elite runner, having recorded a beep test of 15.6.
Lions National Talent Manager Rob Kerr says:
"Michael Close is 196cm and is really a centre half-forward. There are a few rough edges we'll try to knock off him over the next few years, but the thing in Michael's favour is that he's very competitive and that was the thing that probably stood out for us. He's going to be a project player, but we need to start looking beyond Brown. We need to find players who can hold down forward roles for us."
AFL Talent Manager Kevin Sheehan says:
“Mobile and strong marking tall forward who missed three games in the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships due to injury. Has elite endurance for his size (15 plus beep test) and excellent disposals by foot. He also has the ability to play as a backup ruckman. (He also has that) keenness you love to see. The clubs look for intangibles and how guys carry themselves in lots of different circumstances ... that's a big plus in that intangible area of 'do blokes want to do this badly enough' because AFL level is pretty tough going.”
AFL Victoria Wimmera Region Manager Geoff Burdett says:
"He has the ability to play anywhere. He can play forward, back, and even on-ball."
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