Ashley Arrowsmith

[Didak the Superstar]

Shot in arm for young Cannon
By Gareth Trickey
October 01, 2007 CALDER Cannons midfield player Ashley Arrowsmith increased his draft prospects with a best-on-ground performance in Saturday's TAC Cup grand final at the MCG.

The 18-year-old from East Keilor kicked four goals to help the Cannons to a 50-point win against the highly fancied Murray Bushrangers, 14.20 (104) to 7.12 (54).

Arrowsmith's impressive performance came on the back of an award-studded season in Victoria's premier junior football competition.

The 188cm Cannon was named in the TAC Cup Team of the Year and was selected in the Victoria Metro side in July.

Arrowsmith has now turned his attention to this week's AFL draft camp at the Australian Institute of Sport.

"The draft camp is going to be pretty demanding physically and mentally, but I'm looking forward to it," Arrowsmith said. "I guess my kicking and my endurance are going to be the strongest things I take in to the camp."

Arrowsmith and 75 other young footballers from around Australia will attend the three-day camp, which starts in Canberra tomorrow.

AFL clubs and scouts will put the next crop of potential AFL draftees through a series of intense physical tests to assess each player's speed, endurance, strength and ball skills.

Arrowsmith has already caught the eye of Brisbane Lions and Hawthorn.

"It's been a good experience to talk to different clubs and to hear how each club goes about the draft," Arrowsmith said. "They talk about your season and where you'd fit into their club and what you need to work at."

AFL national talent manager Kevin Sheehan said: "Ashley makes great decisions in big games, which is what good players do."


Did this kid get picked up in the draft. I remember watching him in the TAC Grand Final and was Best on Ground with 4 goals. Very dangerous with good skills. What pick did he go?

[collingwoodjoe]

not drafted.

[Dave The Man]

He is in the Rookie Draft

[DaicosMagic]

Expert on SEN said 'pace' was a concern.

Yeah, I'd hate to have a ball magnet with skills who can kick goals.

How's Sam Mitchell going? Peter Bell? Haselby? What about Jude Bolton? And Pendlebury's a speedster, too.

If they can't sprint in a straight line at a draft camp ...

Did you see some of those freakin' tests? What a load of CRAP.

[Alec. J. Hidell]

Too slow and that lack of pace was shown up during the U18 carnival.

[Piethagoras' Theorem]

Arrowsmith. Good name for a rock band

[rand corp]

Going to be a very interesting rookie draft with the talent over-looked this year.

[Magpie_Matty]

His A Dud

played alot against him very soft