NAB AFL Draft to get underway on the Gold Coast

DRAFT WATCH: Tyler Keitel

AGE: 18

POSITION: KEY FORWARD/DEFENDER

HEIGHT: 194 cms

WEIGHT: 86 kgs
 

With the NAB AFL Draft to get underway later this afternoon, we take a look at Colt and draft prospect, Tyler Keitel, who promises to feature.

PROFILE:

A growth spurt over the past two years has helped Keitel’s development as a key position player - that has seen him taste action in a variety of roles - a diversity Keitel believes will do no harm to his draft prospects.

“It’s helped not being placed in a concrete position for my whole football career, I think its helped having an exposure to a number of roles and that’s really helped me out coming into my draft year”, he told NAB Draft Radio in June.

Keitel was impressive last year for WA at the National Championships. Then a ruckman who spent time up forward, he showed glimpses of what he had to offer.

In 2013, Keitel spent his time mostly forward, offering rotations through the ruck for East Perth. He kicked 39 goals from his 18 Colts games, with an average of 15.8 disposals and 5.2 marks per game.

This year Keitel continued playing Colts football, tracking at an average of two goals and five marks per game, off his 15 games.

Although he averaged slightly less disposals this year, with just 13.8 per game, his development into a swingman off the back of this year's National Championships saw him gravitate to defence, a role in which his ability to spoil and play a close checking role was commended.

“My form at East Perth (in 2014) has been a bit patchy, I’ve been struggling to find the footy in a few games. It’s been an up and down season but I’m enjoying my time down at East Perth and the coaching staff down there, they’re all really good so it’s a great environment for me to be in to further my football game”.

“I definitely think it’s a good attribute to have, being able to play anywhere and I think that’s really something that I’ve tried to model myself on in the past six to twelve months. I think it adds something to my game and I want to be known as a player that can play anywhere to best serve the team", he said.

From 3.30pm tonight AFL fans around the country can watch the 2014 NAB AFL Draft live on FOX FOOTY or follow it live on the AFL website.

“You kind of dream of these things, and exciting things happening in the future, but there comes a lot of small steps to that big picture”, Keitel said.