FALCON SPRAGUE A LIVE DRAFT CHANCE
HE’S in the mould of Patrick Cripps and possesses the skills and traits of Luke Parker.
Gifted Geelong Falcons forward Charlie Sprague is looming as a surprise draft prospect, according to coach Daniel O’Keefe.
“It’s becoming more likely as the year goes on,” O’Keefe said of Sprague’s AFL hopes.
“He’s really unique. He’s different to others who will have a draft opportunity at the end of the season.
“And for someone like Charlie, it’s not about getting 30 possessions, it’s about having those moments in games that recruiters deem him draftable.
“He’s a live chance. Five clubs have voted him into the draft combine and that proves that there’s interest in him.”
A 187cm, 79kg half-forward, Sprague has been likened to Carlton superstar midfielder Cripps. The talented Geelong College student also boasts the attributes of champion Sydney onballer Parker.
“Appearance-wise, he looks a bit like Cripps, but he doesn’t quite have that bulldog-type approach that Cripps does,” O’Keefe said.
“He’s a clever player who can go into the midfield in spurts. He’s a bit like Luke Parker, without that bullocking play.
“He’s got a frame that could get big and strong if he could get into the industry and that really excites recruiters — the fact that he’s got a lot of body development left.”
Sprague, who missed a large chunk of the season with a serious finger injury, will have a chance to boost his draft prospects today when the Falcons take on Gippsland Power in a TAC Cup elimination final at IKON Park.
After a slow start in 2017, Sprague burst onto the scene with an exceptional performance in the Young Guns game.
“He played through the wing, got the most possessions on the ground and used the ball really well and that was the initial spark within the recruiters’ eyes,” O’Keefe revealed.
“Fast forward 12 months and he’s hit pre-season training fantastically well. He’s not an endurance beast like some of our other midfielders, but where he makes up for that is his football smarts.
“He makes super decisions with ball in hand, he rarely makes a mistake.
“Efficiency-wise, players go at 70-75 per cent by hand and foot; he’d be up around 85-90 per cent because he rarely misses a target.
“He chooses the right target first of all and then he executes the skill. He does that simply, but well.”
Making a blistering start to 2018, Sprague’s campaign was derailed by a serious hand in- jury that robbed him of representing Vic Country.
“His first couple of games for us were brilliant and then he moved into a practice match for Vic Country, and he was the best player on the ground,” O’Keefe said.
“He would’ve been selected for the squad, but a week after that he tore a tendon in his hand. He had major surgery, which put him out for 12 weeks, and we thought it was going to be the whole season. We planned without him but he came back two weeks ago.
“In his first game back he exploded onto the scene, kicked three goals in a must-win game and he proved that he lacked a bit of fitness but what you don’t lose in time out of the game is your awareness, nous and your footy smarts and that’s something that will be with Charlie for a long time.
“It’s certainly his strength, the way his running patterns are. He finds space that others can’t and he uses the ball well with smart decisions.
“He’s that old-school, traditional footballer with a couple of tricks and he just gets the job done well.”