Aiden Bonar in action during the agility testing of the Draft Combine at Etihad Stadium, held in early October. Photo: GETTY IMAGES
Footyology’s draft rankings – No. 19: Aiden Bonar
No. 19 – AIDEN BONAR
Victoria (Dandenong Stingrays)
Half-forward/midfielder
Born: 23/10/1999
Height: 190cm
Weight: 89kg
TAC CUP STATS
Disposals: 13.8
Kicks: 7
Handballs: 6.8
Kicking efficiency: 47%
Handball efficiency: 74%
Marks: 3.5
Tackles: 4.3
Goals: 0.8
One elite attribute: Athleticism. An explosive game breaker with exorbitant amounts of potential if he can improve his endurance base and stay injury-free.
Best-case comparison: Patrick Dangerfield (circa 2008-12)
WHAT HE’S GOT
Work ethic/mental strength: Overcame two anterior cruciate ligament ruptures to surprise scouts across the country this year.
Leap: Bonar was well ahead of his peers in the standing vertical jump test at the Draft Combine (89 centimetres), which makes him a real threat inside 50.
Burst: Top three in the 20-metre sprint with 2.9 seconds. This, combined with his big frame, makes him a potent threat in contested situations.
WHAT HE LACKS
Tank: This is in large part due to the amount of time he’s missed. According to the Stingrays’ talent manager, Bonar is known for training the house down, so I’d back him in to make up ground pretty quickly.
Injuries: If Bonar hadn’t had two knee reconstructions, he would probably be in the mix for the No.1 pick.
