[RoosyRocks]

Broc McCauley – Southport Sharks

Age: 20
Height: 201cms
Weight: 94kgs
1km: 2min 45sec
Beep Test: 13.8

Having been playing soccer for Mt Gravatt in the Queensland State League at the start of 2006, this agile big-man gave up the goal keeping and switched over to the increasingly popular AFL. He played one year of local footy in which the Southport Sharks identified this kid as a potential superstar of the game. Getting a preseason under his belt before the 2007 season allowed him to really shine out as one of, if not the fittest ruckman in the league. At 201cms he scored an amazing 13.8 for the beep test, and still has a turn of pace with a 2:45 for the one km. Learning the game as he played Broc soon began to show his dominance, and his ability to run out games made him a real threat to his opposition. By the end of the season he had come on leaps and bounds, and had also added another string to his bow, being able to go forward and kick goals. While other ruckmen rest on the bench, this giant can use his exceptional fitness to remain on the ground, stretching the defence of any side.

During the finals Broc showed just how much he had improved over the space of just one season in the QAFL. In the finals Broc put out three great performances and moved his side into the grand final. In the first final Broc dominated throughout the day and was named high in the bests players, kicking 2 goals to go with his strong tap work. The preliminary final he came up against the two state ruckmen and took them apart, especially in the last quarter, running all over the top of the pair. In the last quarter he surged forward to kick a goal with a banana from the boundary line, showing the big man has great skills for a ruckman. The grand final he rucked against Joel Smoah (touted as a top 25 pick) and won most of the taps. His ability to perform in the big games is a great sign from such a young player.

His development over his first year of QAFL under ruck coach Roger Merrett shows this boy has the brains to learn the game quickly, and his ability to think his way through situations is a valuable asset many ruckmen don’t possess. At age 20 he has added maturity over many of the 17-18 year olds entering the senior game, however given only a limited AFL career he has not developed many bad habits younger ruckmen did whilst playing against undersized opponents. The added capacity to go forward and kick goals combined with the immense fitness makes him the ideal around the ground big-man. Broc’s ability to tap very accurately with both hands combined with his raking 55m kicks and vast aerobic capacity make this young giant a likely draft prospect for clubs with deficiencies in their ruck stocks.


RR