DOB: 20/05/1994
Height: 187cm
Weight: 78kg
Club: North Adelaide/South Australia
Bio: Medium forward who has good speed and elite agility and is a good set shot for goal. Reads the game well as a lead-up forward and starred for SA at the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships in 2011, winning All Australian honours. Played midfield roles also in U18s this year to continue his development which already sees him playing senior football for North Adelaide.
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Upside: Mayes didn't quite reach the same heights with SA this year as he did as a bottom-age player when he was named at centre half-forward in the All Australian team, but he reminded recruiters of his class with a strong finish to the season with SANFL side North Adelaide. Mayes played regular senior footy for the Roosters this year after relocating from Port Pirie with his penetrating and accurate disposal by foot and strength overhead features of his game. He has a good tank, a strong work ethic, is generally poised under pressure and possesses a nice turn of speed.
"Sam is a naturally gifted lead-up forward at the moment, he has a very good aerobic fitness base, and in time I think he'll turn himself into a very good midfielder. He's pretty smart in the way that he goes about his football. There aren't too many 18-year-olds who can have an impact in the SANFL, but he was certainly [able to]. He's very professional and his preparation for games is always outstanding." - North Adelaide development manager Darryl Wintle.
Downside: While Mayes has a deadly right foot, he'll need to hone his disposal off his non-preferred left. He's managed to work his way onto his right side well for much of his junior career, but that won't always be the case at the elite level.
Plays like: Mayes has got about 10cm on Adelaide's Jason Porplyzia, but there are similarities between the two with the youngster possessing comparable strength overhead and is also a great kick for goal. There's also a bit of Dale Thomas about Mayes in that he adds a touch of class and a bit of x-factor to the mix as well. Like Thomas, Mayes isn't a huge possession accumulator, but he hurts you with the quality of his disposal.
Draft range: Mayes' draft stocks took a hit for a while there, but the cream has risen to the top once more and he is a strong chance to get taken somewhere between the fifth and 10th overall picks. The Western Bulldogs, who hold the fifth and sixth selections, will find it hard to pass up a player of his class.
In his own words: "My work-rate's always been pretty high, but I still think I need to step it up a bit if I want to play at the elite level. Work-rate's a massive thing because if you want to get the ball you've got to work pretty hard and harder the higher level you play. I think playing some league footy's kind of good for the development if I do get the opportunity to play at the highest level."
Stats from NAB AFL U18 Championships:
| Matches | Kicks | Handballs | Marks | Disposals | Disposal efficiency | Contested possessions | Tackles | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 55 | 37 | 28 | 92 | 67.4% | 45 | 9 | 4.6 |
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs
