200-gamer and current Allies coach Adrian Fletcher, is excited to see the heights North Melbourne draftees Tarryn Thomas and Bailey Scott can reach in the coming years.
Fletcher, who coached the pair during the TAC Cup this season, believes the new Roos have endless untapped potential.
“(Thomas and Scott) have been around the top level for the past couple of years, so it’s no surprise that they are where they are,” Fletcher told North Media.
“Tarryn Thomas was dominating games as a 16-year-old.
“They’re capable, they’ve got the tools of the trade to take their games to another level, and that’s what should be the exciting thing for North Melbourne fans.
“It all starts now for them, we’re excited for them, and I know that they’ll be A-grade players for North.”
Considered one of the most experienced development coaches in the country, Fletcher has nothing but praise for the way the pair handled the year, given the lofty expectations placed upon them.
“We know that they have to jump through about 30 hoops before they get picked on the night, but I was confident those two were always going to get picked, it was just a matter of at what number,” he said.
Son of 1996 premiership player Robert Scott, Bailey Scott’s professionalism and off-field demeanor was an impressive trait in the eyes of Fletcher.
“He was captain of the Allies this season,” he said.
“He showed great leadership, is really intelligent and can speak in-front of the boys.
“He sets the bar high in terms of standards. He’s a real professional.”
On field that intelligence is evident with his ability to impact the game with ease.
“Bailey’s quite an intelligent player as he reads the game very quickly,” Fletcher said.
“He covers the ground like an AFL footballer, he’ll get back in defence and he’ll get forward and kick goals in the forwardline.
“He just makes good decisions and is a really good ball user.”
His teammate Thomas, in which he’s played closely with over the past two years, is equally as impressive according to Fletcher.
“He’s a natural,” he said.
“He’s very quick to read the ball in the air, and in the contest, he can turn his opponent around.
“He’s got an amazing ability to kick the ball out in-front of the forwards and weights it really well.
“He’s as tough as nails at ground level and he’ll tackle hard.
“He can play in a number of positions.
“Whether it’s out on the wing or in the middle, he can play half-back or half-forward and even go to the goal square and be very damaging.”
That no-holds-barred attitude couldn’t be further from the truth off-the-field for the Tasmanian, who is a down to earth, loyal person according to his former coach.
“He’s a likeable character,” Fletcher added.
“He’s good to be around, he’s got a good smile on him.
“The one thing that I love about him is, if you’re in the trenches, he’s the one you want as a teammate, because when it gets tough, he’ll be the one there to compete.”
