By ADEM SARICAOGLU
JAMES Sicily emerged as the Western Jets’ leading AFL draft candidate during the 2013 season.
Across 16 games for the Jets in the TAC Cup this year, the 18-year-old Keilor product regularly featured among the stand-outs and managed to kick 26 goals, 11 of which came from a four-game burst through April and May.
His form and promise was good enough to warrant selection for Vic Metro in the national championships, where Sicily averaged 14 disposals and seven marks.
But it wasn’t Sicily’s ability to generate numbers that has led to his emergence as one of the real wildcards in this Thursday’s draft.
Rather, it’s the wide variety of boxes he ticks both as an athlete and a natural footballing mind that has Jets coach Torin Baker confident Sicily will get to an AFL club this summer.
“I think he’ll have a successful AFL career,” Baker said.
“He can play a variety of roles at AFL level.
“He’s kicked nearly 30 goals in the TAC Cup this year which shows he’s good around goal, so I think he’ll probably start as a forward and further into his career he’ll be able to play a midfield role.”
It remains somewhat of a mystery just where Sicily is best suited on the field.
Most of those who should know best believe his strong overhead ability makes Sicily a formidable key forward option, while others are well aware of the value he brings into the midfield.
Sicily himself isn’t entirely sure where he fits best, but he does have a preference.
“With the Jets I was playing in a key forward role, which I’d never played previously,” Sicily said.
“But I do see myself as a midfielder more than a forward.”
Baker regards Sicily more as a highly versatile utility.
“He’s a high forward that has the capabilities to really hurt you with his marking strength, but in saying that I really think one of his strengths is he’s just such a versatile player,” Baker said.
“He can play on the wing, he showed he can play an inside role and I’ve got confidence that he could play as a half back flanker or something like that as well.”
Not originally noted for his speed, Sicily surprised everyone at last month’s national draft combine with a 2.84-second 20-metre sprint – the fourth best overall.
All that remains now is the nerve-racking reveal of whether an AFL club is willing to enlist his services for 2014 and beyond.
“I’m quite excited at the moment but the nerves will definitely kick in come the day of the draft,” Sicily said.
“I think I’ve done enough (to get drafted), but there’s still that element of doubt as well.”
