Why there’s a lot to like about the draft’s best key defender

AFL draft expert Mick Ablett believes Connor O’Sullivan is the best key defender in this year’s crop.

The 198cm 18-year-old played in a variety of positions this season but shone brightest as a marking tall backman.

The Murray Bushrangers star was a force for the Allies in the National Carnival and Ablett compared O’Sullivan to two stars of the AFL at either end of the ground.

“I go straight to Connor O'Sullivan (when picking the best key defender), he's a 198-centimetre centre half back,,” Ablett said on SEN Captain’s Run.

“He was in the Coates League Team of the Year player in that particular position and he's the genuine swingman of this draft.

“We generally get one of them and I've likened him a little bit if think of an Oscar Allen-type player.

“If you go back to some earlier days, it’s like how Darcy Moore that had the ability to play centre half forward and a half back.”

As well as his ability to defend one-on-one, O’Sullivan has some genuine attacking weapons and even finished eighth in the 2km time trial at the draft combine, running it in 6:11 minutes.

Ablett says there’s a lot to like about those attacking attributes.

“This guy is just a beautiful attacking option in either one of those positions,” Ablett said.

“Particularly down back where he really likes to slingshot. He takes the ball deep, he takes off and attacks at every opportunity.

“But having said that he's also got a really nice level of composure.

“He does want to go and take the game on, but he's also got the ability to sum the situation up, compose himself, change direction and hit a target somewhere where he wasn't necessarily moving in the first place.

“There's a lot to like about Connor O’Sullivan.”

O’Sullivan is currently rated as the 10th best prospect in Cal Twomey’s Phantom Form Guide on AFL.com.au.