Why young Sydney forward Nick Blakey will prove to be ‘the best player of this draft’

Sydney young gun Nick Blakey might not win this year’s Rising Star award, but North Melbourne great David King thinks he may end up being the best player taken from last year’s National Draft.

The 19-year-old has played 12 games since the Swans used Pick 10 to secure the academy graudate, who is the son of North Melbourne great and Sydney’s head of development John Blakey.

While there is no question Carlton midfielder Sam Walsh has burst onto the scene, along with Port Adelaide forward Connor Rozee and Richmond rookie revelation Sydney Stack, Blakey has the tools to be the pick of the bunch.

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When Sydney superstar Lance Franklin pinged his hamstring in the third quarter, it was Blakey who stood tall in the final term to lead the Swans to a 19-point win over Hawthorn on Friday night.

Blakey plucked three big contested marks — including a screamer — and kicked two fourth quarter goals, finishing with 11 disposals and seven marks (three contested) to show why he is so highly rated.

“I think he’s the next story now. He won’t win the Rising Star. I think he’ll be the best player of this draft,” King said on SEN on Saturday.

“In five years’ time we’ll say it was a really good draft, but I think the way he plays, he’ll always be able to kick goals whereas midfielders, sometimes their possessions aren’t worth as much.

“There was a couple of moments Nick Blakey gave in that last quarter … how good was he.

“Maybe Sam Reid isn’t the talking point. Maybe it’s how quick can this guy come on. He’s got a senior frame. He’s a strong body. I know he looks a little bit flimsy, but he’s wiry, he’s like his old man, he’s got every bit of 200 games stamped on him.

“He’s an elite runner and he’s been getting ready for AFL football for five or six years. He knew this was coming.”

Port Adelaide great Kane Cornes said it was the teenager — not the more experienced Sam Reid — who stood tall when Franklin departed the game, producing a moment that belied his youth.

“How many first year players can stand at the top of the goalsquare and take a genuine contested mark? There’s none that can do what he did,” Cornes added.

“It was a pretty significant moment in the game too, Hawthorn were coming and you think who’s going to stand up, is it going to be Reid, nope it was this young kid.

“He’s every bit going to be as good as anyone who was taken in this draft.”

With Franklin set to put his 300th game next weekend on hold for at least a couple of weeks, the scene is set for Blakey to take another step in his debut season.