A ball-magnet who can play both inside and outside, and can cut up games with devastating bursts.
High AFL draft pick hopeful Jono O'Rourke breaks a tackle. He could be headed for the Western Bulldogs. Source: Herald Sun
THE Western Bulldogs midfield of the future is shaping as a band of ferocious ball winners which relishes tough contests.
The missing ingredient - polish - could be delivered at next week's draft in the form of Jono O'Rourke, who is firming as the Dogs' prized No.5 pick.
And the classy, smooth-moving midfielder would be a steal according to some rivals, who rate O'Rourke as the third-best talent in the draft.
But with GWS unlikely to chase midfielders with all of its first three selections, and Melbourne's infatuation with hard-nut Ollie Wines, the Dogs could be delivered a dream result.
"The Bulldogs are probably my preferred club," said O'Rourke, who is mates with Dogs defender Michael Talia.
"I think it's a team I could get involved in and use my strengths for. It's close to home and a good area, too."
Calder Cannons talent manager Ian Kyte said Whitten Oval would be a good fit for "Rolls-Royce" O'Rourke.
"He'd be sensational there. I wouldn't mind getting off (Tom) Liberatore and (Mitch) Wallis' handballs from inside and streaming down the wing," Kyte said.
O'Rourke shone for Vic Metro this year with his ball use tracking at 78 per cent and his ability to cut sides open with devastating bursts impressing coaches.
"He seems to glide around the ground and not be over-extending himself, but he never gets caught," Kyte said.
w"A couple of times he won the centre clearance and then hit a Joey (Daniher) up on the lead and it was AFL-like, it was very enjoyable to watch."
O'Rourke put his mix of inside and outside work down to decision making and modelling his game on Trent Cotchin and Scott Pendlebury.
"If I see a player who can win the ball you rely on them to get it out to you, but if you're in the spot to be that ball winner you have to make that decision, you cant be half-hearted," he said.
"If I'm in space I like to take my time to help my execution, but if I'm under the pump I can use that breakaway speed to give that extra bit of time."
THE JONO O'ROURKE FILE
AGE: 18
HEIGHT: 184cm
WEIGHT: 73kg
FROM: Calder Cannons
POSITION: Classy midfielder
PREDICTED DRAFT RANGE: 3-8
IN THE MIX: GWS (No.3), Dogs (5), Lions (8)
PLAYS LIKE: Trent Cotchin
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