Power forward Membrey makes impact

Old-fashioned footballer who is strong overhead, has a thumping kick, and sports a palm tree tattoo.

Big wraps: Gippsland Power coach Nick Stevens says Tim Membrey is a more accurate kick for goal than Brendon Fevola. Source: Herald Sun

TIM Membrey's September was almost over before it started.

The power forward decided to pull the boots on in the qualifying final just 20 minutes before the bounce and on the back of no training owing to a groin injury.

A month later and the Traralgon lad was locked in as a first-round draft pick.

Membrey spent his weekdays assembling pipes in his full-time job as an apprentice plumber and his weekends tearing opposition defenders apart, kicking 16 goals in three finals.

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The Jack Darling-type booted 8.2 in the preliminary final on the back of "15 minutes of training" to drag Gippsland to the grand final, where his fourth goal handed the Power the lead in the last quarter.

"It was awesome. One of the best efforts I've seen, from a junior footballer especially," Power coach Nick Steven said of his captain's monster haul.

"He was marking really strongly, he beat everyone that came to him. They had two on one in the end and he was still catching everything.

"He kicked three goals from outside 50m at crunch times and one from about 58m to put us in front."

Stevens said Membrey was a better kick for goal than former teammate Brendan Fevola.

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"It's a big comment, but he's such a powerful and penetrating kick for a kid his age and he just doesn't miss many.

Recruiters have told the golden boot to work on his endurance with Membrey too short to hold down a key-position at AFL level.

"I'm 189cm which isn't your ideal key-position, so I'm more looking at being that third tall who can play higher up the ground and trying work the opponent over," Membrey, who made his senior debut at 16, said.

"Jack Darling's 190 but he definitely plays like a key forward, with strong hands and a good kick for goal, so I model my game on him."

But while Darling slipped to pick 26, Stevens said Membrey deserved to go in the top 10.

"I rate him as a top-10 pick and think it'd be crazy if he doesn't go top 10.

"The beauty is he'll end up being a high half-forward and he's ready. I've got no doubt he'll line up Round 1 next year."

Stevens said Membrey was a "knockabout bloke" with the keen surfer recognised by the colourful palm tree tattoo he sports on his left bicep.

"One of me mates drew it up and a tattoo artist did it. Hopefully down the track there'll be a couple more tatts to come," Membrey said.

THE TIM MEMBREY FILE

AGE: 18
HEIGHT: 189cm
WEIGHT: 88kg
FROM: Gippsland Power
POSITION: Power forward
PREDICTED DRAFT RANGE: 11-22
IN THE MIX: Blues (11), GWS (14), Roos (15), Freo (17), Dogs (22)
PLAYS LIKE: Jack Darling

Follow Sam Landsberger on Twitter @SamLandsberger

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