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Sport Nation
Find your frequency hereThe Jarman Impey clone: Draft bolter on the horizon
Paul Sebastiani • August 11th, 2025 4:33 pm
It is not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog.
AFL club recruiters and scouts will forego acquiring junior athletes based on a variety of aesthetics - height of the specimen being a deterring or settled factor with many.
For AFL draft prospect Roman Moxon, who stands at 175 centimetres, stature and size is not a
mitigating arbitrary allotment for his football ability.
mitigating arbitrary allotment for his football ability.
Moxon, vice-captain of Northern Knights in the 2025 COATES Talent League, spoke exclusively to
SEN.com.au about what he brings to the talent pool ahead of AFL draft night in mid-November.
SEN.com.au about what he brings to the talent pool ahead of AFL draft night in mid-November.
“The best part of the game is my ball use and decision making,” Moxon said.
“Being a right-footer, kicking on the left side of my body is something that my dad told me to get onto from a very young age.”
“Where I live, we’ve got a nature strip through the middle, so I had to hit a target a certain number of times before I could go back inside the house with dad.”
Most football fans around the nation get such a rush of optimism when new draft prospects enter
their clubs.
their clubs.
Hopes and dreams of the shiny new toys.
However, we are often left wondering who these young men might compare to in order to gain an
idea into what they will offer their new team.
idea into what they will offer their new team.
It is easy to read a profile and ascertain base-level knowledge, but the eye-test and aesthetic
marry-up is what allows written word to manifest into some form of truth and validation.
marry-up is what allows written word to manifest into some form of truth and validation.
“Jarman Impey.”
Moxon suggested it was the zippy Hawthorn defender who he likened his skill set to at the elite
level of Aussie Rules.
level of Aussie Rules.
Impey stands at 177 centimetres and has been a pivotal part of Hawthorn’s push up the ladder with direct, sharp ball movement, acceleration to burn and defensive prowess across half back.
The tape measure has Impey equal third shortest on the Hawks’ playing list - refer to first
paragraph of the article.
paragraph of the article.
Moxon highlights an area of his game he continues to work on - something Impey has down pat -
called the ‘first five steps.”
called the ‘first five steps.”
“It is about trying to get as far as way as I can from my opponent in the first five steps,” Moxon explained.
“Really short, sharp explosive movements.
“I feel like throughout this year and last year, with all the development I've done with it, it's starting to show in-game.
“Last week, for the Knights, there were a few times where I got a handball receive and I was
breaking away and breaking the lines and hitting targets, which was great.
breaking away and breaking the lines and hitting targets, which was great.
“So, that’s probably the one thing that I want to keep improving on.”
Averaging nigh-on 20 disposals a game at close to a 90% disposal efficiency rating, Moxon’s ball
use is not his only weapon.
use is not his only weapon.
Defensive roles are something he also prides himself on.
Having locked down some of the more highly-touted and south-after draft prospects, Moxon is
finding the balance with and without the ball.
finding the balance with and without the ball.
“I’ve been developing the defensive side of my game,” Moxon said.
“A point of difference for me is being able to play on those nippy small forwards, whilst also having strong offensive abilities.
“I have played on Lachy Dovaston (Eastern Ranges), Hussien El Achkar (Calder Cannons) and
Khaled El-Souki (Western Jets).
Khaled El-Souki (Western Jets).
“Basically, it has been about trying to lock players like that away, but also having a big offensive impact with the ball when we move forward as a team.”
The prospect of facing El-Souki, again, looms large in the coming week.
Moxon is set to take his place across the back line for the Northern Knights when they face the
Western Jets at Preston City Oval on Sunday 17th August
Western Jets at Preston City Oval on Sunday 17th August
