JACKSON Thurlow has more than enough draft credits in the bank, according to AFL talent manager Kevin Sheehan.
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Sheehan, the country's most respected voice on under-age football talent, said that even if the 18-year-old was unable to perform at his best at next month's draft combine due to injury his on-field performances would have left a lasting memory with AFL recruiters.
Thurlow's State League finals campaign ended on Sunday after he received three facial fractures and a broken thumb from an alleged sling tackle from Burnie's Bentyn Milverton.
``His football prowess has been outstanding this year and that will carry him through,'' Sheehan said of the Launceston defender.
``He's got a lot of credits in the bank the way he's played this year.
``We can make some observations athletically about the way he's played and go back to previous testing numbers, but we obviously hope he makes a speedy recovery from what's occurred.
``The interview process, the medicals and some psychological and some skill work he could do, but it could affect his endurance tests where you need a solid month of preparation before hand.
``We'd be pretty liberal in not expecting him to do that if he's not fit.''
However, he said the All-Australian was not in the category where pure draft results were used as a deciding factor of whether a player got drafted or not.
``When there's so many even ones later on, some guys need a super performance (at the draft camp) to say he's got an X-factor,'' Sheehan said.
``That's when it is vital to be at your peak, but Jackson is ahead of that category due to his footy performance.''
Sheehan said that it was not uncommon for injured players to be limited at the draft combine, but still have their AFL dreams realised.
Milverton will face the State League tribunal tonight charged with rough conduct.
