TIM Membreys September was over almost before it started. <p style='color: #434343; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-right: 163px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.3em;]A month later and the Traralgon lad was locked in as a first-round draft pick.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. <p style='color: #434343; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-right: 163px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.3em;]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. <div>
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 Ive seen, from a junior footballer especially,' Power coach Nick Steven said of his captains 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. 'Its a big comment, but hes such a powerful and penetrating kick for a kid his age and he just doesnt 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. 'Im 189cm which isnt your ideal key-position, so Im 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 Darlings 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 itd be crazy if he doesnt go top 10. 'The beauty is hell end up being a high half-forward and hes ready. Ive got no doubt hell 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 therell 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