Born: 7/10/1995
Height: 189cm
Weight: 84kg
Club: West Perth
Position: Midfield/Defender

BLAKE Acres can now call himself a Saint, after St Kilda selected the versatile 18-year-old with pick 19 in Thursday's National Draft.

Acres is capable of playing as an inside or outside midfielder, but has also spent time holding down a key defensive post over the past two seasons.

It’s been an interrupted 2013 for Acres, who played 20 games for West Perth last year, averaging 27 disposals per outing in the midfield. Just prior to this season’s National Championships, he dislocated his shoulder and was on the sidelines for five weeks. 

He worked his way back in time for Western Australia’s final two games in the carnival, but dislocated it again and had season-ending arthroscopic surgery in July.

In some respects Acres was a bit of an unknown quantity heading into this year’s National Draft, but those in the know suggest he’s a highly talented and versatile player with tremendous athletic ability and running prowess.

He is just as adept intercepting forward thrusts at half-back as he is running freely on wing, winning his own ball in the centre, or even playing as a second key forward.

Football skills aside, he is also a renowned leader and captained the West Perth Colts in 2013.

His height and spatial awareness make Acres an exciting prospect for St Kilda in the years to come and he will benefit greatly from a full pre-season on the track where he can build up his endurance after an interrupted 2013.

You can follow Tom Morris on twitter: @tommorris32