Height: 200 cm
Weight: 98 kg
DOB: 28/01/95
Position: Key forward/ruck
Club: Eastern Ranges
From our recruiters: Michael is a key forward/ruckmen who had a breakout year after coming back to AFL from two years away with the Melbourne Rebels rugby union junior squad. He played mainly at full-forward with Eastern Rangers, but also had stints as a key defender and ruckman. For Eastern, he took 46 contested marks and kicked 25.16 goals for the season. He played more as a ruckman for Vic Metro where he averaged 19 hitouts a game (5.2 to advantage) highlighting his smarts with his tap-work. He also averaged 2 clearances a game, highlighting his second efforts and ability to follow up. Michael is a powerful player who possesses good natural aggression. He's a terrific contested mark, and if he isn't able to mark it he always brings the ball to ground to allow the smalls into the game. The week after Michael played in a premiership for the Eastern Rangers, he went to the draft combine and ran a 10.55 3km time trial, highlighting his endurance. Michael has huge upside given the lack of footy he's played over the past few years.
From AFL.com: Aggressive and competitive ruckman who consistently gets his hand to the ball, providing his midfielders with first use. Has strong hands overhead and can be dangerous playing as a tall forward. Comes from a rugby background.
In the media
Apeness speared the Ranges into the TAC Cup grand final, hitting the scoreboard in every match after May as more than 12 clubs began speaking to him – in The Herald Sun, 17 November, 2013
It appears unlikely Apeness will be taken any earlier than Fremantle's pick No.17 but a number of other clubs in the next group of selections will be looking to add a big man to their list during the draft, including Essendon – on AFL.com, 3 November, 2013
What he’s said in 2013
"After going there and enjoying that really intense, professional environment for a couple of months, I realised I missed out on some great opportunities in footy and I was also just missing the game as well.” – on leaving Aussie Rules for rugby union in The Age, 4 October, 2013
