The 2014 U18/Draft Thread

[Mr.Craig]

So I have not kept up with the draft at all this year, could someone please throw me a couple names the Blues will look at and are likely to pick up? I assume we will have Pick 5-7.

Thanks. ;)

Not sure Vin, what kind of player do you think they would want? If I was Carlton I'd be thinking about someone 188-192 with plenty of positional flexibility but I haven't really thought that hard about it.

On another note here is the list of Combine invitees....

NSW/ACT
Logan Austin                Belconnen
Nick Coughlan              Murray Bushrangers
Abe Davis                     UNSW-Easts
Tom Faul                      Ainslie
Jeremy Finlayson         Hills Eagles
Isaac Heeney               Cardiff
Jack Hiscox                  Sydney Uni
Brydan Hodgson          Murray Bushrangers
Dougal Howard            Murray Bushrangers
Michael Mattingly          Corowa-Rutherglen
Tyler Roos                    Sandringham Dragons
Jack Steele                   Belconnen

NORTHERN TERRITORY
Nakia Cockatoo            NT Thunder

QUEENSLAND
Harris Andrews            Aspley
Liam Dawson               Aspley
Matt Hammelmann       Morningside
Nick Jackson                Aspley
Braydon Preuss           Mt Gravatt
Matthew Uebergang    Ipswich
Lachie Weller               Broadbeach

SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Peter Bampton             Norwood
Caleb Daniel                South Adelaide
Sam Durdin                  West Adelaide
Brett Eddy                    South Adelaide
Josh Glenn                   Central Districts
Dean Gore                   Sturt
Cory Gregson               Glenelg
Declan Hamilton           Port Adelaide
Oleg Markov                 North Adelaide
Alex Neal-Bullen           Glenelg
Keenan Ramsey           Port Adelaide
Tom Read                     Sturt
James Rose                 Sturt
Billy Stretch                  Glenelg
Harrison Wigg              North Adelaide

TASMANIA
Josh McGuinness          Lauderdale

VIC COUNTRY
Daniel Butler                North Ballarat Rebels
Christian Buykx-Smith  Gippsland Power
Daniel Capiron             Gippsland Power
Zaine Cordy                 Geelong Falcons
Jordan Cunico              Gippsland Power
Nathan Drummond       Murray Bushrangers
Hugh Goddard             Geelong Falcons
Daniel Howe                Murray Bushrangers
Tom Lamb                    Dandenong Stingrays
Jack Lonie                    Dandenong Stingrays
Caleb Marchbank         Murray Bushrangers
Rowan Marshall           North Ballarat Rebels
Patrick McCartin           Geelong Falcons
Jaden McGrath             Bendigo Pioneers
Jackson Nelson            Geelong Falcons
Lukas Webb                 Gippsland Power

VIC METRO
Paul Ahern                   Calder Cannons
Angus Brayshaw          Sandringham Dragons
Jason Castagna           Northern Knights
Damien Cavka             Calder Cannons
Josh Clayton                Sandringham Dragons
Jordan De Goey          Oakleigh Chargers
Harry Dear                   Sandringham Dragons
Liam Duggan               Western Jets
Corey Ellis                   Western Jets
Matthew Goodyear      Calder Cannons
Billy Gowers                Oakleigh Chargers
Ed Langdon                 Sandringham Dragons
Kyle Langford              Northern Knights
Jayden Laverde           Western Jets
Jake Lever                   Calder Cannons
Brayden Maynard         Sandringham Dragons
Daniel McKenzie          Oakleigh Chargers
Reece McKenzie          Northern Knights
Connor Menadue         Western Jets
Touk Miller                    Calder Cannons
Darcy Moore                Oakleigh Chargers
Daniel Nielson              Eastern Ranges
Brenton Payne            Western Jets
Christian Petracca       Eastern Ranges
Marc Pittonet               Oakleigh Chargers
Ed Vickers-Willis          Sandringham Dragons
Dillon Viojo-Rainbow    Western Jets
Peter Wright                 Calder Cannons

WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Aidan Anderson           Swan Districts
Connor Blakely             Swan Districts
Jack Cripps                   East Fremantle
Josh Deluca                  Subiaco
Billy Frampton              South Fremantle
Jarrod Garlett               South Fremantle
Tyler Keitel                   East Perth
Mitch McGovern           Claremont
Jermaine Miller-Lewis   South Fremantle
Jarrod Pickett               South Fremantle
Clem Smith                   Perth
Francis Watson            Claremont

INTERNATIONAL
Marvin Baynham          USA
Paddy Brophy              Ireland
Evan Bruinsma             USA
Connor McKenna          Ireland

[Mr.Craig]

Some pretty handy players missing from that list. Hopefully they get an opportunity at state combines or continue impressing in the TAC.

[Mailman the 2nd]

Dillon Viojo-Rainbow    Western Jets

Come on he has to be drafted hahahaha

[Bill Manspeaker]

I know we desperately need a forward to take over when Rooey retires (McCartin probably), but it seriously wouldn't surprise me if we picked Petracca instead and picked up a forward some other way

[Sapientia]

Okay small problem. I've gone to post my mock draft in here for you guys (who are getting the third round a good while before BigFooty will :P) but it is kind of 100,000 characters, 5 times the limit here. I've got this funny feeling taking up 5 posts would be a little gratuitous so does anyone have any suggestions as to how I could post it with the limit in mind?

[Bill Manspeaker]

Okay small problem. I've gone to post my mock draft in here for you guys (who are getting the third round a good while before BigFooty will :P) but it is kind of 100,000 characters, 5 times the limit here. I've got this funny feeling taking up 5 posts would be a little gratuitous so does anyone have any suggestions as to how I could post it with the limit in mind?

just go for it mate. I wouldn't think it matters how many different posts it takes at all.

may have a problem though. when copying and pasting there's a massive issue with apostrophes (and maybe other things as well) that will cause whatever comes after it to be deleted.

maybe just put a link up to the BF page if you have any trouble with it

[Sapientia]

Power Rankings

1. Peter Wright
2. Patrick McCartin
3. Christian Petracca
4. Isaac Heeney (SYD ACAD)
5. Darcy Moore
6. Jake Lever
7. Angus Brayshaw
8. Jayden Laverde
9. Matthew Hammelmann (BRIS ACAD)
10. Paul Ahern
11. Sam Durdin
12. Hugh Goddard
13. Connor Blakely
14. Alec Waterman (WC F/S)
15. Caleb Daniel
16. Liam Duggan
17. Lachie Weller
18. Peter Bampton
19. Jarrod Garlett
20. Jordan De Goey
21. Caleb Marchbank
22. Jarrod Pickett
23. Dean Gore
24. Clem Smith
25. Corey Ellis
26. Jack Steele
27. Jeremy Finlayson (GWS ACAD)
28. Aidan Anderson
29. Liam Dawson (BRIS ACAD)
30. Tom Lamb
31. Tyler Keitel
32. Josh Glenn
33. Harrison Wigg
34. Touk Miller
35. Brayden Maynard
36. Jason Castagna
37. Ed Vickers-Willis
38. Kyle Langford
39. Jackson Nelson
40. Alex Neal-Bullen



Best of the rest:

I'm not really sure that beyond the first two or so rounds teams draft on best available and more favour needs so I won't try and compare fringe players against other fringe players who play different roles, I'll solely rate them against those who play similar roles.

A hyphen indicates where I believe the approximate split between ND/RD standard would be (which leaves 70 prospects in the ND) and the asterisks indicate that I haven't seen the player as much as I'd have liked and as such my evaluation is based off limited vision and what I've read. I.E. I wouldn't take it as gospel.

Outside Type Mids:
1. Connor Menadue
2. Declan Hamilton
3. Billy Stretch (MELB F/S)
4. Lukas Webb
5. Jake Johansen
6. Jordan Cunico
7. Nakia Cockatoo*
8. Damien Cavka
-
9. Jake Maher*
10. Ryan Lim
11. Tom Wilkinson*
12. Oleg Markov
13. Jaden McGrath*
14. Joe Maishman
15. Liam Griffiths (GWS ACAD)
16. Matthew Ah Siu

Inside Type Mids:
1. Jared Hardisty
2. Brad Walsh
3. Cory Gregson
4. Billy Evans
-
5. Matthew Goodyear
6. Brad Coulson
7. Darcy Cameron-Reeves (BL ACAD)
8. Alex Urban*
9. Nathan Drummond
10. Caleb Hislop
11. Tim Jones
12. Ben Heaslip

Key Forwards:
1. Abiana Davis
2. Reece McKenzie*
3. Sam Bevan
4. Jack Cripps
-
5. Brett Eddy
6. Harry Dear (HAW F/S)
7. Jesse Watchman
8. Adam Creeper (I think his future lies forward, not back)
9. Mitch McGovern
10. Nicholas Coughlan (GWS ACAD)

Small Forwards:
1. Jack Lonie
2. Josh Hone
3. James Rose
4. Josh Deluca
5. Ed Langdon
-
6. Dan Butler
7. Mac Bower
8. Brenton Payne
9. Brenden Abbott
10. Jermaine Miller-Lewis
11. Aaron Wilson

Key Backs:
1. Jack Hayes
2. Zaine Cordy (WB F/S)
3. Sean McLaren
4. Daniel Nielson
5. Keenan Ramsay
6. Nick Jackson
-
7. Clayton Giblett
8. Logan Austin
9. Billy Frampton
10. Connor McLean
11. Callum Wilkie

Small Backs:
1. Daniel Capiron
2. Josh McGuinness
3. Dillon Viojo-Rainbow
4. Teia Miles
5. Francis Watson
6. Dylan Winton
-
7. Garrett McDonagh*
8. Harrison Court*

Rucks:
-
1. Marc Pittonet
2. Darcy Cameron
3. Tom Read
4. Billy Frampton
5. Mark Kovacevic*
6. Josh Miller
7. Duom Dawam


Round 1

Pick 1 - St. Kilda: Patrick McCartin (VC, KPF)
193cm, 95kg, 19/4/96
Range: Top 3
Style: Brendon Fevola
Comparison:
Other options: Peter Wright, Christian Petracca
Highlights

Of all the talls in the draft, McCartin is perhaps the safest bet. Don't get me wrong - there are question marks, but McCartin has runs on the board already that others don't. It's not so much a 'pick him on what he might become' situation as opposed to 'pick him on what he is' kind of situation. He's a smart footballer - times his leads well, leads to the right spots and comes straight at the ball. For a bloke with his dimensions he's got quite a good burst and is capable of creating separation through both smart timing and genuine acceleration. He's got sticky hands; you rarely see him fumble or drop a mark on the lead - he's a real one grab kind of player. 1 on 1 he's dominant. He outmuscles his opponent regularly but is also quite intelligent; not only can he read the drop of the ball better than most but he knows exactly when to edge out his opponent to ensure they don't get back in to the contest but to ensure he'll clunk the mark. I'm not entirely sure he'll be as dominant at AFL level 1 on 1 as his strength advantage over the generally wirey KPDs at junior level won't translate. That said he'll still be a well above average 1 on 1 mark by virtue of his superior smarts and read of the flight. At ground level McCartin is excellent and in today's game he needs to be at his below average height. He's an excellent mark below the knees and surprisingly good with his pickups for someone who doesn't look very athletic. At an AFL club McCartin will have the resources and time to condition his body further and get rid of the unnecessary weight that doesn't really help much. In the air I'm not sure McCartin is dominant like a genuinely elite KPF should be but he's certainly at worst passable. It's certainly an area I think there's some room for improvement in and something I reckon will come. As for his weaknesses two present themselves. He's got diabetes which today isn't a huge problem but there's always a little risk there. He has had to come off the field for blood checks (or something - I'm not a doctor) more often than you'd want a KPP to and his set shot goalkicking is below par. Technically it's okay but it seems that mentally he struggles which might actually be better than technical struggles; an AFL sports psychologist might be able to see some results with him pretty quickly. Right now he too often looks for another option or plays on and when he does back himself he's not very accurate. I think there's more room for recovery in him than Daniher or Butcher though.




Pick 2 - Brisbane: Peter Wright (VM, KPF/Ruck)
203cm, 102kg, 8/9/96
Range: Top 5
Style: Sam Jacobs (ruck)
Comparison: Kurt Tippett (forward)
Other options: Patrick McCartin, Christian Petracca
Highlights

I think Brisbane will select whichever KPF St. Kilda don't. There'll definitely be some rumours about Petracca firming closer to the draft but in the case of similar level players surely they'll go for needs. Wright in my opinion is the best player in the crop. Part of me feels that his extroadinary height has gone against him as he's been considered as a ruck too often to really impose himself as a top class forward which he is. It's rare for a man this tall to be so well suited to playing forward but Wright is. Don't let the champs fool you. As a ruck I think he's a reasonable prospect with above average athleticism, tapwork, coverage and read of the game but I feel he lacks both the ability at ground level and mongrel required to make him a dominant ruck in today's game where rucks are almost required to put extra pressure on at the contest and lay effective tackles as well as providing a physical option at ground level. That's not to say he doesn't provide pressure for he is capable of it but he just doesn't do it as much as you'd want. Wright seems to lack that instinct and instead favours to provide a more outside marking and linkup target a bit like Sam Jacobs but his movement is considerably better. As a forward I think he's an excellent prospect. His sprint speed is excellent as is his work rate; he keeps on trying. Fitness wise he's above average and is capable of maintaining intensity for long periods and burning off his opponent. On the lead with his height, pace and wingspan he's excellent in front and overhead and he's also capable of taking big contested marks not dissimilar to how Kurt Tippett does. At ground level he'll provide a contest but won't be a major threat and from a footy IQ perspective I don't think he's at the level of McCartin. His set shot goalkicking is superb and comparable to genuine forward height players as opposed to ruckmen. I guess the major knock on Wright is that he doesn't have the runs on the board at the highest possible level so there's a degree of speculation in selecting him this high and he does have a history of serious back trouble.




Pick 3 - Melbourne: Christian Petracca (VM, MID/FWD)
186cm, 92kg, 4/1/96
Range: Top 5
Style: Dustin Martin
Comparison: Colin Sylvia
Other options: Angus Brayshaw, Sam Durdin, Jarrod Pickett
Highlights

At the start of the year there were some major question marks over Petracca and he's answered them emphatically. In 2013 he weighed in at 98kg and made his name as a physically dominant forward who played taller than he was. This year he's shown his ability in the midfield and shed 6 of those kilos too. Aerially Petracca is absolutely dominant and will pull down considerably more contested grabs than other midfielders. As a forward he's difficult to match up on - he'll dominate a traditional lockdown small in the air and if you put a bigger player on him he'll beat them athletically. While he's carrying a lot of extra weight, that's not the sole reason he's so aerially dominant with his read of the ball elite. His agility is excellent, especially when his bulk is considered and he's more than capable of evading tackles and creating space with an agility test score in the top 1%. His speed bursting away from the contest is excellent with reports that he runs an 2.96 second 20 metre sprint. He reads the play well and accumulates reasonably. His clearance work isn't fantastic with his clearances at junior level accumulated more through physical dominance than natural ability and while his footskills are okay I wouldn't classify them as elite. He really thumps a ball and his vision is good but I don't really think he excels in hitting targets, more just the right areas.




Pick 4 - GWS: Angus Brayshaw (VM, MID)
187cm, 86kg, 9/1/96
Range: Top 10
Style: Sam Mitchell
Other options: Sam Durdin, Jake Lever, Caleb Marchbank
Highlights

GWS probably don't need a midfielder and if they do I think they need some pace and skills as opposed to Brayshaw's type. I think more KPD depth is the most pressure issue but I also reckon they'll trade in a pick around the 8-12 range to secure a Marchbank/Goddard/Lever type. Brayshaw quite simply is the best available. He's got a mature body and a mature game and will certainly impact in 2015. He's able to win his own ball on the inside and has good vision and distribution by hand. By foot he's serviceable and incredibly dual sided but I don't rate his kick as anything more than good with it lacking penetration and at times accuracy. Defensively he's more than capable of keeping his opponent honest and he's also a volume tackler. Brayshaw's just a natural footballer who does the job set out in front of him and works incredily hard in doing so




Pick 5 - Carlton: Sam Durdin (SA, KPP Utility)
197cm, 87kg, 6/6/96
Range: Top 10
Style: Jake Carlisle
Comparison: Lachie Hansen
Other options: Jarrod Pickett, Hugh Goddard, Jayden Laverde, Paul Ahern
Highlights

Sam Durdin could just be the most risk/reward selection in the draft. No matter what way he goes, it's highly unlikely we see Durdin in 2015 and I can't see him really imposing himself for a good while. He'll probably take long enough to be regarded as a bust before breaking out. Durdin's one of those players who has all the parts to become something but they just haven't come together yet. At 197cm his athleticism and movement is superb, his field kicking is possibly the best around for someone of his size and his contested marking is incredibly natural as is his read of the ball in the air. It's those things that have Durdin so high on the draft boards despite the fact that he doesn't really have the runs on the board of late. Durdin has been trialled in every key position and really failed to impose himself in any. While he's played in the ruck for SA over the last two years I don't believe Durdin is capable of playing ruck in the AFL, I don't even think he'd be a worthwhile option as a 2nd ruck. His tapwork is serviceable but at his height with his frame he's just not competitive in contests around the ground nor does he lack the mongrel on the inside. He has the tools to be a successful forward but so far looks a little lost there. He isn't really much of a threat on the lead with his forward IQ being below par and his ability to both time his leads and place his leads to the right spots lacking. Personally I think despite his skills he doesn't have the brain to be a successful forward as he just seems unable to consistently create his own opportunties. As a defender is where I think he excels as there isn't a burden to create play and he's able to more follow and feed off a direct opponent instead. His closing speed is good, his athleticism good and his intercept game excellent as well as his ability to run a bit and create with his excellent footskills. When Durdin puts on some muscle his transformation will be very noticeable and will only serve to improve his dominance in contested situations; right now I feel his thinness is holding him back despite his natural touch.

[Sapientia]

Pick 6 - Western Bulldogs: Hugh Goddard (VC, KPF/KPD)
196cm, 93kg, 24/8/96
Style: Sam Day
Comparison: Sam Rowe
Range: Top 15
Other options: Jarrod Pickett, Jayden Laverde, Paul Ahern, Jake Lever, Caleb Marchbank, Lachie Weller
Highlights

The Bulldogs have four real needs on their list - a dominant KPF, a KPD to partner Roughead long term, some pace and skill on the outside and somebody to replace Gilbee off half back. If they can fill those slots I think they'll go somewhere. In Goddard they're nearly guaranteed to fill one. While others have Goddard between 10-20 after his championships I feel he's been unfairly maligned as a player off the back of them. I didn't rate Goddard pre championships and I didn't like him forward at all. I still don't - but what he did show is that down back he's a very solid option and I'd not seen him much there before. I think the Dogs will draft Goddard as a forward with a view to throwing him back if it's clear it doesn't work. Goddard forward is a risk, he hasn't displayed the game to really be a dominant franchise KPF and even as the #2 guy he feels a little lacking. While he has the athleticism, strength and a good build for a 17 year old he doesn't really have the forward IQ to indicate he's a long term option there. Like Durdin, I guess, except perhaps he's a little smarter forward but with less tools. Sometimes he just looks like a real headless chook - he's in the wrong spots with the wrong timing and does chop off other forwards occasionally. While he's got the pace, agility, leap and strength he lacks the ability to provide a solid option on the lead or in the contest. If he can't do that when he's bigger and stronger than the rest I can't envisage him doing it when he's not. But really, barring Moore, he's probably the best KPF left in the crop and with the Dogs need for one and his ability to go back I think they'll pounce. As a defender I like him. he's the perfect size for a modern defender which gives him a point on Lever and Marchbank and he's got the closing speed and agility to close down leads and keep track of his opponent. He wears his opponent like a glove and really doesn't let him get space even if it comes at the cost of his own offensive production. While he has the tools to offensively threaten he favours checking his opponent over running off. When he does have the ball he's able to create time, space and opportunity to effectively dispose of the ball and rebound. I think he's a safe bet to be a long term successful key defender. I haven't seen a Sam Rowe comparison made before but I think it's a solid one as he seems like a player who'll have the tools to be good forward without ever imposing as one but a shift back will see him use those tools to be a very effective negating defender.




Pick 7 - Richmond: Jayden Laverde (VM, Non KP Utility)
189cm, 82kg, 12/4/96
Range: Top 15
Other options: Jarrod Pickett, Jake Lever, Caleb Marchbank, Corey Ellis, Lachie Weller
Highlights

Richmond need some class and speed on the outside and Laverde fits the bill. What I like about Laverde is that he's unpredictable. He plays like a player who either hasn't (or has resisted) been coached and educated on exactly what to do and as such he plays how he wants with some real flair. Because of this he's prone to some real clangers and poor decisions but the good is worth it. I couldn't find a comparison for him - Pendlebury is one in some ways but Laverde's not close to Pendlebury so it just felt a little wrong. But they do share a few traits - he's a very tall predominantly outside midfielder who has a natural ability to create time, space and opportunity that just isn't there for himself. He reads the immediate play very well and is able to anticipate when options present and how defenders move and this mixed with his athleticism makes him a very damaging breaker of the lines. When he's in defense he's able to keep his opponent honest while also naturally running and taking on the game. In the middle he's able to use his athleticism and intelligence to transition the ball from contested to unconstested in a split second and forward he has above average strength and marking for someone who's primarily a midfielder. Barring his occasional clanger he's a fantastic user of the footy with excellent pace. The knock on Laverde is that he doesn't have much of an inside game but at his height there's potential to create one if he wants to. He does drift in and out of games a little but he's a disciplined type and I'd back him to improve that.






Pick 8 - West Coast: Jarrod Pickett (WA, MID)
180cm, 68kg, 18/8/96
Range: Top 10
Style: Lewis Jetta
Comparison: Leroy Jetta
Other options: Jordan De Goey, Jayden Laverde, Jake Lever, Paul Ahern
Highlights

I think this is a bit of a no-brainer. With West Coast's post Judd record of drafting local and Pickett also being the type of player they desperately need, if he's there I think they'll snaffle him up. He's incredibly fast and has well above average agility and despite his slender frame is more than happy to take on tacklers and use his agility and evasion to run further. He's just exciting in the same way Lewis Jetta is when he gets the ball. His kick when in space is penetrating and accurate. It just all seems so effortless and he's someone that can break open games and excite fans on his day. But it ends there, there's a lot not to like. Pickett wouldn't know the inside of a contest if it hit him on the face and every possession he earns is fed to him on a spoon. Despite that, he has no interest to work to receive the ball and as such only receives it when things come together, just no work rate. A good few of his possessions are cheap one-twos which further inflate his disposal count. With someone so capable of breaking open a game he really needs to accumulate the ball more and have a bit more quantity to go with his quality. However it's something I just don't see happening; at the junior level he hasn't worked to get the ball and as is the case with these types i can't see it all coming together at AFL level. Defensively he's borderline offensive. The best way to describe it is that he shakes his opponent's hand to start the game and doesn't see him again and to me that has a far more detrimental effect on his team than the positive effect his limited disposals do. If Pickett wants to get away with being such a one way runner then he needs to take advantage of that and accumulate more, because either he's going to keep on doing that and be detrimental to his side or he's going to start defending and have less time to accumulate and kick chase and as such possess the ball less. As much as his good is great I just have very little faith in him to dominate at the next level. That said, if everything comes together and he gains a work rate, watch out.




Pick 9 - Adelaide: Jake Lever (VM, KPD)
192cm, 84kg, 5/3/96
Range: Top 15
Style: Harry Taylor/Sam Fisher
Comparison: Cale Hooker
Other options: Caleb Marchbank, Lachie Weller, Paul Ahern

Lever's quite simply the best available. And I'll be honest, he's a considerably better player than Marchbank. The question mark is how he'll recover from his ACL and how the year of lost development will effect him. And yeah, I think it might just effect him a little but even then he'd still be an excellent player. He's just such a naturally intelligent and creative defender. If he's not going to win a contest he'll do everything he can to neutralise it. He reads the play and the flight of the ball really well (and those things don't desert you after an ACL!) and is excellent at getting inbetween the ball and its' intended target and coming across already existing contested for the intercept. In one on one situations despite his weight he's able to outmanouvre his opponent well and win occasionally. Offensively he backs himself to run and create with excellent footskills and smart movement. There are question marks but Jake's a natural leader and someone who no doubt while out is working on everything he can to get the best of himself. With rumours that he might be 194cm now the door is open to him becoming a genuine key defender.




Pick 10 - Gold Coast: Lachie Weller (QLD, MID)
181cm, 71kg, 23/2/96
Range: Top 20
Style: James Aish
Other options: Tom Lamb, Connor Blakely, Clem Smith, Jordan De Goey
Highlights

Another tough one to pick, I think Gold Coast might just go with the local academy fella. Lachie's a good, solid player but one I'm not sure will be an elite AFL player. He's an exceptional user by foot with his vision superb and direction fantastic and he's got a high work rate, constantly working to find space and receive. His handballs are well directed; rarely does he send the runner into trouble and normally they're able to hit the ball at full pace and continue. His evasive movement is above average and he's normally able to create space and dispose with composure irrelevant of the pressure. He's a good reader of the play and is able to create opportunities for himself close to goal. He hasn't displayed a huge inside game but he's the kind of player who's natural enough for me to believe if he was asked to, he'd have not much problem with winning his own ball at junior level. The main knock I have on him is that he's just small. Not small in terms of height but in terms of frame. He's naturally really slender and just comes across as the type that's never going to build up his body enough to really physically compete and as a result I do think he might remain a bit of a seagull for his career. Even if he were to get to 80-85 kilos he doesn't seem very strong through the core and I still think he'll be outmuscled and run over in contested situations through no fault of his own, despite this, he's a natural reader of the tap and may still be able to use his evasive skills and deceptive speed to be a reasonable option in the centre. He didn't accumulate or impose in the championships, only averaging 18 touches in div 2, with many cheap one-twos but he's shown at TAC level he's able to accumulate well.




Pick 11 - Collingwood: Darcy Moore - F/S (VM, KPF/KPD)
199cm, 93kg, 25/1/96
Range: Collingwood's 1st
Comparison: Drew Petrie
Other options: None
Other bidders: Carlton/WB
Highlights

Darcy's a real talent and a player Collingwood fans should rightly be excited over. He has perhaps the most to work with out of the talls in the crop but by no means is a finished product. We got a glimpse in round 5 of the championships of what Darcy can do. Right now, he's very much a raw player who you pick up not on what he's doing now but what he might be capable of with the right development. Athletically he's fantastic with his sprint and repeat speed a highlight as well as his agility and ability to change direction quickly. Despite his slender body he's physically imposing and can really crash through the ball with courage and as such in contested situations he's a threat. He looks really thin but still carries 93 kilos so I reckon his frame is one that can really be worked with and his peak playing weight might just be a bit higher than most 6'6 KPFs. At ground level he's very dynamic, exciting and clean with his pickups a particular highlight to match his strength and desire to pick up the ball. On the lead he's capable and he shows flashes in contested situations but with his size he's never going to be the finished product yet. His footskills and set shots aren't bad but they're certainly raw with some real work needed. He's able to swing back and marshall the defence well while limiting his opponent but he doesn't seem to have the natural desire to run off and create despite his athleticism. From all reports Moore is a top kid with a real desire to get the best out of himself and leads by example. If there's scope for Moore to become something then he's got the right mix of mental attributes to get there. And when he does he's a real triple threat with scope to be a good contested grab, excellent grab on the lead and dominant key player at ground level flanking contests.




Pick 12 - North Melbourne: Liam Duggan (VM, MID/DEF)
183cm, 76kg, 11/12/96
Range: Top 25
Style: Corey Enright, Trent Cotchin
Comparison: Sam Docherty
Other options: Clem Smith, Tyler Keitel, Jackson Nelson, Brayden Maynard
Highlights

I really don't know who North are going to pick here. Lever and Marchbank are still left on the board but they don't need KPDs, Smith probably fits but he's a liability and Keitel probably isn't going to be much better than what they've got. I've ended up going for a smoother type who adds a bit of everything in Duggan. I reckon Duggan's copped it a little unfairly of late, sliding down the ranks pretty quickly. People often focus on what key position players and athletic types 'could be' and focus on what the sub 6'2 players already are and I feel that's a little wrong. Duggan has a lot going for him and he's someone I'd pick based on what he could be. Let's also remember he's really quite bottom aged too being a December birth. He was up against blokes nearly a year older than him in some cases. Duggan's able to play off half back and provide some rebound and skill but also be defensively accountable and he's also able to play midfield as a balanced, consistent option and that's where I like him. He's able to win his own ball not through sheer force or physicality but through good timing and smarts. He's primarily an outsider but for one his inside game is above average. By foot he's an excellent kick. He's not the typical penetrating dart half back like we all love and perhaps his kick has a little more elevation and less potency that you'd like but it's still one that hits targets again and again and is not dissimilar to that of Sam Docherty. In pressure situations he's composed and able to distrubute by hand to running receivers. He's never going to be a physical beast or a volume tackler and his right foot is, to be generous, lacking, but he's a reliable type with some real skill and a lot of upside.




Pick 13 - Port Adelaide: Paul Ahern (VM, MID/FWD)
181cm, 77kg, 1/8/96
Range: Top 20
Comparison: Luke Dahlhaus
Other options: Caleb Marchbank, Ed Vickers-Willis, Jordan De Goey
Highlights

Quite simply Ahern is the best available. I don't think Port have any specific needs (or at least what they'd be after would be too big a stretch with what's available) so Ahern it is. At Ahern's height he's got to have something that sets him apart and while there's nothing 'elite' about him the thing that does set him apart is his lack of a weakness. He can do absolutely everything to a reasonable standard. He's quick, he's agile, he's balanced, he's composed, he's got breakaway speed and strength and he's reasonably fit and seems to be able to push hard even when he's flagging. His pickups are clean and from the midfield he's able to impact the scoreboard. His skills are great with his ability to distribute by hand above average and his footskills great with a penetrating and accurate kick. He's able to crumb contests while forward and while he's got the tools to be an effective pocket he's not incredibly natural there yet and I think his future lies in the middle. He's also developed the ability to win his own ball too - by no means does he excel on the inside but he's not a pure outside type by any means. In general he's just a really balanced player who's going to come to a club with a good attitude and work rate and make the most of himself. If there is a knock on him it's that he can be run over a bit and bumped off the ball (something that makes his ability to still win contested ball even more valuable) and he's not a particularly fantastic tackler.




Pick 14 - Geelong: Corey Ellis: (VM, MID/FWD)
185cm, 76kg, 9/10/96
Range: Top 25
Other options: Ed Vickers-Willis, Jordan De Goey, Caleb Marchbank, Jackson Nelson
Highlights

Picking for Geelong is as much about assessing their needs as it is predicting Wells. I can't do the latter so I've got to run with the former. Geelong's have thrived in the past due to having those creative kind of half forward/mid types that can really change a game. With Johnson on the wrong side of 30 and Chapman gone as well as Smedts looking like a bit of a bust I think they might look to fill that void (I think they're trying Thurlow out in that role already?). With Christensen and Stokes moving into the middle and Motlop spending a bit more time up the field someone like Ellis would be given plenty of time to develop in the forward lines. Ellis has a lot of fans and I'm not entirely sold but if he is to make something of himself Geelong is a great club to be at with their record with his type. Ellis is just a very effective player. He's able to play anywhere and when he gets the ball he rarely wastes it, often using his excellent vision to try and create opportunities others wouldn't have seen. Occasionally this works against him with him trying too hard to create something and instead creating a clanger. Under pressure Ellis executes his skills well and he's an effective tackler despite his slender frame with an okay contested game. He does drift in and out of games a bit and sometimes seems a bit lost on the field but he's only a young bottom aged fella and seems a high character guy so there's scope for improvement.

[Sapientia]

Pick 15 - Gold Coast: Tom Lamb (VC, UTILITY)
193cm, 84kg, 19/10/96
Range: Top 40
Style: Jared Brennan
Comparison: Marco Paparone
Other options: Caleb Marchbank, Jordan De Goey, Peter Bampton
Highlights

Gold Coast have three pretty handy tall forwards. But they're all tall at 6'6 or over. Lamb isn't a traditional key forward despite having the height to perhaps be one, with his style he's more of a tweener. Lamb plays versatile 3rd tall role and is someone who's really excellent at ground level but also likes to roam up the field, something I think the Suns will like. I think they had hopes that Tim Sumner might be able to fill this role and while he's shown signs the fact that he's been withdrawn from games to undergo a mini pre season mid season probably says enough about that project. Lamb does some freakish things. at 6'4 he's ability at ground level is remarkable with his pickups nearly always clean and his ability to pick it up either under pressure or with one hand is incredible. He's able to crumb packs and act like a small as well. He's very quick and agile and presents a marking threat and takes the game on and likes to run. He's able to play through the middle or down back too with him playing back well late in the championships with his positioning and link up work a particular highlight. However with that there are some real flaws and question marks. He shares a lot of similarities with Marco Paparone. They both share a really awkward looking bouncy running style and have similar kind of frames and play similar roles both smaller than their height. Both are awfully inconsistent by foot and really quite inconsistent by hand and both panic under pressure and just bomb it. Lamb isn't as fit as Paparone but his pickups at ground level and ability to hit the scoreboard are much better. Lamb is able to play in the midfield and at his height he could be a point of difference but he just doesn't seem to have the composure or skills to do it effectively. He also struggles to take marks cleanly often needing two or three grabs to hold on. He doesn't have a fantastic attitude either, having been kicking out of his private school in Melbourne and also lashing out during the championships and punching an opposition player. Rumours circulate that he's a bit of an arrogant bloke who doesn't have the application to really push on and make the best of himself but he's worth a punt on natural talent alone.




Pick 16 - Hawthorn: Peter Bampton (SA, MID)
182cm, 83kg, 15/4/96
Range: Top 25
Style: Brad Crouch/Ben Cunnington
Comparison: Luke Dunstan
Other options: Ed Vickers-Willis, Dean Gore, Jordan De Goey

Every Hawks fan I've spoken to says they'd like some immediate impact on the inside so I'm running with it. Bampton's the best available. Similar in many ways to Luke Dunstan in that they're both South Australian, inside mids, 6 foot-ish, hard workers and early bloomers, I rate Bampton as the better prospect. I've been following him for a long time and remember watching him absolutely rip it up in the SANFL last year having just turned 17. To put it in perspective Luke Dunstan (more top aged than Bampton) really didn't impose himself in the SANFL till late in his draft year. Bampton's a bid bodied inside midfielder who loves nothing more than the inside of a contest. He's possibly the hardest player in this pool, he dives in without fear and more often than not extracts the ball with his hard ball getting a major highlight. He reads the tap well and wins clearances through both strength and natural ability. He might only be 6 foot but he's really strong through the core with an AFL ready body. I think he's physically much stronger and more imposing than Dunstan and his distribution by hand is excellent as is his fitness and work rate. His footskills aren't fantastic but there's room for improvement. He's considered primarily an inside midfielder as that's the role he's been asked to play but he's actually a capable outside player with his ability to break away from a contest as well as find and create space through well above average evasive skills a particular highlight and it's a bit Crouch-esque. While he's not great at receiving the ball on the outside when he does find the ball on the outside he more often than not does well and he has the tools to develop an outside game which others haven't really given him credit for yet. He might impact early but I also think his ceiling is rather high and he could quite possibly be one of the best midfielders from this draft crop.




Pick 17 - Fremantle: Jordan De Goey (VM, MID)
187cm, 82kg, 15/3/96
Range: Top 20
Other options: Tyler Keitel, Caleb Marchbank
Highlights

Fremantle have a pretty solid list and have a real abundance of developing talls so I think they'll go small this year. De Goey's probably the best small available so it just made sense. I'm having real trouble coming up with a comparison for him and while I've seen a few out there, none of them feel right. He's a versatile player being able to cover forward and bank but his best work is done through the middle where I see him as a truly balanced midfielder. By foot he's technically a reasonable kick but has excellent vision and decision making which makes his kick quite damaging. By hand he's capable of releasing runners you didn't know were there either, he's just naturally quite a creative player. Overhead he's well above average for a midfielder and provides a reasonable target around the ground. He's developed a solid inside game which works really well with his size and frame and loves to attack the ball at ground level. He's not by any means an elite inside player but it's a string to his bow and makes him one of the more balanced players in the crop. When he does win the ball he's able to either distribute or carry it into an uncontested situation so while he mightn't be a high volume inside ballwinner, only perhaps a moderate one his effectiveness on the inside is top echelon. His numbers in the championships weren't exceptional but when you consider the role he played they stand out as he primarily won the ball on the inside and wasn't afforded the opportunity to show his outside skills which are just as good and in my opinion slightly better. He's not incredibly quick and does drift in and out of games a little. He'll take a little time to get used to the pace at AFL level and while he may not be a star I think at worst he'll be a serviceable role player in a successful team.




Pick 18 - Sydney: Isaac Heeney - Academy (NSW, MID)
186cm, 82kg, 5/5/96
Range: Sydney 1st
Style: Nathan Jones
Comparison: David Swallow
Other Bidders: On ability there should be lots and early, but I think the first bid might be in the 9-12 range.
Highlights

Heeney quite possibly could be the best player from the draft. Everything he does screams class and he has more composure than anyone in the crop. The only real negative thing is that he's going to Sydney and in that midfield I don't think we'll see much of him early despite him being AFL standard, a bit like with Tom Mitchell waiting until mid 2013 to debut. He's got a very balanced game with his ability to win the ball inside excellent and his usage outside excellent. On the outside he's able to just pop up in space so frequently and when he gets the ball he'll hit a target either by hand or foot. Under pressure he stays calm and executes his skills really well too and he's also very capable on both feet. Athletically he's able to run all day and create space at will and he's also a high level accumulator. Inside he's hard at the ball and an excellent reader of the play and able to effectively dispose out of contested situation. Defensively he's a good tackler and accountable player. His numbers from the championships weren't exceptional but it needs to be considered that he stayed accountable the whole time (probably because he had nothing to prove, unlike the others) so his time actually spent actively looking for the ball wasn't as high as some of the other offensive oriented players. He seems a high quality character with the determination to make the best out of himself and he'll need to work hard to get a place at Sydney. The only knock I have on him is that at times he seems laconic in his movement - a bit like Jack Watts. I'm not sure if he has that other gear he can step up into but sometimes he just looks like he's going a bit slower than the play even though he's not.




Pick 19 - Essendon: Tyler Keitel (WA, KP UTILITY)
194cm, 86kg, 7/2/96
Range: Top 40
Other options: Connor Blakely, Dean Gore, Ed Vickers-Willis, Caleb Marchbank
Highlights

Keitel fits a need. Essendon really need that #2 lead up fella who can compliment Daniher. Keitel is just that. He had an up and down championships, at times looking like an elite prospect and at times looking not up to the grade. I sit a bit in the middle, I think he's a good prospect but not an elite one. His hands are clean and his ability at ground level well above par. His movement is nice and overhead he's solid. He's a hard worker who follows up at ground level to good effect given his solid ability below the knees. He's always thinking and is in general a smart footballer who's effective on the lead and a solid kick for goal. Occasionally he can panic a bit under pressure but that's nothing that can't be rectified. In defense he's a solid prospect who's able to negate his opponent to a reasonable standard and is able to involve himself in the link up rebound play as well as win contests at ground level. He just lacks a hard edge and doesn't seem to dominate games like a franchise KPF would. I think he's better forward than back, though. To me he comes across as someone who's going to be a role player in a successful team kicking one or two goals a game but nothing more. Which is probably something Essendon would be happy with anyway.




Pick 20 - GWS: Caleb Marchbank (VC, KPD)
193cm, 85kg, 7/12/96
Range: Top 20
Style: Brian Lake
Comparison: Jarrad Waite (as a defender)
Other options: None
Highlights

If Marchbank slips to 20 GWS should probably buy a lottery ticket. He's certainly a better player than that and GWS would be lucky in that not only is he the best available but he fits a real need. Marchbank plays a high volume intercept game, reading the flight of the ball very well. He picks the right times to zone off and intercept too with his decisions rarely backfiring. He likes to release the ball when in possession, often trying to spot up targets down the field. He's a courageous fella in that he doesn't shy from backing into a pack or putting his body on the line. He's just an all round smart footballer who's versatile enough to fill any role but looks more at home in defence. While he's been very successful as a junior, I'm worried that at his size he mightn't be able to act as the first or even second defender as he isn't a real physical specimen and I can see him being thrown and bumped out of contests. Athletically he's not incredibly quick and might give away a little separation without being able to close it down and with his high intercept game his opponent often would feel like they're still in the game as Marchbank often goes for the mark instead of the spoil. It hasn't backfired yet but it might just do at AFL level. Overall I think Marchbank will be a solid AFL player though, but I do see Lever as better in nearly every area; just a little riskier.





Round 2

Pick 21 - St. Kilda: Connor Blakely (WA, MID)
186cm, 81kg, 3/2/96
Range: Top 25
Comparison: Blake Acres
Highlights

Connor Blakely could quite possibly be my favourite player from this draft crop. He's an inside midfielder who does his inside work not through brute force and strength but a genuine understanding of football and natural skill. He's an excellent clearance player with a real natural read of the tap and the ability to transition the gather into an effective disposal. In traffic his agility and evasive movement is nothing short of elite and his ability to dodge and weave through tacklers and create space through lateral movement is a real point of difference between him and other inside midfielders in the draft. On the outside he's capable with reasonable skills on both side of the body and an okay kick. He's probably better outside than the other inside mids in the crop but I wouldn't be relying on him to provide some real penetration. In traffic his distribution by hand is excellent but by foot he's prone to just bombing it and turning it over. Right now though he's really quite slender and weak though and is in dire need of putting some muscle on to be able to bullock through packs to partner his evasive movement and prevent him from being pushed out by AFL midfielders like he would be with ease at his current size. He's done pretty well in the WAFL against grown men though this season so he shouldn't have much trouble adjusting to the AFL with a little bit of extra muscle.




Pick 22 - Brisbane: Matthew Hammelmann - Academy (QLD, KP Utility)
198cm, 88kg, 8/3/96
Range: Brisbane 2nd/3rd
Comparison: Tom Lynch/Josh Jenkins
Other Bidders: Essendon
Highlights

I really like Hammelmann. He does a lot of things right. One of the most important things as a forward is intelligence; you've got to create your own opportunities as well as have the body and skills to take them. But as we've seen time and time again with athletes who play forward, they might have the tools to excel but they just don't have the opportunities to use them often. Hammelmann creates opportunities for himself. A great reader of the play, he leads and leads and leads all day and more often than not into the right spots at the right times. At 198cm he has a really nice burst and creates separation nearly always and that combined with his height, reach and timing ensures that on the lead he's deadly. Takes the ball at the highest point and straight lines it. His follow up work is excellent with his agility, movement and pickups at ground level a particular highlight. Westhoff and Lynch are blokes I think he has a bit in common with having very similar bodies and they seem to think similarly too. Both are better contested marks however and I can't see that gap closing. While Hammelmann is capable of taking the odd contested mark it's not a strength of his and he doesn't seem to have a natural feel for the packs. Below the knees he's very capable with his marking down low and mobility as well as a general cleanness a highlight. His disposal for a bloke of his height is good with his composure and vision above average. He has the tools and athleticism to play down back to a high level however I personally feel that the forwards that should be moved back are the ones with athleticism but without smarts. Given Hammelmann has the smarts he should be persisted with forward.




Pick 23 - GWS: Ed Vickers-Willis (VM, Utility)
190cm, 82kg, 28/3/96
Range: Top 30
Style: Ricky Henderson
Comparison: Andrew Mackie
Highlights

I'm still a bit undecided on Vickers-Willis. He's the kind of player that when drafted gives the club a few different options in his development with him having shown the aptitude to play through the guts, along a wing, running off half back or in a more accountable third tall role. While he has the height and frame to play through the middle as one of those modern u/18 utilities come high level AFL midfielder he doesn't seem to have that natural ability that previous success stories have. I feel he'd be wasted through the middle and that down back is his best spot. Down back he does a lot well - he works hard, in the air he's a capable mark and reads the ball and play really well. His kicking technique is horrific however and while it's worked at junior level I'm not entirely sure it'd cope as well with the pace of the AFL and perhaps it might need remodelling. That said despite it being horrid it's been rather effective for him until now. Part of me believes his kicking efficiency is more due to him being an exceptional decision maker with good vision though. When in defence he's able to zone off and contribute to the transition and rebound due to this decision making. There seems to be something about him that lots of people really like and see something in. I'm yet to see that; to me Ed's just a good solid role player who's able to contribute to most elements of play. I don't see any elite potential or attribute that makes me stop and go wow, just a natural feel for aussie rules.




Pick 24 - Melbourne: Jackson Nelson (VC, MID/DEF)
187cm, 80kg, 15/3/96
Range: Top 40
Style: James Kelly
Comparison: Nick Vlastuin
Highlights

Nelson's one of those players who doesn't really grab your attention when watching. He's a low flash kind of player but does all the right things. As a result he's kind of slipped under the radar a bit. Having a quiet one in round 5 and being concussed in the second quarter of round 6 in the televised championships games mightn't have helped, to be fair. This was a really difficult selection to make with plenty of other names a possibility. The better players available right now are more balanced/inside leaning players and with Brayshaw going here at pick 4 I wanted to get some more polish instead of grunt. However with Stretch coming and there being some real diamonds likely available in the fourth I've gone with best available. Also some really handy outside leaning/balanced midfielders in 2015 and let's be fair, Melbourne will likely have a top 5 pick then too. Nelson's able to play through the middle or off half back and he plays both to a high standard. He's got a nice height and really nice frame which helps him win his own ball but he's also a really handy user of the ball off both feet on the outside with his decision making and vision nice. Athletically he's not elite but he's still quick and agile with his lateral movement a highlight. Down back he's able to play an accountable brand of football while also having the confidence to zone off if needed. While his kicking isn't elite it holds up in traffic and under pressure and as such he's a very capable user under any circumstance off the back flank. Low flash but high substance and someone you can bank on to work hard and perform an honest role at AFL level wherever that be.

[Sapientia]

Pick 25 - Carlton: Brayden Maynard (VM, Utility)
186cm, 88kg, 20/9/96
Range: Top 40
Comparison: Luke Tapscott
Highlights

Maynard's greatest strength is his versatility. He's played back, forward and through the middle throughout his career and done all to a high standard. Already 88kg, Maynard brings a tough, physical brand of football to the table and not only does he have the power and strength but the aggression to use it with his tackling and body use around the stoppage a particular highlight. On the inside he's a good ball winner and an okay kick with it being neither penetrating or damaging. That said Maynard is aware of this and more often that not kicks with his limitations in mind. When he plays back he's an effective winner of the ball at ground level with his determination and aggression able to win the first touch and begin the transition. He's also accountable and consistent with his discipline and concentration sound and his overhead marking very good. One on one he's likely to win most matchups with similarly sized players which assists him both forward and back. He's perhaps drifted a bit down the boards this season with his inability to really impose himself in the championships costing him. He needs to work on his endurance and perhaps try and become a more penetrating kick if he's to be a permanent defender.




Pick 26 - Western Bulldogs: Jarrod Garlett (WA, MID)
177cm, 72kg, 18/8/96
Range: Top 40
Style: Danyle Pearce
Highlights

Jarrod Garlett is a personal favourite of mine and someone I think could well be the best outside run/carry player in the draft. Someone who could be played on a wing or off any flank, he's a speedy, agile and skilled outside mid. The comparison between he and Pickett will be flogged over the next few months but it's a good one - both are indigenous outside speedsters from WA and have a lot in common. I prefer Garlett. When running he's aware of the field around him and is constantly thinking about his next move unlike Pickett who just runs. If you're picking up Garlett it's because of his pace. And while that's his major strength the supporting attributes are sound as well. His skills while raw are technically sound. He's capable of nailing long range kicks but lacks a bit of consistency. Without the ball Garlett is able to keep track of a man and does run both ways. When the team is in possession Garlett works hard to find opportunities and while he's primarily outside he does work hard to put himself in a position to be fed the ball. Incredibly dual sided, his footskills aren't as consistent as he'd like but there's definitely a base to work with and if he fixes them he'll be a real player. I think the Bulldogs could really use some outside pace and run as really, MacRae's not going to ever provide that on the outside.




Pick 27 - Richmond: Harrison Wigg (SA, DEF/MID)
179cm, 74kg, 14/10/96
Range: Top 50
Style: Matt Suckling
Comparison: Nick Suban/Sam Colquhoun
Highlights

Harrison Wigg's a player who attracted a lot of attention during the championships. Widely considered the best half back of the tournament, his footskills are a defining feature of his game. Technically his kick is okay. He's not going to be unleashing Hurn style 55-60 metre darts that pick out a teammate nobody saw. He's not at a Suckling level either (though he does play a similar role in the side). It's the mental aspect of kicking where Wigg excels. He's composed, he's got good vision with his ability to spot a target excellent and his decision making is also top notch. When those three are present it's difficult not to be a great kick. His read of the play is pretty good and he's able to drop into holes and intercept reasonably well. However there's also a lot not to like about Wigg. He's outside. Even in defence he's fed the ball more often than not. Through the middle he's very outside too. His high numbers in the championships were rather inflated by playing on from the kick-in. If there's a short target he nailed it and if there wasn't he hit it long to the contest - both defined as effective disposals. There was one game where I reckon over half his disposals came from kick-in play ons. That said at SANFL u/18s level he's racked up high numbers playing a role with much more midfield time. As a defender he's only 5'11 with a small frame. On size alone he'll struggle to take taller smalls and he's not incredibly quick so he'll be found out against the speedsters. Defensively he's limited in who he can match up on and he's too small to really fill the loose man effectively. I think he's probably going to want to move into the midfield where he won't have as much of a need to have a good defensive matchup but even then his only average pace will hold him back. Right now I think he's probably the most highly rated half back in the crop but I wouldn't be surprised to see him slide.




Pick 28 - West Coast: Alec Waterman - F/S (WA, MID)
183cm, 89kg, 19/8/96
Range: WCE 2nd/3rd
Style: Lenny Hayes/David Mundy
Other Bidders: No idea, but he's too good for there not to be one.
Highlights

Waterman's one of my favourite players in the crop. The parts haven't come together completely yet but they're definitely there. He's an inside midfielder who also possesses a really handy kick and brilliant core strength. In congestion he just goes where he wants and cannot be stopped or buffeted off the ball. Over the ball and when picking up he ingrains himself to the ground and normally picks up cleanly. Despite such bulk and strength on the burst Waterman is excellent with his breakaway speed a highlight. That said he doesn't have much top speed and is a bit of a plodder on the outside. The difference between Waterman and some of the other inside mids in the draft is that he's able to create space on the outside. Instead of being limited to lateral and backwards options when in possession on the inside due to athletic shortcomings, Waterman is able to create space and effectively dispose of the ball forward instead of disposing with no territory gain or blindly kicking forward. That said if there's an effective lateral disposal to be had Waterman takes it, and given his high work rate he also uses his burst to find more space to present another option for the ball carrier and as such is able to accumulate numerous disposals in the one passage of play. 1 on 1 his marking is excellent with his read of the ball and play as well as his unquestionable strength able to secure him far more wins than losses against other midfielders. As aforementioned his footskills for an inside mid are terrific.




Pick 29 - Adelaide: Connor Menadue (VM, MID)
188cm, 69kg, 19/9/96
Range: Top 60

I can't say I'm particularly happy with this pick but it's probably the most logical one. If Adelaide go best available here assuming they draft a KPD with their first they'll end up with another rushed inside leaning mid. So I'm bucking the trend and going with needs. I think the hope will very much be that Garlett lasts as Menadue feels a bit high here. At 188cm and 69kg he's a twig. However there's the foundation - he's got a really nice height and has a bit of versatility. On the outside where he excels he's got some real pace and flair and likes to take the game on. By foot he's exceptional in space with his vision and decision making superb. A real line-breaker, Menadue possesses above average agility and evasion however is occasionally caught trying to do too much. The knock on Menadue is his size - he'll take a long time to get big enough to play but also he doesn't accumulate much for an outsider and drifts in and out of games. He also doesn't have much of an inside game. However with his pace and skills there's always going to be interest and there's definitely something to work with, but he'll need time. Finding a comparison just wasn't worth it as with his size right now he'll end up a completely different player at peak to what he is now.




Pick 30 - Gold Coast: Kyle Langford (VM, Utility)
190cm, 73kg, 1/12/96
Range: Top 40
Comparison: Jasper Pittard
Highlights

I struggled to find a comparison for Langford as to a degree he's very much an unknown with his size. He's thin, really thin. These types go any number of ways with their roles depending on how they develop and how that effects them. I've heard Bontempelli mentioned a few times and I don't really see it. Pittard's the best I can do, with them both having similar kind of frames and I think might play similar roles within a team. Langford's versatile with his ability clear both forward and back. Some like him forward but I prefer him back being able to run at goal and rebound. At his size he's always going to have trouble winning his own ball but he makes an effort. Athletically he's really nice with his acceleration and top speed both good and his leap solid. He's a nice read of the ball and play and is able to use that along with his athletic prowess to be an effective intercept mark while he's also able to shut down forwards with his speed and reach. In general he's just a really good mark of the footy. Offensively he's able to run and really attacks the play however he's prone to some really poor kicks but it's something I think can be fixed. For a twig he's an excellent tackler which will only improve as he puts on bulk. Gold Coast tend to favour naturally talented footballers and Langford is that. There's a lot of work to be done but with his performance so far considering his size and the fact that he's really bottom aged I think he can make it.




Pick 31 - Collingwood: Touk Miller (VM, MID)
177cm, 80kg, 22/2/96
Range: Top 40
Style: Dion Prestia
Highlights:

Collingwood to me have two real needs - some better kicking and some midfielders who tackle, apply pressure and are defensively accountable. While their midfield is classy and individually brilliant, as a whole I think it's a little one way. The first need I reckon they can somewhat fill from within with Kennedy, Broomhead, Fasolo and Scharenberg likely to be given a real shot in 2015, replacing relatively poorer kicks. So I'm going for some grunt and work with this selection. Dean Gore to me would also have been a really nice pickup here but he doesn't have pace or great footskills, something I think the Pies might steer clear from. Miller's a hard working balanced midfielder with thirst for the hard ball and physical side of football. He's a quality clearance player with a great read of the tap and some physical dominanceon the inside. He's also a really quick player with both his breakaway and top speed very high. He's able to create space and opportunity out of the inside to effectively dispose of the ball with his footskills decent without being great. On the outside he's a capable option also able to hit the scoreboard. Miller is also a ferocious and effective volume tackler. He just works hard, runs both ways and does everything right. Height the only concern and it's what's caused him to slide this far.




Pick 32 - North Melbourne: Clem Smith (WA, SD/Utility)
177cm, 74kg, 3/2/96
Range: Top 50
Style: Byron Pickett
Comparison: Neville Jetta
Highlights

There's a romantic part of me that really wants to see Clem Smith end up at North. With some flogs in the media talking about how North are losing their Shinboner Spirit there'd be nothing better than picking up the underage definition of a shinboner in the draft. And the range fits. Smith does a lot wrong, so it'd be best to start with that. He battles with Mitch Robinson for being the most care free and reckless player going around. Nobody attacks the ball harder. Smith won't slow down or back out of the way when he sees another player, instead he'll just brace and speed up. He hits hard and he hits well - and as a result he gives away a good few free kicks and will cop weeks. This is unlikely to change - extreme physicality is what defines Smith, and unfortunately that definition is beginning to hurt him with many considering him a real liability. His kicking is also something that people are going cold on. Some describe him as a terrible kick and they're wrong. His kicking is no different to the rest of his game - it's physical and hard. Clem struggles to execute simple, deft short kicks. It's almost as if having to slow down his leg and take some power off the ball doesn't compute because over 15-25 metres he's clanger central especially when he's running at pace. He just can't find his radar. However over longer distances when he can really hit the ball he's actually quite a reasonable kick. His long kicking technically is very solid and he achieves some real penetration on his kicks. He's capable of executing some really high degree of difficulty kicks and making them look easy. He's by no means an elite kick over distance but I think he's probably 'good' - and there's enough present already with his technique and what he 'can' do to indicate that he could well be some real upside. While his physicality has some drawbacks which are well publicised - there's a lot of good about it as well. His defensive pressure is fantastic, he's a great tackler and when he does stick a crunching tackle or block it's a massive boost for the team. Yeah, it'll be frustrating when he gives away a high tackle free 15 out from goal, but I'd bet that he saves more goals with his pressure than he'll give away. He's also a really quick and nimble ball runner, something that's often forgotten. He'll be a solid player, I wouldn't worry. Just very frustrating at times!




Pick 33 - Port Adelaide: Dean Gore (SA, MID)
183cm, 86kg, 26/6/96
Range: Top 40
Style: Brad Crouch
Comparison: Luke Dunstan
Highlights

Gore's a ready made inside mid with a capable outside game. I'm not too sure about him going to Port but he's the best available and the most likely to immediately assist a premiership contender. He had some senior experience in the SANFL with Sturt and impressed playing forward with the occasional run through the guts. He's not particularly quick or athletic, but he's got a tank and work ethic to go with it. Inside he just bullocks his way to the ball with his big body and raw strength. He's also pretty good by foot though he can rush to bomb it long when under pressure. Without the ball he runs both ways and is an efficient and prolific tackler. Expect immediate impact, the knocks are his athleticism and ceiling which some believe to be rather low.




Pick 34 - Geelong: Daniel Capiron (VC, DEF/MID)
189cm, 80kg, 14/6/96
Range: Top 50
Style: Andrew Mackie
Highlights

Capiron's probably the best available and with Mackie nearing his twilight years Capiron is a logical option to develop as a replacement. Not incredibly flashy, offensively Capiron provides a bit of run with reasonable speed and footskills but he isn't elite in either. He doesn't execute high risk kicks instead favouring safe options. He's just a reliable player offensively and defensively he's smart. Knows when to zone off and intercept and picks the right moments to both spoil and mark. He's capable of shutting down his opponent well and provides versatility with the ability to play not only at his height but a bit taller and smaller too.

[Sapientia]

Pick 35 - Hawthorn: Jordan Cunico (VC, MID/FWD)
184cm, 72kg, 7/5/96
Range: Top 60
Style: Lachie Whitfield
Comparison: Jimmy Toumpas
Highlights

Cunico is a quick, skilled outside midfielder best played off a wing or forward flank. When he gets the ball he's damaging with a penetrating and accurate kick that more often than not results in something. He's able to break lines and run and really penetrate. He's also very good at finding space and takes a lot of uncontested marks, however he's as outside as it comes and doesn't win his own ball or tackle. As well as that he's not really a high volume accumulator with him projecting as a low volume/high impact sort of player. He needs to work a bit on his accountability as he's prone to kick chasing and letting his opponent get off the leash.




Pick 36 - Fremantle: Aidan Anderson (WA, FWD)
182cm, 83kg, 10/8/96
Range: Top 60
Style: Eddie Betts
Comparison: Jamie Elliott
Highlights

Aidan Anderson is quite possibly my favourite player from the crop. Finding a comparison for him is a bit difficult as he's really quite unique from the current batch of smalls we've got in the AFL. His biggest strength is his smarts - he knows exactly where to position himself, where to lead, where to run, when to kick - he just knows. He's quick without being a speedster and he's very agile with his evasive skills being excellent along with his ability to change direction. He's capable of executing high degree of difficulty kicks but still isn't an elite kick. Like Jamie Elliott he's a far better contested mark than he should be at his height while he's also very solid overhead. Below the knees he's solid but does fumble occasionally and could work on that a little. He's got good core strength and strength in general and is very difficult to tackle. He's able to win his own ball in dangerous spots while also being an excellent kick be it on the run or from a set shot. The best small forward in the crop and I'll happily bet that he'll kick 150 AFL goals.




Pick 37 - Sydney: Abiana Davis - Academy (NSW, KP Utility)
193cm, 90kg, 27/1/96
Range: Sydney 2nd-4th
Style: Tim O'Brien/Tom Curran
Comparison: Tom T. Lynch
Other bidders:  Potentially any of Port, Geelong, Hawthorn and Fremantle. It's a stretch though.
Highlights

I'm struggling to find a comparison for him because I reckon we haven't seen a player like Abe for awhile. He's 193cm and not really gifted athletically or in packs, but he's still a really solid player. He's a good read of the play and flight of the ball and down back he's able to outmark his opponent and create with his first disposal from the back fifty often releasing someone and beginning the transition. Forward he's a hard worker who presents over and over again but also ventures up the ground and provides a hard leading link up option around high half forward. Despite having a pretty low top speed Abe also tries to provide a running and flanking option where possible, receiving a lot more handballs than players of his role traditionally do. Overhead he's a one grab player who takes the ball around it's highest point and one on one he's able to clunk them through superior read of the ball. While he's not quick he's reasonably quick to get to top speed and moves well. At ground level he's clean and his field kicking and decision making is generally good. I don't think Abe will ever be an elite AFL player - he's not naturally gifted enough for that, but I think he can make a pretty solid role/depth player and out of a mid 30s/40s KPP that's really a win.





Round 3


Pick 38 - St. Kilda: Declan Hamilton (SA, Utility)
183cm, 68kg, 18/3/96
Range: 30-Rookie
Style: Jackson MacRae
Highlights



The championships really have seen Hamilton's stocks rise. The nephew of Darren Jarman, Hamilton is able to play across the park, having made his name as a half back but excelled in the championships as a half forward with spells in the middle. A hard worker, Hamilton runs all day and while he's not the fastest bloke around, he's still reasonably quick and is also a great lateral mover with his evasion a particular highlight. His footskills are okay without being special but his awareness is excellent with his ability to create time and space when in possession a real plus. I don't think he'll become a similar player to MacRae but I couldn't think of much else and he shares a few things with him - both are rangy outside types who aren't particularly electric but have excellent evasive movement. Both have great footy minds and know where to position themselves and both are reasonable by foot with their efficiency good but lack penetration. Both also have an uncanny ability to fire off impeccable handballs under pressure and hit targets they have no right to be hitting. He just seems to know where everyone both is and will be and his execution is fantastic. On the inside Hamilton seems to have a good read of the ball and despite his slender frame he's shown some hunger for the hard ball. With Hamilton you're getting a versatile, hard working, disciplined kid who's able to win his own ball, run and create on the outside and hit the scoreboard. If he wants to really take the next step he'll need to become a higher level accumulator or increase his penetration by foot.




Pick 39 - Brisbane: Liam Dawson - Academy (QLD, Utility)
188cm, 83kg, 23/1/96
Range: Brisbane 2nd-4th
Style: Sam Gilbert
Comparison: Ben Lennon
Other bidders: I'd say there'll be a bid between 25-35

Winning (in a 3 way tie) the Harrison Medal for the best player in div 2 as an underager last year, Dawson's a 6'2 small back who's just as capable playing forward of through the middle. Defensively he's very sound with his ability to close down above average and his footy IQ excellent. He knows exactly when to zone off and intercept and executes the intercept to a high standard with his read of the play and ball fantastic. He's also an excellent tackler with both volume and execution excellent. By foot he's great with a long penetrating kick but the occasional brain fade. He's prone a bit to thinking he has more time than he does and being run down or rushed. Through the middle and forward he's able to use his excellent read of the game and ball to accumulate and create but I think his best position is down back. Strong and confident, I think Dawson's very likely to make it and should be at the standard pretty quickly.




Pick 40 - GWS: Jack Steele - Academy (NSW, FWD/MID)
186cm, 80kg, 13/12/95
Range: Top 50
Style: Robbie Gray
Other bidders: I'd say there'll be one between 20-35
Highlights

Despite being an overager, I really think Jack Steele could just be one of the better players to come out of this draft. Injured last year, he was overlooked and has come back this year and dominated, winning all australian honours. Since the championships he's had a 25 disposal, 7 tackle game against the Swans reserves and last week he had a 39 disposal, 8 tackle and 7 mark game. While he was eligible last season, he was an extremely bottom aged player and is only 3 weeks older than Christan Petracca to put his performances in some perspective. Irrelevant of the standard if you're getting 39 touches in the NEAFL you're probably pretty good, especially at 18. Anyway, Steele's just a natural footballer. He's not that quick or athletic (though he's agile with his evasion a highlight) but he's excellent in nearly every other aspect. He's a good kick with his vision, creativity and decision making highlights, below the knees he's very clean with his pickups and rarely fumbles, in the air he reads the ball better than most and is excellent one on one providing a real marking option through the middle. Under pressure he executes his skills as if he weren't and he just creates time and space for himself. When forward he hits the scoreboard but I prefer him through the middle with his clearance work exceptional with a natural read of the tap as well as his accumulation excellent.




Pick 41 - Melbourne: Billy Stretch - F/S (SA, MID)
182cm, 71kg, 8/9/96
Range: Melbourne 2nd-3rd
Comparison: Tendai Mzungu (softer, though)
Other Bidders: I expect one between 30-40, St. Kilda probably.
Highlights

Billy had a good under 18 championships recording reasonable numbers in every game. He's a quick but not electric outside runner with good but not great footskills and real versatility - able to play forward, back and through the middle. He likes to take on the game with his ability and willingness to break the lines a highlight. His disposal at pace is similar to his normal disposal which is another positive. Very fit and capable of good evasive movement, Billy's performed pretty well in the SANFL this season. He's also a determined hard worker so he'll squeeze every ounce of potential and really make the best of himself. However he's as outside as they come with his inside game bordering on non-existence and a tendency to panic under pressure and turn the ball over. For an outside player his marking is below par and below the knees he's prone to fumbling. Despite that he's got the tools to make it at AFL level however I can't ever see him being a genuine A-grader with his limitations in mind.




Pick 42 - Carlton: Jack Lonie (VC, FWD)
174cm, 67kg, 13/8/96
Range: 25-rookie
Comparison: Hayden Ballantyne
Highlights

Lonie is an electric small forward with pace, agility, skills and some real x-factor. He takes the game on and loves to break the lines with his ability to dodge and weave through traffic above average. Under pressure he's capable of executing high degree of difficulty kicks with his vision and creativity a highlight. When forward he crumbs well and is a good shot on goal who regularly hits the scoreboard. Despite all that there's just something about him that doesn't sell me and I'm not that certain he'll end up being a high level AFL player.




Pick 43 - Western Bulldogs: Josh Glenn (SA, DEF/MID)
179cm, 78kg, '94
Range: 25-rookie
Comparison: Matthew Suckling (shorter, better defender)

Bulldogs fans might be a little bitter at me selecting a mature age half back from the SANFL in the third round for them after Fuller seems a bust but let me assure you that Glenn is not Fuller. Glenn decided not to nominate for the draft last year however I wouldn't read much into that - he doesn't have doubts and doesn't lack commitment, he just didn't want to jump from amateur football to AFL in the space of 18 months. A versatile player, Glenn's best work comes off half back or through the middle. Defensively he's very solid with his attack and determination really good. He doesn't let his opponent get on top and goes hard at it. With ball in hand he runs and carries really well with his kicking exceptional with it being both efficient and penetrating. Through the middle he's still an exceptional user of the football but he's also tough enough to really attack and win his own ball. He just does everything right and he's someone I can see becoming a real high level AFL footballer. I guess a good way to describe him is that he's like those inside midfielders that find a home at halfback - the Vlastuin types etc. except he's also an exceptional kick and outside option too.




Pick 44 - Richmond: Jason Castagna (VM, DEF)
182cm, 86kg, 12/6/96
Style: Heath Shaw
Comparison: Jason Johanissen
Highlights

Jason Castagna is someone I seem to rate well above others. I just really like what he offers. A half back/midfielder, Castagna really attacks the game like very few others in this crop. He's very quick and is able to change direction rapidly at full pace, he just gets the ball and runs and bounces and runs and bounces. He's also well built and a real physical presence on the field. He's a reasonable intercept player and overhead he's excellent. The real knock on him is his footskills with both his decision making and execution shaky at best. However I think he's got a salvageable style and while he mightn't ever be an elite kick I think he can be a serviceable one. And with that in mind I think he shapes as a real bargain with his running and defensive games exceptional.

[Sapientia]

Pick 45 - West Coast: Dillon Viojo-Rainbow (VM, DEF)
185cm, 80kg, 8/2/96
Range: Top 60
Style: Matthew Suckling
Comparison: Shannon Hurn (worse defender though)
Highlights

Viojo-Rainbow is all about the kick. It kind of defines him. He's a penetrating left footer who hits targets consistently and with real penetration and the ability to cover distance. It's a Hurn/Suckling-esque kick. Barring that he's not too exciting - doesn't win much of his own ball and has to be fed it on the outside instead of putting himself in the positions to receive it and defensively he is turned around a little too easily and gets a bit lost aerially. That said with his kick he's got the foundation to take a punt on especially with the relative success of half backs this late in the draft.




Pick 46 - Adelaide: Caleb Daniel (SA, MID/FWD)
168cm, 66kg, 7/7/96
Style: Gary Ablett Jr
Range: Top 60
Highlights

Yep, big call right? Caleb is just incredible. I honestly think he's the most gifted player in the crop and the only comparison is Gary Ablett Jr. He's just a 6 inches smaller version. There are virtually no weaknesses in his footballing ability. His size (and the associated things like wingspan etc.) is the only flaw. Apart from that he excels in absolutely everything. Athletically he's elite. He runs a 16.1 beep. I'd be surprised if he hadn't improved that by the combine - he's a genuine record chance. He's sub 3 seconds over 20 metres, at a guess I'd say he's gone from 2.99 nearly a year ago to 2.9-2.95 now. He runs a sub 10 minute 3k. I'm not sure how many players around run a >15 beep, <10 minute 3k and <3 second 20 metre. I think he's in some pretty rare company. But athletically isn't even where he excels - it's the mental side of the game. His kicking technique is good. He's a good kick - nothing more. However his vision, creativity and decision making are all absolutely elite and with those mental traits his kick, while only good technically, becomes elite. By hand he's elite - he sees targets and distributes the ball so effectively under pressure. In general his disposal under pressure is elite. He could be surrounded by opposition players in heavy traffic and he'll hit a target lace out. Despite being a little fella he kicks the ball a fair way too and it's pretty penetrating. On the inside he's excellent - he's got a great read for the ball and dives in head first without fear and extracts and distributes so well. I considered him a primarily inside leaning midfielder until the championships based on what he's done at SANFL. But outside he's just as good - he knows where the ball will be, gets in the right spots, runs all day and is quicker than nearly everyone. Despite being tiny he tackles with absolute ferocity and tackles in volume. And they stick. At SANFL level he's a good tackler. I see no reason why he can't be a 'reasonable' tackler at AFL level. He can't be tackled. He dodges and weaves away from tacklers and if by chance they get a hand on Daniel will shrug them or dispose of it cleanly anyway. When he's forward he's a clinical finisher who knows where the goals are irrelevant of where he is. With his speed, endurance, work rate, agility and tackling proficiency he's incredibly useful defensively while forward too. Caleb is the most talented player in the crop, it's just so unfortunate that he's so small. But someone with his talent will make it regardless of his height. He's a gun, and everyone should be hoping their club picks him up.




Pick 47 - Gold Coast: Alex Neal-Bullen (SA, MID)
182cm, 77kg, 9/1/96
Range: Top 50
Style: Lenny Hayes
Highlights

Alex Neal-Bullen could just be the most underrated player in the draft crop. Led the championships in clearances, while he's not the prototypical inside midfielder height, he's still an elite inside midfielder at this level. Playing SANFL for Glenelg all season and making an impact, he's able to play half back as well as through the middle. I also think he's a really smart player with his positioning in the forward 50 excellent and threatening and in a more professional system I expect his smarts to really be beneficial and for him to hit the scoreboard quite a bit. Athletically he's fit, he runs all day, he makes every contest and he's at peak for them. He's a natural reader of the tap but also a smart mover which adds up to one excellent clearance machine. On the inside he's tough and a good extractor with his distribution by hand elite. However he's not incredibly quick and by foot he's not incredibly efficient. Combine that with his below ideal size for a modern inside midfielder and unfortunately for him he's going a bit lower than he probably deserves to.




Pick 48 - Collingwood: Lukas Webb (VC, Utility)
186cm, 80kg, 3/4/96
Range: Top 50
Highlights

Webb's a good solid player. Perhaps he's a little vanilla but he still projects as a role player in a team at the absolute worst. Had a really solid championships with one partocular highlight game. He's able to play in defence but his best football is played across half forward and through the middle. He's got a nice left foot, he's reasonable at the contest and hits the scoreboard when playing through the middle and attacks the ball really well. I'm not quite sure he's got any elite qualities but he seems to be good in most elements and with what he's shown in his good games there's definitely something to work with.




Pick 49 - Essendon: Sam Bevan (WA, KPF)
195cm, 80kg, 12/6/96
Range: 40-rookie
Comparison: Jesse White
Highlights

Bevan's a strange one. I think he's probably got the most upside of the key forwards in the 3rd-rookie range but he really did not impress in the champs. I guess it'd be pretty rough on the bloke to hold him accountable as a forward given the supply from the WA midfield and just how poorly balanced the side was. Since the champs he's gone back to the colts and kicked 12 goals in 3 games. He's got good acceleration and creates real separation on the lead. At ground level he's pretty clean for a big man and athletically he's solid with pace and agility above average. He's a good and reasonably long kick for goal. He just has very little aerial presence and doesn't seem to always be in the right spots but with his athleticism and ground level ability there's a base to work from.




Pick 50 - North Melbourne: James Rose (SA, FWD)
186cm, 78kg, 16/4/96
Range: 40-rookie
Style: Tom T. Lynch
Comparison: Aaron Edwards
Highlights

James Rose seems to be a player who's rated much higher in South Australia than everywhere else. I'd seen him a few times before the championships and didn't think much of him but his first game in the championships really piqued my interest - and the second nearly sold me. He's the kind of forward that just plays taller than he is, and at 186cm that does work against him a bit. But we can only judge him on what he's done so far and that's kick goals. He's a real marking forward who leads straight at the ball, doesn't slow down, hits it hard, takes it at its highest point and crashes anything in his way. In round 1 of the champs he just kept on crashing packs and taking grabs, I haven't seen a kid who's so aggressive at the ball in a good while. For his size he's a great contested mark with his one on one work handy (though he's still best used as a more lead up type forward). At ground level he's clean and agile. He's not the kind of player who's probably going to make a name for himself as a midfielder though, bar his marking most aspects of his game don't project to being really midfield standard. He's a good kick but not elite, he's by no means lightning and doesn't really create immediate separation - he has to burn his opponent off and get them into the red zone to really get that separation and space. He's also been limited to a forward role so far and I'm not sure his game really projects as being one that'd translate to defence either so I think he's probably going to be a forward for his career. He's just a really smart player who leads hard, leads right and leads well. If he's to be an a-grader he's probably going to want to work on his speed a bit more and improve his one on one work.




Pick 51 - Port Adelaide: Jake Johansen (SA, MID/FWD)
171cm, 63kg, 13/6/96
Range: Top 60
Style: Jackson MacRae


The MacRae style comparison again might seem a bit strange but it works, I reckon. It's hard to find a comparison for someone of Johansen's size and role without resorting to the generic Boomer Harvey copout. Johansen's a really high level accumulator. He's fit and he works really, really hard to find space. A lot of his disposals are uncontested marks or loose ball gets in space that he's just outworked his opponent to find. He's also really good at flanking the contest and linkup up while he can also go forward and play as a genuine crumber who hits the scoreboard. He's fast, agile and seems like a dedicated kid who's going to try to get the best out of himself. Despite his size he's strong in the contest and doesn't get outbodied like many his size do. However his kicking is a bit of a weakness with it lacking both penetration and at times execution. It's something I think can be salvaged though and if he gets that together he can be a really good AFL player.



Pick 52 - Geelong: Billy Evans (VC, MID/FWD)
189cm, 87kg, 19/10/96
Range: Top 60
Style: Josh P. Kennedy
Comparison: Jarrad Jansen
Highlights

Evans is just a bullocking beast, really. He's already got a really solid frame and has height and bulk few other kids his age have, especially when you consider how late a birthday he is. His best work is done at the stoppage where he's able to bullock and power his way through traffic to win the hard ball. He's also a real volume tackler whose tackles also stick. He's really good at hitting the scoreboard for an inside mid, with his forward work both at ground level and on the lead quite good. I think in general he's a slightly smaller poor man's Jarrad Jansen. With these big bodied midfielders they can go either way and Evans certainly has the foundation to become a real force but it's not something we're going to see for a good few years with consistency being an issue for now.




Pick 53 - Hawthorn: Daniel Nielson (VM, KPD)
193cm, 90kg, 9/5/96
Range: 35-rookie
Style: Tim Mohr

Daniel Nielson is just a solid stopper with a good foundation for developing into an AFL standard key defender. He's already got a reasonable body with his 1 on 1 defensive ability excellent and a reasonable ability to close down leads. He takes the intercept when it's there and his footskills are above average for a key defender as is his willingness to involve himself in the transition and rebound.




Pick 54 - Fremantle: Josh Deluca (WA, FWD/MID)
179cm, 80kg, 11/5/96
Range: Very volatile

Having missed the championships with injury, the back end of the season will go a long way to deciding Josh Deluca's draft stock. He's a pretty creative and skilled left footer whose kicking is a real strength to his game. He's also pretty well developed with his frame well built up already which shows in his game with his strength and one on one work very good. He does come across as potentially an early peaker but that's still a big unknown at this stage. When fit has played 5 WAFL games averaging 11.6 touches and just over 2 shots on goal a game. If he wants to rise up the draft ladder he's going to want to play (and look good while doing) some more midfield minutes though.




Pick 55 - Sydney: Dylan Winton (WA, Utility)
191cm, 86kg, 27/7/96
Range: 30-rookie
Style: Lynden Dunn
Comparison: Poor man's Matthew Broadbent
Highlights

Capable of playing a variety of roles down back or through the middle, Dylan Winton's stocks fell badly after a pretty poor championships. At times unable to find the football, he struggled to impact games and when he did have the ball he looked everything but composed and panicked too much. However, he's shown outside the big stage that he does have game. He's not a particularly quick, nimble or agile player but by foot he's normally reliable and hits the high percentage target and overhead he's reliable with his intercept marking good. His strength is his smarts though - he's the type you can back to organise the defence and make it stronger merely by his presence and does the team things. Through the middle he's not an athletic specimen nor is he a major ball winner but he's good at linking up and finding space and with ball in hand he's able to make things happen. I'm just a little concerned that through the middle he doesn't have enough touches on the outside to be a permanent fixture and for his size doesn't have a huge inside presence. I think his future is down back. Despite his pretty rough championships he's gone back and played some reasonable WAFL footy for Peel. I really think he's got a future at AFL despite all his shortcomings and would project him to be a 100 game player.

[Ringo]

I know we desperately need a forward to take over when Rooey retires (McCartin probably), but it seriously wouldn't surprise me if we picked Petracca instead and picked up a forward some other way

You will be fighting with Brisbane for a tall forward - I would be happy with Petraaca, McCartin, Durdin or Wright surely we will get one.

[Nige]

Great read Sap.

Hadn't really considered any of those boys for our picks.

I like Laverde, but I really want us to grab Pickett. Although there's a number of guys I wouldn't mind us grabbing.

I reckon we have enough mid/half-back types. I think we need a small forward, tall-ish forward and a young ruck.

[Toga]

I would like Richmond to pick up Brayshaw, Laverde or Weller with our first I think... Would like to see us draft a bit more class for the midfield