Gee Dub's Phantom Draft

[Gee Dub]

POWER RANKINGS

1. Heeney

2. Brayshaw

3. Petracca

4. Laverde

5. Lever

6. Pickett

7. McCartin

8. De Goey

9. Moore

10. Blakely

11. Steele

12. Weller

13. Wright

14. Marchbank

15. Garlett

16. Goddard

17. McDonald

18. Gore

19. D.McKenzie

20. Cockatoo

21. Ahern

22. Stretch

23. Viojo-Rainbow

24. Durdin

25. Neal-Bullen

26. Maynard

27. Langford

28. Duggan

29. Keitel

30. R.McKenzie

31. Miller

32. Cavka

33. Vickers-Willis

34. Langdon

35. Ellis

36. McLean

37. Lamb

38. Dawson

39. Glenn

40. Howe

41. Fordham

42. Cunico

43. Lonie

44. Menadue

45. Capiron

46. Hamilton

47. Wigg

48. Castagna

49. Webb

50. Anderson


1. St Kilda- Patrick McCartin

2. Melbourne- Christian Petracca

3. Melbourne- Angus Brayshaw

4. GWS- Jarrod Pickett

5. Collingwood- Jordan De Goey

6. GWS- Paul Ahern

7. GWS- Caleb Marchbank

8. Gold Coast- Peter Wright

9. Collingwood- Darcy Moore

10. Geelong- Nakia Cockatoo

11. West Coast- Liam Duggan

12. Richmond- Corey Ellis

13. Fremantle- Jake Lever

14. Adelaide- Dan McKenzie

15. Gold Coast- Jarrod Garlett

16. North Melbourne- Sam Durdin

17. Essendon- Jayden Laverde

18. Sydney- Isaac Heeney

19. Carlton- Lachie Weller

20. Essendon- Kyle Langford

21. St Kilda- Hugh Goddard

22. St Kilda- Dillon Viojo-Rainbow

23. GWS- Kyle Langford

24. GWS- Jack Steele

25. North Melbourne- Oscar McDonald

26. Western Bulldogs- Ed Vickers-Willis

27. Western Bulldogs- Connor Menadue

28. Carlton- Tom Lamb

29. Gold Coast- Pat McKenna

30. Collingwood- Damien Cavka

31. Hawthorn- Connor Blakely

32. West Coast- Toby McLean

33. Richmond- Dean Gore

34. Fremantle- Mitch McGovern

35. Adelaide- Dan Howe

36. North Melbourne- Jordan Cunico

37. Sydney- Dan Nielson

38. Sydney- Jack Hiscox

39. Western Bulldogs- Lukas Webb

40. Melbourne- Ed Langdon

41. St Kilda- Corey Gregson

42. Melbourne- Billy Stretch

43. Adelaide- Bailey Dale

44. Brisbane- Liam Dawson-

45. Western Bulldogs- Tyler Keitel

46. Western Bulldogs- Nathan Drummond

47. Geelong- Dan Butler

48. Collingwood- Matt Goodyear

49. Hawthorn- Touk Miller

50. Hawthorn- Jack Lonie

51. West Coast- Brenden Abbott

52. Richmond- Jaden McGrath

53. Melbourne- Alex Neal-Bullen

54. Fremantle- Brett Turner

55. Geelong- Dan Nielson

56. Port Adelaide- Will Fordham

57. Sydney- PASS

58. Adelaide- Reece McKenzie

59. Geelong- Josh Glenn

60. Carlton- Blaine Boekhorst

61. Brisbane- Harris Andrews

62. Western Bulldogs- Zaine Cordy

63. Carlton- Hugh Beasley

64. Gold Coast- PASS

65. Brisbane- Josh McGuinness

66. West Coast- Christian Buykx-Smith

67. Richmond- Adam Creeper

68. Fremantle- Liam Griffiths

69. Port Adelaide- Marc Pittonet

70. Sydney- Abe Davis

71. Carlton- PASS

72. GWS- Mick Mattingly

73. Brisbane- Teia Miles

74. Gold Coast- PASS

75. Collingwood- Dougal Howard

76. West Coast- Alec Waterman

77. Richmond- Declan Hamilton

78. Port Adelaide- Matt Uebergang

79. Sydney- PASS

80. GWS- PASS

81. Brisbane- PASS

82. Carlton- PASS

83. Richmond- PASS

84. Port Adelaide- Ryan Tester

85. GWS- Jeremy Finlayson

86. Brisbane- Josh Clayton

87. Carlton- PASS

 

[Gee Dub]

21. St Kilda – Alex Neal-Bullen (Glenelg)
Height: 182 cm
Weight: 87 kg
Player Comparison: Luke Parker

Neal-Bullen is a really nice inside midfield prospect who has been playing senior football at Glenelg this year. He has a good turn of pace which helps him to accelerate away from the pack and he uses his hands well to get it out to his runners. He seems to have a knack for getting first hands on the ball at contests and sending kicks forward, although they often tend to be tumbling kicks that bounce end on end and are difficult to mark but that is because he is under so much pressure when he gets it. When he has time to use it he is a nice kick, although he generally takes low risk options. Rather than taking risks by pulling the trigger up the middle of the ground, he feeds it laterally to those with the skills to do so. He is a bit of a rough gem who has a lot of potential if he can clean up his work around the stoppages.

22. Brisbane Lions – Matthew Hammelmann (Morningside)
Height: 198 cm
Weight: 88 kg
Player Comparison: Josh Jenkins

Hammelmann is a big, tall key forward who can go through the ruck and do a serviceable job in there. He is really strong on the lead, and hits the ball at top pace and takes it as far out in the hands as possible which makes it extremely hard to defend him on the lead. He needs to take advantage of his opportunities on goal as he seems to get a few opportunities a game but only kicks one or two goals. He is still skinny and not really a big physical presence but as he fills out he has a lot of potential to be a handy second forward.

23. Greater Western Sydney – Ed Vickers-Willis (Sandringham Dragons)
Height: 190 cm
Weight: 82 kg
Player Comparison: Andrew Mackie

Vickers-Willis is a player who can play as a defender or midfielder and do a job, whilst still accumulating possessions. He is the type of player you don’t really seem to notice but he is quietly setting up across half back, chipping the ball around or giving quickfire handballs out. His kicking action is a little ugly and can be inconsistent but he doesn’t try to do too much with the ball so he gets away with it. He seems to lack a bit of composure and misses targets he shouldn’t when under small amounts of pressure but his defensive attributes make up for this. He is a willing tackler, who will throw himself at the ball carrier and at the very least, slow them down. He is quick over the first few steps which allows him to stay close to forwards on the lead and when he spoils he really thumps it clear. He can lose his man at times in one on ones and looks a little shaky when one out in the square. Overall, Vickers-Willis is a solid medium defender who can also play on smalls.

24. Melbourne – Touk Miller (Calder Cannons)
Height: 177 cm
Weight: 80 kg
Player Comparison: Dion Prestia

Miller is small put he is an effective ball winner and a good user of it, especially by foot. He has a raking boot that allows him to kick it 55 metres to a teammate and he is very dangerous when hovering around the 50 as he is a threat from almost everywhere. He puts it to his teammates advantage most times but he can over-kick the ball. He will win a hard ball and burst his way out of the pack and then follow up on it and try to get it again. He is just such a hard worker and has worked hard to make sure his lack of size doesn’t affect him as a footballer. He shows leadership potential, as he was named captain of Vic Metro for the Champs. Miller is quite fast too, and puts a lot of pressure on the ball carrier and tackles hard when he catches them. He has the potential to be a good role player at AFL level.

25. Carlton– Corey Ellis (Western Jets)
Height: 185 cm
Weight: 76 kg
Player Comparison: Jared Polec

Ellis is a great ball user with a raking left foot capable of piercing defences. He is a smart ball user and puts it to the advantage of his teammates, generally allowing them to run into the path of the ball and putting it where he wants them to run. He is light bodied and not really a major contested ball winner but he is still an effective clearance player as he is a guy who teammates like to give the ball to because of his disposal. He is a good tackler and chases hard, not letting them get out of the pack easily. There is a lot of improvement ahead for Ellis and he has a number of very draftable attributes.

26. Western Bulldogs – Aidan Anderson (Swan Districts)
Height: 183 cm
Weight: 82 kg
Player Comparison: Steven Motlop

Anderson is a small forward who has a great goal sense. He has been playing senior football this year for Swan Districts and averages a goal a game in senior company. He plays taller than he is and can take some good contested marks but his follow up when the ball hits the ground is excellent. He is quick and clean below his knees and a good kick for goal on the run, whether it be a snap or running directly at goal.

27. Richmond – Dean Gore (Sturt)
Height: 183 cm
Weight: 86 kg
Player Comparison: Luke Dunstan

South Australia usually seem to have one dominant, big bodied inside midfielder and this year that man is Dean Gore. He has been playing senior footy all year and has held his own, being possibly the best performed out of all of the juniors playing league football this year. He is a clearance machine who is continually sending the ball forward. He really clears the danger when he kicks it, booting it long down the line, but rarely takes the time to look for a better option which can cause problems. When he gives it off by hand he is really creative and chooses good options, also working hard to block and protect his man after he gives them the ball. He is big bodied and strong through the core and legs so he is rarely knocked off the ball and it helps him to be one of the best clearance players in the draft.

28. West Coast – Alec Waterman (Claremont)
Height: 183 cm
Weight: 87 kg
Player Comparison: Dom Sheed

Waterman is a father-son selection who is probably a late first round talent but the Eagles are likely to get him in the second round thanks to their finishing position. He is a hard at it midfielder with clean hands and a good ability to win the ball on the inside. He is more of an accumulator than a dominant ball winner, and he can get a lot of ball without you realising it. He is a little slow but his clearance work makes up for it. He gets it out of the contest by hand and then follows up and runs to the next contest. He is a little one paced but his endurance and work rate are very good allowing him to keep working to contests.

29. Collingwood – Jarrod Garlett (South Fremantle)
Height: 179 cm
Weight: 67 kg
Player Comparison: Lewis Jetta

Garlett is incredibly quick and a real line breaker who seems to do something exciting every time he gets it. He is really clean by hand and gets his hands up to avoid being trapped. He has good lateral movement and gets himself out of trouble easily before turning on the speed and bursting away. He has the ability to pick the ball up off the ground at top pace and keep going at top speed and can dance around players while running at close to top speed. His kicking is fair but he tends to over-kick the ball a lot, possibly the result of trying to kick at top pace. He can kick off both feet equally well. If he can clean up his kicking he can be a really good player, as he is essentially a more consistent version of Pickett but a poorer ball user.

30. Adelaide – Jack Hayes (Woodville-West Torrens)
Height: 191 cm
Weight: 82 kg
Player Comparison: Jake Carlisle

Hayes is versatile enough to play at both ends and has played through the ruck at junior level and shown an ability to win a lot of the ball. He projects best as a defender, where he can use his closing speed and spoil. He doesn’t give his man an inch and is seemingly always there with a fist. He is brave enough to leave his man and kill the ball in dangerous contests, a trait that the good defenders have. He doesn’t seem to back himself much to mark the ball and prefers to punch but it could be a confidence thing as he had been playing up forward and in the ruck before the Champs and he is generally a good mark when playing up forward. He can play up forward where he uses his work rate to work around centre half forward and accumulate the ball, whilst bobbing up for a couple of goals

31. Gold Coast – Daniel Capiron (Dandenong Stingrays)
Height: 189 cm
Weight: 80 kg
Player Comparison: Heath Shaw

Capiron is a classy defender who is good in the air, can blanket an opponent but also provide plenty of drive off half back. He is a good decision maker and a good kick, although a lot of his kicks across the backline are safe, short passes and switches. He doesn’t often pull the trigger and try to take risks but it is not really necessary in his role as a defender. His defensive work is good and he has the ability to play on both talls and smalls due to his size and athleticism.

32. North Melbourne – Clem Smith (West Perth)
Height: 178 cm
Weight: 67 kg
Player Comparison: Mitch Robinson (more defensive)

The negatives are often talked about more than the positives with Smith but I feel that is unfair on the kid. He may not be a good kick, rather he is a very poor kick, and he may be small but he is extremely quick and hard at the ball which is a lethal combination. He is exceptionally quick and this helps him chase down opponents and he averages a high number of pressure acts each game, because even though he may not catch his opponents he causes them to kick hurriedly. He loves to lay a crunching tackle or a big block and his teammates feed off that stuff. If he can learn how to kick he will be a very good defender, but due to his pressure and attack on the ball you can carry him in your team without the elite kicking skills many defenders possess.

33. Port Adelaide – Sean McLaren (Sandringham Dragons)
Height: 197 cm
Weight: 92 kg
Player Comparison: Jackson Trengove

McLaren is a versatile tall who can play through the ruck and at both ends of the ground. I like McLaren as a tall defender, who can hold down a key defensive post but can pinch hit in the ruck, like Port’s Jackson Trengove. While his defensive game is still developing, he has shown great promise here, using his long arms to reach in and spoil and reads the ball well in the air to take intercept marks. He doesn’t provide much when his team is attacking but as a defender you are more concerned with your players beating their man first, which is what McLaren does. He is quite a capable ruckman, and his taps are generally to advantage and he follows up well. He is a player for the future and one that can be developed a number of ways.

34. Fremantle – Henry Carey (Sturt)
Height: 183 cm
Weight: 78 kg
Player Comparison: Luke Breust

Carey is an athletic medium forward with a fantastic leap. He is light bodied but he doesn’t let that stop him and when he can get a jump at the ball he is hard to beat. Even at his size, he can take contested marks, as seen in the Champs game against Vic Metro where he marked over the top of three Vic Metro defenders. He is smart and works hard, making multiple leads and working his opponent over until he can find space. His set shot is okay but can be a little hit and miss, as he moves the ball around a lot in his run up which creates more margin for error. Carey has been playing some reserves footy lately and has been finding more of the ball, especially around the 50 where he can spot up targets or go himself. He has a lot of potential as a small to medium forward with a lot of improvement left in him and has a really high upside.


35. Geelong – Billy Evans (Bendigo Pioneers)
Height: 189 cm
Weight: 87 kg
Player Comparison: Mitch Wallis

Evans is a hard as nails inside midfielder who has starred for Bendigo this year. He wins a lot of the ball, averaging 23 disposals for Bendigo and a large number of them are won in contests. He is big bodied which helps him dominate in clearance situations and his tackling is strong, as he picks up 3-4 each game. He is a goalkicking midfielder which teams love and works hard both ways. He has shown a lot of improvement this year after looking a long way off it last season and has a lot more improvement to come.


36. Hawthorn – Jordan Cunico (Gippsland Power)
Height: 184 cm
Weight: 72 kg
Player Comparison: Mark LeCras

Cunico is a pacy outside player who has a real turn of speed and loves to use it. He is very dangerous when left alone because he can break the lines with his pace and use his excellent kicking to set up forward thrusts. He is light bodied and can be pushed off the ball but when out on the wing or flanks with more space and time he is very damaging. He likes to float around the forward line where he can really set up attacks and can impact the scoreboard.

37. Sydney – Dylan Winton (Peel Thunder)
Height: 191 cm
Weight: 86 kg
Player Comparison: Lynden Dunn

Winton is an intriguing prospect as he has been playing as an undersized centre half back with average disposal but an ability to read the play well and cut it off in dangerous spots. However he is unlikely to play there at AFL level due to being a little short, but he is still a good medium sized defender. He is a poor kick and despite being able to play through the midfield and find the ball, I don’t like him there because his disposal is too hit and miss. He is rather slow and one paced, but is smart and knows where to go to get the ball and doesn’t let his lack of athleticism limit him.

 

[Gee Dub]

38. St Kilda – Jackson Nelson (Geelong Falcons)
Height: 187 cm
Weight: 80 kg
Player Comparison: Jasper Pittard

Nelson is a skinny outside ball user who roams around the backline or on the wing. He is quite fast and has good agility and a nice sidestep which helps him to get out of sticky situations. He is clean with the ball in hand and makes good decisions. He is beginning to win more of his own ball and his tackling is good as he is very tenacious and he picks up a few tackles a game. He has been beginning to run into some really good form after a slow start to the season so a shoulder injury suffered in the final game of the Champs will put a dent in his draft hopes but I feel that he has enough attributes to get picked up.

39. Brisbane Lions- Liam Dawson (Aspley)
Height: 188 cm
Weight: 83 kg
Player Comparison: James Kelly

Dawson burst onto the scene last year as a defender for Queensland, with his form earning him plaudits and an AIS Academy invitation. He is a good user of the ball and can accumulate possessions through the midfield with ease. He can make some mistakes with the ball and put his teammates under pressure by being slow to make decisions but he is still learning to play in the middle at a higher level and he is generally a good decision maker when coming off half back. Injury ruined his chances of showing what he can do on the big stage of the Champs but it should allow the Lions to take him with a later pick. Whatever happens, it is hard to see the Lions passing on him

40. Greater Western Sydney – Kyle Langford (Northern Knights)
Height: 190 cm
Weight: 73 kg
Player Comparison: Nat Fyfe

Langford is a versatile tall who can play at both ends. He plays as a forward for Northern Knights, where he can showcase his elite marking. Despite being a skinny kid, he is one of the best marks in the TAC Cup and rarely drops one. He protects the drop of the ball and hits it hard, not giving his opponent much chance. He has a good set shot technique and generally takes advantage of his opportunities. He wins a lot of ball working up the ground, and is often found floating up around the wings. He played as a defender for the majority of the Champs where he did jobs on a number of quality forwards. He is a little slow to make decisions, and can put himself under pressure leading to turnovers. His disposal is average and he doesn’t have any real weapons. His versatility makes him a good prospect and I see him as a third tall forward who may end up in the midfield as a tall midfielder with great marking ability in a couple of years.


41. Melbourne – Billy Stretch (Glenelg)
Height: 182 cm
Weight: 71 kg
Player Comparison: Xavier Ellis

Stretch has copped a lot of attention this year and has found a lot of criticism coming his way which has been very harsh on a kid who has some great assets. He is a skinny kid who floats across half forward or on the wing and loves to get the ball in his hands and run. His kicking lacks polish but is not as bad as has been reported early in the Champs. He is a good linkman across the forward half, but I don’t see him as a real game changer. Stretch isn’t likely to be in and under, winning his own ball but he knows his limitations and positions himself in spots where he can be dangerous and help his side. He often sits 30 metres away from the play, sweeping up loose kicks and pumping it back into dangerous spots. His exposure to senior football at Glenelg can only help him. Demons fans have put a lot of pressure on Stretch to be a great player, and wanted to get a steal through the father-son system but Stretch is just a good solid second round prospect with one or two attributes that make him a good player – his speed and decision making, but not a whole lot else.

42. Carlton – Sam Bevan (Claremont)
Height: 195 cm
Weight: 80 kg
Player Comparison: Jesse White

Bevan is a light-bodied key forward but he does some really nice things that make you think there is something to work with. He can mark well on the lead, as he gets separation from his opponent and bursts away, however he is rather poor in the air for a big man and doesn’t take many big contested grabs or have much of a physical presence. He is a good kick for goal and despite not getting many chances, he usually ends up with one or two goals a game.

43. Western Bulldogs – Zaine Cordy (Geelong Falcons)
Height: 192 cm
Weight: 80 kg
Player Comparison: Andy Otten

Cordy has shown some real improvement this year for Geelong Falcons to the point where he is being talked about as a main draft father-son selection to the Bulldogs, when at one point it looked like they could pick him up in the rookie draft. Last year he was playing as a third tall, mopping up around the contests but not taking the best opposition forwards, despite his size but this year he has stood next to some quality players but come off better. He is athletic and moves well for a big guy, and is clean below his knees. He has a powerful kick and is a strong mark and has a lot of attributes which could lead to him being a solid AFL defender if he can continue developing and put it all together.

44. Richmond – Dan Howe (Murray Bushrangers)
Height: 191 cm
Weight: 84 kg
Player Comparison: Andrew Mackie

Howe is a 19-year-old skilled, running defender who is good off both sides and does some really exciting things. He is not afraid of getting hurt and his attack on the ball is fantastic, going back with the flight or flying into packs trying to outmark forwards. He backs himself to mark the ball rather than spoiling which is a good quality to have in a defender. By foot he is rather safe and takes the low risk options usually. He takes a lot of intercept marks because he reads the ball well in the air but then he goes back quickly and hits a short pass or a switch rather than pulling the trigger and going back up the line. He is a composed defender who has played up the ground as a forward and also in the midfield where he played a key role in the Bushrangers’ win over Sandringham. Howe can step in and play a role and will not disappoint fans, but probably won’t develop into a number one defender to man the big forwards.

45. West Coast – Dillon Viojo-Rainbow (Western Jets)
Height: 185 cm
Weight: 80 kg
Player Comparison: Shannon Hurn

After Harrison Wigg, Viojo-Rainbow is probably the best kick in the draft. He has an excellent left boot which can send the ball to its target almost immediately. He kicks it low and flat and gives defenders little chance. Struggles a little defensively and seems to have trouble reading the play and predicting where his opponent is going to move to so I see him as more of a wingman who can use the ball effectively and be a real creative weapon.

46. Collingwood – Lukas Webb (Gippsland Power)
Height: 186 cm
Weight: 80 kg
Player Comparison: Patrick Karnezis

Webb is a midfielder/forward who is good in the air and is good around the stoppages. He reads the ball really well in the air as a forward and protects the drop of the ball well. He is a good set shot for goal and is a good contributor to the Gippsland forward line. He is not a massive ball winner but he is good in traffic and has good composure. He is a good decision maker and loves to take the game on and keep it going forward. He has a lot of development to go but could be a handy midfielder and I’d like to see him continue his Champs form for Gippsland.

47. Adelaide – Jake Johansen (Port Adelaide)
Height: 171 cm
Weight: 63 kg
Player Comparison: Brent Harvey

Johansen is a tiny midfield dynamo who has been playing senior football at Port Adelaide in the last two seasons. Whilst he plays as a midfielder for South Australia, he plays as a small forward, roaming around forward 50 and using his pace and skill to set up teammates. He is a smart player who knows where to run to get the ball and has good acceleration to get away from the contest. He is not a particularly penetrating kick and you don’t notice his kicking as being either good or bad, it just gets from point A to point B. He is clever around the contest and when he can’t pick it up one grab he will knock it on to his advantage and back himself to beat his opponent to it with his speed. He is small but strong and doesn’t get knocked off the ball as much as you would think due to his strong core and low centre of gravity. Despite being small he is a big time accumulator due to his workrate and can play a role as a small forward or high half forward working up the ground at AFL level, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him passed over due to his size.

48. Gold Coast – Brad Walsh (Peel Thunder)
Height: 180 cm
Weight: 79 kg
Player Comparison: Sam Mitchell

Walsh is a tough inside midfielder with great leadership qualities. The captain of the AIS Academy team leads by example and was the MVP for Western Australia in the Champs. He reads the ball really well off the hands of the ruckman and moves it on quickly. He is a good tackler and a really good clearance player. He has a good sidestep and can burst out of the pack to deliver the ball but doesn’t take the game on much. He accumulates the ball and can rack up big numbers at under 18 level and averaged 16 disposals in his three senior games last year. He is similar to Bampton in that he doesn’t have a lot of improvement left in him but he is a solid, AFL ready player.

49. Essendon – Abaina Davis (UNSW-Easts)
Height: 193 cm
Weight: 90 kg
Player Comparison: Jack Riewoldt

Davis is zoned to Sydney through their academy but given their depth in the key forward position I’m tipping he will go to the highest bidder and he should garner plenty of interest. He does some really exciting things, and has a knack of making something out of nothing. He is athletic and fast for his size and uses his attributes to work his opponent around in the absence of a real marking game. He can jump and takes the ball at his highest point but at times can misjudge them in the air and I’d like him to clunk them a little more often. I feel that he can be a little selfish but that can be a good trait in a forward.

50. North Melbourne – Tom Lamb (Dandenong Stingrays)
Height: 192 cm
Weight: 83 kg
Player Comparison: Marco Paparone (less disciplined)

Lamb is an interesting prospect because he is not quite tall enough to play as a tall forward but he plays as a quasi-tall who roams around on the wings, in a role similar to Matthew Richardson late in his career. He is extremely athletic and his agility is up there with the best. He does some things that make you get excited, like a one handed pick up and take off with the ball before delivering a pinpoint pass, but it seems as though he is more interested in doing the flashy things like this than doing the one percenters and the “boring” things on the field. He is quite inconsistent and not a huge possession winner or great ball user, especially considering the position he plays. He is very fiery and is noted to have a bad temper, and was kicked out of a prestigious Melbourne school. His marking is not good enough for him to play as a key forward at that size and he may not be able to make an impact in this sort of role at AFL level but he is picked on natural talent and potential.

51. Port Adelaide – Jack Cripps (East Fremantle)
Height: 196 cm
Weight: 86 kg
Player Comparison: Rhys Stanley

Cripps is a big, athletic tall forward who can take turns through the ruck. He is a good mover and works really hard, covering more ground than most guys his size. He can take a good grab and has a good vertical leap. He plays in bursts at the moment but he has a lot of potential if he can put a few passages of play together and find more of the footy. He is an effective tap ruckman but more of a forward than ruckman.

52. Fremantle – Connor Menadue (Western Jets)

Height: 188 cm
Weight: 69 cm
Player Comparison: Skinnier Matt White

Menadue is a really exciting, light bodied player. He makes things happen because he takes the game on, although sometimes it doesn’t come off and looks extremely bad. He is a linebreaker and is one of those players that you really pay attention to when watching from the stands, and not just because of those bright green boots! He is a fairly clean ball user but could clean up his disposal, especially if he slowed a little and didn’t try to kick it at full speed. He is clean below his knees and can do some uncanny pick ups but tends to burn the first option, even when under pressure which causes him problems. He is a good late pick where he could emerge as a steal but a little too risky to take early.

53. Geelong – Daniel Butler (North Ballarat Rebels)
Height: 181 cm
Weight: 79 kg
Player Comparison: Jarryd Blair

Butler is a small, elusive forward who applies lots of defensive pressure and hates to let the ball out. He is a good ball user and has good weighting to his kicks. He is quick and likes to take the game on before delivering the ball. Despite being small he can find the ball and win his own footy but he is better on the outside with his speed and acceleration. He needs to hit the scoreboard a little more but he is certainly draftable with a later pick due to his work ethic and pressure.


54. Hawthorn – Caleb Daniel (South Adelaide)
Height: 167 cm
Weight: 66 kg
Player Comparison: Trent Cotchin (smaller)

Daniel is tiny but he is so elusive and poised. He never gets tackled and dances in and out of contests with ease, shrugging off opponents and assessing his options before hitting low bullets to his teammate. He has terrific goal sense and kicks goals from anywhere, as seen in the Champs where he picked the ball up in a pack and kicked the ball over his head while facing the wrong way, resulting in a goal. He has a long penetrating kick but often chooses the short options which release his running teammates. Despite his size he is a fantastic player and I feel he deserves a chance, although if he isn’t picked up he will be one of the band of players deemed 'too small for AFL' that dominate at state level.


55. Sydney – Teia Miles (Geelong Falcons)
Height: 179 cm
Weight: 68 kg
Player Comparison: Luke Ball

Miles is a half back who plays with no frills. He doesn’t care for the fancy stuff and he just attacks the ball really hard. He is a solid clearance player in the midfield for Geelong, throwing himself at the ball and getting in and under. His kicking needs work as it is neither long nor penetrating but he knows his limitations. He is a smart player who does the little things well and leaves the flashy stuff to others.

 

[Gee Dub]

Others to watch/Potential Late Round Picks:

Ryan Lim
Keenan Ramsey
Jared Hardisty
Corey Gregson
Declan Hamilton
Reece McKenzie
Nathan Drummond
Jason Castagna
Errin Wasley-Black
Tom Read
Rowan Marshall

 

[checkpoints]

Love the Carlton selections. To nab Braysaw at 5 would be a steal. Ellis at 25 is pretty good get. But with Rogers and Mick looking for more outside speed would garlett be a better selection?

Also what's the chance of McKenzie being available at our third or forth round selections?

 

[Gee Dub]

Love the Carlton selections. To nab Braysaw at 5 would be a steal. Ellis at 25 is pretty good get. But with Rogers and Mick looking for more outside speed would garlett be a better selection?

Also what's the chance of McKenzie being available at our third or forth round selections?

I rate Garlett pretty highly but Ellis is probably a safer pick. Both have a really nice outside game but Ellis probably has more runs on the board and I think is less chance of being a bust.

McKenzie is no certainty to get picked up and I'd say he would be there abouts at your third pick instead of Bevan, or there later on. I just felt Bevan has more upside, with a bit more size to put on and that's only going to help him as he develops. McKenzie needs to work on his kicking for goal. I wouldn't feel comfortable taking a big forward who manhandles guys much smaller than him, and with a shaky set shot without seeing something else and I'm not sure he really has too many strings to his bow other than being a reasonable pinch hitting ruckman.

 

[BlackGoanna]

Great effort, one of the better reads thus far!

 

[ThaiBarmats]

Roos wants mids, mids, mids. Feel your Melb's picks are way off the mark except for Stretch. But good read up on players, well done.

 

[bloke_]

I was surprised by your rating of Tom Lamb.

Admittedly I know nothing about him but many have him as a first round pick while you have him as 50. Do you see him as a sort of like Marsh last year? Rated highly but size and unpredictability worked against him so he was takes in the 70s?

 

[dajesmac]

Great read. I'm gunning for Brayshaw/Laverde at our pick. Thoughts on the latter bolting/Brayshaw being available at pick 7 or so?

 

[eth-dog]

Great read mate, is Davis only similar in style to Riewoldt? Would Bevan last to Essendon's 3rd pick?

 

[Barrels]

McKenzie is no certainty to get picked up and I'd say he would be there abouts at your third pick instead of Bevan, or there later on. I just felt Bevan has more upside, with a bit more size to put on and that's only going to help him as he develops. McKenzie needs to work on his kicking for goal. I wouldn't feel comfortable taking a big forward who manhandles guys much smaller than him, and with a shaky set shot without seeing something else and I'm not sure he really has too many strings to his bow other than being a reasonable pinch hitting ruckman.

I'd be floored.

If you can kick 10 goals in a game at an elite (junior) level I'm not sure you need other strings to your bow; he's a greater talent, sure, but McCartin is a forward and forward only, so are Travis Cloke and Tom Hawkins, both of whom are never likely to be played in the ruck and both of whom are shaky with their kicking at times.

McKenzie is a monty to be picked up IMO, it's a matter of when someone pulls the trigger.

 

[blueiris]

We (Brisbane ) are likely to have a huge Forward line if the Draft goes the way most people have it with Wright Hammelmann and Freeman who are 6'6 or taller and then there's Close at 196cm would be possible be the tallest forward line in the AFL

 

[LemmingMaster]

34. Fremantle – Henry Carey (Sturt)
Height: 183 cm
Weight: 78 kg
Player Comparison: Luke Breust


35. Geelong – Billy Evans (Bendigo Pioneers)
Height: 189 cm
Weight: 87 kg
Player Comparison: Mitch Wallis

36. Hawthorn – Jordan Cunico (Gippsland Power)
Height: 184 cm
Weight: 72 kg
Player Comparison: Mark LeCras

You have three of my personal favourites in a row, while they may not be first round selections, I just like what each player offers. They could all be some nice second round onwards selections. Have not seen many people talk about Carey, so it is always nice to see his name get mentioned in a mock draft.

 

[Bulldogsnm1]

50. North Melbourne – Tom Lamb (Dandenong Stingrays)
Height: 192 cm
Weight: 83 kg
Player Comparison: Marco Paparone (less disciplined)

Lamb is an interesting prospect because he is not quite tall enough to play as a tall forward but he plays as a quasi-tall who roams around on the wings, in a role similar to Matthew Richardson late in his career. He is extremely athletic and his agility is up there with the best. He does some things that make you get excited, like a one handed pick up and take off with the ball before delivering a pinpoint pass, but it seems as though he is more interested in doing the flashy things like this than doing the one percenters and the “boring” things on the field. He is quite inconsistent and not a huge possession winner or great ball user, especially considering the position he plays. He is very fiery and is noted to have a bad temper, and was kicked out of a prestigious Melbourne school. His marking is not good enough for him to play as a key forward at that size and he may not be able to make an impact in this sort of role at AFL level but he is picked on natural talent and potential.

51. Port Adelaide – Jack Cripps (East Fremantle)
Height: 196 cm
Weight: 86 kg
Player Comparison: Rhys Stanley

Cripps is a big, athletic tall forward who can take turns through the ruck. He is a good mover and works really hard, covering more ground than most guys his size. He can take a good grab and has a good vertical leap. He plays in bursts at the moment but he has a lot of potential if he can put a few passages of play together and find more of the footy. He is an effective tap ruckman but more of a forward than ruckman.

52. Fremantle – Connor Menadue (Western Jets)

Height: 188 cm
Weight: 69 cm
Player Comparison: Skinnier Matt White

Menadue is a really exciting, light bodied player. He makes things happen because he takes the game on, although sometimes it doesn’t come off and looks extremely bad. He is a linebreaker and is one of those players that you really pay attention to when watching from the stands, and not just because of those bright green boots! He is a fairly clean ball user but could clean up his disposal, especially if he slowed a little and didn’t try to kick it at full speed. He is clean below his knees and can do some uncanny pick ups but tends to burn the first option, even when under pressure which causes him problems. He is a good late pick where he could emerge as a steal but a little too risky to take early.

53. Geelong – Daniel Butler (North Ballarat Rebels)
Height: 181 cm
Weight: 79 kg
Player Comparison: Jarryd Blair

Butler is a small, elusive forward who applies lots of defensive pressure and hates to let the ball out. He is a good ball user and has good weighting to his kicks. He is quick and likes to take the game on before delivering the ball. Despite being small he can find the ball and win his own footy but he is better on the outside with his speed and acceleration. He needs to hit the scoreboard a little more but he is certainly draftable with a later pick due to his work ethic and pressure.


54. Hawthorn – Caleb Daniel (South Adelaide)
Height: 167 cm
Weight: 66 kg
Player Comparison: Trent Cotchin (smaller)

Daniel is tiny but he is so elusive and poised. He never gets tackled and dances in and out of contests with ease, shrugging off opponents and assessing his options before hitting low bullets to his teammate. He has terrific goal sense and kicks goals from anywhere, as seen in the Champs where he picked the ball up in a pack and kicked the ball over his head while facing the wrong way, resulting in a goal. He has a long penetrating kick but often chooses the short options which release his running teammates. Despite his size he is a fantastic player and I feel he deserves a chance, although if he isn’t picked up he will be one of the band of players deemed 'too small for AFL' that dominate at state level.


Really interesting read, a number of very good players around 50, I would expect a club will take the risk earlier with Lamb, Menadue & Butler both could be second rounders and Daniel well surely he must be given an opportunity.

Just on Menadue, don't think he has ever worn green boots and his decision making and first option are considered top class. Laverde and one or 2 others at the jets wear green boots so maybe it was a case of mistaken identity.

 

[Gee Dub]

Really interesting read, a number of very good players around 50, I would expect a club will take the risk earlier with Lamb, Menadue & Butler both could be second rounders and Daniel well surely he must be given an opportunity.

Just on Menadue, don't think he has ever worn green boots and his decision making and first option are considered top class. Laverde and one or 2 others at the jets wear green boots so maybe it was a case of mistaken identity.

Maybe they were orange? Last time I watched him he wore bright boots. I felt that he didn't give the first option enough and even though he got away with it I feel that he may struggle too with a bit more pressure on from some bigger bodies/quicker game.

You have three of my personal favourites in a row, while they may not be first round selections, I just like what each player offers. They could all be some nice second round onwards selections. Have not seen many people talk about Carey, so it is always nice to see his name get mentioned in a mock draft.

Carey is one of my favourites too. Was a little worried I was going to cop a heap for having him so early when I haven't seen him mentioned at all, although I'm sure Chris25 is just saving him until the Bigfooty phantom!

Great read mate, is Davis only similar in style to Riewoldt? Would Bevan last to Essendon's 3rd pick?

I reckon Davis moves like Riewoldt, but wouldn't be sure he develops into the same player Riewoldt is. I reckon Bevan could go as early as 2nd round but could be there around the third, or could also slide to the rookie draft and I wouldn't be surprised.

I'd be floored.

If you can kick 10 goals in a game at an elite (junior) level I'm not sure you need other strings to your bow; he's a greater talent, sure, but McCartin is a forward and forward only, so are Travis Cloke and Tom Hawkins, both of whom are never likely to be played in the ruck and both of whom are shaky with their kicking at times.

McKenzie is a monty to be picked up IMO, it's a matter of when someone pulls the trigger.

Not saying he doesn't get picked up because of his rucking, because he is solid there. But for a guy of his size, he has to dominate more for mine. He is a huge unit compared to some of the skinny, less developed and smaller guys he plays on so he should be consistently kicking big bags if he wants to make sure he gets taken and that's something he isn't doing.

 

[theflea]

I cant see the tigers take the same type in the first 2 picks, so would think Laverde/ahern/pickett might be taken by us, depending on what is a priority. I have heard we are after speed.

 

[LemmingMaster]

I cant see the tigers take the same type in the first 2 picks, so would think Laverde/ahern/pickett might be taken by us, depending on what is a priority. I have heard we are after speed.

Cousins may still be able to help you out!

 

[Guy Threepwood]

Great write up.

Can I ask what the logic for picking Durdin over Brayshaw is? I would imagine that more mids would be on the agenda for us again this year, unless there was a can't miss type of tall at our pick. Is he that much better of a prospect, or are you looking at it more from the perspective of us likely losing Frawley and needing to fill that gap?

 

[Gee Dub]

Great write up.

Can I ask what the logic for picking Durdin over Brayshaw is? I would imagine that more mids would be on the agenda for us again this year, unless there was a can't miss type of tall at our pick. Is he that much better of a prospect, or are you looking at it more from the perspective of us likely losing Frawley and needing to fill that gap?

I don't think Brayshaw is a better player than Durdin. I feel he is quite overrated and Durdin would be a good replacement for Frawley if he goes, and if not he would be a valuable CHB/CHF. Durdin could hold down CHB or CHF for years to come whereas I don't see Brayshaw as more of a solid role playing midfielder rather than top quality mid.

 

[Draft Buster]

Excellent effort Gee Dub best yet, some really good bargains later in the draft!!!

 

[iBeng]

Not bad Cap'n.

 

[Bailey01]

We would pick Weller or Ahern with our first pick

 

[Oddhawk]

Can't see Jackson Nelson getting past our second pick. Would be happy to see us take a punt on Caleb Nelson with our 3rd.... If we don't have to use it on Harry Dear

 

[borderbarry]

Now that the Home & Away season is completed, how about putting your draft into order.