Leading draft prospects at midyear

[Weaver]

1. Matt Kreuzer (Ruck / Fwd)

Capable in the ruck, but superb at ground level. Lays tackles, spoils and bumps like no other ruckman. Good skills, clean hands below his knees, superb balance. Great recovery and second efforts. Can go forward and pinch a goal or two. Very mobile. His ability to get from contest to contest and read the play are elite for a ruckman. Has a real competitive streak too which again a lot of the tall ex-basketballers struggle with.

2. Trent Cotchin (HFF / FP)

In the Nathan Brown / Garry Ablett mould of super-tricky, silky-skilled small forwards. Might develop into a genuine midfielder in time but at present projects as a forward. Has some of the Dale Thomas-like traits of just knowing what to do and where to go. Cotchin is superb swooping
on the loose ball. Reads the play well. Has good acceleration and quickness between the ears to react first - but probably won't win a sprint. Kicking for goal needs to improve. Has to stay involved when tagged which means amping up the tackling, chasing etc.

3. Lachie Henderson (Key Fwd / Ruck)

At 196 would only be a part-time AFL ruckman, and so would get drafted as a key forward. Mobile, strong, good in the air. Skilled. Missed carnival with an injury but has been rated for a long time. Showed out in last year's TAC finals as one to watch and although an up-and-down season has shown he can impact games. Not too many very tall KPs on offer this year which should see Henderson nudged up a spot or two.

4. Chris Masten (Rover)

Rovers tends not to go too early but Masten is simply too good to pass on. Might not be as sharp as Murphy or as dynamic as McLean but deserves to be in that same sort of early pick company. Pace is OK, wins huge amounts of the ball in tight, uses it well and brings teammates into the game. Can flat-out play and clubs will regret getting too clever and letting him slide. Got an armchair ride from Leuenberger last year - not this time where Palmer owes him a bevvy.

5. Alex Rance (Key Def)
Was superb at FB and at 194cm is a perfect height for the AFL scouts. Should good courage in his aerial work and was a very enthusiastic rebounder racking up touches from the last line. Good kicking is crucial in a modern FB for switching play and maintaining possession and Rance ticks that box. The prototype modern FB.

6. Steve Gaertner (Wing / HBF / Kef Def)
Athletic freak who needs to be taught how to play, where to go, how to get the footy and where to kick it. That said he is 196cm, can run like the wind and leap tall buildings in a single bound. Someone will take him as a project player and it will be very early on. If he learns to kick he will compete with Jarred Brennan and Lance Franklin for highlight-reel time. Better prospect than the likes of Tom Williams who went mucho early too.

7. Cale Morton (Wing / HBF)

Tall wingman or HBF. Stylish, elegant and a superb user of the ball with the ability to dob goals from outside 55. Uses his great stamina and long stride to cover plenty of ground and leave opponents behind. May not be able to do that in the AFL, may not have a coach appoint him designated playmaker / kicker. Doesn't really win his own footy - needs to be fed it. Probably best suited to a Goddard-like role in the backline setting up play.

8. Dave Gourdis (Key Fwd)
Impressive CHF who presents well, covers a fair bit of ground and can also get the ball at ground level. Vert good set-shot for goal. Makes the play well - reads the switches of play early and gets on his bike to offer himself at HFF/Wing. Moves the ball quickly when he gets it.


9. Scott Selwood (HBF / Rover)
A much blunter weapon than Joel. Scott is a blue-collar grunt who knocks people over and runs through packs. Plays a little too much on HBF for my taste but his stints in the centre have been encouraging. Probably doesn't run and carry enough - when he does it is because people have jumped out of his way. Shapes as a Daniel Harris type, one-paced inside thug who can lockdown opponents, cruch packs and get the ball going forward.

10. Rhys Palmer (Centre / Wing)
Star of the carnival jumping up into top-10 calculations. Deceptively good pace, good ball-winning capability and importantly finishes his work by kicking goals from midfield. Left foot can be lethal - right foot is just for balance. Might have been flattered a little by his form because he was allowed to run forward of the ball and ignore his man. But tackled when it was his turn. Also plays with a bit of charisma / attitude and lets people know when he scores a goal - which I like.

11. Tom Collier (Key Def / Ruck Rover)
Has a reasonable record at CHB where he is a good stopper. What will attract AFL clubs is his ability to influence games when cast as a makeshift ruck-rover. He has good foot skills (on the right at least), can run with the ball, and can find it in the packs. Decision making can get better but defenders who can make a spoil and then switch into midfield-like mode are pretty important in modern footy. Might drop a little because he was elligable last year and overlooked, so there are some question marks there.

12. Ben McEvoy (Ruck / Fwd)

At 199cm he is not a super-tall ruckman. As a forward of defender he lacks a bit of pace to become a permanent fixture at either end. Could easily get caught out as being in-between AFL positions. That said he competes well, can take a mark, reads the play superbly enough to thrive in the kick-behind-play role. Good kicking skills means he can be trusted with the footy.

13. Tayte Pears (Key Def)

A shining light in the WA defence locking down CHB and spoiling everything that came his way and being very comfortable in a WA back-6 that looked to pass, run and switch the ball. 192cm and bottom-aged hints at room for improvement. He was heavily coached by his compadres so will need
to get a little wiser about his positioning - but a superb championships will see him project as an AFL CHB or FB.

14. Brad Ebert (Centre)

Wouldn't have found the footy at the Champs if they tied a bell on it and let him start 10 minutes before everyone else. That said he was heavily tagged and didn't quit on his team. Good bloodlines, good junior pedigree, and 187cm inside midfielders who can move, kick well and offer leadership are far, far rarer than people might imagine. Might well be the lone member of the SA squad drafted this year.

15. David Myers (HBF)

Thrived as the 3rd defender and with most of their opponents on the ropes - he was free to play as an extra winger at times. Very athletic and skilled. Very confident in his footskills and a leader of the backline. Was highly rated coming into the carnival and will only have enhanced his reputation.

16. Cyril 'Junior' Rioli (Rover / Wing / Small Fwd)

Has been viewed as the next-big-thing from NT for what seems like years. In Melbourne playing school footy on scholarship so might be quicker to adjust to the AFL scene than some of the rural kids. Great blood lines with every other champion Aboriginal star seemingly some sort of uncle. Genuine rover at only 178. Quick-ish, reasonable by foot. Superb balance and hands. Showed a lovely little bonus talent by getting amongst the goals with some nice left-foot finishing, although they were FF goals not cruming goals. He won't last too long on draft day.

17. Robbie Tarrant (Key Fwd)

It remains to be seen if the AFL clubs are still interested in old-school gorilla FFs. Tarrant has shown some remarkable bursts of form for his club. Thrown defenders about like confetti and waged one-man warfare against backlines. At 196cm he is tall, he is physical, he will bulk up, and roam about the forward-50 letting people know he is there. Not as quick as Barry Hall or Fev
but from the same school.

18. Steven Browne (HBF, BP)

If any of the specialist small backman is to be picked then surely Browne will the one. WA were dominant which made his task easier than it might have been - but he took the most dangerous opposition smalls, blanketed them, and cut them up the other way. No flairy headline grabbing stuff - just very effective percentage football married to good pace and accurate foot passing. Quite top-aged but certainly in the mix.

19. Patty Vezpremi (Rover, BP, FP)

Stocky, cranky, aggressive, pack-charging, fist-pumping cannonball. I love that he does everything at full speed. No cruising around stylishly looking for options - get the ball, tuck it under an arm, run through something. Get-stuck-into-em. Probably lacks a yard of pace but it doesn't show because he goes full tilt all the time. Probably lacks some class - doesn't let it matter. Question about whether he can nudge it up to 11 amongst adults - but if Campbell Brown can cut it then Vez should too.

20. Jack Grimes (Ruck Rover / HBF)

He is a little one-paced and his kicking is a bit hit and miss. That said he wins the ball, goes hard and reads play superbly. A really smart footballer with leadership abilities and a competitive streak. Always finds a way to contribute. Even on his bad days he can snag a goal, make a spoil or tackle and stay involved. Doesn't let his mistakes put him off his game - straight back in for more action. You'd love to have him as a teammate - maybe not enough genuine quality for AFL tastes. Would like to see him arch his back and take people on more - tends to take what the game offers him as oppossed to really make things happen.

21. Thomas Bellchambers (Ruck)

Throwback to the pure tap-ruckman. Might be rated more highly but the fact that his tap work doesn't find teammates enough. He hits them where he wants - but why does he hit them where he does? Around the ground is only just handy. Doesn't get the touches that Kreuzer or McEvoy do. At 199cm he'd want to do more around the ground, and be more dangerous near goals.

22. Jackson Hall (Wing)

His kicking seems hit and miss - quite inconsistent. Also goes short a little too often for my taste. But is tall, quick and can be a running option through the middle. Tall enough at 187 to kick to in the air and can fill-in in a few roles. Has had good form in a reasonable Gippy side and carried it through to be one of Country's few consistent contributors. Still seems to be a lot of improvement left him as he irons out the decision making, adds some bulk and makes some better choices. Has the running game that the AFL clubs seek.

23. James Mulligan (Ruck, Key Def, Key Fwd)
Yes he had a lousy carnival - and yes his good games are infrequent. Mulligan is the Ottens in this draft. Good height, good athleticism and has shown an ability to play CHB despite being 201cm. Also quite skilled with a booming 60m kick which is very handy on point kick-ins. Known since under-16 days. Lacks competitiveness and tends to flop man-on-man. Should do much more ruckwork than he does and offers little when he is there. Height, athleticism and skill - will be a sought-after project and could blossom into a draft bargain with a bit more muscle and ticker.

24. Scott Simpson (Key Fwd)
Very, very sticky mitts. Plays FF or CHF and when he gets his hands to the footy he completes a lot of marks. Presents well, tries to play in front, has a nice little leap without being a high-jumper. Converts reasonably from his set-shots. Improving at staying involved after the marking contest. Would like to see him take more uncontested marks which would hint at pace and
leading ability.

25. Phil Smith (HBF)

Smith is your classical Kris Massie style 'modern' 3rd defender. He plays tight, he has a nice leap and spoil which lets him play taller than listed. He also has a winger pedigree so once the ball has spilled to the deck he can get involved in clearing the 50 and turning defence into attack. Overshadowed a tad by teammates in a deep Calder outfit. Needs a good finals campaign and needs to be evern more prominent rebounding. More midfield work won't hurt either.

26. Taylor Walker (HFF, FP)

Tends to play as the decoy, mobile, roaming forward. Drifts out the flanks a bit and gets quite a lot of his touches from getting involved at ground level. Has been the eye-catcher for the NSW team in their guest games and Champs run. Covers a heap of ground, plays in front, takes marks and has a knack for getting goals even in his bad-form games. Probably not a true KF, more a 3rd-forward in the Steve Johnson / Trent Hentschell style. Tied to Adelaide under the scholarship scheme. Certainly worth the pick they'll have to surrender.

27. Dan McKenna (Key Def)

Plays club footy at FF or CHF but really found wanting there in too many big games for my liking. When shunted to CHB he looks more comfortable. Seems to prefer having someone else make the play and then being able to come over the top for the spoil or in from the side. Rather muppet-armed and spindly - a course of protein shakes and he might make a good stopper.

28. Sam Reid (HBF, Wing, HFF)

Plays everywhere at once for QLD. 185cm is midfielder size and he'll need to take better stints in the guts to make it at a higher level. He doesn't quite have the class, pace or consistent kicking to justify playing him as a receiver or loose man down back. Seemed to tire a little in some games I've seen, but that might just be the amount of work he gets through. Plays with confidence and takes the game on.

29. Patrick Dangerfield (BP, Centre)

Was on-fire early for Geelong in the backpocket where he beat all comers as a rampaging backpocket. Given the tough tagging tasks in the carnival so is perhaps under-exposed. Big-bodied centreman / onballers are rare and sought after and Dangerfield fits the profile. He is tough as teak and kicks the ball well. No Jordan Lewis (yet) but clubs after someone to fill that sort of ruck-rover role won't have too many options and Dangerfield will be close to the best of them.

30. Darcy Daniher (HBF, HFF, Key Def)

Hasn't really had the chance to settle and show his best stuff as he continually gets shunted around to accommodate others. For example Trengrove and Dulic in the key defender spots. When given responsibilities he has looked the goods. Has a very punchy kicking action which gives good
penetration. Is probably a 3rd forward or 3rd defender and the question is does he have quite enough 'winger' in for those roles. No one wants a stay-at-home 3rd defender these days. I'd say he does so he'll get taken.

[Weaver]

31. Tony Notte (Key Fwd)

Has been kept in a basement and fed nothing but lettuce and water. A 194cm key forward who is lighter than the midget rovers. Plenty of Thurgood, David Bourke types never flesh out and pop shoulders every fortnight. Notte presents well, can take a mark, and is a mobile option across half-forward. But will a club take a punt on a guy who may need 3-4 preseasons to put on the extra 20kg of muscle, and might never get there?

32. Ashley Arrowsmith (Wing)

One of the Metro 'stars' most cruelly exposed at the Champs. AFL clubs like guys who can run and carry and get from one 50m zone to the other. Long-striding tall wingman. Had some stints as a CHF last season. Normally a reliable kick. Shown-up for pace and hardness at the contest. Ideally would win more of his own footy but that trait seems further down the AFL shopping list than ever before. Will be taken on club form.

33. Aaron Joseph (Rover, Wing)

The best of the Tassie midfielders. Had some good showings last season and some solid form at the Div 2 Carnival. Good in close and particularly good hands. Perhaps doesn't extract himself from the traffic enough to do huge damage, but has a tidy all-round game and might sneak himself onto a list.

34. Andrew Renton (Ruck)

Developing tall tap-ruckman. At club level has shunted Matt Lobbe out of the centre and claimed the number 1 ruck spot. Showing a rapid rate of improvement from week to week and should sneak ahead of Sullivan (at least) by season end. Capable of snagging a goal or two resting up forward
and around the ground work is improving.

35. Daniel Brittain (Centre)

I saw him play a very good early season game than go largely missing before recapturing close to his best stuff in the last Champ game. Every hard-at-it inside guy with any pigment in their skin seems to be compared to flavour-of-the-month Daniel Kerr. Wouldn't go that far but he does motor around, does get the ball from stoppages and does get the ball going forward. Like Kerr he
is also quite happy getting back to help the defence and sneaking forward to mix it up front. Good aggression. Will need some more sustained form but might nudge into a sleeper candidate.

36. Craig Bird (Rover)

Old fashioned, no flair, ball magnet of a rover. Has been getting ludicrous disposal tallies for too long to ignore. Is aggressive with the ball in his hands. Against Div 2 opponents he was running through blokes like they were papier mache tackling bags. A solidly built, low to the ground tank. Swans like that type and they can have him via the Scholarship scheme. Some question as to how he will go against adult bodies but he deserves a shot at showing what he can do.

37. Tom Frawley (Wing)

When his father got the NT Administration gig, Tom left North Ballarat and stepped straight into the NT side. Light, tall, running wingman. Can have bad days with the kicking boot but is normally a solid passer. Good size at 186cm but needs bulk and has to get more competitive around contested footy. AFL clubs will like the blood lines and potential - suits the running,
skilled gameplans.

38. Ryan Normington (Ruck-Rover)

Couldn't put it together at the Champs and if he was in the reckoning - he would have seen his stakes drop. Has been closely watched as a prospect for a long time. Shapes as a classy centreman who gets good disposal numbers because he keeps moving and therefore links up chains of play very well. Seems to prefer to be the linkman than the ball winner which will hurt him. Skills are good, ability to get his hands on the footy in broken play is good. Decision making is normally good too.

39. Dale Walker (HBF)

An under-16 star who has pace, size, athleticism and a real up-and-at-em style. Unfortunately he can't kick and can often run into dead-ends. Young enough to come back for another shot next draft but in a fairly shallow draft someone might focus on the plusses and back themselves to knock off the rough edges.

40. Brendan Whitecross (HBF, WIng)

Scrappy but very active and covers every blade of grass. Keeps at it and keeps getting touches. I'd like to see him more damaging with the footy, and hurt teams more. Seems to have a good engine and reads the play well. Kicking needs some polishing.

41. Luke Sampey (Key Fwd)

191cm pure lead-mark forward. Kicking for goal is questionable and he tends not to do enough once the ball has spilt off hands. Dare I say it but the Kent Kingsley comparisons are hard to ignore. Clubs seem reluctant to invest in pure FFs so he will want to show more versatility going forward. With the amount of footy WA had he should have shone - and didn't.

42. Ashley Hockey (Rover)

No one drafted him last season despite solid showings. This season he is slightly improved and might get his name called on the back of being about the only Country player who can consistently hit targets and consistently remember who his opponent is. Fairly unobtrusive, doesn't really catch the eye, but when he does pop out into space he finds teammates.

43. Travis Dulic (Key Def)

Bigger bodied key defender who has a competitive streak and doesn't mind charging out of defence with the ball in his hands and booming it long. The disposal can get better, and there are probably some more athletic backmen around. But Dulic will have the bulk and desire to do the man-on-man stuff that some of the lighter blokes will struggle with.

44. Mitch Farmer (BP)

Farmer was unlucky last season as he showed he was a composed back-pocket very much at home in the modern rebounding role. He hits targets by foot, makes good decisions, and shuts down opponents. Probably would have liked to seen better midfield performances. Specialist back-pockets are hardly sought-after on draft day - and Dangerfield and Browne might have him covered.

45. Paddy McGinnity (Rov, HBF, BP)
His one-man dismantling of blue-chipper Cotchin will have seen him become a big-ole ink-stain shaped blob on everyone's radar. Deceptively quick, obviously disciplined and competitive. Showed stamina and reasonable skills with the footy. Dean Polo got himself drafted early on the back of some elite tagging at the Nationals. If McGinnity has any sort of Club form behind him he too could get his name called.

46. Matthew Lobbe (Key Fwd, Ruck)

The classic 'tweener. Overlooked last year largely because at 195cm no one can seen him rucking against the adults. Has played almost exclusively this year at CHF and been OK without really putting enough good games together to cause excitement (and lowered his colours to Mulligan which was damning). Probably not athletic enough for a KP not tall enough for the ruck. Might do just enough to earn a chance despite the doubts.

47. Will Sullivan (Ruck)

Was impressive last season showing an ability to take a contested mark and to kick well. This season form has been mixed, the around the ground work has been less prevalent, and he looks more a pure tap ruckman. McEvoy jumped all over him and he has probably lost a few too many ruck duels in the league to be drafted with a lot of confidence.

48. Andy Otten (HBF, Wing, HFF)

Otten is the type of player high on AFL shopping lists. His is a Paul Wheatley type who is not really midfielder or KP. He is a genuine utility with good athleticism and skills who plays pretty much every spot on the field for his club. Probably best suited to the 3rd forward / defender roles with the occasional run on the wing.

49. Jay Bowden (Wing, HFF, FP)

Unfortunately Tassie were light-on for goalkickers and Bowden was marooned as a permanent forward. He snagged some goals showing some good lead-mark ability, but he is more a winger. The marking and goalkicking might shuffle him above some of the other winger contenders.

50. Daniel Noy (Wing)

Got injured at the wrong time. His early season form was hot and he would surely have snuck into the Metro squad. Not a natural inside player, but used that way by Dandenong and won the footy consistently. At 188cm he is the taller wingman that AFL clubs like. Kicks well and with penetration. Needs a good finals campaign.

[DanA]

Awsome read

No Maric & Greenwood?

[tiger of old]

Originally Posted by DanA

Awsome read

No Maric & Greenwood?

Great read Weaver once again.
But i agree where is Maric?

[DanA]

Originally Posted by tiger of old

Great read Weaver once again.
But i agree where is Maric?

Would have though he got lost in his notes, definately should be in there

[evo]

Dang, Gourdis at 8.Hadn't seen anyone mention him and thought he might be my 'secret'.

No Millar,Greenwood,Kangas,Polkinghorne?

[OverRated]

Super job! Amazing that you can compile a list like that. Congrats.

From calder. Phil Smith struggles. Where did him in the top 25 come from im interested? Will not be drafted ahead of Farmer/Polkinghorne/Maric and probably arrowsmith although i dont like him as a player. Not very physical and just pressure will catch him out.

Polkinghorne deserves to be drafted.

Maric should be top 30 and the reason he doesnt play much in the midfield due to his brilliant goal scoring ability. Its like Nathan Brown he is a waste if he is in the midfield when he can kick so many goals. Will be the steal of the draft!

Good to see the Palmer train hasnt ran over you too. Unbelievable carnival no doubting that but still will be lucky to sneak into top 10 for mine.

Its so hard with Cotchin b/c he can play everywhere. So damaging in the fwd 50 with his leap and swooping ability. Gun mid but is likely to be heavily tagged every game for the rest of his life. May be put half back deledio like just to set up and get some of the ball there.

[Lingsface]

Rance is a bit high in my opinion and Morton should be a shoe in for top 5.
He does win alot of his own footy when you watch a WAFL colts match, just seemed to have a role as a link player.

great effort though.

[Weaver]

Maric - I just don't see a specialist FP going early. His midfield work doesn't impress me at all. A lot of his best goalkicking efforts have been effectively as a leading FF.

Polkinghorne - few rovers ever get drafted (we have this debate every year) and I think Masten, Rioli and Bird have him covered. Elite rovers fall through every year and better candidates than Polkinghorne miss every year (go down to Coburg and you can watch Anderson, Horne and Caruso in action).

Greenwood - I just think that Browne, Dangerfield and Farmer are better BP options. Greenwood just kicked from a single-step too often for my taste and often just blazed away for distance.

Zac Miller is just ordinary. Doesn't get the footy and doesn't use it when it finds its way to him.

Chris Kangars - have watched him for most of the season and he is handy but I just prefer others. I think Rance and Pears were superb. I'd prefer to 'convert' a guy like McKenna into a defender than draft a specialist FB who is only so-so at going the other way.

[handles1989]

peter rolfe is definately the premier running wingman half forwrd for the territory. and can use the footy well. carved the tac cup

[johnnypanther]

Originally Posted by handles1989

peter rolfe is definately the premier running wingman half forwrd for the territory. and can use the footy well. carved the tac cup

is he an indigeneous player?

did/is he playing for South Adelaide?

[AGC]

Originally Posted by Weaver

13. Tayte Pears (Key Def)

A shining light in the WA defence locking down CHB and spoiling everything that came his way and being very comfortable in a WA back-6 that looked to pass, run and switch the ball. 192cm and bottom-aged hints at room for improvement. He was heavily coached by his compadres so will need
to get a little wiser about his positioning - but a superb championships will see him project as an AFL CHB or FB.

.

Would you say he's the best key defender in this draft? If he plays one more year, would you think he would be a very early pick in next years draft?

[richcogs]

Very very interesting read this, just thought I might bump it up!

[dicko13]

Great stuff weaver. I am a fan of Steve Gaertner, he is a athletic freak. When do u think he will go in this draft?, im think around pick 20. Who do u think richmond will pick up with picks 18 and 19. Do u beleive that we will get Trent Cotchin with pick #2.
What do u think about a young rover Myke Cook. He is 74 kg an 6 ft. He is a hard nut and the only sandy dragons player at Canberra. Do u think he will get picked up, if so when.
thanx

[Buddy]

Now that draft camp is over, Weaver - would you make any major alterations to your list?