1984 Phantom Draft

[footyfan1978]

This is the tenth in a series of retrospective drafts pools I've posted here starting with players turning 18 during the year 1975 and each subsequent year the next batch of 18 year olds. This is just a fun task to look back in the time that I been watching football in this league and wondering the quality of players that can be found retrospectively, as if drafts were done the same as they are now. Obviously in the past, drafts as we know them now, did not exist. The late 1970's and 80's before the league expanded progressively from 12 to 16 clubs there were clubs having under 19's and no real restriction on ages to play seniors and later the early drafts of league had different rules regarding birth date eligibility to be in some draft pools. This series is to look back at each batch of players from same birth year and wonder whom would be the top draft picks and how deep in quality each yearly draft pool could have been.

If you watched football in the league from late 80's and during the 90's feel free to add your own thoughts on players you felt would have been number 1 in such retro-drafts. Pick a team of best 22, if you like, if it takes your fancy to ponder on. Whatever your thoughts on these pool of players post them below.
Some of these retro-drafts have pools of players such as Kernahan, Roos, Williams, Bradley, Platten etc. from the same birth year so a high quality retro-draft pool at top end. Other years, like when all of Gary Ablett, Timmy Watson, Peter Daicos and Gerard Healy from same birth year is another high quality pool. It does make for interesting comparisons of whom would have been taken as number one pick in such drafts and then to look at some other years where the elite quality seem to drop away more quickly from likely early picks.

Here is the retrospective draft pool of 18 year olds in year 1984:

1966 Born players (retrospective 1984 Draft)
Dear, Paul
Green, Warwick
Gale, Michael
OKeeffe, Phillip
Ralphsmith, Sean
Pritchard, Geoffrey
Manning, Andrew
Butts, Gerald
Eppelstun, Greg
Edmonds, Michael
Higgins, Peter
Lyon, Ross
Manson, James
Klaebe, Brenton
Toohey, Gerard
Weidemann, Wayne
Hogg, Jeff
Spargo, Paul
Hinkley, Ken
Nicol, Stuart
OBrien, Cameron
Maynard, Rodney
Page, Brett
Irving, Dean
Cormack, Joe
Sporn, Kieran
Payze, Andrew
McIvor, Scott
Gwilliam, Brad
Grant, David
Bower, Brendan
Summers, Mark
Maginness, Scott
Smith, Tony
Dennis, Richard
Blakey, John
Trewella, Mark
Smith, Rohan
Kelly, Craig
Cameron, Gary
Ceglar, David
Strauch, Dean
Taylor, Christopher
Hutton, John
Bourke, Peter
Lovett, Brett
Moloney, Troy
Sullivan, David
Vilcins, Brenton
Anderson, Greg
Kitschke, Damian
Gallagher, Michael
Brinkkotter, John
Fidge, John
Bain, David
Stynes, Jim
Pym, Chris
Pastore, Anthony
Stevenson, Jamie
Rieniets, Tim
Steele, Darren
West, Jim
Wittey, David
Hanna, Mil
Rowe, Duane
Daniher, Chris
Viney, Todd
Jencke, Ray
Pritchard, Darrin
Dick, Willie
Sinclair, Anthony
Chandler, Jeff
Lockett, Tony
Grenvold, David
Keane, Gavin
Delaney, Roger
Stacey, Chris
Shaw, Jamie
Rizonico, Paul
Liberatore, Tony
Jeffrey, Russell
Brayshaw, Mark
Evans, Tony
Potter, Craig
O'Dwyer, Steven
Jarman, Andrew
Notting, Dean
Dunlop, Jamie
Georgiades, John


Tony Lockett an outstanding number one pick would be hard to argue with.
Pick two from this batch would not be so clear cut, if you were in an actual draft.


Previous Retro-Draft Polls
1975 retro-draft
1976 retro-draft
1977 retro-draft
1978 retro-draft
1979 retro-draft
1980 retro-draft
1981 retro-draft
1982 retro-draft
1983 retro-draft

 

[footyfan1978]

Poll name should be Brett Lovett for an option. Not his younger brother Glenn.
Tried to change name in an edit but for some reason cannot change the names.
Anyway, no big deal. Think most of votes will go to Plugger Lockett.

Looks like Dunstall, Salmon and Lockett going to make it three key forwards win the polls of mid 80's after Greg Williams just pipped Kernahan in poll that ended today for the 1981 batch of 18 year olds.

 

[hilly]

Reckon a bloke who played 350+ games might have cracked a bit more of a mention

 

[footyfan1978]

Reckon a bloke who played 350+ games might have cracked a bit more of a mention

Feel to free to add your thoughts on that player and where you would take him in such a pool of players.
I'm interested to hear where people would take players in a draft.

 

[hilly]

Feel to free to add your thoughts on that player and where you would take him in such a pool of players.
I'm interested to hear where people would take players in a draft.

Outside of Plugger I reckon Blakey would be in the mix for the 2nd pick. Good concept btw.

 

[footyfan1978]

Outside of Plugger I reckon Blakey would be in the mix for the 2nd pick. Good concept btw.

Interesting. I agree the 2nd pick is a lot harder to decide here from this pool. I assume Ross Lyon, Ken Hinkley and John Blakey all started out together at Fitzroy. From memory Lyon may have been the most talented but played a shorter career and Hinkley probably played his better years at Geelong. Was a quality half backer. Incredibly long career by Blakey and timed the move from Fitzroy to North perfectly.