Skippos's Final 2014 Phantom Draft

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May 19, 2009
3,769
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Adelaide
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Hi all. I've re-structured my thread closer to draft to make it a bit easier to get what you want.

Post 1 has the phantom draft first then power rankings after it
Post 2 and beyond are profiles of my top 60 power ranked players and after that another 30 odd miscellaneous profiles.

Happy to answer/explain/justify any questions/queries/feedback/statements about anything draft related. Hopefully I can provide another new perspective on how things are shaping up :)

Phantom Draft:

Pick 1 - St. Kilda: Patrick McCartin (193.6 cm, 96.0 kg - Key FWD)
Pick 2 - Melbourne: Angus Brayshaw (186.2 cm, 90.6 kg - Inside leaning MID) -
Pick 3 - Melbourne: Christian Petracca (186.2 cm, 94.7 kg - Balanced MID/FWD)
Pick 4 - GWS: Jarrod Pickett (176.9 cm, 75.0 kg - Outside MID/FWD)
Pick 5 - Collingwood: Jordan De Goey (187.5 cm, 84.7 kg - Balanced MID/FWD)
Pick 6 - GWS: Paul Ahern (181.8 cm, 82.0 kg - Outside leaning MID/FWD)
Pick 7 - GWS: Hugh Goddard (196.2 cm, 94.1 kg - Key DEF) -
Pick 8 - Gold Coast: Liam Duggan (183.8 cm, 75.0 kg - Outside leaning MID/DEF)
Pick 9 - Collingwood: Darcy Moore F/S (198.8 cm, 91.4 kg - Key FWD)
Pick 10 - Geelong: Peter Wright (203.3 cm, 100.1 kg - Key FWD/RUCK)
Pick 11 - West Coast: Jayden Laverde (189.4 cm, 80.0 kg - Outside UTIL)
Pick 12 - Richmond: Corey Ellis (184.4 cm, 74.3 kg - Outside MID/FWD)
Pick 13 - Fremantle: Sam Durdin (197.5 cm, 87.7 kg - Key UTIL)
Pick 14 - Adelaide: Jake Lever (192.9 cm, 84.0 kg - Key DEF)
Pick 15 - Gold Coast: Kyle Langford (190.1 cm, 76.4 kg - Outside UTIL)
Pick 16 - North Melbourne: Nakia Cockatoo (186.2 cm, 86.4 kg - Outside leaning UTIL)
Pick 17 - Essendon: Lachie Weller (181.6 cm, 76.8 kg - Outside leaning MID)
Pick 18 - Sydney: Isaac Heeney ACAD (186.2 cm, 84.1 kg - Balanced MID)
Pick 19 - Carlton: Caleb Marchbank (191.7 cm, 88.9 kg - Key? UTIL)
Pick 20 - Essendon: Jarrod Garlett (180.1 cm, 68.7 kg - Outside MID) .
Pick 21 - St. Kilda: Dan McKenzie (184.0 cm, 78.3 kg - Outside MID/DEF)

Pick 22 - St. Kilda: Alex Neal-Bullen (181.5 cm, 76.1 kg - Inside MID)
Pick 23 - GWS: Declan Hamilton (182.1 cm, 68.2 kg - Outside UTIL)
Pick 24 - GWS: Jack Steele (188.4 cm, 85.5 kg - Balanced MID/FWD)
Pick 25 - North Melbourne: Oscar McDonald (197.1 cm, 93.5 kg Key DEF)
Pick 26 - Western Bulldogs: Ed Vickers-Willis (190.2 cm, 82.6 kg - Small DEF)
Pick 27 - Western Bulldogs: Brayden Maynard (186.5 cm, 87.0 kg Balanced UTIL)
Pick 28 - Carlton: Connor Menadue (187.3 cm, 69.1 kg - Outside MID)
Pick 29 - Gold Coast: Connor Blakely (188.7 cm, 84.5 kg - Inside MID)
Pick 30 - Collingwood: Tom Lamb (193.3 cm, 83.5 kg Outside leaning UTIL)
Pick 31 - Hawthorn: Touk Miller (178.2 cm, 82.6 kg - Inside MID/FWD)
Pick 32 - West Coast: Damien Cavka (184.9 cm, 78.9 kg - Outside MID)
Pick 33 - Richmond: Dillon Viojo-Rainbow (184.1 cm, 81.8 kg Small DEF)
Pick 34 - Fremantle: Clem Smith (177.2 cm, 78.4 kg - Small DEF)
Pick 35 - Adelaide: Reece McKenzie (196.9 cm, 106.9 kg - Key FWD)
Pick 36 - North Melbourne: Toby McLean (180.2 cm, 72.1 kg - Small FWD)
Pick 37 - Sydney: Lukas Webb (186.3 cm, 79.6 kg - Outside leaning MID)
Pick 38 - Sydney: Jack Hiscox ACAD (185.8 cm, 80.0 kg - Outside MID)
Pick 39 - Western Bulldogs: Harrison Wigg (178.1 cm, 74.15 kg - Small DEF/MID)
Pick 40 - Melbourne: Jaden McGrath (179.9 cm, 74.4 kg - Outside MID)

Pick 41 - St. Kilda: Jack Lonie (174.0 cm, 68.85 kg - Small FWD)
Pick 42 - Melbourne: Billy Stretch F/S (180.0 cm, 70.6 kg - Outside MID)
Pick 43 - Adelaide: Dan Howe (192.0 cm, 85.45 kg - General UTIL) - Strong links
Pick 44 - Brisbane: Liam Dawson ACAD (189.2 cm, 83.3 kg - Small UTIL)
Pick 45 - Western Bulldogs: Daniel Nielson (193.9 cm, 92.1 kg - Key DEF)
Pick 46 - Western Bulldogs: Dean Gore (182.4 cm, 86.30 kg - Balanced MID/FWD)
Pick 47 - Geelong: Jackson Nelson (187.8 cm, 80.3 kg - Balanced MID/DEF)
Pick 48 - Collingwood: Blaine Boekhorst (182.0 cm, 70.0 kg Outside MID)
Pick 49 - Hawthorn: Tom Wilkinson (181.6 cm, 77.70 kg - Outside MID)
Pick 50 - Hawthorn: Billy Evans (188.8 cm, 87.20 kg - Inside MID)
Pick 51 - West Coast: Mitch McGovern (190.5 cm, 82.20 kg - Small FWD)
Pick 52 - Richmond: Nathan Drummond (182.3 cm, 84.4 kg - Small UTIL)
Pick 53 - Melbourne: Peter Bampton (181.7 cm, 82.90 kg - Inside MID)
Pick 54 - Fremantle: Matthew Hammelmann (198.1 cm, 88.50 kg Key UTIL)
Pick 55 - Geelong: Ed Langdon (181.4 cm, 73.6 kg - Small FWD)
Pick 56 - Port Adelaide: Josh Glenn (180.3 cm, 78.20 kg, Balanced UTIL)
Pick 57 - Sydney: Sean McLaren (197.3 cm, 92.30 kg - Key DEF/RUCK)
Pick 58 - Adelaide: Bailey Dale (182.4 cm, 70.40 kg, Outside MID/FWD)

Pick 59 - Geelong: Keenan Ramsay (191.8 cm, 85.50 kg, Key DEF)
Pick 60 - Carlton: Daniel Capiron (189.0 cm, 83.20 kg - Small DEF)
Pick 61 - Brisbane: Harris Andrews ACAD (200.7 cm, 95.00 kg Key UTIL)
Pick 62 - Western Bulldogs: Zaine Cordy F/S (191.4 cm, 83.20 kg Key DEF)
Pick 63 - Carlton: Tyler Keitel (193.9 cm, 88.05 cm Key UTIL)
Pick 64 - Gold Coast: PASS
Pick 65 - Brisbane: Josh Watts (194.4 cm, 74.80 kg Key DEF)
Pick 66 - West Coast: Brenden Abbott (188.0 cm, 98.30 kg Small UTIL)
Pick 67 - Richmond: Jason Castagna (181.7 cm, 78.00 kg Small DEF/MID)
Pick 68 - Fremantle: Josh Deluca (179.0 cm, 80.00 kg Small FWD/MID)
Pick 69 - Port Adelaide: James Rose (185.5 cm, 78.40 kg Small FWD)
Pick 70 - Sydney: Abiana Davis ACAD (192.2 cm, 97.60 kg Key UTIL)

Pick 71 - Carlton: PASS
Pick 72 - GWS: Oleg Markov (187.1 cm, 72.75 kg Small UTIL)
Pick 73 - Brisbane: Josh McGuinness (189.2cm, 71.80 kg Small DEF)
Pick 74 - Gold Coast: PASS
Pick 75 - Collingwood: Nic Newman (186.7 cm, 80.4 kg Small UTIL)
Pick 76 - West Coast: Alec Waterman F/S (182.5 cm, 88.50 kg Inside MID)
Pick 77 - Richmond: Jordan Cunico (184.8 cm, 73.7 kg Outside MID)
Pick 78 - Port Adelaide: Will Fordham (188.2 cm, 78.6 kg Outside UTIL)
Pick 79 - Sydney: PASS

Pick 80 - GWS: PASS
Pick 81 - Brisbane: PASS
Pick 82 - Carlton: PASS
Pick 83 - Richmond: PASS
Pick 84 - Port Adelaide: PASS

Pick 85 - GWS: Jeremy Finlayson ACAD (196.7 cm, 86.50 kg Key UTIL)
Pick 86 - Brisbane: Josh Clayton F/S (190.0 cm, 81.60 kg Small UTIL)
Pick 87 - Carlton: PASS


Power Rankings:

1. Christian Petracca
2. Isaac Heeney (SYD ACAD)
3. Angus Brayshaw
4. Darcy Moore
5. Patrick McCartin
6. Jake Lever
7. Connor Blakely
8. Lachie Weller
9. Nakia Cockatoo
10. Jack Steele (GWS ACAD)
11. Jarrod Pickett
12. Peter Wright
13. Hugh Goddard
-
14. Jordan De Goey
15. Jayden Laverde
16. Connor Menadue
17. Liam Duggan
18. Sam Durdin
-
19. Tom Lamb
20. Jarrod Garlett
21. Caleb Marchbank
22. Paul Ahern
-
23. Alex Neal-Bullen
24. Oscar McDonald
25. Daniel McKenzie
26. Dillon Viojo-Rainbow
27. Kyle Langford
28. Caleb Daniel
29. Brayden Maynard
30. Liam Dawson (BRIS ACAD)
31. Billy Stretch (MELB F/S)
32. Reece McKenzie
33. Harris Andrews (BRIS ACAD)
34. Peter Bampton
35. Matthew Hammelmann
-
36. Dean Gore
37. Jeremy Finlayson (GWS ACAD)
38. Declan Hamilton
39. Toby McLean
40. Zaine Cordy (WB F/S)
41. Alec Waterman (WCE F/S)
42. Damien Cavka
43. Corey Ellis
44. Ed Vickers-Willis
45. Jackson Nelson
46. Jaden McGrath
47. Keenan Ramsay
-
48. Harrison Wigg
49. Daniel Capiron
50. Aidan Anderson
51. Brendon Abbott
52. Touk Miller
53. Matthew Panos
54. Blaine Boekhorst
55. Mitch McGovern
56. Josh Deluca
57. Sean McLaren
58. James Rose
59. Ryan Lim
60. Tyler Keitel

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.

Outside Type Mids:
1. Tom Wilkinson
2. Oleg Markov
3. Lukas Webb
4. Jordan Cunico
5. Jake Maher
6. Jack Hiscox (SYD ACAD)
7. Bailey Dale
8. Zac Richards
9. Jake Johansen
10. Billy Gowers
11. Will Fordham
-
12. Liam Griffiths (GWS ACAD)
13. Harrison Kol
14. Matthew Goodyear
15. Joe Maishman
16. Matthew Ah Siu

Inside Type Mids:
1. Billy Evans
2. Cory Gregson
3. Teia Miles
4. Brad Walsh
5. Adam Creeper
6. Jared Hardisty
7. Brett Turner
8. Nathan Drummond
-
9. Caleb Hislop
10. Tim Jones
11. Brad Coulson
12. Alex Urban

Key Forwards:
1. Harry Dear (HAW F/S)
2. Dougal Howard
3. Jack Cripps
4. Abiana Davis
-
5. Brett Eddy
6. Sam Bevan
7. Jesse Watchman
8. Jayden Foster
9. Jack Hayes
10. Nicholas Coughlan (GWS ACAD)

Small Forwards:
1. Ed Langdon
2. Jack Lonie
3. Marcus Hamilton
4. Brenton Payne
-
5. Dan Butler
6. Shane Yarran
7. Jake Owen
8. Josh Clayton
9. Josh Hone
10. Jermaine Miller-Lewis
11. Aaron Wilson

Key Backs:
1. Daniel Nielson
2. Hugh Beasley
3. Michael Hartley
4. Nick Jackson
5. Logan Austin
-
6. Reilly O'Brien
7. Connor McLean
8. Callum Wilkie
9. Clayton Giblett

Small Backs:
1. Jason Castagna
2. Clem Smith
3. Josh Glenn
4. Mac Bower
5. Josh McGuinness
6. Garrett McDonagh
7. Francis Watson
-
8. Dan Howe
9. Taylor Grace
10. Dylan Winton
11. Harrison Court

Rucks:
1. Marc Pittonet
-
2. Billy Frampton
3. Tom Read
4. Sam Baulderstone
5. Paul Hunter
6. Mark Kovacevic
7. Darcy Cameron
8. Josh Miller
9. Duom Dawam

Edited: 12/5/15 - Preparing for my 2015 launch so cleaned up this thread and removed the 'Pecking order' part from next to each pick in the phantom as it clogged the page and hurt readability.
 
Last edited:
May 19, 2009
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Adelaide
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PROFILES OF TOP 60 RATED PLAYERS

1. Christian Petracca (Vic Metro, Balanced midfielder/General forward)


186 cm, 95 kg, 4/1/96
Range: 1-3
Comparison: Dustin Martin

Going into 2014 there were question marks over Petracca and he's answered them emphatically, doing everything he possibly could have to prove that he will be a high level AFL midfielder. He has the versatility to play as a stay at home marking forward or half forward to a high standard while also being an excellent midfielder. Despite carrying much more weight than most midfielders his age he has elite agility and evasion with an excellent sprint. He's dominant aerially, possessing an exceptional read of the ball and ability to position himself. One on one he is rarely beaten and clunks more contested marks than any other midfielder in the crop. Through the middle he's an above average accumulator with a booming kick and good vision. His ability to hit the scoreboard while playing through the middle is excellent.

While Petracca has lost weight this year he's still carrying too much 'useless' weight and needs to further work on getting down to an appropriate playing weight. His strength and power is natural so losing the excess bulk should not impact heavily upon those strengths. He also needs to improve his endurance - while it is currently at an acceptable level it isn't a strength. By foot he's capable of hitting the right areas but lacks precision at times and occasionally blindly bombs it forward instead of assessing the options with composure.

Right now there are still doubts over whether Petracca's performances are through brute strength or translateable ability. His athletic testing indicates that despite having the weight he's also got exceptional natural athleticism which will translate to AFL level. He lacks the natural touch and talent of a Dustin Martin but is a more disciplined player both on and off the field. Right now I see him as a higher level Colin Sylvia. Perhaps he is what Sylvia could have been with a better attitude and work rate as well as starting out his career at a club with a better system.

Evaluation of his prospects: Petracca is a very safe bet to make the grade. There's a small chance he might not develop as expected and could end up as a Colin Sylvia type forward/mid but it's unlikely. He's considered the best in the crop for a reason - he's both a safe bet and has real upside, there's every chance he makes it to the top two or three players in a side.

2. Angus Brayshaw (Vic Metro, Inside leaning midfielder)

187 cm, 91 kg, 9/1/96
Range: 1-3
Style: Ollie Wines

Wherever Brayshaw ends up the club will know they've got a long term player. Brayshaw projects as one of the safest picks available at the top end of the draft, being a high substance but low flash midfielder. He lacks real game breaking ability instead being a real component of success as opposed to a reason for it. On the inside he's hard working and powerful, reading the stoppages well and winning clearances through both power and smarts. In traffic his distribution by hand is sound and by foot he's generally a good kick under pressure off both sides, possibly having the best 'weak foot' in the draft. He's an excellent tackler who not only tackles well but in volume and is strong through the core and able to break tackles too. On the outside he's a reasonable accumulator and able to impact games more than most inside midfielders. His one on one ability both in the air and at ground level is above average.

Athletically Brayshaw isn't flash, with his top speed being quite low and despite recent improvements he still doesn't have a great burst, nor is he agile. His endurance is good without being elite and he's strong, especially through the core but in general Brayshaw's work is done through footballing ability as opposed to athleticism. By foot he's incredibly dual sided but still not a fantastic kick, only between average and good which is something he'll need to continually work on if he's to be a truly dominant midfielder.

Though he has shades of a bigger bodied Sam Mitchell I think Brayshaw is more similar to Ollie Wines but less physically imposing and perhaps slightly better by foot. He won't have as big an impact early and into his second season and may not be as accomplished a player by the end of his career but still should follow a similar career path.

Evaluation of his prospects: Brayshaw, like Petracca, is a very safe bet. The only concern would be whether there's a problem with Melbourne's development system - as their recent record is abysmal. That said, Brayshaw's the type who could be an exception to that rule anyway. I'd consider him the most low risk player in the draft - he's got all the game to be a real component of a winning team. However with that I also don't believe he's ever going to be truly elite.

3. Isaac Heeney - Academy (NSW, Balanced & Skilled midfielder)

186cm, 84kg, 5/5/96
Range: Pick 18
Style: David Swallow

Heeney is considered by many one of the best talents in the crop. Heeney is probably the most balanced midfielder in the crop with the difference between his inside and outside games minor. On the outside his footskills are excellent with his technique, vision, decision making and composure all top tier. He's able to accumulate outside ball and link up to a high level. On the inside he's a natural read of the tap and while not a particularly bullocking type wins his own ball regularly. He's got a reasonable burst of pace and is able to create space easily. He's able to transition his inside contested possession to an uncontested disposal. In traffic his distribution by hand is exceptional and his footskills do not suffer, even under severe physical pressure. He's a solid mark with his leap a highlight and projects as someone who could push forward and hit the scoreboard well. Defensively he excels with his tackling elite and his work rate exceptional. Even in games where his numbers aren't elite his impact is. He's always around the play doing the team thing. There's very little wrong with his game. His movement is laconic, a bit like Jack Watts but he never seems to be exposed for it. In the champs he was excellent but never really accumulated in volume and broke open games, being more of a piece of the team as opposed to a star.

Heeney's inside/outside balance is a lot like David Swallow's. He projects as someone who perhaps might lean outside but is capable of doing any role the team asks. He might take a season to adjust to the pace of AFL but by season two he should be able to really up to the standard and seasons three and four he'll push for regular selection and impress big time.

Evaluation of his prospects: Heeney's an excellent player with his inside and outside game incredibly balanced. He could make the grade as a pure inside mid if he didn't have any outside game or as a pure outside mid if he didn't have an inside game. It's balanced players like him that become the superstars of our game.

4. Darcy Moore - Father/Son (Vic Metro, Athletic KPP utility)

199 cm, 91 kg, 25/1/96
Range: Pick 9
Comparison: Drew Petrie

Darcy Moore's a player you pick not on what he currently is but what he might end up. He's raw both physically and as a player but the upside is definitely there. Despite being 199 cm his ability at ground level is incredible with him essentially acting as another small. He's able to get down to the ground quickly and picks up cleanly. He's also very agile and has a small turning circle with the ability to pick up and blind turn effectively. As well as being agile he's also a very quick and smooth mover. He's a hard worker and is able to use these athletic gifts to apply forward pressure and repeat defensive efforts and leads. He's also able to play down back and does it to a high standard defensively though his offensive game is lacking. He's capable of marking on the lead and creating separation. His contested mark is reasonable and looks like there is a base already there to improve with some more physical development. He's also a natural leader and someone who should feature in the leadership group early and is likely a future captain.

By foot Darcy struggles with his field kicking well below par which is what holds him back from playing a role higher up the field. His set shot is average. Defensively he excels down back but offensively he doesn't find the ball or rebound and when he does have the ball he's a liability. While forward he occasionally runs under the ball and seems a little lost while the ball is in flight and can find himself in poor positions.

Moore hasn't performed that well all year bar one or two champs games and certainly projects as a long term project. However he does have the tools and the attitude to get the best out of himself and reach his peak. At peak I'd expect Moore to be a second tier key forward not dissimilar in stature to Drew Petrie. In style he shares similarities with Jarryd Roughead with their ground level ability and athleticism both similar. Darcy will need time though, I wouldn't be expecting much at AFL level until season three or four and season five is when he should begin to start showing some high level performance.

Evaluation of his prospects: Darcy is going to take some time but don't write him off if he hasn't done much after a few seasons - he's naturally going to need the time. That said, I still consider him a relatively good bet for a KPF, with his natural talent coupled with his work rate and maturity a great combo to ensure some real development. He mightn't ever be an A grade forward but he's a good shot at making it to that B grade/second tier.

5. Patrick McCartin (Vic Country, Full Forward)

194 cm, 96 kg, 19/4/96
Range: 1-3
Comparison: Brendan Fevola

Patrick McCartin looks to be the safest bet of all the key forwards in this crop. While he has a few question marks, his performances have been excellent over the last two years and he possesses a mix of very AFL relevant skills. He's a smart forward who times his leads well and leads to the right areas and despite being a little too bulky he's got a good burst and creates some separation. He's clean enough below the knees when both picking up and marking and has sticky hands above them being the best one grab player in the crop. He excels one on one with his read of the ball, strength and positioning all excellent. His field kicking is excellent for a key forward. He's an okay contested mark but not someone who's going to clunk pack grabs regularly.

McCartin lacks confidence when having a set shot, often trying to play on or snap and occasionally shanks the kick. It's a mental issue not a technical issue. He's also got high skinfolds which may be linked to his diabetes (which will also have to be managed at AFL level. Currently he has to come to the bench six times a game for blood checks) but nonetheless will need to be addressed over an AFL pre-season. I don't expect McCartin to drastically change as a player but more improve on what he already has.

He's probably the most ready made key forward in the crop and currently projects as a slightly higher level Taylor Walker of 2014 (when he carried the extra weight and lost some pace because of it). I don't ever see him being a genuine top tier forward but one of the better second tier ones.

Evaluation of his prospects: As far as the key forwards in this crop go, McCartin is a fairly safe bet. While his skin folds and diabetes are a bit of a concern, he's dominant enough and consistent enough in that domination to indicate that at the very worst he'll be someone capable of providing a real option inside 50. The peak for him would be a Fevola level of domination but it's likely he reaches somewhere inbetween. I personally think he'll likely join the Petrie, Tippett and Kennedy types in that 'second tier' forward range.

6. Jake Lever (Vic Metro, Intercepting & offensive minded Key Defender)

193 cm, 84 kg, 5/3/96
Range: Top 6-16
Comparison: Harry Taylor

A recent growth spurt has seen Lever shoot up to 194 cm, genuine key position defender height. Despite missing the entire season with an ACL, Lever is sure to go highly. A key defender who's gifted offensively, Lever has the best intercept mark in the draft. His read of the ball is elite and he times his jumps well and takes it at the absolute highest point and best position. With an exceptional vertical leap he is rarely beaten coming across a contest. Athletically he's okay with his ability to close down leads alright and his work rate excellent. One on one he's good. Athletically as well as having an elite vertical jump he's very agile with his turning circle small and evasive movement sound. With ball in hand he runs and carries well, linking up and really contributing to the offensive transition. By foot he's effective normally without being incredibly penetrating. His leadership is also exceptional and I'd be surprised if he didn't end up an AFL captain one day.

The risk with Lever is that he's coming off an ACL. How he would have performed this year is a bit of an unknown - perhaps he would have plateuaed or declined a bit. It's also unknown how the long term effects of the ACL will effect him. Defensively he doesn't have the body to man up on the bigger KPFs and will likely always be a second or third tall down back.

Lever's not dissimilar to Harry Taylor in the way he intercepts down back but perhaps has the scope to be an even better intercept mark with his extra athleticism and leap. His footskills also project to be better than Taylor's. Defensively he's not as sound in contests and one on one and probably projects as more of a Sam Fisher in that he's capable but not exceptional.

Evaluation of his prospects: Lever's got enough game and application to make the grade. With what he already has - he could conceivably perform a similar role offensively to a Michael Johnson or a Harry Taylor at peak. The floor would be more a Nick Maxwell third tall role where he's regarded more for his organisation and leadership than ability. There's every chance Lever makes it and makes it well though, he's relatively low risk aside from the ACL recovery.

7. Connor Blakely (WA, Skilled inside leaning MID)

189cm, 85kg, 2/3/96
Range: 17-31
Style: Callan Ward
Comparison: Blake Acres

Connor Blakely is a skilful, agile inside midfielder with a really natural read of the game. He's rather slender so doesn't win his own ball by force but seems to always be a step ahead of the football. He reads the tap well to win clearances and his positioning for ground balls is exceptional. When in possession his evasion and agility in traffic is elite with his ability to sidestep and manouvre himself around opposition players a particular highlight. Lateral movement is a real point of difference for him and allows him to create space when it's not there. On the outside he's a good kick however not incredibly penetrating. By hand he's able to distribute effectively both in space and in traffic. Defensively he's accountable and he works hard both ways and as a result is able to accumulate well. His performances throughout 2014 in the WAFL seniors have been very impressive.

While outside he's a reasonable kick inside he's prone to bombing it long blindly to the detriment of the team. He's also very slim so the physical pressure he provides isn't dangerous. His tackling is good but occasionally easily shaken off. He occasionally floats out of games.

Blakely projects as a hard working sort who could be a leader at a football club. He seems the type to get the best out of himself. With a bit of extra muscle he should be able to physically impose a little more though it likely won't ever be a strong aspect of his game. He's a bit of a poor man's Blake Acres with less natural ability but perhaps more leadership and a better work rate. It wouldn't surprise if Blakely was able to impact round one 2015 however he likely won't be a real key piece of a team until season four.

Evaluation of his prospects: Blakely projects as a safe bet. His ability to just dance and weave through congestion and create space is something that defines his game at juniors and should translate to senior football. He has the inside game to make it at AFL level while his outside game is good enough to separate him from similar inside mids. He'll make it - and don't be surprised if he becomes quite an exceptional player.

8. Lachie Weller (QLD, Skilled outside leaning midfielder)

182 cm, 77 kg, 23/2/96
Range: 5-20
Style: James Aish

Weller is very underrated. He's been carrying a knee injury of late which has impacted his numbers and thus his draft standing. All things considered, Weller's the best kick in the draft. In traffic, under pressure or in open space he's very likely to hit a target. His vision is above average and his ability to execute difficult passes to a high standard is exceptional. In general his kicks are penetrating. By hand he's good, normally hitting outside runners well and to their advantage. Athletically he's deceptive - while he mightn't look quick he's actually in the top bracket for speed and his evasive movement and agility too is excellent. He's able to use this speed to create space for himself in traffic to aid the effectiveness of his disposal. While he's not a volume accumulator he's a good reader of the play and normally ends up in good areas. He's got the base to improve his accumulation and become a full time midfielder. While he hasn't displayed a strong inside game yet he's shown flashes of a natural ball winning ability and if asked he should be able to win his own ball. His read of the tap is above par and his composure, positioning and balance is excellent in contested situations.

As well as his lack of accumulation throughout the year, his body is a bit of a weakness with his frame slender and shoulders narrow. While he can bulk up he'll likely never be able to have a really big body and as a result has a ceiling on what level he can build his inside game to.

Weller projects as a poor man's James Aish with perhaps a slightly better kick on the outside and more speed but less football smarts and ability to accumulate. His frame is also narrower and more slender than Aish's which will limit the physical upside compared to him. He might take some time to adjust to the pace of the AFL but by season three he should be a first team regular and be beginning to show some real game breaking ability. He also has a lot of skills conducive to playing off half back and while he hasn't done much of that it's certainly a possibility that he begins his career there if he can put on a bit of muscle over the pre-season.

Evaluation of his prospects: Weller is lethal enough by foot that even if he doesn't develop as expected, he likely will still have a role in the game - perhaps off half back or as a rotational option. Players with his hurt factor just don't come along very often. If he manages to improve his accumulation and continue to work on his inside game he could well become a second tier midfielder and a really vital cog in a successful team.

9. Nakia Cockatoo (NT - Fast and strong utility)

186 cm, 86 kg, 23/10/96
Range: 10-20
Style: Patrick Dangerfield
Comparison: Gary Rohan

Nakia Cockatoo is another player whose season has been destroyed by injury. Most of us have only had limited exposure to him, so it's hard to know if what we've seen is Nakia at his best or at his worst. An indigenous prospect from the Northern Territory, Nakia was identified as a player with real talent last year and spent time with North Melbourne under the AIS-AFL program. Since then he's had a mini growth spurt and now the possibilities are endless. Nakia has played as a tall defender in the NT (where the average size of players is smaller, to be fair) and at 188cm, there's the ability for him to play as an undersized defender in the James Gwilt mold and he's proven to be reasonably accountable doing that while also contributing offensively. That said, with his athletic ability it'd be a waste not to develop him through the middle first.

Nakia possesses an incredible speed/size/leap/acceleration combination. At the combine he tested in the top bracket for 20 metre sprint and repeat sprints test but also excelling in the vertical jump and kicking test. He also performed a reasonable beep test for someone who'd been out injured for most of the season. In the young guns game Cockatoo was best on ground with his explosive movement at ground level and ability to create space and opportunity a real highlight. By foot Cockatoo is reliable but still needs some work.

The concern with Cockatoo is just the amount of football he's played. A lot of his hype is coming off the one game where he was playing against 17 year olds. How would he go if the pace of the game was much faster and the bodies much bigger? His combine testing indicates that he's got the game to work with though. It's just at times difficult to justify taking a punt on someone with such a limited sample of football, and Nakia isn't an incredibly complete or rounded footballer yet. Despite all his talent, he still is very much a project. There isn't a player that plays like Nakia - he's got the explosive ability at ground level and power in congestion of Dangerfield and the speed and running game of Daniel Wells. I do like the Gary Rohan comparison with Nakia being similar in that tall, athletic x-factor kind of vein but also having the ability to play accountable defense to fall back on.

Evaluation of his prospects: Nakia could go any one of a number of ways. We just haven't seen enough of him in action or in peak condition to make a judgment with real certainty. What is certain is that he does have the game and talent to be something in the right system - it's just what that something is will be interesting to follow.

10. Jack Steele - Academy (NSW, Intelligent and skilled forward/midfielder)

188 cm, 86 kg, 13/12/95
Range: Pick 24
Style: Robbie Gray

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. 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.

Evaluation of his prospects: Steele is a truly exceptional player and is very likely to make the grade. He's also rather likely to end up a top tier player in a side.
 
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11. Jarrod Pickett (WA, Line breaking wingman)

177 cm, 75 kg, 18/8/96
Range: Top 15
Style: Cyril Rioli
Comparison: Harley Bennell

Pickett is a line breaking wingman who has exceptional pace, agility, evasion and acceleration and a natural instinct to run, carry, take on the game and break lines. He just loves to run and run fast. By foot he's generally good with most of his kicks effective however lacking penetration. He's able to hit the scoreboard from the middle and when forward pops up for a goal or two. At senior WAFL level he's hit the scoreboard consistently. He's a reasonable reader of the tap and able to use his speed to win a clearance and break away from traffic. He's also got a good vertical leap and a real desire to fly for pack marks.

While he's able to win his own ball occasionally at the tap he struggles to do so in open play, preferring to seagull outside the pack or run from behind for the handball receive. Loose ball gets in space inflate his contested possession numbers. He doesn't work hard for his outside possessions either, rarely gut running to get into possession, instead only taking possession when fed to him. Pickett has no desire to defend, when not in play he runs around doing as he pleases and letting his opponent get off the chain. He'll tackle relatively well when he has no other option but in general his pressure is nonexistent instead preferring to lightly jog around. At ground level while he's capable of exceptionally skilled pickups he is also prone to fumbling regulation gathers. Given his lack of defensive running he's a below average accumulator. While the possessions hurt, there's not enough of them to get away with what his direct opponent also does due to his lack of defence.

While primarily a line breaking outside mid, Pickett is closer to Bennell than Jetta hence he's projected to go much higher. Pickett just more than your average Jetta/Brad Hill type wingman. He's stronger in close and in traffic and gets more of the ball in congestion. His ability to burst out of congestion and perform well relatively close to the contest is exceptional as is his ability to turn a loose ball get into a shot or assist in a similar way to Cyril Rioli.

Evaluation of his prospects: Pickett has a lot to work on - most of it connected to work rate. If he pulls it all together, he could be one of the most dynamic, exciting and damaging outside players we've seen; not dissimilar to a Harley Bennell or Cyril Rioli type in hurt factor. However there's every chance he doesn't pull it all together and instead becomes a player similar to what we now see in Lewis Jetta; someone who performs a vital role with his pace and run but still isn't a vital cog in the side due to some serious deficiencies.

12. Peter Wright (Vic Metro, Full Forward/Second Ruck)

203 cm, 102 kg, 8/9/96
Range: 7-17
Style: Sam Jacobs (Ruck)
Comparison: Kurt Tippett (Forward)

Wright is perhaps the biggest risk vs reward player in the crop. There is every chance he becomes a maligned key position bust who never looks like he's at the standard. But there's also a real chance he becomes a truly dominant and imposing forward who can chop out in the ruck. In my opinion his ceiling is the highest in the draft. He already begins with the natural head start of being 203 cm. Despite being that height he's got great acceleration and a good top speed. His agility is excellent and his turning circle relatively small. He leads to the right places, times his leads well and has the work rate to lead repeatedly. He takes the ball at the highest point, often in one grab and that coupled with his wingspan and height makes him truly imposing on the lead. If given a run at the ball he's able to steamroll packs and take huge contested grabs - he just needs to improve his consistency in this regard. 1 on 1 he's able to use his bigger body to win contests often. His set shot goalkicking is excellent, with his accuracy and distance both elite. His field kicking is also excellent as is his composure with ball in hand.

Wright can almost be considered two different players - Wright the forward and Wright the ruck. With his height he'll always be considered a ruck option and while his tapwork is reasonable he lacks something dominant through the ruck which he has when forward. He doesn't like to physically impose on the contest like many modern day ruckmen do instead preferring to remain outside the contest as a link up option - similar to Sam Jacobs except he doesn't read the play as well and doesn't impact the game enough. The worry with Wright is that he'll be labeled as a ruck due to his height and be thrown in there regularly despite the fact that it's just not something he excels in. He has a history of back injuries which needs to be considered as well. He also goes missing at times and isn't incredibly fit. At ground level he's serviceable but occasionally struggles to get down quickly and loses balance.

What Wright has that most 203 cm players don't is genuine forward ability. He shares a lot of similarities with Kurt Tippett but at the moment looks like his ceiling is even higher. The risk is there that he just doesn't develop. His TAC and championships form this year has been a little below expectations too, he hasn't truly dominated like previous elite KPFs have at this level.

Evaluation of his prospects: Wright could really go either way. In the right system he could use his athletic prowess and natural talent and really push on to near a-grade status. He could be a better version of Kurt Tippett. But he also could allow the flaws that currently impact his game to remain and end up at a similar level to a Tom Bellchambers - an option in the forward line but nothing dominant while also not really being a top level ruckman either. There's a real gap between ceiling and floor for Wright and he could go either way.

13. Hugh Goddard (Vic Country, Athletic KPP utility)

196 cm, 94 kg, 24/8/96
Range: 7-16
Style: Sam Day (forward)
Comparison: Daniel Talia (back)

While Goddard has disappointed as a forward this season, he's shown that he's got some real ability down back. Very athletic, he's quick with good acceleration, his agility is good and he's got a nice vertical leap. For an 18 year old he's physically well developed and has some real body strength. He's a solid overhead mark and mark on the lead and one on one he's capable of beating his opponent. By foot his skills are okay with his range exceptional. In defence he's able to really check his opponent closely and lock them down. His athleticism allows him to close down leads, neutralise contests and win ground balls most of the time. With ball in hand he's not overly creative but is reliable and is able to use his athleticism to create space.

Goddard doesn't have an incredibly high football IQ which is what hurts him forward where he's required to create his own opportunities. Despite having excellent athleticism his leads are often closed down due to poor timing and having to adjust his pace, allowing his direct opponent back in to the contest. He leads to the wrong spots with poor timing too often and has a bad habit of cutting off other forwards. He rarely dominates games, normally chipping in occasionally and quietly doing his work. His pack marking game has yet to develop. Down back he's reliable but isn't a high level intercept mark nor a major offensive contributor.

I think Goddard's future lies as a defender. Not even a swingman. He's not the kind of player you can throw forward and hope he clunks some big contested grabs to change the game, he'd need to work his way into the game when forward and as such isn't someone you'd want to throw down there in the third quarter when you need a quick few goals. He's a highly disciplined player who rarely lapses defensively. When forward he projects as a weaker Sam Day in that he has the athleticism but doesn't create opportunities for himself to take advantage of that. As for his career path I think it might be similar to Sam Rowe's in that he'll be tried forward and look like a headless chook before being thrown back and making a name for himself as a tall, athletic shut down defender.

Evaluation of his prospects: As a forward I don't see much in him. As a defender he could conceivably make it to an All Australian level. His ability to stop even the best forwards is on another level, with his mix of skill, size and athleticism a great match for dominating the best forwards. You can just feel the influence he has on his direct opponent - that's an ability you don't just lose.

14. Jordan De Goey (Vic Metro, Classy & skilled balanced midfielder)

188 cm, 85 kg, 15/3/96
Range: Top 20
Style: Jimmy Bartel
Comparison: Colin Sylvia

De Goey's improvement over the last 12 months has been a highlight. He's transitioned from a predominantly outside utility to someone who can really use his size and frame to win his own ball and now can be considered a real balanced midfielder. Overhead he's exceptional with only Petracca being able to claim being a better mark through the midfield. His timing is good, his hands are sticky and his one on one strength, positioning and read is exceptional. On the lead he's able to time his leads well and to the right places to be a real marking option around the ground. He combines that with a really penetrating and reliable kick with some good creativity, vision and decision making as well as goal sense. On the inside De Goey is much improved with his ability to win and extract the hard ball and distribute to runners a real positive in his game.

De Goey's a versatile player capable of playing back, forward or through the middle to a high standard. As a result he's been thrown around a little and not really settled down anywhere. Though he's a good inside ball winner and marking target around the ground he hasn't shown the ability to accumulate in volume yet which would be the next step for him. Athletically he's not particularly fast but he's able to create some space and he's a strong bodied tackler and courageous player.

There's no player whose game is analogous to that of De Goey. His sticky hands and excellent marking ability across the ground has shades of Bartel (and I expect him to be an excellent wet weather player, too). His ability to find space on the outside and take uncontested marks is a bit like Jackson Macrae while his inside/outside split is like David Mundy and his footskills project to be a similar level. De Goey has enough going for him that at the worst case he should be a reasonable flanker at AFL level - the best case could see him as a genuine A grade midfielder.

Evaluation of his prospects: De Goey seems a safe bet to make it - whether that be as a bottom end of the 22 player or better is the question. There's a small chance he really makes it and hits that A grade with his blend of skills leaving the window open in the right system but it's more likely that he ends up a 'mid range' best 22 player.

15. Jayden Laverde (Vic Metro, Athletic and skilled utility)

189 cm, 80 kg, 12/4/96
Range: Top 15

Laverde's an athletic utility with some real upside. Very versatile, he's played more of his football in defence but has also shown some real ability and intelligence when forward and through the middle as well as off a wing. He's very fast but also has excellent acceleration and exceptional agility and as well as some real strength both in the contest and one on one. His evasion is top tier with his ability to shift his centre of gravity rapidly a particular highlight, aiding him in creating time and space for himself to effectively dispose. He likes to use his athleticism to break lines and take the game on. By foot Laverde is normally solid with his kicks often to advantage and penetrating. However those that aren't are often clangers or turnovers due to poor decisions. In defence he's reasonably accountable and able to read the flight and take intercepts but also able to use his height and strength to be a dominant one on one mark both forward and back.

While normally a solid kick he is prone to trying to do too much and be too creative which results in some pretty poor turnovers. At the moment he doesn't have much inside game instead preferring to hang outside for the receive, though in traffic he's very composed. At his size and with his skillset there is scope to develop an inside game but it'll take time. He also hasn't accumulated as much of the ball through the middle as you'd like.

Laverde's a very hard player to find a comparison for with very few players sharing his height, versatility and skillset. Jackson Macrae isn't as penetrating by foot or as fast but they're similar in their evasive movement and also in their tendency to win outside ball as opposed to inside ball but also having the scope to develop an inside game. He's someone that still has a bit to work on and is likely to spend some time at state league level early but should be pushing for AFL selection late in the first season and into the second, while really imposing himself and potentially breaking out (big time) in his third and fourth seasons.

Evaluation of his prospects: Laverde has the athleticism and size to be almost anything. In the right system and with the right approach he could well become an A grade midfielder. But he also might just end up another athletic player lacking the smarts to be relevant. The ceiling is through the roof - but the floor is also rather low.

16. Connor Menadue (Vic Metro, Linebreaking outside midfielder)

187 cm, 69 kg, 19/9/96
Range: 14-26
Comparison: Jono O'Rourke

Connor Menadue is the bolter right now, partially started by his amazing performance in the first round of the TAC cup finals. The talent has always been there though. He's a tall outside leaning midfielder who could go in any number of directions due to his size and rawness. He's incredibly quick with his pace elite and his acceleration exceptional. His evasive movement is elite with his sidestep the best in the draft. That with his pace makes his linebreaking ability fantastic. By foot he's great. Hits targets, picks the right ones, directs the play well by foot and has some penetration. Despite his size on the inside he can win his ball. He reads the tap well and moves well enough to win the hard ball. His disposal under pressure is great. His ability to receive the ball on the outside is excellent with his timing of runs to receive a highlight. For a thin fella his tackling is great. His ability to hit the scoreboard is a highlight.

The knock on Menadue is production. So far he's rarely produced the kind of games he did in week one of the finals. In the champs he showed flashes but hardly imposed himself. There's a lot to like but he's raw. At his size he still has 10-20 kilos to put on still and that could change the kind of player he is. He occasionally tries to do too much with the ball. He's prone to floating in and out of games. Though he seems to have a natural ability to win his own ball his inside game is very much a work in progress and will take time to develop.

The upside in Menadue is really high. He's the kind of player who can break and win games on his own. With what he's doing at his size there's some real indication he might make it. He projects as a higher level Jonothan O'Rourke with that high level receiving game and silky smooth outside game. He'll take time but by season three with a few pre seasons he's someone that could really impose himself on the AFL.

Evaluation of his prospects: Menadue is high risk. Like all outside players, Menadue isn't a safe bet, especially given he's not an elite talent. At his size, he still has 15 kilos to gain and how that effects his game is still to be decided. There's a good chance he doesn't make the grade. There's also a good chance he becomes one of the best outside players in the comp. I really like what he offers.

17. Liam Duggan (Vic Metro, Skilled outside leaning midfielder/defender)

184 cm, 75 kg, 11/12/96
Range: Top 25
Style: Trent Cotchin
Comparison: Sam Docherty

There's a lot to like about Duggan. He's very bottom aged being a December birth so there's that little bit more development in him, but he's also an excellent kick off his left foot with his right also being very serviceable. His kicking has some good penetration, excellent direction and he picks the right targets. Duggan also backs himself to nail these targets and kicks long if at all possible. He's able to play both defence and midfield to a high standard. In defence he's capable of reading the play and the flight of the ball and providing an intercept option. He's reasonably quick with some good acceleration and willingness to take the game on. On the inside he's serviceable with some ability to win his own ball and a real desire to apply pressure and tackle. Duggan also shapes up as a future leader of a club.

While Duggan has performed well in defense, a lot of that has been purely offensively speaking. He's prone to being exposed a bit defensively with his accountability and stopping ability average at best. He's someone who's been moved to defence to take advantage of his footskills as opposed to a natural defender. While he's able to accumulate he does float in and out of games and on occasion finds himself in the wrong position. He rarely takes apart a game and truly dominates like elite players do.

I see Duggan as a slightly more midfield leaning Sam Docherty. Both are players who pre draft were defined by their kicks and while both have excellent kicking neither have truly elite or game breaking disposal. I can see Duggan following a career path not dissimilar to Docherty's thus far as well. Through the middle he shares comparisons with Trent Cotchin albeit at a lower level with both being players who can sometimes accumulate lots of outside and uncontested ball without really doing anything wrong but not impacting the game either.

Evaluation of his prospects: Duggan's application should see him make the grade, the extent to which is still unknown. Someone with his disposal and improving inside game should have enough strings to his bow to at least be a mid level best 22 player, potentially a vital cog in a team.

18. Sam Durdin (SA, Athletic and Skilled KPP utility)

198 cm, 88 kg, 6/6/96
Range: 10-24
Style: Jake Carlisle
Comparison: Lachie Hansen

Like Wright, Durdin is a real risk/reward proposition. Since injuring his thumb earlier in the season, his form has been underwhelming at every level and at the moment he just doesn't have the runs on the board. Perhaps it was because he was played out of position in the ruck and forward though. Over the last fortnight he's played two SANFL games as a key defender and done relatively well. Standing at 197cm, Durdin's footskills are exceptional. He's able to release runners with penetrating kicks and generally makes good decisions by foot both in contested and uncontested situations. His athleticism is excellent with both his speed and acceleration good and his agility and mobility excellent. His vertical leap is also excellent and at ground level he's very quick to get down and clean with his hands. He reads the ball reasonably in flight and is likely to clunk the intercept or contested mark if he's in the right position to get a suitable run and jump however his positioning is often a bit off.

The major knock on Durdin so far this year was his lack of exposed form. At every level he'd been below par and expectations. Despite his natural talent being incredible he just hadn't put it together. Of late he's played some SANFL league matches and held his own which is a real positive, indicating that he's either found that form to show himself off or just been played in the right position. Durdin isn't particularly blessed with football smarts, when forward his leads are poorly timed and to the wrong areas and he just looks a bit like a headless chook. In the ruck he's not able to accumulate like a ruck with his skills could and down back while he's able to intercept and has good footskills he doesn't get much of the ball to take advantage of that. He's also a very physically undeveloped player who'll need a good few pre-seasons in the gym to get the best out of himself.

What Durdin becomes depends entirely on where he plays. If he's pursued with as a forward I can't see him rewarding the selection he's taken with. Down back he could be a very capable #1 defender. With 10-15 kilos of extra muscle over a few pre seasons he's bound to rapidly change as a player and could become an elite pack mark not dissimilar to Jake Carlisle who can swing forward and dominate through that same ability. Right now I have him projecting as more of a Lachlan Hansen in that he's an excellent contested and intercept mark with some good distribution but forward he always looks a bit lacking. As a forward Durdin is required to create his own opportunity and possession which he struggles to do. Down back he's able to feed off his direct opponent's creativity and be led to a better situation simply by following him. I feel playing back would be best for his development not only because it suits his strengths more but it'd also allow him to learn better leading and running patterns from more advanced and smarter forwards.

Evaluation of his prospects: Durdin has the game to really make it - like a better version of Jake Carlisle in defence. But he also has very few runs on the board at the lower levels, having very little impact outside the SANFL under 18s. If he manages to develop and pull all his abilities together, he'll likely make it - but there's also some real bust potential here too.

19. Tom Lamb (Vic Country, Athletic 3rd tall utility)

193cm, 84kg, 19/10/96
Range: 15-35
Style: Jared Brennan
Comparison: Marco Paparone

Tom Lamb has so much to like but also is incredibly frustrating. At 192cm he's capable of being a target down forward but also playing across half forward, off a wing and down back as a smaller rebounding type. Some hope he can become a midfielder with his skills and athleticism. He's freakishly athletic for a tall kid, with his speed in getting to ground level and cleanness in picking up a particular highlight, especially his ability to pick it up with one hand or under severe pressure. He's got exceptional acceleration and real ability to create separation on the lead and when attacking a ground ball. He's capable of ruthless and repeated attack on the ball. When forward he's shown real goalscoring ability and is a capable mark, often ending up in the right spots however occasionally his marking technique lets him down, dropping simple ones or two/three grabbing. In defence he's shown some ability to intercept, read the play and create.

While he was considered a key forward for a lot of his career, at his size he lacks the physicality and contested presence to effectively play that role. He is essentially a tall small. However through the midfield he hasn't set the world on fire with his hands in close shaky along with his composure. By foot he's got some really nice vision but in general is a poor kick with his kicking rushed and technically poor. At his size he doesn't have the clean or natural inside game to indicate a future in that role. His work rate is often poor with him seemingly lacking desire and effort at times on the field. He's prone to brain fades and unnecessary bouts of aggression while off the field from all reports he's a bit lacking as a bloke.

When forward Lamb plays a bit like Jared Brennan. He has all the skill and physical power and ability but isn't by any means a key target - more a flanker. A more modern comparison is Marco Paparone in that they are both tall smalls who have poor kicks but very reasonable athleticism. Paparone has a higher work ethic and endurance but Lamb is more natural and behind the ball he's more skilled. If Lamb worked harder both off and on the field he could be anything. However I can't help but feel his career will be riddled with frustration and non deliverance on promise due to his attitude and disciplinary issues.

Evaluation of his prospects: Lamb's future in the AFL is impossible to speculate on. It's not a question of ability or talent as it's already there - it's a question of application. With his commitment to fitness and exceptional results there I'm hoping he applies that to AFL training as well. If he applies himself - he could be one of the most exciting players from the draft and a club's dream with his talent and versatility. If he doesn't - well he'll end up more worse off than Jared Brennan.

20. Jarrod Garlett (WA, Line breaking outside midfielder)

180 cm, 69 kg, 18/8/96
Range: 15-22
Comparison: Danyle Pearce/Brad Hill

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. When running he's aware of the field around him and is constantly thinking about his next move. 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. The next step is to work on some extra versatility and winning his own ball. Danyle Pearce is a good comparison for him and I expect Garlett to reach a similar level to Pearce at his peak.

The Garlett to Pickett comparison is one that has and will be made quite a bit. Both are Indigenous outside line-breakers from WA and of late Garlett's stocks have risen. The difference between the two - and why Pickett is projected to go so much higher - is mainly about how they receive the ball. Garlett receives it wider than Pickett who has more ability to accumulate and move in traffic and congestion. Garlett is very much a 'receive' only midfielder. Though Pickett is gifted the ball often too, he's gifted it in 'stickier' situations. Garlett also isn't as deadly when in possession near goals, Pickett has a freakish knack of creating or scoring a goal from an innocent loose ball get. In short, Garlett receives balls already won by his teammates. Pickett receives balls 'half-won' and turns them into wins.

Evaluation of his prospects: Outside players are always risky, but Garlett seems to have the workrate to get the best out of himself. Kicking off both feet also gives him a real point of difference. I don't think he has the potential to be genuinely elite, but I'd rate his chances of making the grade as better than most outside types.
 
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21. Caleb Marchbank (Vic Country, Intelligent key defender)

192 cm, 89 kg, 7/12/96
Range: 13-25
Style: Brian Lake
Comparison: Jarrad Waite (as a defender)

Off the back of an excellent championships, Marchbank has bolted up the order. A key position defender who can swing forward, his one on one ability is the best in the draft. His positioning within a contested and ability to move away his direct opponent and take the grab is elite. If he cannot win he more often than not neutralises. He's also got a good read of the ball in flight which allows him to be a genuine intercept option and picks the right time to zone off. He has the runs on the board with his opponents often shut out of games and his numbers read well.

While he does have those runs on the board I can't help but worry about what kind of defender he'll be at the top level. At 193cm he's likely not going to be a #1 defender yet athletically he is average at best. His agility is ordinary and could well lead to him losing ground contests and his acceleration and pace are okay at best. An athletic forward could create real separation on him. His disposal does the job but he's not someone who's going to create real drive out of defence. While his disposals are rarely terrible, they also are rarely noteworthy.

Right now Marchbank is a bit of a one trick pony with his intercept and one on one game excellent but the jury is still out on the other aspects of his defensive game. Offensively he isn't a weapon. He projects as a poor man's Brian Lake with his intercept and one on one ability not dissimilar and he too can swing forward and have an impact. He just seems to lake the x-factor and ability to really be that wall that Lake can be in defence and is also a little less athletic. He could be ready in season two but it will be three to four seasons before he really imposes himself.

Evaluation of his prospects: Marchbank could go one of two ways. He could become the next Brian Lake - playing a high level intercept and possession game offensively while also being excellent defensively - often playing and excelling above his weight, or he could go the other way and be found out a bit defensively with his size and lack of absolute pace limiting his ability to effectively shut down elite forwards. I think Marchbank will make it - he just mightn't be a world beater.

22. Paul Ahern (Vic Metro, Skilled outside leaning midfielder)

181 cm, 82 kg, 1/8/96
Range: 6-12
Comparison: Luke Dahlhaus

Paul Ahern is someone who projects as a real value selection anywhere from pick 10 onwards. He's a player with such a well rounded game that it's a near certainty that he'll make it. To what extent is the better question. By foot Ahern excels, with his kicking on the outside excellent (but not elite). He's got good vision, good decision making and a good technique which gives him a well rounded and consistent kick. Ahern also has excellent speed. It's not super super fast but it's still quick. Below the knees he's clean and aerially he competes well. Through the midfield he hits the scoreboard reasonable well and when forward he provides a crumbing option. While he's by no means a balanced midfielder his ball winning ability for an outside player is solid.

While Ahern has an inside game he lacks real courage and ferocity at the contest. When needed he'll go in hard but often he sits outside. He doesn't provide much tackling pressure and when forward prefers to corrall as opposed to provide direct physical pressure when the option is there. He's also a bit of a jack of all trades/master of none. His speed and skills are good but they're not top tier. He doesn't have a truly defining quality. As an accumulator he's solid but not spectacular, he's likely never going to be a 25-30 disposal average player. He's struggled with consistency and form changes over his junior career.

I'd have Ahern projecting as a Luke Dahlhaus type of player. Someone who plays a role both forward and through the middle, provides a bit of excitement and x-factor but in general isn't a top tier player in the side. I think he's marginally quicker and better skilled than Dahlhaus but not as hard working and determined as well as less of a volume tackler. Inconsistent TAC cup form towards the back end could see him slide.

Evaluation of his prospects: I'm not particularly sold on Ahern. I like what he offers and see why he's well rated but something feels a little off. Even if he pulls all the parts together I'm not particularly sure he'd ever be a genuine A-grader. He projects more as a mid tier/role player and I'm not sure they're the types you target with first rounders.

23. Alex Neal-Bullen (SA, High production inside midfielder)

182cm, 76kg, 9/1/96
Range: 21-35
Style: Lenny Hayes
Comparison: Anthony Miles

Alex Neal-Bullen could just be the most underrated player in the draft crop. He led the championships in clearances and while he's not the prototypical inside midfielder height, he's still an elite inside player at this level. He played SANFL for Glenelg all season and made a real impact and he's able to play half back as well as through the middle. An underrated aspect of Neal-Bullen's game is his forward positioning. He's able to pop up in holes others don't see and has some real potential to hit the scoreboad more than most inside midfielders do, providing a real point of difference.

Athletically he's fit, he runs all day, he makes every contest and he's never short of breath 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 based on his numbers. He plays a bit like a smaller Lenny Hayes however I doubt he'll reach the same heights as things are just a little bit tougher at his size. The absolute peak for Neal-Bullen could be in a Tom Liberatore-esque clearance king kind of role, but it's unlikely he makes it that far.

Evaluation of his prospects: Neal-Bullen's a solid player and by season 2 should be establishing a spot in an AFL side. He could go two ways from there - the first would be to rapidly improve and become a vital (yet underappreciated) cog in the starting midfield, the other could be to plateau early and continue on as a fringe 22 inside player for the rest of his career.

24. Oscar McDonald (Vic Country, Shutdown KPD)

197 cm, 94 kg, 18/3/96
Range: 23-36
Comparison: Tom McDonald

Brother of Melbourne's Tom, Oscar is a very similar player. Oscar is a shutdown key defender who can take the opposition's #1 guy and do a good job on him. He's a no frills kind of player but one you just know will do the job. He's a strong player who's very capable of neutralising contests and beating his opponent one on one. Though he doesn't have a super intercept game he's able to contribute in that regard. He's got the versatility to match most forwards with his closing speed reasonable but not elite. He's a strong bodied, hard working and tough as nails defender who won't ever be a world beater but he'll do his job.

While Oscar excels defensively he's not fantastic offensively. Like his brother, he's able and willing to work in the offensive transition and involve himself but skills wise he's lacking. His disposal isn't great nor his his decision making. He's just someone who probably shouldn't be a primary rebounder. However despite that he's still capable of playing 100 games.

Evaluation of his prospects: McDonald projects as a safe bet to be a relatively good key defender. He lacks the truly dominant offensive or defensive ability to get into that All Australian tier but he's well rounded enough and has the application to at worst be a handy 2nd key defender.


25. Daniel McKenzie (Vic Metro - Athletic midfielder/small back)

184 cm, 78 kg
Range: 21-40
Style: Aaron Mullett

Daniel McKenzie is someone who'll be drafted not on what he's done, but what he could turn into. He's athletically exceptional in nearly every regard, with his speed, leap, agility and endurance all top notch. His acceleration is a particular highlight with his ability to create space fantastic. He's a hard worker who maintains a defensive presence throughout games. While his numbers this season haven't been huge, he's shown improvement throughout the season and at a rate strong enough to indicate he can continue to improve at a high rate. His finals performances have been good. He still has a lot to work on but with the natural athletic traits he has, he'll be given the opportunity to make the best of himself.

Evaluation of his prospects: McKenzie has shown enough improvement each week throughout the year to give some confidence that it'll continue and he'll make the grade. His athletic qualities are exciting and he seems to have the footballing ability to back that up.



26. Dillon Viojo-Rainbow (Vic Metro, Precision kicking defender)

184 cm, 82 kg, 8/2/96
Range: 19-31
Style: Matthew Suckling
Comparison: Shannon Hurn (worse defender though)

Viojo-Rainbow would add some polish and footskills to any side. Viojo-Rainbow is all about the kick. It 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. He doesn't win much of his own ball and has to be fed it on the outside instead of putting himself in the right position 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.

Evaluation of his prospects: By sheer virtue of his boot he'll remain in contention for some time. However whether he makes the grade as an AFL prospect depends more on whether he can build the game around that boot to be relevant in a few other ways. He needs to end up in the right system.

27. Kyle Langford (Vic Metro, Utility)

190 cm, 76 kg, 1/12/96
Range: 8-15
Style: Jack Gunston
Comparison: Louis Herbert

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. Louis Herbert is probably an appropriate one given the style of play but Langford is quite simply better and perhaps could reach a similar level to Andrejs Everitt. Played in defence throughout the championships, Langford held his own with a reasonable accountable brand of football and provided some offensive penetration. Forward he's looked good in the TAC cup, and many believe his best position is as a creative third tall forward. He possesses reasonable speed and acceleration and has a great vertical leap. His intercept marking shows potential. He likes to run and attack the play when possible. His tackling is excellent when factoring in his size.

Despite all the positives, he hasn't really dominated yet. His december birth and twig like stature may contribute to this, but he still hasn't truly imposed himself. His kicking can be effective but he still shanks the ball and turns it over a bit too often. It's also worth noting that he has a really, really long neck. This might not be considered important by many but when considering his height, it is. From ground to shoulder, Langford probably is only the same height as a 183-185cm player. His vertical reach will likely be reflected in this and therefore level he can take his marking to in the AFL. Height is an easy way to briefly consider someone's physical capabilities and upside in that regard. In Langford's case, it's a bit misleading. He'll always have the 'relevant' height of a small, and even when he fills out his body - he's likely not going to be a 'big bodied' midfielder type as quite simply, his shoulders are at the same level as many six foot players. Langford has been bolting of late and is likely to go top 20 - a range I feel is too high based on exposed form and perceived upside. It seems some are looking at his 190 cm height and assuming he can be the next great tall midfielder, when in reality his height is very misleading.

Evaluation of his prospects: I just don't see it. Others do though. Some think he could be the next Bontempelli type player but I just can't see it at all. Won't say much more, but not sure he'll really ever be much.

28. Caleb Daniel (SA, Skilled, smart and creative midfielder)

167 cm, 63 kg, 7/7/96
Range: 21-60
Comparison: Dayne Zorko

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 sub 15 beep, sub 10 minute 3k and sub 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.

Evaluation of his prospects: If you're good enough, you're big enough. Perhaps he's not blisteringly quick but by foot he's just beautiful and he has so many strings to his game. I think he'll make it but there are definitely elements of football that he'll find difficult at AFL level.

29. Brayden Maynard (Vic Metro, Utility with a hard edge)

187 cm, 87 kg, 20/9/96
Range: 23-35
Style: Ryan O'Keefe
Comparison: Luke Tapscott

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 although it has improved throughout the year. With all 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 though I think with time he could develop into a really effective midfielder capable of hurting the opposition both inside and out.

Evaluation of his prospects: His versatility should render him a player clubs would like to have on their list. While he's unlikely to ever be truly dominant, at worst he should be a high level state league player and handy depth.

30. Liam Dawson - Academy (QLD, Intelligent utility)

189 cm, 83 kg, 23/1/96
Range: Pick 44
Style: Sam Gilbert

Winning (in a 3 way tie) the Harrison Medal for the best player in div 2 as an underaged player 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.

Evaluation of his prospects: Dawson is more than good enough to make the grade. He's a natural footballer and if anything his underage performances were indication enough that he's a class act. Low risk, reasonably high reward kind of player. A great get this late.

31. Billy Stretch - Father/Son (SA, Line breaking outside mid)

180 cm, 71 kg, 8/9/96
Range: Pick 42
Comparison: David MacKay

While he was spoken about as a prospect last year, this year Billy Stretch has absolutely smashed down the door. A very outside player, Stretch can play off a flank or wing to a high standard. His speed is a highlight, and he enjoys breaking the lines. His kicking is okay but not excellent, however unlike most, his kicking does not suffer when running at his top speed. He possesses excellent endurance and some good evasion. His performances in the SANFL seniors this season have been excellent, with several 20+ disposal games and his 26 touch, 12 mark and 2 goal game against the Adelaide Crows reserves a particular highlight.

While he has the runs on the board at senior level, he still has a lot to work on. He lacks an inside game, with most of his possessions being fed to him. He lacks composure under pressure, with his disposal occasionally rushed and panicked, and his hands aren't completely clean; he's prone to dropping or two-grabbing marks and below the knees he fumbles. At the next level he looks a safe bet to be a role player at the absolute worst but he lacks something dominant and clinical to project as someone who's really going to be an elite player. He projects as a lower level Andrew Gaff type player, with his output and impact being similar to a Tendai Mzungu type.

Evaluation of his prospects: Outside players are traditionally hit and miss but Stretch looks a good bet given his elite performances at SANFL level. He doesn't have the hurt factor by foot or the cleanest hands yet and I think on that he won't make it to the elite outside mid bracket but his ability to find the ball is much better than plenty of other outside mids and that should allow him to at least play a handy role at the next level.

32. Reece McKenzie (Vic Metro - Contested Marking KPF)

197 cm, 107 kg, 28/3/96
Range: 26-60
Style: Travis Cloke
Comparison: Ryan Willits

Reece McKenzie is perhaps the most divisive player in the crop. Having not played football during his bottom age year, focusing on basketball instead, he came into 2014 with less runs on the board. This year he's been the best performed KPF in the TAC cup, kicking several huge bags while also doing the same for Marcellin. At 196cm and 100kg the query with him is whether his performances are through skill or size. His contested marking is fantastic. He crashes packs and takes massive pack marks. One on one he's able to use his size to force opponents out of the contest. He's able to read the flight of the ball well. Despite his size he's reasonable on the lead taking the ball out in front but requires a long lead as he's slow to accelerate though top speed isn't an issue. His size is predominantly efficient size with lots of it muscle. He's got a good solid leap and some real power through the legs. He's one of the few prospects who could be a genuine #1 power forward.

McKenzie isn't a great playmaker with his footskills average along with his set shot. At ground level he doesn't have much impact with his following up poor and his effort at ground level average. He lacks agility and awareness with his back to goal. His performances this year have been against weakened teams and he hasn't really dominated the good teams and opponents to the same level.

Upside is the concern with McKenzie. His development curve so far has been steep with his progress going from not having played in 2013 to being TAC cup standard early 2014 to being dominant late. Normally this indicates real upwards potential but I'm rather cynical. He's a bit of a one trick pony and at AFL level he's not going to have that size advantage. His ceiling is like a slightly lower level Cloke or Hawkins however there's a good chance he could end up like Ryan Willits who's shared a similar career path thus far.

Evaluation of his prospects: McKenzie's going to take a long time to really hit his straps so either way we're going to have to wait to see which way he goes. I'd say it's around 50/50 as to whether he makes it or not.

33. Harris Andrews - Academy (QLD - Disciplined KP utility)

201 cm, 95 kg, 12/11/96
Range: Pick 63
Comparison: Jackson Trengove

Originally a forward, Harris Andrews has now turned heads with a transition into defence. Very bottom aged with a November birth, despite his rawness and inexperience Andrews has shown some real scope as a genuine key defender. Despite his results as a forward throughout his junior career I don't feel it's a position he's going to excel in at AFL level. Down back he's a very handy read of the play with some nice ground level ability and agility to stop the athletic forwards. He's also a courageous and hardened player who doesn't shy away from contested situations. With his size and wingspan, neutralising contests is easier for him. By foot he's reliable. He isn't incredibly quick but he's by no means slow either. At his height and with what he's shown so far there's some real potential for Andrews to nail down the #1 defender spot at a club for a long time. He very much is the modern day key defender.

Evaluation of his prospects: Brisbane can thank the academy system for this steal. Andrews is a great get - his size suits the way the game is going and he has the versatility and ability to be a very solid AFL player with the right development.

34. Peter Bampton (SA, Bullocking inside midfielder)

182 cm, 83 kg, 15/4/96
Range: 30-rookie
Style: Brad Crouch/Ben Cunnington
Comparison: Luke Dunstan

Peter Bampton is a big bodied inside mid who should be ready to go season one not dissimilar to Luke Dunstan. Not only is he a high level extractor and clearance winner but his effort to win the ball is unparalleled. His burst speed is good with his ability to create space and distribute by hand reasonable. He's a powerful mover and someone who when he hits, it hurts. His agility and evasion is underrated and on occasion he shows shades of Brad Crouch with ball in hand. He's got elite endurance and impacts most contests. His performances in the SANFL both in 2013 and 2014 have been to a very high standard.

Bampton by foot isn't incredibly great. Normally the ball gets where he wants it to go but he's not someone whose hands you want the ball in. On occasion he blindly bombs it long out of the contest. He has an ability to find outside ball but needs to work on this more. His courage may cause him trouble through his career with his ruthless attack putting him at a much higher risk of injury.

Bampton should replicate Luke Dunstan's impact in his first season. He doesn't have as smooth a running style and isn't as solid by foot but on the inside he's more powerful and has a better burst. Ben Cunnington is perhaps his ceiling, with his ability to dominate games on the inside excellent but he just lacks versatility and other tricks.

Evaluation of his prospects: Bampton is a sure fire bet to make the grade. He's got the readymade game to impact early and keep his spot for a long career - the peak is just the question. Perhaps he lacks the strings to his bow to ever be top tier quality.


35. Matthew Hammelmann (QLD, Intelligent KP utility)

198 cm, 89 kg, 8/3/96
Range: 40-rookie
Comparison: Tom J. Lynch/Josh Jenkins

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. He takes the ball at the highest point and straight lines through it. His follow up work is excellent with his agility, movement and pickups at ground level a particular highlight. Below the knees he's very capable with his marking down low and mobility as well as a general cleanness a highlight. His vision is also excellent for a bloke of his size.

Hammelmann lacks a contested marking presence. Despite his size he doesn't really crash packs and while he reads the ball well, he lacks a real desire to impact the contest. He lacks a physical edge to his game and doesn't intimidate an opponent. By foot he's shaky at times and his set shot goalkicking leaves a lot to be desired. As a player he reminds me a lot of Tom Lynch from the Gold Coast except without the contested marking game and perhaps a smarter leading game. Josh Jenkins is another comparison that makes sense with both avoiding contests if at all possible and having some real agility and smarts at times.

Evaluation of his prospects: I think Hammelmann has a real shot at making the grade. If he fails as a forward he's got the game as a defender to be handy depth. As a forward though he has the smarts, size and wingspan to be a really handy second forward.
 
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36. Dean Gore (SA, Big bodied midfielder/forward)

182 cm, 86 kg, 26/6/96
Range: 30-60
Comparison: Sam Kerridge

Gore's a ready made inside mid with a capable outside game. He's 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 though he does have a fantastic burst, 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. While he's big bodied and does have an inside game, it's not truly dominant and doesn't come across as natural. It's possible Gore could be one of those players who's okay on both the inside and outside but doesn't really excel at either, putting him in a midfielder's version of no man's land. However, if he is to impact, expect it to be immediate, the knocks are his athleticism outside the initial burst and ceiling which some believe to be rather low.

Evaluation of his prospects: Gore is someone who's hard to get a read on. He's enjoyed some good form at SANFL level, he's got a big body, his champs were good and his combine was surprisingly excellent. He just doesn't seem to have a set inside or outside game and instead seems like a bit of a jack of all trades, master of none. You'd think he'll make it as a role player given that but does a jack of all trades, master of none carry that to the next level? I'm not sure. He's a tough one. I hope he makes it, at least.

37. Jeremy Finlayson - Academy (GWS, Athletic KP utility)

197 cm, 87 kg, 2/9/96
Range: GWS Last Pick
Style: Jack Watts
Comparison: Marco Paparone/James Stewart

When played forward, Finlayson is able to really firm up a teams structure. While capable of playing deep where he uses his smarts and athleticism to find space inside 50, his best work is done as a true centre half forward running between the arcs. A high level athlete, Finlayson not only offers some reasonable speed and great agility but is also very fit, capable of running most defenders off their feet and constantly providing a link up target on the wings. When his leads are ignored, he remains in the play often flanking contests looking for the handball receive. He's a one grab mark and below the knees he's excellent with his ability to quickly pick the ball up without fumbling a highlight. In a lot of ways Finlayson plays like somebody 10 centimetres smaller.

Despite being 195 centimetres, Finlayson isn't a contested marking threat. Some of this can be attributed to not only his lack of weight but his very slender frame, but he also lacks the desire to attack contests, preferring to remain at ground level for the crumb or handball receive. By foot he's got a long left foot kick, but technically it needs a lot of work with regulation targets sometimes missed. He is also prone to shanking simple shots at goal. However a lot of this is due to a poorly balanced kicking technique, something that can be rectified. Finlayson also struggles to win his own ball, rarely following up with effort if the ball is contested at ground level instead preferring to hang outside the pack. While he is a reasonable outside flanking option, as a 195 centimetre forward he needs to have more of a physical presence at AFL level. Defensively he's occasionally outbodied and slow to react and close down leads.

Evaluation of his prospects: I'm surprised Finlayson wasn't bid on during the bidding - he really did impress me. He's a risk and he's raw - with some serious development needed both physically and as a player but his poise and ability between the arcs just looks like something worth persisting with.

38. Declan Hamilton (SA, Evasive and creative utility)

182 cm, 68 kg, 18/3/96
Range: 30-60
Style: Zach Merrett

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 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 composure and penetration by foot.

Evaluation of his prospects: I really want Hamilton to succeed. He seems a good kid and with his bloodlines it'd be nice to have him. I think there's a chance he doesn't with his style - it lacks dominance and is more subtle. If that subtlety can translate to AFL level he'll have a long career.

39. Toby McLean (Vic Metro - Creative and exciting small forward)

180 cm, 72 kg, 31/1/96

Range: 25-60
Style: Jamie Elliott

Toby McLean is someone that's stormed onto draft boards through sheer results. As a small forward, he offers a bit of everything and seems like another small forward who'll be available mid to late draft and develop into a real role player at an AFL club. With a tendency to entertain with high leaping marks, he's also got an impressive ground level game with his evasive movement a highlight. He possesses excellent goalsense and core strength and creativity; when he's not scoring goals he's finding ways to create them. He's able to change games and could conceivably reach a similar peak to Jamie Elliott.

Evaluation of his prospects: I don't think McLean is perhaps the next Jamie Elliott 40 goal a season forward like some do - I think he's got a lot of work to do to get to that level. What is clear is that he's a natural. I think he'll make it though, it's just not a certainty.

40. Zaine Cordy - Father/Son (Vic Country - Defensive minded 3rd tall)

191 cm, 83 kg, 27/10/96
Range: Pick 64
Comparison: Angus Litherland

Zaine Cordy's a very effective defensive stopper. He's very good at neutralising contests and is rarely beaten one on one. He also possesses a reasonable contested mark. He's got reasonable closing speed and reliable footskills. Defensively he's a very sound prospect. The question mark with Zaine is the role he could play at AFL level. He's not tall enough to really effectively play on the big power forward so likely will need to make his name as a second or third tall where he doesn't possess a truly gifted or penetrating offensive game. That said, he's the kind of player you can back in to play a role and play it well.

Evaluation of his prospects: Cordy's a fantastic stopper. Even if he doesn't have the greatest size, bulk or offensive game by sheer virtue of his defensive discipline he'll have a role in an AFL side.

41. Alec Waterman - Father/Son (WA, Skilled inside midfielder)

183 cm, 89 kg, 19/8/96
Range: WCE Last Pick
Style: Lenny Hayes/David Mundy

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.

Evaluation of his prospects: I have a feeling Waterman took the foot off the gas a bit this year. I really like what he offers as an inside midfielder with an outside game. He is quite slow and at times laconic but I do think he's a great chance to make it.

42. Damien Cavka (Vic Metro - Hard running outside midfielder)

185 cm, 79 kg, 3/6/96
Range: 30-60
Comparison: Brent Stanton

Despite not knowing the inside of a contest if it hit him in the face, Damien Cavka shapes up as someone who can really make it at AFL level. He's got a nice mix of speed and endurance, but it's his uncanny ability to find the football that attracts attention. He just racks it up. He likes to link up on the outside with his endurance and smarts allowing him to find the ball. He also doesn't mind running the ball when there's an opportunity. He's shown a real knack for kicking goals throughout the TAC cup finals. Footskills and decision making are a real question but with some coaching at AFL level, he should be able to rectify these to a borderline acceptable level. He shares a lot of similarites with Brent Stanton and that would be the absolute peak.

Evaluation of his prospects: Cavka looks like he has the game to be a handy outside midfielder at AFL level, it's just a matter of the extent to which he can improve his hurt factor as to the level he reaches in the league.

43. Corey Ellis: (Vic Metro, Creative midfielder/forward)

184 cm, 74 kg, 9/10/96
Range: 12-21

While there's a lot to like about Ellis, there's also a lot lacking. By foot he's good with his left foot relatively accurate and penetrating both from the outside and in traffic. While being an outside player he's capable of providing some tacking pressure and winning his own ball. He has a knack of doing things he has no right to do - hitting targets by hand and foot that you'd think were a fluke if he didn't do it so often, slipping and evading tackles that always stick, that kind of stuff. With some real creativity he projects as a half forward/midfielder.

The issue with Ellis is that he just doesn't do it very often. He's prone to inconsistency both within games and across a season, occasionally having zero impact and often drifting out of games. He doesn't seem to have a natural read of the play and does struggle to accumulate at times and when he does, while skilled, you don't notice him a huge amount. There's definitely upside with what he can do, he just doesn't do it enough. While capable of elite skills, too often he takes the high percentage chip or trying to replicate his occasional 'fluky' kick instead of taking the option most would (and should).

I can see Ellis seducing people and clubs with his highlight reel, but something just feels amiss. His worst is absolutely terrible and that creates a few questions. Even when he's having a good game he never truly feels like he breaks games, instead quietly going about his business and creating opportunity for others instead of taking it for himself. His best is not dissimilar to Alan Didak, it's just that it's too rare. A club might want to take a punt on that though.

Evaluation of his prospects: Ellis is someone whose disposal and creativity will carry him a little. Even if he flops a bit, he'll always be someone given every chance to make it based on what he can do. That said, he just seems too inconsistent to ever be a top line player and at best I think he'll end up a role player in a 22. Some real bust potential here.

44. Ed Vickers-Willis (Vic Metro, Tall Utility)

190 cm, 83 kg, 28/3/96
Range: 25-40
Style: Ricky Henderson

Vickers-Willis presents as a very interesting player. While he looks a bit laconic and almost uncoordinated on the field, it's clear that he's a natural footballer. While his kicking technique isn't aesthetically pleasing, the ball gets where it needs to go and he's a good user of the football. His vision and spatial awareness is excellent, he just seems to know who's around him which allows him to make excellent decisions. In defence he's very accountable, being able to play taller if need be but perhaps being more suited to the smalls. He's able to close down well and zone off and intercept. He's got a big frame and some real endurance and is able to run off.

While he's not pretty to watch sometimes, he has a knack of getting the job done. He's not the kind of half back who's going to play that elite kicking rebound game, nor is he the type who's going to dash at any opportunity, but he is the type who's going to play his role week in week out without any fuss. As a midfielder he's capable of playing a hard running link up game, leaning outside. With his body and spacial awareness he could develop an inside game. In defence he plays a similar style of football to Ricky Henderson, except more defensively sound. Through the middle he could conceivably develop into a similar style of player to Jack Crisp.

Evaluation of his prospects: Vickers-Willis could go any number of ways and is someone I've struggled to get a read on all year so it's tough for me to judge him. I think he'll be given every opportunity to make the grade though given his unique skillset.

45. Jackson Nelson (Vic Country, Hard nosed midfielder/defender)

187 cm, 80 kg, 15/3/96
Range: 30-60
Style: James Kelly
Comparison: Nick Vlastuin

Jackson Nelson is 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 game in round 5 of the championships and being concussed in the second quarter of round 6 in the televised championships games mightn't have helped, to be fair. Nelson is 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 with both feet on the outside with and decision making and vision are 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. He's already got a fairly mature body and with a wide frame he can likely develop further and really become a physically imposing type. A 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 and become a staple of a 22; the kind of player a coach loves. He projects as a less skilled version of Nick Vlastuin.

Evaluation of his prospects: Nelson looks a safe bet to make the grade and should remain a role player for most of his career. He's a lesser chance than most players picked in the 30s to flop but doesn't seem to have that ceiling that some have either.

46. Jaden McGrath (Vic Country, Classy midfielder/forward)

180 cm, 74 kg, 15/6/96
Range: 30-rookie

A really creative midfielder who can play off a forward flank, McGrath is likely to slide due to his terribly injury effected year. He possesses that really nice speed and endurance combination that allows him to have an impact on the outside and cover the ground well. Despite his rangy frame and small stature, his inside game is still reasonable with a natural read for the tap and fearless mentatility allowing him to win his own ball. With ball in hand he's a composed and creative type. In the right system he really could be a component of a successful 22.

Evaluation of his prospects: I think McGrath is one of those players who if not for injury would be considered much higher, and in a few years will be another player to add to the 'shouldn't have marked him down due to injury' pile. He just looks at home whenever he plays football.

47. Keenan Ramsay (SA - Skilled KP utility)

192 cm, 86 kg, 23/8/96
Range: 35-rookie
Comparison: Alipate Carlile

Keenan Ramsay is a bit of a Brenton Phillips special. Played as a forward for most of his career, Ramsay was made the number one defender for South Australia in the championships and did it really well. While he only has one working eye, it isn't noticeable on the field. In defence he reads the play well and zones off at the right times, while by foot he's very reliable. He works really hard on the field too, always making those second efforts and desperate pressure acts others don't. With his ability to swing forward, Ramsay really does loom as an attractive prospect.

Evaluation of his prospects: Ramsay perhaps doesn't have the dominant aspect of his game that will carry him through, however he's good enough at nearly every aspect of football that he should forge a handy career as a depth KPP at worst.

48. Harrison Wigg (SA, Precision kicking small defender/outside midfielder)

178 cm, 74 kg, 14/10/96
Range: 35-60
Style: Matt Suckling
Comparison: Nick Suban/Sam Colquhoun

Widely considered the best half back of the championships, 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.

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 the taller smalls and he's not incredibly quick so he'll be found out against the speedy forward pocket types. 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.

Evaluation of his prospects: Wigg is someone who needs to end up in the right system. With his skillset he's going to have to bang down the door in a state league to get selected as he does have some real natural limitations. He's going to have to grab his opportunities when given. I can't help but feel he might be a fringe player for a few seasons before being delisted.

49. Daniel Capiron (Vic Country, Consistent defender)

189 cm, 83 kg, 14/6/96
Range: 35-60
Style: Andrew Mackie

Not incredibly flashy, offensively Capiron provides a bit of run with reasonable speed and footskills but he isn't elite in either discipline. He doesn't execute high risk kicks instead favouring safe options however is capable of penetrating kicks on occasion. He's just a reliable player offensively and defensively he's smart, knowing when to zone off and intercept and picking 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. He projects as a long term and effective role player.

Evaluation of his prospects: Capiron has a good enough intercept, defensive and offensive game to maintain a spot in a 22. He's relatively safe bet for a selection this late as most small defenders picked around here are.

50. Aidan Anderson (WA, Exciting small forward)

179 cm, 85 kg, 10/8/96
Range: 40-rookie
Style: Eddie Betts
Comparison: Jamie Elliott

Finding a comparison for Anderson 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. He is the best small forward in the crop and I'll happily bet that he'll kick 150 AFL goals.

Evaluation of his prospects: I really like him. Some of the best small forwards in the comp are found mid-late draft and I think Anderson could be another. He just gets football.

51. Brenden Abbott (WA - Powerful and Athletic utility)

188 cm, 98 kg, 1/1/95
Range: 30-undrafted
Style: Very poor man's Tom Rockliff

Brenden Abbott is a really interesting proposition. Very much a speculative kind of player, he was overlooked in last year's draft. This year he's gone back to the WAFL and really impressed across the ground. He's the kind of player you take hoping you can mold them in an AFL player as he's not one yet. At 188cm and with 95 kilos, mostly muscle, Abbott is a physically imposing bloke. Despite that size, he's incredibly quick off the blocks and has elite agility and strength. His vertical leap is also excellent. Runs a 2.87 second 20 metre sprint. Possesses a powerful and at times penetrating kick but still needs some work, along with his football smarts. He's able to play nearly everywhere on the ground aside from ruck with his athleticism allowing him to play with the ground level game of a small but his size and leap allowing him to play taller when both forward and back. He needs to build a tank as it's lacking at the moment but with his rare mix of athletic traits, hard nosed game and size he could become a really lethal inside midfielder at AFL level.

Evaluation of his prospects: Abbott is a massive risk. Missing out on the '12 draft by one day, he was passed over in '13. He's had some elite games in the WAFL but also some howlers. His mixture of size, athleticism and boot is just too hard to ignore though - barring smarts he has the whole package and if it comes together he could be something special. That said, I think it's very unlikely it does.

52. Touk Miller (Vic Metro, Versatile and skilled inside leaning midfielder)

178 cm, 82 kg, 22/2/96
Range: 20-50
Style: Dion Prestia

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 dominance on 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.

Evaluation of his prospects: Miller's a really handy player and only size is holding him back. I think he's going to be another one of those small players that really makes clubs pay for discriminating against them based on height.

53. Matthew Panos (SANFL, Big bodied inside midfielder/forward)

191 cm, 90 kg, 25/1/91
Range: 40-rookie
Style: David Mundy

Matthew Panos is a really interesting player. Drafted as a key forward and delisted after two seasons, he went back to the SANFL where he excelled as a key forward in 2013. In 2014, he was played for the first time as an inside midfielder and that's where he's built his stocks from. At 191 cm he's the perfect height for a modern day inside midfielder. His big body and natural footballing ability allows him to provide a physical presence on the inside while his clean hands help. While in the midfield he provides an excellent marking option and by foot he excels, making good decisions and executing long and penetrating kicks with ease, really hurting the opposition both inside and out. Despite only having played as a midfielder for one season, he's shown the upside required to instill confidence that he'll continue improving. He's not particularly fast and his endurance is a real issue though and something he's going to need to improve to impact at AFL level on a consistent basis.


54. Blaine Boekhorst (WAFL, Line-breaking outside midfielder)

182 cm, 70 kg, 2/9/93
Range: 25-60
Style: Heath Shaw (when playing midfield)

A 21 year old mature aged player, Boekhorst has been overlooked several times in the draft - likely due to uncertainties over how he'd develop. With his recentmost exceptional WAFL season, plenty of those doubts now no longer exist. Averaging 21 disposals for Swan Districts in 2014, it wasn't the quantity of ball that attracted attention but the damage he did. Boekhorst possesses excellent speed on the outside and has a natural tendency to break the lines and gain territory via running. Not only is his speed excellent but his agility is good too, he's able to evade with relative ease. On the inside Boekhorst possesses a decent burst and has clean hands at ground level, allowing him to be a deceptively good player in clearance situations. Aside from that though, he lacks the physical presence and desire to impact the inside more often; his work there is done via speed and cleanliness as opposed to a hard edge. That said, he still is a better option inside than most line breakers. By foot Boekhorst is solid with his vision and creativity impressive. Like plenty of line breaking midfielders, Boekhorst can be found wanting defensively with his primary intention to find the ball as opposed to check a man. He also still only accumulates 21 disposals a game at WAFL level so while skilled, he's not a serious accumulator at the moment.

55. Mitch McGovern (WAFL, Athletic 3rd tall forward)

191 cm, 82 kg, 11/10/94
Range: 30-rookie
Style: Jeremy McGovern

Overlooked in his draft year and injured in the next, McGovern has impressed when finally able to get on the park. He has a similar game to his brother, Jeremy - with his leaping and read of the ball a particular highlight. He has an exceptional leap which allows him to play above his height and also chop out in the ruck to an okay level. Defensively he works hard, applying pressure and tackling well. By foot McGovern is solid with his distribution and creativity reasonable. He's best suited playing as that roaming third tall running up the ground.


 
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56. Josh Deluca (WA, Fast and Skilled forward/midfielder)


179 cm, 80 kg, 11/5/96
Range: 40-rookie

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. His pace, willingness to break lines and evasion is a particular highlight. 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. He accumulated 20 disposals and a goal in the WAFL grand final which is sure to attract some attention.

Evaluation of his prospects: Another player whose story may be different if not for injury, Deluca looks like he might have the game to be a role player or handy depth at AFL level, maybe even more.

57. Sean McLaren (Vic Metro - Lockdown KPD)

197 cm, 92 kg, 1/10/96
Range: 35-rookie
Comparison: Lachlan Keeffe

Sean McLaren is a raw key defender with some real upside. His athleticism is a real highlight along with his defensive discipline, with his ability to close check and shut down opposition forwards excellent. His acceleration and speed is good, as is his agility. At 197cm and with a good wingspan he doesn't have much issue closing down leads. At ground level he's surprisingly good. He lacks a real intercept game but there's scope for it to develop. Offensively he has very little impact with his involvement in the offensive transition and movement minimal and his footskills shaky. Through the ruck he's proven himself an effective tap with a handy leap however at 197 cm it would be an uphill journey to make it as a genuine ruck, with McLaren only presenting as a chop out option at best when he goes to the next level. Similar to Lachie Keeffe in many ways, he's someone who looks very likely to make it and play 100 games as a key defender.

Evaluation of his prospects: Though he's not incredibly highly rated, I've just got this feeling that McLaren will make it. His athleticism is good enough and with his size he could well be suited to the direction modern key defense is going. His ability to ruck should hold him in good stead.

58. James Rose (SA, Courageous and marking forward)

186 cm, 78 kg, 16/4/96
Range: 40-rookie
Style: Tom T. Lynch
Comparison: Aaron Edwards

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.

Evaluation of his prospects: Rose has the application and dedication to make it. He's a really nice player and a natural footballer. For Rose it's more a question of whether there's a role for him in the league as opposed to whether he's got it in him to make it.

59. Ryan Lim (WA - Hard running utility)

186 cm, 75 kg, 20/3/96
Range: 45-rookie
Style: Jasper Pittard

There's a big divide between draft followers about Ryan Lim's kicking. Some have labelled it 'elite' and others have claimed it might be the one thing holding him back from making it in the AFL. I sit in the middle. Lim is capable of playing forward, back or through the middle, with half back and on the ball his two best position. Lim is a courageous battler of a player, with his desire to dive in and win his own ball a highlight. That said, he's not an incredible natural inside player. On the outside he's also capable, with his ability to find the football and link up a highlight. His run and carry is a particular highlight and what I'd be looking to develop and foster further at AFL level. By foot he's capable of executing really difficult kicks but also shanks more kicks than nearly anyone in the draft. If that inconsistency can be ironed out he shapes as a very attractive proposition.

Evaluation of his prospects: He's been very consistent in his inconsistency this year, it's just a matter of whether his good or bad is a more accurate reflection of his game. He's got more potential to make it than most players around here in my eyes.

60. Tyler Keitel (WA, KP utility)

194 cm, 88 kg, 7/2/96
Range: 35-70
Comparison: Mitch W. Brown

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 - he just seems to lack an elite trait and I've found players who are just solid players across the board don't seem to make it. His hands are clean and his ability at ground level is 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.

Evaluation of his prospects: Keitel's junior career has been a mixture of promise, potential and disappointment. He doesn't seem to have the physicality in his play that most key position players do, and he hasn't imposed himself like you'd want. I can't see him making the grade - he just lacks any defining qualities.


OTHER PROFILES:



Jack Hiscox - Academy (NSW, Hard running midfielder)

186 cm, 76 kg, 23/3/95
Range: Pick 38
Style: Brad Hill

Having been nominated as an academy selection by the Swans, it was a major surprise to see Fremantle bid pick 31 for Hiscox, and just as much a surprise to see Sydney match it. There must be something about him I'm missing as I just can't see it. Hiscox runs a 16.1 beep test and broke the record for the 3 km time trial with a 9 minute, 18 second run but barring that there's just not much to his game. He's capable of dropping forward and kicking a goal off a wing and he has an okay kick with some penetration at times but at the moment he's very much a high level endurance athlete with a reasonable sprint. There's not much more to him. Despite being a year older than his fellow juniors he failed to really impose himself which, with an age advantage, he'd have wanted to.

Evaluation of his prospects: What I've seen hasn't sold me. I'd have wanted more out of him with his year of extra age. That said, clearly Sydney have seen something and outside players are traditionally hit and miss. It'd be nice to have another exciting wingman running around at the highest level so I'm rooting for him but I personally can't see it happening.

Lukas Webb (Vic Country, Balanced utility)

186 cm, 80 kg, 3/4/96
Range: 25-45
Comparison: Brodie Murdoch

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 particular 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.

Evaluation of his prospects: He's looked good this year but unfortunately I don't see the ceiling in his game. I reckon at best he'd be a handy role player/utility but quite simply is a good shot at not making it.

Jack Lonie (Vic Country, Exciting small forward)

174 cm, 69 kg, 13/8/96
Range: 40-60
Style: Hayden Ballantyne

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.

Evaluation of his prospects: Lonie has a lot of fans and it's not hard to understand why. He's exciting. However at his size I don't think he's actually that elite in many areas and can't see what he'd do at AFL level to maintain his spot as a small forward. If only he had another four inches, I just can't see it in him though. Seems like the typical state league superstar unfortunately.

Billy Evans (Vic Country, Big bodied midfielder/forward)

189 cm, 87 kg, 19/10/96
Range: Top 60
Style: Josh P. Kennedy
Comparison: Jarrad Jansen

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.

Evaluation of his prospects: Evans has the size, frame and physical side to make it as a bullocking inside mid. However right now he's raw - like most big bodied midfielders are. He's going to take time and there's a good chance he won't make it - but he could well be a great player if he does - the development of these types is often very had to predict.

Tom Wilkinson (Vic Metro - High endurance midfielder)

182 cm, 78 kg, 3/7/96
Range: 45-rookie
Style: Andrew Gaff

Tom Wilkinson has a lot of fans and it's not hard to understand why. Quite possibly the highest level endurance athlete in the crop. He finds the ball on the outside and utilises his endurance to accumulate like crazy which has led to his statistical domination of the TAC cup. His finals performances were excellent and should solidify him as an AFL player next year. He also possesses a nice burst and strong hands overhead. Despite all his qualities there's a reason he's not higher on draft boards. He's just a bit one dimensional with his kicking mediocre at best and his hurt factor at times low. He deserves to be a bit higher but it's understandable why he's likely a later selection.

Evaluation of his prospects: Wilkinson has enough game to make the grade but as a primarily outside player at this range in the draft it's always going to be tough. He seems to have the desire and application to get the best of himself so he's going to give himself every opportunity.

Nathan Drummond (Vic Country, Explosive utility)

182 cm, 84 kg, 19/1/95
Range: 35-rookie
Style: Courtenay Dempsey

After being overlooked last year, Drummond has gone back to the TAC cup and banged the door down. Despite being a year or two older than his fellow players in the crop, he's shown ability that can't just be explained by being older. He's a true athlete with his speed and leap exceptional and a big body to go with it. He's a dynamic and energetic player, with his inside game sound and his outside game solid. His kicking isn't exceptional but it suffices. He absolutely destroyed the combine.

Evaluation of his prospects: He is a bit of an athlete over a footballer but there is a place for players like that in this game. If his combine results are anything to go by, if he doesn't make it it'll be due to footy smarts, not anything else.

Daniel Howe (Vic Country, Athletic Defender)

192 cm, 85 kg, 12/4/95
Range: 35-rookie

An overaged utility, Dan Howe impressed in the under 18 championships with some really composed performances off half back. His overhead skills are excellent, with his marking often well above his height and his rebounding and ball use impressive. He rebounds with both run and effective footskills, with his running considered and effective. He persists hard after disposal to link up and receive again. One on one he's an effective stopper and in general is disciplined and effective in negating his opponent. As a mature aged player he could well impact the AFL in 2015. His versatility is another highlight, capable of playing with a defensive mindset in defense or an offensive one - but also able to play as an attacking wingman or forward.

Josh Glenn (SA, Smooth yet tough utility)

180 cm, 78 kg, 10/3/94
Range: 45-rookie
Style: Luke Hodge

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 type except he's also an exceptional kick and outside option too.

Evaluation of his prospects: After a relatively poor combine I think Glenn's stocks are falling. He really struggled in the sprint and at SANFL level he looked like he had real speed. It's a tough one as he is a mature player but he's not testing like one. I think he mightn't be as sure a bet as first thought.

Daniel Nielson (Vic Metro, Shutdown KPD)

194 cm, 92 kg, 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.

Evaluation of his prospects: At his height as a key defender he's going to have a small hill to climb especially with his lack of standout traits. That said there has and always will be a place for the undersized key back in our game if they've got the work rate and athleticism and Nielson looks to have some of that. It'll be a tough one but in the right system he might make it.

Oleg Markov (SA - Athletic midfielder)

187 cm, 73 kg, 8/5/96
Range: 50-rookie
Comparison: Dean Towers

Oleg Markov is one of the bigger risk/reward prospects in the draft. Possessing a rare speed, endurance and leap combination, Markov shapes as a player who'll grab attention at the combine. His father is the Australian outdoor pole vault record holder - so athleticism is in the blood. Despite having a year ruined by injury, Markov still secured a national combine invite. By foot he is reliable but not incredibly damaging yet, and he's got an ability to play forward to a reasonable level. Coupled with his athletic gifts and height he looms as an interesting prospect for clubs. The knock on him is his lack of production - even in the SANFL under 18s Markov rarely features in the bests, generally accumulating between 10 and 20 disposals. Despite his pace, he doesn't have a natural tendency to break lines. He shares a bit in common with former draft prospect Laine Wilkins - who was overlooked. The peak for Markov is a Will Hoskin-Elliot kind of role, while I think Dean Towers is more of an apt comparison.

Evaluation of his prospects: Markov is quite simply very unlikely to make it. Outside players are hit and miss and someone with Markov's record is about as risky as it gets. He hasn't performed as a junior, quite simply. That said, his upside is just irresistable - if he does make it he'll be a vital cog in a side. Big risk though.

Ed Langdon (Vic Metro - Creative small forward)

181 cm, 74 kg, 2/1/96
Range: 35-rookie
Style: Alan Didak

Ed Langdon shapes up as another one of those small forwards found late in drafts who go on to become AFL standard role players. He's a quick thinking and creative half forward who knows where to position himself and pops up for goals regularly. He's quick and agile with some real skill and creativity by foot who even if he's not kicking goals is working hard to set them up, often finding options others wouldn't have seen. He's just a smart footballer and has the right bloodline, with brother Tom also an AFL footballer.

Evaluation of his prospects: Small forwards are great investments late draft and there's a real chance Langdon makes it. However through a mixture of injury and inconsistency he is this late for a reason.

Jason Castagna (Vic Metro, Line breaking small defender)

182 cm, 78 kg, 12/6/96
Range: 50-rookie
Style: Heath Shaw
Comparison: Jason Johanissen

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.

Evaluation of his prospects: With Castagna's pace and tendency to run, carry and break the lines, it's a matter of whether Castagna can improve his kicking to an acceptable level. If he can, he could just be a really handy small back/wingman. If not, he'll be too much of a liability.

Clem Smith (WA, Ferocious and versatile small defender)

177 cm, 78 kg, 3/2/96
Range: 30-70
Style: Byron Pickett
Comparison: Neville Jetta

Clem Smith does a lot wrong, so it'd be best to start with that. He'd battle with Mitch Robinson for being the most care free and reckless player around. No player 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 plenty of weeks across his career. This is unlikely to change - extreme physicality is what defines Smith, and unfortunately that definition is beginning to hurt him with many considering it, and by extension him, a real liability. His kicking is also something that people are going cold on. Some describe him as a terrible kick but they're wrong. His kicking is no different to the rest of his game - it's physical and hard. Clem struggles to execute simple and 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.

Over longer distances when he can really kick through the ball Clem is actually quite a reasonable kick. His long kicking technically is very solid and he achieves some real penetration. 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. It'll be frustrating when he gives away a high tackle free 15 metres 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. I'm confident Smith will find a role at AFL level and make the grade. His speed and tenacity give him some real scope to be an elite shutdown defender, while his tendency to attack should at least give him some scope to contribute offensively. Forward he's shown some aptitude and could potentially be utilised as a high pressure small forward in a similar way to Paul Puopolo. As for a comparison, Smith plays football a bit like Byron Pickett but he also reminds me a little of David Wirrpanda aside from with ball in hand. Neville Jetta is probably the most applicable current day player.

Evaluation of his prospects: Clem has the game to make it at this level however his application must lift. His beep test at the combine was borderline offensive for a player who's had the support and system around him for so long. If he can lift his application he'll find a niche at AFL level provided clubs can tolerate his occasional ill discipline.
 
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Abiana Davis - Academy (NSW, Intelligent KP utility)

192 cm, 98 kg, 27/1/96
Range: Pick 76
Comparison: Tim O'Brien

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 normally a one grab player who tries to take the ball around it's highest point and one on one he's capable of winning some battles through a good real of the flight. 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 from a late draft KPP that's really a win.

Evaluation of his prospects: Abiana is a really intriguing player. There's something about him that really piques my interest but when watching him I can't see that much. KPPs this late are very speculative and Abiana is no different. If he's to make it it'll be as a 2nd or more likely third tall - but there's still a lot of work to be done and water to go under the bridge.

Jordan Cunico (Vic Country, Outside midfielder/forward)


185 cm, 74 kg, 7/5/96
Range: 40-rookie
Style: Lachie Whitfield

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.

Evaluation of his prospects: Cunico has a lot to work with and while if he makes it he'll really impress I don't think he will. The reward is worth it but there's just so much he needs to work on to get to the standard. Outside players in general are hit and miss - ones this late even more so.

Josh Clayton - Father/Son (Vic Metro, Tall midfielder)

190 cm, 82 kg, 17/1/96
Range: Brisbane's Last Pick

Josh Clayton is expected to be nominated by Brisbane as a Father/Son selection. A midfielder who's spent time forward in a lead up/third tall role, Clayton's future at AFL level would likely be as a tall midfielder. In the middle he's a consistent and reliable player who performs his role. However he lacks a standout attribute, he's not quick or damaging by foot, he's not a powerful body or defensively elite and his marking is okay. He's someone Brisbane likely think that they can mold into a role player, and with his height and consistency across all attributes they may be right.

Evaluation of his prospects: Not sure I see it in him, doesn't really look to have anything truly elite in his game and just has a nice size. I don't think he'll make it.

Marc Pittonet (Vic Metro - Skilled tap ruckman)


201 cm, 106 kg, 6/3/96
Range: 40-rookie

Marc Pittonet is probably the best pure ruck prospect in the crop. He's flown under the radar a bit and I don't really know why. He's a talented tap ruckman with a basketball background, who relishes the physical side of ruckwork and has that mongrel you want from a ruckman. His awareness and vision is top notch for a ruck and his cleanness at ground level is a highlight. He isn't a huge marking threat nor does he project as an option forward however in many other regards Pittonet really does have it going for him. With a few years of development in the right system he could conceivably make it as an AFL ruckman.

Evaluation of his prospects: Any ruckman picked this late is speculative and Pittonet is no exception. He needs time but plenty of rucks picked late draft or in the rookie make the grade. It's just a wait and see thing with him.

Mac Bower (SA - Classy utility)

189 cm, 81 kg, 27/1/96
Range: Rookie-undrafted
Style: Matthew Scharenberg

Mac Bower was someone who was considered one of the better prospects in the draft earlier in the season, but an indifferent 2014 has seen him fall away. Having kicked some real bags in the SANFL reserves in 2013, he spent most of his game time in 2014 playing in defence. Capable of playing that third tall role, he's a really smart kind of player who zones off and intercepts well while also making really smart decisions with ball in hand and setting up the play. When forward his leading patterns are very sound which allows him to pose a real threat. With Bower the issue seems to be confidence more than anything else so hopefully in the right system he can make it, as on talent alone he's one of the better players in the crop. His smarts are just rare.

Francis Watson (WA - Creative defender)

187 cm, 77 kg, 29/9/95
Range: 50-undrafted
Comparison: Sean Lemmens

Francis Watson is an entertaining indigenous back pocket from WA. An overaged player, Watson played in the championships this season and impressed with his attacking yet accountable brand of football. He's very raw and projects as a very long term project for a small but the foundation is there. Below the knees he's solid and he's pacey and evasive - like many wirey indigenous smalls. Overhead he's confident and solid too. He's capable of playing forward too but it's down back where he looks best. With his athletic ability and height he's capable of manning up on a variety of smalls. He's very raw and still has a lot to learn but as a late ND-rookie pick he could be a bargain for a club willing to invest into him.

Nick Jackson (QLD, rebounding key defender)

195 cm, 86 kg, 16/12/95
Range: Rookie-undrafted
Style: Brian Lake
Comparison: Michael Talia

Nick Jackson is a really likable player who does deserve a shot despite being passed over as an academy selection by the Lions. Despite being eligible in 2013, he only scraped in by 2 weeks and as a key defender and with how they develop it'd be a surprise to have seen him drafted anyway, he wouldn't have been ready. Given he's only two or three weeks older than Petracca his age really shouldn't matter. He's still a bit of a project but he's got some real game with his intercepting and distributing ability excellent. By foot he can be shaky and favour the long bomb but there's some scope for improvement. Defensively he's not the complete product but has the size to work with and perhaps make it as a second or third defender. At this stage he's definitely an attacking and distributing defender, not a lock down one.

Evaluation of his prospects: I'm not sure he has the defensive game to hold up at AFL level. His offensive game is exciting enough for me to hope he does and it's good enough to convince a club to punt on him as offensively skilled key backs are gold but he'd be starting off with a mountain to climb at AFL level.

Harry Dear (Vic Metro - Athletic KPF/Ruck)

197 cm, 98 kg, 18/8/96
Range: 60-rookie
Comparison: Charlie Dixon

Harry Dear is a big key forward and second ruck who's aligned to the Hawks via the father-son system. Despite his above average bulk for a junior key forward, Dear very much is a long term prospect. He's a great shot for goal and his field kicking is handy. His marking is a highlight with his grabs clean and his contested marking ability sound. He also possesses some real athleticism despite his size. Through the ruck he's shown some ability and should be at worst a good chop out option. While his results this year haven't been great - that's indicative of where he is on his development curve, not his potential. While he's not the smartest with leading patterns, his rare mix of athleticism and contested marking makes him an attractive prospect and someoene who really could be relevant with a few years in the system.

Evaluation of his prospects: I'm not sure why Hawthorn passed on him to be honest. He's raw but he's shown enough flashes to indicate he might just have a future. At this range every pick is speculative and Dear has shown the upside to indicate he's at least worth a try.

Teia Miles (Vic Country - Courageous inside midfielder/defender)

180 cm, 68 kg, 2/11/96
Range: 50-rookie
Comparison: Luke Ball

Teia Miles is quite simply underrated. A tough and talented inside midfielder who can also play back, Miles has missed out on a bit of attention by virtue of his small stature. That lack of size will hinder him as an inside midfielder but with his talent it's easily something he can work around. He's hard as nails and loves the inside of a contest, with his courage and desperation a highlight. He very much likes to distribute instead of create his own opportunities but makes the right decisions often. In defense he's accountable and reliable. With handy bloodlines, Miles shapes up as a reliable player for whoever selects him.

Evaluation of his prospects: Size could be an issue but heart isn't for Miles. I hope he makes it but there's a reason he's this late - it'll always be a tough ask. At worst he should be a dominant state league player though.

Jake Maher (Vic Country - Hard running wingman)

189 cm, 87 kg, 5/10/96
Range: 60-undrafted
Comparison: Andrew Embley

Looking at Jake Maher's height and weight, you'd think he was a big bodied on baller. That's not the case however, with his best work done along the wings and across have forward. A high endurance midfielder, Maher functions well as a link up option with his tendency to work into space and take uncontested marks and ability to accumulate and provide an option a highlight. With ball in hand he's a bit shaky and panics a bit under pressure. When not under pressure he's okay but not highly damaging with the occasional habit of trying to be too creative. He's capable of winning his own ball too. Maher reminds me a lot of Andrew Embley, with his dimensions similar coupled with a similar style and mentality on the field. An Embley kind of role would be Maher's ceiling but Maher at the moment doesn't possess the same hurt factor.

Evaluation of his prospects: Another injury ruined season - with his big body Maher will be given opportunities. That said the upside doesn't look incredibly high but he still looks an okay bet this late.

Jesse Watchman (SA - Powerful KP UTIL)

197 cm, 94 kg, 28/1/96
Range: Late rookie-undrafted
Comparison: Josh Walker

Jesse Watchman is a really interesting proposition. Having battled with weight issues as a child, he's now slimmed down a bit and is at a more AFL ready weight. That said, having been physically dominant due to his size and weight throughout his whole career, it's only recently we're seeing what Jesse can do when he's not the biggest bloke on the field. His leading patterns are a bit erratic at times but normally effective. He likes to dominate and really attacks the ball hard with his one on one game a particular highlight. That said below the knees he struggles. He's capable of chopping out in the ruck and he's played back to a high standard. Jesse has struggled with discipline and behaviour off field which is something he'll need to address.

Logan Austin (NSW - Athletic KPD)

196cm, 88kg, 7/8/96
Range: Rookie-undrafted
Style: Dustin Fletcher
Comparison: Lachie Plowman

The cousin of St Kilda player Sean Dempster, Logan Austin is an athletic utility who's found a home in defence. Aligned to the GWS academy, he's slid under the radar but his talent is undoubted. He possesses a really natural read of the game and has an excellent intercept game. He also picks the right times to zone off his opponent. At 196cm his athleticism is excellent and by foot he's reliable. He has a natural tendency to attack the play. When forward he's capable of kicking goals and has spent time through the middle too. A hard worker, Austin is someone who's going to work to get the best out of himself and having claimed victims like Nick Salter and Tom Boyd this year, his continual improvement should see him drafted. He reminds me a bit of Dustin Fletcher in the way he plays, but he's also similar to fellow draft prospect Jake Lever in many ways.

Brenton Payne (Vic Metro - Athletic 3rd tall FWD)

193 cm, 80 kg, 9/3/96
Range: 50-rookie
Style: Josh Jenkins

Despite being 193cm and a forward, I don't really think Brenton Payne is a key forward. Then again, I don't think Josh Jenkins is a key forward either. Payne actually shares a lot in common with Jenkins, with his unique mix of height and athleticism, positioning, ground level ability and tendency for the out the back special all like Jenkins. Payne is a high level endurance athlete and has a tendency for some real x-factor moments too. In defence he's shown some ability to create off half back and lock down on an opponent. I think his size and skillset might be more suited to playing centre half back as opposed to as the third tall in a forward line. The knock on Payne is his lack of physical dominance and his tendency to not take marks cleanly.

Billy Frampton (WA - Athletic RUCK)

199 cm, 85 kg, 20/11/96
Range: 60-undrafted
Comparison: Jordan Roughead

Frampton looms as a real project player but one with the foundation to perhaps be a steal late in the draft. Played as a ruckman during the champs for WA, he performed well but given his lean frame and slightly below average height he rarely dominated. His follow up and link up work were also okay. With ball in hand he's reliable. The appeal with Frampton is that he seems to possess a skillset that might be conducive to playing as a key defender. We've seen the success clubs have with turning the big rucks/forwards who can't really find a niche into key defenders, and if there's one of them in this crop it's Frampton. If he could make the transition at 199cm and with his speed he'd be a player who could cover most key forwards. It'd be a long term project but I expect a club to take the punt and try it.

Matt Goodyear (Vic Metro - Accumulating MID)

186 cm, 80 kg, 20/7/96
Range: 40-undrafted

Matt Goodyear's a prolific accumulating midfielder with a real defensive mindset. Offensively he's gifted at finding the ball but doesn't possess much skill by foot and is prone to poor decisions. While he's capable of winning his own ball he favours the outside at the moment however he doesn't excel enough at either element to really impose himself on draft boards. Defensively he's a strong and hard working tackler who's also accountable for his direct opponent. He's got a real burst to his game to create space upon winning the ball. If Goodyear is to make it he needs to improve his potency by foot or transition into more of a clinical inside midfielder. He'll need time if he is to make it.

Dan Butler (Vic Country - Line breaking MID/FWD)

182 cm, 78 kg, 6/3/96
Range: 60-rookie

Dan Butler's an exciting midfielder who can play forward to a high level. His pace is a highlight as is his ability to find space and pop up in the right spots. The defensive side of his game is where he excels, with his tackling and accountability a highlight. He just works really hard and inflicts some real physical pressure on the opposition. While he's received a lot of attention this year, I don't feel he's someone who'd make it at AFL level, he just seems to be a bit vanilla and lack consistent strengths and points of difference.

Dylan Winton (WA, Utility)

191cm, 86kg, 27/7/96
Range: Rookie-undrafted
Style: Matthew Scharenberg/Lynden Dunn

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.

Jake Johansen (SA, MID/FWD)

171cm, 63kg, 13/6/96
Range: Rookie-undrafted
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.

Jack Cripps (WA - Smart leading KPF)

196 cm, 86 kg, 20/1/96
Range: 35-rookie
Style: Liam Jones
Comparison: Jack Fitzpatrick

Jack Cripps is a lanky and raw key forward. He's shown signs of being able to perform the second ruck role to a reasonable level and with continued development could find a niche in a side as that chop out option. At this stage he's very much a leading forward with his acceleration enough to create separation and his wingspan coupled with his tendency to take the ball at a high point enough to make him a threat. His leading patterns are generally sound. Despite his size he offers no contested marking threat and has yet to dominate games. At this stage Cripps is a one dimensional player however with his skill set there is scope for further development and could conceivably see him make it as a low level second forward. He shares similarities with Jack Fitzpatrick in many regards - perhaps a little less athletic and a little smarter when forward, however.

Evaluation of his prospects: Normally the top tier KPFs are found early draft with the late ones often busts. Cripps looks to be no exception - while he's a nice player at junior level I don't believe he has the game to ever be more than a Liam Jones at AFL level, likely worse.
 
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Mac Bower (SA - Classy utility)


190 cm, 80 kg, 27/1/96
Range: 40-rookie
Style: Matthew Scharenberg

Mac Bower was someone who was considered one of the better prospects in the draft earlier in the season, but an indifferent 2014 has seen him fall away. Having kicked some real bags in the SANFL reserves in 2013, he spent most of his game time in 2014 playing in defence. Capable of playing that third tall role, he's a really smart kind of player who zones off and intercepts well while also making really smart decisions with ball in hand and setting up the play. When forward his leading patterns are very sound which allows him to pose a real threat. With Bower the issue seems to be confidence more than anything else so hopefully in the right system he can make it, as on talent alone he's one of the better players in the crop. His smarts are just rare.

Francis Watson (WA - Creative defender)

186 cm, 76 kg, 29/9/95
Range: 60-undrafted
Comparison: Sean Lemmens

Francis Watson is an entertaining indigenous back pocket from WA. An overaged player, Watson played in the championships this season and impressed with his attacking yet accountable brand of football. He's very raw and projects as a very long term project for a small but the foundation is there. Below the knees he's solid and he's pacey and evasive - like many wirey indigenous smalls. Overhead he's confident and solid too. He's capable of playing forward too but it's down back where he looks best. With his athletic ability and height he's capable of manning up on a variety of smalls. He's very raw and still has a lot to learn but as a late ND-rookie pick he could be a bargain for a club willing to invest into him.

Nick Jackson (QLD, rebounding key defender)
195 cm, 86 kg, 16/12/95
Range: 50-undrafted
Style: Brian Lake
Comparison: Michael Talia

Nick Jackson is a really likable player who does deserve a shot despite being passed over as an academy selection by the Lions. Despite being eligible in 2013, he only scraped in by 2 weeks and as a key defender and with how they develop it'd be a surprise to have seen him drafted anyway, he wouldn't have been ready. Given he's only two or three weeks older than Petracca his age really shouldn't matter. He's still a bit of a project but he's got some real game with his intercepting and distributing ability excellent. By foot he can be shaky and favour the long bomb but there's some scope for improvement. Defensively he's not the complete product but has the size to work with and perhaps make it as a second or third defender. At this stage he's definitely an attacking and distributing defender, not a lock down one.

Evaluation of his prospects: I'm not sure he has the defensive game to hold up at AFL level. His offensive game is exciting enough for me to hope he does and it's good enough to convince a club to punt on him as offensively skilled key backs are gold but he'd be starting off with a mountain to climb at AFL level.

Harry Dear (Vic Metro - Athletic KPF/Ruck)

197 cm, 98 kg, 18/8/96
Range: Hawthorn 3rd-4th
Comparison: Charlie Dixon

Harry Dear is a big key forward and second ruck who's aligned to the Hawks via the father-son system. Despite his above average bulk for a junior key forward, Dear very much is a long term prospect. He's a great shot for goal and his field kicking is handy. His marking is a highlight with his grabs clean and his contested marking ability sound. He also possesses some real athleticism despite his size. Through the ruck he's shown some ability and should be at worst a good chop out option. While his results this year haven't been great - that's indicative of where he is on his development curve, not his potential. While he's not the smartest with leading patterns, his rare mix of athleticism and contested marking makes him an attractive prospect and someoene who really could be relevant with a few years in the system.

Evaluation of his prospects: I'm not sure why Hawthorn passed on him to be honest. He's raw but he's shown enough flashes to indicate he might just have a future. At this range every pick is speculative and Dear has shown the upside to indicate he's at least worth a try.

Teia Miles (Vic Country - Courageous inside midfielder/defender)

179 cm, 68 kg, 2/11/96
Range: 50-rookie
Comparison: Luke Ball

Teia Miles is quite simply underrated. A tough and talented inside midfielder who can also play back, Miles has missed out on a bit of attention by virtue of his small stature. That lack of size will hinder him as an inside midfielder but with his talent it's easily something he can work around. He's hard as nails and loves the inside of a contest, with his courage and desperation a highlight. He very much likes to distribute instead of create his own opportunities but makes the right decisions often. In defense he's accountable and reliable. With handy bloodlines, Miles shapes up as a reliable player for whoever selects him.

Evaluation of his prospects: Size could be an issue but heart isn't for Miles. I hope he makes it but there's a reason he's this late - it'll always be a tough ask. At worst he should be a dominant state league player though.

Jake Maher (Vic Country - Hard running wingman)

189 cm, 87 kg, 5/10/96
Range: 45-undrafted
Comparison: Andrew Embley

Looking at Jake Maher's height and weight, you'd think he was a big bodied on baller. That's not the case however, with his best work done along the wings and across have forward. A high endurance midfielder, Maher functions well as a link up option with his tendency to work into space and take uncontested marks and ability to accumulate and provide an option a highlight. With ball in hand he's a bit shaky and panics a bit under pressure. When not under pressure he's okay but not highly damaging with the occasional habit of trying to be too creative. He's capable of winning his own ball too. Maher reminds me a lot of Andrew Embley, with his dimensions similar coupled with a similar style and mentality on the field. An Embley kind of role would be Maher's ceiling but Maher at the moment doesn't possess the same hurt factor.

Evaluation of his prospects: Another injury ruined season - with his big body Maher will be given opportunities. That said the upside doesn't look incredibly high but he still looks an okay bet this late.

Jordan Cunico (Vic Country, Outside midfielder/forward)

184cm, 72kg, 7/5/96
Range: Top 60
Style: Lachie Whitfield

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.

Evaluation of his prospects: Cunico has a lot to work with and while if he makes it he'll really impress I don't think he will. The reward is worth it but there's just so much he needs to work on to get to the standard. Outside players in general are hit and miss - ones this late even more so.

Jesse Watchman (SA - Powerful KP UTILITY)

197 cm, 94 kg, 28/1/96
Range: 40-rookie
Comparison: Josh Walker

Jesse Watchman is a really interesting proposition. Having battled with weight issues as a child, he's now slimmed down a bit and is at a more AFL ready weight. That said, having been physically dominant due to his size and weight throughout his whole career, it's only recently we're seeing what Jesse can do when he's not the biggest bloke on the field. His leading patterns are a bit erratic at times but normally effective. He likes to dominate and really attacks the ball hard with his one on one game a particular highlight. That said below the knees he struggles. He's capable of chopping out in the ruck and he's played back to a high standard. Jesse has struggled with discipline and behaviour off field which is something he'll need to address.

Logan Austin (NSW - Athletic KPD)

196cm, 88kg, 7/8/96
Range: 50-rookie
Style: Dustin Fletcher
Comparison: Lachie Plowman

The cousin of St Kilda player Sean Dempster, Logan Austin is an athletic utility who's found a home in defence. Aligned to the GWS academy, he's slid under the radar but his talent is undoubted. He possesses a really natural read of the game and has an excellent intercept game. He also picks the right times to zone off his opponent. At 196cm his athleticism is excellent and by foot he's reliable. He has a natural tendency to attack the play. When forward he's capable of kicking goals and has spent time through the middle too. A hard worker, Austin is someone who's going to work to get the best out of himself and having claimed victims like Nick Salter and Tom Boyd this year, his continual improvement should see him drafted. He reminds me a bit of Dustin Fletcher in the way he plays, but he's also similar to fellow draft prospect Jake Lever in many ways.

Brenton Payne (Vic Metro - Athletic 3rd tall FWD)

193 cm, 76 kg, 9/3/96
Range: 50-undrafted
Style: Josh Jenkins

Despite being 193cm and a forward, I don't really think Brenton Payne is a key forward. Then again, I don't think Josh Jenkins is a key forward either. Payne actually shares a lot in common with Jenkins, with his unique mix of height and athleticism, positioning, ground level ability and tendency for the out the back special all like Jenkins. Payne is a high level endurance athlete and has a tendency for some real x-factor moments too. In defence he's shown some ability to create off half back and lock down on an opponent. I think his size and skillset might be more suited to playing centre half back as opposed to as the third tall in a forward line. The knock on Payne is his lack of physical dominance and his tendency to not take marks cleanly.

Billy Frampton (WA - Athletic RUCK)

199 cm, 85 kg, 20/11/96
Range: 60-undrafted
Comparison: Jordan Roughead

Frampton looms as a real project player but one with the foundation to perhaps be a steal late in the draft. Played as a ruckman during the champs for WA, he performed well but given his lean frame and slightly below average height he rarely dominated. His follow up and link up work were also okay. With ball in hand he's reliable. The appeal with Frampton is that he seems to possess a skillset that might be conducive to playing as a key defender. We've seen the success clubs have with turning the big rucks/forwards who can't really find a niche into key defenders, and if there's one of them in this crop it's Frampton. If he could make the transition at 199cm and with his speed he'd be a player who could cover most key forwards. It'd be a long term project but I expect a club to take the punt and try it.

Matt Goodyear (Vic Metro - Accumulating MID)

185 cm, 77 kg, 20/7/96
Range: 50-undrafted

Matt Goodyear's a prolific accumulating midfielder with a real defensive mindset. Offensively he's gifted at finding the ball but doesn't possess much skill by foot and is prone to poor decisions. While he's capable of winning his own ball he favours the outside at the moment however he doesn't excel enough at either element to really impose himself on draft boards. Defensively he's a strong and hard working tackler who's also accountable for his direct opponent. He's got a real burst to his game to create space upon winning the ball. If Goodyear is to make it he needs to improve his potency by foot or transition into more of a clinical inside midfielder. He'll need time if he is to make it.

Dan Butler (Vic Country - Line breaking MID/FWD)

181 cm, 78 kg, 6/3/96
Range: 60-rookie

Dan Butler's an exciting midfielder who can play forward to a high level. His pace is a highlight as is his ability to find space and pop up in the right spots. The defensive side of his game is where he excels, with his tackling and accountability a highlight. He just works really hard and inflicts some real physical pressure on the opposition. While he's received a lot of attention this year, I don't feel he's someone who'd make it at AFL level, he just seems to be a bit vanilla and lack consistent strengths and points of difference.

Dylan Winton (WA, Utility)

191cm, 86kg, 27/7/96
Range: 30-rookie
Style: Matthew Scharenberg/Lynden Dunn

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.

Jake Johansen (SA, MID/FWD)

171cm, 63kg, 13/6/96
Range: 50-rookie
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.

Jack Cripps (WA - Smart leading KPF)

198 cm, 85 kg, 20/1/96
Range: 35-rookie
Style: Liam Jones
Comparison: Jack Fitzpatrick

Jack Cripps is a lanky and raw key forward. He's shown signs of being able to perform the second ruck role to a reasonable level and with continued development could find a niche in a side as that chop out option. At this stage he's very much a leading forward with his acceleration enough to create separation and his wingspan coupled with his tendency to take the ball at a high point enough to make him a threat. His leading patterns are generally sound. Despite his size he offers no contested marking threat and has yet to dominate games. At this stage Cripps is a one dimensional player however with his skill set there is scope for further development and could conceivably see him make it as a low level second forward. He shares similarities with Jack Fitzpatrick in many regards - perhaps a little less athletic and a little smarter when forward, however.

Evaluation of his prospects: Normally the top tier KPFs are found early draft with the late ones often busts. Cripps looks to be no exception - while he's a nice player at junior level I don't believe he has the game to ever be more than a Liam Jones at AFL level, likely worse.

Matthew Hammelmann (QLD, Intelligent KP utility)

198 cm, 88 kg, 8/3/96
Range: Brisbane 2nd/3rd
Comparison: Tom J. Lynch/Josh Jenkins

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. He takes the ball at the highest point and straight lines through it. His follow up work is excellent with his agility, movement and pickups at ground level a particular highlight. Below the knees he's very capable with his marking down low and mobility as well as a general cleanness a highlight. His vision is also excellent for a bloke of his size.

Hammelmann lacks a contested marking presence. Despite his size he doesn't really crash packs and while he reads the ball well, he lacks a real desire to impact the contest. He lacks a physical edge to his game and doesn't intimidate an opponent. By foot he's shaky at times and his set shot goalkicking leaves a lot to be desired. As a player he reminds me a lot of Tom Lynch from the Gold Coast except without the contested marking game and perhaps a smarter leading game. Josh Jenkins is another comparison that makes sense with both avoiding contests if at all possible and having some real agility and smarts at times.

Evaluation of his prospects: I think Hammelmann has a real shot at making the grade. If he fails as a forward he's got the game as a defender to be handy depth. As a forward though he has the smarts, size and wingspan to be a really handy second forward.
 
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theGav56

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Terrific read, and I enjoyed your thoughts on Fremantle's 1st round pick. If we ended up with de Goey, Keitel and Marchbank as options I would be pretty happy with that. We have a bit of depth in the midfield so not sure I would go with your choice, with MacPharlin clearly having some issues, and Keitel being a good size to compliment Apeness and/or Taberner.
 
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TheLastEmperor

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Nice write up mate I enjoyed the read. I reckon Jackson Nelson is a Wells pick at Geelong's first selection. If avail I'd love the Saints to have a look at our second pick.

Ps: you've got Goddard listed twice in your power rankings. Cheers.
 

TheLastEmperor

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Nice write up mate I enjoyed the read. I reckon Jackson Nelson is a Wells pick at Geelong's first selection. If avail I'd love the Saints to have a look at our second pick.

Ps: you've got Goddard listed twice in your power rankings. Cheers.
 
May 19, 2009
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Nice write up mate I enjoyed the read. I reckon Jackson Nelson is a Wells pick at Geelong's first selection. If avail I'd love the Saints to have a look at our second pick.

Ps: you've got Goddard listed twice in your power rankings. Cheers.

Cheers, #13 was meant to be Blakely. And yeah, definitely agree. Wouldn't be surprised at all to see Geelong pick up Nelson.
 

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Billy Puller

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Wow you rate Hammelman very high. Should be a steal if we can get him with our 3rd. Do you expect him to be bid on by a club earlier therefore forcing us to use a second round pick?
 
May 19, 2009
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Wow you rate Hammelman very high. Should be a steal if we can get him with our 3rd. Do you expect him to be bid on by a club earlier therefore forcing us to use a second round pick?

Yeah I really like him. Sometimes it's pretty difficult to gauge the div 2 fellas as the competition isn't too strong but he does a lot of things right. He's raw and certainly needs a few pre seasons in the gym though. On the lead he's excellent, timing his leads well, leading to the right spots and creating separation - he's got a nice burst and his top speed looks pretty nifty too. Below the knees he's really clean especially when you consider he's 6'6 with his pickups consistent and his agility and ability to turn his opponent around really nice.

He's not really a power forward and not someone I'd back to take big pack marks, even with an extra 15 kilos I'm not too sure it'll be his style but as a #2 guy he's probably the best option around and with you fellas likely to secure a #1 guy this year too he's a great fit. He just does so many things that make me go 'yeah, this fella's got a place at the highest level' - takes the ball at the highest point, leads straight at the ball in a straight line, has a really nice vertical leap, creates real separation, moves like a 6'3 bloke not a 6'6 bloke and his turning circle is that of a smartcar not a hilux. He follows up contests and more often than not wins the ground ball and is able to transition that into a disposal well. Down back he's got the ability to really follow and shut down an opponent too so he offers a bit of versatility. He's just an allround top notch package.

I think he could well be the best forward in this years crop long term if he gets a good run with injuries.
 
May 19, 2009
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Where do rate McKenzie champ?

I haven't seen enough of him to get a really solid read but I'd place him in a group with Bevan, Davis and Cripps as that third tier of KPFs in the draft. I'd say all will go somewhere between 35-70. Late season form in the TAC/WAFL for all of those fellas will probably go a long way to ranking them against each other.
 
Mar 13, 2008
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Power Rankings:

9. Matthew Hammelmann (BRIS ACAD)
14. Alec Waterman (WC F/S)
18. Caleb Daniel

Lucky for Brisbane that their first pick is so high if clubs agree with your power rankings.

Waterman - He is going to have to seriously work on a lot of his game to be ranked this high. Other than one game in the champs, it was a very poor showing from someone I had higher expectations on.

Daniel - I see you've not smashed his rankings due to his height, it will be interesting to see how he goes at AFL level. (assuming he gets drafted)
 
May 19, 2009
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Lucky for Brisbane that their first pick is so high if clubs agree with your power rankings.

Yeah I've always seen things a little differently. Those three are examples of that and the kind of calls that'll decide how well/poorly I saw it in hindsight. Which kind of sucks as Hammelmann will end up in a poor system. I'd love to see how he'd end up if he were to go to a club with a better overall system.

Even if Hammelmann is the 9th/10th best prospect in the draft I'm not entirely sure he'll be a 2nd rounder. Who from Pick 10 onwards really needs a KPF and with the bidding being done well before the draft it'd require a club to either say 'I have absolutely no doubt Hammelmann will be the best player at our pick and no better player (who may suit us more) will slide' or 'We need a KPF and Hammelmann fits what we need and is better than the other KPFs who'll be in that range'

Is he better than Keitel? Absolutely. Is he better than Marchbank forward? Yep. It's Goddard that might be the curve ball. Personally I rate him about pick 10-12 as an overall package. As a forward I rate him at about pick 20. Others seem to have him going 12-20 in their mock drafts. Clubs could favour Goddard to Hammelmann and on bidding day suspect that he'll slide to them. If that's the case there's potential for Hammelmann to slip to the third. Even now in my second round I've got Essendon as the bidder and I rate Hammelmann above most. I'd still say it's 50/50 for 2nd/3rd round.


Waterman - He is going to have to seriously work on a lot of his game to be ranked this high. Other than one game in the champs, it was a very poor showing from someone I had higher expectations on.

Pre champs I was a real Waterman fan. I had him 6th in my power rankings and thought he was an outside chance to go first round. He's slid a bit as a result down to 14 but I can't see him sliding any further in my eyes. There's just a lot about Waterman that I like. It's clear that all the parts haven't come together yet and he's by no means a finished product but the parts are there. His champs were better than people seem to think, too. Round 6 was a shocker, round 3 he was injured in and missed round 4 and round 5 he wasn't playing through the middle and was still pretty good. Rounds 1 and 2 he was excellent.

He's got a core strength that others in the crop don't have - he goes where he wants and you just can't move him. Without ball he picks his spots well and when he attacks the ball he straight lines it and it's nearly impossible to move him off that line (unlike the Walsh's who get moved off regularly). Over the ball his strength is unparalleled. Bampton and Hardisty are occasionally shifted, Gore and Neal-Bullen sometimes, Walsh regularly. Waterman isn't. It's a real point of difference and one I can see translating to AFL level with his frame being nearly perfect for the role he plays. On a weight/height ratio only Petracca could really claim to be heavier and yet Waterman's burst is still one of the better ones from the inside mids. At top speed he's still a bit of a plodder but within the stoppage he's able to accelerate out with power. If you watch a Walsh you'll notice he never has space inside the stoppage, he's always having to blindly kick or handball it laterally or backwards. Waterman doesn't do that, he creates space which he just shouldn't have which allows him to move the ball forward effectively, if you're exiting a stoppage Waterman is the bloke whose hands you want the ball in. That said while he does like to move the ball forward effectively if there's a player who presents a better option he'll take it with his distribution by hand solid and his secondary efforts excellent, unlike most inside mids after distributing the ball Waterman keeps on bolting to try and present another option. When he gets the ball on the outside his footskills are excellent.

While he might have had trouble accumulating at times during the champs, he also showed that on his day he's elite at finding the ball. When he gets the ball what happens is significantly better than what happens when most inside mids get it. His marking is excellent too especially compared to other mids and he tackles not only in volume but quality too - they stick. He's not a pure reader of the tap with his clearance work done through more force than ability which is probably, along with his speed and perhaps the fact that he prefers to stay upright instead of really attacking the ground ball the only weaknesses I see in his game.

That's pretty much why I like him. He's much more complete than most other players in this crop and I do reckon his champs not being elite is something that can be explained.

Daniel - I see you've not smashed his rankings due to his height, it will be interesting to see how he goes at AFL level. (assuming he gets drafted)

In every crop we have our favourites. I normally have three or four. This year I've liked different players at different times but the only two that I could really consistently like are Blakely and Daniel. I guess part of the game here is to try and work out why I like them and eliminate that bias from how I rate them and I hope I've been able to do that but I still come up with him higher than others. He won't feature highly in my mock draft but from a 'how good can he be' perspective I really think he's worth the punt with an early second. These picks already don't have a high hit rate with the players in this range all being speculative to some extent with question marks over their style of game and how they'll transition. Instead of Daniel's question marks being about his style of game they're about his height, with his actual game being incredibly solid. I think there's just as much risk with Caleb as there is with a 15-25 kind of selection.

What about Caleb isn't top notch? His kicking is great. I wouldn't say elite yet but it's certainly excellent. His vision is elite. His creativity is excellent, his decision making is elite and it's even better under pressure. His agility is excellent, his pace is great, his tackling is fantastic (though I'm not sure how well that particular facet will transition to AFL level, he'd still be good but not elite), his distribution by hand is superb, his goalsense seemed great in the champs (it's not an element of his game I'd seen before then), his read of the game is elite, his aggression elite, ball winning excellent.

A top level AFL player can get away with being great in half of those elements. Caleb Daniel has them all. At SANFL level he's not outbodied. My only worry is that he's getting about as much ball there so far this year as he was last year, 15 or so touches. He'd want to be a higher level accumulator to get by with his height but at least he's physically matching it with the blokes in the SANFL which I rate as the second toughest/most physically rigorous league in the land behind the AFL. On Friday night he didn't get a huge amount of the ball but his use was absolutely exceptional with him repeatedly hitting targets under severe pressure that I'd only back 5-10 AFL players to do. 6 effective tackles too against blokes who in general are the same size/carrying more weight than AFL players.

He's a natural inside mid and I'm not sure that's something he'll be able to do at AFL level, but even if not he's got all the skills that Brent Harvey has and could perhaps perform that role if he's able to accumulate at the same level. Harvey's probably the best kick in the AFL when everything is considered. Technically it's not the best and he's not going to nail high degree of difficulty kicks like some can but factoring in decision making, vision, creativity and just how often he nails his kicks I think he's probably the most effective kick around. I think Daniel could be that too - his vision, poise, creativity, decision making and composure under pressure already are similar to Harvey's, he's also got reasonable pace and perhaps better evasion and is harder *at* the ball. Still a lot of water to go under the bridge but I do think he could just be that 1/1000 sub 170 player who becomes an elite AFL player too. I just hope he's given the chance; in today's game Tony Liberatore and Boomer Harvey would have been flawless juniors and probably done absolutely nothing wrong and everything right like Daniel has and would have had the same questions asked of them. Also worth noting that Daniel's already 168cm (he claims he's 170, though) and is a July birth. If he is in fact 170 and perhaps could grow another cm or two then his chances do rise.
 

TheLastEmperor

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Sam Fisher showed on the weekend how important a cool head that backs himself marking instead of punching and reads the play well is to the St Kilda line-up. I would say he's been one of the most underrated players in the competition for the best part of a decade and excluding Riewoldt our most important player over that period. On par with Hayes at the very least.

Fisher is 32 (or close to it) and on his last legs. Hypothetically who do you see the best replacement out of Durdin and Lever or anyone else I'm unaware of? Also, theres a chance St Kilda finish with pick 4 even 5 (in the case we go past GWS, Melb and Bris) if Melb get an early compo pick for Frawley. Do you think a pick around 3-4 is too early to pick Durdin or Lever?
 

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