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If Freo want a midfielder and you're saying Blakely could be best available at 16, wouldn't it stand to reason that we'd take him at 13? Are De Goey and Lamb that much better than Blakely? The "go home factor" would be taken into consideration also I would've thought, so they'd need to be MUCH better?
And if I were Fremantle I'd be heavily considering him at that selection. But I'm not - my power rankings reflect my own opinions, the phantom draft is more a way in which I think it could pan out. The phantom - especially early on, considers what I think *the club* will do, not what I would. I've got to try and separate my own opinions from it to an extent. While I rate Blakely higher, the consensus seems to be that I'm a bit of an outlier there.
On another note, phantom drafting is a completely different art to 'talent scouting' - hence why nearly anyone can do a phantom draft and have it end up realistic. I certainly don't expect my phantom in hindsight to be very correct as quite simply, I'm just taking stabs in the dark. The profiles and power rankings are definitely what I focus more of my time on; identifying the talent as opposed to predicting it.
I would have to say there is little to no chance the Saints will take R.McKenzie and M.Hammelmann in this draft.. We have no CHB atm and got rid of R.Stanley to give Spencer White a crack at FF, we will surely take a KPB but I love Duggan at 22 it would be amazing if he slides that far!!
In the late 30s/early 40s I think Hammelmann might just be one of the better KPDs out there. While he's known as a forward his work in defence has been pretty solid. Blanketed Corey Gault earlier in the year in an AIS game - a pretty good achievement for a 17 year old. Just now has to work on his pace, really.
That said with Stanley and Maister gone, it's Riewoldt + White/Lee and that's it. I wouldn't be surprised if you looked to add two KPFs to replace the two lost ones and then looked towards another in the coming two drafts to replace Riewoldt. Only adding one would mean you're entering 2014 with one less KPF on the list and far more inexperienced ones than '14 too. I do think it all depends on McKenzie being there at 21 though.
Watson, Aylett, O'Brien, Howlett, Hocking, Melksham, Kavanagh, Heppell, Hams and Myers are all inside mids on our list so I think we're good for that position. Another KPF is a need, but I don't really like the look of Reece Mckenzie and there's no other KPF worth considering at 17 or 20. 17 should definitely be spent on someone with an versatility and an outside game (inside as well is a bonus) such as Garlett, Cockatoo, Ellis, Lamb, Duggan, De Goey or Menadue whilst 20 could be used for best available, Mckenzie or another outside mid.
And aside from Watson and Heppell none are very good. Cases can be made for Hocking, Howlett and Myers as handy best 22 players but they're not world beaters. Melksham is truly terrible at times and Aylett/O'Brien/Hams/Kav really haven't impressed much thus far and some could find themselves fighting for their careers in '15.
It's not a pressing need but I do think it's one. Outside speed probably could be improved too, though I think most sides would like more outside speed irrelevant of how much they already have. De Goey would be a solid balanced inside/outside mid who'd fit well but I'm not sure he'll be there for you.