Draft Watcher Young Talent Time 2014

[manny100]

Hi Chris, GWS already have a surplus (list imbalance) of talls on their list. They will have to trim their list so I think they may trade one or two not getting a regular game out so that they can pick up a younger prospect like Finlayson. GWS will be trying to alter the age profile of their list and best to do it with quality.
Their will be talk later on about which talls they will let go and whether any clubs will be interested.

 

[Lionmoe21]

hi chris, i see that you havent put liam dawson in your mock draft, whats the reason for the drop off because i remember him going at least top 30 a few months ago

 

[Chris25]

hi chris, i see that you havent put liam dawson in your mock draft, whats the reason for the drop off because i remember him going at least top 30 a few months ago

I still rate Dawson somewhere in the 15-25 range. But, I don't expect clubs to agree when it comes to the bidding and realistically both he and Hammelmann will probably cost third round picks - which of course means one will drop down to Brisbane's fourth round pick.

 

[Chris25]

Caleb Daniel
Height: 167cm
Weight: 66kg
From: South Adelaide, South Australia
Position: Midfielder, Forward​

After his last two matches at the U18 Championships, the name on everyone's lips is Caleb Daniel so I figure it's about time I did his profile. For anyone who follows the South Australian U18 scene, nothing about his last two weeks was a surprise. And prior to the Championships, I tipped him to take home MVP honours. Unfortunately, his injury from earlier in the season kept him out of the opening rounds and ultimately the MVP race. But I think it's safe to say he probably would have won, had he played every game.

I'll change things up this time, and start with his weaknesses as a player. And literally the only negative to his game, is the fact that he is 167cm. That's it.

Last year, Daniel started the season in the U18s but quickly worked his way into the South Adelaide league side as a 166cm 16 year old. And he wasn't just making up the numbers, as he finished the league season by playing 10 games and averaging 17 disposals. Unfortunately, he suffered an ankle injury early this season and only made it back onto the park about 6 weeks ago now. And when he did return? Well, his combined two game total of 48 disposals, 13 tackles and a disposal efficiency of around 90% pretty much says it all.

His strengths as a footballer are pretty obvious. And I'll use the SANFL U18 Academy testing results from the start of the year to highlight them. Caleb Daniel finished 1st in the beep test, 5th in the 3km time trial and 5th in the 20m sprint. It's rare that you'll get someone with both the endurance and speed to do that. And it's even rarer when that person is a footballer, not an athlete - as shown by his top 10 finishes in both the handballing and kicking tests. Daniel can run all day, sprint away from the packs and has elite disposal. There is nobody else in this draft that can boast that. And on the park, he is even better. Ball magnet is pretty much the only way of describing him. If he sees the ball, he will inevitably get it - whether he has to go in and win it himself, or run hard to link up on the outside. When he does get the ball, he can pinpoint a short pass or kick it over 50m. And for everyone who uses his size to talk him down, they need to watch him play a lot more. He does not play as though he is 167cm. His ability to stand up in a tackle is Gary Ablett like.

Probably the most pleasing thing for me to come from the Championships, was his form around goals. If I had one question mark on him, it was a lack of a forward game and any player around the 170cm mark will be expected to spend time in a forward pocket. At the start of the year, I would have had Daniel as a midfielder and that's it. But he showed a natural feel for where the goals are, and his tackling pressure as a small forward would be unbelievable at the top level.

So, basically for those who couldn't be bothered reading that, Caleb Daniel is a 167cm version of Gary Ablett and destined to be the #1 pick. Right? Well, no. Obviously his height will hold him back a bit. And it's possible that many recruiters had him as a rookie pick at best coming into the season. But any recruiter who doesn't take note of his Championships performances and start recognising the pure footballing talent should be sacked. Caleb Daniel will not last until the rookie draft. I have no doubts he is top 5 on talent alone, there is nobody with his skill set in this draft. And as a whole, this draft isn't looking great. If someone doesn't pounce in the 3rd round at the absolute latest, I would be very surprised.

Just because there is nobody else his size in the AFL at the moment, it doesn't mean there can't be one. It's just that nobody has ever been as good as Caleb Daniel before.

​

 

[Chris25]

Reece McKenzie
Height: 196cm
Weight: 100kg
From: Northern Knights, Vic Metro
Position: Forward​

Fresh off a 10 goal haul in the TAC Cup yesterday, Reece McKenzie is next up on my list of profiles. He's a player who isn't getting a lot of exposure, but one that I rate highly. All season, I've had McKenzie as a top 5 key forward in this draft and a likely second round draft pick. But it seems not all agree.

I'll start with his game yesterday - 18 disposals, 13 marks (6 of those contested), three goal assists, 10 goals and 4 behinds. A total of 256 Supercoach points for those of you keeping score. It is without the doubt the best game he has played, and will probably end up as the individual performance of the 2014 TAC Cup season. Hopefully it's the game that sees him take his game to the next level consistently, but even that one game would likely be enough to get him drafted. Although having said that, his other games this season haven't been bad by any means. McKenzie had kicked 8 goals in 5 games leading into the match, switching between full forward and the ruck. It's been good to see him get a chance to stretch his legs, as opposed to playing out of the goal square all match. He has shown enough to suggest that pinch hitting could be in his future if needed.

Unfortunately, it hasn't all been good news for McKenzie this year. Through a combination of injury and competition for spots, he only managed the one game for Vic Metro in the U18 Championships this year. Which I did find a little odd. I understand that the likes of Wright and Moore will be picked first, but he deserved more game time and showed more than enough in his one game to get another. And further exposure at the top level would have been a real positive for his development too. He didn't play any TAC Cup football last year, as he chose to instead focus on basketball, so in the grand scheme of things he is still relatively raw as a player.

Despite a limited viewing sample this year, the reason I'm confident that McKenzie will get a chance come November is because he is essentially the template for what clubs are looking for in a key forward - over 195cm, strong body, contested marker, athletic. He isn't going to run all day from a CHF position, but his basketball background has given him quite decent agility for someone his size and weight. And it's the contested marking that will really make teams take notice. Roughly half his marks in the TAC Cup this year have been contested ones. And being able to clunk a mark like that isn't something you can really teach, which gives him a massive advantage.

But, McKenzie isn't a sure thing by any means. And in picking him, you are largely picking someone on potential with only flashes of performance. That's always a risk, and can go either way. Clubs are always going to back their development programs though. Otherwise, his kicking is where he lets himself down quite a bit. As I said before, he had kicked 8 goals in his 5 games before this weekend. But, he'd also kicked 8 behinds and finished with another 4 to go with his ten goal haul. He'll need to improve that if he is to truly be a focal point up forward, and while he seems to know his limitations during general game play, some of his field kicking could stand to improve too. And like all key position players, consistency and fading in and out of games has been a slight issue this year.

Personally, I tend to think a lot of his weaknesses will be ironed out with a good 2-3 years of development at an AFL club. It's then just a matter of whether it all clicks, or if he remains one of those potentially great forwards who never quite make it. In terms of draft position, I could see him going anywhere from the second to the third round. It's not a great draft for genuine full forwards - you have McCartin, Wright and then some of the Academy boys. It's why I rate McKenzie as the third or fourth best on the open market. And with a strong finish to the season, there is no reason he couldn't sneak into the top 20 like Michael Apeness did last year. Teams will pay for a player like him.

 

[eastfreo75]

Caleb Daniel
Height: 167cm
Weight: 66kg
From: South Adelaide, South Australia
Position: Midfielder, Forward​

After his last two matches at the U18 Championships, the name on everyone's lips is Caleb Daniel so I figure it's about time I did his profile. For anyone who follows the South Australian U18 scene, nothing about his last two weeks was a surprise. And prior to the Championships, I tipped him to take home MVP honours. Unfortunately, his injury from earlier in the season kept him out of the opening rounds and ultimately the MVP race. But I think it's safe to say he probably would have won, had he played every game.

I'll change things up this time, and start with his weaknesses as a player. And literally the only negative to his game, is the fact that he is 167cm. That's it.

Last year, Daniel started the season in the U18s but quickly worked his way into the South Adelaide league side as a 166cm 16 year old. And he wasn't just making up the numbers, as he finished the league season by playing 10 games and averaging 17 disposals. Unfortunately, he suffered an ankle injury early this season and only made it back onto the park about 6 weeks ago now. And when he did return? Well, his combined two game total of 48 disposals, 13 tackles and a disposal efficiency of around 90% pretty much says it all.

His strengths as a footballer are pretty obvious. And I'll use the SANFL U18 Academy testing results from the start of the year to highlight them. Caleb Daniel finished 1st in the beep test, 5th in the 3km time trial and 5th in the 20m sprint. It's rare that you'll get someone with both the endurance and speed to do that. And it's even rarer when that person is a footballer, not an athlete - as shown by his top 10 finishes in both the handballing and kicking tests. Daniel can run all day, sprint away from the packs and has elite disposal. There is nobody else in this draft that can boast that. And on the park, he is even better. Ball magnet is pretty much the only way of describing him. If he sees the ball, he will inevitably get it - whether he has to go in and win it himself, or run hard to link up on the outside. When he does get the ball, he can pinpoint a short pass or kick it over 50m. And for everyone who uses his size to talk him down, they need to watch him play a lot more. He does not play as though he is 167cm. His ability to stand up in a tackle is Gary Ablett like.

Probably the most pleasing thing for me to come from the Championships, was his form around goals. If I had one question mark on him, it was a lack of a forward game and any player around the 170cm mark will be expected to spend time in a forward pocket. At the start of the year, I would have had Daniel as a midfielder and that's it. But he showed a natural feel for where the goals are, and his tackling pressure as a small forward would be unbelievable at the top level.

So, basically for those who couldn't be bothered reading that, Caleb Daniel is a 167cm version of Gary Ablett and destined to be the #1 pick. Right? Well, no. Obviously his height will hold him back a bit. And it's possible that many recruiters had him as a rookie pick at best coming into the season. But any recruiter who doesn't take note of his Championships performances and start recognising the pure footballing talent should be sacked. Caleb Daniel will not last until the rookie draft. I have no doubts he is top 5 on talent alone, there is nobody with his skill set in this draft. And as a whole, this draft isn't looking great. If someone doesn't pounce in the 3rd round at the absolute latest, I would be very surprised.

Just because there is nobody else his size in the AFL at the moment, it doesn't mean there can't be one. It's just that nobody has ever been as good as Caleb Daniel before.

​

wow

 

[theGav56]

Enjoyed Daniels video thanks Chris.

 

[imabowss]

Chris what have you seen of Cameron Loersch? Has been playing good footy and has kicked a big number of goals this season

 

[Eastern Rangers]

Chris what have you seen of Cameron Loersch? Has been playing good footy and has kicked a big number of goals this season

lol. He's not draftable, he's a one trick pony at the moment.

 

[bmaurizio]

Hi Chris,
Have you seen Lever play what are your thoughts. Seems respected and reasonably highly regarded, if the Baggers miss out on the star field selectons of KKP at pick seven or eight he seems to be a very attractive option.
Appreciate your time.
Ciao

 

[Chris25]

Jackson Press
Height: 181cm
Weight: 77kg
From: Woodville West Torrens, South Australia
Position: Forward​

Heading back to South Australia, it's time to look at another one of the lesser known fringe players of the U18 squad. And that comes in the form of the overage, medium forward Jackson Press. Some may recall me talking about him as a possible rookie draft pick last year, I thought he showed enough in the U18s but ultimately he missed out on selection. This year however, a strong start to the SANFL season saw him selected as one of the 19 year olds in the South Australian squad - something he wasn't able to manage in his draft year. And we saw last year with overage squad member Sean Lemmens being drafted quite high, that anything is possible when it comes to these players. After all the reason he and Tom Langdon were selected is because of the development and improvement they showed after going undrafted, and I feel Press has done similar this year.

So starting with the 2013 season, Jackson Press spent the entire season in the SANFL U18 competition and was leading the goal kicking all season until being overtaken by 16 year old full forward Ben Beioley during the finals campaign. Ultimately, Press finished with 47 goals from his 16 games for Woodville West Torrens - including hauls of 6, 3, 6, 3, 4, 4 and 8 to finish the season off in style. And this season, he has stepped up to be a regular in the Woodville reserves side and has continued with his goal scoring form to post one 4 goal game and three games of 3 goals each - and it was this reserves form which saw him selected for South Australia in the U18 Championships, where he kicked 5 goals from 3 games including a haul of 3 goals and 2 behinds against WA in Round 3.

In terms of playing style, Press is more that Paul Medhurst/Brad Johnson type small/medium forward than an out and out crumber. He tends to play a little taller than his 181cm frame would suggest, and I know a lot of people are surprised when they watch him for the first time and then find out his height afterwards. He is a decent mark for his size, which does allow him to play that non-traditional small forward role. But, he shouldn't be earmarked as an old fashioned player by any means because he does still have a bit of the Jamie Elliot's about him, and should test quite well come the end of the season. If I remember correctly, his 20m sprint time was top 2 or 3 for the entire SANFL U18 competition and his running vertical jump was in the top 1% too.

But there are two main areas in which I think he needs to continue to improve if he is to get drafted this time around - his kicking and his tackling pressure. And it's these two areas of his game which I believe is the reason he was dropped for the final two games of the U18 Championships. The official statistics credited Press with only the 1 tackle across his three matches for South Australia, and that's probably not too far off as it matches some of his games for Woodville West Torrens. He's active in the forward line, always on the move and he does chase but for whatever reason doesn't always seem to finish the job. Having said that, it's not uncommon for young players to have similar weaknesses but step up at AFL level - defensive pressure would be 50% of his job as a small forward, so you learn pretty quickly. And it's his kicking, particularly on goal which needs sharpening - his first game for SA for example, he kicked 1 goal and 3 behinds. I don't think it's necessarily a technique issue, but more that he always seem to be a little rushed. You see similar with Hayden Ballantyne sometimes, he tries to do a little too much and doesn't slow down and balance himself before kicking.

Hopefully now that the Championships are done, Press can start pressing for senior selection in the SANFL and show that he is ready for the top level. He has shown more than enough to suggest he could play a role for an AFL side, and his pure goal scoring ability is something that can't be taught. Absolute top of his range would be the third round, because even though he has played through the midfield in the SANFL, he'd likely be limited to the forward line in the AFL. But if he were available as a rookie again this year, I'd be looking at him as a relatively low risk option.

 

[Chris25]

Chris what have you seen of Cameron Loersch? Has been playing good footy and has kicked a big number of goals this season

I've seen a little, but nothing that made me go back and watch more. He's a 200cm, 100kg 19 year old playing against opponents much smaller than him. Maybe someone takes him as a rookie, purely for size and marking. But he'll need to prove he can perform at a higher level and against better opposition before I'd be taking him.

Hi Chris,
Have you seen Lever play what are your thoughts. Seems respected and reasonably highly regarded, if the Baggers miss out on the star field selectons of KKP at pick seven or eight he seems to be a very attractive option.
Appreciate your time.
Ciao

Obviously I saw him last year before his injury. He's still being talked about as a top 10 pick for a very good reason. Even with missing the entire 2014 season, he'd probably still be regarded as one of the safest picks. A natural leader who should hold down the CHB spot for a long time to come, he has a good balance to his game and doesn't really have any major weaknesses. He would no doubt be in the mix for Carlton, as well as a bunch of midfielders.

 

[Chris25]

Connor Blakely
Height: 186cm
Weight: 81kg
From: Swan Districts, Western Australia
Position: Midfielder​

Looking at another one of the bigger name players and a possible first round selection, Connor Blakely is shaping up to be one of BigFooty's favourites for 2014. He seems to be getting a bit of attention around the traps, and he may well be that player tipped to go in the 15-20 range that supporters jump on. And the 'mainsteam' media seems to getting on board too, including him in early pick discussions. On paper he is everything I look for in a midfielder, but there is something that just leaves me a little cold.

Starting with the obvious, there is no denying his performances this year. Prior to the U18 Championships, Blakely cemented a spot in the Swan Districts league side and had been averaging around 18 disposals a game. Playing against men, he hasn't looked out of place at all and should remain playing at the top level for the rest of the season. For Western Australia, he missed two matches because of a hamstring strain but still made the All Australian side with an average of over 20 disposals and proved himself as one of the best clearance players. While some of the All Australian selections could be questioned, there is no questioning Blakely's spot. At times he was the only thing keeping WA in the contest, and was easily their best and most consistent player.

The best thing about his season to date, is that he has played different roles for both Swan Districts and Western Australia. At the U18 Championships, he was the #1 midfielder and was in there at nearly every centre bounce and throw up. And in that role, he used his size well to get first hands on the ball and his tackling pressure was solid in close. Whereas in the WAFL, he has played a little more on the outside and has done so quite well. He seems to have a good understanding of the game, he knows where to run and then works hard to link up once the ball does come out - even if he doesn't quite have the pace you'd ideally be after. And this outside game is worth noting, because he showed little versatility for WA. With a lack of midfield talent around him, it forced him to play the one role all Championships - something which would have been to his detriment, if he weren't for his other tape.

So all of that sounds pretty good - a tall, contested ball winning, versatile midfielder. You can see why people are talking him up as a first round pick. And I can certainly see it too. But I personally have him in the second round, and more in the 25-30 range. All things considered, it's not a major drop and indicates that I still think he could be a good player - there are just some similar players who I would take first.

Firstly, I was surprised that his disposal efficiency was as good as it was at the U18 Championships. The games I saw him play, he looked quite rushed with his disposal and didn't always give himself the chance to pick the best option. A few times, he would get the ball in his hands, put his head down to run out of congestion and then blindly kick. Instead of taking it all on himself, he could have taken the first option in giving the ball out to his teammates or at least compose himself once he was in space. From a free kick though (which he seemed to get quite a few of) he was generally pretty good with his disposal. I'll also be interested to see how his clearance game goes once he is playing against stronger opposition, I have a feeling he may be bumped off the ball a little easily with his current technique. The other area I'd like to see him improve is in going forward, particularly creating mismatches with his height. He has never really been much of a threat in the forward line, and that's where a lot of the other midfielders in this draft are improving.

I do still think he is a good player, and would happily take him mid to late second round. But, personally I would consider top 15 to be overrating him. I suppose I look at the 2013 draft, and question who I would rather between him and Blake Acres who went at pick 19. And I would take Acres. For me, he is much closer to the likes of Trent Dumont and Nick Robertson who were picked at 30 and 34 respectively. Like Dumont, he is perhaps only an average athlete but is strong in the body and has performed well at senior level in addition to dominating against his peers.

When it comes to how much I like a player, I ask myself - would I be happy if Fremantle were to draft him? And I would be very happy to pick him with our second round, but would think I could do better in the first round.

Again, thanks to Skippos for the video.​

 

[Peter Wallis]

Caleb Daniel
Height: 167cm
Weight: 66kg
From: South Adelaide, South Australia
Position: Midfielder, Forward​

After his last two matches at the U18 Championships, the name on everyone's lips is Caleb Daniel so I figure it's about time I did his profile. For anyone who follows the South Australian U18 scene, nothing about his last two weeks was a surprise. And prior to the Championships, I tipped him to take home MVP honours. Unfortunately, his injury from earlier in the season kept him out of the opening rounds and ultimately the MVP race. But I think it's safe to say he probably would have won, had he played every game.

I'll change things up this time, and start with his weaknesses as a player. And literally the only negative to his game, is the fact that he is 167cm. That's it.

Last year, Daniel started the season in the U18s but quickly worked his way into the South Adelaide league side as a 166cm 16 year old. And he wasn't just making up the numbers, as he finished the league season by playing 10 games and averaging 17 disposals. Unfortunately, he suffered an ankle injury early this season and only made it back onto the park about 6 weeks ago now. And when he did return? Well, his combined two game total of 48 disposals, 13 tackles and a disposal efficiency of around 90% pretty much says it all.

His strengths as a footballer are pretty obvious. And I'll use the SANFL U18 Academy testing results from the start of the year to highlight them. Caleb Daniel finished 1st in the beep test, 5th in the 3km time trial and 5th in the 20m sprint. It's rare that you'll get someone with both the endurance and speed to do that. And it's even rarer when that person is a footballer, not an athlete - as shown by his top 10 finishes in both the handballing and kicking tests. Daniel can run all day, sprint away from the packs and has elite disposal. There is nobody else in this draft that can boast that. And on the park, he is even better. Ball magnet is pretty much the only way of describing him. If he sees the ball, he will inevitably get it - whether he has to go in and win it himself, or run hard to link up on the outside. When he does get the ball, he can pinpoint a short pass or kick it over 50m. And for everyone who uses his size to talk him down, they need to watch him play a lot more. He does not play as though he is 167cm. His ability to stand up in a tackle is Gary Ablett like.

Probably the most pleasing thing for me to come from the Championships, was his form around goals. If I had one question mark on him, it was a lack of a forward game and any player around the 170cm mark will be expected to spend time in a forward pocket. At the start of the year, I would have had Daniel as a midfielder and that's it. But he showed a natural feel for where the goals are, and his tackling pressure as a small forward would be unbelievable at the top level.

So, basically for those who couldn't be bothered reading that, Caleb Daniel is a 167cm version of Gary Ablett and destined to be the #1 pick. Right? Well, no. Obviously his height will hold him back a bit. And it's possible that many recruiters had him as a rookie pick at best coming into the season. But any recruiter who doesn't take note of his Championships performances and start recognising the pure footballing talent should be sacked. Caleb Daniel will not last until the rookie draft. I have no doubts he is top 5 on talent alone, there is nobody with his skill set in this draft. And as a whole, this draft isn't looking great. If someone doesn't pounce in the 3rd round at the absolute latest, I would be very surprised.

Just because there is nobody else his size in the AFL at the moment, it doesn't mean there can't be one. It's just that nobody has ever been as good as Caleb Daniel before.

​

​

Brent Harvey is only a midget & I'm sure if his draft year was redone, he would have gone in the top 3.

Too much is made of size imo. If you are good enough (which Daniel certainly is) then size is not important. He made the highly touted Vic midfielders who towered above him look decidedly 2nd best. A club would be stupid to overlook him in this draft as I reckon he will become a 200 plus game player for whoever is lucky enough to nab him.

He will be a steal if he gets drafted anywhere beyond 30 in this draft.

 

[Prem87]

Caleb Daniel
Height: 167cm
Weight: 66kg
From: South Adelaide, South Australia
Position: Midfielder, Forward​

After his last two matches at the U18 Championships, the name on everyone's lips is Caleb Daniel so I figure it's about time I did his profile. For anyone who follows the South Australian U18 scene, nothing about his last two weeks was a surprise. And prior to the Championships, I tipped him to take home MVP honours. Unfortunately, his injury from earlier in the season kept him out of the opening rounds and ultimately the MVP race. But I think it's safe to say he probably would have won, had he played every game.

I'll change things up this time, and start with his weaknesses as a player. And literally the only negative to his game, is the fact that he is 167cm. That's it.

Last year, Daniel started the season in the U18s but quickly worked his way into the South Adelaide league side as a 166cm 16 year old. And he wasn't just making up the numbers, as he finished the league season by playing 10 games and averaging 17 disposals. Unfortunately, he suffered an ankle injury early this season and only made it back onto the park about 6 weeks ago now. And when he did return? Well, his combined two game total of 48 disposals, 13 tackles and a disposal efficiency of around 90% pretty much says it all.

His strengths as a footballer are pretty obvious. And I'll use the SANFL U18 Academy testing results from the start of the year to highlight them. Caleb Daniel finished 1st in the beep test, 5th in the 3km time trial and 5th in the 20m sprint. It's rare that you'll get someone with both the endurance and speed to do that. And it's even rarer when that person is a footballer, not an athlete - as shown by his top 10 finishes in both the handballing and kicking tests. Daniel can run all day, sprint away from the packs and has elite disposal. There is nobody else in this draft that can boast that. And on the park, he is even better. Ball magnet is pretty much the only way of describing him. If he sees the ball, he will inevitably get it - whether he has to go in and win it himself, or run hard to link up on the outside. When he does get the ball, he can pinpoint a short pass or kick it over 50m. And for everyone who uses his size to talk him down, they need to watch him play a lot more. He does not play as though he is 167cm. His ability to stand up in a tackle is Gary Ablett like.

Probably the most pleasing thing for me to come from the Championships, was his form around goals. If I had one question mark on him, it was a lack of a forward game and any player around the 170cm mark will be expected to spend time in a forward pocket. At the start of the year, I would have had Daniel as a midfielder and that's it. But he showed a natural feel for where the goals are, and his tackling pressure as a small forward would be unbelievable at the top level.

So, basically for those who couldn't be bothered reading that, Caleb Daniel is a 167cm version of Gary Ablett and destined to be the #1 pick. Right? Well, no. Obviously his height will hold him back a bit. And it's possible that many recruiters had him as a rookie pick at best coming into the season. But any recruiter who doesn't take note of his Championships performances and start recognising the pure footballing talent should be sacked. Caleb Daniel will not last until the rookie draft. I have no doubts he is top 5 on talent alone, there is nobody with his skill set in this draft. And as a whole, this draft isn't looking great. If someone doesn't pounce in the 3rd round at the absolute latest, I would be very surprised.

Just because there is nobody else his size in the AFL at the moment, it doesn't mean there can't be one. It's just that nobody has ever been as good as Caleb Daniel before.

​

Reminds me a lot of Daniel Kerr. Great vision, great inside, quick dynamic tough.

 

[Periphery]

You guys stay away from Caleb. He will be coming to the Saints and if we don't pick him with our 3rd I will burn Seaford to the ground. Unfortunately, the club might see that as a positive but I will cross that bridge when I get to it.

 

[Chris25]

Harrison Wigg
Height: 179cm
Weight: 74kg
From: North Adelaide, South Australia
Position: Defender, Midfielder​

I think it's about time we had another South Australian get a profile, so who better than the All Australian and MVP for South Australia at the U18 Championships? And with those two honours, Harrison Wigg is finding himself with a lot more admirers and has gone from not being spoken about to being considered a possible first round selection. So lets take a closer look...

Wigg has been in and around the South Australian set up since his U16 days, and has always been a consistent performer. It doesn't matter what level it is, he is just a composed player and gets about his game as per usual. I'll start with the U18 Championships, before I touch on his arguably more interesting SANFL form, as that's what everyone has seen. Playing in all 6 matches for SA, Wigg spent most of the tournament in the back lines and averaged a tick under 20 disposals a game - with almost 70% of those disposals being kicks. And he also finished the Championships with a disposal efficiency of around 80%. It's very much a favourite position of the SA coach Brenton Phillips, and it was Wigg who was given the role of general down back. He took the kick ins after a behind, he'd zone off while others took on more defensive roles, take intercept marks and a lot of the play coming out of the back half was directed through him. It was very much like Sam Colquhoun back in his SA days. He did play more of a midfield role in the Round 5 game against Vic Country, but otherwise he spent most of his time down back.

What the vast majority of people wouldn't have seen however, were his matches in the SANFL prior to the Championships - 3 in the U18s and 1 in the Reserves for North Adelaide. There, he played a lot more up the ground and showed another side to his game. An absolute ball magnet in the midfield, Wigg averaged 27 disposals, 7 marks, 3 tackles and 5 clearances a game in the U18s. While in his one Reserves game, he played across half back and the wing to finish with 16 disposals at 100% efficiency. It's this midfield game that I'm more interested in seeing for the remainder of the season.

In terms of his strengths as a player, well it's pretty obvious - his kicking. It's his biggest asset, and that one ability has played a massive role in his football to date. I've seen a few people label him the best kick in the draft, and even more have compared him to Matthew Suckling from Hawthorn as a result. I'm not sure I would quite go that far, as although Wigg can kick 50m+, he doesn't quite have the same power that someone like a Suckling or Trent McKenzie has. He just has a good technique, and can execute more often than not. And I think a large part of what makes him such a good kick is his decision making and composure. I'd compare him more to someone like Shaun Higgins than Suckling in that regard, with his actual boot being more along the lines of Nick Suban from Fremantle. He sums up the situation really well, rarely appears rushed and just finds his target. Like Suban, he can try to do too much at times and turn the ball over but he always looks good in doing so. So is he the best kick ever? No, but he's in the top handful in this draft. And similarly, it's that ability to read the play that lets him be such a successful 'mopper upper' down back. He is good at filling holes and helping out his teammates.

When it comes to negatives, it's more a bunch of question marks as opposed to glaring weaknesses in his game. Wigg isn't the biggest player going around and with his frame may not put on a bunch more weight - it's not a huge issue, with a lot of skinnier players getting around nowadays but it does still make people question how high your ceiling is. He has shown a good midfield game at U18 level, but is that something that can translate against bigger bodies? And down back, how will he perform when forced to play a more defensive role against much quicker opposition? He does have good endurance, but probably only average speed.

So where is his home at the top level? Well, personally I see it as being high half back/wing as opposed to purely defence. I'd still like him taking the kick ins in the long run, but I want him delivering the ball inside 50. He'll never have the size of a Suckling, McKenzie or Garrick Ibbotson - guys who can drop back and play the loose man role. So in order to play down back, he will have to play more of a traditional small defender role and I just don't see that as being his strength. I've said it before, but I think Harrison Wigg compares to the likes of past South Australian players Tim Broomhead and Sam Colquhoun - which I suppose means his draft range could be anywhere from 20-25 to the PSD. But, if I had to guess, then I'd be banking on his name being called out in the second round.

 

[bmaurizio]

Thanks Chris for sharing your thoughts on Lever , much appreciated.
I would be very happy to land a quality player and future leader in a KP.
The other player I like is Corey Ellis as I think the Baggers will miss the fancier mids, have you seen much of him? If we could trade for a pick 15 to 18 for say Garlett would love him on board.
Ciao

 

[george2]

Thanks Chris for sharing your thoughts on Lever , much appreciated.
I would be very happy to land a quality player and future leader in a KP.
The other player I like is Corey Ellis as I think the Baggers will miss the fancier mids, have you seen much of him? If we could trade for a pick 15 to 18 for say Garlett would love him on board.
Ciao

Wow you want a pick in the region of 15 for a forward pocket player that can't get a game in the team sitting 13th on the ladder?

 

[Chris25]

Lachie Weller
Height: 181cm
Weight: 71kg
From: Broadbeach, Queensland
Position: Midfield​

For all the talk of the Academies, it could well be that the best player from Division 2 is free for all takers come draft day - and that player is of course Queenslander (and former Tasmanian) Lachie Weller. Just at the top, he is a member of the Gold Coast Academy but hasn't lived in Queensland long enough to qualify for them to take him on draft day. So now we get a player who has the benefit of training in such an environment, but one who is entering the draft just like anyone else. And while Isaac Heeney is widely regarded as the best Division 2 player, I still think Weller could be the best midfielder in the entire draft.

He just reminds me so much of James Aish, who I also rated as the best midfielder in his draft class. He plays a similar game, and has a lot of the same strengths. And without trying to go too over the top, I just don't think there is anything he can't do. And Weller has proven that by performing at every level - from the U16s and U18s, to the AFL/AIS Academy and even playing in the seniors in the NEAFL. Again, much like Aish did. In his three TAC Cup games for Queensland, Weller proved that he is at a whole different level to his opposition. He was BOG against Gippsland, finishing with extraordinary figures of 35 disposals, 21 handball receives, 5 marks, 11 tackles, 1 goal and 2 behinds. And in his three games at the U18 Championships this year, Weller was a consistent ball winner and just did things with ease. And as I said before, he has performed well against men too being a consistent performer in the NEAFL and finished with a 4 goal haul in one game.

I feel like I'm repeating myself with some of these profiles, but Weller is another who doesn't have many big weaknesses to his game. One of the knocks on Aish was his contested game, with many thinking he couldn't do it. But as I said last year, it's just that he was so valuable on the outside that he didn't get a big chance to show off that other side to his game. And Weller is similar. He hasn't gotten to really show it off, but he can play in close. The only other thing he needs to do is build up his body, which will obviously come with age.

But when it comes to his strengths, there are a whole heap. Firstly, he is such a smart player. Sometimes it seem as though he is two steps ahead of everyone else out on the ground. He can step through traffic with ease, knows exactly where the ball will drop and is one of those players who will direct players with his kicking - he kicks it where he wants them to be, not straight to them. And as a result, less of his kicks are chopped off or spoiled by opponents. The other thing that he does so well is to hit the ball at full speed. When he does become that bit stronger, that ability will make him so valuable in the centre square and at throw ups around the ground. He has already shown flashes of this, and being able to collect the ball at speed and kick goals as a result is something that will turn games. He's just clean with everything he does. And those strengths are just when he has ball in hand, I haven't even touched on his athletics past.

At the start of the year, I rated Lachie Weller as the best midfielder in the draft. And to be honest, not much has changed since then. The form of Petracca has perhaps seen him drop down one, and some taller midfielders could be preferred depending on what teams are after. But, Weller is one of the standout midfielders and looks to be a pretty safe option at the top of the draft - and I'd have him firmly inside the top 10.

​

 

[TheLastEmperor]

Chris, is it your opinion Weller is a top 10'er and/or do you think he will be drafted in the top 10?

 

[bmaurizio]

Wow you want a pick in the region of 15 for a forward pocket player that can't get a game in the team sitting 13th on the ladder?

Jeff is a class act and was kicking 30 to 40 goals not to long ago, still young has plenty to offer in a different environment. He would be appreciated out West one would think. Hopefully he'll get a chance to show some dazzle in the next few games.
Ciao

 

[ThePuppetMaster]

Weller seems one of the more advanced kicks in the draft too Chris?

He has a really low trajectory on his kicks + good speed, from what I saw of the Div 1 teams there isn't anyone with a better kick on them.

 

[Bulldogsnm1]

Weller seems one of the more advanced kicks in the draft too Chris?

He has a really low trajectory on his kicks + good speed, from what I saw of the Div 1 teams there isn't anyone with a better kick on them.

If you are talking purely kicking trajectory & speed then Viojo-Rainbow would fit that description, he is a raking left foot kick. Can sometimes try to over-kick the ball and as a result miss targets but can cover 55 metres very quickly if required.

 

[captainrich]

But for now, I want to look at some of the players who I was wrong about last year - well according to the recruiters anyway...

Isaiah Miller



Dwayne Wilson



Darcy Hourigan


Cameron Conlon

.

hey mate sorry if someone has asked this already but whats the go with these 4, mainly interested in isaiah miller and conlon. cheers