Hey folks. A small percentage of you may be aware of the True Footy YouTube channel. We come up with an annual phantom draft every year released below. We're probably best known for our AFL podcast, and below is the episode we released yesterday previewing this year's draft:
Here's another video where we preview who each club may take with their first pick:
Anyway, here is our phantom draft (subject to some edits as we get closer to the draft):
*Disclaimer: With academy nominations and the like it is increasingly difficult these days to get the order absolutely correct. If you see anything that's not quite right, feel free to let me know and I'll adjust accordingly.
Selection 1: Carlton
Sam Walsh (VIC) – Midfielder
H: 183cm, W: 74kg
· Well rounded, balanced midfielder
· High production mid
· Balance of inside and out
· Remains lightly built so may need time
Selection 2: Gold Coast Suns
Jack Lukosius (SA) – Key Forward
H: 194cm, W: 85kg
· Prototypical key forward who covers the ground well
· Smart, damaging footballer
· Lead up type forward
· Contested marking not a strength
Selection 3: Gold Coast Suns
Izak Rankine (SA) – General forward
H: 180cm, W: 76kg
· Magical, evasive half forward
· One touch player who impacts the scoreboard
· As quick as he is skilful
· Endurance the only query
Selection 4: St Kilda
Bailey Smith (VIC) – Midfielder
H: 186cm, W: 82kg
· Explosive contested midfielder
· Good balance of inside and outside game
· Excellent skill, vision and work rate
Selection 5: Port Adelaide
Max King (VIC) – Key Forward/Ruck
H: 202cm, W: 86kg
· An elite key forward prospect who tore his ACL in 2018
· Very tall and his reach makes him difficult to defend
· Contested marking is a strength
· Questions over endurance/work rate
Selection 6: Gold Coast Suns
Connor Rozee (SA) – Forward/Mid
H: 185cm, W: 72kg
· Damaging forward with capacity to play outside mid
· Highly agile and breaks lines
· Excellent skills and leap
· Contested game is lacking
Selection 7: Sydney Swans (Matching Western Bulldogs bid)
Nick Blakey (NSW) – Key Forward
H: 195cm, W: 80kg
· Sydney Swans academy player
· A Buddy-style oversized flanker
· Clean at ground level and strong player on the lead
Selection 8: Western Bulldogs
Ben King (VIC) – Key Defender
H: 202cm, W: 85kg
· Massive key defender with contested marking and one on one work a strength
· Reads the ball well and intercepts
· Versatile enough to play forward
Selection 9: Adelaide
Jye Caldwell (VIC) – Midfielder
H: 184cm, W: 78kg
· Explosive inside mid
· Strong contested game and ability to distribute by hand
· Bolts late despite injury
· Skills can be a mixed bag
Selection 10: North Melbourne (Matching GWS bid)
Tarryn Thomas (TAS) – Forward/Midfielder
H: 189cm, W: 73kg
· Tasmanian Academy player
· A line breaking forward with excellent accelerating
· Can play as an outside mid
· Defensive game very strong
Selection 11: GWS Giants
Chayce Jones (TAS) – Midfielder
H: 180cm, W: 74kg
· Balanced Tasmanian midfielder
· Runs all day, uses the ball well, is generally clean
· Impacts the scoreboard
· Small frame but experienced playing against men
Selection 12: Port Adelaide
Jackson Hately (SA) – Midfielder
H: 190cm, W: 81kg
· Strong bodied inside midfielder
· Strengths include stoppage work and work rate
· Can swing forward due to his overhead marking and scoreboard impact
· Could be described as vanilla although ready to go and reliable
Selection 13: GWS Giants
Riley Collier-Dawkins (VIC) – Midfielder
H: 193cm, W: 88kg
· Bontempelli-style lanky midfielder
· Clean, contested midfielder with good skills and vision
· Can push forward and take a grab
· Main concern is consistency of production
Selection 14: Geelong
Zak Butters (VIC) – Midfielder
H: 181cm, W: 70kg
· Impactful midfielder with speed and skill
· Missed half a season with a shoulder injury
· Possesses X factor and high potential
· Strength and endurance remains an area of improvement
Selection 15: Adelaide
Jordan Clark (WA) – Defender
H: 182cm, W: 78kg
· A skilful half back in the mould of Elliot Yeo
· Strong intercept game and reads the ball well
· Best WA prospect in the draft
· Has experience at WAFL senior level and is ready to go
Selection 16: Fremantle
Ed McHenry (VIC) – Small forward
H: 178cm, W: 71kg
· Geelong Falcons boy
· Genuine pressure forward specialist
· Led the U18 championships in pressure acts
Selection 17: Port Adelaide
Ian Hill (WA) – Forward/Midfielder
H: 175cm, W: 76kg
· Exciting wingman/forward
· Brilliant skills and breaks lines
· One of the best ball users in the draft
· Falls in estimations due to query over AFL translation
Selection 18: Adelaide
Luke Valente (SA) – Midfielder
H: 186cm, W: 80kg
· U18 South Australian captain
· Slow inside mid with genuine footy smarts
· Strong contested player with great vision and production
· May lack X factor but a safe quality pick
Selection 19: Collingwood (Matching Ric Bid)
Isaac Quaynor (VIC) – Defender
H: 182cm, W: 82kg
· Collingwood Academy player
· Ready to go defender, powerfully built
· Provides strong rebound and excellent at ground level
Selection 20: Richmond
Liam Stocker (VIC) – Midfielder
H: 183cm, W: 83kg
· Morrish medallist who missed the U18 championships due to a broken jaw
· Stoppage specialist
· Agile, clean and has excellent work rate and endurance
· A very bright kid and a student of the game
Selection 21: Brisbane Lions
Xavier Duursma (VIC) – Utility
H: 185cm, W: 71kg
· A light bodied but highly talented utility
· Breaks lines and possesses agility
· Good skills
· Potential leader
· Stoppage work and contested game needs work
Selection 22: Western Bulldogs (Matching GWS Bid)
Rhylee West (VIC) – Midfielder
H: 180cm, W: 80kg
· Son of star Bulldog Scott West
· Small but strong contested midfielder
· Tackles well and can push forward
· Possesses speed and agility
Selection 23: GWS Giants
Xavier O’Halloran (VIC) – Midfielder
H: 187cm, W: 83kg
· High impact inside midfielder
· Can burst out of congestion and put his skills to use
· Lacks consistency in terms of production
Selection 24: West Coast Eagles
Sam Sturt (VIC) – General forward
H: 188cm, W: 78kg
· A Will Hayward style general forward
· Strong aerial player who can take a grab
· Smart, skilful and has a high work rate
· May not project as a genuine midfield option
Selection 25: GWS Giants (Matching Adelaide bid)
Kieran Briggs (NSW) - Ruckman
· Best ruckman in this draft class
· Strong player and good overhead
· Good tackler and competitive
Selection 26: Adelaide
Curtis Taylor (VIC) – General forward
H: 186cm, W: 79kg
· Strong marking forward with midfield aspirations
· Clean skills and excellent leap
· Strong one on one
· Can be inconsistent
Selection 27: West Coast Eagles
Ely Smith (VIC) – Midfielder
H: 188cm, W: 86kg
· Big bodied inside mid
· Strong clearance player
· Explosive and tested well athletically
Selection 28: Melbourne
Jez McLennan (SA) – Defender
H: 183cm, W: 81kg
· Strong marking intercept defender
· Uses the ball well
· Has played 5 games of SANFL senior footy
Selection 29: Brisbane Lions (Matching Gold Coast bid)
Connor McFadyen (QLD) – Midfielder/Forward
H: 190cm, W: 88kg
· Brisbane Lions Academy player
· Big bodied inside mid who can move forward
· Nat Fyfe style midfielder
· May be slow but is strong contested and wins clearances
· Reads the ball in the air
Selection 30: Gold Coast Suns
Mitch Maguire (NSW) – Midfielder
H: 176cm, W: 75kg
· Mature, 20 year old NEAFL player
· Gold Coast reach for the value mature selection ahead of GWS
· Averaged 27 possessions and 5 clearances in the NEAFL
· In the mould of Dayne Zorko
Selection 31: Melbourne
Noah Gown (VIC) – Key Forward
H: 193cm, W: 91kg
· Slightly undersized but strongly built key forward
· Melbourne need a Hogan replacement
· Smart, competitive forward
· Strong contested mark
Selection 32: Gold Coast Suns
Marlion Pickett (WA) – Midfielder
H: 183cm, W: 85kg
· Gold Coast to continue the mature age trend with Pickett
· Tough defender turned midfielder
· Enjoyed a breakout season in 2018 and set to follow the footsteps of former teammate Tim Kelly
Selection 33: Brisbane Lions
Will Hamill (VIC) – Defender
H: 185cm, W: 70kg
· Athletic defender with skills
· Has speed, agility and endurance
· Lightly built frame
Selection 34: Fremantle
Jack Bytel (VIC) – Midfielder
H: 188cm, W: 79kg
· Strong inside midfielder who was considered a top ten prospect 12 months ago
· Has a penetrating kick and wins the ball consistently
· Lacks speed/outside game
Selection 35: Western Bulldogs
Tom McKenzie (SA) – Midfielder
H: 184cm, W: 76kg
· Highly versatile utility
· Athletic clearance midfielder
· Inconsistent by foot
Selection 36: Essendon
Bailey Williams (VIC) – Ruck/Key Forward
H: 198cm, W: 91kg
· Undersized ruck who compensates with an excellent leap
· Super athletic
· Ability to swing forward
· WC reach to fill a list need
Selection 37: Collingwood (Matching St Kilda bid)
Will Kelly (VIC) – Key Defender
H: 193cm, W: 83kg
· Son of Craig Kelly
· Athletic key defender
· Strong rebounder for a tall
Selection 38: St Kilda
Boyd Woodcock (SA) – Small forward
H: 174cm, W: 68kg
· Mature goalkicking small forward
· Had a strong SANFL League finals series
· Can rotate through the midfield
Selection 39: Richmond
Luke Foley (WA) – Midfielder
H: 187cm, W: 75kg
· Over-age midfield talent who missed out on the draft last year
· Improved his contested game and produced a strong season
· Clean, skilful accumulator
· Can still lack strength and acceleration
Selection 40: Sydney
Tom Sparrow (SA) – Midfielder
H: 182cm, W: 81kg
· Explosive midfielder with courage
· Quick, competitive contested player
· Lacks consistency of ball use
Here's another video where we preview who each club may take with their first pick:
Anyway, here is our phantom draft (subject to some edits as we get closer to the draft):
*Disclaimer: With academy nominations and the like it is increasingly difficult these days to get the order absolutely correct. If you see anything that's not quite right, feel free to let me know and I'll adjust accordingly.
Selection 1: Carlton
Sam Walsh (VIC) – Midfielder
H: 183cm, W: 74kg
· Well rounded, balanced midfielder
· High production mid
· Balance of inside and out
· Remains lightly built so may need time
Selection 2: Gold Coast Suns
Jack Lukosius (SA) – Key Forward
H: 194cm, W: 85kg
· Prototypical key forward who covers the ground well
· Smart, damaging footballer
· Lead up type forward
· Contested marking not a strength
Selection 3: Gold Coast Suns
Izak Rankine (SA) – General forward
H: 180cm, W: 76kg
· Magical, evasive half forward
· One touch player who impacts the scoreboard
· As quick as he is skilful
· Endurance the only query
Selection 4: St Kilda
Bailey Smith (VIC) – Midfielder
H: 186cm, W: 82kg
· Explosive contested midfielder
· Good balance of inside and outside game
· Excellent skill, vision and work rate
Selection 5: Port Adelaide
Max King (VIC) – Key Forward/Ruck
H: 202cm, W: 86kg
· An elite key forward prospect who tore his ACL in 2018
· Very tall and his reach makes him difficult to defend
· Contested marking is a strength
· Questions over endurance/work rate
Selection 6: Gold Coast Suns
Connor Rozee (SA) – Forward/Mid
H: 185cm, W: 72kg
· Damaging forward with capacity to play outside mid
· Highly agile and breaks lines
· Excellent skills and leap
· Contested game is lacking
Selection 7: Sydney Swans (Matching Western Bulldogs bid)
Nick Blakey (NSW) – Key Forward
H: 195cm, W: 80kg
· Sydney Swans academy player
· A Buddy-style oversized flanker
· Clean at ground level and strong player on the lead
Selection 8: Western Bulldogs
Ben King (VIC) – Key Defender
H: 202cm, W: 85kg
· Massive key defender with contested marking and one on one work a strength
· Reads the ball well and intercepts
· Versatile enough to play forward
Selection 9: Adelaide
Jye Caldwell (VIC) – Midfielder
H: 184cm, W: 78kg
· Explosive inside mid
· Strong contested game and ability to distribute by hand
· Bolts late despite injury
· Skills can be a mixed bag
Selection 10: North Melbourne (Matching GWS bid)
Tarryn Thomas (TAS) – Forward/Midfielder
H: 189cm, W: 73kg
· Tasmanian Academy player
· A line breaking forward with excellent accelerating
· Can play as an outside mid
· Defensive game very strong
Selection 11: GWS Giants
Chayce Jones (TAS) – Midfielder
H: 180cm, W: 74kg
· Balanced Tasmanian midfielder
· Runs all day, uses the ball well, is generally clean
· Impacts the scoreboard
· Small frame but experienced playing against men
Selection 12: Port Adelaide
Jackson Hately (SA) – Midfielder
H: 190cm, W: 81kg
· Strong bodied inside midfielder
· Strengths include stoppage work and work rate
· Can swing forward due to his overhead marking and scoreboard impact
· Could be described as vanilla although ready to go and reliable
Selection 13: GWS Giants
Riley Collier-Dawkins (VIC) – Midfielder
H: 193cm, W: 88kg
· Bontempelli-style lanky midfielder
· Clean, contested midfielder with good skills and vision
· Can push forward and take a grab
· Main concern is consistency of production
Selection 14: Geelong
Zak Butters (VIC) – Midfielder
H: 181cm, W: 70kg
· Impactful midfielder with speed and skill
· Missed half a season with a shoulder injury
· Possesses X factor and high potential
· Strength and endurance remains an area of improvement
Selection 15: Adelaide
Jordan Clark (WA) – Defender
H: 182cm, W: 78kg
· A skilful half back in the mould of Elliot Yeo
· Strong intercept game and reads the ball well
· Best WA prospect in the draft
· Has experience at WAFL senior level and is ready to go
Selection 16: Fremantle
Ed McHenry (VIC) – Small forward
H: 178cm, W: 71kg
· Geelong Falcons boy
· Genuine pressure forward specialist
· Led the U18 championships in pressure acts
Selection 17: Port Adelaide
Ian Hill (WA) – Forward/Midfielder
H: 175cm, W: 76kg
· Exciting wingman/forward
· Brilliant skills and breaks lines
· One of the best ball users in the draft
· Falls in estimations due to query over AFL translation
Selection 18: Adelaide
Luke Valente (SA) – Midfielder
H: 186cm, W: 80kg
· U18 South Australian captain
· Slow inside mid with genuine footy smarts
· Strong contested player with great vision and production
· May lack X factor but a safe quality pick
Selection 19: Collingwood (Matching Ric Bid)
Isaac Quaynor (VIC) – Defender
H: 182cm, W: 82kg
· Collingwood Academy player
· Ready to go defender, powerfully built
· Provides strong rebound and excellent at ground level
Selection 20: Richmond
Liam Stocker (VIC) – Midfielder
H: 183cm, W: 83kg
· Morrish medallist who missed the U18 championships due to a broken jaw
· Stoppage specialist
· Agile, clean and has excellent work rate and endurance
· A very bright kid and a student of the game
Selection 21: Brisbane Lions
Xavier Duursma (VIC) – Utility
H: 185cm, W: 71kg
· A light bodied but highly talented utility
· Breaks lines and possesses agility
· Good skills
· Potential leader
· Stoppage work and contested game needs work
Selection 22: Western Bulldogs (Matching GWS Bid)
Rhylee West (VIC) – Midfielder
H: 180cm, W: 80kg
· Son of star Bulldog Scott West
· Small but strong contested midfielder
· Tackles well and can push forward
· Possesses speed and agility
Selection 23: GWS Giants
Xavier O’Halloran (VIC) – Midfielder
H: 187cm, W: 83kg
· High impact inside midfielder
· Can burst out of congestion and put his skills to use
· Lacks consistency in terms of production
Selection 24: West Coast Eagles
Sam Sturt (VIC) – General forward
H: 188cm, W: 78kg
· A Will Hayward style general forward
· Strong aerial player who can take a grab
· Smart, skilful and has a high work rate
· May not project as a genuine midfield option
Selection 25: GWS Giants (Matching Adelaide bid)
Kieran Briggs (NSW) - Ruckman
· Best ruckman in this draft class
· Strong player and good overhead
· Good tackler and competitive
Selection 26: Adelaide
Curtis Taylor (VIC) – General forward
H: 186cm, W: 79kg
· Strong marking forward with midfield aspirations
· Clean skills and excellent leap
· Strong one on one
· Can be inconsistent
Selection 27: West Coast Eagles
Ely Smith (VIC) – Midfielder
H: 188cm, W: 86kg
· Big bodied inside mid
· Strong clearance player
· Explosive and tested well athletically
Selection 28: Melbourne
Jez McLennan (SA) – Defender
H: 183cm, W: 81kg
· Strong marking intercept defender
· Uses the ball well
· Has played 5 games of SANFL senior footy
Selection 29: Brisbane Lions (Matching Gold Coast bid)
Connor McFadyen (QLD) – Midfielder/Forward
H: 190cm, W: 88kg
· Brisbane Lions Academy player
· Big bodied inside mid who can move forward
· Nat Fyfe style midfielder
· May be slow but is strong contested and wins clearances
· Reads the ball in the air
Selection 30: Gold Coast Suns
Mitch Maguire (NSW) – Midfielder
H: 176cm, W: 75kg
· Mature, 20 year old NEAFL player
· Gold Coast reach for the value mature selection ahead of GWS
· Averaged 27 possessions and 5 clearances in the NEAFL
· In the mould of Dayne Zorko
Selection 31: Melbourne
Noah Gown (VIC) – Key Forward
H: 193cm, W: 91kg
· Slightly undersized but strongly built key forward
· Melbourne need a Hogan replacement
· Smart, competitive forward
· Strong contested mark
Selection 32: Gold Coast Suns
Marlion Pickett (WA) – Midfielder
H: 183cm, W: 85kg
· Gold Coast to continue the mature age trend with Pickett
· Tough defender turned midfielder
· Enjoyed a breakout season in 2018 and set to follow the footsteps of former teammate Tim Kelly
Selection 33: Brisbane Lions
Will Hamill (VIC) – Defender
H: 185cm, W: 70kg
· Athletic defender with skills
· Has speed, agility and endurance
· Lightly built frame
Selection 34: Fremantle
Jack Bytel (VIC) – Midfielder
H: 188cm, W: 79kg
· Strong inside midfielder who was considered a top ten prospect 12 months ago
· Has a penetrating kick and wins the ball consistently
· Lacks speed/outside game
Selection 35: Western Bulldogs
Tom McKenzie (SA) – Midfielder
H: 184cm, W: 76kg
· Highly versatile utility
· Athletic clearance midfielder
· Inconsistent by foot
Selection 36: Essendon
Bailey Williams (VIC) – Ruck/Key Forward
H: 198cm, W: 91kg
· Undersized ruck who compensates with an excellent leap
· Super athletic
· Ability to swing forward
· WC reach to fill a list need
Selection 37: Collingwood (Matching St Kilda bid)
Will Kelly (VIC) – Key Defender
H: 193cm, W: 83kg
· Son of Craig Kelly
· Athletic key defender
· Strong rebounder for a tall
Selection 38: St Kilda
Boyd Woodcock (SA) – Small forward
H: 174cm, W: 68kg
· Mature goalkicking small forward
· Had a strong SANFL League finals series
· Can rotate through the midfield
Selection 39: Richmond
Luke Foley (WA) – Midfielder
H: 187cm, W: 75kg
· Over-age midfield talent who missed out on the draft last year
· Improved his contested game and produced a strong season
· Clean, skilful accumulator
· Can still lack strength and acceleration
Selection 40: Sydney
Tom Sparrow (SA) – Midfielder
H: 182cm, W: 81kg
· Explosive midfielder with courage
· Quick, competitive contested player
· Lacks consistency of ball use
Last edited:
