Phantom Draft True Footy's Official 2018 Phantom Draft - Updated 21/11

[Virgin Dog]

I’ve been tossing between Smith and King at 7 for you guys Virgin.

You think B. King over Bailey Smith?

I think knowing the club, Ben King over Smith is highly likely. Seems the type of player we love on the list, but I'm worried we have too many of his type (Cordy, Naughton, Young as swingmen would all be selected ahead of him at this stage)

I'd hope it's Bailey Smith if he's available at our pick, but my dream scenario would honestly be trading in another first rounder (possibly grabbing Ports 10 and 15 in return for our 7 and 27, something like that) so we can get a second pick in before Rhylee West is bid on. I'd rather end up with something like:
10 - Clark
15 - Sturt

 

[Stifler's mom]

If the Crows had the chance to get Max King at pick 9, would they "gamble" on nominating Tarryn Thomas?

 

[winalotroos]

If the Crows had the chance to get Max King at pick 9, would they "gamble" on nominating Tarryn Thomas?

Agree I don’t see why they would nominate Thomas if you know there is no hope of getting him, and there are quality players still there.

 

[theGav56]

I like the players you have selected for us, but not really a fan of the combination; 3 midfielders seems overkill following on from last year's haul. Would be hoping the club manages to grab one of Sturt/Hill/McHenry or Taylor in there somewhere.

 

[dajesmac]

Great effort ,but wat u have for Richmond's first pick a small forward have plenty of em inside midfielder or outside midfielder not a small forward definitely no

Sent from my EVA-L09 using Tapatalk

I'm pretty doubtful that we'd take Caldwell, given we have an abundance of inside kids already and will be getting Rhylee West (a pure in and under type player). Feel like Jordan Clark would be the more likely pick for us there. Also you have us taking a 3rd mid at pick 35 which just makes it stranger to me

Fair enough, thanks for the feedback lads. I'll consider this in the next edit.

Brisbane matched Macfadyen, losing pick 30 but where's Brisbane's pick 35 gone?

Dang, I knew there was going to be at least one academy related error. I'll fix it in the next edit.

 

[dajesmac]

I like the players you have selected for us, but not really a fan of the combination; 3 midfielders seems overkill following on from last year's haul. Would be hoping the club manages to grab one of Sturt/Hill/McHenry or Taylor in there somewhere.

True. I do feel like Fremantle are pretty 'best available' oriented though, and I think RCD, Stack and Sparrow are great prospects. Stack at least provides a mid/fwd option which maybe your young side lacks.

 

[dajesmac]

Are you blokes drinking Bush Chooks?

Can't say no to a Bush Chook.

 

[theGav56]

True. I do feel like Fremantle are pretty 'best available' oriented though, and I think RCD, Stack and Sparrow are great prospects. Stack at least provides a mid/fwd option which maybe your young side lacks.

Yes, I can see that's what you have done for us. If the club feels that one of Switkowski, Crowden or Giro can lock into a small forward/mid role, and that Medhat is a likely type as a medium forward, then I am fine with that. But our list is a little unbalanced as it is, and I am hoping we can peg that back here and there.

 

[M Malice]

I can't see us taking Ely Smith with our first selection, an inside mid when we already have Jarrod Berry and Rhys Mathieson as young inside mids, I also see Cameron Rayner as eventually being an inside contested beast who causes damage floating/resting forward, on top of that we have Lachie Neale and Jarryd Lyons as our more mature inside mids who both have 5-6 years left in the system.

I'd be hoping we'd take Chayce Jones > Jez McClennan before Ely Smith who were available at that selection.

 

[Flying_as_One1991]

Would be over the moon to grab Max King at our first pick but highly unlikely

 

[dajesmac]

I can't see us taking Ely Smith with our first selection, an inside mid when we already have Jarrod Berry and Rhys Mathieson as young inside mids, I also see Cameron Rayner as eventually being an inside contested beast who causes damage floating/resting forward, on top of that we have Lachie Neale and Jarryd Lyons as our more mature inside mids who both have 5-6 years left in the system.

I'd be hoping we'd take Chayce Jones > Jez McClennan before Ely Smith who were available at that selection.

I actually picked Smith over Jones on the basis that between Zorko, Neale and Taylor your midfield was looking a bit midgety if you added another sub-181cm mid.

Rayner I expect will become a midfielder but with his skillset you'd rather be the player you dish it off to rather than the first player at the ball drop. In that way I think he and Smith are very different players.

 

[briztoon]

I actually picked Smith over Jones on the basis that between Zorko, Neale and Taylor your midfield was looking a bit midgety if you added another sub-181cm mid.

Rayner I expect will become a midfielder but with his skillset you'd rather be the player you dish it off to rather than the first player at the ball drop. In that way I think he and Smith are very different players.

Lions head of recruiting said size does not influence their decisions. Pick the best player available at our first pick. That’s Jones by a mile.

Look for need with later picks.

Plus our own academy kid, Connor McFadyen is 190cm, so we’re sorted for that big bodied midfielder this draft.

 

[dajesmac]

Lions head of recruiting said size does not influence their decisions. Pick the best player available at our first pick. That’s Jones by a mile.

Look for need with later picks.

Plus our own academy kid, Connor McFadyen is 190cm, so we’re sorted for that big bodied midfielder this draft.

I mean it's not uncommon for a recruiter to straight bat a question like that. But I take your point.

In my next edition I'm currently thinking Jones may be gone by your first pick anyhow.

 

[briztoon]

I mean it's not uncommon for a recruiter to straight bat a question like that. But I take your point.

In my next edition I'm currently thinking Jones may be gone by your first pick anyhow.

We expect him to be gone by our pick.

 

[Crow till I die]

Would be over the moon to grab Max King at our first pick but highly unlikely

If that happened i would hope that rankine ends up at st kilda as in 2 years time when they both request trades home we can just do a straight swap

 

[Scham]

Good job but I like Butters or Jones before RCD for our first pick and word is we’re super keen on both.

 

[Gosaints12]

I’m gonna put it out there, I’ve seen Lukosius play local footy and I don’t rate the kid at all. If I was the Suns I’d be taking Max King or Sam Walsh, (if Carlton don’t take Walsh) at 2 and I’d take Rankine, (Rankine could crack it and come home though) or Rozee at three. There’s also a rumour going round that Lukosius said he wouldn’t play for the Suns, and begged not to get drafted there.

P.S I take Smith or B. King at six.

 

[Gosaints12]

If that happened i would hope that rankine ends up at st kilda as in 2 years time when they both request trades home we can just do a straight swap

I’m down for that

 

[dajesmac]

Just edited it with an update.

 

[Smythe]

That's a great first pick for the Tigers. Hope it goes that way on the night.

 

[Johnny Bananas]

Mitch Maguire (QLD) – Midfielder

Pretty sure he used to be Giants academy, so he's from NSW/ACT.

As for the picks, I'd probably prefer Stocker for Brisbane but McLennan isn't a bad pick. So too, I'd probably choose Berry or Stack over McKenzie.

 

[Suma Magic]

Just edited it with an update.

I like it.

I don’t necessarily want him, but I can definitely see us picking Williams. It is definitely a lost need. I wouldn’t be unhappy. And you’d guess it’s 20 and not 22 as the Crows are keen for a ruck, apparently.

 

[Gosaints12]

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
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 5: Port Adelaide
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 6: Sydney Swans (Matching Gold Coast 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 7: Gold Coast Suns
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 8: Western Bulldogs
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 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
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 12: Port Adelaide
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 13: GWS Giants
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 14: Geelong
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
The Cats go against list need and pick best available.

Selection 15: Adelaide
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 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
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 18: Adelaide
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 19: Richmond
Ely Smith (VIC) – Midfielder
H: 188cm, W: 86kg
· Big bodied inside mid
· Strong clearance player
· Explosive and tested well athletically

Selection 20: Brisbane Lions
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 21: Collingwood (Matching GWS 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 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
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 24: West Coast Eagles
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 25: 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 26: West Coast Eagles
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 27: 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 28: 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 29: 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 30: 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 31: Melbourne
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 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
Tom McKenzie (SA) – Midfielder
H: 184cm, W: 76kg
· Highly versatile utility
· Athletic clearance midfielder
· Inconsistent by foot

Selection 34: West Coast Eagles (Matching Fremantle bid)
Jarrod Cameron (WA) – Forward/Midfielder
H: 180cm, W: 69kg
· West Coast Academy Player
· Brother of Charlie Cameron
· High potential explosive forward/midfielder

Selection 35: 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 36: Western Bulldogs
Will Hamill (VIC) – Defender
H: 185cm, W: 70kg
· Athletic defender with skills
· Has speed, agility and endurance
· Lightly built frame

Selection 37: Essendon
Tom Sparrow (SA) – Midfielder
H: 182cm, W: 81kg
· Explosive midfielder with courage
· Quick, competitive contested player
· Lacks consistency of ball use

Selection 38: 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 39: St Kilda
Jack Ross (VIC) – Midfielder
H: 186cm, W: 85kg
· Strong bodied clearance winner
· High work rate and uses it well
· Saints need mids and pick for need after taking Max King

Selection 40: Richmond
Damon Greaves (WA) – Defender
H: 186cm, W: 74kg
· Medium defender with good footskills
· Makes good decisions and is generally composed
· Strong intercept player
· Will need to improve his strength

I doubt a bid for Thomas will come before Clark and B. King are gone

 

[The Warlord]

Good call on GWS bidding for Thomas. They rate him.

 

[LemmingMaster]

I’m gonna put it out there, I’ve seen Lukosius play local footy and I don’t rate the kid at all. If I was the Suns I’d be taking Max King or Sam Walsh, (if Carlton don’t take Walsh) at 2 and I’d take Rankine, (Rankine could crack it and come home though) or Rozee at three. There’s also a rumour going round that Lukosius said he wouldn’t play for the Suns, and begged not to get drafted there.

P.S I take Smith or B. King at six.

What aspect did you not like?

Watching him at the champs and SANFL he looked very good.