Review 2021 AFL National Draft (Part 2) | NM - JHF, GOAT, PCurtis, MBergman, JArcher

Shinboner1

Norm Smith Medallist
Aug 13, 2020
8,899
16,810
AFL Club
North Melbourne
Good spot, would he have to be on there to end up as a rookie?

God I hope we don’t pick him and he can focus on the VFL and development. Surely there could be a work around if he is a VFL player. Pay him with money from the VFL rather than the AFL soft cap.

Then take Charlie Dean as number 1 rookie.
It's been spoken about on another thread but there just isn't the cash for him in the VFL salary cap. There's like 230k for the entire team. He also offers some value with regards to forward line coverage for injury.
 

Shinboner1

Norm Smith Medallist
Aug 13, 2020
8,899
16,810
AFL Club
North Melbourne
I dont think he is a dud at all. Seems like just a bit of square peg and the list is changing. But he can play footy. And have no issues if he goes around for us.
Well we've got him for the next 2 years and I don't see him kicking out any of the kids for a spot in the best 22. Maybe you're right about the square peg thing but all I know is he hasn't shown a lot for the money he's on.
 
Oct 16, 2004
11,075
39,402
The Gasometer
AFL Club
North Melbourne
Other Teams
Kangaroos
Meet the future of your AFL club
CROWS

6 JOSH RACHELE

180cm, 81kg, Fwd Murray Bushrangers Junior club: Shepparton Swans

36 JAKE SOLIGO

180cm, 80kg, Mid/fwd Eastern Ranges Junior club: Lysterfield

44 ZAC TAYLOR

180cm, 74kg, Mid Calder Cannons Junior club: Oak Park

THE Crows landed the excitement machine in Rachele with their first pick and added the classy onballer Soligo with their second, only after a trade with Melbourne was knocked back by the AFL because the two clubs were trying to exchange picks they already had in the trade period. Adelaide then snapped up Taylor after he slid.

THOMAS-WILSON’S VERDICT: The Crows have the X-factor they need in Rachele, who is one of the most exciting players in the draft.

Taylor could be a steal.

LIONS

16 DARCY WILMOT

183cm, 76kg, Def Northern Knights Junior club: Montmorency

20 KAI LOHMANN

185cm, 76kg, Fwd GWV Rebels Junior club: Lake Wendouree

41 JAMES TUNSTILL

187cm, 76kg, Mid East Perth Junior club: Busselton

WILMOT is an all-round package, blending exhilarating offensive run with sturdy defence.

Lohmann screams X-factor with his leap, speed and agility. Tunstill is an evasive midfielder who had a promising national carnival for WA.

BATTEN’S VERDICT: Wilmot fills a key list need after Grant Birchall’s retirement and while Lohmann came as a surprise, he has upside. Tunstill adds to their midfield depth, and caps a promising draft crop from the Lions.

BLUES

27 JESSE MOTLOP

176cm, 75kg, Fwd South Fremantle Junior club: South Coogee NN THE son of Port Adelaide and Kangaroos forward Daniel Motlop was in blistering form playing eight senior games, including the WAFL grand final for South Fremantle as a pure small forward. A club that has lost Eddie Betts has drafted an elusive, crafty goal-kicker who rates highly for his inside pressure – just the kind of player Michael Voss needs on his list.

Daniel played 83 games for Port Adelaide, which meant he was short of father-son qualification. It will be Carlton’s gain.

The Blues took only one selection and now have an extra list spot for a summer rookie after Liam Jones’ recent retirement.

RALPH’S VERDICT: Slim pickings in terms of actual picks, but Voss will believe Motlop can be a round 1 starter.

CATS 24

TOBY CONWAY

205cm, 97kg, Ruck Geelong Falcons Junior club: St Mary’s

25 MITCH KNEVITT

191cm, 81kg, Mid Geelong Falcons Junior club: Grovedale

32 JAMES WILLIS

183cm, 79kg, Mid North Adelaide Junior club: Ingle Farm

48 FLYNN KROEGER

183cm, 85kg, Mid Eastern Ranges Junior club: Wandin

64 COOPER WHYTE

181cm, 73kg, Mid/fwd Geelong Falcons Junior club: Grovedale

THE Cats again went local. Conway was one of the best ruckmen in the pool, while Knevitt will add midfield height. Willis is tough as nails, and Kroeger is an explosive and strong midfielder.

THOMAS-WILSON’S VERDICT: The Cats may have found their longterm ruck option.

SUNS

5 MAC ANDREW

201cm, 74kg, utility Dandenong Stingrays Junior club: Berwick/St Joseph’s Ferntree Gully

63 CHARLIE CONSTABLE

191cm, 86kg, Mid Geelong AFL Pre-draft concessions

BODHI UWLAND

185cm, 84kg, Def/mid Gold Coast Academy Junior club: Broadbeach

SANDY BROCK

198cm, 96kg, Def Peel Thunder/Gold Coast Academy Junior club: Palmerston

AFTER pre-listing Academy pair Uwland and Brock, Gold Coast’s focus was pick 3. It used it to take a player with, arguably, the highest upside in this year’s pool. The Suns gave Constable a lifeline.

PINTO’S VERDICT: Uwland can have an impact across half-back, Constable helps fill the Hugh Greenwood void and Andrew could be anything. A big tick.

GIANTS

3 FINN CALLAGHAN

191cm, 86kg, Mid Sandringham Dragons Junior club: Mordialloc/ Braeside

15 LEEK ALEER

195cm, 81kg, Def Central District Junior club: Central District

42 JOSH FAHEY 187cm, 77kg, Def Giants Academy Junior club: Queanbeyan

CALLAGHAN is a dangerous offensive threat with his booming kick and unparalleled speed-agility mix as a midfielder, allowing him to weave through traffic.

Aleer had a breakout season as an intercepting key-defender. Fahey, an academy product, won the AFL Academy medal against Geelong VFL.

BATTEN’S VERDICT: The Giants are not afraid to make a brave call and Aleer has one of the highest ceilings in this draft. Callaghan looms as a future superstar, and the late bid for Fahey was the icing on the cake.

HAWKS

7 JOSH WARD

183cm, 77kg, Mid Northern Knights Junior club: Fitzroy JFC

23 SAM BUTLER 184cm, 73kg, Mid GWV Rebels Junior club: Lake Wendouree

26 CONNOR MACDONALD 184cm, 77kg, Mid Dandenong Stingrays Junior club: Doveton

53 JAI SERONG 192cm, 80kg, Swingman Gippsland Power Junior club: Warragul

HAWKS fan Ward is a blue-chip choice.

Premiership Tiger Dan Butler said younger brother Sam, Hawthorn’s second selection, plays like Zak Butters and Trent Cotchin.

LANDSBERGER’S VERDICT: This haul has new coach Sam Mitchell’s fingerprints all over it – quality characters and natural footballers.

DEMONS

19 JACOB VAN ROOYEN 194cm, 88kg, utility Claremont Junior club: Claremont

39 BLAKE HOWES 190cm, 79kg, Mid/fwd Sandringham Dragons Junior club: Mordialloc-Braeside

65 TAJ WOEWODIN 183cm, 77kg, Mid East Fremantle Junior club: Booragoon JFC

VAN Rooyen is another high-marking swingman who showed playing for the WAFL Colts and in five senior WAFL games he has a bright future.

The Dees can afford to give him time given their elite stocks of talls but as they have shown in recent years, they barely miss with picks inside 50.

RALPH’S VERDICT: The premiers rarely get the cream in the next draft but with a hugely talented swingman and a versatile wing/halfforward they can’t go wrong.

ROOS

1 JASON HORNE- FRANCIS 185cm, 81kg, Mid South Adelaide Junior club: Christie Beach

22 JOSH GOATER 190cm, 79kg, Mid Calder Cannons Junior club: Sunbury FC/ Sunbury College

35 PAUL CURTIS 183cm, 73kg, Fwd Western Jets Junior club: Melton South FNC/Keilor FC

38 MILLER BERGMAN 188cm, 65kg, Def/fwd Dandenong Stingrays Junior club: Berwick FC/ Mazenod College

59 JACKSON ARCHER 183cm, 70kg, Def Northern Knights Jnr club: Park Orchard

FC McFARLANE’S VERDICT: Strap yourselves in Roos fans, this is going to be some ride. In a decade or so, we might look back on this draft as a key moment in the club’s quest for that elusive fifth flag.

MAGPIES

4 NICK DAICOS 183cm, 73kg, Mid Oakleigh Chargers Junior club: Kew Rovers

45 ARLO DRAPER 185cm, 76kg, Mid/fwd South Adelaide Junior club: Willunga FC

49 COOPER MURLEY 180cm, 71kg, Mid Norwood Junior club: Tea Tree Gully

52 HARVEY HARRISON 181cm, 71kg, Mid/fwd North Adelaide Junior club: Tyndale Christian College

EXPECT Daicos to play across half-back initially with some cameo midfield time. Some consider Draper a steal.

McFARLANE’S VERDICT: It’s “Generation Next” for the Pies, with Thursday night’s haul adding to the wave of young talent coming into the club across the past 12 months.

Craig McRae has plenty to look forward to next year.

BOMBERS 13 BEN HOBBS 183cm, 79kg, Mid GWV Rebels Junior club: Horsham Demons

46 ALASTAIR LORD 180cm, 75kg, Def Norwood Junior club: Rostrevor College

50 GARRETT MCDONAGH

183cm, 81kg, Def/mid Richmond (VFL) Junior club: West Preston

HOBBS was touted as a likely top-10 pick but slid to the Bombers, boosting a quality midfield. You can expect Hobbs to make his debut next year, while Lord looms as a developing type as a dashing half-back flanker.

McDonagh is a 25-yearold rebounding defender who can also play on a wing or at half-forward.

TURNER’S VERDICT: A nice draft hand on paper.

Hobbs is considered a potential future captain and looks a bargain at 13, while Lord is a speedy, Nick Hind type.

DOCKERS

8 JYE AMISS 196cm, 83kg, Fwd East Perth Junior club: Busselton

10 NEIL ERASMUS 190cm, 82kg, Mid Subiaco Junior club: Sorrento- Duncraig/Hale

21 MATT JOHNSON 190cm, 78kg, Mid Subiaco Junior club: North Beaches

54 ERIC BENNING 196cm, 84kg, Fwd/ruck Claremont Junior club: Waringarri Crows

FREMANTLE knocked back significant interest for the first pick of the second night to take another West Australian.

Matt Johnson will add class on the outside.

PINTO’S VERDICT: With such a strong draft hand, the Dockers needed to nail their early picks.

And they did, filling voids in the midfield and inside-50.

POWER 12 JOSH SINN

186cm, 78kg, Def Sandringham Dragons Junior club: Camperdown

55 HUGH JACKSON

182cm, 72kg, Mid North Adelaide Junior club: Crystal Brook

56 DANTE VISENTINI 201cm, 88kg, Ruck/Fwd Sandringham Dragons Junior club: Xavier College

60 JASE BURGOYNE 185cm, 70kg, Mid/Def Woodville-West Torrens Junior club: Henley High

GRABBED a little bit of everything: a classy, dashing half-back/mid, a ball magnet, an aggressive ruck/forward and a silky father-son prospect.

TURNER’S VERDICT: Getting Sinn outside the top 10 will be viewed as a coup. His weapons complement the young stars Port already has.

Burgoyne has the talent to become a steal.

TIGERS

9 JOSH GIBCUS 196cm, 87kg, Def GWV Rebels Junior club: Eastpoint

17 TOM BROWN 186cm, 77kg, Def Murray Bushrangers Junior club: Mooroopna

28 TYLER SONSIE 181cm, 77kg, Mid Eastern Ranges Junior club: Lysterfield

29 SAMUEL BANKS 186cm, 73kg, Def Tasmania Junior club: Clarence

30 JUDSON CLARKE 179cm, 69kg, Fwd Dandenong Stingrays Junior club: East Ringwood

GIBCUS is an intercept marking freak in the mould of Jake Lever.

Brown has pace and takes a strong intercept mark.

RALPH’S VERDICT: The Tigers nailed it. They’ve stockpiled elite defensive talent and added an exciting goalsneak (Clarke) as well as a Trent Cotchin clone in Sonsie.

SAINTS

11 NASIAH WANGANEEN-MILERA 187cm, 71kg, Midfielder Glenelg Junior club: Marion

33 MITCHITO OWENS 190cm, 85kg, Forward Sandringham Dragons Junior club: Beaumaris

47 MARCUS WINDHAGER 185cm, 85kg, Midfielder Sandringham Dragons Junior club: Beaumaris

51 OSCAR ADAMS 198cm, 85kg, Defender Glenelg Junior club: Compton

ALL eyes on Nasiah, the nephew of Gavin Wanganeen, who is now a teammate of Jarryn Geary, who played with his father, Terry, seven years ago. The Saints matched a bid for powerful mid Owens by giving up picks 48 and 54.

LANDSBERGER VERDICT: The Saints targeted class and desperately wanted a key defender. Wanganeen brings the class.

SWANS

18 ANGUS SHELDRICK 179cm 88kg, Mid Claremont Junior club: Mosman Park

34 MATT ROBERTS 184cm, 84kg, Mid South Adelaide Junior club: Langhorne Creek

40 COREY WARNER 182cm, 72kg, Mid East Fremantle Junior club: Willetton

58 LACHLAN RANKIN 184cm, 74kg, Mid/Fwd Oakleigh Chargers Junior club: Beverley Hills

THE Swans have boosted their young midfield stocks. Sheldrick bolted into top-30 contention late in the year and fellow Sandgroper Warner is skilful and effective on the outside.

TURNER’S VERDICT: Sydney is building its generation-next midfield.

Roberts has the potential to play from the outset.

BULLDOGS

2 SAM DARCY 204cm, 93kg, Utility Oakleigh Chargers Junior club: Glen Iris/ Scotch College

43 ARTHUR JONES 179cm, 65kg, Wing Claremont Junior club: Mount Barker

61 LUKE CLEARY 189cm, 80kg, def Sandringham Dragons Junior club: Beaumaris

SAM Darcy went by the nickname “Unicorn” this year because his imposing physique is so rare. Much like Max and Ben King, rivals can’t believe the frame this athletic teenager has and it has some thinking he might be the next Paul Salmon.

LANDSBERGER’S VERDICT: Whenever a grand finalist banks the No.2 player in the draft, it is clearly one of the big winners. Cleary can learn from Alex Keath, who turns 30 in January, as an intercepting defender.

EAGLES

14 CAMPELL L CHESSER 186cm, 83kg, Def Sandringham Dragons Junior club: Lavington Panthers

31 BRADY HOUGH 189cm, 74kg, Mid/fwd Peel Thunder Junior club: Harvey

37 RHETT BAZZO 195cm, 79kg, Def Swan Districts Junior club: Guilford Grammar

57 JACK WILLIAMS 194cm, 95kg, Fwd East Fremantle Junior club: Rossmoyne

62 GREG CLARK 193cm, 94kg, Mid Subiaco Junior club: Sorrento Duncraig

THOMAS-WILSON’S VERDICT: West Coast fans may be disappointed the Eagles did not pick up WA young gun Matt Johnson with their first pick. But this could be lessened if Bazzo develops like some think he can.

Long story short - all 18 teams get a tick. Everyone got exactly what they wanted and have set themselves up for their next push up the ladder or for a flag. Everyone's a winner!
 

Nutjob

Premiership Player
Oct 23, 2014
3,075
5,258
AFL Club
North Melbourne
The end result was pointless

Easy in hindsight but we also could have just taken Bazzo instead of Curtis and that would have been good too

You’re right it is easy in ‘hindsight.’

Words of wisdom from the great TZ. ‘ If you try anything in life and you fail, it’s pointless.’


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com
 
Mar 16, 2001
23,964
55,788
Melbourne VIC
AFL Club
North Melbourne
Other Teams
Wales, Eastwood, West Ham
We have no way of knowing a) what our recruiters’ list looked like or b) what they were hearing/expecting other clubs to do, so we aren’t in any position to guess whether the trading of spots worked 100% as planned or not. All we know for sure is that North drafted with a better hand than the one we were originally dealt.

Really excited with the group of players we got, based on the usual perspective of a fan who doesn’t watch junior footy but reads a lot at this time and listens to posters who have shown their voices are worth respecting.

On the surface it was a surprise not to get a tall defender, but this time last year a lot of people said the same about a tall forward - since then, Larkey has come on better than expected and we’ve seen there was a successful plan to trade CCJ in. We’ve got good people working on the list, a lot of talent at the club, and we have patience and time. Looking forward with confidence.
 

Shinboner1

Norm Smith Medallist
Aug 13, 2020
8,899
16,810
AFL Club
North Melbourne
Long story short - all 18 teams get a tick. Everyone got exactly what they wanted and have set themselves up for their next push up the ladder or for a flag. Everyone's a winner!
Just don't look at the WC boards. They're still going off.
 

Chrono_hk

Rookie
Mar 21, 2021
46
166
AFL Club
North Melbourne
Not too stressed about not picking up a KPD for the following reasons:

  • We're not contending for a flag so we can take time to build the list properly without list cloggers
  • Nobes has shown his desire to not pigeonhole players into one position. He is looking to develop multi positional type of footballers
  • Tarrant is a big loss, but McKay really stepped up in his absence and we almost forgot the gaping hole when Taz wasn't available
  • Once upon a time we only viewed Taz as a KPF until we threw him down back. There are still options for players on our list to follow a similar path (KPF is a more difficult position than KPD)

Just my two cents on the matter
 
Last edited:

the flying ham

Cancelled
Dec 12, 2006
7,403
16,059
AFL Club
North Melbourne
Not too stressed about not picking up a KPD for the following reasons:

  • We're not contending for a flag so we can take time to build the list properly without list cloggers
  • Nobes has shown his desire to not pigeonhole players into one position. He is looking to develop multi positional type of footballers
  • Tarrant is a big loss, but McKay really stepped up in his absence and we almost forgot the gaping hole when Taz wasn't available
  • Once upon a time we only viewed Taz as a KPF until we threw him down back. There are still options for players on our list to follow a similar path (KPF is a more difficult position than KPD)

Just my two cents on the matter
Club seems bullish on mcguiness too. We might run only two kpds like WB and a couple mid sized players. Not all is lost by not drafting a player 16 other clubs also repeatedly overlooked
 
The end result was pointless

Easy in hindsight but we also could have just taken Bazzo instead of Curtis and that would have been good too
Actually it wasn't pointless.

Just had a look at the BF phantom draft and you can get a sense of where they would've went.

Pick 38 - Melbourne - Judson Clarke
Pick 39 - Sydney - Paul Curtis
Pick 40 - Brisbane - Alastair Lord
Pick 41 - North Melbourne - Jack Williams
Pick 42 - North Melbourne - Arthur Jones

Clarke went at 30, Curtis went at 35, Arthur Jones went at 43.


So it looks like we moved in closer to try to nab a Clarke or Curtis and we got Curtis. We also got ahead of Melbourne for Bergman as their trade with Adelaide was blocked.
 
Last edited:
Mar 16, 2001
23,964
55,788
Melbourne VIC
AFL Club
North Melbourne
Other Teams
Wales, Eastwood, West Ham
Collingwood had an excellent draft.
Looks like it - and the Callaghan part was last year‘s decision so not really relevant to how they came out given what they started with going in this time.
 
Jul 10, 2008
4,789
14,155
Townsville
AFL Club
North Melbourne
Maybe it’s all part of the master plan to finish at the low end again next year, we can leak goals but get the midfield built up and firing.
Then come ‘22 draft we snag some KPP’s for down back and in ‘23 we roll into the 8 and kick arse and don’t leak goals.

🤫🤫🤫

This is an eye-opening comment. And brilliant if that’s what’s happening.

Hawthorn have, and probably will, remain more competitive because they’ve invested in a solid backline. It will also keep them out of the pointy end of the draft.

Very interesting.
 

darko

Brownlow Medallist
Sep 28, 2016
10,593
16,717
AFL Club
North Melbourne
This is an eye-opening comment. And brilliant if that’s what’s happening.

Hawthorn have, and probably will, remain more competitive because they’ve invested in a solid backline. It will also keep them out of the pointy end of the draft.

Very interesting.

That is not what is happening.
 
Jun 7, 2019
5,129
17,617
AFL Club
North Melbourne
So in two drafts and the MSD we’ve had 12 picks (ex rookies) and we’ve taken 1 tall plus traded for CCJ. You can’t say the list strategy isn’t clear - work it out from the middle and worry about KPDs later. Very Melbourne a’la may and lever - hopefully works out the same. Personally I’d have taken Bazzo but backing the club in
 
Jun 9, 2001
37,642
145,027
Fogarty Street
AFL Club
North Melbourne
Other Teams
St Johnstone
That is not what is happening.

I don't think the premise of Hawthorn building out from the backline has any truth to it either.

Their picks from 2-3 drafts all came on as hoped - Buddy, Roughhead, Hodge, Mitchell, Birchall. They supplemented later that with other drafted/rookied talent - Smith, Breust etc.

They filled positional needs like ruck and defensive spots via trade or FA - Frawley, Spangher, McKay, Hale, Gibson, Lake etc.

I'd say if anything they left the backline to last and basically piecemealed it.
 

ajd9 roo

Debutant
Mar 31, 2011
111
696
AFL Club
North Melbourne
Other Teams
New York Knicks
I’m getting flashbacks to the KPF need this time 12 months ago, from this. With the acquisition of CCJ & the size Comben has put on, it appears to have sorted itself out.

It is interesting that we do have pick 1 in the rookie draft & there is a guy that many consider the best young KPD outside of the AFL, available.

Despite it seeming like a no brainer, I don’t think they’re going to take him. Why? I can’t really answer that, but assume that they don’t rate him/have a trade target for next year (CCJ style).

Little out of the loop here.... who is this 'guy that many consider the best young KPD outside of the AFL, available.' ?
 
Apr 29, 2009
6,899
8,680
Melbourne
AFL Club
North Melbourne
Other Teams
Seattle Seahawks
I don't think the premise of Hawthorn building out from the backline has any truth to it either.

Their picks from 2-3 drafts all came on as hoped - Buddy, Roughhead, Hodge, Mitchell, Birchall. They supplemented later that with other drafted/rookied talent - Smith, Breust etc.

They filled positional needs like ruck and defensive spots via trade or FA - Frawley, Spangher, McKay, Hale, Gibson, Lake etc.

I'd say if anything they left the backline to last and basically piecemealed it.

Agreed. They traded in Gibson and Lake to round out an already-good team.
 
Back