2007 draft revisted

[Slats]

Matthew Kreuzer's re-emergence in the past month as one of the league's best ruckmen has shown why the Blues coveted him with their priority pick in the 2007 national draft.

Kreuzer had been a standout that year with the Northern Knights in the TAC Cup. Indeed, he twice was selected in the TAC Cup teams of the year as a junior.

As reported by Fairfax Media on Sunday, Kreuzer has flourished in all key statistical areas in recent times, and was again one of the best afield in the stunning win over Greater Western Sydney on Sunday. He was awarded a combined eight votes by senior coaches Brendon Bolton and Leon Cameron, one behind best afield Sam Docherty, in the AFL Coaches Association award.

"I've had some OK years in the past but this has probably been one of my most consistent years," Kreuzer said.

That is true but in a 2007 draft that was loaded with talent, the 150-game veteran would struggle, retrospectively, to be chosen in the top 10.

The 2007 draft had Richmond skipper Trent Cotchin at No.2, Lachie Henderson at No.8, Patrick Dangerfield at No.10, Cyril Rioli at No.12, Brad Ebert at No.13, the now flourishing Robbie Tarrant at No.15, and Harry Taylor, Alex Rance and Callan Ward just inside the top 20. St Kilda midfielder Jack Steven was at No.42 and Adelaide skipper Taylor Walker at No.75 as a NSW scholarship holder.

TIME MACHINE: 2007 NATIONAL DRAFT

1PS: Matthew Kreuzer (Carlton)

2: Trent Cotchin (Richmond)

3: Chris Masten (West Coast)

4: Cale Morton (Melbourne - no longer in AFL)

5: Jarrad Grant (Western Bulldogs - now at Gold Coast)

6: David Myers (Essendon)

7: Rhys Palmer (Fremantle - now at Carlton)

8: Lachie Henderson (Brisbane - now at Geelong)

9: Ben McEvoy (St Kilda - now at Hawthorn)

10: Patrick Dangerfield (Adelaide - now at Geelong)

11: Patrick Veszpremi (Sydney - no longer in the AFL)

12: Cyril Rioli (Hawthorn)

13: Brad Ebert (West Coast - now at Port Adelaide)

14: Jack Grimes (Melbourne - no longer in AFL)

15: Robbie Tarrant (North Melbourne)

16: Matthew Lobbe (Port Adelaide)

17: Harry Taylor (Geelong)

18PS: Alex Rance (Richmond)

19: Callan Ward (Western Bulldogs - now at GWS)

20: Tony Notte (West Coast - no longer in AFL)

*PS: Priority selection


IN HINDSIGHT: JON PIERIK REVISITS THE 2007 DRAFT AND OFFERS HIS TOP 10

1: Patrick Dangerfield (originally 10, now at Geelong)

The game's premier midfielder

2: Alex Rance (18 – still at Richmond)

The game's best defender

3: Cyril Rioli (12 – still at Hawthorn)

A match-winner who has done it on the biggest stage

4: Trent Cotchin (2 – still at Richmond)

Champion midfielder but yet to prove himself in September

5: Harry Taylor (17 – still at Geelong)

Has been a star centre half-back almost from day one

6: Taylor Walker (75 NSW scholarship holder – still at Adelaide)

One of the premier power forwards

7: Callan Ward (19 by Western Bulldogs, now at GWS)

Hard-running and courageous midfielder

8: Brad Ebert (13 by West Coast, now at Port Adelaide)

Now at the peak of his powers in the midfield

9: Cale Hooker (54 – still at Essendon)

Able to play key position at either end of the ground

10: Easton Wood (43 – still at Western Bulldogs)

A crucial defensive and rebounding cog of the Dogs' 2016 flag

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-ne...1-pick-in-national-draft-20170614-gwqpnp.html

 

[SBYM]

Taylor at his peak was better than Rance, and I'd def have him before Cotchin.

 

[Jukesy85]

Thanks for reminding me we took Myers over Danger

Triggered

 

[Bunk Moreland]

Brad Ebert over Cale Hooker... wow

 

[Tulip]

Kreuzer has been very good, but he's still competing for top dog amongst second tier ruckmen at this stage. Gawn and Naitanui both out all year, Sandilands struggling to stay on the park, Goldstein over the hill.

 

[Damon_3388]

Brad Ebert over Cale Hooker... wow

I'd say they're probably as good as each other in their respective roles, and took a similar amount of time to come on as players too.

 

[Underarm]

I'd probably put Cotchin over Rioli.

Also, Give 2-3 years and Harry Taylor won't be that high.

 

[Bluelegs]

Kreuzer has been very good, but he's still competing for top dog amongst second tier ruckmen at this stage. Gawn and Naitanui both out all year, Sandilands struggling to stay on the park, Goldstein over the hill.

I don't think Kreuzer has become nearly the player he was expected to be. He's solid but he was being heralded as the next Paul Salmon pre-draft

 

[Bluelegs]

I'd probably put Cotchin over Rioli.

Also, Give 2-3 years and Harry Taylor won't be that high.

You have to consider the type of player they are and how hard they are to find.

There are midfielders who could do Cotchins job all over the league, without him it would not be too hard to draft or trade in another player to fill that hole. Rioli is so unique and so explosive and can turn games on their head.

 

[Happy Mastenator]

Brad Ebert over Cale Hooker... wow

Hooker has played 66 games less, 145-201, that's three seasons worth of games, and he did start his career slowly.

 

[Happy Mastenator]

You have to consider the type of player they are and how hard they are to find.

There are midfielders who could do Cotchins job all over the league, without him it would not be too hard to draft or trade in another player to fill that hole. Rioli is so unique and so explosive and can turn games on their head.

Cotchin is a brownlow medalist, he's had some patchy form at time, but think people like to underate how good he is.

 

[Benny78]

Rioli better than Taylor?

Rioli was good for around 2-3 years and not on a week by week basis, but in flashes.

Taylor on the other hand has been a key player consistently for a decade.

You'd only pick Rioli before Taylor if you already had a full list and had the luxury of adding cream on top.

 

[PetterdHoisted]

Taylor at his peak was better than Rance, and I'd def have him before Cotchin.

Taylor over a OIAG defender in Rance??!!

 

[Happy Mastenator]

Rioli better than Taylor?

Rioli was good for around 2-3 years and not on a week by week basis, but in flashes.

Taylor on the other hand has been a key player consistently for a decade.

You'd only pick Rioli before Taylor if you already had a full list and had the luxury of adding cream on top.

Taylor is 3 to 4 years older than the rest of the draft class. That will matter over the course of their careers.

 

[lamby]

Taylor over a OIAG defender in Rance??!!

Yeh, but Taylor has pulled Rance's pants down so many times that he does not play on him any more! A 50 goal a game (and #2 or in assists) power forward is worth more than a defender. Tex has 'won' more games than Rance. Tex has been in the mix for AA for every year he has been fit.

 

[Power Raid]

Lobbe was a steal in that draft.









drunk posting at 9am.

 

[Sylvia Saint]

We considered the highly regarded Cale Morton a steal at the time. Next in line was Rhys Palmer, if Morton was already taken. Drafting is bloody hard. Although having said that I doubt an outside rake like Morton would even go in the first round nowadays, regardless of U18 form.

 

[Milanista28]

Hooker over Ebert comfortably.

 

[coniglio_number1]

We considered the highly regarded Cale Morton a steal at the time. Next in line was Rhys Palmer, if Morton was already taken. Drafting is bloody hard. Although having said that I doubt an outside rake like Morton would even go in the first round nowadays, regardless of U18 form.

Would've liked to have seen what a coach like Roos could've done with Morton and even cook.

 

[Happy Mastenator]

We considered the highly regarded Cale Morton a steal at the time. Next in line was Rhys Palmer, if Morton was already taken. Drafting is bloody hard. Although having said that I doubt an outside rake like Morton would even go in the first round nowadays, regardless of U18 form.

2007 was also a bad time for a player who needed development ending up at Melbourne.

It would be interesting to know what could have happened for players if they'd been drafted into the "right" teams for their best chance at development.

Some players would be successful wherever they were drafted, some would fail wherever they were drafted, but there are certainly some who are made or broken by the team that picks them.

 

[Nightrain]

Danger, Rioli, Rance are big steals of the draft as are others.

Kreuzer has been cruelled by injuries but selecting a ruckman at No.1 was bound for hind sight analysis, if not for best fit.

Brad Ebert has shown he can play and deserves to be up thereabouts.

But Jack Steven at 42 is the pick for mine. Uncovering gems in the later rounds are how you make a successful team (provided you don't stuff up your earlier picks).

 

[Saintly2]

I wouldn't call Cotchin a champion midfielder.

That term is used too often.

 

[Watson_my_mind]

Pretty good effort tbh. Danger Rance and Rioli the clear three best players from the draft. Everyone after is needs basis

 

[Blind Turn]

Taylor over a OIAG defender in Rance??!!

Taylor has performed brilliantly in finals, has been consistently good and has done it from the get-go. Give Rance a few more years to prove that he can reach those heights. I rate Taylor on par with what Leppitsch provided the Lions.

On career thus far you'd have; 1/Danger
2-3/ Taylor/Rioli (depending on your view of worth to a side)
4/ Rance
5/ Cotchin

 

[Viceregal]

The 2007 draft never existed ... or has at least been removed from the mental storage units of all Lions