2008 phantom draft

[naita]

but can he play a forward role well? how well - was it only because of his physical advantage over kids his age?

 

[Silvagnis]

It's funny how after the champs he was a sure top-5 pick who could play FB, CHB, CHF or FF. Now, after a subpar sprint time at draft camp he's being pegged as a slow FB. I think when teams come to pick, they'll pay a lot more weight to what Hurley's done on the field than at draft camp. He's a gun player. I hope he slides all the way down to 13. I doubt he will. He should go a lot closer to 5 than 13.

Raise your hand if you've seen Nathan Brown match it with Brendan Fevola on a lead.

2006 NAB AFL Draft Camp Results

Repeat Sprints - 30 metres

Simon Hogan - 24.67 sec
Tim Houlihan - 24.72 sec
Clint Benjamin - 24.74 sec
Joe Anderson - 24.76 sec
Nathan Djerrkura - 25.00 sec
Nathan Brown - 25.07 sec
Nathan Krakouer - 25.08 sec
Mark Austin - 25.09 sec
Mitchell Brown - 25.34 sec
Jarryd Allen - 25.36 sec

20-metre sprint

Nathan Krakouer - 2.83 sec
Nathan Djerrkura - 2.90 sec
Nathan Brown - 2.91 sec
Simon Hogan - 2.91 sec
Brock O'Brien - 2.92 sec
Shaun Grigg - 2.92 sec
Ben Reid - 2.93 sec
Ben Ross - 2.94 sec
Clint Benjamin - 2.95 sec
Travis Boak - 2.96 sec

 

[Cruiser23]

but can he play a forward role well? how well - was it only because of his physical advantage over kids his age?

Ask HBF what he thinks of Hurley as a forward.

Arguably just as good up forward as he is down back, he just reads the play so well and like Ziebell, would run through a brick wall to get his hands on the footy. What does it matter if he used his physical advantage? What's to say he couldn't become stronger and use an advantage at AFL level?

 

[naita]

Ask HBF what he thinks of Hurley as a forward.

Arguably just as good up forward as he is down back, he just reads the play so well and like Ziebell, would run through a brick wall to get his hands on the footy. What does it matter if he used his physical advantage? What's to say he couldn't become stronger and use an advantage at AFL level?

nothing wrong with using his physical advantage but i think recruiters understand that these kids wont be the biggest fish in the afl. look at hawkins - killed his 18s carnival and even though hes had some niggling injuries he hasnt yet been able to cut it in a team that has been crying out for a key forward.

its easy to look good when youre playing on someone half your size, its when hes up against brown who he cant outmuscle or reivoldt who he cant outrun or buddy who he cant out-anything in three years time that the problem occurs.

anyway, my point isnt so much directed at hurley as it is at backmen. bock would probably be the only kdp that i couldsee carlton giving up their pick six for at the moment. is hurley going to be as good as bock (even then, bock is more highly regarded not so much for his defence work but for his rebound)? who knows, but id hazard a guess and say that at pick six in this year's draft they could pick a more damaging player. i think the recruiters of many clubs may agree but you never know.

he might be worth it in my books if he has as much promise as a guy like johnson in the forward line but if its just being done with hawkins-like physicality then i dont think hes worth the early pick.

 

[Cruiser23]

nothing wrong with using his physical advantage but i think recruiters understand that these kids wont be the biggest fish in the afl. look at hawkins - killed his 18s carnival and even though hes had some niggling injuries he hasnt yet been able to cut it in a team that has been crying out for a key forward.

its easy to look good when youre playing on someone half your size, its when hes up against brown who he cant outmuscle or reivoldt who he cant outrun or buddy who he cant out-anything in three years time that the problem occurs.

anyway, my point isnt so much directed at hurley as it is at backmen. bock would probably be the only kdp that i couldsee carlton giving up their pick six for at the moment. is hurley going to be as good as bock (even then, bock is more highly regarded not so much for his defence work but for his rebound)? who knows, but id hazard a guess and say that at pick six in this year's draft they could pick a more damaging player. i think the recruiters of many clubs may agree but you never know.

he might be worth it in my books if he has as much promise as a guy like johnson in the forward line but if its just being done with hawkins-like physicality then i dont think hes worth the early pick.

We are going to have to agree to disagree because footballers like Hurley are hard to find and 13 is way to low for someone like him.

From your post it seems you doubt Toms ability and think the only reason he did so well in the under 18's comp was because of his physical advantage. You will be shocked at how Hawkins' form during the Under 18 carnival will come to fruition in the AFL, he is way way more than just a strong body and so is Hurley.