Mega Thread 2013 Official Draft Thread

[MR]

Garlett will go first 30 picks. Several clubs super interested.

 

[bigstyletiger]

I just took a look at Zak Jones' highlights reel on the AFL website. It's all vision from his Champs where he played off-half back.

Of course views are going to be flawed. Put in a highlight reel of his preliminary final (which was my favourite game by any draftee this season) or anything from his last eight or so weeks in the TAC Cup and I reckon most of this board would be drooling.

KP can you describe the things about his game in the tac final that stood out? Also what do you think about his kicking.

 

[_kp_]

KP can you describe the things about his game in the tac final that stood out? Also what do you think about his kicking.

#13 – ZAK JONES
Height: 183cm, Weight: 76kg, DOB: 15/3/1995
Recruited from: Dandenong Stingrays

His end to the season had me all-in and I think he convinced everyone that he’ll be a beast of an inside midfielder within no time just like his brother, Nathan.

He’s a high-character guy who has battled a case of not really being noticed having not managed to play a game for the Stingrays in 2012. He was stuck in the back-pocket for most of the season in which he did admirably, then won Vic Country’s MVP award in the National Championships and now he’s become a legitimate midfielder all through work rate, desire and the willingness to improve. It probably doesn’t hurt having a brother like Nathan Jones who probably knows the hardships of footy all too well.
Jones’ apprenticeship in the backline has probably done him the world of good as a footballer. He is intent on not letting his opponent get a kick and people says he’s one of the best at saying a few cheeky words out on the field. He is very manic and just throws himself at everything, much in the mould of Mitch Robinson and Steve Morris. It gets to borderline crazy levels, but it just shows how much he loves being out there and he’d do anything to win. I always have time for these guys.

Jones played much of the season off half-back for the Stingrays where he was very good and he played the same role in the Champs, winning himself the MVP for Vic Country averaging 17 disposals (8 contested) at 76% efficiency. Around mid-season he moved to the midfield where he reached over 20 disposals in five of his last eight games. Jones’ efficiency is absolutely outstanding considering the weight of his disposals that are contested. He won an elite amount of contested possessions yet he still operated at 72% disposal efficiency during the TAC Cup season. He showed it was no fluke in the Champs. He also averaged an elite six tackles per game. For me, Zak Jones’ preliminary final performance against the Calder Cannons was possibly my favourite game by any prospective draftee this season. Jones won 28 disposals (20 contested by my count, but could be slightly wrong) at 86% efficiency, with 10 tackles and 10 clearances. It was an epic performance, he was brilliant. I have no doubt if we saw this production for an entire season (Jones actually playing in the midfield) he’d be a top ten pick, or he would’ve at least been top ten in this one (I was very close).

Zak has a couple of things over his brother; I think he’s a better kick and he’s also a bit quicker. Zak isn’t quick by any means, but he does have a little burst and he loves to tuck the ball under the arm and have a dash. I think he really enjoys it when he gets a bit of space. Clubs only have one recorded beep test by Jones, and that was in the pre-season in which he ran a 13.3. He didn’t do the beep test at the Combine, but I’m guessing he would’ve improved that result considerably. He was top 26% in the repeat sprints and also top 34% in the 3km time trial.

Despite the high efficiency stats, most of Jones’ kicks are long. It’s the one issue I have when he’s out in space. It’s not ‘bombs away’ like Crouch, he’s calculated and is actually aiming at someone, but it’s just not always the right option. It has nothing to do with his kicking, and saying he has poor disposal is lazy, because when he lowers the eyes he will hit the target and his kicking style is good. He doesn’t have great penetration on his kicks and I think around 50m is his limit, but I’m not recruiting him to be the next Ben Graham.

Inside the contest Jones is brilliant to watch. He won’t quit until he has the ball. You’ll often think the umpire is about to call for the ball at a stoppage and suddenly Jones has scrapped his way out of there and the play has suddenly opened up. The scary thing is, he is still a bit slight, but I think he’ll end up in the same build as Nathan, and he’s also got a couple of centimetres on him already.

I must admit, I’m taking Jones here on the back of some games at the back-end of the year where he showed that he could be a very good midfielder in the AFL. It was only some, that’s the problem, and it was through no fault of his own. I’m backing my gut on this one though, and that’s what this is all about. Zak Jones will be a very, very good footballer and I am supremely confident of that.

 

[bigstyletiger]

Ta kp. Great work

 

[Rich01]

Or this could be all smoke and mirrors

Hawks select Garlett with there 3rd round selection

Good on them. Apparently didn't rock up to another club interview as well.

Good luck getting a job in the real world skipping an interview. Perceived talent only gets you so far. Would you stump up the cash to hire a bloke with this sort of attitude into your business with your money?

 

[Snake Charmer]

Word is you guys could be taking Sam Lloyd with ur last live pick. Thoughts???
From Frankston in the VFL. Medium forward. Keeps improving, every level he plays at the just impresses so much.

 

[_kp_]

Word is you guys could be taking Sam Lloyd with ur last live pick. Thoughts???
From Frankston in the VFL. Medium forward. Keeps improving, every level he plays at the just impresses so much.

Like him. Little livewire with a good spring. Decent kick too.

 

[tigs2010]

Word is you guys could be taking Sam Lloyd with ur last live pick. Thoughts???
From Frankston in the VFL. Medium forward. Keeps improving, every level he plays at the just impresses so much.

He's my prediction for that pick in the predictions thread. Now land me a Nick Bourke at 50 and I reckon I'm home with the trifecta.

 

[ize_]

#13 – ZAK JONES
Height: 183cm, Weight: 76kg, DOB: 15/3/1995
Recruited from: Dandenong Stingrays


Zak Jones is a mad dog.

**** yeah. If he's half as good as you say he is, gimme him over Freeman every day of the week.

 

[tigs2010]

One final prayer before sleep. Please let my WC mail be wrong and deliver us one B.Lennon.

 

[Snake Charmer]

He's my prediction for that pick in the predictions thread. Now land me a Nick Bourke at 50 and I reckon I'm home with the trifecta.

You could be right with Sam. Word around his home town is that Richmond will take him at pick 60-odd. If that means anything at all

 

[tigs2010]

You could be right with Sam. Word around his home town is that Richmond will take him at pick 60-odd. If that means anything at all

That means I would be excited, that's what it means.

 

[theflea]

I just took a look at Zak Jones' highlights reel on the AFL website. It's all vision from his Champs where he played off-half back.

Of course views are going to be flawed. Put in a highlight reel of his preliminary final (which was my favourite game by any draftee this season) or anything from his last eight or so weeks in the TAC Cup and I reckon most of this board would be drooling.

Cue magic

 

[MR]

Yeah I've also heard that the Tiges like Lloyd. I don't know if he'll get to 66, maybe 50. If we don't get Lennon, I wouldn't mind us looking at Guy Dickson. Jeremy Howe Mk.II.

 

[theflea]

First of all anyone placing emphasis on interviews these days, like using references, are putting their hand up for candidates for a lunatic asylum IMO because what can be presented may well be BS that sounds like gold and is simply what the viewer wants to here. IMO the best way to analyse leadership is to evaluate how they play on the field an interact with their team leading them including through action!

As far as leadership is concerned it was brought up in relation to others equivalent to pick 12 like Sheed, Dunstan, Vlastuin of years past. I agree he may have great leadership but who knows , he isn't a Captain is he unlike others which we can draw on? Likewise Dunstan is a good handballer. Jones hasn't been labelled as such in commentary I have seen. If Jones is a great handballer all I can suggest is kick the commentators up the a... for those that have seen him and cannot express themselves about what they see more vividly and informatively for the audience they are presenting to!!!

BTW, if bigfooty info is crap which I am relying on apart from afl.com.au highlights , why are you even debating me?? lodge a complaint with afl.com.au about bias if you feel so inclined!

as kp rightly pointed out the highlights at afl.com.au are predominately about his backline play with next to no handballs particularly in line as a inside mid!! With no other vision how do I know what I don't know if the website has not apparently shown his true highlights if they are with him as an inside mid? If you think the afl.com.au highlights are misleading, please say so!

Your missing the point again. I have no issue with afl.com at all as I understand it is a marketing exercise only and not meant as a recruiting tool for bigfooty users who cant admit they have an ill informed opinion. I admit I don't know who the best players are but a smart person admits when he doesn't know something.

 

[tigs2010]

Looking at Brett Anderson's Phantom Draft for tomorrow the following guys are still up for grabs in the rookie draft

Nick Bourke
Ben Sokol
Alex Spina
Isaiah Miller
Darcy Cameron
Nick Favretto
James Toohey
Sam Lloyd
Charlie Cameron
Riley Knight
Alex Saunders
George Hampson
Louis Herbert
Ben Kearns
Brady Grey
Campbell Combe
James Tsitas
Clayton McCartney
Steven Edwards
Chris Cain
Nathan Gordon
Jared Jansen

Pretty solid list of players to choose from.

 

[ize_]

Looking at Brett Anderson's Phantom Draft for tomorrow the following guys are still up for grabs in the rookie draft

Nick Bourke
Ben Sokol
Alex Spina
Isaiah Miller
Darcy Cameron
Nick Favretto
James Toohey
Sam Lloyd
Charlie Cameron
Riley Knight
Alex Saunders
George Hampson
Louis Herbert
Ben Kearns
Brady Grey
Campbell Combe
James Tsitas
Clayton McCartney
Steven Edwards
Chris Cain
Nathan Gordon
Jared Jansen

Pretty solid list of players to choose from.

Surely not, given the "horror" that is the 2013 draft (at least in terms of depth). Would happily spend pick 68 on any of the bolded.

 

[tigs2010]

Surely not, given the "horror" that is the 2013 draft (at least in terms of depth). Would happily spend pick 68 on any of the bolded.

Amazing isn't it? Didn't think Sokol would go tbh. Should be a rookie that makes it though if his work ethic is good.

 

[_kp_]

You forgot my boy Jacka.

Thomas Shanahan also worth a go as well as Jarred Ellis, Dallas Willsmore and Errin Wasley-Black.

 

[Stylo]

Cameron would be a good get at 66. Wasn't long ago people were calling him the best ruckman in this pool.

 

[ize_]

Amazing isn't it? Didn't think Sokol would go tbh. Should be a rookie that makes it though if his work ethic is good.

Hope we have a good look at Gordon at #68. We have been linked with him from what I can gather, but there's a pretty good chance he'll be gone before our first rookie selection and given how it falls away as early as 25-30, players of his ilk will be good value at these later selections.

 

[_kp_]

Cameron would be a good get at 66. Wasn't long ago people were calling him the best ruckman in this pool.

His Combine was laughable. Not anywhere near the standard required.

 

[_kp_]

Just looking at de-listings and these are the players I'd look at from other clubs for a rookie spot.

Matt Thomas
Josh Mellington
Ryan Bathie
Richard Tambling
Fraser Dale
Tom Ledger

 

[tigs2010]

Hope we have a good look at Gordon at #68. We have been linked with him from what I can gather, but there's a pretty good chance he'll be gone before our first rookie selection and given how it falls away as early as 25-30, players of his ilk will be good value at these later selections.

I prefer Lloyd and I think he will be that choice at 66. I can't see us taking Wilson there like Anderson has, due to his lack of work ethic. Not something we tend to overlook.

DBJ at 50 would be a dream. Someone might need to check on _kp_ though and make sure he's ok

 

[tigs2010]

I'd also add Matt Thomas and Josh Mellington to the rookie prospects lists.

Forgot Mellington. Thomas isn't really available. He's already penned in at 3rd pick in worst case for him.