2013 Phantom Draft - GrandBlue

[GrandBlue]

3rd update, getting serious now that the Championships are over. Added mini descriptions now, as well as the reason I think they'll be selected.

Pick #1 - GWS - Tom Boyd:
Comparison: Tom Hawkins
Description: A Big Marking, 199cm Power Forward. A bit slow, but still a gun.
Why: It's the no-brainer of the draft. People will argue that GWS already haven plenty of Key-Forwards, but they have plenty in every other position on the ground as well. Add to that, Patton has an injury cloud over him, so at this stage, I don't think there's any doubt GWS will take Boyd at #1.

Pick #2 - Melbourne - Josh Kelly:
Comparison: Marc Murphy
Description: Outside Midfielder/Receiver with elite endurance & kicking. Very light, but wins a lot of the ball.
Why: Aish is the best available, but I have a strong feeling they'll select Kelly here. Victorian Factor complete with a superb Championship Series + the fact that they were keen on him in the mini-draft is enough to convince me that Melbourne will select Kelly here. Some say they need an Inside Midfielder like Dunstan, and while I agree, I also believe they pretty much need everything barring a Key-Forward.

Pick #3 - St. Kilda - James Aish:
Comparison: Gary Ablett Jnr
Description: Gun All-Round Midfielder. Elite kick that hits targets lace-out and evades traffic comfortably.
Why: This selection isn't even worth discussing. Aish is clearly the most talented player available at this pick and would add plenty of much-needed spark & flair to the Saints' lackluster midfield. Dunstan or Scharenberg might be worth considering, but I'm not sure the former has enough talent & I think Aish fills a more pressing need for the St.Kilda than Scharenberg.

Pick #4 - Western Bulldogs - Matt Scharenberg:
Comparison: Andrew Mackie
Description: Tall, versatile player, but has played predominantly in defense. Very athletic and reads the play well.
Why: Jason McCartney said in an interview at the half-time break of the SA/WA Game that the Bulldogs will go best available & I believe him. I also think most recruiters would rate Scharenberg as the best available selection here. I do however think he's slightly overrated.

Pick #5 - Brisbane Lions - Dom Sheed:
Comparison: Pending
Description: Prolific Ball-Winner with nice evasive ability, great vision & good goal sense.
Why: A Broken Collarbone isn't going to change where he gets selected, and I think he's definitely the best available here, which is convenient for Brisbane, as he's exactly what they need, a very damaging midfielder who can win his own ball. One would imagine he'd be the successor to Simon Black.

Pick #6 - Gold Coast - Darcy Gardiner:
Comparison: Luke McPharlin
Description: Quick, Aggressive Key-Back that's strong 1v1 and offers good rebound. Maybe a bit undersized.
Why: Had a lot of trouble deciding who goes here. Had Dunstan originally, then Bontempelli, then Dunstan again but ultimately, I think they will go with Gardiner. Might not be the best available, but as the Gold Coast showed last year with Lonergan, sometimes drafting on a needs basis works out perfectly fine. I think their midfield is just about set, they're just short on KPPs at the moment. I actually think the Gold Coast should offer this pick to the Saints for Riewoldt.

Pick #7 - North Melbourne - Luke McDonald:
Comparison: Michael Hibberd
Description: You've heard enough about him.
Why: Why not? Unfortunately, if Port, the masters of bidding for F/S Prospects finish above them, then North might be a chance of getting him in the second round. Fingers crossed they're forced to take him here like they should.

Pick #8 - West Coast - Christian Salem:
Comparison: Joel Selwood
Description: Tough, Strong Inside Midfielder who also has plenty of pace & flair. Great goal sense as well.
Why: Smokey pick here, but I think Salem is a gun and has even more upside than Dunstan. West Coast's midfield is looking sluggish and predictable at the moment so adding extra bit of class would be very high on the agenda. Dayle Garlett & Marcus Bontempelli will also be strongly considered here.

Pick #9 - Port Adelaide - Luke Dunstan:
Comparison: Michael Voss
Description: Hardened, Ready-Made Inside Midfielder with good pace, skills & leadership qualities.
Why: Think the Power would be rapt to get him at Pick 9, although I think it's about right. Definitely one of the best players in the Championships, he along with Olly Wines would make for one of the toughest young midfields in the competition. Home-Grown as well.

Pick #10 - GWS - Jack Billings:
Comparison: Mark LeCras
Description: Classy Forward with nice skills and knows where the goals are. Questions over his endurance & ability to play midfield.
Why: Some think he's top 5 material, but because he spent the majority of the Championships playing up forward, I beg to differ. Still a very talented player, and gives GWS some much needed X-Factor.

Pick #11 - Carlton - Matt Crouch:
Comparison: Matthew Boyd
Description: Tough, clearance winning ball magnet.
Why: Only just returned from injury, but this is probably as far as he slips. I still think Carlton need more grunt in that midfield so Crouch is the clear choice. Like the Gold Coast, they'll also be in the hunt for a KPP, preferably a forward like Marsh.

Pick #12 - Richmond - Lewis Taylor:
Comparison: Brent Harvey
Description: Short player, but has exceptional work-rate, speed, agility & possesses a great lace-out kick. Top 5 on talent in my opinion.
Why: If this guy was 10cm taller, he'd go top 5 I think. Easily one of the most damaging players in the Championship, he'd bring a lot of flair, guts & leadership as well. Not sure he's a pressing need for the Tigers, but he's the best available. Might ponder Jonathan Marsh here.

Pick #13 - Fremantle - Jonathan Marsh:
Comparison: Lance Franklin
Description: Was originally a line-breaking midfielder before a growth spurt saw him grow to 191cm. Excellent pace for a big man, just needs to work on his marking & ability to read the play.
Why: Fremantle would be one of those teams desperate for a Key-Forward so at this point, Marsh would be the guy they select. Probably has to work on his marking, but his athleticism (and possibly his ability to shift into the midfield) means he's about as close as Fremantle will get to finding a successor to the great Matthew Pavlich in this draft.

Pick #14 - Collingwood - Trent Dumont:
Comparison: Travis Boak
Description: Pending
Why: I think with Luke Ball & Dane Swan getting on a bit, they'll target a hard-as-nails inside midfielder, and Dumont is arguably the best available. I don't think they'll go for another short player at this pick.

Pick #15 - Essendon - Marcus Bontempelli:
Comparison: Anthony Koutoufides
Description: Tall, super-athletic & has a booming kick.
Why: Should and probably will go earlier, but have him here for now. Don't think the Bombers are going to have this pick anyway.

Pick #16 - Geelong - Ben Lennon:
Comparison: Robert Murphy
Description: Forward with an excellent booming kick & strong overhead. Bit overrated. Definitely prefers scoring on the run rather than set shots.
Why: With a lot of their elite kicks inevitably retiring soon, most notable Corey Enright and Josh Hunt, I think a player of Lennon's ilk will be on the Cats' Agenda. I'd imagine he'd play a similar role to the Eagles' Shannon Hurn off half-back, but I think he looks more comfortable up forward.

Pick #17 - Sydney - Kade Kolodjashnij:
Comparison: Pending
Description: Classy, Athletic, Ball-Winning Flanker. A lot of draft gurus think he could go top 10.
Why: To be honest, I haven't seen much of him, but it's not hard to figure out why Sydney would select him. Mattner's retired & the likes of Shaw & Malceski are getting old. I actually think Dayle Garlett is a possibility to go here.

Pick #18 - Hawthorn - James Tsitas:
Comparison: Ben Cunnington
Description: Ball-Winning Midfielder with good leadership qualities. Needs to improve his skills a bit though.
Why: With the impending retirements of Mitchell, Sewell and Burgoyne among others on the horizon, the Hawks will be after a midfielder and Tsitas is probably the best available. They'll come very close to selecting Billy Hartung here as well.

------------
Round 2 coming soon.

 

[GrandBlue]

Reserved for 2nd round.

 

[GrandBlue]

Reserved for 3rd round.

 

[HereIam86]

If the Giants get Buddy via FA who do you see them going for then?

 

[GrandBlue]

Good job really good list atm, love the Gardiner pick!

Cheers.

If the Giants get Buddy via FA who do you see them going for then?

Still Boyd unfortunately. They're packed to the brim in just about every other position on the ground, so I think they'd pick Boyd simply because he's the most valuable player. In 2-3 years, they could get a lot more for Boyd or Patton than they could for someone like Aish, because there's huge demand for big, talented key-forwards.

There's that, and the fact that Boyd can also shift into the ruck, one of the rare positions GWS is short on.

 

[tigs2010]

Cheers.


Still Boyd unfortunately. They're packed to the brim in just about every other position on the ground, so I think they'd pick Boyd simply because he's the most valuable player. In 2-3 years, they could get a lot more for Boyd or Patton than they could for someone like Aish, because there's huge demand for big, talented key-forwards.

There's that, and the fact that Boyd can also shift into the ruck, one of the rare positions GWS is short on.

Spot on. They may have talented KPF's but no one who can really rotate as that 2nd ruck. Would think they'd take Boyd if they deem him best available.

 

[paul scholes]

Cheers.


Still Boyd unfortunately. They're packed to the brim in just about every other position on the ground, so I think they'd pick Boyd simply because he's the most valuable player. In 2-3 years, they could get a lot more for Boyd or Patton than they could for someone like Aish, because there's huge demand for big, talented key-forwards.

There's that, and the fact that Boyd can also shift into the ruck, one of the rare positions GWS is short on.

Yep, Boyd's going to go 1. Think most of us are hoping more than anything.
Wouldn't be unhappy with Kelly.

 

[Barrels]

There's that, and the fact that Boyd can also shift into the ruck, one of the rare positions GWS is short on.

I'm not sure I buy this line, although its picking up steam. No one has mentioned Boyd playing in the ruck, and your own comparison of him as the Carpet Snake would suggest he's not a ruckman's bootlace. KPFs are just that IMO.

Although I agree that GWS will probably snag him, even if its for the cynical purpose of using him, Patton or Cameron for massive trade bait down the track.

I'd love to see him in the colours of God's Own though. My word I would.

 

[tigs2010]

I'm not sure I buy this line, although its picking up steam. No one has mentioned Boyd playing in the ruck, and your own comparison of him as the Carpet Snake would suggest he's not a ruckman's bootlace. KPFs are just that IMO.

Although I agree that GWS will probably snag him, even if its for the cynical purpose of using him, Patton or Cameron for massive trade bait down the track.

I'd love to see him in the colours of God's Own though. My word I would.

Definitely can play ruck. Obviously not in a no.1 role but in a pinch-hitting sense to give Giles a break he could. He played that role a bit at Champs last year.

 

[GrandBlue]

I'm not sure I buy this line, although its picking up steam. No one has mentioned Boyd playing in the ruck, and your own comparison of him as the Carpet Snake would suggest he's not a ruckman's bootlace. KPFs are just that IMO.

Although I agree that GWS will probably snag him, even if its for the cynical purpose of using him, Patton or Cameron for massive trade bait down the track.

I'd love to see him in the colours of God's Own though. My word I would.

I think his style of play up forward very much resembles Gehrig, but he's also 199cm, which is solid ruck height. He played their a few times for Metro on Sunday, got two scoring shots from free kicks via ruck infringements.

As tigs said, not a permanent ruck option, but certainly could play there part-time.

 

[Barrels]

Definitely can play ruck. Obviously not in a no.1 role but in a pinch-hitting sense to give Giles a break he could. He played that role a bit at Champs last year.

'Can' and 'should' are pretty different creatures though. Despite my minute stature my old man was a ruckman, and his view was twofold; that at a pinch, forwards can play in the ruck (but shouldn't), but ruckman do not often make decent forwards; and that ruckman are born, not created (see our own Kosi). I have always been inclined to agree.

Besides, we already have a perfectly decent ruck/forward at the Saints; Rhys Stanley.

 

[tigs2010]

'Can' and 'should' are pretty different creatures though. Despite my minute stature my old man was a ruckman, and his view was twofold; that at a pinch, forwards can play in the ruck (but shouldn't), but ruckman do not often make decent forwards; and that ruckman are born, not created (see our own Kosi). I have always been inclined to agree.

Besides, we already have a perfectly decent ruck/forward at the Saints; Rhys Stanley.

Yes, but GWS don't. Hence, I think they'd take him and play him forward/ruck. Pretty similar dimensions to Patton but one can play ruck/one can't.

It will depend on the situation of the club he ends up at. You guys have a fwd/ruck. Doggies/GWS don't. If Richmond had first pick and got him we'd play him as a pure KPF. But a club has the luxury of being able to play him as the 2nd ruck if they need him to. Which GWS do.

 

[manny100]

Sheedy has challenged clubs to trade player(s) for the NO. 1 pick. GWS could do with another KPD. How is the Bullies Roughie playing? Down back? Is a trade an option given that the Bulldogs need a KPF and GWS want a KPD with some experience. Alternatively the Bulldogs and Saints may look to swap their early pick with GWS with a player thrown in. If GWS cannot or will not trade for pick one then I expect them to pick the best player in the draft - Boyd. It will be interesting. I expect a number of bids for the No 1 pick.

 

[Igloo]

Sheedy has challenged clubs to trade player(s) for the NO. 1 pick. GWS could do with another KPD. How is the Bullies Roughie playing? Down back? Is a trade an option given that the Bulldogs need a KPF and GWS want a KPD with some experience.

We wont be trading Roughead. We have hardly any KPD's as well as KPF's, and most of the ones we do have are depth (Markovic and Austin). Roughead and Talia are our only young, promising KPD's, both lifetime Bulldogs supporters, and both are no chance to be traded.

 

[GrandBlue]

Updated. Meant to do it sooner but didn't have the time.

 

[paul scholes]

I wouldn't think the Dogs would go past Scharenberg to be honest.
I know Sheed was outstanding today, but I'd take Scharenberg .

 

[SaintsSeptember]

Some of the Saints supporters want to try to trade to get Pick 1, but I'd be pretty happy to get Sheed.
You need to get the ball before you can kick it to a forward.

 

[paul scholes]

From a dog perspective I'd be happy with Scharenberg, Aish , Sheed, Kelly .
From a second round perspective I liked Reynolds in that Lucas style role.
Obviously that bloke Boyd would be handy also.
I would trade Roughy for Boyd and our first pick.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

From a dog perspective I'd be happy with Scharenberg, Aish , Sheed, Kelly .
From a second round perspective I liked Reynolds in that Lucas style role.
Obviously that bloke Boyd would be handy also.
I would trade Roughy for Boyd and our first pick.

Some of the Saints supporters are talking McEvoy for Boyd and StKilda's first pick.

 

[GrandBlue]

Another big update just completed. Revised most of the descriptions.

Not sure I'll do round two until the order is finalized. Round 1 alone feels like a lot of work.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

Another big update just completed. Revised most of the descriptions.

Not sure I'll do round two until the order is finalized. Round 1 alone feels like a lot of work.

I agree with your comment that Saints probably wont want Scharenberg. No matter how good he is we have so many players who can fill that sort of role, and so few mids, they couldn't do it. We really need mids more than forwards too, but if Boyd somehow slid we'd have to do it.
Keep up the good work.
I don't envy you trying round 2 , previous year compensation picks ,potential free agency picks, potential trades of early draft picks (inc pick 1 ). Good Luck

 

[Colin D'Cops]

Sheed looks a clone of Simon Black to me. Smart footballer, left foot, can hurt going forward but isn't overly quick.

EDIT: You mentioned him in your profile, chuck him in the comparisons!

 

[Turbocat]

Gee think that latest list looks close to my estimation. Combine might change it again of course

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Pick #16 - Geelong - Ben Lennon:
Comparison: Robert Murphy
Description: Forward with an excellent booming kick & strong overhead. Bit overrated. Definitely prefers scoring on the run rather than set shots.
Why: With a lot of their elite kicks inevitably retiring soon, most notable Corey Enright and Josh Hunt, I think a player of Lennon's ilk will be on the Cats' Agenda. I'd imagine he'd play a similar role to the Eagles' Shannon Hurn off half-back, but I think he looks more comfortable up forward.

The replacement for Josh is Cam Guthrie who is already being phased in, and the replacement for Enright (not that he is replaceable because he's such a gun, but you get the point) is Jackson Thurlow who was our first round pick last year.

What we desperately need is a quality young KPD and we will be hoping Gardiner slides to us.

 

[GrandBlue]

Pick #16 - Geelong - Ben Lennon:
Comparison: Robert Murphy
Description: Forward with an excellent booming kick & strong overhead. Bit overrated. Definitely prefers scoring on the run rather than set shots.
Why: With a lot of their elite kicks inevitably retiring soon, most notable Corey Enright and Josh Hunt, I think a player of Lennon's ilk will be on the Cats' Agenda. I'd imagine he'd play a similar role to the Eagles' Shannon Hurn off half-back, but I think he looks more comfortable up forward.

The replacement for Josh is Cam Guthrie who is already being phased in, and the replacement for Enright (not that he is replaceable because he's such a gun, but you get the point) is Jackson Thurlow who was our first round pick last year.

What we desperately need is a quality young KPD and we will be hoping Gardiner slides to us.

Point taken.

Providing Gardiner isn't available however (and he isn't in my draft), I still think Geelong will take Lennon because he's the best available and the next best KPD would be a sizable step down in quality I'd imagine. Lennon can play forward as well, so he could also be looked at as a successor to Steve Johnson.