List Mgmt. 2014 AFL Draft Discussion

[GarnerSmash]

We may be a long way out from draft day, Grand Final Day, Finals, ASADA Show Cause Day etc. but the next crop of AFL hopefuls are strutting their stuff in the national champs as we speak.

How may picks will we have?

What type of players should we be looking at?

Who are the players that should be on our radar?

All those questions, and many more, to be answered (or not) within these pages.

Have at it.

 

[GarnerSmash]

A few vids from the carnival

 

[TooUglyForFugly]

Mobile tall forward with evidence that he can clunk marks like no one's business.
Please, some speed and class.

 

[Event Horizon]

I don't know anything about the potential draftees and will let the experts comment on them. But I can analyse our list and suggest who may be on the way out and what sort of player we should be drafting.

The following blokes would be under a big cloud in terms of being on the list next year:

Wright, McMahon, LA, Hine with Spud enjoying an unexpected renaissance but his future beyond this season is still uncertain.
I'd say at least 3 or 4 of them would be gone.
Curran would be under some question mark. At the very least he could end up on the rookie list.
What about Wilkins? Is it too soon to start to ask questions?

Our needs: Fast mid, Ruck, Tall forward, tall back.

 

[Pykie]

I'm pretty sure we will load up on talls this year, barring an exceptional mid being available in the 10-15 range.

Curran will be shifted to the rookie list.

Spud and Grima are nearing the end, ones been a warrior, the other has had some shocking injuries.

Delaney is injured, and we just aren't getting enough development into our tall kids ATM, at a pretty critical time with Petrie nearing the end and struggling. We also need an 18 year old 200+ ruckman IMO, one for the rookie list.

Keep an eye on Goddard, Marchbank and Lever this year (Lever is out with an ACL).

Personally, I'd like a CHF/CHB combo for our first and second picks. Best rated midfielder with our third, or a medium lockdown defender.

I'd settle for the best available mid and a CHF though.

We need to make a real emphasis on endurance testing with all of our mediums from now on IMO.

 

[Daz]

Very likely we'll go best available with our 1st like most teams. Hopefully that happens to be a tall forward but I'm not getting my hopes up.

 

[Black2Blue]

First round pick should be for a future Brownlow Medallist, preferably in the Keith Greig mould.
Second round a future Coleman Medallist
After that just go for best available future All-Australians
Oh, and Tippo and Turner upgraded from the rookie list
And that tall American fella

Make it happen Brewis.

 

[Event Horizon]

I still see a major weakness in our lack of Boomer/Wells type player. Need a fast line breaker as much, if not more, as a tall Forward.

 

[Pykie]

I still see a major weakness in our lack of Boomer/Wells type player. Need a fast line breaker as much, if not more, as a tall Forward.

Fair call.

As I said, if the right mid is sitting there, we take them, otherwise we have to look tall.

A lack of some leg speed in the middle is a crack pretty easy to paper over.

A lack of a ready made replacement for Drew isn't. He's the type of bloke that is going to come to the end very fast IMO.

 

[GarnerSmash]

What's the thought on prying someone like Tomlinson or Jaskch from GWS? What would that cost and how would that affect our picks?

Also, anyone know if Cameron Conlon is able to get on the park any more?

 

[Pykie]

What's the thought on prying someone like Tomlinson or Jaskch from GWS? What would that cost and how would that affect our picks?

Also, anyone know if Cameron Conlon is able to get on the park any more?

I'd say our first pick would be enough for each one of them.

 

[Event Horizon]

What's the thought on prying someone like Tomlinson or Jaskch from GWS? What would that cost and how would that affect our picks?

Also, anyone know if Cameron Conlon is able to get on the park any more?

I used to work with a bloke whose missus is Tominson's sister. If the rumors did start, I'd call him and ask.

 

[scottywiper]

Spud and Grima are nearing the end, ones been a warrior, the other has had some shocking injuries.

I rate Delaney, it is a crying shame he is not getting games while Grima is out as it is just the opportunity Cam needed. He is the logical long-term fit for that role, if we can get him right.

 

[GarnerSmash]

I'd say our first pick would be enough for each one of them.

Do you think it would be worthwhile given we will likely end up with a pick in the 12-14 range?

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

Our tall stocks have been smashed by injuries (Tarrant, Delaney, Curran) so can we at least select one that doesn't have an injury concern.

 

[shinboner spiggs]

im hoping our first pick is a lightning fast midfielder with sublime skills, can go into the middle and get the hard ball, has a ready made body and can kick goals. also can tag.

our second pick being a tall forward and maybe its time to draft another young ruckman? they take a lot of time to develop

 

[CrazyQ]

Anyone feel like me when it comes to the draft now?

I can't look at the draft now being mid-twenties. I feel like an old mothersucker.

PS: No offence to the cane-holders.

 

[SnowRoo]

Although ive scattered thoughts through other threads ill try consolidate my thoughts here.

All in all im pretty comfortable with our developing mids and forwards, personally its our tall defender slots im the most concerned with. So ill be watching a few potential 190+ options, only a few id consider 1st round options, but definately a few that may be available for 2nd round through to rookie spots. Will cut paste some of Knighmares/Chris25 write ups

Sam Durdin (SA - KPP)
Height: 197cm, Weight: 89kg, DOB: 06/06/1996
Recruited from: West Adelaide
Style:
Player comparison: Jake Carlisle/Lachie Henderson
Range: 1-5
Profile: Durdin is the better of the key defenders available this year. He’s got the versatility to play forward and through the ruck when required but he’s to this point played his best footy down back. He’s a good mover for a key position player with his athleticism and mobility at his height. He’s also one of the best users of the footy for a key position player you’ll find with his footskills particularly excellent. He’s also got a nice balance between ability to take the mark overhead but then the co-ordination below the knees and at ground level to compliment it and make him a real threat. Excellent reader of the play and reads the flight of the ball as well as any.

Hugh Goddard (VIC - KPP)
Height: 196cm, Weight: 93kg, DOB: 24/08/1996
Recruited from: Geelong Falcons
Style:
Player comparison: Sam Day
Range: 1-10
Profile: Goddard is one of the star key position players this year and has the ability to play both forward and back well. He’s got exceptional pace, agility and an excellent leap. Has a long kick for his age. And has some ability at ground level, so there is plenty to work with. There is just that little bit of something dominant missing to his game though. As a forward Goddard in the TAC can kick three goals a game every week but it’s almost always a quiet three goals. He just doesn’t feel like he’s going to take over games and you don’t really notice his impact as more a component to winning rather than a centrepiece and a reason for winning. He just lacks the presence to his game that the other premier key forwards of the competition have and doesn’t have that same feel that he’ll go off as a goalkicking threat like those other real high end key forwards have which is why I rate him lower than the other top key position players. I wouldn’t draft Goddard expecting him to become the no.1 option up forward but as a no.2 option he’d be an excellent get.

Jake Lever (VIC – Def/KPD)
Height: 192cm, Weight: 84kg, DOB: 05/03/1996
Recruited from: Calder Cannons
Style: Nick Maxwell (more talented – stronger in the contest and better kicking version)
Player comparison: Lachie Plowman
Range: 5-20
Profile: Lever is a really natural rebounding key defender with a real hardness and aggression to him with his approach to the contest. He’s a high level intercept mark reading it so well in the air and getting to the drop of the ball consistently. He’s also very capable of winning his 1v1s holding his position well and taking marks 1v1 down back making him a real weapon down back. Lever is also an exceptional run and carry player and moves incredibly well for his height. He isn’t afraid to take on the game and push up the field and be a part of linkup chains as essentially another running defender despite his position. By foot Lever by position is excellent and a real playmaker with his ability to find targets up the field. He’s considered a hard working, high character guy so it’s highly likely that he’ll get the best out of himself. He did a knee during the preseason so we won’t see him this season.

Darcy Moore (Coll - F/S – VIC – KPF/KPD/Ruck)
Height: 199cm, Weight: 93kg, DOB: 25/01/1996
Recruited from: Oakleigh Chargers
Style:
Player comparison: Nathan Vardy (without the injury issues)/Tyrone Vickery
Range: 1st – 2nd round.
Profile: Highly touted big man who has struggled these past couple of seasons with back injuries. Moore is a strong contested marking threat with his ability to mark the ball at the highest point even when he is double teamed. He reads the ball well in the air and exceptionally well and is also a very effective mark on the lead with his ability to create separation. Moore is an excellent athlete at his height with his speed and agility both excellent and a strong frame suggesting he can put on more muscle. His skills with ball in hand are above average and he’s a very clean user of the footy by hand and foot. He has played a bit of everywhere featuring both as a key forward and key defender. While Moore can play a bit of everywhere he feels most at home as a centre half forward where he can use his strong running game and also be a factor as a contested marking target. Moore isn’t a complete product at this point and the dominant player in the TAC Cup but he’s something with the traits he possesses with the scope to develop into an excellent key position player.

Caleb Marchbank - another tall who has some decent wraps on him is Caleb Marchbank, who unfortunately only managed two games last year before injury. An athletic 193cm KPP with good skills, I like him down back and am hoping to see much more of him in 2014. (from Chris25)

Mac Bower (SA – Fwd/Def)
Height: 190cm, Weight: 79kg, DOB: 27/01/1996
Recruited from: Norwood
Style: Sam Mayes/Beau Waters
Player comparison:
Range: 10-35
Profile: Bower is a tallish type with some aggression to him and the ability to play both forward and back to a high standard. As a forward Bower is excellent on the lead and a real goalscoring threat who on the lead with his pace can create separation and also use his leap to take a mark in the air. He’s also excellent down back as someone who can take intercept marks and set up play with his damaging footskills while also being able to beat his direct opponent.

Tyler Keitel (WA – KPF/KPD)
Height: 191cm, Weight: 80kg, DOB: 07/02/1996
Recruited from: East Perth
Style: Jarryd Roughead
Player comparison:
Range: 15-45
Profile: Keitel is a talented key position player who can play both forward and back well. He’s got ability both overhead but moves well for someone of his type with his agility and at ground level making him a real threat up forward but then down back can play a role and not look out of place. He has unusually clean hands for someone his height and has a natural dexterity with unusually clean hands and a co-ordination you don’t see in many key position players. Call me crazy but I’d like to see Keitel become player who splits his time forward and on the ball once he puts some size onto his frame. With his ability at ground level and clean hands at his height I don’t think he’s restricted to just playing as a key position player so there are some exciting possibilities for Keitel down the road if he can put it all together and fulfil his potential.

Daniel Nielson (VIC – KPD)
Height: 193cm, Weight: 90kg, DOB: 09/05/1996
Recruited from: Eastern Ranges
Style: Nathan Bock
Player comparison:
Range: 30-rookie
Profile: Strong bodied key defender who has played well in the TAC Cup for the past couple of years now. He reads the play well down back and can take the intercept mark but is an equally adept stopper with his strength 1v1 excellent for his age. He also uses it pretty well by foot and is an effective rebounder from defence.

Sam Bevan (WA – KPF/KPD)
Height: 195cm, Weight: 80kg, DOB: 12/06/1996
Recruited from: Claremont
Style:
Player comparison:
Range: 30-rookie
Profile: A light body at this stage and a project player but has some talent. He’s for his size and type a very skilled key position player who uses it really well by foot. In front of goal he makes the most of his opportunities and rarely misses his set shot attempts. He’s a capable mark on the lead but with his lack of size not a 1v1 or contested marking threat at this point. Down back he’s a capable intercept mark reading it well and knowing when to peel off his man and can also play a reasonable shutdown role.

Cameron Conlon

I think deep down, everyone knew that Conlon was going to be overlooked. The injuries were just too much for any side to take on. It wouldn't surprise me if the recruiters all got together, and decided to pass so he could a year with no pressure to try to get back to full fitness. It will be interesting to see what 2014 holds for Conlon. There is a reason he was talked about as a top 10 pick, so if he can play some consistent football and get back to his best, where he fits in amongst all these other KPPs will be really interesting to watch.

 

[TooUglyForFugly]

Comparison with Vickery = Write-off

 

[SnowRoo]

Durdin and Goddard id hope we would be all over if they reached us in the 1st round.

Lever another id highly consider as a 1st round option although injury will prevent him playing this year so a little to consider there.

Moore is most likey off to the Pies as a F/S to join Grundy and Cox. Would bid a 1st rounder on him though.

Marchbank is my fav of the rest, always comfortable when we bring in a country boy, bushies and falcons seem to fit North. Was hoping he may be a 3rd round chance but his recent form may see him go well before that

Conlon no doubt has ability but another cruelled by injury, watch with interest.

Others are all wait and see as the year progresses, could be good for later picks.

 

[Heaps of fun]

Conlon could be worth a rookie spot.

 

[King Corey]

Nothing like tugging ourselves off them consoling ourselves about missing out on some draftee text profiles.

Personally I think lots of clubs will want to plunder this draft so we're better off pooling all our picks and offering them to GC for O'Meara, Lynch and an ongoing cut of the gate from their 100 billion dollar stadium.

 

[SnowRoo]

Conlon could be worth a rookie spot.

Id have done that last year too. Although getting Turner and Tippett there is nothing to complain about

 

[SnowRoo]

Nothing like tugging ourselves off them consoling ourselves about missing out on some draftee text profiles.

Is always the way, unfortunately you cant get them all. You know how it goes, every draft day every club walks away happy with their picks, at this stage its simply considering what might fit needs and if 1 lands at least you have a little background.

Id have loved Darling, but Atley was a plesant surprise so no tears there. Lots of excitement though when Darling and Harper were coming up to our next pick. Just makes draft day that little bit more fun when you have your own personal favs.

The choice between Basti, Koby Stevens and Blacky was another personal Fav of mine.

Garner over Grundy/Kennedy. McKenzie over Kavanagh/Kersten fun too.

No doubt i still watch the development of my favs like Darling/Grundy/Kersten and think what if but very happy with our drafting in general over the last few years.

 

[King Corey]

SnowRoo fair call it's a guilty pleasure for me too. You got me.

Now I'd like us to take more risk with our rookie picks this year (the Conlon comment made me think of this). Unfortunately we've had the rookie list jammed with contracted players and some conservative options at times.

Had a look through and I'm calling it a 3/9 strike rate in Brad's time. Players in brackets are possibly better options in the same or later rounds. I've ignored re-drafted contracted players like Cam Richardson and consider Majak a pass mainly on being around 5 years later and having considerable upside in a difficult to fill position.

PASS - Majak Daw (Alex Silvagni)
FAIL - Matthew Scott (Ben Howlett, Stewart Crameri)
FAIL Cam Perdersen (Luke Dalhaus)
PASS - Aaron Mullett (none)
FAIL - Max Warren (Tom Bell)
FAIL - Brad Mangan (Marley Williams, Jackson Sheringham, James Magner)
FAIL - Malcolm Lynch (none)
PASS - Sam Gibson (none)
FAIL - Tim McGenniss (Callum Sinclair, Kylie Hartigan, John Ceglar, Jamie Bennell, Jack Frost, Brandon Jack)