2014 Draft Discussion

[Cockliff38]

An updated phantom draft from Paige...

In summary...
Pick 4. Peter Wright
24. Harris Andrews
41. Liam Dawson
59. Matt Hammelmann

 

[Cockliff38]

Harris Andrews...

Position: Key Defender/Forward
Height: 198cm, Weight: 91kg, DOB: 12/11/1996
Club: Aspley
Projected draft range: 2nd/3rd round Academy Selection
Player comparison:

Arguably the Brisbane Lions’ academy’s most promising and exciting prospect, Harris Andrews has shot up dramatically with his draft stocks still rising. His shift into defence during his three games at the National Championships for Queensland has highlighted his raw yet effective ability to hold his own in a position that he had otherwise never played. Known predominantly as a classy, beanpole forward, Andrews has shone during his games at TAC Cup level this year for the Scorpions, with his aggression, versatility and competitiveness on full show in the country’s most talented under-18 competition. Andrews averaged a tidy 14 disposals, 2.3 tackles and 4.8 marks playing a mixture of forward and down back, including two best on ground honours against top line sides in North Ballarat and Geelong. Andrews is renowned for kicking bags of goals, having bagged 80 goals over the course of 20 games as a bottom-age prospect for Aspley in 2013. Of those games, Andrews bagged five goals or more on four occasions and kicked upwards of seven goals three times. In terms of his attributes, he excels at ground level, is an aerial specialist no matter which end he’s played at, and has rare agility, mobility and elite use by hand and foot. I’m a big wrap for the way he applies himself in each position he is handed, which really highlights his coachability and scope for further development.

Liam Dawson...

Position: Defender/Midfielder
Height: 188m, Weight: 83kg, DOB: 23/01/1996
Club: Aspley
Projected draft range: 2nd/3rd round Academy Selection
Player comparison: Luke Hodge

Big wraps have been on Liam Dawson since his All-Australian jumper last year. With a thumping and accurate kick, along with strong hands, terrific tackling pressure and strength through his legs and core, Dawson looms as a running defender-cum-midfielder. However, in the early going, Dawson looks best placed to attack his early football from defence. Dawson, whose marking abilities are a highlight along with his ability to read the play, often floats in to cut off a forward entry uncontested. The AFL-AIS member can accumulate big numbers when playing through the midfield, and generally makes good decisions with the ball. His running patterns are a little all over the place, which often sees him tire quicker than others. However, he’ll have that easily rectified once he’s into a full-time AFL environment and really starts to embrace ‘smart running’ football. Tough inside and strong overhead, he’ll be a player the Lions will want to tie away quick smart

Matt Hammelmann

Position: Key Forward
Height: 198cm, Weight: 88kg, DOB: 08/03/1996
Club: Morningside
Projected draft range: 2nd/3rd/4th round Brisbane Academy Selection
Player comparison: Kurt Tippett

A lovely sized key forward with a terrific leap, athleticism and strong hands, Matt Hammelmann has long been considered a top prospect from the Lions academy, but could be better placed with a bit more conviction in front of goal. He is terribly hard to match up on given his rare combination of speed, athleticism, leap and mobility for a man who stands a fraction under two metres. During the National Championships, he was often seen as the go-to man up forward given no side had an answer for him. He is an elite mark, and reads the play exceptionally well, possessing a natural ability to go through the ruck when required. He averaged 10.3 disposals, 7.3 marks and 2.3 goals in his three matches for Queensland.

 

[Billy Puller]

An updated phantom draft from Paige...

In summary...
Pick 4. Peter Wright
24. Harris Andrews
41. Liam Dawson
59. Matt Hammelmann

Interesting, IMO Hammelman is the most promising off all our prospects. Andrews a real bolter if this is somewhat accurate. Have no idea whether it is or not but interesting none the less!

 

[BigCat2]

It's not beyond us to take all 3, particularly if the bidding rules aren't changed dramatically. Good thing is that they are all versatile players who can take different positions, providing some flexibility on list management - as long they're all deemed good enough to make the grade.

 

[Cockliff38]

Interesting, IMO Hammelman is the most promising off all our prospects. Andrews a real bolter if this is somewhat accurate. Have no idea whether it is or not but interesting none the less!

I get the feeling Paige is basing this opinion mostly off numbers and limited viewings of Harris. IMO his "elite use by hand and foot" is inflated by the fact the majority of his possessions are in defence. Not knocking his disposal at all but his stats can be misleading... From memory his best games were also TAC fixtures, meaning the sample Paige is basing her assessment off is Harris' top shelf.

 

[jackess]

An updated phantom draft from Paige...

In summary...
Pick 4. Peter Wright
24. Harris Andrews
41. Liam Dawson
59. Matt Hammelmann

We're going to have a very tall forward and backline if Leppa gets his hands on these draftees.

 

[Dylan12]

Elite

 

[JasRulz63]

Cal Twomey's top 20 is sickeningly Victorian biased. 14 out of 20 Victorians.

 

[PTizzle]

I guess this is the inevitable product of making a system mechanical. If Fyfe had left Fremantle this year on the free agency system (don't think he was eligible for F/A yet, but as a hypothetical), they'd get a late first round pick for a (surely) current AA who is rapidly becoming a dominant player in the competition. Frawley leaves Melbourne and they'll get a high first rounder. Comparing the two players on merit, it looks like a strange outcome.

The easy example that has already happened is Ward and Scully's relative compensation. The Dogs got stiffed compared to what Melbourne got.

Making it based on contract amount is silly, the AFL seems to love their inflexible systems.

 

[carnthemlions]

Interesting, IMO Hammelman is the most promising off all our prospects. Andrews a real bolter if this is somewhat accurate. Have no idea whether it is or not but interesting none the less!

I'm more excited about Dawson- pretty rare to get a draftee with that kind of versatility, particularly from a non AFL state.

 

[John_Proctor]

Dawson also sounds like a need on the list given discussion of harwood's form, golby's struggles earlier in the year and of using Hanley or rich off half back.

In time we'll see if we select him and if he's good enough to make it.

 

[irel]

Cal Twomey's top 20 is sickeningly Victorian biased. 14 out of 20 Victorians.

I'm interested to see who of the non-Vics missing would you have in the top 20 and who would they replace? I'd be most interested to see your list and write up of the country's top 20 draft prospects?
Paige has16 of the first 20 Victorians.

 

[John_Proctor]

I noticed that Mckenzie guy who has got some hype the last week was something like pick 40 in Paige's draft (she sated she isn't convinced). I saw one draft that had him going at pick 5 to the bulldogs.

 

[WhiteLionFeva]

Except that the free agency compensation boils down to two things - contract value at the new club and player age. That's fair enough to my mind, as a club offering the player a contract will factor in AA, B&F results, etc, when offering a player a contract. If Frawley signs for $650k+ he'll be a mid first round pick, and as a result that's pick 4 (Goddard, Thomas, Franklin). If he signs for something in the $500k-600k range, it'll probably be an end of first round pick. Less than $500k and you're looking at a second round pick (Chaplin, Pearce, Sylvia).

Except that a mid-first round pick is 9 or 10, not 4.

 

[WhiteLionFeva]

Paige is a bit attracted to superlatives. She says Tyler Roos has pace. I haven't seen it. She seems to assume that because they are Queenslanders we will draft them. She doesnt seem to factor in our need which includes a running back and an inside midfielder. I think it is very unlikely we will draft all of Wright, Andrews and Hammelmann.

 

[SizeMatters]

I'm more excited about Dawson- pretty rare to get a draftee with that kind of versatility, particularly from a non AFL state.

Dawson was a good junior but I never figured he would get drafted. Such a difference that decent training can do for someone when he want from the Tigers to Aspley/Lions Academy. Has a bit of X-factor about him with his very good reading of the ball in flight. Can take a decent hanger even from a young age.

 

[SizeMatters]

With our pick most likely being at 5, would anyone consider trading it in for 2 first rounders? GCS will have pick 9ish and 15ish? I would be very tempted especially with the talent that can be found there due to injuries etc.

Pick 9 - Durdin/Lever/Pickett/Laverde
Pick 15 - Lamb/Weller/Goddard/McKenzie

GCS probably won't do the trade though as they would want to get Weller imo.

 

[Dylan12]

With our pick most likely being at 5, would anyone consider trading it in for 2 first rounders? GCS will have pick 9ish and 15ish? I would be very tempted especially with the talent that can be found there due to injuries etc.

Pick 9 - Durdin/Lever/Pickett/Laverde
Pick 15 - Lamb/Weller/Goddard/McKenzie

GCS probably won't do the trade though as they would want to get Weller imo.

Its not the worst idea considering we're unlikely to get that long term key forward with pick 5.

 

[PTizzle]

With our pick most likely being at 5, would anyone consider trading it in for 2 first rounders? GCS will have pick 9ish and 15ish? I would be very tempted especially with the talent that can be found there due to injuries etc.

Pick 9 - Durdin/Lever/Pickett/Laverde
Pick 15 - Lamb/Weller/Goddard/McKenzie

GCS probably won't do the trade though as they would want to get Weller imo.

I think it'd be a good move if it looks as if we won't get the KPF prospect we really want there. I'd be interested if it we got an offer similar to what Melbourne did last year with Tyson + pick 9 too.

Our options are certainly more open now that we won't have a top 3 pick I reckon. If we somehow managed to snag Durdin/Lamb or whatever from intelligently trading that pick it might help ease any possible pain from missing out on McCartin/Wright.

 

[carnthemlions]

With our pick most likely being at 5, would anyone consider trading it in for 2 first rounders? GCS will have pick 9ish and 15ish? I would be very tempted especially with the talent that can be found there due to injuries etc.

Pick 9 - Durdin/Lever/Pickett/Laverde
Pick 15 - Lamb/Weller/Goddard/McKenzie

GCS probably won't do the trade though as they would want to get Weller imo.

GC don't have any particular needs, just depth.
I think adding two more 1st rounders is more valuable to them than our pick.

 

[whatboutbob]

Yeah, that option is looking a bit more realistic now that the Suns have fallen down the ladder while we've risen a bit.

It is looking like there'll be some likely options at the Suns picks, and we might even be able to grab someone like Clem Smith with our 2nd pick. In concert with a couple of the academy kids it could make for a good blend of 'best available' that also fills needs.

 

[Lionmoe21]

If we get 3+ academy or father sons without giving up any of our first two picks, that has to be a win

Ps. I would love if with our first two we get Bradshaw/ wright and our second Clem smith/ Mckenzie

 

[Ruse]

If we get 3+ academy or father sons without giving up any of our first two picks, that has to be a win

Ps. I would love if with our first two we get Bradshaw/ wright

Too old

 

[PTizzle]

Just trying to think for the Suns, how many spots are they going to have open?

Brown's gone, so that's one.

Apart from that I'm guessing Hunt (rugby), Warnock (probably delisted), Hutchins (delisted), Murphy (retiring) and Bock (retiring) will go, maybe one more delisted or to the rookie list (thinking Taylor or Allen or maybe Sumner?).

So roughly 7 spots free and you'd assume they'll grab a couple more mature players if possible in preparation for a run at finals next year. Will be interesting to see what they do.

 

[Sanchez365]

I don't see how its related. One is losing a player who was previously AA and another is drafting a player on the cheap.

I guess I was just questioning why one of these outcones being tied to ladder position was OK while the other one wasn't.

I'm not saying the academy bidding system is perfect either jackess .