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List Mgmt. 2014 Draft

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Bateman said:
Where's this bloke been?
I haven't heard him mentioned in any of the drafts but he looks very impressive.
Can you supply some more info on him?
Click to expand...
Draft site is all I have .I left a message for Chis 25 to see if he knew more about him but no reply as yet . He is seriously flying under the radar but he is so much like Pav its scary .
 

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couldhavebeen said:
Draft site is all I have .I left a message for Chis 25 to see if he knew more about him but no reply as yet . He is seriously flying under the radar but he is so much like Pav its scary .
Click to expand...

He's not mentioned in Chris25's Pd or Knightmares either.
Surely with a highlights package like this he warrants a mention somewhere?
 
couldhavebeen said:
Draft site is all I have .I left a message for Chis 25 to see if he knew more about him but no reply as yet . He is seriously flying under the radar but he is so much like Pav its scary .
Click to expand...

That's because I was leaving it for my first rookie pick in the BigFooty draft...

#13 Fremantle - Jesse Watchman (196cm, 90kg)

One of the forgotten players of the draft, Watchman had a very impressive underage season and was a member of the AFL/AIS Academy. As such, he was spoken about as a first round prospect heading into the season. But, he got off to a slow start this season with injuries and wasn't able to break into the South Australian side at the U18 Championships. As a result, he has steadily been dropping down the pecking order and isn't guaranteed to even be selected. But come the rookie draft, Watchman would be excellent value.

Best player to compare him to this year would be Reece McKenzie - 196cm/100kg versus Watchman at 196cm/90kg. Other than similar frames, they also have similar strengths - contested marking, body strength for example. Both have split their time this season between forward and ruck, with Watchman having also showed his versatility by playing down back. Watchman has the better credentials with being the more decorated junior, whereas McKenzie's rise is on the back of no football last year. Both big ticks for the respective players. McKenzie certainly tests better as an athlete, but Watchman is no slouch either. So lets look at their seasons in the U18s...

McKenzie: averaged 13.1 touches, 7.1 marks, 3.5 goals, 2.2 behinds
Watchman: averaged 13.1 touches, 5.6 marks, 3.1 goals, 1 .4 behinds

That's pretty damn close. And it's worth noting that Watchman had a much more consistent season, with McKenzie being helped by a couple of massive games. Watchman also played both reserves and senior football in the SANFL. His last four games in the reserves produced an average of 10.3 touches, 5.3 marks, 3 goals and 1 behind. So he has already made the step up a level.

So given the similarities in both player type and their seasons as a whole, why does one go at #5 overall and the other at #13 in the rookie draft? I'm not really sure.

Yes, McKenzie has the higher ceiling based on his testing and 'rawness'. But Watchman's form in the back half of 2014 was very good, and I think people may be overlooking that because of his slow start and not making the Championships. He seemed a couple of steps behind at the start of the year, but he was working very hard in the Reserves and getting results. He does carry a bit of puppy fat still, so that will need a couple of years to really come off. But, so have other quality tall forwards. I actually think Watchman is better on the lead than McKenzie too, he has a more natural feel for the leading patterns and he works his opponent back towards goal. That's one of his real strengths for me. There is a little bit of Kurt Tippett in the way he plays up forward.

Watchman is no sure thing, but he has a lot of AFL level attributes. So I'd be comfortable taking a shot on him late, or anywhere from 50 onwards in the national draft really.
Click to expand...

He's not really flying under the radar as such, in that he is only a late/rookie selection. As I wrote, highly rated junior who didn't progress a great deal this year (his underage season was better) and wouldn't have had anywhere near the season he was hoping for in 2014. He has a lot of good attributes, some weaknesses and question marks over his ceiling. But he's a better option than some of the other more fancied talls in the draft. And a better option than Sam Grimley in my opinion, who this board seems to love.
 
Chris25 said:
That's because I was leaving it for my first rookie pick in the BigFooty draft...



He's not really flying under the radar as such, in that he is only a late/rookie selection. As I wrote, highly rated junior who didn't progress a great deal this year (his underage season was better) and wouldn't have had anywhere near the season he was hoping for in 2014. He has a lot of good attributes, some weaknesses and question marks over his ceiling. But he's a better option than some of the other more fancied talls in the draft. And a better option than Sam Grimley in my opinion, who this board seems to love.
Click to expand...
Chris 25,
His highlight package is just so good which is why I think he could be another Pavlich. If we can get him as a late draft pick I would be rapt .I think that he will be picked up during the draft and not be there for the Rookie draft.
 
couldhavebeen said:
Chris 25
What about the other 2 kids I highlighted as well. Do you agree or disagree with my thoughts on Saad and Drummond .
Click to expand...

Nathan Drummond is a good option. Worth noting that he was overlooked in the draft last year, despite most assuming he would be selected. He was a bit outside and didn't really have a best position. Some would argue he still doesn't quite have a set role, maybe a little Suban like. But his contested midfield game has improved. And while he's always been a good athlete, the other knock was that he didn't really play the way he tested. Again, that looks to have improved this year. Anywhere around the third round he could be picked up.

Not sure about Saad personally. Hasn't really distinguised himself much from other state league players for me.
 
Chris25 said:
Nathan Drummond is a good option. Worth noting that he was overlooked in the draft last year, despite most assuming he would be selected. He was a bit outside and didn't really have a best position. Some would argue he still doesn't quite have a set role, maybe a little Suban like. But his contested midfield game has improved. And while he's always been a good athlete, the other knock was that he didn't really play the way he tested. Again, that looks to have improved this year. Anywhere around the third round he could be picked up.

Not sure about Saad personally. Hasn't really distinguised himself much from other state league players for me.
Click to expand...

Chris25 what's the scoop on this Watchman character. Looks to have an amazingly sticky pair of hands and a booming kick for an 18 y/o. Why would he only be a smokey?
 

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I don't think he is completely out of the question for our first pick. Would be a bit of a risk though. High risk/high reward type.

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-ne...ing-field-for-recruiters-20141115-11nfn5.html

14 Tom Lamb (Dandenong Stingrays, 19/10/96, 193cm, 84kg)

Tall utility

A unique, enigmatic player who can do things others can't. Instinctive, and an incredible runner. Combine that with his height and ability to play almost anywhere, and he has some sort of skill set. Had a patchy season but is a very hard trainer who asks a lot of himself and wants to get into a club and get started.

The query: He can float in and out of games and is very hard on himself which, if channeled the right way, should actually help him.
 
Sounds like he is more of an endurance type

3km time trial (minutes : seconds)
Jack Hiscox 9:18
Tom Lamb 9:45
Alex Neal-Bullen 9:54
Billy Stretch 9:57
Nathan Drummond 9:59
Josh Deluca-Cardillo 10:07
Daniel McKenzie 10:07
Connor Menadue 10:07
Liam Duggan 10:11
Jack Steele 10:11

Hiscox breaks all-time endurance record

Beep test/shuttle run (level)
Caleb Daniel 16.1
Jack Hiscox 16.1
Nathan Drummond 15.9
Tom Lamb 15.5
Ed Langdon 15.3
Jarrod Garlett 15.2
Alex Neal-Bullen 15.2
Jason Castagna 15.2
Billy Stretch 15.1
Jack Steele 15.1
Jordan Cunico 14.12
Christian Petracca 14.12
 
Tom Lamb (Dandenong Stingrays)

art-353-b-lamb.jpg

Born 19.10.1996, 193cm, 84kg

AFL biography: Tall forward/midfielder with elite endurance, rare goal sense and footy nous. His versatility makes him a very difficult match-up for opposition teams. Strong overhead, he averaged 14.8 disposals with 50 percent contested in five matches during the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships. Member of the NAB AFL Academy. Father Wayne played with Melbourne and Fitzroy. Grandson of St Kilda premiership player Ian Cooper.

Mark Wheeler, Dandenong Stingrays: "Tom can run like Nick Riewoldt and he's the sort of player who can either win you a game on his own or lose you won. Consistency is the big thing with him but he puts a lot of pressure on himself. I think his best position is as a half back flanker, but he can obviously run through the midfield and go forward and take a big mark. Even if there are two people on him he'll find a way to sit on someone's head. Athletically he's just excellent - he wants to run under 10 minutes for the 3km time trial and he's already done a 9.57 and a 15 beep, so he might bounce back up the order if he can do that and blow everyone away. I like him because he can play everywhere and because he's he the sort of person who just wants to please everyone. Once he gets into an AFL system, I think he'll settle down and become a pretty special player."
 

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We have heaps of height. The thought of a smaller forward/back/midfielder, agile player with good instinctive goal- kicking ability, good hands and x factor sounds good to me, especially if Durdin has played his best footy as a ruck.
 

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