BUCKENARA’S PHANTOM DRAFT TOP 30
1. Carlton — Jacob Weitering
Defender, 195cm, 91kg, Dandenong Stingrays/Mt Eliza/The Peninsula School
Gary Buckenara says: This is a really important pick for the Blues and it will deliver a key-position defender in Weitering who can also play a forward role. He will predominantly be that key defender and should play senior footy in 2016. He’s a potential captain.
2. Brisbane Lions — Josh Schache
3. Melbourne — Darcy Parish
4. Sydney Swans — Callum Mills
5. Essendon — Aaron Francis
6. GWS Giants — Jacob Hopper
7. Essendon — Charlie Curnow
8. GWS Giants — Matthew Kennedy
9. Gold Coast — Sam Weideman
10. Melbourne — Kieran Collins
11. Carlton — Darcy Tucker
Half-back, 184cm, 80kg, North Ballarat/Horsham Saints
Buckenara says: Tucker is a beautiful left-foot kick, he has good endurance, reasonable pace, makes good decisions with the footy and adds a touch of class. He’s a bit of a ball carrier — he’s not afraid to take players on. He’s actually not too dissimilar to Kade Simpson and the Blues need another player like that. He’s also potential captain material going forward.
12. Adelaide — Wayne Milera
13. Carlton — Harry McKay
Forward, 200cm, 95kg, Gippsland Power/Warragul
Buckenara says: Given I’ve got them taking Tucker and most of the other key-position players are gone, a guy like McKay would be a nice addition. He’s only been playing footy for four or five years, he’s been more of a basketball guy so he came into the program late but really improved and gained a lot of confidence out of his performances in the Under-18 championships. He’s a tall, agile forward who can probably go into the ruck because he can jump. He does need to put a body on but he’s a perfect key-position size.
14. Richmond — Rhys Mathieson
15. Adelaide — Riley Bonner
16. Brisbane Lions — Eric Hipwood
17. St Kilda — Ben McKay
18. Hawthorn — Jade Gresham
19. Brisbane Lions — Ben Keays
20. Gold Coast — Harley Balic
21. North Melbourne — Ryan Clarke
22. Hawthorn — Callum Ah Chee
23. Carlton — Tom Cole
Half-back, 185cm, 76kg, Sandhurst/Bendigo Pioneers
Buckenara says: A nice mover, Cole can play as rebounding defender, on the wing or as a high half-forward. He’s similar to Sam Docherty. He has pace, is a beautiful left-foot kick and makes good decisions with the ball. He’d be a good fit at the Blues.
24. Western Bulldogs — Clayton Oliver
25. Western Bulldogs — Jesse Glass-McCasker
26. Fremantle — Ryan Burton
27. West Coast — Josh Dunkley