2016 Draft discussion

[13Beast]

Draft Central Phantom Draft



Would be ecstatic if this happens on draft day.

That's a dream draft for us right there!

 

[Chowder73]

Interesting comment today by Noble to the effect that it's not all about talent and we are trading and drafting with a view to the future. All adds up to us taking a dark horse or two that we think might have development in them rather than ones likely to have impact in the shorter term.

Perhaps somewhere over the Rainbow.....

 

[ZoBlitz]

That's a dream draft for us right there!

Especially since we only have five list spots free at the moment

 

[LongLion]

You're missing Vickery.....

Apologies, 2 new star recruits and a tiger fail.

 

[Voss the boss]

. A real smokey that our recruiters love who has flown under the radar somewhat.

Who is the last smokey we drafted that has worked? I can't think of one... I say we go with talent and need in the first instance.

 

[scott_the_man]

Who is the last smokey we drafted that has worked? I can't think of one... I say we go with talent and need in the first instance.

Rockliff comes to mind

 

[M Malice]

Rockliff comes to mind

i think lionshine s definition of a smokey is a player taken a lot higher than expected. eg. if Rocky was taken in the top 20 of the ND and not the pre season draft.

my smokey would be if we select someone like Brandan Parfitt/Tom Stewart/Zac Fisher with pick 21 or 22.

 

[TheZork]

As Noble said we'll be addressing needs first and foremost rather than taking the best players available. My top 4 needs for us would be a small forward, a quick outside runner (because we lack pace), a HBand a Key defender (I'm not convinced on Watson and we don't know if Skinner's knee will hold up unfortunately).
I'm hoping draft night goes something like this
3: Ainsworth (Small forward)
16: Witherden/Berry (HB)
21: Brennan Cox/Jack Maibaum/Harrison Macreadie (KPD)
22: Cedric Cox/Bolton/Galluci (Outside run)

 

[jjami15]

So in relation to Noble's current comments and over the last month also from Fagan we are looking to get in small forwards, versatile midfielders and HBF/defenders. Have I missed anything?

 

[lionshine]

Who is the last smokey we drafted that has worked? I can't think of one... I say we go with talent and need in the first instance.

Redden and Yeo could be considered in that category somewhat. Neither were talked about as options at the picks we drafted them at. Redden had a solid career here before moving on and Yeo would undoubtedly be in our best 22 had we held onto him. Drafting a smokey doesn't mean they aren't talented and don't address a need. All I am saying is I wouldn't be surprised if we draft a player with one of our early 20's picks who no one has really heard of who the recruiters love and rate highly.

 

[lionshine]

So in relation to Noble's current comments and over the last month also from Fagan we are looking to get in small forwards, versatile midfielders and HBF/defenders. Have I missed anything?

I reckon the club has it's sights on Witherden. Fagan would love nothing more than a versatile half back flanker with classy disposal and our recruiters love a quality prospect who has dropped down the pecking order due to injury. I wouldn't be surprised if the club drafted him with pick 16.

 

[jjami15]

So general BF consensus is a HBF at 16 be it Berry or Witherden (if we go Ainsworth). I haven't seen any vision of Witherden but was impressed with Berry last year before he had his quiet year. Anyone here know/seen Witherden play?

 

[SizeMatters]

What's the go with Simpkin? I rate him highly but hasn't really been given a mention on this board. Anyone be against Berry, Witherfen and Simpkin to go along with Ainsworth? Massive draft if something like that happened... Risky though. Would still like battle with one of our picks though.

 

[lionshine]

A few random thoughts on the guys likely to be in contention for the picks around 16-22:

Jarred Berry: An athletically gifted, tall half back flanker who has the versatility to play up forward and in the midfield as well. With his aerobic capacity I expect he'll probably aim to move into the midfield. Character wise he seems like the exact kind of guy Fagan and Noble want to add to our list. Could become a gun, tall midfielder one day.

Alex Witherden: A classy competitor off the half back flank who has the scope to move into the midfield. I wouldn't be surprised if his career trajectory ended up following the same path as Dyson Heppell(Minus the peptides) starting out on a half back flank for his first few years before moving into the midfield. He's coming off a broken leg but from all reports will be good to go come day 1 of pre season. The kind of prospect our recruiters would love I think.

Jy Simpkin: Another one coming off a broken leg. Fast, creative, tidy disposal, can kick a goal. Due to his broken leg he wasn't given the chance to show his ability in the midfield in his final underage year. He is very talented and would add outside run and class to our side and he's familiar with the likes of Schache, Skinner and Mathieson(And Ainsworth) and has worked with our new development coach Henriksen.

Oliver Florent: A classy, clever flanker/midfielder who can win his own ball, take a strong mark and kick the odd goal. He's pacy and moves well through traffic. Performed very well in the agility tests and jumping tests at the combine highlighting a couple of key athletic traits. He could yet go in the top 10, he has a lot of talent and I could see him racking up touches and using it well off a wing at AFL level.

Sam Powell-Pepper: He is a powerful athlete. Fast and hits the ball at pace. Can kind the footy and he kicks goals. His kicking for goal is quite accurate. He has that Tom Bell syndrome, however, in that his kicking for goal his reliable but his field kicking can be quite poor. If he was an elite kick of the footy he'd be talked about as a definite top 10 prospect in my opinion. It is not as if poor disposal can not be improved. Look at how much Cutler's disposal has improved from year 1 to now. He is a talented footballer so if the recruiters really rated him I would not hold back but I think our side is crying out for players who have elite skills which might turn us off SPP.

Will Hayward: Dangerous 3rd tall who knows where the goals are. Can take a strong grab as well. I am not sure his skill set will translate to AFL level though as I think he will come up against defenders who are bigger, stronger and faster who are equally good at taking contested marks and they will be able to shut him down. If he was able to fulfil his potential, however, he'd probably have a similar impact on games as Jack Gunston and having a forward line that consists of Schache, Hipwood, Hayward and Ainsworth could be our own version of Buddy, Roughead, Gunston and Rioli. The recruiters might see the potential in that and deem it too good to pass up.

Willem Drew: A tall, contested midfielder who has a bit of acceleration out of packs and spreads on the outside of the contest fairly well for an inside midfielder. Disposal is tidy without being anything special and he can take a mark and go forward for a goal. One of my favourite players in the draft pool and I think we could do a lot worse than to add him to our inside midfielder stocks.

Dylan Clarke: Highlighted his ability as a contested beast who can find the footy this year. Disposal isn't the best by foot but he is good at hand balling to a teammate out of congestion. Having him and Matho in the guts as two competitive beasts feeding it out to our players on the outside sounds enticing. I'd be considering him strongly at pick 21 or 22 if I was our recruiters.

Shai Bolton: Could add a point of difference to our side with his speed and x factor. I could see him playing predominately as a half forward flanker who is capable of kicking multiple crumbing goals but also spending time on the wing receiving the ball on the out skirts of a pack and taking off with no one a realistic chance of catching him. If we drafted both Ainsworth and Bolton I'd be pretty excited about the potential x factor and excitement they could bring to the Gabba.

Cedric Cox: If Fagan, Littlejohn and Henriksen could work closely with this guy and help get the best out of him as a footballer his speed and skill off the half back flank would compliment Cutler perfectly. He is a dual sided, classy ball user who likes to run and carry out of the back half. My only criticism of him is his decision making can be poor when he is under pressure. He often blazes away and kicks long to nobody or just handballs it without any thought as to where he is hand balling it to.

Jordan Ridley: One that hasn't been spoken about much on here. If the club is still looking for a HBF once we get to pick 22 he could come into contention. He is skilful and agile, good size and would just simply provide us with someone off the back flank who can use it well. He took out the kicking test at the combine, he can take a good mark and he's 192cm so a good height for a flanker.

Jordan Gallucci: Quick, nifty, has a good leap, uses it pretty well and can find the footy. I just don't see the potential in this guy to become an A grader/a game changer. I'd back him in if the club ended up drafting him but I don't rate him all that highly.

Daniel Venables: Quick and powerful. Can win his own ball but can also receive it on the outside and use his pace to break away from congestion. A half forward flanker at this stage with potential to move into the midfield. I was unsure about him when others were praising him but I eventually came around as I saw those elite glimpses that recruiters look for. He has loads of potential. Could we get it out of him? He'd be a fantastic selection if he gets the best out of himself because with his skill set he could literally become the best player in this years draft. A boom or bust prospect in my opinion.

 

[lionshine]

What's the go with Simpkin? I rate him highly but hasn't really been given a mention on this board. Anyone be against Berry, Witherfen and Simpkin to go along with Ainsworth? Massive draft if something like that happened... Risky though. Would still like battle with one of our picks though.

Simpkin is super talented and could have propelled himself into top 6 calculations had he had an injury free year and played some good games out of the midfield. He is quick, classy and can kick a goal. I reckon he'll be a good player and if we added Ainsworth and Simpkin to Schache, Skinner and Mathieson plus we have their Vic Country coach Henriksen joining us that could become a tight knit group who want to work together to replicate their success with Vic Country at AFL level with the Lions.

 

[jjami15]

A few random thoughts on the guys likely to be in contention for the picks around 16-22:

Jarred Berry: An athletically gifted, tall half back flanker who has the versatility to play up forward and in the midfield as well. With his aerobic capacity I expect he'll probably aim to move into the midfield. Character wise he seems like the exact kind of guy Fagan and Noble want to add to our list. Could become a gun, tall midfielder one day.

Alex Witherden: A classy competitor off the half back flank who has the scope to move into the midfield. I wouldn't be surprised if his career trajectory ended up following the same path as Dyson Heppell(Minus the peptides) starting out on a half back flank for his first few years before moving into the midfield. He's coming off a broken leg but from all reports will be good to go come day 1 of pre season. The kind of prospect our recruiters would love I think.

Jy Simpkin: Another one coming off a broken leg. Fast, creative, tidy disposal, can kick a goal. Due to his broken leg he wasn't given the chance to show his ability in the midfield in his final underage year. He is very talented and would add outside run and class to our side and he's familiar with the likes of Schache, Skinner and Mathieson(And Ainsworth) and has worked with our new development coach Henriksen.

Oliver Florent: A classy, clever flanker/midfielder who can win his own ball, take a strong mark and kick the odd goal. He's pacy and moves well through traffic. Performed very well in the agility tests and jumping tests at the combine highlighting a couple of key athletic traits. He could yet go in the top 10, he has a lot of talent and I could see him racking up touches and using it well off a wing at AFL level.

Sam Powell-Pepper: He is a powerful athlete. Fast and hits the ball at pace. Can kind the footy and he kicks goals. His kicking for goal is quite accurate. He has that Tom Bell syndrome, however, in that his kicking for goal his reliable but his field kicking can be quite poor. If he was an elite kick of the footy he be talked about as a definite top 10 prospect in my opinion. It is not as if poor disposal can not be improved. Look at how much Cutler's disposal has improved from year 1 to now. He is a talented footballer so if the recruiters really rated him I would not hold back but I think our side is crying out for players who have elite skills which might turn us off SPP.

Will Hayward: Dangerous 3rd tall who knows where the goals are. Can take a strong grab as well. I am not sure his skill set will translate to AFL level though as I think he will come up against defenders who are bigger, stronger and faster who are equally good at taking contested marks and they will be able to shut him down. If he was able to fulfil his potential, however, he'd probably have a similar impact on games as Jack Gunston and having a forward line that consists of Schache, Hipwood, Hayward and Ainsworth could be our own version of Buddy, Roughead, Gunston and Rioli. The recruiters might see the potential in that and deem it too good to pass up.

Willem Drew: A tall, contested midfielder who has a bit of acceleration out of packs and spreads on the outside of the contest fairly well for an inside midfielder. Disposal is tidy without being anything special and he can take a mark and go forward for a goal. One of my favourite players in the draft pool and I think we could do a lot worse than to add him to our inside midfielder stocks.

Dylan Clarke: Highlighted his ability as a contested beast who can find the footy this year. Disposal isn't the best by foot but he is good at hand balling to a teammate out of congestion. Having him and Matho in the guts as two competitive beasts feeding it out to our players on the outside sounds enticing. I'd be considering him strongly at pick 21 or 22 if I was our recruiters.

Shai Bolton: Could add a point of difference to our side with his speed and x factor. I could see him playing predominately as a half forward flanker who is capable of kicking multiple crumbing goals but also spending time on the wing receiving the ball on the out skirts of a pack and taking off with no one a realistic chance of catching him. If we drafted both Ainsworth and Bolton I'd be pretty excited about the potential x factor and excitement they could bring to the Gabba.

Cedric Cox: If Fagan, Littlejohn and Henriksen could work closely with this guy and help get the best out of him as a footballer his speed and skill off the half back flank would compliment Cutler perfectly. He is a dual sided, classy ball user who likes to run and carry out of the back half. My only criticism of him is his decision making can be poor when he is under pressure. He often blazes away and kicks long to nobody or just handballs it without any thought as to where he is hand balling it to.

Jordan Ridley: One that hasn't been spoken about much on here. If the club is still looking for a HBF once we get to pick 22 he could come into contention. He is skilful and agile, good size and would just simply provide us with someone off the back flank who can use it well. He took out the kicking test at the combine, he can take a good mark and he's 192cm so a good height for a flanker.

Jordan Gallucci: Quick, nifty, has a good leap, uses it pretty well and can find the footy. I just don't see the potential in this guy to become an A grader/a gam changer. I'd back him in if the club ended up drafting him but I don't rate him all that highly.

Daniel Venables: Quick and powerful. Can win his own ball but can also receive it on the outside and use his pace to break away from congestion. A half forward flanker at this stage with potential to move into the midfield. I was unsure about him when others were praising him but I eventually came around as I saw those elite glimpses that recruiters look for. He has loads of potential. Could we get it out of him? He'd be a fantastic selection if he gets the best out of himself because with his skill set he could literally become the best player in this years draft. A boom or bust prospect in my opinion.

You know what, I look at that list and there's one or two that you could add for not only our pick 16 but also for 22/23 and you just start to think that those four picks are just so handy in that range. This doesn't even take into account pick 3 which you would assume is out of Ainsworth and McCluggage. Obviously who knows who'll we pick and then there's also the development of those players to consider. Can start to see the '3 year plan' and take into account what we've acquired the last three drafts we will be better off.

 

[lionshine]

You know what, I look at that list and there's one or two that you could add for not only our pick 16 but also for 22/23 and you just start to think that those four picks are just so handy in that range. This doesn't even take into account pick 3 which you would assume is out of Ainsworth and McCluggage. Obviously who knows who'll we pick and then there's also the development of those players to consider. Can start to see the '3 year plan' and take into account what we've acquired the last three drafts we will be better off.

Yeah we will get three talented players in that 16-22 range to add to a gun at pick 3 that's for sure. I would have loved to have added another pick in the 13-23 range to be honest. I think we should aim for one of Berry/Witherden/Ridley, a half back flanker with the potential to move into the midfield, an inside midfielder such as Clarke or Drew and one of Florent/Bolton/Simpkin to add some pace and skill on the outside. I think we can get Clarke or Drew with one of our 20's picks. Our recruiters might have to be strategic in who they go for with pick 16. They might rate Berry as the best available with pick 16, but if they rate Florent, Simpkin and Bolton as the 2nd, 3rd and 4th options and it looks likely that those three will all go before pick 21 we may have to bypass Berry and select one of the outside midfielder types and than hope Berry slides to pick 21 and if not settle for Witherden or Ridley.

Pick 3: Ainsworth
Pick 16: Florent/Simpkin/Bolton
Pick 21: Berry/Witherden/Ridley
Pick 22: Clarke/Drew

 

[Len S]

A few random thoughts on the guys likely to be in contention for the picks around 16-22:

Jarred Berry: An athletically gifted, tall half back flanker who has the versatility to play up forward and in the midfield as well. With his aerobic capacity I expect he'll probably aim to move into the midfield. Character wise he seems like the exact kind of guy Fagan and Noble want to add to our list. Could become a gun, tall midfielder one day.

Alex Witherden: A classy competitor off the half back flank who has the scope to move into the midfield. I wouldn't be surprised if his career trajectory ended up following the same path as Dyson Heppell(Minus the peptides) starting out on a half back flank for his first few years before moving into the midfield. He's coming off a broken leg but from all reports will be good to go come day 1 of pre season. The kind of prospect our recruiters would love I think.

Jy Simpkin: Another one coming off a broken leg. Fast, creative, tidy disposal, can kick a goal. Due to his broken leg he wasn't given the chance to show his ability in the midfield in his final underage year. He is very talented and would add outside run and class to our side and he's familiar with the likes of Schache, Skinner and Mathieson(And Ainsworth) and has worked with our new development coach Henriksen.

Oliver Florent: A classy, clever flanker/midfielder who can win his own ball, take a strong mark and kick the odd goal. He's pacy and moves well through traffic. Performed very well in the agility tests and jumping tests at the combine highlighting a couple of key athletic traits. He could yet go in the top 10, he has a lot of talent and I could see him racking up touches and using it well off a wing at AFL level.

Sam Powell-Pepper: He is a powerful athlete. Fast and hits the ball at pace. Can kind the footy and he kicks goals. His kicking for goal is quite accurate. He has that Tom Bell syndrome, however, in that his kicking for goal his reliable but his field kicking can be quite poor. If he was an elite kick of the footy he'd be talked about as a definite top 10 prospect in my opinion. It is not as if poor disposal can not be improved. Look at how much Cutler's disposal has improved from year 1 to now. He is a talented footballer so if the recruiters really rated him I would not hold back but I think our side is crying out for players who have elite skills which might turn us off SPP.

Will Hayward: Dangerous 3rd tall who knows where the goals are. Can take a strong grab as well. I am not sure his skill set will translate to AFL level though as I think he will come up against defenders who are bigger, stronger and faster who are equally good at taking contested marks and they will be able to shut him down. If he was able to fulfil his potential, however, he'd probably have a similar impact on games as Jack Gunston and having a forward line that consists of Schache, Hipwood, Hayward and Ainsworth could be our own version of Buddy, Roughead, Gunston and Rioli. The recruiters might see the potential in that and deem it too good to pass up.

Willem Drew: A tall, contested midfielder who has a bit of acceleration out of packs and spreads on the outside of the contest fairly well for an inside midfielder. Disposal is tidy without being anything special and he can take a mark and go forward for a goal. One of my favourite players in the draft pool and I think we could do a lot worse than to add him to our inside midfielder stocks.

Dylan Clarke: Highlighted his ability as a contested beast who can find the footy this year. Disposal isn't the best by foot but he is good at hand balling to a teammate out of congestion. Having him and Matho in the guts as two competitive beasts feeding it out to our players on the outside sounds enticing. I'd be considering him strongly at pick 21 or 22 if I was our recruiters.

Shai Bolton: Could add a point of difference to our side with his speed and x factor. I could see him playing predominately as a half forward flanker who is capable of kicking multiple crumbing goals but also spending time on the wing receiving the ball on the out skirts of a pack and taking off with no one a realistic chance of catching him. If we drafted both Ainsworth and Bolton I'd be pretty excited about the potential x factor and excitement they could bring to the Gabba.

Cedric Cox: If Fagan, Littlejohn and Henriksen could work closely with this guy and help get the best out of him as a footballer his speed and skill off the half back flank would compliment Cutler perfectly. He is a dual sided, classy ball user who likes to run and carry out of the back half. My only criticism of him is his decision making can be poor when he is under pressure. He often blazes away and kicks long to nobody or just handballs it without any thought as to where he is hand balling it to.

Jordan Ridley: One that hasn't been spoken about much on here. If the club is still looking for a HBF once we get to pick 22 he could come into contention. He is skilful and agile, good size and would just simply provide us with someone off the back flank who can use it well. He took out the kicking test at the combine, he can take a good mark and he's 192cm so a good height for a flanker.

Jordan Gallucci: Quick, nifty, has a good leap, uses it pretty well and can find the footy. I just don't see the potential in this guy to become an A grader/a game changer. I'd back him in if the club ended up drafting him but I don't rate him all that highly.

Daniel Venables: Quick and powerful. Can win his own ball but can also receive it on the outside and use his pace to break away from congestion. A half forward flanker at this stage with potential to move into the midfield. I was unsure about him when others were praising him but I eventually came around as I saw those elite glimpses that recruiters look for. He has loads of potential. Could we get it out of him? He'd be a fantastic selection if he gets the best out of himself because with his skill set he could literally become the best player in this years draft. A boom or bust prospect in my opinion.

Thanks for the great review , on Cutler , he was and is a beautiful ick of the Australian footy,its what he had in front of him that was the problem .

 

[Len S]

Thanks for the great review , on Cutler , he was and is a beautiful ick of the Australian footy,its what he had in front of him that was the problem .

Sorry , kick !

 

[TheZork]

Is it only me that thinks we need a KPD? Not many others have us taking one with our 4 picks, from my view our KPD stocks look pretty bare.

 

[Hollow Knight]

Is it only me that thinks we need a KPD? Not many others have us taking one with our 4 picks, from my view our KPD stocks look pretty bare.

Watson.

 

[TheZork]

Watson.

My question is how do we take both him and Allison, don't we only have 5 list spots?

 

[Hollow Knight]

My question is how do we take both him and Allison, don't we only have 5 list spots?

For now. He's probably a good chance to slide to the rookie draft. I suspect we'll go in with 6 spots though. Still think there is something to play out with Jaden McGrath.

 

[marooned]

Who is the last smokey we drafted that has worked? I can't think of one... I say we go with talent and need in the first instance.

Mathieson

 

[Len S]

For now. He's probably a good chance to slide to the rookie draft. I suspect we'll go in with 6 spots though. Still think there is something to play out with Jaden McGrath.

Very curious about young Jaden.Is his situation one that demands privacy , and is he still intending to return when he is ready ?