Autopsy 2016 National Draft (NM Picks: 11; 32; 33; 80)

[giantroo]

Twenty players to watch in division two champs
Callum Twomey May 6, 2016 7:20 AM

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-05-...ch-in-the-division-two-national-championships



THE NEXT wave of talent will be on show from this weekend, when the division two NAB AFL Under-18 Championships get underway.

Here are some players from each of the four teams to keep your eye on throughout the three-week carnival and as the season progresses.

NSW/ACT RAMS

Harry Perryman
184cm/75kg
19/12/98
Midfielder
Collingullie-GP/GWS academy
"Harry predominantly played as a defender as a junior so has always seen the game in front of him, but he's moved into the midfield and has been a revelation in that role given he reads the game so well. He's been exposed to a lot of senior footy through Collingullie and he's moved from playing as a permanent back pocket into a midfield/forward role this year. He's a good user, a smart kid and doesn't get stressed by too much."

Kobe Mutch
184cm/79kg
18/3/98
Midfielder
Gol Gol/Bendigo Pioneers/GWS academy
"Kobe looks like he's really grown in his physical and athletic ability. He looked really balanced at our recent camp when the ball was moving up and down the ground. He's a ball magnet who can use both feet, and he impacts the game through multiple possessions. He played championships last year but is more mature about his role this year and how he sees himself performing among the group."

Jake Brown
185cm/76kg
19/3/98
Midfielder
St George/Sydney Swans academy
"A midfielder/defender who can be used as a utility. He shows a high level of endurance and reads the game well. He's a good ball user and is adaptable enough to play in a number of spots. He's from Coffs Harbour originally but has relocated to Sydney in the past 12 months and has really worked hard on his game."

Will Setterfield
190cm/80kg
5/2/98
Midfielder
Albury/Sandringham Dragons/GWS academy
"Will looks like he's really matured physically. He's a poised, great utility type of player who can be used in a number of positions. He presents himself as that modern day draftee at his size and shape. He had a bit of concussion a couple of weeks ago but has been given the all-clear by medical staff and we're really excited that hopefully Will can have a good run at it this year given his injury history."

Harrison Macreadie
196cm/89kg
11/4/98
Tall defender
Henty/GWS academy
"Sometimes you can be guilty of throwing around talented players too much, and it can be detrimental to them. We'd like to use Harrison as a midfielder or defender, but he can certainly play anywhere with his size and shape. He's relocated to western Sydney at the start of the year so he's adjusted really well and he's getting bigger and stronger. We hope he can continue his good from his 17th year into his draft year."

Zach Sproule
197cm/84kg
12/5/98
Tall forward/defender
Albury/Murray Bushrangers/GWS academy
"Zach will predominantly play as a forward although he can be used as a tall defender. We've seen him as a lead-up forward who can burn his opponent by moving him around a lot and that's what Zach does. He's very committed to the program, both for the Bushrangers and NSW/ACT. He's really come a long way and is a ripping kid."

Todd Marshall
198cm/87kg
8/10/98
Tall forward
Deniliquin Rams/Murray Bushrangers/GWS academy
"Todd is a late developer. We had him listed on our database from four years ago so he was invited to the under-13s and 14s talent programs but he had cricket commitments that he was concentrating on. He's really stepped up this year. He presents as a modern forward who really attacks and jumps at the contest. He probably needs to put a bit of size on, but he pushes hard at the contest as a deep forward."

Max Lynch
200cm/96kg
12/9/98
Ruckman
Albury/Murray Bushrangers/GWS academy
"With a soccer background, Max has only been playing AFL for the past couple of years. With his size and shape he gets around really well and predominantly gets used as a ruckman. He may spend some time forward as well, which would be really important for Max's development. For someone to grasp the game as quickly as he has and to get to this level is a real credit to him."

Charlie Spargo
175cm/75kg
25/11/99
Midfielder/forward
Albury/Murray Bushrangers/GWS academy

"Charlie is at Melbourne Grammar on a scholarship and plays with the Murray Bushrangers, and like a lot of players he has come through the system from a very young age. He's draft eligible in 2017. As a midfielder he's a ball magnet. He's an inside/outside player who uses the ball well and probably has one of the best footy brains in terms of understanding the game and knowing how to play it. He's the son of former North Melbourne and Brisbane player Paul Spargo."

NORTHERN TERRITORY

Brandon Parfitt
172cm/68kg
27/4/98
Midfielder/forward
Nightcliff
"Brandon's had some problems with his groins but has spent some time out in recent weeks so is ready to go. He's clean below his knees and makes good decisions when he gets his hands on the footy. He can play as an inside and outside midfielder so gets a good balance into his game. He was an All Australian last year as a bottom-ager."

Jamie Hampton
186cm/76kg
16/10/98
Midfielder
Pioneer
"He's really improved the defensive running in his game. We all know he can run and take the game on, but we've been playing him off half-back and he's really knuckled down. It's put him in more of a position to win his own footy and when he does he's really used his strengths. Over the past couple of weeks he's been really good at TAC Cup level. He's the younger brother of Curtly Hampton at Adelaide."

Tony Olango
201cm/80kg
2/9/98
Ruckman
St Mary's
"Tony comes from a soccer background and travelled to America with the NAB AFL Academy in January. We finally got him back on the ground on the weekend after he's battled injury and he played mainly forward, but we'll play him in the ruck this week. His agility on the ground is as good as it is in the air. He can out jump most ruckman and our expectation of him is to just compete, which he likes doing."

Ben Long
176cm/60kg
21/8/97
Forward
St Mary's
"Ben is one of our 19-year-old players who has come back this year and improved a lot. He played some really good NTFL football, and he'll play this weekend. We expect him to lead, and he has an ability to run and carry the footy. He can take on taller players when in defence and he's really hard in the contest. He's the nephew of Essendon great Michael Long."

QUEENSLAND

Jack Bowes
187cm/78kg
26/1/98
Midfielder
Surfer's Paradise/Cairns/Gold Coast academy
"We call him the Rolls Royce. He's got lateral movement, he's good overhead and he's really worked hard on his contested footy, which has improved. He'll play through the midfield and be our captain. He's had a good run at it this year without injury and has been consistent with his games and training, so this is probably his first chance at having some continuity. He's also starting to fill out a bit as well."

Jacob Allison
194cm/79kg
16/4/98
Midfielder
Aspley/Brisbane Lions academy
"Jacob's had an interrupted pre-season but is starting to find his feet now. He's already shown plenty as a 17-year-old and we think he's a very good player. Because of his size he can play nearly anywhere – as an inside or outside midfielder or back or forward. He's a long kick and very good overhead. We'll give him opportunities as an inside midfielder at the championships."

Brad Scheer
184cm/83kg
31/8/98
Midfielder
Palm Beach Currumbin/Gold Coast academy
"He didn't play much last year as he hurt his groins but he's got on top of that and he's been in scintillating form. Brad can mark the ball, he's tough at the contest, he can shake a tackle and he's starting to spread from contests really well now. That was the thing he needed to work on. Lately he's also been thrown into the forward line and hit the scoreboard."

Elliot Himmelberg
196cm/84kg
4/6/98
Key forward
Redlands/Mt Gravatt
"Elliot is a bit taller than his brother Harry, who was drafted by GWS last year. He reminds me of Harris Andrews at the Lions. They're not quick but they're light on their feet and they go all day because they have great engines. Elliot is very good overhead, has great agility, keeps his feet and can play at both ends of the ground. He hasn't lived in Queensland long enough to be a member of any Northern academy."

Connor Ballenden
198cm/95kg
29/3/99
Key forward
University of Queensland/Brisbane Lions academy
"I love tall guys who can jump into a pack and take a mark cleanly, and that's what Connor does. He doesn't double grab anything and he kicks the ball really well. He needs to keep improving his work rate, but he's already shown plenty of exciting things. He stamped himself as a big, key forward in a trial game against Vic Country earlier this year."

TASMANIA

Nick Dodge
182cm/82kg
6/1/97
Half-back
Lauderdale
"He's been really good as an over-ager after being overlooked at last year's draft. He's played as a medium forward in the past couple of years but we've actually given him more time off half-back as a running defender, and in the past two TAC Cup games he's got over 30 touches. We'll keep pushing him through that role and there's a niche for that really explosive defender at AFL level. Nick's got that real power and speed in his game and we'll keep polishing up his disposal."

Ben McGuinness
190cm/76kg
21/5/98
Midfielder
Lauderdale
"Ben had an injury-interrupted pre-season and we've been playing him in different roles this year, moving a bit more through the midfield. His possession numbers have been good the past few weeks, which is good given that was a bit of a knock on him that he didn't win enough of the ball. He's one of those players who gets better with more of a workload so hopefully he'll start pushing up the next few weeks. He's the younger brother of the Brisbane Lions' Josh McGuinness."

 

[roos_fanatic08]

GWS have had nothing to do with Spargo's development. Much like they had no impact with Hopper's development last year. Rort.

 

[giantroo]

AFL not reviewing zones this year: McLachlan


http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-05-06/afl-not-reviewing-zones-this-year-mclachlan

AFL boss Gillon McLachlan says Greater Western Sydney will keep its Riverina zone this year.

The Giants have priority draft access to players from sections of New South Wales while developing those players through their academy.

Rival clubs are particularly concerned that GWS has control over the Riverina region.

GWS selected Jacob Hopper (No. 7), Matthew Kennedy (No. 13), Harrison Himmelberg (No. 16) and Matthew Flynn (No. 41) in the 2015 NAB AFL Draft. None has made their debut and all were from the Riverina region.

The club can draft players from its academy at a 20 per cent discount.

McLachlan said the rules were always open for change.

"Things always have the potential to be reviewed," McLachlan told ABC Radio on Friday morning.

"The Riverina zone for the Giants is not being reviewed this year.

"There is not anything new going on at our place this week as opposed to last week."

He said the club would not always bring in a large haul of players.

"Some years they have clusters or big groups coming through," he said. "I think everyone needs to not panic and understand that we're getting talent out of zones we haven't had before.

"The thing's got a head of steam up this week that I think is just a bit emotive."

 

[giantroo]

 

[giantroo]

 

[Firestarter]

They don't know what zoom is?

 

[koshari]

If queenslan clubs had an Academy " earlier we might have missed out on supagav.

 

[giantroo]

AFL heavyweights united in battle to strip GWS of its academy advantages

AFL heavyweights across the country have united in the battle to strip Greater Western Sydney of its generous academy advantages, fearing the Giants will dominate for a decade.

Clubs are angry the Giants have exclusive and discounted access to the best talent in the fertile Riverina area which has produced AFL champions Wayne Carey, Paul Kelly, Shane Crawford and Tom Hawkins.

Five more underage stars are on the way to the western Sydney expansion club through its talent academy this year and recruiters believe an even better batch will blossom in 2017.

Magpies’ football boss Neil Balme said Friday: “To have access to all of these players within these academies regardless of the points system is going to be an enormous advantage”.

“You’re probably going to have to change it at some point.”

The Giants already have the right to spend an extra $760,000 in their salary cap this season as part of their start-up concessions and boast a staggering 23 top-20 draft picks on their glittering list.

GWS also pockets an additional $600,000 thanks to the contentious cost of living allowance.

Even Brisbane Lions’ legend Jonathan Brown has joined the fight for fairness, saying: “Giving GWS exclusive access to the Riverina area was a bridge too far and needs to be pulled back”.

Fourteen clubs canvassed by the Herald Sun this week all expressed frustration with the Giants’ zone and wanted the Riverina talent tap turned off.

Ex-Hawthorn recruiting boss Gary Buckenara said the Giants were on track to become “a super club” after maximising their list concessions.

Pies’ president Eddie McGuire has led the charge against the Giants, saying it was clear in 2010 the AFL had given its newest baby too many benefits.

Brisbane and Western Bulldogs chiefs, Greg Swann and Peter Gordon also weighed in, while Carlton coach Brendon Bolton said the league should assess at season’s end whether the Giants held an unfair advantage.

Lions’ chief executive Swann said the AFL was assessing the broad scope of the Giants’ zone. The Giants’ zone is considered far richer in the talent stakes than Brisbane, Gold Coast and Sydney.

“This debate is more about the (size of the) zone itself,” Swann said.

“The Giants’ zone includes the Riverina area. It is a big zone and I think (AFL operations manager) Mark Evans is reviewing that (boundary) and I think that’s OK.”

Dogs president Gordon backed the AFL to main competition fairness.

“We are concerned that the principle of competitive balance must be preserved. We trust the AFL to manage the balance between the interest of the 18 clubs consistent with that principle,” Gordon said.

AFL chief executive McLachlan called for calm amid pressure from angry club recruiters and ruled out making any changes to the GWS zone before this year’s draft.

“Things always have the potential to be reviewed,” McLachlan said.

“Some years they have clusters or big groups (of juniors) coming through.

“Everyone needs to not panic and understand that we’re getting talent out of zones we haven’t had before.”

GWS chairman Tony Shepherd threatened to quit after the Herald Sun on Tuesday revealed the AFL would probe the club’s generous zone but backed down from the threat Thursday.

Giants’ chief executive David Matthews said the AFL should keep its hands off their talent basket.

“I don’t remember anyone looking at measures to impede Hawthorn (premiership dynasty) and now they’re trying to inhibit our potential success?” he said.

“We have never even played a final.”

He said the club was “18-20 years away from having any father-son” prospects.

The AFL introduced northern-states talent academies to help unearth talent in non-football areas but clubs are concerned the Giants are instead farming traditional football areas along the Murray River.

Kelly, one of those gun players to come from the Riverina, said people needed to recognise the good work the GWS academy did for the local area.

“The Giants academy has given players in our area a clearer pathway to go to the AFL,” he said.

“It just allows them to go and train as a group with the better kids around the place. They do get exposed to a higher level of training and professionalism.

“It only becomes unfair when you get a few kids out of here … Last year GWS got a few and it jumps out.

“It has been good for our area and you would hate to think they take those academies away, what happens to the kids then? Does New South Wales AFL or the AFL take it up?

“There’s hundreds and hundreds of kids that go through the academy and never play AFL, if nothing else they take that skill and knowledge back to the local area.”

THE RIVER OF GOLD DEBATE

THE JUDGE

“Everyone needs to not panic and understand that we’re getting talent out of zones we haven’t had before. “Things always have the potential to be reviewed”

AFL chief executive Gillon Mclachlan

THE DEFENDANT

“Just as we start to deliver value, don’t weaken us now. Don’t panic.”

GWS chairman Tony Shepherd

THE JURY

“The Giants zone includes the Riverina area. It is a big zone and I think Mark Evans is reviewing that (boundary) and I think that’s OK”

BRISBANE CEO Greg Swann

“I’m hearing recruiters are saying ‘enough is enough’. You can only have so much talent going into (those clubs).”

MELBOURNE COACH Paul Roos

“It’s more the concern about what might be coming. The prospect they’re going to get more (talent) is disconcerting for a lot of recruiters.”

GEELONG COACH Chris Scott

“Giving GWS exclusive access to the Riverina area was a bridge too far and needs to be pulled back”

BRISBANE champion Jonathan Brown

“We thought at the time, they (AFL) had been over generous (with list concessions to GWS).”

COACHING legend Michael Malthouse

“We are concerned that the principle of competitive balance must be preserved.”

CARLTON coach Brendon Bolton

“It (the Riverina) is established footy heart land”

COLLINGWOOD coach Nathan Buckley

“It (GWS stockpile of talent) is getting out of kilter and now is the time to make adjustments before it goes too far”

COLLINGWOOD president Eddie McGuire

“They (GWS) they do have to pay market value for (academy) players, but it dilutes the draft and what it is designed to do. It (GWS zone) has the potential to make a super club of them”

EX-HAWTHORN recruiting boss Gary Buckenara

“They have got a really healthy football zone that looks like it is providing plenty of numbers at the moment ... but there is a tipping point.”

PORT ADELAIDE coach Ken Hinkley

 

[Rooboy 96]

I hate father son argument they bring up in defence of the academies.

Academies produce atleast 1 kid a year. Are they saying all the other 14 clubs get 1 FS draftee each year?! We'd be lucky to get 1 every 10 years FFS. FS picks are rare. GWS picked like 4 academy kids or something last year!

When was the last time a Richmond, St kilda or blues had a top 10 FS pick? People who thinks this is an argument for the academies have NFI.

Just get rid of the 20% discount gws get and make it 10% for the rest.

I agree KH if the league relented on the restrictive rules around FS selections and reduced the 100 games qualification to 1 game and removed the 20% discount on all these selections I could almost live with it how it is.

Give us an academy for Southern Tassie and I think everyone would be happy to see the academies retained.

 

[czero]

Its so simple.

Get rid of the discount. It's enough of an advantage that you get first dibs on a player regardless of draft position. Fair price needs to be paid, discounting is just stupid.

 

[roos_fanatic08]

Watched the territory v Tas game. Not too many stand outs.

Brendon Parfitt was a class above,
Clean below his knees and has some good speed. Plays inside and out and his vision is elite. Not too sure where he is rated, but I there is a lot to like about him. Reminds me of Jed Anderson but more genuine ball winning ability.

Ezekiel Frank, good lead up forward. Is tall and has a big frame. Exceptionally clean below his knees for such a big guy. Has lots of x-factor, kind of in the Liam Jurrah, Daniel Motlop mould. Would be a good late pick I would think.

Not too many stood out for Tassie in my opinion

 

[Sheezel2Wardlaw]

Joel Garner, any reletion to Taylor?

 

[giantroo]

Joel Garner, any reletion to Taylor?

Nope.

http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2015/03/24/indigenous-teen-tipped-be-afl-star

 

[Sheezel2Wardlaw]

Nope.

http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2015/03/24/indigenous-teen-tipped-be-afl-star

Well there you go, didnt realise he was aboriginal.

 

[year of the roo]

Nope.

http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2015/03/24/indigenous-teen-tipped-be-afl-star

Must get the big bird!

 

[giantroo]

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-05-11/giants-lose-priority-access-to-murray-bushranger

GREATER Western Sydney is "disappointed" it won't be allowed priority access to pick academy prospect Todd Marshall at this year's NAB AFL Draft after the tall forward was excluded due to a registration issue.

The Giants last-ditch bid to retain access to Marshall failed on Wednesday after the AFL ruled the Giants will not get first call on the tall forward in November.

Clubs were notified on Wednesday that the Giants had lost access to the 198cm Murray Bushrangers forward, who has burst onto the scene this year after pursuing cricket during his youth.

GWS football manager Wayne Campbell told AFL.com.au the decision was due to a process error rather than a lack of involvement with the club's academy since he signed up.

"We're disappointed. The AFL has explained to us that it's a registration issue. It's not anything that we've done or done wrong or how long the player's spent with us," Campbell said.

"He's a unique circumstance in that he was asked a couple of times when he was 14 or 15 to come to the academy, but he was concentrating on cricket so he didn't.

"He decided to have a crack at it this year so registered with us, had a crack at it, played a game in the NEAFL and we developed a development plan for him and did all the things the AFL advised us to do. But there was an issue with the way he was registered, and that's what they've ruled on."

Campbell declined to go into details on the registration problem, saying "it's probably not up to us to explain that in trying to protect Todd and his family".

The AFL's decision is a win for rival clubs who have been frustrated by the Giants' large Riverina recruiting region, and the number of quality prospects available to the Giants at this year's draft.

In a note to club officials circulated on Wednesday, the AFL said "the decision by the AFL for Marshall to enter the draft was made in consultation with his family, and taking into consideration the individual circumstances surrounding his process of registration".

The Deniliquin prospect kicked four goals for NSW-ACT on Sunday in the Rams' win over Queensland in the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships. His athleticism, marking ability and competitive instincts make him one of the leading talls in the draft pool.

Campbell and academy coach Jason Saddington met with the League on Monday to put forward their case to retain first call on Marshall at this year's draft, but the Giants believed a decision had already been reached by that stage.

He said he didn't know whether the decision was a reaction to the recent anger directed at the Giants' academy zone, but that the club had asked whether each academy registration form had been probed as thoroughly as Marshall's.

"It's a point we made. There seems to have been some investigation into this one but we asked the question whether there had been as equal investigation into the other ones," he said.

"I think the response was that they hadn't.

"This is absolutely a unique case, but the thing that we're interested in is where this leads to. The Giants have complied with everything. You just hope this doesn't open up avenues for other players to do the same."

The Giants' expansive academy region in the Riverina has come under criticism from a number of clubs who feel they have been gifted a strong talent area.

Last year the Giants' four national draft picks were all academy prospects, and although they will not have access to Marshall this year, the likes of Will Setterfield, Harrison Macreadie, Harry Perryman and Kobe Mutch are all aligned to the club.

"In a short period of time to have 650 kids in a program, three full-time coaches and 50 part-time coaches and staff, it's a big program that Jason Saddington runs brilliantly," Campbell said.

"We feel the academy gets unfairly maligned due to some top-end talent that pops out at the end."

 

[Firestarter]

They have stuff all right to be disappointed.

 

[giantroo]

They have stuff all right to be disappointed.

Exactly. Either trade picks/players or finish low to get him like every club would have to.

 

[Grogg]

Campbell and academy coach Jason Saddington met with the League on Monday to put forward their case to retain first call on Marshall at this year's draft, but the Giants believed a decision had already been reached by that stage.

He said he didn't know whether the decision was a reaction to the recent anger directed at the Giants' academy zone, but that the club had asked whether each academy registration form had been probed as thoroughly as Marshall's.

"It's a point we made. There seems to have been some investigation into this one but we asked the question whether there had been as equal investigation into the other ones," he said.

"I think the response was that they hadn't.

What are the chances that the subject of Marshall's candidature was brought up by one of the other clubs and is the only reason the AFL said "err, s**t maybe we better have a closer look?"

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

What are the chances that the subject of Marshall's candidature was brought up by one of the other clubs and is the only reason the AFL said "err, s**t maybe we better have a closer look?"

Very much this.

 

[Dugdale2Dwyer]

I don't disagree with academies as such, much better idea than a draft, would prefer a zone system rather than the draft that way a club can develop kids within their zone and perhaps have first choice on them then after say 2 rounds revert to the draft, if GWS has a zone/academy why can't all clubs?

 

[roos_fanatic08]

I don't disagree with academies as such, much better idea than a draft, would prefer a zone system rather than the draft that way a club can develop kids within their zone and perhaps have first choice on them then after say 2 rounds revert to the draft, if GWS has a zone/academy why can't all clubs?

Can be manipulated way too easy. Just like GWS have manipulated the system to secure guys like Hopper whose development they had little impact on!

Uncomprimised draft, no academies.

Father sons stay with the current bidding with future draft pick trading. That would be an I deal scenario.

 

[Harris 10]

Can be manipulated way too easy. Just like GWS have manipulated the system to secure guys like Hopper whose development they had little impact on!

Uncomprimised draft, no academies.

Father sons stay with the current bidding with future draft pick trading. That would be an I deal scenario.

Did they manipulate the system to get Hopper? I just thought he lived in their ridiculously oversized zoning area.

 

[roos_fanatic08]

Did they manipulate the system to get Hopper? I just thought he lived in their ridiculously oversized zoning area.

He lived in the area but borded at St.Pats in Ballarat on a footy scholarship from year 10 onwards.

Academy players should only be academy players if the club has actually played a significant role in their development. Like Sydney did with Heeney.

GWS had nothing to do with Hoppers development. He was never going to be lost to rugby or any other reasoning the academy clubs spout out

 

[Dugdale2Dwyer]

Can be manipulated way too easy. Just like GWS have manipulated the system to secure guys like Hopper whose development they had little impact on!

Uncomprimised draft, no academies.

Father sons stay with the current bidding with future draft pick trading. That would be an I deal scenario.

Draft gets manipulated all the time, even Dangerfield has manipulated the system.