Live Chat 2017 AFL Draft - #2, #5, #42, #60, #66, #70, #77, #80, #90

Which players do we take with #2 & #5?

  • Luke Davies-Uniacke

    Votes: 128 77.6%
  • Cameron Rayner

    Votes: 25 15.2%
  • Darcy Fogarty

    Votes: 42 25.5%
  • Adam Cerra

    Votes: 12 7.3%
  • Jaidyn Stephenson

    Votes: 8 4.8%
  • Paddy Dow

    Votes: 28 17.0%
  • Andrew Brayshaw

    Votes: 56 33.9%
  • Jack Higgins

    Votes: 3 1.8%
  • Sam Hayes

    Votes: 1 0.6%
  • Jarrod Brander

    Votes: 1 0.6%
  • Aaron Naughton

    Votes: 8 4.8%
  • Oscar Allen

    Votes: 4 2.4%
  • Nick Coffield

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Charlie Constable

    Votes: 1 0.6%
  • Hunter Clark

    Votes: 2 1.2%
  • Noah Balta

    Votes: 2 1.2%
  • Aiden Bonar

    Votes: 2 1.2%

  • Total voters
    165
  • Poll closed .

Walkingwounded

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here goes nothing:

AIDEN Bonar sat in the Bendigo changerooms with tears streaming down his face.

Ten minutes after an opponent fell across the explosive midfielder’s leg, a Lachman test showed Bonar had ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.

Bonar was best afield the previous weekend but started this TAC Cup match for Dandenong on the bench.

In the opening minutes he interchanged with best mate and No.1 pick fancy Luke Davies-Uniacke.

Seconds later and his season was over. In the changerooms his dad was so upset, he walked out.

Discharged from Bendigo hospital at 9pm, a lonely three-hour drive home preceded 14 months of rehabilitation.

It was 2015, Bonar was 16. The previous three years he won three flags at Seaford and was named best-on-ground in the grand final every time.

In 2016, Bonar finally returned. He got through three games … and then did his right knee again.

“I twisted going for a ball and I just felt it loose,” Bonar said.

“Straight after I knew it was gone. I was devastated.

“In the first few months of my rehab there was a patch where I thought I wouldn’t get picked up with two knees.”

It was a natural fear. But the second reconstruction would be different.

Robbie D’Orazio already managed Davies-Uniacke and Hunter Clark and they suggested he sign Bonar too.

D’Orazio — who has half of this year’s top-10 prospects — listened, and when Bonar’s knee went again, he called top surgeon Julian Feller.

Bonar first went under the knife of a local surgeon using a hamstring graft.

Feller used the patella tendon and Bonar knew it was a better operation.


“The next morning you wake up from surgery and actually have to walk around, and it felt a lot better,” he said.

His rehabilitation was also different — Bonar picked a new personal trainer and did four intensive sessions per week.

They still continue, with a session on Tuesday pushing back a Herald Sun photoshoot.

Every Wednesday after school, Bonar would bounce on a trampoline for an hour and 45 minutes. Each jump produced more strength and power in his legs.

He did three months of gymnastics and worked on his running with Olympian Craig Mottram at Haileybury.

Bonar’s dad would wake at 6am every morning to help him exercise and his mum kept driving to watch footy training, even after he had his licence.

After 11 months and three weeks Bonar was ready to return, nervous about his lack of touch, but not his knee.

Before the fourth game, when the knee went the year before, the demons resurfaced.

“I didn’t really get much sleep the night before that game,” Bonar said.

“But I knew if I could get past the fourth game I could fly through.”

When 2017 began Bonar believed he wouldn’t be drafted this year.

By draft combine, he had met 15 clubs including coaches Don Pyke (Adelaide) and Ross Lyon (Fremantle).

Collingwood will be the first to consider the Magpies fan at No.6, but St Kilda at No.7 and 8 looks more likely.

The Saints passed on the dynamic Christian Petracca in 2014. Is this their chance to grab a player with breakaway power?

If Bonar isn’t St Kilda’s man he could be off to GWS (No.11) or Sydney (No.14).

Bonar equalled the standing vertical jump record at draft camp with 89cm and then finished second in the 20m sprint (2.9sec).

The kid of Papua New Guinea (mum) and Scottish (dad) heritage is high risk, but high reward.

After a flat TAC Cup finals Bonar won 20 disposals, five clearances and kicked a goal in the All-Stars game on AFL Grand Final day.

He watches a lot of David Mundy and Brendon Goddard and is a genuine utility.

“I’m really versatile,” Bonar said.

“I can play at either end and am just a big, strong-bodied midfielder.”

Bonar has spent 26 months of his junior career recovering from knee surgeries. But at 190cm and 89kg he looks be ready to play AFL next year.
2-3 months ago I was hoping Bonar might be available at our now 3rd pick..

That’s not the case now and he is probably a 15-30 pick.

Not sure about a pick 5, as a comfort pick for LDU.
 

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palomelto

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2-3 months ago I was hoping Bonar might be available at our now 3rd pick..

That’s not the case now and he is probably a 15-30 pick.

Not sure about a pick 5, as a comfort pick for LDU.
Yeah I agree, it would need to be based on merit. Bonar would feel a bit stiff if he was shafted to Cockburn just to keep an eye on LDU.
 

Dirty_banchez

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http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/a...d/news-story/226b16e17edc49d247dcc26cee9a0202

ANDREW Brayshaw won’t have to wait long to kiss mum Deborah on the cheek and shake dad Mark’s hand as the cameras flash on Friday night.

They will attend the national draft at Sydney’s Olympic Park, where Brayshaw is a chance to be selected by Brisbane Lions with the No.1 selection.

The Lions should settle on this year’s dux at a list meeting on Wednesday.

If they plump for Cameron Rayner, another club with a top-five pick is certain to take Brayshaw.

Brayshaw will probably then receive a congratulatory text from oldest brother Will, who is in Queensland as a lieutenant in the army, and Hamish and Angus, who will watch from home in Sandringham.

“For him to get the privilege and the honour of being the No.1 name called out would be unbelievable, so we’ll be holding our breath,” Hamish said.

But the family’s night doesn’t end with Andrew.

It is hoping for a footy trifecta — for Hamish to join Andrew and Melbourne midfielder Angus on AFL lists.

“I think I’d be just as excited if Hame got drafted as if I got drafted,” Andrew said.

“If I got picked up, I’d still be watching and just hoping with fingers crossed he goes as well.”

Andrew and Hamish have spent the past two seasons at Sandringham Dragons.

In 2016 they won the TAC Cup premiership as the bruised brothers — Andrew tweaked a medial ligament and Hamish had long been playing with a broken navicular bone in a foot.

When draft night rolled around, Hamish was left on the shelf.

“It was a rough night,” Andrew said.

Andrew decided to give Hamish time and space. Little was required.

“Pretty much the next day he said he’s going to have another crack and come back to Sandy (as a 19-year-old),” Andrew said.

Hamish is a lot more relaxed heading into this draft. He knows he has done everything possible.

Hamish played 11 TAC Cup games and averaged 131 SuperCoach points this year.

Andrew played 10 TAC Cup games and averaged 131.

Andrew spent most of his other weeks captaining Haileybury, where he won the 2016 best-and-fairest, to an undefeated premiership.

Hamish spent his other weeks playing for Sandringham Zebras in the VFL, notably collecting 24 disposals and laying 10 tackles against Geelong at Kardinia Park.

Against Northern Knights in September, Hamish kicked five goals from 30 disposals and laid 11 tackles.

Recruiters love the character of the brothers and say clubs could do a lot worse than taking Hamish with a late pick.

If it doesn’t happen, Hamish will spend next year in the VFL and try again.

“I won’t give up the dream,” he said.

“I haven’t had a full pre-season the last two years and so I’d go, have a full pre-season and give it another crack.”

The pair have inside knowledge of what’s required.

Outside of dad Mark flipping through a range of high-level roles in the AFL, they watched Angus be drafted at pick No.3 in 2014 and the No.4 pick, Clayton Oliver, moved in with the family in his first year with the Demons.

Angus’s selection made the AFL dream seem tangible.

“As a kid you think AFL players are superheroes,” Hamish said.

Andrew remembers Angus leaving for pre-season training and then crashing to bed when he returned after lunchtime.

Andrew and Angus are regulars at the gym together, sometimes lifting dumbbells in Nathan Jones’ garage.

The past five Christmas Days have started with the two older Brayshaw boys running 100 100m sprints. Andrew has sweated it out with them since 2014.

The quietest of the three, Andrew is a different player to Angus.

“Angus is really skilful and can crack in hard, you’ve seen that from his head knocks — maybe a bit too hard,” Andrew said.

“I might have a little bit more pace ... I might be a little bit more outside, whereas he’s a little bit more in.”

Likened to Brownlow medallist Trent Cotchin, Andrew is regarded as the complete package. And that is why he could go No.1.
 

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Allikat

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Why would Freo draft a player who has done two acls?

Pretty stupid idea
I agree, 2 top 5 picks is an amazing opportunity to pick up some genuinely talented, potentially superstar Rayners... I mean... players. And we're not in the position to take players with such a huge injury potential. We needs kids that can play
 

wayToGo_

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In case you missed it yesterday (don't think anyone else posted it?):

http://www.fremantlefc.com.au/news/2017-11-20/draft-prospects-luke-daviesuniacke

Here's a tip: get a tape of Dandenong's elimination final win against the Eastern Ranges. That will show you everything you need to know about why Davies-Uniacke is a top prospect. With his side trailing by 50 points at half-time, Davies-Uniacke dragged them over the line in a dominant display that showed all of his qualities.

He gathered 33 disposals (21 contested), six clearances, five inside-50s and kicked an important goal, but also showed his burst of speed and powerful run from congestion to find space. When up and going, Davies-Uniacke has that rare blend of being a stoppage bull but being able to tuck the ball under his arm and go for a run.

Davies-Uniacke's size (187cm, 86kg) also works in his favour as an appealing prospect. He has the frame to push others out of the way, or lift the ball above his head to get a handball away while being tackled. He has also spent periods deep in attack while out of the midfield, where he has shown he can mark well above his head and be a forward threat.


The players Davies-Uniacke is most likely to be compared to are Sydney midfield duo Josh Kennedy and Luke Parker. There are certainly similarities in their ball-winning abilities, perhaps more so with Kennedy, but Davies-Uniacke has been learning to use his size and marking a little like Parker has become known for.
 

wayToGo_

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http://www.fremantlefc.com.au/news/2017-11-09/draft-prospects-paddy-dow

Does he win his own ball? Yes, he averaged 18 disposals in four games at championships level and 11 of those were in contested situations. He also averaged five clearances a game in that time. Is he quick? Dow runs the 20-metre sprint under three seconds and shows that dash to get out of strife on the field.

Does he find the ball? He averaged 26 disposals at TAC Cup level this year. Does he kick goals? Regularly, including two in his best-on-ground 35-disposal effort in round 16 of the TAC Cup season, which turned out to be his final appearance for the season.

That's just a few reasons. Dow has the essentials you want in a midfield – he enjoys the rough and tumble, he can get his hands dirty – but he complements those traits with good outside dash and an ability to break free from a stoppage and kick a goal.

Think Brad Crouch. With his turn of speed, combined with his penchant for winning his own ball and then busting through traffic, Dow carries some similar traits to the Adelaide midfielder.
 

wayToGo_

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http://www.fremantlefc.com.au/news/2017-10-24/draft-prospects-cameron-rayner

You only had to watch the national carnival to see why Rayner is a top-end player. He had a huge say in all of Vic Metro's games, and in different parts of the ground. Up first he had 23 disposals, a goal and six clearances with more midfield time, and the following week he kicked three goals playing more as a deep forward.

The game after that he booted five goals as a leading and marking medium forward, and then in his side's final game he kicked a running and bouncing goal that showed his explosive and exciting streak. Rayner is a player who steps up at big moments in games, and he doesn't require anyone to help him out to do it (he averaged 18.5 disposals at the national carnival, of which 11.5 were contested). His size, shape, intensity and innate competitiveness is hard to stop.

Rayner has breakaway speed, he's a very good mark above his head, he kicks goals regularly and he has the power required to make a difference at the top level. He's also tough: he played at the end of the Western Jets' season with a fracture in his hand without any complaints. In Rayner, a club will recruit a prospect who alters the way games are going and drags his side with him.

You've probably heard the Dustin Martin comparisons by now, and there are certainly some similarities in the way they pair plays. Rayner has the big legs and strong fend-off that gets him out of trouble. But Melbourne's Christian Petracca is probably a fairer comparison at this stage. There were some doubts on Petracca's aerobic capacity early days and he has started his career more as a half-forward, which seems likely for Rayner.
 
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Nope I can wait a few more days. I recommend getting off bigfooty and enjoying nature. We only live once and sitting on this won't pass time any quicker.

Some of us can't jog 10ks like you Jedi. All my bones rattle after 100metres. Ah forgot...yeah i could walk among the trees:rolleyes:
 

Rob

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http://www.fremantlefc.com.au/news/2017-10-24/draft-prospects-cameron-rayner

You only had to watch the national carnival to see why Rayner is a top-end player. He had a huge say in all of Vic Metro's games, and in different parts of the ground. Up first he had 23 disposals, a goal and six clearances with more midfield time, and the following week he kicked three goals playing more as a deep forward.

The game after that he booted five goals as a leading and marking medium forward, and then in his side's final game he kicked a running and bouncing goal that showed his explosive and exciting streak. Rayner is a player who steps up at big moments in games, and he doesn't require anyone to help him out to do it (he averaged 18.5 disposals at the national carnival, of which 11.5 were contested). His size, shape, intensity and innate competitiveness is hard to stop.

Rayner has breakaway speed, he's a very good mark above his head, he kicks goals regularly and he has the power required to make a difference at the top level. He's also tough: he played at the end of the Western Jets' season with a fracture in his hand without any complaints. In Rayner, a club will recruit a prospect who alters the way games are going and drags his side with him.

You've probably heard the Dustin Martin comparisons by now, and there are certainly some similarities in the way they pair plays. Rayner has the big legs and strong fend-off that gets him out of trouble. But Melbourne's Christian Petracca is probably a fairer comparison at this stage. There were some doubts on Petracca's aerobic capacity early days and he has started his career more as a half-forward, which seems likely for Rayner.
None of that explains why he just ran an 8 minute 2km TT. That's as slow as treacle. Either he was tanking or doesn't train hard enough. Both are a worry.
That's not to say I wouldn't draft him though. Having never met the kid I don't want to judge his character too quickly.
 
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