2017 Draft thread

[WA Lion]

He really is exactly what our midfield needs. A quick, skilful, goal kicking, inside/outside midfielder capable of winning the contested footy/clearances but also capable of the run and carry on the outside. He is reportedly on our radar so I guess from our recruiters point of view it'll come down to whether or not they think he can transition his game from WAFL level to AFL. He is in the perfect age bracket for us aged 23 as well. Coming into the off season David Noble stated that we were looking to recruit midfielders in the 21-25 range. If we nab two, 18 year old midfielders with picks 1 and 15, a 23 year old, ready to go midfielder could almost be seen as more beneficial at pick 18 than another 18 year old. It'd help the list build/age profile balance out.

A midfield rotation of Beams, Zorko, Berry, Kelly, Christensen, Mathieson and Cameron seems to be a good mix as well. A nice mix of inside grunt with outside speed. Beams, Christensen, Berry and Mathieson shoulder the inside work load whilst Zorko, Kelly and Cameron could offer us the run and gun on the outside. Beams and Bundy are capable on the outside as well whilst Zorko/Kelly can win their own footy.

There are a few good overage players in the wafl this year. Kelly, ryan, schloithe and bailey banfield all promising options

 

[SizeMatters]

Houlihan and Kelly could both be the risky selections at pick 18 we could take if we select two safe options at 1 and 15. Would love either but feel that 18 is too high for them. Reckon Houlihan will be rated top 5 from this draft in 10 years time.

 

[Paul D]

Pick 18

West Coast are keen. And both Carlton and Geelong have made contact.

 

[captainrich]

Would have loved Kelly and if we had kept pick 25 we would be in the perfect spot to nab him......but life goes on

 

[Johnny Bananas]

Would have loved Kelly and if we had kept pick 25 we would be in the perfect spot to nab him......but life goes on

25 would have probably gone on Ballenden anyway.

 

[BigCat2]

I'm quite liking Zac Bailey - similar style to Zorko. Lacking a little polish on his disposals at present, but even the great Zorko was a bit untidy with his kicks when he first started. A bit taller than Zorko and from NT. I'd be happy to pick him at 18. Fits the mould of inside/outside midfielder who can also kick goals.

 

[jjami15]

I'm quite liking Zac Bailey - similar style to Zorko. Lacking a little polish on his disposals at present, but even the great Zorko was a bit untidy with his kicks when he first started. A bit taller than Zorko and from NT. I'd be happy to pick him at 18. Fits the mould of inside/outside midfielder who can also kick goals.

Same, bit of a tough nut as well and lots of improvement to come. Stated before but do believe that he would make a great small defender in the Blake Hardwick (Hawks) mould.

 

[WA Lion]

Same, bit of a tough nut as well and lots of improvement to come. Stated before but do believe that he would make a great small defender in the Blake Hardwick (Hawks) mould.

If he is gone another that has flown under the radar is Bailey Banfield. Missed out on being drafted last year and went back to the WAFL to play for Claremont where he was very good. Finished high in their B'n'F (may even have won it) and is very good in contested situations and spreads well. If we have a late pick available we could do far worse than pick him up

 

[M Malice]

Great roar deal draft chat- Callum Twomey (special guest) as well as Jake Anson on Springfield.

The Roar Deal is terrific stuff from the club.

 

[M Malice]

Callum Twomey-

1) I'm thinking Cameron Rayner will be the number 1 selection.
2) The Lions are into Lachlan Fogarty.
3) I wouldn't be surprised if Connor Ballenden isn't bid on till around pick 25 or even the 30s. Hes been disappointing although he's one of the best big man field kicks I have seen.
4) I think the Lions will take Jack Higgins if available at 15.

 

[Nunez]

Callum Twomey-

1) I'm thinking Cameron Rayner will be the number 1 selection.
2) The Lions are into Lachlan Fogarty.
3) I wouldn't be surprised if Connor Ballenden isn't bid on till around pick 25 or even the 30s. Hes been disappointing although he's one of the best big man field kicks I have seen.
4) I think the Lions will take Jack Higgins if available at 15.

I get how his early part of the season was disappointing but I thought his games in the AFL were a lot better and he gunned it. I am happy for him to slip that far though lol.

 

[carnthemlions]

I get how his early part of the season was disappointing but I thought his games in the AFL were a lot better and he gunned it. I am happy for him to slip that far though lol.

I'd put a lot more stock in his NEAFL GF performance than anything else he did this year, was probably the most dangerous forward out there even up against numerous defenders with AFL experience. I doubt many people have actually seen it though so we should be fine bid wise.

 

[Nunez]

I'd put a lot more stock in his NEAFL GF performance than anything else he did this year, was probably the most dangerous forward out there even up against numerous defenders with AFL experience. I doubt many people have actually seen it though so we should be fine bid wise.

And from memory a few games prior when the game was on the line he went into defence and did a couple of crucial things including a game saving mark.

 

[Comeback Lions]

The knock on Ballenden was his form for the Allies. He didn't set the world on fire and was underwhelming, until he went into defence. 25 to 30 seems about right. Ben Keays was an All Australian and only went at 24. His NEAFL form was clearly better, especially the GF, though they did have to match up on Close, Freeman and Oscar, so I don't think Conor had the best defender to beat. But for a fluffed chest mark under minimal pressure, he would have had 3 goals. Twomey might not have seen the NEAFL GF, but the other clubs who are interested in him would have, definitely.

 

[lionshine]

Callum Twomey-

1) I'm thinking Cameron Rayner will be the number 1 selection.
2) The Lions are into Lachlan Fogarty.
3) I wouldn't be surprised if Connor Ballenden isn't bid on till around pick 25 or even the 30s. Hes been disappointing although he's one of the best big man field kicks I have seen.
4) I think the Lions will take Jack Higgins if available at 15.

I'm really hopeful Jack Higgins slips to pick 15. The kind of player Chris Fagan would love coaching imo. You'd think there is some correlation between Twomey thinking we'll select Rayner with pick 1 and also reporting our interest in Lachlan Fogarty as they are good mates who played at the Western Jets together.

 

[jjami15]

Have been watching a littl bit of vision and reckon Jack Petruccelle might be one we look at 18. Maybe too early but it’s interesting that Noble has stated that Gabba plays fast (like Etihad) and leg speed might be something we could be looking to bring in.

 

[Johnny Bananas]

Callum Twomey-

1) I'm thinking Cameron Rayner will be the number 1 selection.
2) The Lions are into Lachlan Fogarty.
3) I wouldn't be surprised if Connor Ballenden isn't bid on till around pick 25 or even the 30s. Hes been disappointing although he's one of the best big man field kicks I have seen.
4) I think the Lions will take Jack Higgins if available at 15.

That's a lot of forwards. Rayner, Higgins and Ballenden all probably start forward and I've heard Lachlan Fogarty also may be best at HFF to begin with.

 

[jackess]

That's a lot of forwards. Rayner, Higgins and Ballenden all probably start forward and I've heard Lachlan Fogarty also may be best at HFF to begin with.

Not many 18 year old slot into the midfield. Was probably only a couple this year.

 

[Lions Lions]

He really is exactly what our midfield needs. A quick, skilful, goal kicking, inside/outside midfielder capable of winning the contested footy/clearances but also capable of the run and carry on the outside. He is reportedly on our radar so I guess from our recruiters point of view it'll come down to whether or not they think he can transition his game from WAFL level to AFL. He is in the perfect age bracket for us aged 23 as well. Coming into the off season David Noble stated that we were looking to recruit midfielders in the 21-25 range. If we nab two, 18 year old midfielders with picks 1 and 15, a 23 year old, ready to go midfielder could almost be seen as more beneficial at pick 18 than another 18 year old. It'd help the list build/age profile balance out.

A midfield rotation of Beams, Zorko, Berry, Kelly, Christensen, Mathieson and Cameron seems to be a good mix as well. A nice mix of inside grunt with outside speed. Beams, Christensen, Berry and Mathieson shoulder the inside work load whilst Zorko, Kelly and Cameron could offer us the run and gun on the outside. Beams and Bundy are capable on the outside as well whilst Zorko/Kelly can win their own footy.

I think we are going to get the type of player you have identified we need in Cam Rayner with pick one and by the time he's 23 I think he'll be a star of the competition. If Kelly slips through to our later pick around 50ish I'd take him for sure, but is likely to go, 25-40 range.

 

[scoman]

The knock on Ballenden was his form for the Allies. He didn't set the world on fire and was underwhelming, until he went into defence. 25 to 30 seems about right. Ben Keays was an All Australian and only went at 24. His NEAFL form was clearly better, especially the GF, though they did have to match up on Close, Freeman and Oscar, so I don't think Conor had the best defender to beat. But for a fluffed chest mark under minimal pressure, he would have had 3 goals. Twomey might not have seen the NEAFL GF, but the other club's who are interested in him would have, definitely.

He also just hasnt put together those dominant games that see key position players taken in the first round. Even in u18 games he hasnt really grabbed a game by the scruff of the neck. He has shown glimpses of ability but thats about it. Compare that to say Boyd, Schache or Wietering who dominated at under 18 level. Im pretty confident he slips well into the second round.

 

[carnthemlions]

I think we are going to get the type of player you have identified we need in Cam Rayner with pick one and by the time he's 23 I think he'll be a star of the competition. If Kelly slips through to our later pick around 50ish I'd take him for sure, but is likely to go, 25-40 range.

I saw something on the drafts board about Kelly having a young child with twins on the way, if that's the case I think leaving him to the WA clubs would probably be the smart thing to do.

 

[Lazza16]

These are the players I would choose with our 3 1st round picks:

Pick 1: Luke Davies-Uniacke
POS: Midfielder, Ht: 187cm, Wt: 85kg, DOB: 8/6/1999
From Dandenong Stingrays/Vic Country

Summary:
Hard to split the difference between Dow and LDU. The main reasons I choose LDU is because he can impact the scoreboard when resting forward, has good strength over the ball and a ready made body to have an impact next season. Plus his family already owns a home in Brisbane. The transition should be fairly easy when he moves to Brisbane.




Pick 15: Aiden Bonar
POS: Midfielder, Ht: 190cm, Wt: 89kg, DOB: 8/3/1999
From Dandenong Stingrays

Summary:
I see Bonar as the best player being available at selection 15. His upside is what excites me based on his raw talent and skills. Also helps that he's best mates with LDU and they went to the same school together. I suspect he will be roommates with LDU. Again, Bonar's transition should be fairly easy when he moves to Brisbane. Tested elite in 20-metre sprint (2.90 sec), agility (8.30 seconds) and standing vertical jump (89cm).




Pick 18: Brandon Starcevich
POS: Half-Forward, Ht: 187cm, Wt: 87kg, DOB: 24/7/1999
From East Perth, Western Australia

Summary:
Risky selection hear at pick 18 for a WA boy, but Starcevich is my preference at pick 18. Has real power through his legs, but the thing that stands out is his ability to spread and composure to lower the eyes. Really a complete Half-Forward who has the scope to be a good midfielder that makes the correct decisions and shows composure. Brandon tested elite for speed in the WA state combine, with results of 20-metre sprint (2.87 sec), a running vertical leap (91cm) and agility (8.08 sec).

Could not pass on Bonar if available at 15...........

 

[Lazza16]

Pick 18

Do you think Freeo will wait til pick 40whatever to take him?

 

[briztoon]

Do you think Freeo will wait til pick 40whatever to take him?

Eagles with one of their myriad of second round picks.

 

[lionshine]

A Carlton poster on the D&T board in the "2017 draft rumours" thread has stated that we are expressing interest in Jack Petrucelle. He also said GWS are into him with one of their second round picks but it is highly unlikely he slips past one of our picks in the teens. This isn't the first time it has been said that we are interested in Petrucelle. Perhaps Fagan has requested we add some genuinely fast, line breaking players this off season because Petrucelle is just as fast as Charlie Cameron/Jason Johannisen. More than likely in the mix for our pick 18 selection.