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2018 Draft thread

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Jade Gresham is an absolute gun playing in a poor Saints side. There was some talk among the commentators in the Port v Saints game yesterday about how much damage he'd do in a top 4 side. I liken Rankine as a similar player as that sort of 178-180cm tall, fast, agile skilful player who can play up the ground but also rest forward and kick some miraculous goals. Comparing the two at junior level, however, and Rankine is a far superior prospect. If he can fulfil his potential at senior level he'll be an absolute weapon in the Gresham mould but probably better and with it looking likely that we'll start to rise/improve over the next two seasons he could be the perfect icing on the cake type player that the likes of Berry/Rayner/McCluggage can feed it out to alongside Zorko, Cameron and Taylor.

I still like all the other prospects being talked about in the top 5ish range though and think whoever we end up with will be a terrific addition to our young core. Bailey Smith for example would compliment our current midfield group really nicely with his consistent ball winning inside and outside of the contest and his tackling ability wrecking havoc alongside Bailey, Berry and Rayner.

Smith or Walsh for mine. I feel when watching our games what is most glaring is we seem short one, maybe two, blue chip damaging midfielders. Add even one bona fide top hurt-factor midfielder into our team as it currently stands, and this season would have been a whole 'nother story.
 

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*Worth noting with a lot of these QLD prospects. In each of the cases with Hipwood, Andrews, Crossley and McFadyen. My position in my power rankings differs to where I believe they feature in the draft. Despite rating McFadyen at 12, I see him as a 15-35 prospect at the moment. Possible first rounder, but more likely at this stage attracting a second round bid.

I came to this board earlier in the week saying that I could see McFadyen going in the top 15. Let's just say it caused some abusive messages from the Brissie fans.
 
I came to this board earlier in the week saying that I could see McFadyen going in the top 15. Let's just say it caused some abusive messages from the Brissie fans.

He's being spoken about by recruiters as a possible late first/probably second round choice.

If he plays NEAFL and puts forwards strong showings as he did consistently throughout the u18 champs, he could be bid on inside the top 15.
 
I came to this board earlier in the week saying that I could see McFadyen going in the top 15. Let's just say it caused some abusive messages from the Brissie fans.

I’ll be honest, I don’t remember this. Before the champs I would have disagreed. But you can’t argue with form and he matched it with the best of them.

A bid anywhere 20 ish would not surprise.
 
If we were to finish second last and have pick 2 and Carlton took Walsh, would we go Lukosius or look elsewhere i.e. Smith or a Rankine?

In that instance, I think we'd take Lukosius. It would be difficult not to. And I do think he is somebody it would be quite easy to get excited about.

I know many of us are still gun shy after Schache as well as the low strike rate of high end talls in recent years (and rightfully so), but each circumstance should be treated on its merits and it seems as though Lukosius is in a different league to those who have come before him.

In saying that, if we got to that point I wouldn't be at all surprised if we were the first to use in-draft trading and basically offer the pick for Lukosius up to the highest bidder.
 
To follow on from that point, we have been fortunate over the past two years to have ended up with the player widely considered the best in the draft pool on both occasions (McCluggage and Rayner), despite only having pick 1 on one of those occasions.

If Lukosius happened to slip to us, that would make it three years in a row where we've ended up with the most highly rated prospect. Not a bad result.
 
To follow on from that point, we have been fortunate over the past two years to have ended up with the player widely considered the best in the draft pool on both occasions (McCluggage and Rayner), despite only having pick 1 on one of those occasions.

If Lukosius happened to slip to us, that would make it three years in a row where we've ended up with the most highly rated prospect. Not a bad result.

I don't think we'll be that fortunate. No way Lukosious slips from one. Any idea on our top 5?
 
I don't think we'll be that fortunate. No way Lukosious slips from one. Any idea on our top 5?
I wouldn’t be so sure.

Lukosius isn’t a unanimous number one and Carlton have many needs, including midfielders. Walsh may be the safer long term prospect that will likely have more of an immediate impact and has no go home factor noting that Carlton haven’t been immune from players leaving to homesickness either.

Don’t get me wrong, if we held pick two, I’ll be praying like mad that they do take Lukosius because I want Walsh at the Lions badly.
 
I wouldn’t be so sure.

Lukosius isn’t a unanimous number one and Carlton have many needs, including midfielders. Walsh may be the safer long term prospect that will likely have more of an immediate impact and has no go home factor noting that Carlton haven’t been immune from players leaving to homesickness either.

Perhaps. I wouldn't want to be part of the recruiting team that let him go 5 years on. Especially when my team is screaming out for a number 2 up forward/
 

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I’ll be honest, I don’t remember this. Before the champs I would have disagreed. But you can’t argue with form and he matched it with the best of them.

A bid anywhere 20 ish would not surprise.

Check page 76 in this thread.

With McFadyen, I would not be getting my hopes up him lasting until the third round or even late second round. I could see him moving into the top 15 picks with a good second half to the season, the kid looks very good.
 
Check page 76 in this thread.

Certainly showed a lot at the Champs. He had a better carnival than a few of the guy in the frame with top 15 picks.

Not entirely sure why you’ve been on the receiving end of some untoward comments.

He’s going to continue improving at a pretty rapid rate I feel. Has a late birthday and started the season off slowly due to numerous reasons.
 
Certainly showed a lot at the Champs. He had a better carnival than a few of the guy in the frame with top 15 picks.

Not entirely sure why you’ve been on the receiving end of some untoward comments.

He’s going to continue improving at a pretty rapid rate I feel. Has a late birthday and started the season off slowly due to numerous reasons.

Who are your favourite mids, Cot?
 

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I think his talent is probably too great to see him slide dramatically. How he finishes the year off will be our greatest indication. Would have really liked to him establish himself at the Champs a bit more.

Why do you like West so much? Not ragging him but I don't see elite from him from what I've seen.
 
Why do you like West so much? Not ragging him but I don't see elite from him from what I've seen.

I love juniors that crack in hard. West for mine is tough, hard at the contest, a neat user of the ball, possesses good acceleration and leadership potential.

Height goes against him slightly but I genuinely think he’s game is going to translate well to AFL level.
 
Who are your top three big bodied mids, LM?

Projecting in the future...

Collier Dawkins - He has some great scope to be a great inside midfielder, just worried about output. Maybe not big bodied currently, but has potential
Jones - Can find the ball and has a turn of speed which does not get mentioned often. Maybe not big bodied?
Smith - Not in love with him as much as others but he is a little bull, great combination of speed and endurance.

The bargain inside mids which I would love to consider
Valente, McFadyen - Maybe more bigbodied (My two bandwagons)
West, Butters - Not big bodied, but I do love their inside ability

Outside chances of being good inside mids, some I've not seen enough of and others need to prove more during the second half of the season.

Duursma, Rowebottom, O'Hallaron, Turner, Stocker, Caldwell.
 

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2018 Draft thread

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