Autopsy 2018 NAB AFL Draft

[StCicatriz]

Two of these guys before taking a Jok or Pickett would be nice

#33 Sydney Stack (Perth/Western Australia)

A balanced midfield who has the hardness of an inside midfielder and the skills of an outside midfielder. He is undersized for an inside midfielder so expect him to spend more time on the outside and still apply his defensive pressure to the ball carrier. Will battle Luke Foley for the third Western Australian taken, with at least five expected to be selected in the top 40. Stack can play other roles and can hit the scoreboard, but his balance between offence and defence is the most impressive ability in his arsenal.

#39 Will Hamill (Dandenong Stingrays/Vic Country)

While the likes of Bailey Williams and Sam Sturt have caught the headlines, the classy Will Hamill continues to fly under the radar as a prospect with high upside. He is not a huge accumulator and is still quite skinny, but Hamill has that perfect blend of speed and skill, which clubs will turn to – possibly earlier than predicted. He is a smooth mover who has played predominantly off half-back, but also through the midfield such is his ability to work his way out of trouble. He might be more of a long-term prospect than an immediate walk-up starter, but Hamill is someone who could be considered one of the better steals if he develops as he could.

#41 Fraser Turner (Tasmania/Allies)

The outside runner from Tasmania has had a strong 2018 season, and was one of the more impressive players for the Allies in the National Under 18 Championships. He knows how to win the ball and get forward, and would add an extra element of class to any side. The next step is improving his contested work, but his outside game is very good, and expect his run and carry to be highly sought after in the draft. Another player amongst the mid-draft log-jam of players who have improvements to make but have a nice foundation base of traits from which clubs can build upon.

#44 Jack Ross (Oakleigh Chargers/Vic Metro)

Ross is an interesting player to place. He just received a State Combine invitation, but looking at his overall profile, there is not a lot of deficiencies in his game. He is consistent, a leader, uses the ball pretty well, wins clearances, goes in hard, runs both ways and just gets the job done, week-in, week-out. There are not too many State Combine invitees who get drafted in the top 50 – usually one per year on average, but Ross could be that player. His ability to play a multitude of roles through the midfield helps, and he is more readymade than most to stand up against senior bodies. A good mid-draft prospect.

#45 Zac Foot (Dandenong Stingrays/Vic Country)

The exciting Dandenong utility has the capability to do some amazing things on the football field, he just needs to find the consistency to take the next step. Foot is a remarkable story, coming from a long way back having missed initial selection for the Stingrays, coming into the program in 2018 and then bursting out of the blocks with a strong first half of the season to earn Vic Country honours. He had a quieter second half of the season, but still had some eye-catching moments, and he knows how to run and hit the scoreboard, playing inside or out, and has a good base from which clubs can work with at the next level, and a high scope of improvement.

#46 Tyron Smallwood (Claremont/Western Australia)

Not much has been said about the classy outside midfielder/small forward, but he earned a National Draft Combine invitation and is one of the players we rate as a mid-draft prospect. He just does a lot right and is a player who while undersized, is capable of being accountable for an opponent. He kicks goals and lays tackles, and can also move through the midfield with an ability to win the footy and drive it forward. He is not as quick as other small forwards, but he has fairly good evasion skills, and his ability to execute by hand or foot is impressive. Smallwood just seems like the type of player that clubs secretly want to drop and then call it a bargain later on, because he has some very draftable qualities.

#48 Laitham Vandermeer (Murray Bushrangers/Vic Country)

Had it not been for an unfortunate sling tackle in the National Under 18 Championships, Vandermeer’s year could have been even better. To that point, the overager was looking as good as any other 1999-born player going around in the TAC Cup, and it earned him a place in Vic Country’s side. His run-and-carry, dare and dash really excited fans, and he is the type of player that just takes off and does not fear taking the game on. He wins a lot of the football and while he is predominantly an outside player, he uses his speed to also apply defensive pressure, and fiercely attacks the ball carrier. One who could go later or as a rookie, but the need for speed is great in modern football, and Vandermeer has that need in spades.

Avoid Sydney Stack. Another clem Smith.

 

[Sippa]

Can’t picture a scenario of us trading for another pick.. tried to think of a few but none that makes sense so would say it’s likely we go with what we have ?

We will need points for next year as well so can’t see us trading futures

 

[Flandersss]

Ely Smith seemed the type of player we needed, surprised we didn’t have a crack at Lions pick..

 

[Verdun66]

Dream result for mine no chance he stays at Suns

Hope so. But it isn’t a given.

 

[plugger66]

Hope so. But it isn’t a given.

Exactly. Did the Browns play together? The wakelins moved apart. We don't even know if either are any good. Neither have played under AFL rules apart from school footy and they don't coach the same way obviously. At the moment the only thing im convinced of is we have Max and GC have Ben.

 

[Kildonan]

I wish St Kilda supporters would stop voicing the expectation of Ben King to "return home".
This has shades of the Carlton supporters expressing an expectation of Brendan Goddard leaving us to "return home".

Most players are just grateful that they have been selected by an AFL club. It will be a wild ride for all of them, and a lot of hard work. This experience is shared by a number of other high achievers and many become friends, sometimes life long friendships.

I am just as keen as most to see Ben re-unite with his brother at our club, but I don't want it to be an expectation, nor do I want to rort the system and not pay the appropriate price for him if we are lucky enough to have the opportunity to lure Ben here.

 

[Mangus]

If Ben develops as a key back at GC there is a chance of us luring him home in a couple of years. If he plays forward and that looks like his spot then there is no chance, even if he wanted to come home he would be competing for the same spot as Max at the Saints so doubt we would be interested and doubt he would want to come. All depends whether he is a natural back or was forced to play there in junior footy because Max always had the forward spot locked up.

 

[Yawkey way]

I wish St Kilda supporters would stop voicing the expectation of Ben King to "return home".
This has shades of the Carlton supporters expressing an expectation of Brendan Goddard leaving us to "return home".

Most players are just grateful that they have been selected by an AFL club. It will be a wild ride for all of them, and a lot of hard work. This experience is shared by a number of other high achievers and many become friends, sometimes life long friendships.

I am just as keen as most to see Ben re-unite with his brother at our club, but I don't want it to be an expectation, nor do I want to rort the system and not pay the appropriate price for him if we are lucky enough to have the opportunity to lure Ben here.

The AFL need to do make some changes imo to the draft, free agency etc.

In the NFL you still have to sign the guys you draft, you can still trade them after the draft etc. I have no idea maybe they spoke to Ben and he said I’m your man, then again maybe he made it known he really wanted to stay in Melbourne but understood the system doesn’t give him that choice.

We don’t owe GC anything and I don’t see anyone lining up to help us out. If at some point Ben king becomes available I would expect if we want him for the club to do everything it can to get him for as little as possible.

 

[Kildonan]

The current system of free agency is a joke. It allows the successful clubs free access to the league's best talent without having to pay for it in draft currency (picks or points)

 

[TheJackal]

I wish St Kilda supporters would stop voicing the expectation of Ben King to "return home".
This has shades of the Carlton supporters expressing an expectation of Brendan Goddard leaving us to "return home".

Most players are just grateful that they have been selected by an AFL club. It will be a wild ride for all of them, and a lot of hard work. This experience is shared by a number of other high achievers and many become friends, sometimes life long friendships.

I am just as keen as most to see Ben re-unite with his brother at our club, but I don't want it to be an expectation, nor do I want to rort the system and not pay the appropriate price for him if we are lucky enough to have the opportunity to lure Ben here.

Is appropriate price to pay similar to a Jack Scrimshaw price, considering where they were both picked?

 

[plugger66]

The current system of free agency is a joke. It allows the successful clubs free access to the league's best talent without having to pay for it in draft currency (picks or points)

That's what FA is though. If they have to pay its a trade and that would mean less FA when the players actually want more. The best way to do FA is to make the players have less time at the clubs before they are FA and no compensation. That way more players are available if you do lose a player.

 

[plugger66]

Is appropriate price to pay similar to a Jack Scrimshaw price, considering where they were both picked?

I suppose it depends if King stuffs up like they say Scrimshaw has.

 

[bird_man]

didnt watch the draft was listening on SEN but a couple things got my attention ...
- firstly there isnt a player in the draft Luke Power doesnt "love this kid" he litterally said it of every player
- Taryn Thomas needs a lot of media training ..understandably the kid was nervous but his interview was almost like the saturday night footy Auskicker kid .
- Smith comes accross very very confident i can see how his attitude could be recieved poorly by some of the "lads" at a team, will be interesting to see how that plays out
- Ben King mentioning in his SEN interview in the first comment how happy he is for his brother to get to the Saints the team both of them support then saying he was really happy to have been drafted (no mention of his club)... i think that will change and he will warm to his club once he gets there but you could tell he was kinda cut he got Gold Coast
- Max King is over the moon , i get the feeling the club told him early enough it was him so he had time to process it all
- Ed McHenry is a very good talker .. very confident and just seems to naturally know the right things to say .. seems legit happy to head to the crows
- i think a few Carlton fans who were listening to the SEN coverage died a little ... the initial report from SEN was Carlton traded their 2019 round 1 for the crows pick 19 alone...

I actually like seeing the odd shy kid or the funny bastard that isn't saying exactly what he is told to.

Get sick of hearing the same old answers that have obviously been drilled into them by media specialists.

Jordan clark was a beauty.

 

[lethalsaints]

I know we got king at 4. What happened with our later pick (s). Tv cut out cause of a storm.

 

[J_Rod]

Would love for us do a trade with WB to grab what is pick 35 atm to use for Bytel before the Injectors. Kid has star written all over him.

On [device_name] using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[bird_man]

I know we got king at 4. What happened with our later pick (s). Tv cut out cause of a storm.

They are on today, starting at 12. You can listen on SEN mate

 

[bird_man]

Would love for us do a trade with WB to grab what is pick 35 atm to use for Bytel before the Injectors. Kid has star written all over him.

On [device_name] using BigFooty.com mobile app

That's around the mark we were originally to downgrade to our next two picks so you would think that's unlikely.

Plenty of good prospects where we are though.

 

[Joffaboy]

I wish St Kilda supporters would stop voicing the expectation of Ben King to "return home".
This has shades of the Carlton supporters expressing an expectation of Brendan Goddard leaving us to "return home".

Most players are just grateful that they have been selected by an AFL club. It will be a wild ride for all of them, and a lot of hard work. This experience is shared by a number of other high achievers and many become friends, sometimes life long friendships.

I am just as keen as most to see Ben re-unite with his brother at our club, but I don't want it to be an expectation, nor do I want to rort the system and not pay the appropriate price for him if we are lucky enough to have the opportunity to lure Ben here.

Difference is though, apart from being a Saints fan, he is an identical twin, whose twin is playing for his beloved Saints, AND he has been drafted to the AFL version of the gulag archipelago.

Vast difference to a non identical twin who stayed in Melbourne

On [device_name] using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[TheJackal]

I know we got king at 4. What happened with our later pick (s). Tv cut out cause of a storm.

We got Bytel, Foot, Pickett and with our final selection we picked up a player that we had hidden away from the other clubs for the last 18 years, the Kings are actually triplets, so we grabbed the third one, Wayne King. Going to rookie the Jok strap.

 

[TheJackal]

Difference is though, apart from being a Saints fan, he is an identical twin, whose twin is playing for his beloved Saints, AND he has been drafted to the AFL version of the gulag archipelago.

Vast difference to a non identical twin who stayed in Melbourne

On [device_name] using BigFooty.com mobile app

Not just that, these two have never played in different teams. Suddenly Max realises THEIR dream to play for the Saints and Ben is sent to a rabble.

 

[Stewart66]

Ely Smith seemed the type of player we needed, surprised we didn’t have a crack at Lions pick..

Done well the Lions

 

[Mikka84]

That's what FA is though. If they have to pay its a trade and that would mean less FA when the players actually want more. The best way to do FA is to make the players have less time at the clubs before they are FA and no compensation. That way more players are available if you do lose a player.

Free agency isn’t about the club. It’s about the player. It was brought in so players have some flexibility later in their playing life. Granted it was supposed to give players who weren’t getting an opportunity. It has opened Pandora’s box for stars to leave underperforming clubs and chase a flag. But that’s a players choice.

 

[DT_35]

GC officials apparently melting hard over the Saints tweet about the Kings last night...

 

[Moorabbin Ghost]

GC officials apparently melting hard over the Saints tweet about the Kings last night...

Did not go down at all well. Probably fair enough too.

 

[Rors]

GC officials apparently melting hard over the Saints tweet about the Kings last night...

Yep.... Lol