Review 2019 AFL National Draft

[King Corey]

I think it was good in theory. Brad realised that successful teams had HBs that accumulated. Ryan's an accumulator. Let's not worry about if he can defend or if the game plan factors in using the ball on the HB line. Anyway, have fun Ryan.

It's Brilliant.

Using that criteria we should've played Ben Cunnington behind the ball.

Hell Ben Brown covers 15km a game. Surprised Brad didn't put him on a wing.

 

[giantroo]

Thomson Dow

DRAFT ANALYSIS: "Dow is an athletically gifted midfielder with great inside-ball winning abilities and can hit the scoreboard."

afl.draftcentral.com.au

DRAFT ANALYSIS: "Dow is an athletically gifted midfielder with great inside-ball winning abilities and can hit the scoreboard."

ONE of Bendigo’s top midfielders, Dow is a player who is hard to place on the draft boards, one of a number of players in that late first round onwards log-jam. Most of the players there have plenty of upside and a number of attractive strengths to AFL clubs, while still having a number of areas to build upon going forward. For Dow, his clearance work and ability to move well on the inside is a key feature of his game, not too dissimilar to his brother Paddy. Athletically he is among the top midfielders going around, and he is terrific at the stoppages. Once he builds his consistency and endurance, Dow has the scope to become even more damaging through the middle.

STRENGTHS:
Clearance work
Scoreboard impact
Contested marking
Vertical leap
Agility

IMPROVEMENTS:
Four quarter consistency
Strength

Standing at 183cm but just 76kg, it is clear that Dow will need to add size to his frame upon entering the AFL system. He has the athleticism to challenge senior players at the next level, recording a 77cm running vertical jump at the National Draft Combine testing and blitzing the agility test in a time of 8.06 seconds, slightly behind his time of 8.02 in the pre-season testing. His 20m sprint of 3.06 seconds is about average. He spent time inside 50 resting as a lead-out forward with strong hands and showing off his capability in that role. His contested marking was impressive, averaging more than one per game from his 4.4 marks. Dow averaged a goal a game in the forward role, and when he was not kicking goals, he was setting up his teammates, playing his best game of the season in this role in the Wildcard Round against Northern with seven inside 50s. His best game in entirety was the Round 2 win over Murray Bushrangers where he amassed 24 disposals – at 82 per cent kicking efficiency and more than 50 per cent contested – four marks, seven clearances, two inside 50s, four tackles and a goal.

While Dow has the athleticism and talent to be a really damaging prospect he does have to iron out some consistency issues. His best is as good as a lot of prospects in the 2019 draft crop, but he can tend to fade in and out of games at times, such as during the Under-18 Championships. In the last two games for the Pioneers, Dow averaged 23.5 disposals and was able to have more of an impact over four quarters. Earlier in the year he was impacting games for a couple of quarters and then fading out in the other couple. Much like the consistency within games, Dow’s kicking consistency itself is an area of improvement. He wins a lot of contested ball which is why kicking efficiency statistics – Dow finished the year with 52 per cent efficiency – can be misleading. However, he could show more composure at times because he often has more time than he thinks and can gain separation from his opponents using his agility and speed. Another area of improvement that will come is his strength, which at 76kg can continue to build having added a few kilograms to his pre-season size. Overall, Dow has serious upside and talent, with a good development program likely to see him reach his potential.

DRAFT RANGE: 15-40

 

[Carlos Herrrnandez]

Sam Philp

DRAFT ANALYSIS: “Philp is an inside bull whose stocks have risen steeply on the back of irresistible form and an athletic base which saw him earn a National Combine invite.”

afl.draftcentral.com.au

DRAFT ANALYSIS: “Philp is an inside bull whose stocks have risen steeply on the back of irresistible form and an athletic base which saw him earn a National Combine invite.”

NORTHERN Knights mainstay Sam Philp has a rare mix of speed and endurance that many inside midfielders aspire toward. His consistent NAB League form throughout the year was not quite enough to see him selected in the stacked Vic Metro squad, but a strong back-end helped him earn a National Combine invite. He shone at the fitness testing event, showcasing his powerful burst of speed with a combine-best 20m sprint time of 2.867 seconds, while also achieving top 10 scores in the yo-yo test and standing vertical jump. On the field, Philp wins his own ball and is most typically seen bustling out of congestion with his trademark speed and strength to generate some forward run. He is just as apt going the other way too, with Philp’s aggression translating to a fearsome tackling game on the rare occasion where he does not win the ball himself. A big improver from his bottom-age season, Philp has continued on the upward trend and could be the kind of player a club will seek to snap up earlier than expected given the upside his unique mix of traits brings.

 

[Rooboys Rool]

I reckon we'll overlook Pickett in the draft and go with two mids/HBs in the 20s. Melts on here will be big.

He seems to have dropped a bit in many of the rankings, so a pick in the 20s might be too high anyway.

Chance he drops to our later picks - Pykie ?

Might also be able to live trade up for him if it’s close.

 

[giantroo]

DRAFT ANALYSIS: "An elite user of the ball who makes the right decisions time and time again thanks to high footy IQ, while he has defensive aspects he can build upon to develop a more all-round game."

THE Oakleigh Chargers co-captain has put together a strong top-age year after promising signs in his 2018 bottom-age season. Possessing an elite kick that can break down opposition zones and produce low bullets inside 50, Bianco is a highly damaging player at his best. He has been consistently strong all year, and while his Under-18 Championships was slow to get going with his game against Vic Country, he worked into the carnival to have an impact by the end. Being an outside ball user, areas for his development include his inside game and defensive work with Bianco often being the designated ball user who teammates utilise going forward. If he becomes more of a two-way runner as many top midfielders have done, then it will be the next step on the way to a really strong future.

STRENGTHS:
Kicking
Accumulation
Decision making
Consistency
Positioning
Footy IQ

IMPROVEMENTS:
Inside game
Defensive game
Scoreboard impact

Bianco is undoubtedly one of the more eye-catching players in this year’s draft, with nice skills and decision making that allow him to play off half-back or on a wing and create drive for his side. His football IQ is quite impressive and his consistency is an area to admire, picking up more than 20 touches in all bar one of his games this season. He averaged 26.9 disposals for the season, including a massive 42-disposal game over Tasmania Devils in Round 6 where he laid nine tackles. Bianco then proceeded to lay 10 tackles against the Knights the week after in his 17-disposal game to show he can develop that defensive side of his game that has been an area of improvement. He finished the season with an average of four tackles per game, but taking away those back-to-back games and his average sits at just 2.8 per match. It is clear that his role is to win the ball, run and create havoc for the opposition, and unlike some half-backs he is not afraid to win his own ball. His defensive work is an area that can certainly improve, but it is more the fact of playing a role for his team that best advantages his side, which is his elite ball use and decision making.

When Bianco wins the football you know he will generally always make the right decision, going inside 50 with low bullets or finding teammates out in space that very few can. If he is on the wing he will try and run the 25-30m and just get within reach of putting it 35-40m out for his teammates to have a set shot attempt. During the finals series he served the ball up on a silver platter for the likes of Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and just added a touch of class to his side. Going forward himself, Bianco has only booted the three goals this season, with two of those coming against the Geelong Falcons in Round 13. His third and final goal was the match-winner against Gippsland Power in the pouring rain, showing he can stand up in big moments and deliver when needed. Like his defensive work, his impact on the scoreboard could improve, as a number of half-backs can still manage to kick a goal here and there, and considering he could easily develop into a winger, he could become a threat on the scoreboard himself. But being the selfless leader, he often dishes off to others and he knows when players are in better positions to kick goals. The other area to build on is his inside game, spending most of his time on the outside due to his strengths, and like many sub-180cm players, we do not expect he will have an inside role at AFL level, but it is always handy to be able to play in there if called upon. He has a sub 35 per cent contested possession rate, but again, it is more his role than him personally. Bianco wins his own ball, but is better being the player who receives it on the outside then punishes the opposition if they have not set up defensively yet. A huge talent who should go somewhere in the first or second round.

DRAFT RANGE: 10-30

 

[The acurate one]

We are ultra keen on Frank Worrell, apparently.

Really?

 

[King Hansen]

Need mids that have endurance and can spread.

 

[Twinkletoes]

Need mids that have endurance and can spread.

 

[hellas_johnny]

With the aquisition of boner how many senior list spots do we have left now.

 

[Heaps of fun]

Should be done with the draft by 46, could even be earlier if we move up the order on the night. Would be the earliest we finish in the draft since 2014.

 

[Heaps of fun]

With the aquisition of boner how many senior list spots do we have left now.

Four but one will be used for Zurhaar upgrade.

 

[roos_fanatic08]

DRAFT ANALYSIS: "An elite user of the ball who makes the right decisions time and time again thanks to high footy IQ, while he has defensive aspects he can build upon to develop a more all-round game."

THE Oakleigh Chargers co-captain has put together a strong top-age year after promising signs in his 2018 bottom-age season. Possessing an elite kick that can break down opposition zones and produce low bullets inside 50, Bianco is a highly damaging player at his best. He has been consistently strong all year, and while his Under-18 Championships was slow to get going with his game against Vic Country, he worked into the carnival to have an impact by the end. Being an outside ball user, areas for his development include his inside game and defensive work with Bianco often being the designated ball user who teammates utilise going forward. If he becomes more of a two-way runner as many top midfielders have done, then it will be the next step on the way to a really strong future.

STRENGTHS:
Kicking
Accumulation
Decision making
Consistency
Positioning
Footy IQ

IMPROVEMENTS:
Inside game
Defensive game
Scoreboard impact

Bianco is undoubtedly one of the more eye-catching players in this year’s draft, with nice skills and decision making that allow him to play off half-back or on a wing and create drive for his side. His football IQ is quite impressive and his consistency is an area to admire, picking up more than 20 touches in all bar one of his games this season. He averaged 26.9 disposals for the season, including a massive 42-disposal game over Tasmania Devils in Round 6 where he laid nine tackles. Bianco then proceeded to lay 10 tackles against the Knights the week after in his 17-disposal game to show he can develop that defensive side of his game that has been an area of improvement. He finished the season with an average of four tackles per game, but taking away those back-to-back games and his average sits at just 2.8 per match. It is clear that his role is to win the ball, run and create havoc for the opposition, and unlike some half-backs he is not afraid to win his own ball. His defensive work is an area that can certainly improve, but it is more the fact of playing a role for his team that best advantages his side, which is his elite ball use and decision making.

When Bianco wins the football you know he will generally always make the right decision, going inside 50 with low bullets or finding teammates out in space that very few can. If he is on the wing he will try and run the 25-30m and just get within reach of putting it 35-40m out for his teammates to have a set shot attempt. During the finals series he served the ball up on a silver platter for the likes of Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and just added a touch of class to his side. Going forward himself, Bianco has only booted the three goals this season, with two of those coming against the Geelong Falcons in Round 13. His third and final goal was the match-winner against Gippsland Power in the pouring rain, showing he can stand up in big moments and deliver when needed. Like his defensive work, his impact on the scoreboard could improve, as a number of half-backs can still manage to kick a goal here and there, and considering he could easily develop into a winger, he could become a threat on the scoreboard himself. But being the selfless leader, he often dishes off to others and he knows when players are in better positions to kick goals. The other area to build on is his inside game, spending most of his time on the outside due to his strengths, and like many sub-180cm players, we do not expect he will have an inside role at AFL level, but it is always handy to be able to play in there if called upon. He has a sub 35 per cent contested possession rate, but again, it is more his role than him personally. Bianco wins his own ball, but is better being the player who receives it on the outside then punishes the opposition if they have not set up defensively yet. A huge talent who should go somewhere in the first or second round.

DRAFT RANGE: 10-30

He’ll be gone before our pick. He reminds me a lot of Lachie Hunter but has better disposal.

 

[Heaps of fun]

He’ll be gone before our pick. He reminds me a lot of Lachie Hunter but has better disposal.

Can't say that now with live trading.

 

[Gorman2Geister]

Am I right in saying that we now have 3 list spots for the draft (barring any delisted free agents as unlikely as that will be)?

Maybe they'd be looking to bundle up 47 and 50 and go to Collingwood for Pick 35 or Geelong for 36 potentially or swapping 47 or 50 for a future 3rd from West Coast or St Kilda (if they are allowed to.)?

 

[Snake_Baker]

Am I right in saying that we now have 3 list spots for the draft (barring any delisted free agents as unlikely as that will be)?

Maybe they'd be looking to bundle up 47 and 50 and go to Collingwood for Pick 35 or Geelong for 36 potentially or swapping 47 or 50 for a future 3rd from West Coast or St Kilda (if they are allowed to.)?

26, 27 & 47 = Pickett (small forward), Bergman/Sharp/Bianco (outside type) & Big Nick Bryan (ruckman)

 

[roos_fanatic08]

Wonder if Jack Martin nominated for the draft?!

 

[Souup]

Sharp is the most overrated player in the draft, I hope we go nowhere near him.

O'Neill, Williams, De Koning, Bergman, Pickett in that order for me if they're around our first two picks.

I think there's a fair chance 2 of them are available at our 2 picks, but almost impossible that O'Neill is there. Williams seems like the exact type of player we'd go for if he's there.

 

[Snake_Baker]

Wonder if Jack Martin nominated for the draft?!

It wouldn't surprise me if he re-signed.

GC SUNS General Manager List & Strategy, Craig Cameron said in the absence of fair compensation, a trade with Carlton was unable to be facilitated before the Telstra AFL Trade Period deadline on Wednesday night.

Speaking at the conclusion of the Telstra AFL Trade Period Cameron said. “Carlton’s offer for Jack Martin didn’t meet our expectations.”

“At the end of the day we placed a higher value on Jack than Carlton did and we maintained our position on what we think is fair value for him.

“We will now work with Jack and his manager on what’s next from here, and will do everything in our power to retain Jack.

“What we do hold is an incredibly strong hand at the 2019 and 2020 drafts, this includes five 1st and three 2nd round selections and this wouldn’t have altered significantly should we have agreed to the trade proposed by Carlton.

“Jack has been an important part of our playing group for a number of years, and we know the playing group is still keen to have him as a teammate.”

 

[shinboner magic]

Four but one will be used for Zurhaar upgrade.

I’d delist a Tyson type and rookie him - to have an extra pick , just in case there’s a slider.

 

[roos_fanatic08]

It wouldn't surprise me if he re-signed.

GC SUNS General Manager List & Strategy, Craig Cameron said in the absence of fair compensation, a trade with Carlton was unable to be facilitated before the Telstra AFL Trade Period deadline on Wednesday night.

Speaking at the conclusion of the Telstra AFL Trade Period Cameron said. “Carlton’s offer for Jack Martin didn’t meet our expectations.”

“At the end of the day we placed a higher value on Jack than Carlton did and we maintained our position on what we think is fair value for him.

“We will now work with Jack and his manager on what’s next from here, and will do everything in our power to retain Jack.

“What we do hold is an incredibly strong hand at the 2019 and 2020 drafts, this includes five 1st and three 2nd round selections and this wouldn’t have altered significantly should we have agreed to the trade proposed by Carlton.

“Jack has been an important part of our playing group for a number of years, and we know the playing group is still keen to have him as a teammate.”

Between them standing their ground on Martin and resigning King it’s been a bit of a line in the sand moment for GC.

Admirable...especially when you compare them to two seasons ago when they coughed up pick 2 for Weller.

 

[roos_fanatic08]

I’d delist a Tyson type and rookie him - to have an extra pick , just in case there’s a slider.

Good thinking. Although I’d probably delist then re-rookie Jacobs

 

[Pykie]

Wonder if Jack Martin nominated for the draft?!

The PSD is a relic and has barely been used in the last few years, it should just be abolished.

It's going to be interesting, if GC genuinely intend to re-draft him in the PSD and he nominates for the ND, it's on like donkey kong.

Carlton have picks 9, 43, 57 and are going to have to live trade a 2020 2nd Rounder in all likelyhood with someone to take him. I'd say he probably lasts to 20-30.

Otherwise any number of clubs can swoop and just have to pick up the contract terms.

 

[Snake_Baker]

The PSD is a relic and has barely been used in the last few years, it should just be abolished.

It's going to be interesting, if GC genuinely intend to re-draft him in the PSD and he nominates for the ND, it's on like donkey kong.

Carlton have picks 9, 43, 57 and are going to have to live trade a 2020 2nd Rounder in all likelyhood with someone to take him. I'd say he probably lasts to 20-30.

Otherwise any number of clubs can swoop and just have to pick up the contract terms.

So Carlton would have to use the draft pick they wouldn't trade for Martin?

I could possibly die from laughter if that happened.

 

[Pykie]

So Carlton would have to use the draft pick they wouldn't trade for Martin?

I could possibly die from laughter if that happened.

Absolutely, IF he nominates for the national draft.

Melbourne wont be able to afford his salary.

The threat is GC re-drafting him in the PSD, if that threat is real and legitimate, he must nominate for the national draft.

At which point Carlton are going to have to trade up for him, as he won't last to 43.

I'd take him at 27 if available. They're going to have to trade a 2020 second and probably a little extra incentive for a pick in the 20's.

 

[archerboy]

Absolutely, IF he nominates for the national draft.

Melbourne wont be able to afford his salary.

The threat is GC re-drafting him in the PSD, if that threat is real and legitimate, he must nominate for the national draft.

At which point Carlton are going to have to trade up for him, as he won't last to 43.

I'd take him at 27 if available. They're going to have to trade a 2020 second and probably a little extra incentive for a pick in the 20's.

If we package up 26 & 27 to move up to the 10-14 range and take him, wouldn't that mean we essentially only paid a 2nd round pick for him considering we get a 1st again next year?