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Preview 2022 draft prospects

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He's not irreplaceable. Imagine if we had a key forward or a clearance midfielder ...
I don't think losing our best player for a speculative draft pick is going to do anything but set us back a couple years
 
He's not irreplaceable. Imagine if we had a key forward or a clearance midfielder ...
Except there is absolutely nobody on our list who can replace what he does, and there are few in the competition who can either.
 

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I Would trade our first this year for Hopper every day of the week
We said the same when we traded two firsts for Treloar…one for Beams (academy reasons I know but still!). First rounder for that spud of a ruckman from Brisbane…they don’t come off often.
 
IMO the two obvious holes that need addressing during this draft period are potential high level developing key forwards and young inside mids.

It will be interesting to see which we prioritise with our first and subsequent picks. Or if we trade further into the draft to address them.

As a casual draft watcher my favourite prospects, who are likely to be available and match these needs are:

Inside mids:
Bailey Humphrey - Has only recently returned from injury. Big body. Models his game on Cripps, but currently compared pretty widely to JDG. (Mid first round to very early second)

Adam D'aloia - Inside bull. Not the biggest body, but just forces his way to the ball. Similar to Adams for me. Has his detractors for ball use and breakaway speed, but I think his ability to win the ball outshines those issues. SA Captain who oozes leadership (Late first to late second round- possibly later)

Kane Bevan - Genuine big body contested player 192cms 87kgs. Clearance machine. Instigates chains of play. Has improved his ability to impact forward of centre. Leadership - West Perth captain. (Late second onwards)

Mitch Szybkowski - Genuine inside outside player. Burst from the contest. Only 186cms in height, but already has a solid build which has scope to get bigger with development. (Mid first - Late first)

Angus Anderson - Overage Swans Academy prospect who missed out last year. Really impressed by his games for the Allies. Just an old school footballer who wins the ball in contested situations more often than not and works both ways. Just does everything well. Leadership abounds being Allies and Swans Academy captain. (Third round onwards)

Key Forwards:
Matthew Jefferson - Prefers to play as a leading forward. Not a high disposal winner but kicks bags of goals. His goal kicking conversion has improved as the season progressed. IMO plays a similar style to Josh Kennedy (WCE). I’m not as high on him as some others, but probably the highest rated key forward prospect potentially available to us. (Potential top 8 - probable mid first - potential late first)

Issac Keeler - Mercurial, but inconsistent. Probably best still playing as forward rotating as second ruck. Which in itself could still be a interesting prospect for us. (Late first to end of second round)

Harry Lemmey - To be honest he has had a truely poor season. I still haven’t given up on him and he is probably the one I’m still most keen on us taking. Especially juxtaposing his potential talent against how much he has likely plummeted down draft boards. IMO he still has great forward craft and ability to get separation on the lead. I think given a few years in a professional AFL environment with key forward specific coaching he could blossom. I do wonder if he ended up with long covid and that has impacted his performances. (I still think he will go from second round onwards)

Phoenix Foster - High chance he doesn’t make it. But he does has some talent which given his likely draft position might make it worth looking at him. He’s also got a call up to the national combine which shows clubs must have some interest. Would love for us to replicate some other clubs like North with Larkey or Hawthorn with Lewis, and find a real late diamond in the rough. (Third round onwards)

Others to potentially consider:
-Tom Scully - To be honest I got carried away with the goals he was putting up in u18’s. He has been found out against older or better opposition.
-Harry Barnett -I’m not convinced he is a realistic enough option as a key forward given our desperate need. At this stage he is a ruck who may be able to play either end. Probably goes too high for me given that concern. I could easily be wrong given his contested marking strength.
 
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IMO the two obvious holes that need addressing during this draft period are potential high level developing key forwards and young inside mids.

It will be interesting to see which we prioritise with our first and subsequent picks. Or if we trade further into the draft to address them.

As a casual draft watcher my favourite prospects, who are likely to be available and match these needs are:

Inside mids:
Bailey Humphrey - Has only recently returned from injury. Big body. Models his game on Cripps, but currently compared pretty widely to JDG. (Mid first round to very early second)

Adam D'aloia - Inside bull. Not the biggest body, but just forces his way to the ball. Similar to Adams for me. Has his detractors for ball use and breakaway speed, but I think his ability to win the ball outshines those issues. SA Captain who oozes leadership (Late first to late second round- possibly later)

Kane Bevan - Genuine big body contested player 192cms 87kgs. Clearance machine. Instigates chains of play. Has improved his ability to impact forward of centre. Leadership - West Perth captain. (Late second onwards)

Mitch Szybkowski - Genuine inside outside player. Burst from the contest. Only 186cms in height, but already has a solid build which has scope to get bigger with development. (Mid first - Late first)

Angus Anderson - Overage Swans Academy prospect who missed out last year. Really impressed by his games for the Allies. Just an old school footballer who wins the ball in contested situations more often than not and works both ways. Just does everything well. Leadership abounds being Allies and Swans Academy captain. (Third round onwards)

Key Forwards:
Matthew Jefferson - Prefers to play as a leading forward. Not a high disposal winner but kicks bags of goals. His goal kicking conversion has improved as the season progressed. IMO plays a similar style to Josh Kennedy (WCE). I’m not as high on him as some others, but probably the highest rated key forward prospect potentially available to us. (Potential top 8 - probable mid first - potential late first)

Issac Keeler - Mercurial, but inconsistent. Probably best still playing as forward rotating as second ruck. Which in itself could still be a interesting prospect for us. (Late first to end of second round)

Harry Lemmey - To be honest he has had a truely poor season. I still haven’t given up on him and he is probably the one I’m still most keen on us taking. Especially juxtaposing his potential talent against how much he has likely plummeted down draft boards. IMO he still has great forward craft and ability to get separation on the lead. I think given a few years in a professional AFL environment with key forward specific coaching he could blossom. I do wonder if he ended up with long covid and that has impacted his performances. (I still think he will go from second round onwards)

Phoenix Foster - High chance he doesn’t make it. But he does has some talent which given his likely draft position might make it worth looking at him. He’s also got a call up to the national combine which shows clubs must have some interest. Would love for us to replicate some other clubs like North with Larkey or Hawthorn with Lewis, and find a real late diamond in the rough. (Third round onwards)

Others to potentially consider:
-Tom Scully - To be honest I got carried away with the goals he was putting up in u18’s. He has been found out against older or better opposition.
-Harry Barnett -I’m not convinced enough he is a realistic enough option as a key forward given our desperate need. At this stage he is a ruck who may be able to play either end. Probably goes too high for me given that concern. I could easily be wrong given his contested marking strength.
In terms of Scully. He played reserves on the weekend for the first time and kicked 2.4 from 11 disposals ans 8 marks.

Lemmey kicked 1.1 from 10 disposals and 7 marks in the same game.
 
In terms of Scully. He played reserves on the weekend for the first time and kicked 2.4 from 11 disposals ans 8 marks.

Lemmey kicked 1.1 from 10 disposals and 7 marks in the same game.
That’s a really good performance by Scully coming up against older bodies for the first time. Only accuracy stopping it from being regarded as a truly dominant performance really.
 

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In terms of Scully. He played reserves on the weekend for the first time and kicked 2.4 from 11 disposals ans 8 marks.

Lemmey kicked 1.1 from 10 disposals and 7 marks in the same game.
I'd take either one but Keeler is the obvious choice, Forward/Ruck, 2 birds, 1 stone
 
IMO the two obvious holes that need addressing during this draft period are potential high level developing key forwards and young inside mids.

It will be interesting to see which we prioritise with our first and subsequent picks. Or if we trade further into the draft to address them.

As a casual draft watcher my favourite prospects, who are likely to be available and match these needs are:

Inside mids:
Bailey Humphrey - Has only recently returned from injury. Big body. Models his game on Cripps, but currently compared pretty widely to JDG. (Mid first round to very early second)

Adam D'aloia - Inside bull. Not the biggest body, but just forces his way to the ball. Similar to Adams for me. Has his detractors for ball use and breakaway speed, but I think his ability to win the ball outshines those issues. SA Captain who oozes leadership (Late first to late second round- possibly later)

Kane Bevan - Genuine big body contested player 192cms 87kgs. Clearance machine. Instigates chains of play. Has improved his ability to impact forward of centre. Leadership - West Perth captain. (Late second onwards)

Mitch Szybkowski - Genuine inside outside player. Burst from the contest. Only 186cms in height, but already has a solid build which has scope to get bigger with development. (Mid first - Late first)

Angus Anderson - Overage Swans Academy prospect who missed out last year. Really impressed by his games for the Allies. Just an old school footballer who wins the ball in contested situations more often than not and works both ways. Just does everything well. Leadership abounds being Allies and Swans Academy captain. (Third round onwards)

Key Forwards:
Matthew Jefferson - Prefers to play as a leading forward. Not a high disposal winner but kicks bags of goals. His goal kicking conversion has improved as the season progressed. IMO plays a similar style to Josh Kennedy (WCE). I’m not as high on him as some others, but probably the highest rated key forward prospect potentially available to us. (Potential top 8 - probable mid first - potential late first)

Issac Keeler - Mercurial, but inconsistent. Probably best still playing as forward rotating as second ruck. Which in itself could still be a interesting prospect for us. (Late first to end of second round)

Harry Lemmey - To be honest he has had a truely poor season. I still haven’t given up on him and he is probably the one I’m still most keen on us taking. Especially juxtaposing his potential talent against how much he has likely plummeted down draft boards. IMO he still has great forward craft and ability to get separation on the lead. I think given a few years in a professional AFL environment with key forward specific coaching he could blossom. I do wonder if he ended up with long covid and that has impacted his performances. (I still think he will go from second round onwards)

Phoenix Foster - High chance he doesn’t make it. But he does has some talent which given his likely draft position might make it worth looking at him. He’s also got a call up to the national combine which shows clubs must have some interest. Would love for us to replicate some other clubs like North with Larkey or Hawthorn with Lewis, and find a real late diamond in the rough. (Third round onwards)

Others to potentially consider:
-Tom Scully - To be honest I got carried away with the goals he was putting up in u18’s. He has been found out against older or better opposition.
-Harry Barnett -I’m not convinced enough he is a realistic enough option as a key forward given our desperate need. At this stage he is a ruck who may be able to play either end. Probably goes too high for me given that concern. I could easily be wrong given his contested marking strength.
Would love Kane Bevan as a late pick. Fits our needs perfectly IMO
 
Lachie Cowan is really worth a look at. He's a midfielder but severely underrated despite starring in the NAB League.

I'd like us to target the back of end of the draft cleverly as that's where we have our picks. Draper, Harrison and Murley might not have seen action this year but they are talented and another strong haul could see more competition at selection.
 
Lachie Cowan is really worth a look at. He's a midfielder but severely underrated despite starring in the NAB League.

I'd like us to target the back of end of the draft cleverly as that's where we have our picks. Draper, Harrison and Murley might not have seen action this year but they are talented and another strong haul could see more competition at selection.

He’s talented, but not in an area of need IMO.

I think we need to load up on addressing our deficiencies.

If that means taking multiples of the same type/position to ensure at least one becomes AFL quality or better, so be it.
 
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Inside mids:
Bailey Humphrey - Has only recently returned from injury. Big body. Models his game on Cripps, but currently compared pretty widely to JDG. (Mid first round to very early second)
Hi RB

With rumours that we are very interested, and seeing that some phantoms have him going top 10, thoughts on us pursuing a pick to grab him?
 
I'd take either one but Keeler is the obvious choice, Forward/Ruck, 2 birds, 1 stone
Keeler gives me Balta vibes. Recruiters had similar concerns with him pre-draft iirc.
 
Keeler gives me Balta vibes. Recruiters had similar concerns with him pre-draft iirc.

From my eye test Balta always looked to have great athletic ability and can tell he hit the gym had a hardened physique.


Where as Keeler looks laconic and soft in build very similar to Paddy Ryder.

Imo I'm not a fan of the hybrid tall / ruck they tend to neither be here nor there as a player, and Keeler has looked more ruck then forward this year.
Whether that is his afl role who knows, was more enthused about him last year. All the SA talls seemed to have stalled but under afl programs may get back to the high ratings they once held.

 
From my eye test Balta always looked to have great athletic ability and can tell he hit the gym had a hardened physique.


Where as Keeler looks laconic and soft in build very similar to Paddy Ryder.

Imo I'm not a fan of the hybrid tall / ruck they tend to neither be here nor there as a player, and Keeler has looked more ruck then forward this year.
Whether that is his afl role who knows, was more enthused about him last year. All the SA talls seemed to have stalled but under afl programs may get back to the high ratings they once held.

Yeah, wasn’t talking about build etc, more concerns from coaches and recruiters about attitude etc. I remember hearing about Balta being described by a junior coach as a player who could become anything if he pulled his head in and listened to the coaches, which he obviously did.
 
Hi RB

With rumours that we are very interested, and seeing that some phantoms have him going top 10, thoughts on us pursuing a pick to grab him?

Maybe. It obviously depends on what pick your talking and where we finally finish.

Assuming for arguments sake we finish with pick 14-16.

Pick 8-11? Yeah maybe. He is a special talent. Probably could just add a future second to our first to move up. Whilst we’ve been burnt trading future picks before, seconds in particular, I guess we’d have to back the recruiters in.

Any higher, say 5-7? Not for me. We’d probably need to add our future first onto this years. Even if we got a later pick back, it’s too high a price to pay and there’s probably others I prefer in that range too.

He’s a really level headed young kid going from his interview on road to the draft too.
 
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