Phantom Draft 40 Prospects to Watch in 2018

[grundog49]

G’day Grundog, thanks for the early evaluation.... so much insight into the players you have listed.
From a Freo perspective I noticed an honourable mention to f Tom Medhat, another Freo academy yougun.
Do you see a potential issue with Freo needed needing points to secure the two academy boys Carter and Medhat?
We will have a pick anywhere from 3- 10 one would think but not another until the 4th round.
Freo would have known the academy boys available at last year’s draft when we traded away second and third rounders..... is there method in all this ?
Or are Freo just sure they can secure the boys with the late picks ?
In saying this I’m not sure we would pick or want three players that may be obvious picks for us in Hill first round and Carter, Medhat academy picks?
I would take all three in a heartbeat...... but a quality tall would be hard to pass up.

I think youll get Carter no matter what. Theyll have the picks available to get Carter for sure as I think he's one of the best outside players his age. Medhat is a really good utility type but doesnt have as many runs on the board as Carter. If they want him theyll trade for picks but at this stage he will most likely be available at the rookie draft so they probably wont have to.

 

[Procrastinator35]

G’day Grundog, thanks for the early evaluation.... so much insight into the players you have listed.
From a Freo perspective I noticed an honourable mention to f Tom Medhat, another Freo academy yougun.
Do you see a potential issue with Freo needed needing points to secure the two academy boys Carter and Medhat?
We will have a pick anywhere from 3- 10 one would think but not another until the 4th round.
Freo would have known the academy boys available at last year’s draft when we traded away second and third rounders..... is there method in all this ?
Or are Freo just sure they can secure the boys with the late picks ?
In saying this I’m not sure we would pick or want three players that may be obvious picks for us in Hill first round and Carter, Medhat academy picks?
I would take all three in a heartbeat...... but a quality tall would be hard to pass up.

You can always trade for late picks during trade week, if that becomes necessary to snag all 3.....Assuming your club wants them all.

Always best to get their full measure this year before committing to them in the draft.

 

[Hazelsnuts]

You can always trade for late picks during trade week, if that becomes necessary to snag all 3.....Assuming your club wants them all.

Always best to get their full measure this year before committing to them in the draft.

May be a few games of hide and seek

 

[grundog49]

May be a few games of hide and seek

Potentially. Freo would have the best knowledge on Carter but they have already said they will nominate under academy bidding so they believe in him enough to say that "if the price is right we'll take you".

 

[Hazelsnuts]

Do you see any chance that the Crows or Port are able to get Lukosius, Rozee or the freak of a player called Rankine ? As much as would love any of them I see the romance in the possibility of these boys playing for the club they barracked for or to stay in their home state.

 

[Procrastinator35]

May be a few games of hide and seek

Getting harder to do nowadays with so many clubs having more eyes & ears on the ground than ever.

Sometimes you can get lucky where a lad has 2 or 3 killer games early on in the year, with not many other recruiters present, much less at all 3 games.....Where 1 of your guys was present at all 3....If that player then gets injured for the remainder of the year & you have a late pick, then you can still snaffle a gem that way.....Out of mind out of sight.

A good game early on, where no other measure is available, might be enough to trigger a hunch in a recruiter, despite injury.... But 3 in a row will tend to stick in the craw all the more.....Oftentimes stats don't tell the whole picture....It's all about what the eye sees.

 

[Hazelsnuts]

Getting harder to do nowadays with so many clubs having more eyes & ears on the ground than ever.

Sometimes you can get lucky where a lad has 2 or 3 killer games early on in the year, with not many other recruiters present, much less at all 3 games.....Where 1 of your guys was present at all 3....If that player then gets injured for the remainder of the year & you have a late pick, then you can still snaffle a gem that way.....Out of mind out of sight.

A good game early on, where no other measure is available, might be enough to trigger a hunch in a recruiter, despite injury.... But 3 in a row will tend to stick in the craw all the more.....Oftentimes stats don't tell the whole picture....It's all about what the eye sees.

I was big on Fogarty for us last year, stats defied his presence on the games I saw.
I’ll be interested to see how he goes, very reminiscent of how Burton fell to the Hawks - look at the bargain you got there.
Big risk with the leg - but the reward is he now paying dividends on the risk.
Ballsy

 

[grundog49]

Do you see any chance that the Crows or Port are able to get Lukosius, Rozee or the freak of a player called Rankine ? As much as would love any of them I see the romance in the possibility of these boys playing for the club they barracked for or to stay in their home state.

I would throw Hately in that conversation amongst top SA talent. I think that there is a chance they get to Port's or Adelaide's picks but its a very slim one. Lukosius and Rankine look like no matter what theyll be top 5. They have both achieved so much in their junior careers you wouldnt hesitate to take one of them. I think Rozee could slip if he gets injured but otherwise I think he goes top 10. Hately could go anywhere from the late teens to the late second round so there is a good chance he could stay in SA.

 

[Hazelsnuts]

Got any footage of Hugo Munn?
Sounds impressive in the profile.
I reckon he is one to keep an eye on after reading about him.

 

[grundog49]

Got any footage of Hugo Munn?
Sounds impressive in the profile.
I reckon he is one to keep an eye on after reading about him.

There's footage of him in sturts u18 grand final. I'll edit a highlights video of him over the next few days

 

[Hazelsnuts]

Cheers mate

 

[Procrastinator35]

I was big on Fogarty for us last year, stats defied his presence on the games I saw.
I’ll be interested to see how he goes, very reminiscent of how Burton fell to the Hawks - look at the bargain you got there.
Big risk with the leg - but the reward is he now paying dividends on the risk.
Ballsy

I was very surprised that Fogarty got to Adelaide.....All the Vic clubs steered clear of him for some reason.....My guess would be the go-home factor.

 

[RUNVS]

I was very surprised that Fogarty got to Adelaide.....All the Vic clubs steered clear of him for some reason.....My guess would be the go-home factor.

He did have a slightly poor 2017 season though which might have made clubs a little wary.

 

[HedgeFund]

....Oftentimes stats don't tell the whole picture....It's all about what the eye sees.

So true.

 

[Kwality]

I would throw Hately in that conversation amongst top SA talent. I think that there is a chance they get to Port's or Adelaide's picks but its a very slim one. Lukosius and Rankine look like no matter what theyll be top 5. They have both achieved so much in their junior careers you wouldnt hesitate to take one of them. I think Rozee could slip if he gets injured but otherwise I think he goes top 10. Hately could go anywhere from the late teens to the late second round so there is a good chance he could stay in SA.

Any relation to Ron Hateley, damned good South Adelaide (& SA) footballer in the late 70s/early 80s - if so, the pedigree is excellent.
https://australianfootball.com/players/player/ron+hateley/716

Yes I know the spelling is not the same.

 

[HedgeFund]

Any relation to Ron Hateley, damned good South Adelaide (& SA) footballer in the late 70s/early 80s - if so, the pedigree is excellent.
https://australianfootball.com/players/player/ron+hateley/716

Yes I know the spelling is not the same.

If not, he’s probably still a very good
footballer.

 

[grundog49]

I was very surprised that Fogarty got to Adelaide.....All the Vic clubs steered clear of him for some reason.....My guess would be the go-home factor.

He did a Wingard from what I heard. Told Vic Clubs he wanted to stay in SA

 

[grundog49]

Any relation to Ron Hateley, damned good South Adelaide (& SA) footballer in the late 70s/early 80s - if so, the pedigree is excellent.
https://australianfootball.com/players/player/ron+hateley/716

Yes I know the spelling is not the same.

Probably not. It would've been brought up by journalists by now

 

[HedgeFund]

He did a Wingard from what I heard. Told Vic Clubs he wanted to stay in SA

....obviously none of them wanted to back their programs in to convince him to stay beyond the minimum 2 years.

 

[grundog49]

....obviously none of them wanted to back their programs in to convince him to stay beyond the minimum 2 years.

When a player says that off the bat there is very little chance they can convince them otherwise. Jake Lever said he wanted to be a 10 year player for the crows when he got drafted and even he got homesick. I think the crows are lucky he said that otherwise he wouldve gone to North Melbourne imo.

 

[Procrastinator35]

He did a Wingard from what I heard. Told Vic Clubs he wanted to stay in SA

That would be a whinge-hard more to the point.

 

[Bicks]

Matthew Walker
GWS Academy/Murray Bushrangers/NSW-ACT
Medium Forward/Inside Midfielder
Height: 186 cm Weight: 84 kg D.O.B: 14/02/2000



A member of the GIANTS Academy, Matthew Walker’s eligibility under the Academy system will be heavily debated. Matthew Walker from country NSW is a dynamic medium forward who hits the scoreboard and can take a strong mark. This year Matt has played a mixture of TAC cup and NEAFL football. At NEAFL level, Matt made his name as a third tall/medium forward as he kicked 14 goals in five games. At TAC cup level he was also impressive averaging 11 disposals, four marks (one contested) and kicking 10 goals from his seven games. Matt’s best attribute is his ability to hit the scoreboard. Walker has always been a strong goal kicker and has shown that he can kick bags consistently. This goal kicking prowess was on display in the NEAFL where he kicked consecutive bags of four then a bag of five in a three-week period. This ability to hit the scoreboard and to do it consistently make Walker quite a damaging prospect down forward and someone coaches can rely on to make an impact in the forward line. Another thing that makes Walker so appealing is his marking. Walker when up forward has some of the strongest hands. When the ball is in flight Walker just seems to read it better then most and then uses his sticky hands to pluck strong marks down forward. This in turn gives midfielders confidence when kicking into the forward line as they know Walker will make every ball which comes down his way his own. Matt’s weaknesses at this point have to do with whether Walker can play that marking role at AFL level and if Walker can move up the ground. These issues could deter clubs from Walker as he plays too deep for a player of only 186 cm. If Walker can work up the ground into a half forward role or even in the guts, Walker’s stocks could fly as his bag of tricks could allow him to turn himself into a dynamic midfielder. Walker is one of the best football talents in the country and with a big preseason under his belt, Walker could be a player watch this year.


Matthew Green
NT Thunder/Northern Territory
Balanced Midfielder/Medium Defender
Height: 190 cm Weight: 67 kg D.O.B: 5/05/2000

Another Territorian in the AFL Academy squad, Matt Green is one of the smooth movers of the draft. In the u16’s in 2016 he was an unsung hero as he was named in the best twice and played some key roles down back for the state side. In 2017 however, the 190 cm player made the transition to the midfield and put on a show at the Academy series where he was named the states MVP. This lead to him being selected in the Allies squad, something that is usually reserved for the level one AFL Academy members, as well as playing two of a possible four games for the Allies. Green’s standout trait is his combination of elite decision making and great footskills. Green just looks so calm with the ball in hand and just knows where he needs to kick the ball to send his team forward. This ability to set up the game with his foot skills is a result of his previous role as a medium defender and has translated well into his midfield game as he has shown an ability to cut open the games by foot. Another trait he has is his ability to run and carry the football. Matt Green has an extremely quick first few steps and allows him to get to open space and take the game on in the midfield or off half back. This makes him unique as most players at his age in the midfield don’t yet have the ability to burst away like he can. One thing that worries me is his kicking under pressure. Under immense pressure it seems as if Matt just throws the ball onto the boot without much care to where it might go. If he can improve this I believe that he could become a full time inside midfielder. Matt Green is a unique talent with a great mix of class and skill in the midfield as well as off half back.


Joel Crocker
Sandringham Dragons/Victoria Metro
Medium Utility
Height: 188 cm Weight: 69 kg D.O.B: 14/04/2000



The son of North Melbourne player Darren Crocker, Joel has been mostly hidden away at school football in 2017. Joel has been in the spotlight for a while now after he starred at the u15 schoolboy championships where he kicked 15 goals for Victoria and made the All Australian side. Since then he has represented Victoria at u16 level in defense, played school football for Brighton Grammar and played some strong games for Sandringham in the last two years. At TAC level, Crocker has been quite promising averaging 16 disposals and four tackles playing as a utility and for school he was just as impressive as he was named in the best five times. But it was his u17 futures game which caught the eye. In that game he took nine marks to go along with his 15 disposals playing both as a high half forward or as a rebounding defender. This game plus the glimpses shown at school level and at TAC cup level in my eyes have him set up for a big 2018 where he could make a name for himself playing as a tall utility. Joel Crocker’s biggest strength in my eyes is his marking. At 188 cm Joel is a fairly tall player by position and combined with his natural leap allow him to play taller then he might seem. This marking strength could allow him to play as a medium sized forward for a team or allow him to play as an intercept marker down back like he has at school level. Another strength Crocker has is ability to get his hands free in a tackle. Crocker at times can get caught in tackles but it doesn’t faze him as he has great awareness of where his teammates are around him allowing his teammates to take the ball forward as Crocker sucks his opposition in. Crocker currently is still quite raw as a prospect and as such sometimes gets himself into trouble as well as sometimes making bad decisions under pressure. This has a bit to do with football IQ but once he gets into an elite program you can expect those flashes of talent to become appear more consistently as he plays more rep football in 2018. Joel has flashes or brilliance which make him an enticing player and with a few years of development, could be a key player for the young Kangaroos side.


Irving Mosquito
Gippsland Power/Victoria Country
Small Forward
Height: 174 cm Weight: 66 kg D.O.B: 24/04/2000

One of the best names in football, Irving Mosquito also has a highlight reel like no other. Irving Mosquito, who is eligible to join Hawthorn under its Next Generation, is an exciting small forward who has impressed recruiters at u16 level in 2016 and u18 level for the Gippsland Power. In 2017 for the Gippsland Power, Irving kicked 14 goals from 12 games and made a name for himself as the “kid with the dancing feet” up forward. But its more then just his offensive traits that promising, its his presence in the forward line. Mosquito is a strong pressure forward as he makes them second guess themselves coming out of defense and sometimes causes them to turnover the ball at half forward. This pressure and offensive excitement got him selected in the u17 All Stars game where he played a solid game for the small forward. Irving as a player just knows where the goals are. No matter where he is inside 50, he knows how to find the goals as he has a reputation of kicking some amazing goals. This ability to find the goals allows Mosquito to do some damage with the ball without needing to get a heap of possession up forward. Another thing that separates Irving from a lot of other smalls is his defensive pressure. Irving just has a way of making players coming out of defense rush their kicks as they know he is chasing him down. This pressure allows Mosquito to impact the contest at times without the ball and also one of the most valuable players to have in forward line as he can create goals through his pressure. The issues with Mosquito currently surround his consistency which is key to becoming a good small forward at the next level. If Mosquito can develop his consistency and get up the ground more I would expect him to be one of the most dangerous players inside 50 as he has that many tricks. Irving Mosquito is one of the most naturally talented smalls in the draft and with a bit more development, could be apart of the next generation of talented smalls forwards.


Xavier O’Halloran
Western Jets/Victoria Metro
Inside Midfielder
Height: 185 cm Weight: 81 kg D.O.B 11/07/2000

A player who has flown under the radar for most of the year is this kid. Xavier O’Halloran of the Western Jets is an inside midfielder who thrives on winning the hardball as well as winning clearances for his team. After representing Vic Metro at u16s level to a good level, O’Halloran came into the season with some expectations of him but has well and truly exceeded those expectations in 2018. In 2017 for the Western Jets he averaged 19 disposals, four tackles, four clearances and had a contested possession percentage at an elite 54%. These kinds of numbers are very strong for a bottom ager but what’s even more impressive is that these numbers came from a player who played the maximum 18 games for the Jets. What excites me the most about O’Halloran is his ability to find the ball in the contest. O’Halloran just seems to have the ball on a string inside the guts as he reads the ruck tap better then most his age. This reading of the ball on the inside allows him to burst out of stoppages with the ease of some modern-day midfielder can at AFL level. Another thing that impresses me is his ability to win his own football. In the midfield he is the type who isnt afraid to dig in and rip the ball out for his team. This want for the contested football makes his teammates look better as they know they are going to get a good supply on the outside. An issue that O’Halloran has at the moment is his ability to hit targets at times. O’Halloran although not a bad kick isn’t outstanding over those medium to long distances. This could be because he rushes his kicking or that he is under pressure most of the time when taking those kicks but if he can nail that part of his game I can see O’Halloran being a key player for Vic Metro next year. O’Halloran is one of the better contested midfielders for next years draft and with another year of growth and development could be a bolter for the 2018 draft.


Unlucky to miss: Jack Ross (Oakleigh Chargers), Thomas Matthews (Bris Academy), Will Golds (Oakleigh Chargers), Sam Elliott (Oakleigh Chargers), Jai Taylor (Dandenong Stingrays), Jacob Atley (Bendigo Pioneers), Riley Bowman (Dandenog Stingrays), Durak Tucker (Peel Thunder), Luke Moore (South Fremantle), Xavier Peacock (Subiaco), Caleb Graham (GC Academy), Cooper Portelli (GC Academy), Beau Schwarze (NT Thunder), Bailey Schmidt (Dandenong Stingrays), Mark Mariott (Murray Bushrangers), Oscar Brownless (Geelong Falcons),Scott Carlin (GWV Rebels), Josh Chatfield (GWV Rebels), Buku Khamis (Western Jets), Ben Cardamone (Eastern Ranges), Jaden Rice (Western Jets), Zak Butters (Western Jets), Connor Thar (Western Jets), Boyd Woodcock (North Adelaide), Kai Pudney (Woodville-West Torrens), Sydeny Stack (Perth), Riley Morgan (Claremont), Jarrod Cameron (Swan Districts), Tom Medhat (West Perth), Jarrod Fazioli (Peel Thunder), Joseph Hinder (Swan Districts), Luke English (Perth), Ben Kelly (Murray Bushrangers/GWS Academy), James Peatling (GWS Academy), Tim Auckland (Launceston), Mitchell Anderton (Lauderdale)

Excellent write ups mate, keep your eye on youngster Jed Hill showed plenty as an under ager and I'm expecting further improvement this season, same with Scott Carlin has some seriously good foot skills.

 

[grundog49]

Excellent write ups mate, keep your eye on youngster Jed Hill showed plenty as an under ager and I'm expecting further improvement this season, same with Scott Carlin has some seriously good foot skills.

Already have those two down don't you worry. Carlin was unlucky to miss my top 40 to be honest.

 

[Bicks]

Probably not. It would've been brought up by journalists by now

And different spelling 'e', Ron the dashing lightweight Panthers wingman is now based in the south-east at Millicent where he is a Director at Hamilton Hately rural Accountants and Taxation experts.

 

[Hazelsnuts]

Watched Rankine’s clips again and he shows a lot of similarities to Peter Matera, spearing flat kicks as he falls away off the kick.
Great hands and goal sense, that checkside in the pocket off a step is PM all over.