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BigFooty Official Big Footy 2016 Phantom Draft

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If McGrath's still 179cm then he'd be the shortest number one pick ever, slightly shorter than Murphy.

And if the top 5 goes as it did here (McGrath, McCluggage, Ainsworth, Petrevski-Seton, Taranto) then it'll be the shortest top 5 ever, at 182.2cm. (Or at least since 1991 which wasn't a real modern draft.) Closest in living memory is 2009, which was 185.4: Scully, Trengove, Martin, Morabito, Cunnington.

Land of the short people!
 

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Pick 75 - Melbourne - Oscar Junker
Western Jets / Vic Metro
193cm / 84kg

Stats
16.6 disposals
3.8 marks
4.1 tackles

I took him at 62 in the first phantom and I'm happy to take him again at 75 in this one. A player I rate in my top 50, Junker is one of the most versatile players in the draft. He can play as a 2nd or 3rd tall forward, 3rd tall back (on both talls and smalls) as well as having the ability to play as both an inside and outside mid. It was an impressive season finishing runner up in the Jets B&F after having no pre-season. Junker is great overhead (18 contested marks this year), has a lovely left foot kick and moves instinctively well in traffic.

The biggest knock on the Jets' captain has been a lack of speed but he put those thoughts to bed after running an impressive 3.03 second 20 metre sprint at the national combine. Long term, I think he will spend most of his time in the midfield (as he puts on about 5 more kg's) and will always have the ability to play effectively at either end as well.

For Melbourne, play him wherever you want him and enjoy what he brings to the team.
 
bergholt said:
If McGrath's still 179cm then he'd be the shortest number one pick ever, slightly shorter than Murphy.

And if the top 5 goes as it did here (McGrath, McCluggage, Ainsworth, Petrevski-Seton, Taranto) then it'll be the shortest top 5 ever, at 182.2cm. (Or at least since 1991 which wasn't a real modern draft.) Closest in living memory is 2009, which was 185.4: Scully, Trengove, Martin, Morabito, Cunnington.

Land of the short people!
Click to expand...

Would be fitting considering the premiers would probably have the shortest flag winning team in the modern era.
 
Esava Ratugolea 194cm 94kg Forward/Ruck Murray

This is a boom or bust pick.
Ratugolea had one terrific game against the Jets where he kicked 8 goals however for the rest of the year he only showed glimpses of potential.
He has showed he can take a big mark, has a terrific leap and has impressive speed for a big bloke.
In The TAC Cup he averaged 10.5 disposals, 4 marks and he kicked 15 goals. He barely got a touch in the 2 National carnival games he played in.
His testing at combine was a mixed bag.
He ran 20 metres in 2.93. Super impressive.
His agility score of 8.40 was more than acceptable.
His score of 25.34 repeated sprint score was also very good.
His 11.6 shuttle run and 11.58 3km run shows a serious lack of endurance however his body shape has already markedly improved.
He scored in the top 10 in standing and vertical leaps which shows a serious power athlete.
I think if big Esava can improve his endurance and game sense as a forward he could be a valuable player as a forward and second ruck man playing a similar role to Leigh Brown.

Rationale
I like the potential of Ratugolea and with this pick he is worth a chance.
Mckernan has been relegated to the rookie list and I reckon the Bombers will go for a project tall or Xavier Richards. If Stewart or another tall can develop it would be great as it would allow Hooker to play back.
The other player in the frame here was Jeremy Goddard however I think Ratugolea suits our needs a bit more.
 
foj1 said:
Esava Ratugolea 194cm 94kg Forward/Ruck Murray

This is a boom or bust pick.
Ratugolea had one terrific game against the Jets where he kicked 8 goals however for the rest of the year he only showed glimpses of potential.
He has showed he can take a big mark, has a terrific leap and has impressive speed for a big bloke.
In The TAC Cup he averaged 10.5 disposals, 4 marks and he kicked 15 goals. He barely got a touch in the 2 National carnival games he played in.
His testing at combine was a mixed bag.
He ran 20 metres in 2.93. Super impressive.
His agility score of 8.40 was more than acceptable.
His score of 25.34 repeated sprint score was also very good.
His 11.6 shuttle run and 11.58 3km run shows a serious lack of endurance however his body shape has already markedly improved.
He scored in the top 10 in standing and vertical leaps which shows a serious power athlete.
I think if big Esava can improve his endurance and game sense as a forward he could be a valuable player as a forward and second ruck man playing a similar role to Leigh Brown.

Rationale
I like the potential of Ratugolea and with this pick he is worth a chance.
Mckernan has been relegated to the rookie list and I reckon the Bombers will go for a project tall or Xavier Richards. If Stewart or another tall can develop it would be great as it would allow Hooker to play back.
The other player in the frame here was Jeremy Goddard however I think Ratugolea suits our needs a bit more.
Click to expand...
Pioneers he kicked 8 against.
 
Guess it's a credit to the depth of this draft, that I've still got a few players I rate in the top 30 available here. One player I found it hard to pass on was Bailey Morrish, I think he goes second round and is a much better prospect than some drafted here already. But, he's best played at half back and I've already drafted both Berry and Rotham.

Pick 77 Fremantle - Jack Henry (191cm, 84kg utility from Geelong Falcons)

This is pretty much a best available selection here for Fremantle. I think Jack Henry is extremely underrated, and should go inside the top 50 come draft day. I see clubs and recruiters valuing him higher than the amateurs. Ultimately, I see him as having genuine midfield ability which is why I went him over Morrish. The general sort of consensus from what I've been hearing is that Henry's best is right up there in sort of top 25 range. But he's just lacking a bit of consistency. Most 18 year olds are though.

This year, Henry has played as a half forward/outside midfielder. In 13 TAC Cup matches, he kicked 21 goals and averaged 5 marks a game. Also went at over 65% efficiency. It's a role he potentially starts in, being good above his head and elite athletically - coming from a decathlon background.

But, as he develops his body and becomes stronger, I see him moving more permanently into the midfield. He reads the stoppages well, with limited chances this season it's something that has improved. And I see it only developing further as he gets bigger and more confident. Does the hard stuff too, doesn't mind getting his hands dirty and tackling. There are a lot of these 190cm utility types in this draft with 'potential' to play midfield, but Henry is the one I think has the best chance of doing it.

Pure numbers is something that can improve, he hasn't been a huge ball winner on the outside so far - tending to average around the 15 touches a game. And given he's a reasonable user of the ball, it's an area of his game that clubs would like to develop. Otherwise, he just needs a few seasons in the gym.

For someone who is a late comer to football, his improvement this year has been impressive. And the versatility and athleticism he offers will absolutely appeal to clubs. I see him developing along the lines of Jack Crisp, starting as that half forward before moving into the middle.
 
Taking over from POULTERBEAR for Geelong. Done a terrific job with Cox giving them the speed they want, Begley someone who can play up and down the forward middle area, Garthwaite down back and then Lipinski who is a bit of favourite of mine and think could develop well. I am told they would like to try a project tall forward but there isn't a lot there and with Clark and Vardy going for mine the player should be;

Darcy Cameron / Claremont / 204cm / 104kg

21yo who was a touch unlucky in his draft year and has just kept plying his trade at Claremont and improving every year. Surely this year he gets a go. Big mobile ruck who gets hands to enough ball at the stoppages and can influence the game around the ground, particularly forward where he can take a good contested mark and be relied upon to convert. In fact he averaged nearly 2 goals a game there this year. Nice fit for Geelong as that replacement for Vardy and Clark and who can back up Smith and rest forward if need be. Size up front would undoubtedly help Hawkins out a bit as well as they could legitimately attack through Cameron. Cats have had a bit of luck with mature age WAFL lads lately.
 

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# 80 Judah Dundon - Western Jets / 186cm / 75kg

Was keen to take another tall forward for the Cats here but Dundon is way to good to be left on the board for mine.....albeit quite a few who could legitimately be in the same discussion there.

Cats I think are in pretty good shape across the board but the more options they can develop that carry the ball through the middle and use it into the forward line well seems to be an area of focus. Dundon is that player. You would describe him probably as a bit more outside than in but he is capable of winning his own footy and he is a quite a good contested mark. His ball use is his thing though. Get him the ball and he will take off and use it the teams advantage. He is really creative and love it when you see young kid really try and open up the centre of the ground so he has that attacking mindset as well. Can play all over the ground but I wouldnt mind betting he settles as a HB / Wing type player. Question mark on him i think is probably more can he elevate the contested side of his game. If he does he has a career ahead of him in the AFL.

Others in consideration. Thought long and hard about Louis Cunningham. He doesn't get a lot of kudos but I am a fan. Others am interested in are Jok, Morrish and Banfield.
 
Snoop Dog said:
# 81 Western Bulldogs - Ari Sakeson / Sandringham Dragons

Wizard17

Quigley you are up
Click to expand...
Quigley is done, far as I'm aware... Only spot we've got left is a previously-announced rookie upgrade for Archie Smith... Unless Quigs gets to ignore the club announcement and draft again?
 
Typically, I'll use my last pick on a relatively unknown South Australian. And I know exactly who it would be. But hopefully I can sneak him into my rookie draft, because this kid is way too good to still be on the board...

Pick 85 Fremantle - Kym LeBois (175cm, 68kg forward from North Adelaide)

This draft really is stocked full of small forwards, and I'm a big fan of the depth - I could happily take any of Tyson Stengle, Quinton Narkle, Kayle Kirby, Sam Fisher and Willie Rioli here. Don't discount mature aged Blair Bell for Fremantle in the rookie draft either. But, Kym LeBois is arguably the most exciting player in the whole draft pool. So he gets the nod here.

Come draft day, I'm expecting LeBois to go somewhere around the 50 mark. And that's pretty good for primarily a stay at home small forward. If he had the midfield game at the moment too, then he'd be right in the mix for top 25. But he is one who is better, the closer he is to goal. And that's not a fitness problem, he actually has a very good endurance base and elite speed too - although his testing this year was down on his best. He just doesn't have much of a contested ball game really. Loose balls he pounces on like nobody else, and does so at speed. But fighting for the ball isn't really his go.

In the forward 50 though, he's as exciting as they come. Always at full pace, excellent goal sense and just makes things happen. He's good above his head too, jumps high and marks out in front. I'm hoping small forward is a position that Fremantle put a priority on at the draft, with Ballantyne dropping away and Walters being so good in the midfield. Speed and natural crumbing ability is sorely missing from our forward setup at the moment.
 
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