BigFooty Official Big Footy Phantom Draft - Trial Run

[Knightmare]

My picks as the Collingwood selector:
34 Collingwood - Connor Budarick (Gold Coast Academy)
Best position: Inside midfield/general forward
Height, weight: 175cm, 72kg
Recruited from: Gold Coast
Projected draft range: 10-40
Plays like: Devon Smith
June Rankings: 11
Rationale: Tackled well and provided heavy forward pressure during the Under-18 Championships but was not as influential as a ball winner or offensively as expected which sees him drop
Strengths: Tackling, forward pressure, makes winning plays that don't show up on stat sheet, evasion, agility, clean skills, acceleration, football smarts, aerial marking threat
Weaknesses: Scoreboard impact, good but not great production as a midfielder
Rationale: With Collingwood's small and medium forward stocks primarily consisting of marking forwards, I wanted a more ground level forward who brings heavy forward pressure and Budarick is the premier tackler and forward pressure specialist in this draft pool. A season one ready player who as early as his first season to win a best 22 position.
Position on my draft board: 18

52 Collingwood - Dyson Hilder
Best position: Key defence
Height, weight: 196cm, 91kg
Recruited from: North Adelaide
Projected draft range: 20-60
Plays like: Scott Thompson
June Rankings: not ranked
Rationale: Key defender who was one of South Australia's best during the Under-18 Championships and looks like a key defender with the attributes and performances on the board to suggest he has a high probability to develop at AFL level
Strengths: Intercept marking, one-on-one marking, one-on-one strength, reading of the drop of the ball, early reader of the ball in flight, kicking, vision
Weaknesses: Athleticism, versatility
Rationale: Collingwood need a young developing key defender and Hilder is both the best available key defender and for mine the best available remaining talent. For mine a highly developable key defender with the tools to develop over 3-4 years into a genuine AFL quality key defender.
Position on my draft board: 15

*While I rated Hilder more highly than Budarick and consider a key defender a higher priority, I had the sense Hilder would be available as one of this year's more underrated prospects and my bet paid off big time. Hilder is the second best key defender in this draft following McAsey and would be a great choice for Collingwood in the second or third round.

60 Collingwood - Karl Finlay
Height/weight: 192cm/88kg
Rationale: Best available selection and someone either as a key defender or general defender I feel can become a best 22 player. One of the elite readers of the ball in flight and intercept marks in the draft, very strong overhead and a good one-on-one defender. A good kick who displays good vision. Moves well. Can play key defence and may well end up a key defender but I'd be just as comfortable using him as a third tall or general defender to free him up to take more intercept marks and rebound more. A happy coincidence I've found two North Adelaide defenders of high quality.
Position on my draft board: 26

*A third successive guy I wouldn't bet on being available in the actual AFL draft at this pick and another I like the chances of developing at AFL level. I'm capitalising on value with for mine a clear best available in my mind, but at the same time coincidentally finding players I happen to like as list fits. In Collingwood's structure four years from now could pair with Hilder and Moore in defence and play as the third tall.


70 - Collingwood - Hewago Paul-Oea (Gold Coast Academy)
Height/weight: 174cm/65kg
I weighed up between two Gold Coast Academy boys. A happy accident to be pairing Oea with Budarick from Gold Coast's Academy as two forward/mids and pairing two tall North Adelaide defenders. But never a bad thing pairing two from the same junior club together. If I had a third pick I'd be taking a third Gold Coast Academy prospect in Josh Gore who is a fantastic goalkicking forward and for mine in the same conversation as Cameron Taheny but ultimately rating Gore fairly evenly with Oea, I picked Oea with Collingwood needing speed and forward pressure as the top priority and that's what Oea brings in spades.

In picking Oea, I'm seeing him as another Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti. He has a similar game. Brings the forward pressure and second and third efforts in a big way. Really hard over the ball and an excellent ground ball winner. Clean hands in close and nice skills/vision/decision which is impressive given he hasn't played much footy. Give him a chance he'll hit the scoreboard. I overall love the way he influences games whenever the ball is in his area, whether it's pressuring or winning it.
Position on draft board: 30

Other than Gore I'm also a fan of Brodie Newman (KPD/3rd tall def - didn't need another) and Liam Delahunty (KPF who also looked good as a KPD during the Champs) as those remaining players I would have felt comfortable selecting late draft and felt represented value.

 

[AsterixTheGaul]

I really like the look of Rivers but don't want to invest in HBFs, especially with our NGAs next year (Walker x 2), so unless he is highly likely to play midfield I hope Freo focus elsewhere.

Here is his colts form guide this year. With those possession numbers and tackles, he is inside midfield bound IMHO.

 

[Toadvine]

Sorry if it's already been done but I'd be interested in a write up of Richmond's picks Pie 4 Life

 

[LemmingMaster]

North Melbourne Draft Review

Pick 9 - Lachlan Ash - Rebound Defender
Pick 27 - Dylan Williams - Medium Forward/Utility
Pick 45 - Malcolm Rosas Jnr - Small Forward
Pick 69 - Charlie Comben - Key Forward/Ruckman
Pick 85 - Brodie Newman - 3rd Tall Defender/Forward

Bargains galore especially Williams and Comben i went in looking at certain types of players with speed the main focus which has been identified with Ash and Rosas, Ash is a top 10 talent and an easy selection at 9 with his speed, class and leadership his main features. Williams is a potential De Goey type with his power and freakish knack around goals, has been thrown into the midfield in patches and I’ve really liked what I’ve seen from the small sample size and hope to see more of it before the year is out, he is easily a first round talent. Rosas Jnr has some freakish ability aswell with his speed and agility extremely good, would have stuck out even more in the champs if he played for a better side. Comben started the year as a key forward with talent but showed he could also ruck at the champs making him a very attractive prospect in a draft shallow on talls, kicked 3 goals on the weekend not only from set shots but one snap on the boundary in general play showing his great agility for a big man. Newman wasn’t exactly in my thoughts but the North’s fans seemed adamant on another key defender and despite not quite being overly tall he has some great leadership qualities and reads the play well, strong mark overhead aswell.

Not just North but i thunk any team would be laughing with this hall which i think looks very solid at this early stage. Plenty of good players i passed on after nailing certain areas and certain players not fitting the needs. Daniel Mott is extremely stiff and Cooper Sharman will certainly go higher in the real thing.

I personally think you got all your first 4 picks at a discounted price in my eyes. I certainly had all those names pegged as hopes for my selections.

 

[philthy05]

Callum Park
Jai Jackson
Brady Rowles

Were these kids considered by anyone

 

[Walkingwounded]

I really like the look of Rivers but don't want to invest in HBFs, especially with our NGAs next year (Walker x 2), so unless he is highly likely to play midfield I hope Freo focus elsewhere.

Since coming back from The U18 champs noted the East Freo team sheet has Colts midfield as Jackson (Ruck), Rivers, and Warner....

Nice midfield for Colts.

So yes Rivers is playing midfield, Sharp is in the League team playing wing.

 

[LemmingMaster]

Callum Park
Jai Jackson
Brady Rowles

Were these kids considered by anyone

The last two were considered.

 

[Macca19]

North Melbourne Draft Review

Pick 9 - Lachlan Ash - Rebound Defender
Pick 27 - Dylan Williams - Medium Forward/Utility
Pick 45 - Malcolm Rosas Jnr - Small Forward
Pick 69 - Charlie Comben - Key Forward/Ruckman
Pick 85 - Brodie Newman - 3rd Tall Defender/Forward

Bargains galore especially Williams and Comben i went in looking at certain types of players with speed the main focus which has been identified with Ash and Rosas, Ash is a top 10 talent and an easy selection at 9 with his speed, class and leadership his main features. Williams is a potential De Goey type with his power and freakish knack around goals, has been thrown into the midfield in patches and I’ve really liked what I’ve seen from the small sample size and hope to see more of it before the year is out, he is easily a first round talent. Rosas Jnr has some freakish ability aswell with his speed and agility extremely good, would have stuck out even more in the champs if he played for a better side. Comben started the year as a key forward with talent but showed he could also ruck at the champs making him a very attractive prospect in a draft shallow on talls, kicked 3 goals on the weekend not only from set shots but one snap on the boundary in general play showing his great agility for a big man. Newman wasn’t exactly in my thoughts but the North’s fans seemed adamant on another key defender and despite not quite being overly tall he has some great leadership qualities and reads the play well, strong mark overhead aswell.

Not just North but i thunk any team would be laughing with this hall which i think looks very solid at this early stage. Plenty of good players i passed on after nailing certain areas and certain players not fitting the needs. Daniel Mott is extremely stiff and Cooper Sharman will certainly go higher in the real thing.

Nailed it I reckon.

 

[Macca19]

Callum Park
Jai Jackson
Brady Rowles

Were these kids considered by anyone

Jackson & Rowles rookie picks for mine, Park not on my board.

 

[Macca19]

WHAT DID I LEARN?
- Lots of diverse opinions around this years draft but overall not many surprises in the top 30 compared to my board. Quite a few surprises after that though.

PORT ADELAIDES HAUL

#12 - Dylan Stephens (Out Mid)
#30 - Fraser McAsey (KPD)
#61 - Ryan Sparkes (Out Mid)
#63 - Toby Mahony (In Mid)
#65 - Harrison Magor (Gen Mid/Sml Def)
#66 - Jamieson Rossiter (3TF/Util)
#84 - Angus Hanrahan (Out Mid/Sml Fwd)

Only 2 picks in the top 60 but pretty chuffed with the picks overall. If Port can land both Stephens and McAsey on draft night then its a massive win. Not only that, but Mead wasn't selected until after pick #30, again if the bid comes after that second pick then its a massive win.

Would have loved a proper tall forward but cards didn't fall that way. The later group of picks was picking players who have one or two traits that I think can benefit Port specifically. Sparkes with his outside run and carry, Mahony with his athleticism, Magor with his competitiveness, Rossiter being a 3TF which we haven't had in years and Hanrahan with his elite ball use.

A few players left on my board. Stapleton I rate at 38, but wasn't expecting him to go. Would snap him up in the rookie draft. Sturgess in my top 50 as well, I think he's solid as a rock but again wasn't really expecting him to go. Mott the big surprise. He came into consideration with each of my last 5 picks. Searle and Carafa worth a look and I like Max Murphy as well.

Quite a bit of value left for first round of a rookie draft. Bit of a crap shoot after that though.

 

[Davo-27]

out of the players who missed out on selection there were a few that i believe could have been picked or come under consideration

Lachlan McNeil - mid
Adam Carafa - mid
Lachlan Stapleton - mid
Jye Chalcraft - mid
Liam Herbert - mid
Jed McEntee - mid
Callum Park - def
Chad Warner - mid
Max Murphy - def
Mitch Mellis - mid/forw
Sam Gaden - KPP
Luke Parks - def
Ryan Sturgess - def/forw
Jackson Davies - def
Aaron Clarke - KPF
Mitch Martin - mid/forw
Harrison Pepper - def/mid/forw
Jesse Clark - def
Chas Karpala - mid
Jai Jackson - forw/mid
Sam Thorne - mid

 

[PMBangers]

Since everyone else is doing them, here's Melbourne's draft wrap:

#3 - Brodie Kemp
#21 - Elijah Taylor
#39 - Joshua Shute
#57 - Charlie Dean
#73 - Ryan Gardener

Going into the draft I identified the major needs for Melbourne as another Tall Forward and some outside runners, which left me to take the best available/most promising at my first two picks.

I chose Kemp over Ash and Young who I have rated higher as I like his versatility and see his ceiling as being higher, although in all honesty if we had started this within the last week I would've gone with Ash for his capacity to push into the midfield as an outside player. I also would've taken Anderson at Pick 2 if we did it again

Taylor was my second preference selection at 21, the first being Worrell. I like the X Factor he brings and while he's got a way to go in terms of consistency I rated his upside as too good to overlook

Shute has been under rated on bigfooty imo, his production on the wing is remarkable and there's not many, if any, better outside mids in the draft as it stands. Could see him slotting onto a wing for Melbourne with no issues

If Shute wasn't on the board at 39 I would've pulled the trigger on Dean then, dropped off since the start of the year but think he's a risk worth taking, especially so late in the draft

Gardner was taken for the same reason as Dean

Overall I'm happy with my drafting and enjoyed the whole thing, although when we do the final one later in the year I think a ready made mature aged Key Forward will be on the agenda, as well as a more suitable midfielder with the first pick

 

[South of the Yarra]

No Sturgess or Philp. Not sure if these recruiters are serious.

 

[LemmingMaster]

No Sturgess or Philp. Not sure if these recruiters are serious.

Nah they're fake.

 

[LemmingMaster]

No Sturgess or Philp. Not sure if these recruiters are serious.

Just quickly, what is your thoughts on their draft range? Assuming since you think these mug punters are not serious, you rate these two players as top 30 talents?

 

[South of the Yarra]

Just quickly, what is your thoughts on their draft range? Assuming since you think these mug punters are not serious, you rate these two players as top 30 talents?

If you want a contested beast who will win the ball and a player whom is adaptable enough to play both ends of the ground then yes. They are natural leaders and both improving rapidly. Sturgess had a great carnival and Philp is the bolter gaining a call up to Combine. Very very impressed with both boys.

 

[RogueRen]

Gold Coast won’t let Connor Budarick get Away from them!!

 

[briztoon]

Gold Coast won’t let Connor Budarick get Away from them!!

Read the first post please.

Second paragraph.

 

[Pie 4 Life]

Richmond's picks: (Realised I forgot to do a write-up)

#13 Mitch O'Neill
#31 Jackson Mead
#37 Nick Bryan
#67 Darcy Chirgwin
#72 Isaac Wareham
#85 Kobe Tozer

Obviously a few months on so would change now, but reckon there's value to be had here with Mead, Chirgwin and Wareham all possible to go higher than where I took them, with O'Neill to be a bit lower, while Bryan and Tozer a bit unknown as talls.

I selected O'Neill as a player I personally rate even if others don't. Good skills and decision making, takes the game on. He can be inconsistent at times and isn't a massive ball winner like some other midfielders, and is predominantly outside though can win his own ball. Injuries have been a worry (ankle mainly), but he's a kid who if he gets a run at it, I think could be a great value pick for whoever takes him.

Mead is a player who should make his way to Port and offers both inside/outside traits, but will likely start outside, particularly good at pumping the ball inside 50. Like O'Neill, still has some developing to do and will have some areas to improve on, but he was one of Australia's best earlier in the year against Casey Demons' VFL side, and has been doing some good things in the SANFL Reserves, and playing a couple of game in the League.

Bryan was a player I hoped would come on better than he has this year, but still looms as good value at the pick of 37. He is the best athletic ruck in the draft with a ridiculous 2.91-second 20m sprint, but just needs to build his overall game so would not be shocked to see him drop, though the athletic traits would be tempting for clubs.

Chirgwin is a big-bodied prototype midfielder who overcame injury to put together a good second half of the season and I think if he stays fit, could provide good service early on in his career. A sneaky one to keep an eye on if he plays well in the final game or two in the NAB League.

Wareham is one I've liked for a couple of years seeing him develop from Terang-Mortlake to Under 16s to Under 18s. He is a very young 01er (December birth) so a bit raw compared to others and not a high possession winner. His kicking at willingness to take the game on is admirable and while he will be a more long-term prospect, he just uses it well and has traits that club can mould the way they want.

Tozer is a key forward who has had a horrible run with injury and has been asked back to play for the Lions as a 19-year-old next year to see if he can get his body right. But he might not make it back to the Gabba with a couple of clubs sniffing around, hence his state combine invitation. There's a reason I took him at #85 and think a club could do the same given the lack of KPFs and see if they can get his body right. A special player at 16s level with a rare combo of athleticism and size which is why there might be a put taken.

If I was doing it now, the first two picks would probably be Rivers and Bergman, if both were available.

 

[LemmingMaster]

If I was doing it now, the first two picks would probably be Rivers and Bergman, if both were available.

I have a feeling both those players may be moving up a lot of boards in the coming weeks.
Rivers I am finding it very hard to not rank super high, just does everything with ease. Clean hands, ability to play multiple positions. Plays a lot of midfield and moves forward of centre to kick goals at WA level. Played across the back half at the champs and looked completely at home as an attacking defender with a great ability to read the play.

Young is probably slightly stronger overhead and kicking skills.
Ash has more speed and attacking flair.
Rivers is just very good at all aspects and not many weaknesses, the team that gets him will not complain and he certainly helps round out any premiership teams if you can build a superstar around him.

 

[AsterixTheGaul]

I have a feeling both those players may be moving up a lot of boards in the coming weeks.
Rivers I am finding it very hard to not rank super high, just does everything with ease. Clean hands, ability to play multiple positions. Plays a lot of midfield and moves forward of centre to kick goals at WA level. Played across the back half at the champs and looked completely at home as an attacking defender with a great ability to read the play.

Young is probably slightly stronger overhead and kicking skills.
Ash has more speed and attacking flair.
Rivers is just very good at all aspects and not many weaknesses, the team that gets him will not complain and he certainly helps round out any premiership teams if you can build a superstar around him.

Agree with you and Pie 4 Life on Rivers. I have watched him at East Fremantle and he has all the attributes I am looking at for a first round selection inside mid (including ability to hit scoreboard and go back).

I discussed with Monocle during the year about him - Monocle took him at pick 22 in the trial. If West Coast want him, I expect they may need to use their first round selection (assuming not in Geelong's hands) on Rivers and it would be a wise choice from where we sit now. To give credit. Monocle also took Bergman at 35 which seems late given his production in 2019.

 

[GUMBLETRON]

What's the knock on him? On those reviews he sounds like he should go top 10.

 

[Pie 4 Life]

What's the knock on him? On those reviews he sounds like he should go top 10.

I think just that, there aren't many, but others have that elite trait that stands out. He is just so solid across the board. I've only seen him live at the champs and on footage in the WAFL highlights and he's ultra-consistent.

 

[eDPS]

What's the knock on him? On those reviews he sounds like he should go top 10.

You don’t know how tempted I am too put him top 10 but it’s hard when I have very little visuals of him playing as a midfielder. I have him at 11 right now.

If any WA based poster could sneak some footage of Colts games or know people in the know they could always share some of that sweet goodness with me

 

[AsterixTheGaul]

What's the knock on him? On those reviews he sounds like he should go top 10.

Good question on Rivers so here are some thoughts:

He has transitioned more to the midfield in 2019 and was playing more set positions in 2018
He has become very consistent - very small gap from best to worst.
Devon Roberston and Rivers played the inside mid role so he is second to Devon in the U18 state squad which is not a bad thing.
He is playing at East Fremantle and both Jackson and Sharp have been seen as more glamorous sorts meaning he has been pushed to the back a bit. Sharp has better skills so will attract talent watchers, but Sharp is sliding at the pace Rivers is rising because Sharp is more selective as to when he goes where as Trent seems to never flinch.
I see him more like the old fashioned ruck rover sort meaning he does less of the spectacular and showy moves.
He played half back at the championship as did Jordan Clark last year and people pigeon hole interstate players as to where they were in the team and not where they play at club or could play at club
The likes of Twomey and Vic based talent scouts I feel are still Vic centric and hence do not see the quality of the possessions he gets and the consistency or his impact or when in the game he stands up. Need to be there at the game to understand those aspects.
I had hoped to see Trent play some senior WAFL matches post carnival but that did not happen