bombermick
Norm Smith Medallist
This is based off as much footage as I could find, as well as following media tidbits. I don't pretend to be a draft insider.
GWS- 1. Jon Patton - No-brainer. He already has a man's body, takes a great mark and has great agility. His goal-kicking is probably his only weakness.
GWS- 2. Stephen Cognilio- He has proven he can play against men, dominating a WAFL GF last year. Can play inside and outside, and has a bit of Marc Murphy about him. He'll probably have the biggest impact of the draftees.
GWS -3. Dom Tyson - A no-nonsense footballer, who like Simon Black will often go unnoticed. A safe bet to be a 200 game player.
GWS- 4. Will Hoskin-Elliott - He could be a bust, but he's an improved Isaac Smith. Has amazing acceleration and is a good mark for his size.
GWS- 5. Matt Buntine - He's able to play on both talls and smalls, doing a fantastic job on Patton. He wins his own ball and makes good decisions.
Port- 6. Chad Wingard - Port won't be able to resist the local product, who some draft watchers think could become the best player in the draft. He's skinny, but he has a bit of x-factor. He probably isn't a safe selection, but seems well worth the risk. I considered Longer, but don't think they'll overlook Wingard.
GWS - 7. Adam Tomlinson- Matthew Lloyd is a huge wrap for him, comparing him to a younger Hurley. He prefers playing forward, but he's a very capable defender. Like Hurley, he's not quick, but he has good footy smarts. They'll pick him here to make sure Brisbane do not strike with no.8. I considered Longer, but Tomlinson is too good to pass up.
Brisbane- 8. Billy Longer - Annoyed at missing out on Tomlinson, they'll sure up their wafer-thin ruck stocks. In a draft incredibly weak for ruck, Longer provides Brissy with a good tap ruckman, who can also provide a good forward target. They have to pick him here or they'll lose him.
GWS- 9. Liam Sumner - Plays like Dale Thomas, sans the overhead ability. Is primarily an outside player, but he can win his own ball. GWS are building a good balance between inside and outside types in this draft.
GWS- 10. Taylor Adams- Is a very good extractor and some have compared him to Bartel, being a good overhead mark. He's reportedly of good character, so GWS are getting a safe, and necessary piece of their midfield.
GWS- 11. Nick Haynes - Tough choice here, but they'll go for the overage wingman from the Stringrays. He needs to be introduced to the weight room, but is a good overhead mark.
Brisbane- 12. Fraser McInnes- While most clubs are loading up on mids, Brisbane are working hard replacing the bevy of talls they've lost. He's a good size and is mobile. He'll replace Merrett and Goose in 2-3 years.
GWS - 13. Toby Greene- No fuss. Think Matthew Boyd. They've taken a few riskier midfielders - now it's time to pick a sure bet who will become a good extractor.
GWS- 14. Elliott Kavanagh- He has had terrible hamstring problems, but GWS can afford to take the gamble with all of their picks. It wouldn't surprise if he became the best player from this draft - but it's said he has some attitude problems. He could slide further, but GWS should take the risk.
Richmond - 15. Brad McKenzie- Hardwick places a premium on good kicks and this continues the trend. His kicking is compared to his Gold Coast namesake, but will take time to develop.
Fremantle- 16. Shane Kersten- The whispers have Freo keen on this Fev-like full-forward. Slightly undersized, but he has good footy smarts and Freo are obviously in the market for a full-forward after throwing themselves at Mitch Clark, and would give their emerging midfield a better target than Kepler.
Western Bulldogs- 17. Michael Talia- The Bulldogs desperately need to plan for life after Lake and Morris. Talia is the best remaining key defender, and will be able to take the gorillas in 2-3 years.
North Melbourne- 18. Shane Nelson- North have plenty of solid citizens, but apart from Wells and an ageing Harvey, they lack those with pace and a bit of flair. He is very quick and has excellent skills.
Essendon- 19. Brandon Ellis - They'll be expected to go for mids, but they won't be able to overlook a medium defender who already has a bit of size. He has excellent skills and will be ready to play round 1.
Freo- 20. Daniel Markworth- He's taken up the sport late in life, and like Isaac Smith could be well worth the first rounder. He's a tallish midfielder/forward who is pretty similar, but not as good as Nat Fyfe.
Sydney- 21. Tom Mitchell- Not much to be said, other than the Swans have got very lucky. Inside mid who would be top 10 on the open market.
Carlton-22. Devon Smith- Another slider, both because of size and others addressing needs. He's under 180cms, but Blues fans will be estatic to get him so late. The Blues always go best availiable early, so they'll overlook talls here.
West Coast- 23. Sam Docherty- They don't have too many holes and can afford to go best availiable. He is a very good kick, but has to learn to lower his eyes.
Gold Coast- 24. Todd Elton- After getting a bargain in O'Meara for 2013, they can afford to take a slight risk. He's undersized to play ruck, but has the athletic gifts to be a good forward. Their midfield is almost complete, but they still need better key forwards.
St. Kilda - 25. Jackson Paine- Again, I'm convinced about this tall, but the Saints have to plan for life after Roo and Kosi.
Richmond- 26. Alex Forster. A little lower than others have placed him - and great value for Richmond. After getting Houli, Batchelor and now Forster, the Tiges are well-placed for smaller defenders.
Adelaide- 27. Andrew Boseley- The Crows desperately need tall defenders, with Rutten getting on and the depatures of Davis and Bock. Like Fletcher, he is as skinny as a rake, but he too has good closing speed.
West Coast- 28. Mitchell Grigg- WC will be laughing another slider fell their way. He is as slow as a glacier, but that doesn't matter when you can win your own ball and you have such good skills. He's another piece of a midfield puzzle that is slowly coming together.
Fremantle- 29. Sam Frost - With McPharlin nearing the end, the Dockers need another key defender. The athletic, mobile Frost will probably never be as good as McPharlin, but he'll be good support for Silvagni.
Brisbane- 30. Sam Kerridge- Kerridge will never be a star, but he's an almost guarenteed part of Brisbane's best 22. He has to get better in the clearances, but he's a mid who is very good at getting forward and snagging a goal. He performed very well for the Bendigo Bombers in a VFL final.
Essendon- 31. Zyrus Waylen Manson- The Dons need mids, but Manson is too enticing to overlook. His endurance needs a huge amount of work, as does his defensive efforts. However, his positives are a huge leap, great speed off the mark and an innate ability to read the ball's flight. He'll fit in well with Essendon's indigenous culture and will become a cult hero.
Geelong- 32. Jordan Lockyer- Another great pick by Wells. Lockyer can play forward or back, or even through the midfield. An undersized KPP, but there's a bit of Andrew Mackie about him and Geelong fans will be very pleased.
Hawthorn- 33. Murray Newman- A small winger/half-forward who is very slight, but the Hawks need a bit of pace into their midfield. He and Rioli will light up the 'G.
Geelong 34. Hayden Crozier- A massive slider, but he's too much of a gamble for clubs that only have one pick at the pointy end. He has great disposal, speed and of course has a massive leap - but he does go missing in games. The Cats can afford the risk, and may be rewarded with a top 10 talent.
More to come ... sorry Saints fans
GWS- 1. Jon Patton - No-brainer. He already has a man's body, takes a great mark and has great agility. His goal-kicking is probably his only weakness.
GWS- 2. Stephen Cognilio- He has proven he can play against men, dominating a WAFL GF last year. Can play inside and outside, and has a bit of Marc Murphy about him. He'll probably have the biggest impact of the draftees.
GWS -3. Dom Tyson - A no-nonsense footballer, who like Simon Black will often go unnoticed. A safe bet to be a 200 game player.
GWS- 4. Will Hoskin-Elliott - He could be a bust, but he's an improved Isaac Smith. Has amazing acceleration and is a good mark for his size.
GWS- 5. Matt Buntine - He's able to play on both talls and smalls, doing a fantastic job on Patton. He wins his own ball and makes good decisions.
Port- 6. Chad Wingard - Port won't be able to resist the local product, who some draft watchers think could become the best player in the draft. He's skinny, but he has a bit of x-factor. He probably isn't a safe selection, but seems well worth the risk. I considered Longer, but don't think they'll overlook Wingard.
GWS - 7. Adam Tomlinson- Matthew Lloyd is a huge wrap for him, comparing him to a younger Hurley. He prefers playing forward, but he's a very capable defender. Like Hurley, he's not quick, but he has good footy smarts. They'll pick him here to make sure Brisbane do not strike with no.8. I considered Longer, but Tomlinson is too good to pass up.
Brisbane- 8. Billy Longer - Annoyed at missing out on Tomlinson, they'll sure up their wafer-thin ruck stocks. In a draft incredibly weak for ruck, Longer provides Brissy with a good tap ruckman, who can also provide a good forward target. They have to pick him here or they'll lose him.
GWS- 9. Liam Sumner - Plays like Dale Thomas, sans the overhead ability. Is primarily an outside player, but he can win his own ball. GWS are building a good balance between inside and outside types in this draft.
GWS- 10. Taylor Adams- Is a very good extractor and some have compared him to Bartel, being a good overhead mark. He's reportedly of good character, so GWS are getting a safe, and necessary piece of their midfield.
GWS- 11. Nick Haynes - Tough choice here, but they'll go for the overage wingman from the Stringrays. He needs to be introduced to the weight room, but is a good overhead mark.
Brisbane- 12. Fraser McInnes- While most clubs are loading up on mids, Brisbane are working hard replacing the bevy of talls they've lost. He's a good size and is mobile. He'll replace Merrett and Goose in 2-3 years.
GWS - 13. Toby Greene- No fuss. Think Matthew Boyd. They've taken a few riskier midfielders - now it's time to pick a sure bet who will become a good extractor.
GWS- 14. Elliott Kavanagh- He has had terrible hamstring problems, but GWS can afford to take the gamble with all of their picks. It wouldn't surprise if he became the best player from this draft - but it's said he has some attitude problems. He could slide further, but GWS should take the risk.
Richmond - 15. Brad McKenzie- Hardwick places a premium on good kicks and this continues the trend. His kicking is compared to his Gold Coast namesake, but will take time to develop.
Fremantle- 16. Shane Kersten- The whispers have Freo keen on this Fev-like full-forward. Slightly undersized, but he has good footy smarts and Freo are obviously in the market for a full-forward after throwing themselves at Mitch Clark, and would give their emerging midfield a better target than Kepler.
Western Bulldogs- 17. Michael Talia- The Bulldogs desperately need to plan for life after Lake and Morris. Talia is the best remaining key defender, and will be able to take the gorillas in 2-3 years.
North Melbourne- 18. Shane Nelson- North have plenty of solid citizens, but apart from Wells and an ageing Harvey, they lack those with pace and a bit of flair. He is very quick and has excellent skills.
Essendon- 19. Brandon Ellis - They'll be expected to go for mids, but they won't be able to overlook a medium defender who already has a bit of size. He has excellent skills and will be ready to play round 1.
Freo- 20. Daniel Markworth- He's taken up the sport late in life, and like Isaac Smith could be well worth the first rounder. He's a tallish midfielder/forward who is pretty similar, but not as good as Nat Fyfe.
Sydney- 21. Tom Mitchell- Not much to be said, other than the Swans have got very lucky. Inside mid who would be top 10 on the open market.
Carlton-22. Devon Smith- Another slider, both because of size and others addressing needs. He's under 180cms, but Blues fans will be estatic to get him so late. The Blues always go best availiable early, so they'll overlook talls here.
West Coast- 23. Sam Docherty- They don't have too many holes and can afford to go best availiable. He is a very good kick, but has to learn to lower his eyes.
Gold Coast- 24. Todd Elton- After getting a bargain in O'Meara for 2013, they can afford to take a slight risk. He's undersized to play ruck, but has the athletic gifts to be a good forward. Their midfield is almost complete, but they still need better key forwards.
St. Kilda - 25. Jackson Paine- Again, I'm convinced about this tall, but the Saints have to plan for life after Roo and Kosi.
Richmond- 26. Alex Forster. A little lower than others have placed him - and great value for Richmond. After getting Houli, Batchelor and now Forster, the Tiges are well-placed for smaller defenders.
Adelaide- 27. Andrew Boseley- The Crows desperately need tall defenders, with Rutten getting on and the depatures of Davis and Bock. Like Fletcher, he is as skinny as a rake, but he too has good closing speed.
West Coast- 28. Mitchell Grigg- WC will be laughing another slider fell their way. He is as slow as a glacier, but that doesn't matter when you can win your own ball and you have such good skills. He's another piece of a midfield puzzle that is slowly coming together.
Fremantle- 29. Sam Frost - With McPharlin nearing the end, the Dockers need another key defender. The athletic, mobile Frost will probably never be as good as McPharlin, but he'll be good support for Silvagni.
Brisbane- 30. Sam Kerridge- Kerridge will never be a star, but he's an almost guarenteed part of Brisbane's best 22. He has to get better in the clearances, but he's a mid who is very good at getting forward and snagging a goal. He performed very well for the Bendigo Bombers in a VFL final.
Essendon- 31. Zyrus Waylen Manson- The Dons need mids, but Manson is too enticing to overlook. His endurance needs a huge amount of work, as does his defensive efforts. However, his positives are a huge leap, great speed off the mark and an innate ability to read the ball's flight. He'll fit in well with Essendon's indigenous culture and will become a cult hero.
Geelong- 32. Jordan Lockyer- Another great pick by Wells. Lockyer can play forward or back, or even through the midfield. An undersized KPP, but there's a bit of Andrew Mackie about him and Geelong fans will be very pleased.
Hawthorn- 33. Murray Newman- A small winger/half-forward who is very slight, but the Hawks need a bit of pace into their midfield. He and Rioli will light up the 'G.
Geelong 34. Hayden Crozier- A massive slider, but he's too much of a gamble for clubs that only have one pick at the pointy end. He has great disposal, speed and of course has a massive leap - but he does go missing in games. The Cats can afford the risk, and may be rewarded with a top 10 talent.
More to come ... sorry Saints fans
