Phantom Draft Chris25's 2011 Mock Draft

[PRANKSTER666]

I don't see how my post was off topic in any which way, I questioned why you took a mid with your first pick in the mock draft over a KPP which is what your list is crying out for in the future.

I will give you Silvagni, but please, Faulks, Sibosado, Roberton?

As for guaranteed talls, is there such thing. This draft is weak on KPP no doubt, but it is weak/thin generally, you won't be guaranteed a good player after 15 no matter how big or small.

I just would have thought in the last 5 years Freo would have taken a KPP with a first or second round pick, I think the only kid you have taken in the ND was Houghton (39?) and therefore have tried to find the rest in the rookie draft or with mature age prospects, IMO that theory is more than likely not going to work.

 

[Chris25]

As for guaranteed talls, is there such thing. This draft is weak on KPP no doubt, but it is weak/thin generally, you won't be guaranteed a good player after 15 no matter how big or small.

No, there isn't such a thing. But just because the best KPPs are taken early, doesn't mean you should reach and take one in the first round. Yeah guys like Kersten, McInnes, Paine and Lockyer are all around that mark but I don't necessarily think they are guys you would fight for. So I would stick with best available, which for me would be a midfielder.

I will give you Silvagni, but please, Faulks, Sibosado, Roberton?

I'm a big fan of Roberton - aggressive player who has developed nicely so far. Faulks showed a couple of good things when he was on the ground. And well, if Schofield and McKenzie can play in a team that is winning finals then I'm feeling pretty good about the two of them. I'm not as big on Sibosado as some Fremantle fans, but it looks like he might get another shot. So we must see something good in him.

I just would have thought in the last 5 years Freo would have taken a KPP with a first or second round pick, I think the only kid you have taken in the ND was Houghton (39?) and therefore have tried to find the rest in the rookie draft or with mature age prospects, IMO that theory is more than likely not going to work.

I'd say the only real player we missed out on was Sam Reid, and that was when we took Joel Houghton in the third round. Don't think anyone could argue with the selections of Hill, Morabito, Fyfe, Ballantyne and Suban in the first two rounds, we wouldn't have a midfield without those guys. It's hard, because at the time we were lacking midfield talent but had some KPPs we were persisting with. So the selections made sense. In hindsight, maybe we should have gone for someone like Hooker or you could even make a case for Trengove over Suban, but hindsight would make it all too easy.

 

[PRANKSTER666]

No, there isn't such a thing. But just because the best KPPs are taken early, doesn't mean you should reach and take one in the first round. Yeah guys like Kersten, McInnes, Paine and Lockyer are all around that mark but I don't necessarily think they are guys you would fight for. So I would stick with best available, which for me would be a midfielder.

If you take that philosophy into the national draft you will almost never take a tall, because the fact is midfielders are a dime a dozen who dominate the draft because they can play many positions and are further developed than KPPs, but a good tall is worth their weight in gold. Higher risk, higher reward.

I'm a big fan of Roberton - aggressive player who has developed nicely so far. Faulks showed a couple of good things when he was on the ground. And well, if Schofield and MacKenzie can play in a team that is winning finals then I'm feeling pretty good about the two of them. I'm not as big on Sibosado as some Fremantle fans, but it looks like he might get another shot. So we must see something good in him.

Not going to get into an argument that X Eagle player is better than Y Freo player but I will say that we have used early picks to pickup our young talls, i.e. Mckenzie, Brown, Darling, Lycett, Kennedy (via trade) and even Schofield was taken at 50 in the ND.

I'd say the only real player we missed out on was Sam Reid, and that was when we took Joel Houghton in the third round. Don't think anyone could argue with the selections of Hill, Morabito, Fyfe, Ballantyne and Suban in the first two rounds, we wouldn't have a midfield without those guys. It's hard, because at the time we were lacking midfield talent but had some KPPs we were persisting with. So the selections made sense. In hindsight, maybe we should have gone for someone like Hooker or you could even make a case for Trengove over Suban, but hindsight would make it all too easy.

You can't use hindsight to make a case in point and pick out the good ones but not the bad ones. No doubt you have done well drafting kids in recent times but has your recruitment team gone down the safe path by staying away from KPP's unwilling to make a mistake?

I think you will be struggling for a spine once Pav, McPharlin, Grover and Sandi get on as young KPP take time to develop so you might have a good midfield but nothing else and that won't win you a premiership. While you have had good success with the mature age recruits I think you have taken far too many and this shortcut approach is not likely to deliver premierships IMO.

 

[Chris25]

Well I'm not worried. We have a great recruiting and list management team, they know what they're doing.

Anyway, I was playing around with my draft adding some different players to the fourth round. And it occurred to me that with all the changes I make, I have enough draft profiles to add in a fifth round. Obviously teams wont be drafting that late, but these kids should all be pushing for a late selection or a spot in the rookie draft anyway. So I might as well include them.

Just putting the last couple of picks in.

 

[Chris25]

I've added the fifth round to the OP now. You'll no doubt notice a lot of mature aged players and South Australians. Thought I'd just go with a few different names that haven't been mentioned yet - Ben Gazzola for example.

Also quite intrigued by Justin Clarke, as I said in his profile I heard about him when I was up in that region but didn't get a chance to see him play.

 

[Gibbo_88]

#95 West Coast - Freddie Clutterbuck (182cm midfielder - East Perth)

20 year old midfielder from the WAFL, there is more to like about him than just his name. A lack of speed was probably the thing that has kept him out of the AFL so far, but good players can overcome that. Clutterbuck is a ball winner, and can have an impact on the scoreboard. At the very least, I'd expect him to be rookie listed. AFL Comparison: Michael Barlow.

I hope this guy gets drafted. Would be great hearing that name called out during the commentary.

 

[Jonts]

Good to see Milera and Beard get picked

Think they could both crack a career at AFL level

no James Allan though?

What are you thoughts on him getting a gig

 

[Chris25]

At 171cm, Allan would be the shortest player in the AFL. Obviously Callinan got a shot, but I'd say he had more of a forward game than Allan. His only chance would be as a mature rookie to someone like Port Adelaide, and even then I think he will have to stick to dominating the SANFL.

 

[Patron]

At 171cm, Allan would be the shortest player in the AFL. Obviously Callinan got a shot, but I'd say he had more of a forward game than Allan. His only chance would be as a mature rookie to someone like Port Adelaide, and even then I think he will have to stick to dominating the SANFL.

Ryan Neates and Lewis Broome.

 

[Jonts]

At 171cm, Allan would be the shortest player in the AFL. Obviously Callinan got a shot, but I'd say he had more of a forward game than Allan. His only chance would be as a mature rookie to someone like Port Adelaide, and even then I think he will have to stick to dominating the SANFL.

Would love to see it happen, his workrate is his biggest factor and would want to see the damage he could do if he was alowed to have footy has his fulltime work

even if he did just get rookied by port and play at North all year

 

[Chris25]

It wouldn't be the worst rookie selection ever. But considering Port wouldn't touch proven mature players like Cornes this year, taking an short old guy like Allan might be the opposite of their current direction.

Ryan Neates and Lewis Broome.

Still could be the smallest player in the AFL next year.

 

[cotter101]

Did you put Richard Newell in as a Brisbane pick? We have committed to taking him but I cant remember if that was in the rookie draft or ND.

 

[Chris25]

Nope, I didn't put Newell in. If you can get the kid as a rookie, then I'd be going down that route. Especially considering Brisbane will likely have 5 picks inside the top 35.

 

[eth-dog]

I've added the fifth round to the OP now. You'll no doubt notice a lot of mature aged players and South Australians. Thought I'd just go with a few different names that haven't been mentioned yet - Ben Gazzola for example.

Also quite intrigued by Justin Clarke, as I said in his profile I heard about him when I was up in that region but didn't get a chance to see him play.

I'm surprised you don't have us taking Crozier at 19. If he was available, I'm sure we'd snap him right up.

Also, why don't you have us upgrading Crameri with our 5th rounder?

 

[Chris25]

Crozier would no doubt be an option. But I'm a big Kersten fan, and I'd find it hard to pass on him there. Not many forwards going around that have his speed. Also think he would have a more immediate impact than Crozier - and would probably debut ahead of Steinberg too. So that would be handy for a team like Essendon who is looking to take the next step.

As for rookie upgrades, I didn't include any of them because the draft was more about getting names out there. And rookie upgrades aren't any fun.

 

[tigs2010]

Hey Chris,

Can u give me some more info on Verrier? Apparently we are keen on him. Would love Grigg if he's available at 14. We need some more inside players IMO. I really like Waldhuter at our 2nd. Shame u have him going at 16 (hope you're way off the mark)

 

[eth-dog]

Okay, it's just that Crozier fills a bigger need for us, and from what I've heard Kersten is someone who plays similar roles to Crameri, Monfries, Steinberg, Winderlich etc. Crozier is the line-breaking mid we need

 

[Chris25]

Can u give me some more info on Verrier? Apparently we are keen on him.

Nice player, already has an AFL ready body so would probably be a candidate for early game time. My favourite part of his game is probably his attack and tackling pressure, looks to have a pretty good technique when he wraps someone up too.

Hasn't been the biggest ball winner this season, but shows enough signs of being able to influence a game. Suppose you'd want to see him get the ball a bit more, linking up through the midfield. Somewhere off half back pushing up through the wings would be where I'd play him.

 

[tigs2010]

Thanks for that. Have heard there are 7 clubs looking at him with a 4th rounder. Hoping Morris costs us a 4th rounder or later so we can pick this kid up with our 3rd pick. A 188cm/82kg wingman with speed and skill don't grow on trees. I think we would play him wing/mid as i feel we have quite a few hbf. Can he go forward at all?

 

[Chris25]

I really like Waldhuter at our 2nd. Shame u have him going at 16 (hope you're way off the mark)

I'm a big fan of Waldhuter. Came into the season with big wraps on him, but didn't star at the U18 Championships. And as a result, he hasn't been talked about as much. But he is without a doubt, the best tackler in the draft and potentially the best inside midfielder in terms of getting the ball out. Plays a lot like Jordan Lewis - the most desperate player on the ground each week.

 

[tigs2010]

I'm a big fan of Waldhuter. Came into the season with big wraps on him, but didn't star at the U18 Championships. And as a result, he hasn't been talked about as much. But he is without a doubt, the best tackler in the draft and potentially the best inside midfielder in terms of getting the ball out. Plays a lot like Jordan Lewis - the most desperate player on the ground each week.

Was thinking of the exact same comparison just today. Odds are he is gone by our second

 

[Chris25]

Okay, it's just that Crozier fills a bigger need for us, and from what I've heard Kersten is someone who plays similar roles to Crameri, Monfries, Steinberg, Winderlich etc. Crozier is the line-breaking mid we need

Fair enough. I don't necessarily think Crozier has as much midfield potential as some others.

 

[Chris25]

A 188cm/82kg wingman with speed and skill don't grow on trees. I think we would play him wing/mid as i feel we have quite a few hbf. Can he go forward at all?

Verrier could go forward, but he doesn't really impact the scoreboard as much as he should - only 4 goals in 13 WAFL games this year. But I suppose he has been playing off half back a bit more, so you can forgive that. With his tackling and attack at the ball, he would probably make a nice forward. But I do feel like he'd be more comfortable in the back half.

And I should really start answering questions in order.

 

[Chris25]

Looks like Ben Darrou and Fletcher Roberts did their draft chances no harm today.

Would like it if Darrou was a bit taller though. He is pretty solidly built and does work pretty well on his opponent, but I'm not sure how well that would translate to the bigger bodies in the AFL. Moves well coming out of the back lines, and has an interesting kicking style which seems to work pretty well for him. Will be interesting to see if gets a bit lost between the two positions, or if can play taller like a Josh Gibson.

Roberts will be one of those talls taken based largely off potential. Didn't do much early, but then popped up and was an important player in the last. Probably another one of those players who teams will rate very differently. I'd probably rate him a bit higher had he spent the season playing as a KPP, rather than playing through the ruck.

Not much of note from the first semi final in the SANFL today. Jimmy Toumpass had a good game, but he is another one for next year. Nick Liddle and Toby Stribling kept up the good performances like always for the Panthers.

Second semi finals was a bit more relevant. Matt Suckling was best for Norwood, racked up the touches and the tackles. I'm still a big wrap for Darren Pfeiffer, he always looks good when he touches the ball. Brayden O'Hara was good too, showed off his foot skills with a nice long bomb for goal. The big ruckmen Jack Hannath and Brady Dawe were both quiet though.

Classic Cam Shenton today too - 6 goals last week in a dominating display, 5 disposals this week. It's why he hasn't been drafted, but I'd still take him this year. I'd happily try to pick up Shenton, Pfeiffer and Luke Brown through a trade with GWS. Brown has really added another string to his bow with his recent performances up forward for Norwood.

 

[Hank93]

Classic Cam Shenton today too - 6 goals last week in a dominating display, 5 disposals this week. It's why he hasn't been drafted, but I'd still take him this year. I'd happily try to pick up Shenton, Pfeiffer and Luke Brown through a trade with GWS. Brown has really added another string to his bow with his recent performances up forward for Norwood.

Is that the same as last year when Fremantle traded with GC for Mzungu and Collingwood for Krakouer.