Consolidated Draft Profiles

[Couch Coach]

Dave Gourdis (Key Fwd) - 24 November 1989, 193cm 88kg. WA/Subiaco
"Weaver: Impressive CHF who presents well, covers a fair bit of ground and can also get the ball at ground level. Vert good set-shot for goal. Makes the play well - reads the switches of play early and gets on his bike to offer himself at HFF/Wing. Moves the ball quickly when he gets it.
"
"Snoop Dog: There were 4 players in the mix here with Gourdis always being the preference because of Ports need for a CHF.
This kid would have to be one of the brightest prospects in this years draft. Along with Henderson they are the two best tall fwds available (if I had a choice of both I would have opted for henderson but there aint a lot between them). Hails from WA and has had a wonderful year of footy and would be in scope for Ports real pick.
Athletic, mobile, skills and will run CHB opponents off their feet as he covers as an enormous amount of ground. Will lead thru the middle as well which I think is huge bonus in the modern game.
"
"Ant555: Dave Gourdis-193cm, 88kg-Subiaco. (CHF) Impressed for WA at CHF during the champs. Good sized kid who was very mobile and a good shot at gaol. Kicking skills are pretty good and he was prepared to work hard to present as a target. Seemed to read the play very well and knew where to lead so he could get himself in the game.
"
"AFL Insider:
The Dockers can go into the draft with the knowledge that with every pick there will be a local player worth taking. Despite trading for Tarrant a year ago, and also extending the contract of Campbell, the Dockers can use another tall forward as the health of Longmuir is a concern for them.
Gourdis is an athletic centre half forward, but has the ability to play in the back half too. Comparing him to a current Fremantle player, he is similar to Luke McPharlin but would play further out from goal.
The Dockers continue to sign most of their players and it has been reported that they won't do a lot in trade week. So expect Fremantle to keep their picks this time, and maybe add a pick or two by trading someone like Ryan Murphy.
"

 

[Couch Coach]

Tayte Pears (Key Def) - 24 March 1990, 192cm 90kg. WA/East Perth
"Weaver: A shining light in the WA defence locking down CHB and spoiling everything that came his way and being very comfortable in a WA back-6 that looked to pass, run and switch the ball. 192cm and bottom-aged hints at room for improvement. He was heavily coached by his compadres so will need to get a little wiser about his positioning - but a superb championships will see him project as an AFL CHB or FB.
"
"Recruiter 1: Pears was particularly good overhead in a marking contest. He appears to be a very laid back player, but was good across the whole game. He negated his opposition extremely well and provided rebound from defence on a number of occasions.
"
"Recruiter 2: An unobtrusive type of player who was worth noting and showed a genuine commitment to his role in defence.
"
"Matt Burgan: Like teammate Myers, Pears again caught the eye with his strong performance out of defence. He backed up his efforts against Vic Metro to claim 17 touches and seven marks against Country. He also had four rebounds from defensive 50.
"
"Alan McConnell: A key defender who wasn't far off AIS selection last year, Pears has certainly been one of the more impressive defenders over the course of the carnival.*
"
"Ant555: Tate Pears-192cm, 90kg-East Perth-(CHB/HBF). Played at CHB for WA in the champs and played well. Like Collier is probably a bit short of the prototype CHB but he simply gets the job done. Plays tight but knows when to run off. Like his team mates he gave WA great run from defence. He has shown he can spoil well and has played forward at times with East Perth colts and kicked a goal.
"
"HBF: At 192cm, he was one of the best performed players for WA in the carnival. Playing mostly off a HBF, he continually gave WA plenty of run and carry, and hit most of his targets. Will take a little while to develop, but can see him one day holding down CHB for an AFL club.
"
"AFL Insider:
The Cats didn't miss Egan during the 2007 AFL finals, but it did show the lack of depth Geelong have among their tall defenders. If the Cats want to add a young defender with their first round pick they should find several worth going here.
Pears brings good size to the position, he is very strong in the air and he should be ready for the AFL. If Pears goes here, being ready for the AFL won't be very important, as Geelong don't need a lot of help at the moment, but one pick away from this spot is when the teams down the bottom of the ladder are selecting and some of those clubs would have an immediate use for him.
Teams that have won a Grand Final sometimes look to trade their first round pick, and acquire a veteran, to make sure they are as good for the next season. Geelong are unlikely to do this, as that would only put more pressure on their salary cap.
"

 

[Couch Coach]

Mitch Farmer (BP) - 4 January 1989, 179cm 76kg. Vic Metro/Calder/Craigieburn
"Weaver: Farmer was unlucky last season as he showed he was a composed back-pocket very much at home in the modern rebounding role. He hits targets by foot, makes good decisions, and shuts down opponents. Probably would have liked to seen better midfield performances. Specialist back-pockets are hardly sought-after on draft day - and Dangerfield and Browne might have him covered.
"
"Matt Burgan: Farmer shone as a small rebounding defender in Vic Metro's first win of the championships. He sent the ball out of the back half eight times, while he collected 20 touches for the match. He also plucked seven marks and gained seven loose-ball gets.
"
"Alan McConnell: From the back-pocket, Farmer read the ball exceptionally well. He had a great game and nullified his opponent. He generated plenty of run for the Vic Metro team out of defence.
"
"ant555: Mitchell Farmer-179cm, 76kg-Calder Cannons. Hard to rat this bloke as a midfielder as he plays a lot as a small defender. Rebounds well from defence and has good kicking skills. Seems to have a decent motor as he doesn’t stop running from defence. Hard to know where he may go due to back pockets not being overly popular in the draft.
"

 

[Couch Coach]

Robbie Tarrant (Key Fwd) - 25 April 1989, 196cm 92kg. Vic Country/Bendigo/South Mildura
"Weaver: It remains to be seen if the AFL clubs are still interested in old-school gorilla FFs. Tarrant has shown some remarkable bursts of form for his club. Thrown defenders about like confetti and waged one-man warfare against backlines. At 196cm he is tall, he is physical, he will bulk up, and roam about the forward-50 letting people know he is there. Not as quick as Barry Hall or Fev but from the same school.
"
"Ant555: Robert Tarrant -196cm, 92kg-Bendigo Pioneers. I have to put Tarrant on this list as i'm pretty sure someone will take him. Can’t give him much of a rating because I have only seen him play once this year (against Rangers). He was reasonably good in this game and took some good grabs but his kicking wasn’t great. Every other time I have seen Bendigo play he has been injured.
"
"Pykie: The Kangaroo's key needs are KPP's, as well as a few outside midfielders, my belief is the first priority outweighs the last, so I opted for the old fashion power forward.
Robbie is truely old fashion, Riewoldt is considered a power forward these days, but he plays more up the wing, running his opponent off his legs. Tarrent is in the Fraser Gherig/Brendan Fevola/Quinten Lynch mould, a well built forward that likes to body on body defenders. He can take some truely spectacular marks when he wants to, but can somtimes go missing at stages in games. His kicking for goal of what ive seen is good, field kicking is OK, but nothing 6 days a week of AFL training cant iron out. He is definately a project player, but a project player that is assured of becoming ""somthing"" rather than nothing. He could become a truely dominant player with a hard work ethic, but the raw package is there, and is for that reason i took him at this stage. If his head is right, he'll be a fine prospect.
"

 

[Couch Coach]

Steven Browne (HBF, BP) - 1 February 1989, 181cm 74kg. WA/West Perth
"Weaver: If any of the specialist small backman is to be picked then surely Browne will the one. WA were dominant which made his task easier than it might have been - but he took the most dangerous opposition smalls, blanketed them, and cut them up the other way. No flairy headline grabbing stuff - just very effective percentage football married to good pace and accurate foot passing. Quite top-aged but certainly in the mix.
"
"ant555: Stephan Browne – 181cm, 74kg – West Perth. Played as a small defender during the national champs but he is another that will be looked at as a future midfielder. Plays tight and hard and did well to blanket out his opponents. Has good pace and is an accurate kick. Has had very good form in the WAFL in recent weeks.
"
"Quigley: Browne was another of the midfield / HBF brigade for WA who dominated the championships. His contribution was probably overlooked a little in light of the performances of Morton, Masten, Palmer and Rich but he was an important element of the team and got a lot of the pill and gave great run through the middle. Browne looks and plays like a footballer and at the very least is going to be a solid player for a lot of years to come. At best he could develop along similar lines to what Jed Adcock has for Brisbane. He should start in defence at HB or even BP before moving to the midfield as he develops. He moves extremely well and has good balance and pace. He reads play nicely and has the great knack of being in the right place at the right time and that is usually at the drop of the ball. He is a lovely kick off either foot particularly his left and can deliver it lace out or weighted nicely to his forwards. For his size Browne is a great mark and will often take marks over bigger opposition. He is a bit light at the moment but he seems to have a build which will fill out nicely. If he gets out of the top 20 on the real day I am going to be very surprised.
"

 

[Couch Coach]

Jackson Hall (Wing) - 6 September 1989, 187cm 76kg. Vic Country/Gippsland/Traralgon
"Weaver: His kicking seems hit and miss - quite inconsistent. Also goes short a little too often for my taste. But is tall, quick and can be a running option through the middle. Tall enough at 187 to kick to in the air and can fill-in in a few roles. Has had good form in a reasonable Gippy side and carried it through to be one of Country's few consistent contributors. Still seems to be a lot of improvement left him as he irons out the decision making, adds some bulk and makes some better choices. Has the running game that the AFL clubs seek.
"
"ant555: Jackson Hall -187cm,76kg-Gippsland Power/Traralgon. Tall quick winger who runs hard. His kicking isn’t always good as far as decision making goes but has been consistently good in the TAC Cup. One of Vic Country’s better players in the Champs. Will be seen as a player with a big upside as he has an A grade running game.
"

 

[Couch Coach]

Scott Simpson (Key Fwd) - 19 October 1989, 194cm 91kg. Vic Metro/Dandenong/Mt Eliza
"Weaver: Very, very sticky mitts. Plays FF or CHF and when he gets his hands to the footy he completes a lot of marks. Presents well, tries to play in front, has a nice little leap without being a high-jumper. Converts reasonably from his set-shots. Improving at staying involved after the marking contest. Would like to see him take more uncontested marks which would hint at pace and leading ability.
"
"Gilly1972: The Dees could use a big-bodied KPF from this draft. Was a real toss-up between Tarrant and Simspon....Tarrant probably having more upside, but seems to go missing in the big games or against better opposition. Simpson (despite seeing him play a couple of games he'd like to forget), seems (at least on the surface) to have a better attitude and work-ethic that is less likely to scare clubs away. Didn't see him in '06 but apparently he kicked 6 on Mitch Brown in an impressive display. Unlike most mug punters on this forum, I really find it hard to get enthused past pick 20 in this draft, so I have gone for what I believe is a safer choice to at least make a solid if not spectacular AFL footballer.
"
"Ant555: Scott Simpson-194cm, 91kg-Dandenong Stingrays. (Fwd). Good contested marking forward who is a reasonable goal kicker. He has played a bit in the ruck as well but I am not sure he will be big enough to ruck at AFL level. Like Gaertner he looks like he is about to tear a game apart at times but it never really seems to happen. The way he moves around and plays I think he has a huge upside if he can find some consistency.
"
"AFL Insider:
Their new coach is said to have a plan to win now, as well as later. Lucas and Lloyd are the forwards the Bombers will rely on to win now, and they might use a pick or two to find some forwards to develop to eventually replace them.
Simpson knows where to move around the forward line and gives his teammates a target to kick to. In a few years, Simpson could be the third tall forward at the Bombers, providing another option around half forward with Gumbleton the main option.
The result of the father/son bidding could also change what happens with this pick, if they are getting Darcy Daniher then they may want a different type of player at this pick. There is also the chance that this pick is used to draft Daniher too.
"

 

[Couch Coach]

Taylor Walker (HFF, FP) - 25 April 1990, 188cm 81kg. NSW/ACT Rams/North Broken Hill
"Weaver: Tends to play as the decoy, mobile, roaming forward. Drifts out the flanks a bit and gets quite a lot of his touches from getting involved at ground level. Has been the eye-catcher for the NSW team in their guest games and Champs run. Covers a heap of ground, plays in front, takes marks and has a knack for getting goals even in his bad-form games. Probably not a true KF, more a 3rd-forward in the Steve Johnson / Trent Hentschell style. Tied to Adelaide under the scholarship scheme. Certainly worth the pick they'll have to surrender.
"
"Recruiter 1: Walker is nice type who is currently an Adelaide scholarship player from NSW.
"
"AFL.com: One of several Rams' players to already be tied to an AFL club via the scholarship program – he is with Adelaide – Walker booted five goals in an impressive display against the Northern Territory.
"
"Kevin Sheehan: A medium-sized forward with strong hands, Walker was smart on the lead and accurate in front of goal. He kicked seven goals for the championships and had seven score assists, ranking him equal first in the championships. He is tied to Adelaide under the AFL Scholarship Scheme in NSW
"
"SnoopDog: Absolutely thrilled to get this kid. AIS member who was AA this year and who is tied to the Crows on Scholar. Given Thunder let him walk I assume I can pick him up.
Have seen a reasonable amount of this kid and he is a wonderful talent. Typically plays fwd and plays KP/HF. Notwithstanding, he is still growing and filling out he will develop into a nice 3rd tall fwd which Port lack in. Very good lead and has a very good pair of hands which enable him to take a lot of contested grabs. When he is onsong he will lead with vigour and crash packs. Deadly accurate kick with a beaut action. Always kicks goals and if you want to liken him to someone I would probably say Ryan OKeefe bc of his constant lead up play, strong hands etc. Ryan works harder and thats what Walker needs. Doesnt do a lot of x factor stuff but always has a few goals next to his name.
The only downside to this kid is his workrate. I chose him over Sampey, what I like about Sampey is he is a real goer but I am just not sure that he has that much development left in him (hope I am wrong), whereas Walker has a heap. If you could give Walker Sampey's vigour then you would be talking a top 15-20 prospect. Still an AFL club environment should bring that out in him.
IMO Adelaide have a beauty here.
"

 

[Couch Coach]

Sam Reid (HBF, Wing, HFF) - 7 November 1989, 185cm 75kg. Queensland/Zillmere
"Weaver: Plays everywhere at once for QLD. 185cm is midfielder size and he'll need to take better stints in the guts to make it at a higher level. He doesn't quite have the class, pace or consistent kicking to justify playing him as a receiver or loose man down back. Seemed to tire a little in some games I've seen, but that might just be the amount of work he gets through. Plays with confidence and takes the game on.
"
"Recruiter 1: Coming into the championships, Sam Reid was considered a very good player and probably Queensland's best. He played OK today, but he didn't have the impact many would've thought. He does have pace but he didn't find enough of the footy. In the last three quarters, Queensland was chasing opponents and although he started alright, he faded.
"
"Recruiter 2: Reid is Queensland's most talented player. He's a Luke Power or Xavier Ellis clone – he's very light on his feet. He's clever in traffic and a good decision-maker.
"
"Quigley: I came into the carnival expecting a fair bit from Reid and didn’t see it against Tasmania. If he is going to be drafted he needs to step things up. He is highly regarded and is an AIS Academy player. He played on the HF line against Tasmania and did a few nice things early but faded to be hardly sighted after quarter time. He looks bigger than he is and is extremely cut in the upper body. He might want though to do a bit of lower body work because he tends at the moment to go to ground too easily. He took a couple of good early marks but really hard to judge much about him from his performance against the Tasmanians.
"
"ant555: Sam Reid – 185cm, 75kg-Zillmere QLD. He was Queensland’s Mr Fix it during the carnival as it seemed a lot of the time Reid had to find the footy and then be on hand to receive it. He has alright pace but isn’t a jet. Knows how to find the footy but at times he seemed to get lost as he had to carry the load for the rest of the midfield. Skills are reasonable. Wont go early but he would be a solid late pick.
"
"Vic Crow: Reid is a good in and under player who works well in traffic. He seems to be able to find space where there is none and I rate his handball in tight corners amongst the best in the draft.
I think he would be rated a lot higher and possibly even a first round selection if his disposal by foot was better. He definitely needs to work on his kicking. At times he simply misses the target or picks the wrong target. I think he just has trouble reading what could unfold 30m-50m ahead in the time it takes for the ball to leave his boot to when it gets to the contest. I can see him improving this given a bit more time because I am encouraged by the fact his decision making in close is absolutely sublime. To me, that just says it's a perception thing, which he can learn playing at a higher level.
He does have a remarkable work ethic. On a number of ocassions I have seen him kick the ball about 40m only to be at the fall of the ball just seconds later for a handball receive.
Early in his career he will probably just be used as a ball extractor type, but if his foot skills improve I can see him becoming elite because as much as there is to love about his game he has just as many deficiencies. The deficiencies, however, are more like minor flaws that can be ironed out.
"
Mr Cat: Sam Reid, 185 cm. Qld's mosquito fleet with pace was complemented well by this guy. Disappointing carnival compared to lead up games but is OKAY none the less. I rate him as B Grade because he reminds me of an U10 footballer. Run, get footy, boot, chase, run after it, get it again, boot, and chase after it. Atheltic capacity is tremendous but his use of the ball is suspect and he isn't an overly smart player. 2nd-3rd rounder, but has a lot of Judd qualities- Attacking midfielder who kicks goals, gets a stack of it and isn't afraid to take opponents on.
"AFL Insider:
AFL Positions:
An outside midfielder, a medium-sized running defender or a role around half forward are some of the spots that AFL teams might use him in.
Perfect Fit For:
The Lions could see him as a future replacement for Nigel Lappin. The bonus for the Lions is that by drafting a player from Queensland it will eliminate the ""go home factor"" that is always a possibility when drafting players from the other states.
**********.net prediction:
Essendon will probably target smaller players in this draft, a round 3 pick used on Reid might be the right option. He plays the game differently to the Johnsons, but could replace them in the Essendon lineup. The Bombers found games for Camporeale and Reid could also be used like he was.
AFL Fantasy Outlook:
If he does get a chance to play a few games next season, Reid could surprise with his stats as he does know how to get into space. A few marks on the wing, some kicks into the forward line and an occasional goal would be enough to double his starting fantasy price. Reid might land on a struggling team that has a lot of playing time available, that could really push his stats up and make him a fantasy option at the centre position.
"

 

[Couch Coach]

Patrick Dangerfield (BP, Centre) - 5 April 1990, 188cm 80kg. Vic Country/Geelong/Anglesea
"Weaver: Was on-fire early for Geelong in the backpocket where he beat all comers as a rampaging backpocket. Given the tough tagging tasks in the carnival so is perhaps under-exposed. Big-bodied centreman / onballers are rare and sought after and Dangerfield fits the profile. He is tough as teak and kicks the ball well. No Jordan Lewis (yet) but clubs after someone to fill that sort of ruck-rover role won't have too many options and Dangerfield will be close to the best of them.
"
"ant555: Patrick Dangerfield-188cm, 80kg-Geelong Falcons. Was played mainly as a tagger during the Champs and has played a bit of back pocket at times for Geelong. His is ok by foot and has a good build for a midfielder. Plays tough and doesn’t mind getting a hard ball.
"
"foj1: ""Rodney' is a bottom age tall midfielder/ defender with the athleticism that Essendon should be coveting. Recently participated in some fitness tests at VU as part of a group of players who missed testing at the start of the year.
He won the beep test and ran two sub 3 second 20 metres. Dangerfield is an AIS scholarship holder who toured South Africa and was a standout performer over there. His season starting off terrifically well playing mainly in the backline with occasional runs on the ball. His form has tapered but I put that down to fatigue- It has already been a long year!
Dangerfield can play both inside and outside of the contest, possesses good disposal and makes good decisions with the ball. He is also very good in the air which I like in my midfielders. He may begin his career a bit like Mark McVeigh and start in the backline but unlike McVeigh I expect him to quickly become a very good AFL onballer. I strongly considered Dangerfield with pick 20 and would be slightly surprised if he lasted this long come November.
"

 

[Couch Coach]

Darcy Daniher (HBF, HFF, Key Def) - 21 September 1989, 192cm 89kg. Vic Metro/Calder/Aberfeldie
"Weaver: Hasn't really had the chance to settle and show his best stuff as he continually gets shunted around to accommodate others. For example Trengrove and Dulic in the key defender spots. When given responsibilities he has looked the goods. Has a very punchy kicking action which gives good penetration. Is probably a 3rd forward or 3rd defender and the question is does he have quite enough 'winger' in for those roles. No one wants a stay-at-home 3rd defender these days. I'd say he does so he'll get taken.
"
"Ant555: Darcy Daniher – 192cm, 80kg-Calder Cannons. (CHB) Darcy has been played forward and back, sometimes in the same game, all year in the TAC Cup. When he has played forward he has shown he can kick goals. Can take a good grab and he is a free flowing runner who moves around the ground well. During the Champs he played mainly in defence and although he was not a stand out he did play pretty well. His kicking is pretty strong and he hits targets pretty well. Has had a lot of games where he has had 15 to 20 disposals which isn’t bad for a big bloke. Hasn’t really been outstanding too often but has played solid footy all the way through.
"

 

[Couch Coach]

Ashley Arrowsmith (Wing) - 12 April 1989, 188cm 82kg. Vic Metro/Calder/East Keilor
"Weaver: One of the Metro 'stars' most cruelly exposed at the Champs. AFL clubs like guys who can run and carry and get from one 50m zone to the other. Long-striding tall wingman. Had some stints as a CHF last season. Normally a reliable kick. Shown-up for pace and hardness at the contest. Ideally would win more of his own footy but that trait seems further down the AFL shopping list than ever before. Will be taken on club form.
"
"ant555: Ashley Arrowsmith – 188cm 82kg-Calder Cannons. Tall running wingman that has had a good year in the TAC Cup but was burnt at the stake during the champs. He was exposed for pace by the rampaging WA midfield. He is a very outside player who likes to find space and link in. His kicking is reliable rather than great. On his TAC form someone will pick him up.
"
"megaldon: Tallish, fastish wingman good in the air and very good below his knees, likes to carry the ball, good disposal, would have like to see him get inside 50 more then he did, is a goal kicker in club footy, must take that to the next level, had a consistant carnival but showed enough of what is required to progress
"

 

[Couch Coach]

Aaron Joseph (Rover, Wing) - 4 July 1989, 178cm 75kg. Tasmania/Glenorchy
"Weaver: The best of the Tassie midfielders. Had some good showings last season and some solid form at the Div 2 Carnival. Good in close and particularly good hands. Perhaps doesn't extract himself from the traffic enough to do huge damage, but has a tidy all-round game and might sneak himself onto a list.
"
"Recruiter 1: Joseph was another player who worked really hard, particularly around the stoppages. He was the main player in close for them.
"
"Recruiter 2: I thought Joseph was the best player for Tasmania. I liked the way he put his head over the ball and set up the play. He worked pretty hard, although I'm not sure if he's going to be to tall enough to genuinely play through the midfield.
"
"AFL.com: Very impressive, Joseph was the leading ball-winner in the match against Queensland, winning 34 disposals – including 22 kicks. His work-ethic was super, emphasised by his centre clearance work, while he pumped the ball inside 50 on 10 occasions.
"
"Kevin Sheehan: A small midfielder/defender with outstanding endurance and ball-gathering ability, he was ranked second for disposals in the championships, winning 87 in three games at an average of 29. He also had seven score assists, ranking him equal-first in that category. He also showed ability to play a run-with role and work off his opponent.
"
"ant555: Aaron Joseph – 178cm, 75kg-Glenorchy Tas. Tasmania’s best midfielder who performed well at the Champs. He is good at the clearances and has good hands. Gets the ball inside 50 from the middle fairly often. Works really hard all day. Isn’t quick but he can hit targets.
"

 

[Couch Coach]

Andrew Renton (Ruck) - 29 March 1989, 202cm 94kg. Eastern Ranges/North Ballarat
"Weaver: Developing tall tap-ruckman. At club level has shunted Matt Lobbe out of the centre and claimed the number 1 ruck spot. Showing a rapid rate of improvement from week to week and should sneak ahead of Sullivan (at least) by season end. Capable of snagging a goal or two resting up forward and around the ground work is improving.
"
"ant555: Andrew Renton - Probably the one out of the group who will be drafted. His tap work is pretty good and when he does actually jump he is hard to beat in the ruck. Needs to find a lot around the ground but clubs will like his size (202cm) and the fact he can get first hands on the footy. he has pretty reasonable skills and is a good kick of the footy.
"
"Ant555: Andrew Renton-202cm, 94kg-Eastern Rangers. (Ruck). Good size ruckman who has done well for Rangers this year. His tap work is good but he could learn to better direct some of his hit outs. He also has to learn that he must jump at all the ruck contests as he sometimes tries to rely on just his height. When he actually does jump at a contest he looks very good. He is a good mark and his kicking is reliable but he needs to do more around the ground and he wanders from contest to contest a lot of the time rather than getting involved. Can take a grab and kick a goal when he is up forward. Someone will take a punt on him and hope they can get his work rate up to match his raw talent.
"
"mjp: The Dogs need a ruckman and Renton has been coming along in leaps and bounds - showing capability as a tap ruckman, up forward and around the ground. He really seems to be a true ruck option, and has the capability of leading an AFL ruck division for 10 years if his development continues...this really is a good draft for rucks.
"

 

[Couch Coach]

Craig Bird (Rover) - 21 January 1989, 178cm 76kg. NSW/ACT Rams/Nelson Bay
"Weaver: Old fashioned, no flair, ball magnet of a rover. Has been getting ludicrous disposal tallies for too long to ignore. Is aggressive with the ball in his hands. Against Div 2 opponents he was running through blokes like they were papier mache tackling bags. A solidly built, low to the ground tank. Swans like that type and they can have him via the Scholarship scheme. Some question as to how he will go against adult bodies but he deserves a shot at showing what he can do.
"
"Kevin Sheehan: Small midfielder who was third overall in disposals for the championships, notching up 85 possessions at an average of 28 per match (half of which were handpasses). His clearance work was ranked No.1, with 27 – averaging nine a match. He won 44 contested possessions at an average of almost 15. He won the Harrison Medal – division two's best and fairest award – and captained NSW/ACT to the title. Tied to Sydney Swans under AFL Scholarship Scheme.
"
"AFL.com: The NSW/ACT captain and 2006 under-18 All-Australian was outstanding with a match-high 32 disposals against the Northern Territory. He has already been listed as a Sydney scholarship holder and looms as one to watch for the remainder of the carnival.
"
"Quigley: He is the unquestioned general of the NSW team and more than any other Div 2 player looks like the leader of his team. He gets in and does the hard things and works around the ground well. He is not super quick by any stretch but generally has enough pace so that it is not an issue for him at this level. His disposal is good and he positions himself to get a lot of the ball and when he does usually does the right thing with it. He looks a lot more solid than his listed weight and has a short legged, big bummed sort of body shape similar to that of Alan Didak. He played through the midfield and picked up 35 odd possessions. Also spent some time up front when resting but he is not going to make it as a forward at AFL level. He seemed to be blowing a bit in the second but I thought got generally better as the game progressed. He is a footballer and a good one and I expect him to succeed at the next level playing a similar type of game to Sam Mitchell.
"
"Grub29: A Sydney player anyway and personally I see him as a 25-35 pick so at 43 he's a good get in my opinion.
Had a huge championships and as a midielder he's in the elite category at U18 level. The only negative to me is his body but I think once he's AFL training full time that will improve anyway.
"

 

[Couch Coach]

Ryan Normington (Ruck-Rover) - 22 August 1989, 186cm 76kg. Vic Country/Murray/Shepparton United
"Weaver: Couldn't put it together at the Champs and if he was in the reckoning - he would have seen his stakes drop. Has been closely watched as a prospect for a long time. Shapes as a classy centreman who gets good disposal numbers because he keeps moving and therefore links up chains of play very well. Seems to prefer to be the linkman than the ball winner which will hurt him. Skills are good, ability to get his hands on the footy in broken play is good. Decision making is normally good too.
"
"ant555: Ryan Normington – 186cm,76kg-Murray Bushrangers. Didn’t have a great run at the Champs for Vic Country but the whole side didn’t go well either. His TAC Cup form has been pretty good. Plays in the middle and has good skills and works well as the link man. Not really a contested ball winner from what I have seen. Decision making is good.
"
"Snoop Dog: Toss up between two players here for me. Port have a few of the other style so this was the deciding factor.
This kid was in the top ten reckoning pre champs and whilst he was average at best he was not alone amongst his Country pals. think he suffered from the quality of inside mids. Lot of similarities with Travis Boak had a similar experience at Champs last yr and still got taken very high by Port.
Very silky mover who plays through the middle of the ground who possesses a booming left foot which penetrates lines and breaks defences down. When he is on fire he dominates games. Probably doesnt win enough of his own ball and that will certainly be an area the development coaches will focus on. Versatile enough to move into the forward line as he can compete well in the air.
Reminds of Pendlebury insomuch as he can play effectively in the midfield, is elusive and can go fwd take a mark and slot a goal. Pendlebury also struggled to win his own footy when he arrived at Lexus but that is changing.
"
Mr Cat: Ryan Normington, 186 cm. Major disappointer this guy. Carved the U16 nationals with tremendous displays in an average midfield, but everyone has gone past him. Definate First round prospect 18 months ago. Great overhead, neat user of the footy- but when he's not in action he is totally lethargic; he's the definition of it. Not overly quick but has a turn of speed. Definate 2nd-3rd rounder but can see him slipping.

 

[Couch Coach]

Brendan Whitecross (HBF, Wing) - 25 January 1990, 182cm 79kg. Queensland/Zillmere
"Weaver: Scrappy but very active and covers every blade of grass. Keeps at it and keeps getting touches. I'd like to see him more damaging with the footy, and hurt teams more. Seems to have a good engine and reads the play well. Kicking needs some polishing.
"
"Recruiter 1: Whitecross has ability and he's definitely got talent, but his execution today wasn't as good as it normally is – more so his decision-making than his actual kicking.*
"
"Quigley: I would be shocked if he was not the first Qlder chosen. Played on the wing and back pocket mostly for the Scorpions and looked like a class player. He has reasonable height and plays taller than he is and is solidly built for a bottom aged player. He is a long, accurate kick and took the kickins when in the back line. He is good off either foot which is not common in Div 2 and has good vision and consistently takes the option that best positions his team going forward. He is a calm presence in the middle and is one of those players who just seems to have time. He is not super quick but he seems to cover the ground well and doesn’t look short of pace. I would expect him to be a solid second round pick at the moment and might be a steal. AIS Academy player.
"
"Quigley: Out of the Qld players Whitecross is the player who has impressed me the most and left me thinking that he could potentially be a great player at the next level. He played on the wing and back pocket mostly for the Scorpions this year and looked like a class player and he seemed to lift whichever unit he was playing with. When he was in the backline they seemed more steady in defence and dangerous going forward and when he was in the middle the drive going through there was noticeably improved. He has reasonable height and plays taller than he is and is solidly built for a bottom aged player. He is a long, accurate kick and looks good taking the kickins when in the back line. He is good off either foot which is not common in Div 2 and to me seemed to have good vision and able to consistently take the option that best positions his team going forward. That being said though his decision making at the Champs was not up to usual standard. He is a calm presence in the middle and is one of those players who just seems to have time when on the ball. He is not super quick but he seems to cover the ground well and doesn’t look short of pace. He was a leader of the Qld team and his team mates always looked for him and expected good things to happen when he had it. He is a current AIS Academy player.
"

 

[Couch Coach]

James Wundke - 2 March 1990, 196cm 87kg. SA/North Adelaide/Walkerville
"Recruiter 1: James is an AIS boy who, while being slightly built, has very good athleticism. He tends to play mainly in the ruck for South Australia because they lack genuine ruckmen, but he's still probably better suited to a key position. He's a player with a good attitude and someone we would expect to further improve with maturity.
"
"Recruiter 2: Showed some talent and, while not a dominant player, he still did enough to suggest he was worth following across the championships.
"
"Diablo14: Considered by many to lack size, i'm going to pick him up asI think his marking and goalkicking potential will give us a future third tall who could take a KP at a pinch. Has shown some good form at various levels for the Roosters this year.
"

 

[Couch Coach]

Joseph Daye - 2 February 1990, 194cm 79kg. Queensland/Zillmere
"Recruiter 1: Daye is an athlete. He's left-sided but has no right-side at all, so that does limit his ability going forward. Tasmania tried to force him onto his right foot and he always tried to get back onto his left. He was inconsistent across the game and his kicking can be erratic. He has talent, but he needs to play four quarters before people can be confident that he should be drafted.
"
"Recruiter 2: I thought he was a bit disappointing today. He can certainly kick the ball with his left foot and is very athletic, but I don't think he works hard enough or reads the play well at all.
"
"Quigley: As opposed to Zorco, Daye just looks like a modern footballer. He is long and lean with a frame that looks as though it will fill out nicely. He is aboriginal or islander and very athletic and covers the ground very nicely. He has big, flat, left foot kick that easily travels 50m. On the negatives, he doesn’t have a right foot to speak of at the moment and generally his skills are not fantastic. I would expect someone to take a chance on him probably in the third round and given a couple of years to develop (note he is bottom aged at the moment) could be a very good player. AIS Academy player.
"
"Quigley: For Brisbane I am changing who I was originally going to take for another player who I thought would already be off the board. I am surprised Joey Daye is still available and I would be shocked if he lasted to the mid fourth round on draft day. He is the type of player that teams love. Tall, athletic with a big kick and plenty of development left in him. He is bottom aged as well and a member of the AIS.
Daye is very fortunate in that he just looks like a modern footballer. He is long and lean with a frame that looks as though it will fill out nicely. He is aboriginal or islander and very athletic and covers the ground very nicely. He has a big, flat, left foot kick that easily travels 50m. On the negatives, he doesn’t have a right foot to speak of at the moment and generally his skills are not fantastic. He will also fade in and out of games. I would expect someone to take a chance on him probably from the third round on. He is bottom aged and I think if a team is prepared to be patient with him he could be a very good player. He is an AIS Academy player.
"

 

[Couch Coach]

Dayne Zorko - 9 February 1990, 176cm 69 kg. QLD/Broadbeach
"Quigley: He is a footballer pure and simple. He does the hard things, goes and gets the ball and makes things happen around him. He plays in and under in the middle and is also a very handy crumber up forward picking up a couple of goals against NT and creating others. He is listed at 69 kgs but is stocky and looks heavier than that. His disposal is pretty good and clears the ball well from packs. He does not have great pace but if he was 5 cms taller he would be getting third round consideration. As it stands though he might be a late round or rookie list selection. His body type is just not in vogue at the moment although he might have been a champion player in the 80’s.
"
"ant555: Dane Zorko-176cm, 69kg-Broadbeach QLD. Not much of him but he goes pretty hard. Skills are pretty good and was probably Queensland’s second best midfielder.
"
"Quigley: Zorko is the type of player that regularly misses getting selected on draft day. He comes in at only 176 and does not have the fantastic athleticism that teams look to to compensate for his height. Notwithstanding that I think Dane could be a valuable pick up for the Lions. He is a tough nut in and under player which is a definate need area for the Lions. To quote an old saying he works well in the phone box and clears the ball exceptionally well from packs. He has very clean hands and rarely fumbles even when under tight pressure. He is not that penetrating a kick but does use it well and is dangerous when he floats forward when resting. He reads the ball off hands well and accordingly is dangerous roving packs in the forward line. He has good leadership and leads by example. At the Champs he was in the best couple of players for Qld (Gibson might have been the best) and got better the further things went along picking up a swag of possessions against NT in the last game. He has regularly been in the best for Broadbeach in the AFLQ at senior level and I think has been the best of the U18's in the comp over the course of the year. In the last couple of weeks in the wet he has been exceptional picking up a lot of possessions and his skills have stood out in difficult conditions. He is worth a look at this stage. If he tests well at camp there is a fair chance he could move up draft boards.
"
"AFL Insider:
AFL Positions:
At his size he will need to be a versatile player for teams to be interested in him. Zorko should be able to play as a small forward, a midfielder or a back pocket. He has some tricks around goal to use so a team might draft him with a forward spot his destination.
Perfect Fit For:
Obviously the Lions would make sense, and the Kangaroos could also be a good fit. They do need to add some more variety to their forward line with some additional quality smalls. Campbell and Thomas have been tried this season, with some success, and the Kangaroos need to add another couple of smaller players like Zorko to that group.
**********.net prediction:
Queensland football provided a lot of quality picks last time but it will be a lot quieter in the upcoming draft. Maybe a couple of big guys and a couple of smalls. Zorko will still be around late in the draft, so a round 4 or 5 pick might get him. Maybe Melbourne will draft him, they had success last year with picking a Queensland player and if they use their early picks on taller prospects they might find good value in Zorko later in the draft.
AFL Fantasy Outlook:
Probably not a player to sign before the 2008 AFL fantasy season. It could take a few injuries at his team for a spot to open for him and then he will be a player to watch. Zorko attacks the ball and reads the play well so he has the ability to get the ball, and with his skills around goal there is the potential for fantasy points if given enough playing time.
"

 

[Couch Coach]

Will Sullivan (Ruck) - 24 August 1989, 202cm 95kg. Vic Metro/Western/Werribee
"Weaver: Was impressive last season showing an ability to take a contested mark and to kick well. This season form has been mixed, the around the ground work has been less prevalent, and he looks more a pure tap ruckman. McEvoy jumped all over him and he has probably lost a few too many ruck duels in the league to be drafted with a lot of confidence.
"
"Alan McConnell: His ruck work and body work was good. He's not a highly-rated player in this company, but I thought he demonstrated a bit to keep people intrigued
"
"Ant555: Will Sullivan – 202cm, 95kg-Western Jets. (Ruck). Tall ruckman who’s form is a little up and down. His skills are pretty good for a big man but he should be doing more around the ground than what he does. Had a quiet time at the champs for Vic metro. His tap work is good when he plays well but for a bloke his size he doesn’t always use his bulk. Has had some games with 25 plus hit outs.
"
"VicCrow: Pretty surprised he's still around because frankly I thought a few ruckmen would've gone between my second and third round picks, but only one of them did.
Sullivan is a fantastic tap ruckman. I really rate his tapping abilities amongst the best at current junior level. I'm still trying to figure out if it's because of his great tap work, or if it's the Jets midfield. I'm more leaning towards Sullivan's tap work. I've seen him put the ball straight down his team mates throats on many occasions this season. He has a good leap, but it's his timing that really seems to give him the advantage over other ruckmen.
His around the ground work is not too shabby either. His kicking needs a bit of work, but at 202cm he's bound to be a little bit awkward at this age. The thing that really impresses me about him is his endeavour. He's more than willing to get down and get his hands dirty and for a bloke so big he's not too bad below his knees. His hands are pretty good, so when he does go for a ground ball he can get a handball out.
Can take a strong mark and I've seen him do some hard running this season for the Jets. One time I was really impressed when he gave up a free kick at a centre bounce, immediately ran to CHB and made the spoil only seconds after being in the middle.
There's a bit to work with here. Great rucking skills, willing to go in for a hard ball, blocks the holes and has a reasonably solid set of hands. Considering he has a pretty strong body I think he could turn into a powerful player. I don't know how his endurance is, but he seems to have a pretty heavy workload at the Jets. If his kicking improves (and provided his fitness is good) he could turn into your perfect traditional ruckman who can ruck for a fair portion of the day and then rest in the forward pocket. 95kg at 18 years of age. With a couple of pre-seasons in an AFL system and some natural maturity to take place he could be something scary.
Also, I noticed it's his birthday tomorrow.
"

 

[Couch Coach]

Ashley Hockey (Rover) - 9 March 1989, 181cm 78kg. Vic Country/Murray/Mooroopna
"Weaver: No one drafted him last season despite solid showings. This season he is slightly improved and might get his name called on the back of being about the only Country player who can consistently hit targets and consistently remember who his opponent is. Fairly unobtrusive, doesn't really catch the eye, but when he does pop out into space he finds teammates.
"
"ant555: Ashley Hockey – 181cm, 78kg-Murray Bushrangers. Had a reasonable champs for Vic Country. Is one of those players who you would describe as doing everything ok but not a stand out in any one area. Has good foot skills and hits targets when he is in space.
"
"VicCrow: Plays mainly as a midfielder but can kick goals in the forward line. Is accountable, provides decent pressure and is a ferocious sort of tackler. When he wraps a guy up he really likes to make them feel it. He's right footed but uses his left foot with confidence and is a neat kick over short distances but he really throws the ball down onto his foot ala Nathan Jones when trying to kick about 50m or so. This can sometimes lead to wayward disposal. Don't get me wrong, he is a good kick, but I think his range is a bit limited at least at this stage.
"
"AFL Insider:
AFL Positions:
He might be the type of player who in the first few years of his career goes from the back pocket, to a tagging role in the midfield and then to being a very important midfielder who gets a lot of the ball.
Perfect Fit For:
The Tigers might be thinking of playing Raines or Newman in the middle more often, so adding a small defender like Hockey would allow them to do that. While they have added McMahon, they could also use another younger player too.
**********.net prediction:
Teams might think about taking Hockey in the third round. Geelong have a couple of picks in that round, and if they go taller with their earlier picks they might want a smaller player then. With Callan, and possibly Tenace and D Johnson going, there might be a spot for Hockey on their list next year.
AFL Fantasy Outlook:
If he does go to a solid team, a year in the VFL might await him. There is also a chance that a struggling team drafts him, and gives him a few games at AFL level. He can get the ball when he plays, but how often he plays is hard to predict.
"

 

[Couch Coach]

Travis Dulic (Key Def) - 19 July 1989, 192cm 90kg. Calder Cannons/Glenroy
"Weaver: Bigger bodied key defender who has a competitive streak and doesn't mind charging out of defence with the ball in his hands and booming it long. The disposal can get better, and there are probably some more athletic backmen around. But Dulic will have the bulk and desire to do the man-on-man stuff that some of the lighter blokes will struggle with.
"
"Ant555: Travis Dulic-192cm, 90kg-Calder Cannons. Big solid kid he is a bit of an old style FB. Defence is very good. He pace is ok and he has a decent long kick. He can be a bit hit and miss as far as hitting targets go.
"
"VicCrow: Had quite a few in consideration for this pick but I might as well go with the one who has slid furthest in my books rather than a smokey (cards, chest).
Good athleticism and good skills. Can provide rebound and has a nice spoil on him. As a junior played up forward and in the midfield but suffered a very badly broken leg that saw the Cannons move him to the backline on return where he has flourished.
I noticed that he tends to dag off packs a bit though and doesn't always go up for contests. Often he is able to clear the defensive 50 because of this, but I can see him getting caught out a bit. Regardless, I've been pretty impressed when I have seen him and am surprised he's lasted until the very end.
"

 

[Couch Coach]

Matthew Lobbe (Key Fwd, Ruck) - 12 February 1989, 197cm 80kg. Vic Metro/Eastern/Monbulk
"Weaver: The classic 'tweener. Overlooked last year largely because at 195cm no one can seen him rucking against the adults. Has played almost exclusively this year at CHF and been OK without really putting enough good games together to cause excitement (and lowered his colours to Mulligan which was damning). Probably not athletic enough for a KP not tall enough for the ruck. Might do just enough to earn a chance despite the doubts.
"
"ant555: Matt Lobbe - Tallish CHF who can read the play well and take a grab when he is playing well. Has played ruck as well but Renton has pushed him out of that position. He is a pretty relaible kick. What he does need to do is get involved more often. He has shown he can be very effective at certain times during games but a lot of the time he looks like he is waiting for things to happen rather than making them happen. Looks like his mindset is often stuck in under 16 mode where he can just stand around taking grabs over people.
"
Ant555: Matt Lobbe-197cm, 80kg-Eastern Rangers. (FWD). Has played part time in the ruck but has spent most of his time playing CHF. Has good hands and is a good kick but needs to impose himself on contests more often. Looks like at times he is stuck playing under 16 mindset where he can just have the footy kicked in his direction so he can take a grab. Gets around the ground ok for a tall bloke.

 

[Couch Coach]

Andrew Otten (HBF, Wing, HFF) - 15 May 1989, 192cm 86kg. Vic Metro/Oakleigh/Whitefriars
"Weaver: Otten is the type of player high on AFL shopping lists. His is a Paul Wheatley type who is not really midfielder or KP. He is a genuine utility with good athleticism and skills who plays pretty much every spot on the field for his club. Probably best suited to the 3rd forward / defender roles with the occasional run on the wing.
"
"Alan McConnell: I thought Otten, particularly early in the game, was very exciting. His ability to find the ball and take contested marks – he took one lovely contested mark – indicated he was a player to watch.
"
"ant555: Andy Otten-192cm, 86kg-Oakleigh Chargers. Having a very good year in the TAC Cup where he has been used forward or back or on the wing. He is a real athlete with good skills. Has been averaging 27 possession a game for Oakleigh.
"
"diablo14: Plenty in here rate him and so do I. Has been in rare form for the Chargers of late, and has a unique blend of size and althleticism that is perfect for todays footy. Can hld down a variety of positions, also has a yard of pace, and is exactly the sort of player the Cats love to have on their list - a versatile guy who can be used in a number of different roles if necessary.
I believe if he'd had a better carnival he may well have gone higher than this.
"