Draft Talk

[Kildonan]

In the List Management thread, I identified a need for a development ruckman, and key position players as a priority over a midfielder type.

There was a privido that if there is some doubt as to the availability of Luke Ball then maybe that would push the midfielder type back in contention for the #9 pick.

My thoughts are that we should target players with exceptional kicking skills.

My argument for this type is that we only really have two beautiful kicks of the ball in our side (Goddard and Dal Santo). These guys are able to distribute the ball with great skill and this makes them go to players. The opposition clubs can tag / double team these players and stifle our avenues forward.

Under Lyon we have had to adapt our gameplan without the benefit of Goddards kicking (after his injury) and with Dal Santo double-teamed everywhere he went. This led to us developing other avenues including Aaron Fiora early and later (and more effectively) Leigh Montagna carrying and kicking.

We have a few midfielders coming through the ranks who may be able to help out, but we need to recruit a few more players through the draft with a really nice kick.

Lately we have been trying to compete with other clubs in recruiting athletes. This is all well and good - and clearly the direction a lot of clubs are taking: ultimate speed and athleticism. Now that we have some money being pumped into recruitment, we might be able to compete with the bigger clubs on recruiting athletes (just Beveridge in a station wagon was not gonna cut it). My point is that the highly skilled players are just as essential to any team and are easier to detect and develop.

Who are the most highly skilled draftees?

Callan Ward - 10 April 1990, 183cm 71kg. Vic Metro/Western/Spotswood is considered the best kick in this draft and is an excellent decision maker
Trent Cotchin (HFF / FP) - 7 April 1990, 184cm 81kg. Vic Metro/Northern/PEGS is described as a very nice kick off both feet
Cyril 'Junior' Rioli (Rover / Wing / Small Fwd) - 14 July 1989, 178cm 74kg. NT/St Mary's is also a nice kick of the ball
Cale Morton (Wing / HBF) - 18 January 1990, 192cm 75kg. WA/Claremont
David Myers (HBF) - 30 June 1989, 190cm 85kg. WA/Perth
Addam Maric - 18 April 1990, 179cm 80kg. Vic Metro/Calder/Greenvale
Ryan Normington (Ruck-Rover) - 22 August 1989, 186cm 76kg. Vic Country/Murray/Shepparton United

Many other players show skills too, don't be afraid to list any I have missed

 

[Kildonan]

Here is a rough list of the ruckmen (at least 199cm tall) available in this draft:

Pick - Name - Height - Weight
01 Matthew Kruezer 199cm 91kg
10 Ben McEvoy 199cm 90 kg
20 Tom Bellchambers 199cm 91kg
30 James Mulligan 201cm 96kg
35 Will Sullivan 202cm 95kg
40 Dawson Simpson 205cm 97 kg
45 Brent Connelly 200cm 85kg
50 Matthew Lobbe 199cm 82kg
55 Andrew Renton 202cm 94 kg
60 Jake Spencer 203cm 93kg
65 David Hille 202cm 85kg

Edited to update height / weight according to Inside Football listing

Feel free to add any others that you feel will be drafted

 

[Kildonan]

Here is a rough (and certainly incomplete) list of KPP's in the draft:

10 Lachie Henderson (Key Fwd / Ruck) - 18 December 1989, 196cm 90kg. Vic Country/Geelong/Geelong College
10 Alex Rance (Key Def) - 9 October 1989, 194cm 87kg. WA/Swan Districts FC
10 Tom Collier (Key Def / Ruck Rover) - 25 March 1989, 192cm 86kg. Tasmania/Lauderdale
20 Steve Gaertner (Wing / HBF / Kef Def) - 2 January 1990, 196cm 83kg. Vic Metro/Dandenong/Edithvale-Aspendale
20 Dave Gourdis (Key Fwd) - 24 November 1989, 193cm 88kg. WA/Subiaco
20 Tayte Pears (Key Def) - 24 March 1990, 192cm 90kg. WA/East Perth
25 Robbie Tarrant (Key Fwd) - 25 April 1989, 196cm 92kg. Vic Country/Bendigo/South Mildura
25 Tony Notte (Key Fwd) - 15 April 1990, 194cm 72kg. WA/Swan Districts
30 Scott Simpson (Key Fwd) - 19 October 1989, 194cm 91kg. Vic Metro/Dandenong/Mt Eliza
30 Dan McKenna (Key Def) - 29 June 1989, 194cm 82kg. Vic Country/Gippsland/Traralgon
35 Harry Croft (Key Def) - 21 January 1989 192cm 82kg. Vic Metro/Oakleigh/Wesley
James Wundke - 2 March 1990, 196cm 87kg. SA/North Adelaide/Walkerville
Joseph Daye - 2 February 1990, 194cm 79kg. Queensland/Zillmere
Travis Dulic (Key Def) - 19 July 1989, 192cm 90kg. Calder Cannons/Glenroy
Andrew Otten (HBF, Wing, HFF) - 15 May 1989, 192cm 86kg. Vic Metro/Oakleigh/Whitefriars
Darwin Stewart - 4 September 1989, 191cm 87kg. Queensland/Broadbeach
Joel Smouha - 5 February 1990, 196cm 80kg. Mt. Gravatt
Chris Kangars - 1 August 1989, 193cm 84kg. Vic Country/Geelong/Geelong Amateurs
Stefan Martin - 17 November 1986, 197cm 95kg. Sandringham.

 

[Oh When the Saints]

I agree that a midfielder with good foot skills needs to be our target, although I don't think our skills are too bad as a side (certainly not the best in the AFL though).

Hopefully we draft a skilled midfielder with pick #9, a developing ruckman with pick #42 and another midfielder with pick #58.

 

[sinepari]

My opinion - You guys SHOULD be very interested in Callan Ward. If no one slides and you're looking for a classy, skilled mid, then Ward is your man.

 

[Kildonan]

Yours is an highly respected opinion, sinepari, not just by myself but by many across club loyalties.

I see you have pushed Callan Ward's name forward. He still has a long way to go before he is AFL ready. He is certainly under consideration, but so are Cyril Rioli, Ben McEvoy, Lachie Henderson, and Alex Rance, and even Masten or Ebert might still be available

Who do you think will be the best player, (not based on need), available at pick 9?

 

[-VC-]

Here is a rough list of the ruckmen available in this draft:

Pick - Name - Height - Weight
01 Matthew Kruezer 199cm 91kg
10 Ben McEvoy 199cm 90 kg
20 Tom Bellchambers 201cm 92kg
30 James Mulligan 199cm 87kg
35 Will Sullivan 202cm 95kg
40 Dawson Simpson 207cm 97 kg
45 Andrew Renton 202cm 94 kg
50 Brent Connelly 199cm 84kg
55 Dean Putt 202cm 88 kg
60 Jake Spencer 203cm 93kg - best Qlder

Feel free to add any others that you feel will be drafted

Just a minor note here, you've got Jake Spencer as best Qlder, but James Mulligan is from QLD. I'd also rate Joel Smouha ahead of Spencer from what I've seen of them.

 

[Kildonan]

Just a minor note here, you've got Jake Spencer as best Qlder, but James Mulligan is from QLD. I'd also rate Joel Smouha ahead of Spencer from what I've seen of them.

Thanks for that.

Smouha is amongst a number of potential ruckmen (others include Wundke and Martin) whom I deliberately omitted from my list because I don't believe St Kilda will consider recruiting a ruckman under 199 cm. I did include them as a sort of miscellaneous aggregate at the end of the KPP list.

The list I put up is in a rough order of where I think they will go in the draft (so "35" means that I think the player will be drafted in the top 35).

I am hoping we might grab Dawson Simpson, whom I have never seen, but appears to be a big improver and is already a giant of a man.

I mentioned Jake Spencer earlier, highlighting him because I felt he had the most improvement in him and at 203 cm is about the height that we're looking for. Bellchambers is another I liked, but we're unlikely to snag him with our third round pick - hence the search deeper into the draft.

 

[-VC-]

Here is the profile I have just written on Alex Rance, who I took at Pick 9 last night in the Phantom Draft for the Saints. FYI, this is how the draft has gone so far:

1: Carlton - Matthew Kreuzer - Ruckman
2: Richmond - Trent Cotchin - Medium Midfielder
3: West Coast - Rhys Palmer - Small/Medium Midfielder
4: Melbourne - Cale Morton - Tall Forward
5: Bulldogs - David Gourdis - Tall Forward
6: Essendon - David Myers - Tall Defender
7: Fremantle - Chris Masten - Small/Medium Midfielder
8: Brisbane - Brad Ebert - Medium Midfielder
9: St. kilda - Alex Rance - Tall Defender
10: Adelaide - Callan Ward - Medium Midfielder
11: Sydney - Jack Grimes - Medium Midfielder
12: Hawthorn - Patrick Veszpremi - Medium Midfielder

Alex Rance - 194cm, 87kg - KP back - Swan Districts, WA

Having only seen him twice it's kind of tough to do a thorough profile on him, but what I did see of him at the Championships this year was enough to put him in early estimations for me. I will preface this profile by saying that it was very much a pick for St.Kilda's needs and that personally I have made up my mind on what I have as the Top 6 or 7 and then there's a big group that could fall anywhere from 8-20 (which Rance is in for me). That allowed me to target a need for St.Kilda because 'best available' isn't as applicable in that part of the draft.

Alex Rance combines good defensive skills with the ability to create out of the backline, which is what a lot of teams like to see in key backmen these days, particularly with St.Kilda and how they create from the backline.

He has a good, solid body already and of the KPP's in this draft would be amongst the top bracket of "AFL ready." He probably still has a little bit of work to do in that regard but it's not inconceivable that he could crack into an AFL team during 2008.

With Rance he can be moulded into where a more pressing need might be. His aerial skills and what is likely to become a much stronger body could serve him well deep in the backline, but his creativity an ability to run could see him playing at CHB.

On a minor note it doesn't seem like there will be any go home factor with Rance as I have read his family will be moving to wherever he gets drafted to make the transition easier for him.

 

[Kildonan]

Great work Vic_Crow

I would be very pleased with that outcome.

Thanks for taking the time to post it here - much appreciated.

 

[Kildonan]

Copying a post made by Vader, here is the draft order as it stands after first nominations:

Adelaide: 10, 27, 30, 38, 57, 69 (Taylor Walker - NSW Scholarship)
Brisbane: 8, 25, 41, 51, 55
Carlton: 1 (PP), 36, 46, 63
Collingwood: 31, 47, 60 (Jaxson Barham - F/S)
Essendon: 6, 23, 39 (Darcy Daniher - F/S), 53, 66
Footscray: 5, 19, 35, 43, 48, 61, 65
Fremantle: 7, 24, 40, 54, 67, 71
Geelong: 17, 34, 44, 49, 59 (Adam Donohue - F/S)
Hawthorn: 12, 29, 45
Melbourne: 4, 14, 21, 52, 64, 70
North Melbourne: 15, 32, 37
Port Adelaide: 16, 28, 33
Richmond: 2, 18 (PP), 50, 62
St Kilda: 9, 42, 56, 68
Sydney: 11, 26, 58 (Craig Bird - NSW Scholarship)
West Coast: 3, 13, 20, 22

Or alternatively, in list form:
Pick # Club Round
1 Carlton PP
2 Richmond R1
3 West Coast R1
4 Melbourne R1
5 Footscray R1
6 Essendon R1
7 Fremantle R1
8 Brisbane R1
9 St Kilda R1
10 Adelaide R1
11 Sydney R1
12 Hawthorn R1
13 West Coast R1
14 Melbourne R1
15 North Melbourne R1
16 Port Adelaide R1
17 Geelong R1
18 Richmond PP
19 Footscray R2
20 West Coast R2
21 Melbourne R2
22 West Coast R2
23 Essendon R2
24 Fremantle R2
25 Brisbane R2
26 Sydney R2
27 Adelaide R2
28 Port Adelaide R2
29 Hawthorn R2
30 Adelaide R2
31 Collingwood R2
32 North Melbourne R2
33 Port Adelaide R2
34 Geelong R2
35 Footscray R3
36 Carlton R3
37 North Melbourne R3
38 Adelaide R3
39 Essendon R3 Darcy Daniher (Father/Son)
40 Fremantle R3
41 Brisbane R3
42 St Kilda R3
43 Footscray R3
44 Geelong R3
45 Hawthorn R3
46 Carlton R3
47 Collingwood R3
48 Footscray R3
49 Geelong R3
50 Richmond R4
51 Brisbane R4
52 Melbourne R4
53 Essendon R4
54 Fremantle R4
55 Brisbane R4
56 St Kilda R4
57 Adelaide R4
58 Sydney R4 Craig Bird (NSW Scholarship)
59 Geelong R4 Adam Donohue (Father/Son)
60 Collingwood R4 Jaxson Barham (Father/Son)
61 Footscray R4
62 Richmond R5
63 Carlton R5
64 Melbourne R5
65 Footscray R5
66 Essendon R5
67 Fremantle R5
68 St Kilda R5
69 Adelaide R5 Taylor Walker (NSW Scholarship)
70 Melbourne R6
71 Fremantle R6

 

[-VC-]

http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=391756

The Phantom Draft has finally rolled around to Pick 42 and I took a quick midfieler with excellent disposal by foot. Here's the full profile below.


Pick 42 - Brett Meredith, Northern Knights
182cm, 81kg - Midfield

Brett Meredith is a reliable midfielder with good endurance and excellent disposal. He has a very well rounded game with no glaring weaknesses and his main strength is his kicking and the fact he has a very even sort of game.

His kicking skills are fantastic. He is one of the best users of the ball at junior level and I've seen him provide silver service to his forwards on many occasions. His delivery into the forward line is A class.

He's a pretty elusive sort of player, so he can be tricky to tackle and is good at ground level so he can be shifted forward to play in a crumbing role, but where he would be unique for St.Kilda is that he demonstrated late in the TAC Cup season that he is a goal kicking midfielder, which is something that the Saints could use.

Generally he's been described as a rather vanilla sort of player - 7/10 in every category and nothing that really stands out. Apart from his kicking that was probably true until the final stretch of this TAC Cup season where he started realising his potential and was playing a high quality brand of footy, improving his game across the board.

His last game of TAC Cup (the Prelim Final) sealed the deal for me. Basically the entire midfield around him got injured with four of the Knights better midfielders out for the day. Meredith was visibly exhaused but kept running, gave everything he had and continued to play at a high level.

A high amount handball receives this season indicates how hard he runs to receive the ball. He's not exactly a receiver because he will go in and get the hard ball. I believe this stat shows a good work rate and willingness to run to get possession. He also has good pace off the mark. Not elite, but I would describe him as a quick midfielder which is what the Saints need.

He's been on the scene for ages as he played a fair bit of TAC Cup footy as a 16 year old and was almost drafted last year, but perhaps a few injury concerns got in the way of that. He had shoulder surgery in the off season and missed the start of this season, but apart from a minor injury he sustained in the Championships he had a clean bill of health for the year.

 

[Oh When the Saints]

Re: Who Will Saints choose at no.9 in draft

Terrific selection VicCrow. One of my mates knows him, and I'd be wrapt to pick him up.

Keep up the good work ... a ruckman at #58 would be nice!

 

[-VC-]

Re: Who Will Saints choose at no.9 in draft

Yep, definitely looking for a ruckman with the next pick. I'm very surprised that so few have been taken so far. I doubt I'll get the guy I want but there's plenty of guys available because there's so much ruck depth in this draft. I think all that depth is the reason why very few have gone so far. I might've taken a ruck last round if they were starting to run out, but there's still about six or seven left worth taking and you'd imagine a few of them would fall to the next pick.

Can a mod move these last few posts to the Draft Talk thread? I accidentally posted this is the wrong one.

 

[-VC-]

Re: Who Will Saints choose at no.9 in draft

Earlier in the day I took Will Sullivan in the third round. I have heard many whispers that the Saints are looking at Brent Connelly from Gippsland Power to take as a ruckman, but I don't rate him. I figured that it's no point trying to guess exactly who a recruiter will take with later picks, so I used my own opinion. I profiled Connelly for Footydraft.com so if the rumours are true and you do take him then you know a bit about him too.




Pick 58 - Will Sullivan - Western Jets - Ruckman - 202cm, 95kg

I'm just about to walk out the door but here is an overly enthusiastic write up I did on him when I took him in the Trial Draft. His form cooled off towards the end of the year but I still don't mind his work rate around the stoppages (a big reason why I won't take Connelly) and I reckon there's plenty to work around with Sullivan as he's a big unit.

Sullivan is a good 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.

I should also add that athletically he could probably use some improvement, but at his size (and especially at this late pick) you can't really expect a jet with brilliant endurance!

 

[-VC-]

Re: Who Will Saints choose at no.9 in draft

NOTE: I didn't take Connelly in the Phantom Draft but you guys seem to be linked to him so FYI

Brent Connelly – Gippsland Power
199cm, 84kg (size taken from TAC Cup record but is said to have grown since then)

Junior position: Ruckman/Forward
Projected AFL position: Ruckman

Strengths
Hitouts to advantage
Skills below knees
Vertical leap

Weaknesses
Work rate when on the ball
Tackling
Intensity

Question marks
Played well as a forward in juniors but is a long way off having the body to be a forward in the AFL. Without that forward line string to his bow his around the ground work is questionable.

Comments
Connelly led the ruck and came second in goal kicking for TAC Cup minor premiers Gippsland Power this year. While he split time between the ruck and the forward line for most of the season at this stage he doesn’t project as a forward line player in the AFL. His body still needs to develop significantly as he’s quite skinny. In juniors he has often outmarked opponents by simply being taller than them, a luxury less relevant in AFL as defenders are smarter, stronger and more athletic.

In the ruck when he gets first hand on the ball his tap work is quite good, usually palming the ball to advantage but a major drawback is that he doesn’t win enough hitouts. Even in TAC Cup he had too many games where he broke even or lost. As the season went on his work in ball ups and centre bounces improved. Early on he was knocked off the ruck contest too easily, but his work at boundary throw ins has been pretty solid all along.

He has a good vertical leap on him, which is important as he’s not super tall (though it has been speculated he has added a couple of cm’s throughout the season) but the timing of his jump is still a bit off in ruck contests. If he can improve his timing he could be a very handy tap ruckman because the hitouts to advantage and good vertical leap basically has him two thirds of the way there.

However, Connelly is a real passenger when the ball hits the deck in the middle. He applies little physical pressure in the way of tackles and often just spectates the ground level contest, rarely providing blocks for team mates. His skills below his knees are actually good for his size as he has demonstrated whenever he receives a bad pass, but his second efforts around ruck contests are almost non-existant.

Oddly, his work rate when he is playing as a forward is not too and he does work hard to try and make space for himself, so he really needs to incorporate more of this into his game when playing on the ball.

His disposal around the ground is neat and even though he doesn’t get a great deal of possessions he uses it well for a guy of his size.

If his body does develop to allow him to be a forward option in the AFL then he will need to tidy up his goal kicking a bit after kicking 24.25 this TAC Cup season, but producing 49 scoring shots is an impressive number for a ruckman/forward. It’s not completely out of the question that he could end up in a forward line role in the AFL but there would be a significant amount of work for him on and off the field.

Late/rookie chance.

Stats
2007 TAC Cup season
20 games played
24.25
197 kicks (142 of them effective)
113 handballs (90 effective)
286 hitouts
24 contested marks
90 uncontested marks
13 tackles

 

[Oh When the Saints]

Great write-up VicCrow, thanks for that.

Interesting your description of him as not being physical ... ruckman need presence, either through their Dean Cox-like gut running or their Clark Keating-like aggression.

Hope he doesn't end up another Guy Richards/Barry Brooks type who is easily pushed aside.

The good thing about second efforts/tackling being a weakness is that this is something that can easily be improved and is worked on a lot.

Cheers

 

[-VC-]

One of my favourites coming through - mind you there were three guys I really like that still hadn't been taken. I narrowed it down by going with a bottom ager and then flipped a coin because two of those three are bottom aged.


Tom Rockliff – Murray Bushrangers
180cm, 78kg

Junior position: Forward/midfield
Projected AFL position: Medium sized forward

Strengths
Goal sense
Overhead skills for size
Strength

Weaknesses
Athleticism

Comments
Rockliff came out of extreme obscurity right into draft calculations after making his TAC Cup debut in Round 10 this year. He suffered a bad leg injury at the U/16 Nationals in 2006, so he had no pre-season this year.

When he finally debuted with the Bushrangers he was an instant hit, kicking seven and six goals in his second and third games respectively. He’s not overly athletic, but more of a natural footballer and he plays the role of a small/medium sized forward well.

He is a bottom aged player with very good goal sense. Apart from two games this year he was almost deadly accurate, kicking 40.20 (literally half of his behinds came in two separate games) and leading the Bushrangers goal kicking off only half a season. His disposal in general is usually quite good. The team’s resurgence literally started when he made his debut and the only TAC Cup loss he has ever played in was the Grand Final.

His overhead skills much better than you would expect for someone standing 180cm, so he can play a bit taller than he really is, but his work at ground level makes him a dangerous threat when the ball hits the deck. He has a livewire style, so given his versatility it makes him a very good option that may present match up difficulties if he continues to develop.

Rockliff has a stocky sort of build and a good attack on the ball. He has a strong upper body, which he uses to burst through traffic and break tackles – but on top of this he’s also elusive so he can be difficult to catch but once caught, still difficult to tackle. He would have a fair bit of work to do as far as playing in the midfield, but he has had some promising stints on the ball for the Bushrangers.

There is a lot to like about Rockliff and he would be rated a lot higher if he had perhaps played the full season, represented Vic Country and did all the things that everyone else with more fanfare did. Still considered slightly speculative because of his comparative lack of experience, but has certainly done enough to wind up on an AFL list and to suggest he can succeed.

 

[Oh When the Saints]

Sounds a bit like Brett Voss VicCrow ...

 

[-VC-]

Sounds a bit like Brett Voss VicCrow ...

That's not a bad comparison. Rockliff is likely to have a bit more X-Factor and to be a bit more damaging around the goals. But his strength and ability to play a bit above his height and weight is pretty comparable to Voss.

 

[Kildonan]

Draft day is like Christmas for 16 AFL clubs
Emma Quayle
The Age
November 17, 2007 - 10:35PM

DRAFT day is like Christmas for the 16 AFL clubs.

Everyone gets a big bundle of shiny new presents and can't think of a single thing they could have wanted more.

If the clubs don't get what they asked for, they smile, say thank you and insist they couldn't be happier.

The draft is also a day where beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but where no recruiter can ever be considered right or wrong until different clubs, coaches, development systems and injuries have played their part in whether a draftee works out.

Sunday Age football writer and one of Australia's foremost experts on junior football, Emma Quayle, has covered the past six national drafts, toured Perth and South Africa this year with the AIS-AFL Academy and has spent more time than ever this season watching under-18 games, tapes and players.

The following is not a phantom draft, rather how she rates her top 25 players from this year's pool.

She believes Carlton is almost certain to take Matthew Kreuzer at No.

1, but considers Trent Cotchin a better prospect.

1. Trent Cotchin

(Northern Knights. 17, 185cm, 80kg) Of all the players I've seen this season, Cotchin is the one who most screams: "star".

He has skills on both sides of his body, speed, and he's a real ducker and weaver (think Gary Ablett junior) who can kick goals and exert huge infl uence on how a game turns out.

Some have questioned his endurance, but Vo2max testing shows he has the capacity to run hard enough to play as a true onballer.

At 17, he's only just eligible for this year's draft but extremely driven.

What nudges him ahead of Matthew Kreuzer, Cale Morton and David Myers is the fact it is slightly clearer where he will play and what sort of player he'll be.

2. Matthew Kreuzer

(Northern Knights. 18, 200cm, 94kg) Kreuzer has a massive heart, incredible endurance and sound skills £ for any sized player, let alone one pushing 200 centimetres.

He'll be a very good player for a long time.

I rank him second because I occasionally wonder what he'll be, or where he'll end up playing as a ruckman, he has the motor to exploit his opponents around the ground, but does he have the spring and technique to compete at centre bounces? Can you exploit his big asset, his endurance, by playing him as a forward? And if you are looking for a ruck-rover, why wouldn't you just choose Cotchin?

3. Cale Morton

(Claremont. 17, 192cm, 79kg) Plenty of clubs would take the third Morton brother if they had the No. 1 pick.

Others dropped away after his finals series, where he was subjected to some close opposition attention.

Morton boasts elite skills, especially for his size, and his running power.

He's a true utility and he has all the attributes to thrive in today's precise, uncontested game.

4. David Myers

(Perth 18, 191cm, 87kg) My hunch is that Myers, who will come into contention for Essendon at pick six, will captain an AFL team one day.

He's quick, balanced and composed; when the ball's in his hands and he's dashing off half-back you feel that something good will happen.

You wouldn't be drafting him as a key position prospect, more as a running defender who could play off a wing.

He's one of my real favourites in this year's draft.

5. Jarrad Grant

(Dandenong Stingrays. 18, 192cm, 77kg) When you have a high draft pick you have a choice: do you go for a safe, sure bet-type player, or one with the potential for greatness? Grant is one of the most gifted players in this year's draft pool, the one who most often makes you think: "how did he do that?" He's going to make freakish pick-ups and kick goals from nowhere.

I can't wait to see how consistently he does it.

6. Cyril Rioli

(St Marys/Scotch College. 18, 177cm, 79kg) Some will consider this ranking too high for "Junior" Rioli, the nephew of Michael Long and Maurice Rioli, who hasn't yet shown any real signs he'll be able to play as an onballer.

But on pure talent Rioli is a clear top-10 pick in this draft; he can win games as a small forward and also run off halfback.

His endurance (which is poor right now) should improve enough in an AFL environment for him to at least pinch-hit in the middle, and I'm backing him to make the most of his potential.

7. Alex Rance

(Swan Districts. 18, 192cm, 88kg) Rance is a natural defender and, unlike Myers, a more likely key position player.

The son of former Footscray and West Coast player Murray, Alex was one of the best rebounders in the WA under-18 team this year.

He needs to calm down on occasions when he gets the ball and can be a bit fumbly, but has a really strong mind and presence.

8. Patrick Dangerfield

(Geelong Falcons. 17, 187cm, 83kg) Dangerfi eld is a personal favourite, one of the most exciting players in the draft.

He grabs the ball and bolts.

His kicking needs some work, but he's only 17, and could have had another year in the TAC Cup had he wanted.

If you're looking for express midfi eld speed, he's probably the only top-line onballer in this draft who has it.

9. Chris Masten

(East Fremantle. 18, 180cm, 77kg) Masten is a safe bet.

He's a good player who should play a lot of games.

Like East Freo teammate Rhys Palmer he's not quick, but he covers huge amounts of ground.

He keeps getting the ball and his use of it seems to have improved this year.

He seems at fi rst glance to be a natural "inside" player, but he has more strings than that.

The tip is that West Coast will pick him at No. 3, and it's easy to imagine him slotting straight into that team.

10. Brad Ebert

(Port Adelaide Magpies. 17, 188cm, 85kg) His game doesn't have one absolute stand-out quality (except perhaps his stoppage skills), but Ebert does most things really well and has been impressive at every level he's reached.

Like Masten, he's simply a good player.

He's also a really diligent kid, who will work as hard as he can.

I think he'll become a reliable midfielder / half-back and play a lot of games, with not much gap between his good and his bad.

11. Ben McEvoy

(Murray Bushrangers. 18, 200cm, 95kg) McEvoy is another with captaincy potential, and the best contested mark in this draft.

I may have him ranked a little low, but it will be interesting to see where he does get picked, as he's one of a handful of players who could go anywhere from picks six to 15.

The question clubs are no doubt asking is whether he's a ruckman or a key forward (I think he'll play mostly in the ruck).

Like Ebert, McEvoy will relish being in a professional environment and is not going to die wondering.

12. Rhys Palmer

(East Fremantle. 18, 182cm, 80kg) Palmer is this year's big improver; he was eligible for last year's draft after playing as a small defender for Western Australia in the under- 18 championships and being overlooked on draft day.

He's a "look at me" type midfi elder with an arrogant edge to his game.

He's a ball-winner, has improved his use of it, can kick goals from the midfi eld and has a big motor.

He's not at all quick, but often seems to play faster than he actually tests, probably because his endurance is better than the rest.

It wouldn't surprise me if he appeals to Essendon at pick six.

13. Jack Grimes

(Northern Knights. 18, 186cm, 82kg) Grimes is a Mr Reliable midfi elder who will play for a long time.

He grinds opponents down more than burning them off, although he's tested well for speed (his endurance is top-notch).

He'll be in a leadership group before long, too.

In Grimes you get a smart and clear-headed player who makes good decisions and has a calmness about him.

14. Lachlan Henderson

(Geelong Falcons. 17, 196cm, 92kg) Henderson is this year's tricky one.

He missed the fi rst half of the season with a broken leg.

He got back after the under-18 carnival, but struggled through the last few Falcons games with various niggles.

So clubs will be considering his under-16 form strongly when they make their minds up £ he showed great speed off the mark in that carnival, and covered enough ground for Geelong regional manager Michael Turner to compare him to Matthew Pavlich.

It would be no surprise if he proves to be one of the best players from this draft.

15. Patrick Veszpremi

(Northern Knights. 18, 181cm, 85kg) There is nothing subtle about Veszpremi, he is all-out in everything he does.

He has a big, right-foot kick, has played well as a small defender and as a small forward.

The query is whether he can play as a midfi elder (or for how long in a game he could) although he was doing well there in the fi rst half of the year before breaking his thumb and missing a month.

If you were picking on pure ability to infl uence a result, he would be in the fi rst fi ve; he's a match-shaper.

16. Tayte Pears

(East Perth. 17, 190cm, 94kg) Pears is the player I'd be trying to get if I missed out on Myers.

There's something neat, balanced and composed about him.

Supporters will feel safe when he has the footy.

He proved at the draft camp that he has some decent speed off the mark, too - 2.92 seconds over 20 metres.

17. Tom Collier

(Tassie Devils. 18, 192cm, 84kg) Collier has played £ and played well £ at both ends, but I'd be picking him as a key defender who can run and attack and read the play well.

He should get picked around the middle of the first round.

18. Scott Selwood

(Bendigo Pioneers. 17, 185cm, 80kg) A hard, solid half-back with some midfield potential.

Could come into the mix as early as pick 13 to the Eagles, and I don't imagine he'll make it through the teens.

19. Tony Notte

(Swan Districts. 17, 195cm, 72kg) Notte is a mega-skinny key forward who will need a bit of time to get himself ready.

I'm thinking he'll be looked at late in the first round or possibly by the Eagles if they want a home-grown player at pick 13 and Rance is not available.

Always seems to go to the right places.

20. Addam Maric

(Calder Cannons. 17, 187cm, 77kg) A cunning, street-smart player who can kick goals from anywhere.

You'd be picking him as a small forward, with the hope he might build up his endurance enough to spend some time in the midfield.

One of the most elite kicks in the draft, if not the best.

He'll kick a goal after the siren some day to win a big match.

21. Callan Ward

(Western Jets. 17, 185cm, 73kg) A defender/midfielder who has a real edge to him and who, I think, will end up a really solid, resilient, hard-to-pass backman or a determined, competitive ruck-rover who has good vision and thinks a couple of seconds ahead of what's happening.

A lot of clubs have been talking about him lately, so it will be interesting to see how high up the order he rises.

22. Brendan Whitecross

(Zillmere Eagles. 17, 183cm, 79kg) Whitecross, a Queenslander, plays with some nice balance and will run and run.

I see him playing off half-back, perhaps through the midfi eld and even as a half-forward.

He has some versatility and plays an energetic, competitive bouncy sort of game, always there to grab a handpass and run.

He has some real leadership potential, too.

23. Tom McNamara

(South Adelaide. 17, 190cm, 84kg) McNamara, a member of the AISAFL Academy, may be a tricky one for the recruiters to place, having spent the majority of his season playing school football in Adelaide.

He looks like a genuine full-back and has some good spring and athleticism.

Seems able to control the space around him well.

24. Levi Greenwood

(Port Adelaide Magpies. 18, 181cm, 93kg) Greenwood is like a human cannon ball.

You release him off the halfback line and he'll barrel through the middle, scatter one or more players, grab the ball and belt it forward.

He's big, but has some good speed and endurance, so athleticism is no issue.

He's a favourite too, but my question mark is on his kicking, which can be a bit haphazard.

25. Mitch Farmer

(Calder Cannons. 18. 180cm, 77kg) Farmer, who captained the Cannons through the TAC Cup fi nals, is a feisty little player who I'm not sure will play as a full-time AFL midfi elder, but may surprise.

You'll know what you'll get from him every single week; he'll bring guaranteed grunt, and has enough skill to go with it.

 

[Kildonan]

My draft shopping list:

Pick #9

LACHLAN HENDERSON

Geelong Falcons, VIC, Tall forward, December 14 1989, 195.5cm, 91.5kg

A tall, key forward prospect with strong hands. Very good on the lead and exceptionally quick off the mark for a player his size. He displayed impressive endurance at the NAB AFL Draft Camp with a shuttle run result of 13.8. AIS-AFL Academy graduate. From Geelong College.

If unavailable then

BEN McEVOY

Murray Bushrangers, VIC, Ruckman, July 11 1989, 200.2cm, 94.6kg

A rangy, durable ruckman with excellent endurance. McEvoy took out the best and fairest for grand finalists, the Murray Bushrangers, after an impressive season in the 2007 TAC Cup. He averaged 14 hitouts and eight marks per game and led the competition in contested marks. Captained Vic Country at the 2007 NAB AFL U18 Championships and earned All-Australian honours. AIS-AFL Academy graduate. From Dederang-Mt Beauty FC.

or

ALEX RANCE

Swan Districts, WA, Tall defender, October 9 1989, 192.3cm, 87.6kg

Strong, hard running tall defender noted for his dash off the backline. His father Murray played 97 matches with the Western Bulldogs and West Coast from 1986-1990. Alex was a leading player in rebound 50s with Western Australia, averaging 17 possessions at the 2007 NAB AFL U18 Championships, earning him All-Australian honours.

 

[Kildonan]

If we use Pick #9 on LACHLAN HENDERSON

Then we still need defender and a ruckman as well as Fraser Gehrig

Do we use our next pick #42 on big Frase ?

or do we assume he is a safe bet that no-one else will take him and go for next best kid?

if so then pick #42 should be used for

TOM BELLCHAMBERS

Tassie Mariners, TAS, Ruckman, July 9 1989, 200.7cm, 99.6kg

Excellent record with Tasmania U18 team, averaging 31 hit-outs in nine games. Had senior experience with the Devils and continued to improve his marking around the ground. From Launceston FC.

or

CHRIS KANGARS

Geelong Falcons, VIC, Tall defender, August 1 1989, 193.1cm, 84.9kg

Tall, athletic defender who has shown encouraging progress at TAC Cup level in 2007. Was a standout at the 2007 NAB AFL Draft Camp at the AIS in Canberra, ranking first overall for the six-by-30m repeat sprints (23.59sec) and recording top 10 results in both the beep test (14.5) and 3km time trial (10min 54sec). From Geelong Amateurs FC.

and with our last live pick in the draft we go to fill the gap

if we've nabbed a quality forward and a future ruck then we will probably still want to address the need for a tall defender (best available) or we could go with a random rough diamond:

TOMMY ROCKLIFF

Rockliff shapes as a draft day bolter. Well known as a bright prospect at under-16 level but missed the initial cut at the Bushrangers before forcing his way in mid-season in a real blaze of sizzling form. Not dissimilar to Cotchin but lacking the 18 months of exposure of the better known HFF. Rockliff is talented, tricky and capable around goals. But will develop into a midfielder if he can build some fitness. Give it 5 years and the club that takes Rockliff in the 30s may not be too miffed at missing Cotchin before everyone has sat down and spread out their pencils. I love a midfielder who plays with an air of cheekiness and wants to embarrass players not just beat them.

HAELEN KAY

Gippsland Power, VIC, Medium forward/midfielder, June 27 1989, 186.8cm, 78.7kg

Quick, agile and with a good leap. Can play in a range of positions to good effect. Is a strong mark and aggressive. Vic Country U18 representative this year. From DWWW Allies.

OK. Kay can play a bit but he is a confusing one. His kicking is ordinary. He plays more as a KP player than a wingman. His best work was as a key forward but he flopped in that role against real defenders. He runs OK, but is inconsistent. Ahhhhhh. Really is in the too hard basket. An unpolished stone that needs a lot of work. There might be a gem in there, or it might be a lump of coal. Someone will back themselves to take him and for his sake he'd be hoping for a club that won't expect any return in the first couple of seasons, the premiers suit.

 

[-VC-]

Way to jinx a whole bunch of draft hopefuls! None of those kids went!

Mind you, I rated Rockliff and Kay. At least Rockliff is bottom aged. He's too much of a natural footballer and not enough of an athlete for recruiters these days, which is a real shame.

 

[Kildonan]

Way to jinx a whole bunch of draft hopefuls! None of those kids went!

Now for my next trick - jinxing the rookie draft hopefuls