Draft

[CHBench]

Draft countdown: Tyson Slattery

By Chelsea Roffey 8:00 AM Fri 21 November, 2008

South Australian Tyson Slattery is a key prospect in the 2008 NAB AFL Draft
Today's headlines

Tyson Slattery

DOB: 3/12/90
Height: 189cm
Weight: 81kg
Club: West Adelaide/Edwardstown

Slattery is a running defender who is good one-on-one both in the air and on the ground. A South Australian under-18 representative in 2007/08.

Strengths?
Shutting down the man, making the right decisions – whether to punch or mark, being in front.

Weaknesses?
My carnival hasn’t been the best, I expect better from myself. [I’ve been] learning off the other talented players. You’re playing against the best in the states and just learning the positions – where you should run to, when you should go, when you should stay. I’ll go back to my club and I reckon I’ll be a better player because of the carnival.

Which AFL team do you support?
I’m a Crows boy.

Which AFL player do you feel you most resemble?
(Essendon’s) Dustin Fletcher – he has a similar body structure. We don’t have much weight but he can take on the biggest players and the strongest players and do a good job on them. Adam McPhee, from Essendon, for his versatility. I see myself as a backman but I could also go up forward on a wing. Also, Adam Hunter from West Coast. I believe all three of them are really versatile.

We get moved around. When I go back to club football I’ll play up on a wing or forward line but when I come out to state, it’s backman and away you go.


What is with all these Crows supporters who say 'im a crows man, or i'm a crows boy'???

 

[CHBench]

Draft primer: St Kilda

By Luke Holmesby 8:01 AM Fri 21 November, 2008

ST KILDA

Picks: 13, 47, 48, 62, 74, 83

Departures:

Shane Birss, Matthew Ferguson, Aaron Fiora, Charlie Gardiner, Michael Rix, Fraser Gehrig, Robert Harvey, Jayden Attard (rookie), Glenn Chivers (rookie), Luke van Rheenan (rookie).

Where's the club at?

The Saints are in a strange position. A top four finish is a successful season but there is a big gap between St Kilda and the top three sides. They have been in the mix for some time and many critics say the Saints' premiership window has closed. But if they can continue to build with youth while their second and third-year players improve then there is no reason why the club can't be contenders again in 2009.

Needs:

A bit of hardness in the midfield would be handy, and while it is not easy to find those types readily available in the draft, the Saints are the most likely home for former Eagle Ben Cousins. With apparently only competing interest from the Brisbane Lions for the Brownlow medallist, the Saints might be able to use a low pick on Cousins – possibly one of their two third-round choices.

The absence of Luke Ball towards the end of the year highlighted St Kilda's lack of aggression in the middle. For so long the trend was to look at athletes for onball spots but St Kilda needs a solid midfielder who doesn't mind having to find his own football. At the peak of his powers (which wasn't that long ago) Cousins was among the best in the league at winning contested possession.

With Max Hudghton embarking on what is likely to be his last season, the Saints need to stock up on tall defenders. This types of player is rarely taken in the top 10, so St Kilda should be able to land one of the best tall defenders on offer with its first pick at 13.

Recent drafts:

In 2007, the Saints went for ruckman/tall forward Ben McEvoy with their first pick at no. 9 overall. Midfielders Eljay Connors and Jack Steven followed. The previous year saw midfielders David Armitage and Brad Howard arrive as well as key forward Jarryd Allen. The Saints have also recycled Matthew Ferguson and Fraser Gehrig, both of whom left at the end of this year.

Chance of taking recycled players:

Probably the highest of any club. Since Ross Lyon took over as coach at the end of 2006, the Saints have become renowned for punting on recycled players at trade week and at the draft.
Unless he puts a price on his head, the Saints are unlikely to leave Cousins dangling until the pre-season draft. Discarded Melbourne defender Nathan Carroll has also been linked to St Kilda, where he is training.

What football manager Greg Hutchison says:

"I would say that the week leading up to the draft would be the time that we will have a bit more of an idea about who we are going to go after. It's a little bit difficult because we're at pick 13, so it's pretty hard to know what is going to happen. Matthew Drain, John Peake and John Beveridge have consistently met to discuss who is in the draft and what our options are so I'm sure they'll come up with what they think is going to fall out and pick the right player that St Kilda need."

We say:

The Saints might look to zippy forward Chris Yarran with their first pick if he is still available at 13. The Western Australian has a deadly boot and can be a danger man up forward despite standing at just 179cm. The real question is when and if Ben Cousins goes to St Kilda how will it happen. The Saints might have been counting on securing him in the pre-season draft but with the Lions sniffing around they might have to rely on one of their third round picks.

 

[Look2Me4Guidance]

That's the shizzle. Bring on Yarran my brothers and sisters.

 

[CHBench]

Amen to that L2M4G

Emma Quayle was on SEN today gave her top 10. Obviously we have pick 13, but gives you an idea on who other clubs are looking at and who might be around. She talks with a lot of recruiters and would have a fair idea on who clubs are looking at.

EQ order on SEN:

1. Melbourne - Watts
2. WCE - NicNat
3. Freo - split between Rich or Hill (EQ said it's very up in the air from this point on)
4. Port - Hartlett, maybe Rich if he's there (could change as Williams apparently has a big influence on who they normally pick, but hasn't met with recruiters yet)
5. Essendon - Yarran (may have gone off?), Hurley or Sidebottom are other chances
6. Carlton - Rich, Yarran, Hurley (EQ guess in order ... dependent on which one slips through)
7. Brisbane - Ziebell
8. Richmond - Vickery (hoping for Hartlett)
9. North - Hurley (if he gets through), very keen on Johnston too
10. Adelaide - Trengove (I think she said undergoing some medical testing today, which will impact)

 

[Armitage2Riewoldt]

Well Trengove came out good so I imagine that will vault him up a bit.

 

[CHBench]

Draft countdown: Rory Sloane

By Matt Burgan 8:00 AM Sat 22 November, 2008

Victorian Rory Sloane is a key prospect in the 2008 NAB AFL Draft

Rory Sloane

DOB: 17/03/90
Height: 182cm
Weight: 76kg
Club: Eastern Ranges

He is a competitive defender who can also play in the midfield or forward. Sloane wins his own ball, is strong overhead and is excellent in one-on-one situations. A Vic Metro under-18 representative in 2008. From Upwey-Tecoma FC.

Watch highlights of Rory Sloane in action

What sort of player are you?
I'm a pretty competitive player. I don't like to lose at all.

Strengths?
I'm a hard, inside midfielder. I get that handball out, so I consider myself as an inside man, with clean hands out the back. I can still run and carry the ball all right, but I like it tough.

Weaknesses?
I can't express them. I can't let people know my weaknesses. Kryptonite is my weakness – just joking.

Which AFL team do you support?
St Kilda. I'm a Saints man and I love Robert Harvey and Nick Riewoldt. I've looked at them for inspiration. I love the way Harvey works. I met him here [at the NAB AFL Draft Camp]. The first day I saw him here and I went up and shook his hand. I said: "Harvs, good season." I'm in awe in him.

Which AFL player do you feel you most resemble?
I'm not quite his talent, but I'd love to resemble Robert Harvey. He won two Brownlows and he was unlucky not to win a premiership. He works hard and never tires, so I'd like to think of myself as like Harvs.
--------------------------------------

 

[Armitage2Riewoldt]

Get him! Hard inside mid, Saints supporter and his only weakness is Krypronite!

 

[StFly]

Get him! Hard inside mid, Saints supporter and his only weakness is Krypronite!

If he goes crazy will you still call him Superman?

Could be a very decent prospect if he tries to emulate the training regime of Harvs as well as busting his gut on field.

 

[Plugger35]

That's the shizzle. Bring on Yarran my brothers and sisters.

I'm still quite keen on us getting Yarran too brother and it sounds like a lot of footy experts agree that he would be a good fit for us.

However I have my doubts whether he will still be available at pick 13. I think a few other clubs that have picks ahead of us are pretty keen on Yarran too. Still you never know, we may be lucky enough to snare him.

 

[CHBench]

Herald Sun's Phantom

1. Jack Watts (Melbourne)
2. Nick Natanui (West Coast)
3. Stephen Hill (Fremantle)
4. Daniel Rich (Port Power)
5. Michael Hurley (Essendon)
6. Chris Yarran (Carlton)
7. Jack Ziebell (Brisbane)
8. Tyrone Vickery (Richmond)
9. Hamish Hartlett (North)
10. Jackson Trengrove (Adelaide)
11. Tom Swift (Collingwood)
12. Lewis Johnston (Sydney)
13. Sam Blease (St Kilda)
14. Ayce Cordy (Dogs)
15. Steele Sidebottom (Cats)
16. Phil Davis (Hawthorn)

Imo that would be worst case scenario that Yarran, Trengove, Swift, Johnston and Hill all gone. I don't want us to go near Blease. When he bulks up how much of his speed is he going to lose? Would much prefer Sidebottom to Blease everyday of the week.

 

[Armitage2Riewoldt]

Sif Carlton would go for Yarran?

Not Blease...not with Sidebottom still available lol.

 

[borderbarry]

Another possibility I would consider is Michael Walters, W.A., a genuine rover.

 

[CHBench]

Geez i keep chopping and changing, call this boredom but I'm convincing myself more and more that Sidebottom will be a bit of a slider come draft day. Previously thought he wouldn't be around at our pick, but they hype of the TAC GF has worn off. And people have finally realised (including me) it was just 1 game. Unless Collingwood pounce, there's a real chance he will still be around.

And no i realize i don't know what recruiters are thinking, but i'm just basing this on what clubs need and who's still around. There's is so much quality, that i don't think there's enough room for him in the top 12. We've all really entertained the idea of 1 or 2 players. That being Trengove or Yarran.

Howz about the Steele & the Sidebottom???

12 minutes of highlights. Must mean he's good.

Lacks speed. But with the inclusion of Ray and possibly Cousins speed stocks are not as bad as they were. A goal kicking mid we are dying for. Has the skills and the poise and is a mongrel and the ball. Can play outside too.

Marketing dream.

/boredom.

Btw Emma Quayle's top 25 rankings.

Interesting to see she has Yarran at 2, Trengove at 4 and Rich at 9.

 

[CHBench]

Draft countdown: Nick Suban

By Chelsea Roffey 4:20 AM Sun 23 November, 2008

Victorian Nick Suban is a key prospect in the 2008 NAB AFL Draft
Related content

Nick Suban

DOB: 9/5/90
Height: 179cm
Weight: 82kg
Club: North Ballarat/Bacchus Marsh

Suban is a competitive small midfielder who wins his own ball in contested situations. He has excellent skills and is a player who makes good decisions. An AIS/AFL Academy graduate. A Vic Country under-18 representative winning All-Australian under-18 selection in 2007/08. From Bacchus Marsh FC.

What sort of player are you?
I’m probably an inside or outside sort of player. I don’t mind getting in and getting it or receiving it outside either. I try to win the contests as well as get it in a bit of space. I pride myself on my kicking and try to hit as many targets as I can.

Strengths?
Probably my kicking. If I can hit most of my targets I’ll be pretty happy.

Weaknesses?
My fitness I think. Getting from contest to contest, I can find that a bit hard at times.

Which AFL team do you support?
St Kilda.

Which AFL player do you feel you most resemble?
I’m a St Kilda supporter so I’ve always grown up liking Robert Harvey and Nick Dal Santo and those types of blokes. I just love the way they go about it. I really admire Harvey’s work rate, so if I could get something like his fitness it’d be great.


This guy knows his stuff.

 

[StFly]

Eww Baccus Marsh.... get it away!

 

[goodie23]

Few Saints supporters this year, hopefullysome will want to join us in a couple of years

 

[Look2Me4Guidance]

Eww Baccus Marsh.... get it away!

Maybe he can bring us some apples?

 

[StFly]

Maybe, we shopuld ship them to Freo for monies so they can feed palmer and groom his mane!

I smell money scheme!

 

[kingy0701]

With the draft quickly closing in I have done a bit of looking around at profiles and phantom drafts as such and have worked out (in my opinion) the best possible choices for each round.

Round One:

• Jackson Trengove (athletic, strong KPP, fighting spirit)
• Phil Davis (athletic, strong tall defender, very highly regarded)
• Steele Sidebottom (in and under goal kicking mid, runs all day)
• Chris Yarran (exciting, goal kicker, quick)
• Mitch Robinson (tough, in and under mid, high possession winner)

Round Three:

• Jamie Sheahan (quick, in and under mid)
• Luke Shuehy (hard running and competitive midfielder)
• Dayne Beams (tough as nails mid)
• Zach Sengstock (very promising key defender)
• Jayden Post (tall key defender, takes a good mark)

Round Four:

• Kade Klemke (solid HB who makes good decisions)
• Hamish Shepheard (tall (195cm), athletic KPP)
• Rory Sloane (in and under, hard running small defender)
• Liam Jones (tall, key position forward)

Round Five:

• Ben Cousins??
• Nathan Carroll??

BOLD selections would be my choice.

 

[Bourky23]

I'd say Michael Hurley would be a lock in if he falls to our pick, likewise Jackson Trengove.. excluding the top 4 (which everyone seems to agree on) i reckon this would be our order of preference (if we hypothetically had pick 5)

Hurley
Trengove
Yarran
Hill
Blease

i'd presume at least 3, probably 4 will be taken and we'll swoop on whoever is left

 

[Monika72]

I heard that they will go tall with thier first couple of picks.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

I like the idea of going tall, but we would have to be extremely lucky for the likes of Hurley or Trengrove to be available.

 

[CHBench]

I was hoping we take a best available with the 1st round. No matter if they're tall or small. If we take a 2nd round tall such as Tom Lynch when there's the likes of Swift, Steele, Hill, Yarran, Robinson still available. I'd be somewhat dissapointed. Although the club knows what they're doing, but let's just say my confidence in our recruiting is not very high.

 

[BrianSpeaking]

Yeah, we've only picked Fisher at 55 whos an All Australian, Milne who was a rookie, Goddard instead of Wells, Dal Santo at 12, Montagna at 37, Gram with a second round pick, King for nothing, Dempster and Schneider for one pick etc etc....

 

[CHBench]

Only using the top 50.

2001: aka superdraft.
5 Xavier Clarke
49 Josh Houlihan
2002:
Barry Brooks to St. Kilda in exchange for Draft pick #6 & #31
22 Matthew Ferguson
46 Leigh Fisher
2003:
8. Raphael Clarke
2004:
Heath Black for Aaron Fiora - We well and truly got bent over on that one.
17 Andrew McQualter
33 Cain Ackland
49 Mark McGough

That draft was a massive epic fail. Critical time to keep the kids coming. And we failed. Depressing draft.
2005:
Fergus Watts to St. Kilda in exchange for Draft Pick #17
49 Michael Rix
2006:
27 Brad Howard

Fair to say we haven't had a 1st round pick that has cracked our 22 since 2003. And Raph is hanging by string. Jury is still out on Armitage and McEvoy is a fair way away.

And i acknowledge every club misses at the draft. But do you agree we've had a terrible strike rate with our 1st round picks?