Competitions Essendon Board 2021 Mock Draft

[Vindicater]

With the #46 selection Geelong select Lachlan Rankin.

A utility to round Geelongs draft haul and somebody who will be able to generate some drive out of stoppages in the future.

 

[Zach Package]

Essendon - #47 - Corey Warner

Truth be told we could probably use two of him and his brother. Same combative, athletic, hard nut style as Chad but probably without the goal sense, which is fine by me, looks to be a winger that can rotate inside so makes him a quite appealing and versatile midfield prospect. Mixture of contested ball, burst speed and endurance is a lot to work with.

Considered Jai Serong who is a little bigger but doesn’t seem to have as much aggro or burst off the mark.

Back to eth-dog with Freo

 

[eth-dog]

So I'll streamline this.

Pick 48 is a bid on Marcus Windhager which Duckworth has already said he'd automatically match.

Pick 49 is Paul Curtis (181 cm/71 kg, Small Forward, Western Jets)

Curtis being a Vic Metro boy whilst growing up in Melton makes about as much sense as Aspendale being a Vic Country zone, so I'm not really overly concerned about a go home factor. Curtis averaged two goals a game for the Jets this year and that kind of production is hard to ignore when getting to this stage of the draft, and with Benning to come I walk away from this draft pretty contentedly.

Others considered: Ronald Fejo jr, Jahmal Stretch, Corey Preston

 

[Zach Package]

Damn you Ethan

Essendon #50 - Corey Preston

Bouncy, nippy small marking forward who is good overhead and can use it. Banking on rate of improvement here given he was playing local footy, caught the eye of Boris Bewick at Eastern with some nice games and then COVID has stuffed his last couple of years. While he is ‘a year older’ he’s only about 3 weeks older than Josh Sinn who is a January baby so not really a concern. We have been linked to him previously.

Others considered: Curtis (was tossing up whether to take him at #47, Fejo jr, Morgan Ferres and Sam Conforti.

boncer34

 

[Duckworth]

I'm happy to get Windhager that late. Perhaps his injury pushed him back a bit, or maybe he got a bit forgotten. In any case, That's St Kilda done.
Matthew Johnson and getting Owens and Windhager a couple of academy picks would be a good haul for St Kilda.

 

[eth-dog]

Adelaide get Brady Hough since boncer34 has lapsed again.

 

[Tippa43]

Hawthorne select Connor Macdonald.

Zach Package

 

[Zach Package]

This will probably be a pass in the real thing but in the interest of keeping it moving:

Brisbane - #53 - Blake Schlensog

Ready made kpp depth that can play forward and back and still young enough to have a career of substance. Really strong in the air and has kicked bags at WAFL level.

eDPS

 

[eDPS]

Pick 54 - Bulldogs - James Willis

ghostdog

 

[ghostdog]

Pick 55, Port Adelaide.

Joshua Browne

Port looks to bolster its midfield depth after the departure of Hamish Hartlett

8

Hamish Hartlett

Age

35

Ht

185cm

Wt

83kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

19.4

5star

K

11.6

4star

HB

7.9

5star

M

4.4

4star

T

3.7

5star

MG

272.8

4star

D

14.2

3star

K

9.4

4star

HB

4.8

3star

M

3.8

4star

T

2.8

4star

MG

272.8

4star

D

16.4

4star

K

11.8

5star

HB

4.6

4star

M

6.0

5star

T

0.6

3star

with Browne, who played for East Freo and averaged 32 disposals over 9 games earlier this year. At one point he'd been listed in Cal Twomey's rolling draft team of the year and I have seen him rated for October as high as a top 30 pick, so the ability is there.

 

[ghostdog]

Pick 56, Carlton

Ronald Fejo Jr

Having already added Zac Taylor who gives the Blues some versatility with outside run and a small forward, Fejo Jr gives Carlton some depth on the outside. He has speed and agility with ball in hand. Disposal is most tidy and he has great vision in traffic. Maybe needs to lift his fitness. At 20yo, he's an overager (correct terminology?). Would love to see him spread and receive from Walsh or Cerra.

Tippa43

 

[eDPS]

Pick 57 - Bulldogs - Charlie Molan

Vindicater

 

[Duckworth]

Pick #58 North Select: Zac Becker - Held his own against the best KPF this year, but can play on a variety of sizes. Probably more suited to a medium defender role, might hope he becomes a Laverde style. Has also kicked a couple of bags as a forward. Good overhead and a penetrating kick.

To keep things moving

Pick #63 North select Jackson Archer as son of Glenn Archer. Is the less-fed defender version of his old man. North is committed to taking him, and it's going to be their last selection - by matching or otherwise.

North done for the draft:
Horne-Francis the best player in the draft, complemented by SA midfielder Matty Roberts who slipped a bit. Murley an outside midfielder with speed - so North have some good midfielders for the next building phase. Big size KPF Monkey Wrench has some potential and could be a monster in a few years time. Good versatile defender in Becker and the wiry father-son in Archer as a couple of defenders to round out the draft. A good mix of players to complement what they already have.

ghostdog you're up.

 

[boncer34]

Jordan Lukac

Zach Package

 

[Zach Package]

Again a pick that the Lions will probably pass on but,

Brisbane - #61 - Joel Trudgeon

19 year old tackle and stat monster, a low ceiling pick and certainly not a guarantee to make it but I reckon he’s value late and at this point a big body who puts his head over it and bangs in is a pretty good bet, worst comes to worst I reckon he’ll cane it in the VFL and apply a bit of selection pressure.

Duckworth ?

 

[Duckworth]

Again a pick that the Lions will probably pass on but,

Brisbane - #61 - Joel Trudgeon

19 year old tackle and stat monster, a low ceiling pick and certainly not a guarantee to make it but I reckon he’s value late and at this point a big body who puts his head over it and bangs in is a pretty good bet, worst comes to worst I reckon he’ll cane it in the VFL and apply a bit of selection pressure.

Duckworth ?

I'll take Archer as a father-son. North and Saints both done for the draft.

over to eDPS

 

[eDPS]

Pick 64 - Collingwood - Jamieson Ballantyne

 

[eth-dog]

Fremantle bid on Taj Woewodin for shits and gigs eth-dog

 

[eth-dog]

Pick 65: Taj Woewodin (182 cm/77 kg, half back/wing, East Fremantle).

Taj is very similar to his dad in playing style, quick, good skills and smart. Fremantle are a legitimite chance on bidding here even though I mostly did it to make a poor attempt at humour, as I think he's the best player available at this point in time. He probably spends most of next year in the VFL but that's fine, he'll be a player.

Others considered: none, father son

 

[eth-dog]

Pick 66: Eric Benning (196 cm/86 kg, forward/ruck, Claremont).

I tossed up whether or not to pick him and wait for a bid later but there isn't really much point in waiting. Benning I think should get a bid in the 40's or 50's anyway, as his athleticism and skills are very very good. I can see him being a long term partner to Darcy, his leap makes up for the fact he's 196 cm and his hands are very strong as well.

Others considered: Jahmal Stretch, Miller Bergman, Luke Nankervis, Jai Serong

 

[eDPS]

Pick 68 - Collingwood- Miller Bergman

Zach Package

 

[Zach Package]

Essendon #69 - Bailey Rogers

Bit of immediate impact out of the WAFL, potentially the best mid in any of the state leagues and young enough to still play 100 or more games.

Fully expect Essendon to actually pass here though

Vindicater with the Swans

 

[eDPS]

Pies select Luke Nankervis

eth-dog

 

[eth-dog]

Pick 71: Lewis Rayson (183 cm/69 kg, Half Back, Glenelg).

This probably ends up being a pass but I thought Rayson deserved to get selected in the national draft so I took him. Rayson is a very penetrative kick but his light frame probably means he starts in the reserves for 2022 to develop and potentially overtake Michael Hibberd

14

Michael Hibberd

Age

36

Ht

186cm

Wt

94kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

21.4

5star

K

13.1

5star

HB

8.3

5star

M

5.2

5star

T

1.5

3star

MG

326.6

4star

D

16.8

4star

K

10.0

4star

HB

6.8

4star

M

4.8

4star

T

1.4

2star

MG

326.6

5star

D

19.2

5star

K

11.6

4star

HB

7.6

5star

M

5.6

5star

T

2.0

4star

in 2023.

Others considered: Jai Serong, Jahmal Stretch, Blayne O'Loughlin

eDPS back up

 

[eDPS]

Ok, Bulldogs select Tyreece Leiu