Competitions Essendon Board Mock Draft 2017

[eth-dog]

One certain player has fallen way too far, expect foj1 to snatch him up without a second thought

Inside mid?

 

[Harlequin Dream]

Inside mid?

Don't think so.

 

[foj1]

Pick 42 Nathan Murphy 188cm 80kg Utility Sandringham Dragons/ Brighton Grammar

Will not fall this far on draft night. May not fall past first round.
Nathan is able to play forward or back. Is not overly tall but has a large wingspan and a terrific vertical leap.
I prefer Nathan as a forward and I think he will end up playing as a third tall but interestingly reminds me of Jack Riewoldt when playing school footy and enjoys playing as the main forward target.
Kicking can be a bit inconsistent and I would like him to be a bit quicker to get absolute separation of his opponent but he can continue to work on this.
He has not put a lot of time in his footy as he is also a very good cricketer and he has the scope to improve and is a genuine talent.
There is another kid in my top 30 available and he may slip.
Fremantle would be ecstatic if they landed Murphy here I suggest.

 

[Harlequin Dream]

Pick 42 Nathan Murphy 188cm 80kg Utility Sandringham Dragons/ Brighton Grammar

Will not fall this far on draft night. May not fall past first round.
Nathan is able to play forward or back. Is not overly tall but has a large wingspan and a terrific vertical leap.
I prefer Nathan as a forward and I think he will end up playing as a third tall but interestingly reminds me of Jack Riewoldt when playing school footy and enjoys playing as the main forward target.
Kicking can be a bit inconsistent and I would like him to be a bit quicker to get absolute separation of his opponent but he can continue to work on this.
He has not put a lot of time in his footy as he is also a very good cricketer and he has the scope to improve and is a genuine talent.
There is another kid in my top 30 available and he may slip.
Fremantle would be ecstatic if they landed Murphy here I suggest.

There we go. Haha

 

[WEEVZ]

ghostdog your turn

 

[ghostdog]

Hawthorne, Pick 43:

Jordan Houlahan
Sturt
185cm / 73kg

I'll preface this by saying that I've never seen Houlahan play, but at Pick 43 I feel as though he's the best available.

The reading tells me that Houlahan is well suited as a medium forward. He has a great leap and kicked 30/30 in the goal kicking test at the combine. I did have my eye on Andrew Macpherson as a player who could capitalise on the inside work of Mitchell and JOM, however Houlahan is very quick and athletic and I feel could play in bursts through midfield and push forward to hit the scoreboard. He could go some way towards us replacing Shaun Burgoyne. He's an excellent mark and can provide a good link on a wing or through the middle of the ground. He needs to hit he gym but should be a valuable player or us as we rebuild. I'm surprised he lasted this long.

Sorry DPS, I don't know how to tag someone. It's eth-dog's turn

 

[Red Black and Blue]

eth-dog

 

[eth-dog]

Pick 44: Alex Boyse

Essendon VFL
191 cm/83 kg
Key Forward/3rd Tall

I'd bet none of you are shocked at this selection. Boyse is for me the best mature age talent in this draft and this is the perfect spot for him to be taken IMO. He's quick, has decent hands and is good in front of goals. A lot of Brisbane's problems this year were to do with the disconnect between attack and defence and for me Boyse can play that role really well for the Lions.

WEEVZ

 

[WEEVZ]

Pick 45: Jake Patmore

Harlequin Dream

 

[Red Black and Blue]

Pick 45: Ed Richards

Harlequin Dream

Already been taken at 26!

 

[WEEVZ]

Already been taken at 26!

Whoops must've missed it, ok I'll change it.

 

[WEEVZ]

Well that's the Saints done for this draft, I'd imagine they'd be reasonably pleased with a draft haul like this.

• Brander shores up their tall stocks and should be developed as an almost like for like replacement to Nick Riewoldt with his ability to play deep inside 50, centre half forward as well as an ability to push up the ground and when necessary he can pinch hit down back.
• Cerra was the obvious choice with the first pick, arguably the best of the remaining mids. Can play inside and out and has plenty of class, comes with big wraps from Darren Bewick who believes he's the best player he's coached.
• Fogarty is a little small for an inside mid but he's quick and that speed would likely see him used on a wing at AFL level. I was pleasantly surprised he slipped outside the top 30 as I would've thought he'd be a top 25 pick for sure.
• Patmore is a bit of a risk but the Saints could use his speed off half-back or on a wing, needs to work on his decision making as he seems to have a tendency to rush his disposal under pressure. If he puts it all together though he could be a real weapon for the Saints.

 

[Harlequin Dream]

Port Adelaide

Pick 46: Andrew McPherson

I think Port might be angling to go more mature with their picks, however, they would never skip McPherson. Few left in the draft pool can match his skill, composure or production. He has had an injury-interrupted year but when fit he has performed strongly. He is in my top 25 so this was an easy pick.


Zach Package

 

[eDPS]

Will give Zach Package till 9pm and then Bipolarbear will get to pick

 

[Zach Package]

Melbourne select Bailey Fritsch at 47.

Bipolarbear

 

[Harlequin Dream]

Melbourne select Bailey Fritsch at 47.

Bipolarbear

Very nice. Was an option for my next pick, I actually hear a lot of talk about him going earlier too.

 

[Zach Package]

Very nice. Was an option for my next pick, I actually hear a lot of talk about him going earlier too.

It almost makes too much sense. I would have taken Boyse who plays a little bit taller but Fritsch is almost as good in the air and probably more tricky on the ground.

Covers the loss of Watts

 

[Harlequin Dream]

It almost makes too much sense. I would have taken Boyse who plays a little bit taller but Fritsch is almost as good in the air and probably more tricky on the ground.

Covers the loss of Watts

I think there is added value in Fritsch being 20 years old. He is simply a longer term prospect than Boyse.

 

[Rack Watts]

Pick 48 - Cassidy Parish - Geelong Falcons
Harlequin Dream

 

[eDPS]

That's a very boring pick haha

 

[Harlequin Dream]

Pick 49

Dylan Moore

Eastern Rangers/Vic Metro

176cm/66kg

Shocked that he landed here honestly. I would not want him as a primary ball-winning mid but with Rockliff, Wines and SPP he doesn't need to be. Goalkicking midfielder with elite endurance who can win the hardball.

Rancid Trogs

 

[Rancid Trogs]

Gold Coast Suns, Pick #50:

Trent Mynott
Eastern Ranges / Vic Metro
185cm / 75kg
Balanced Midfielder

A midfielder with brilliant agility (finishing 4th in the agility test at the draft combine), Mynott is well balanced, wins the ball inside and out, and tackles with intent. He wins a high percentage of contested ball, has fantastic tackle numbers and is a goal scoring threat. He also wins clearances and drives the ball inside 50 with regularity. Despite the draft being seen to have little depth, having players like Mynott available at selection #50 speaks to the contrary. Very happy with this selection as it adds further depth to the midfield and puts pressure on other young developing mids to earn their spot in the 22.

Tippa43

 

[Tippa43]

Sydney Nathan Kreuger Tall utility.

195cm, 88kgs.



Eth-dog

 

[eth-dog]

52. Jack Payne

Noosa/Queensland
195 cm/93 kg
Key Defender

Payne is an academy player for the Lions and I'm sure that he will be taken here either via academy or just as a normal selection. He's tall, strong and has some serious potential as a key defender, and will be an important part of the team in the future.

D_P_S

 

[eDPS]

Richmond select Toby Wooller

Rancid Trogs