Competitions Essendon Board Mock Draft 2017

[Rancid Trogs]

Gold Coast Suns, Pick #76:

Hayden McLean
Sandringham / Vic Metro
Measurements unknown to me
Key Forward / Ruck

McLean is the best available here in terms of raw talent. Has great leadership and can take a good grab, crash packs and generally kicks well. Production generally low this season, but played some better football towards the back end of the year. Moves well and tested fantastically at the combine, finishing top 10 in multiple categories.

Would have loved Crossley to have lasted another three picks, but that's drafting! Happy with my collection overall.

Allen, Clavarino, Pascoe and McLean. Could potentially look like this in a couple of years time:

FF: Wright - Allen - Ainsworth
HF: Weller - Lynch - Martin
C: Kolodjashnij - Bowes - Scrimshaw
R: Lyons - Nicholls - Swallow
HB: Pascoe - May - Harbrow
FB: Lemmens - Thompson - Clavarino
I/C: Lonergan - Ah Chee - Hanley - Brodie



TheGrizz

 

[eth-dog]

Hm. I reckon Jones needs another year at VFL level

 

[TheGrizz]

Adelaide pick 77: Adam Sambono
H: 186
W: A wet tea leaf.

Stoked this kid is still here at this pick. Lets not get this mixed up, this kid is as raw as you get in afl circles, but his upside is ridiculous.

If you combined Josh Hill and Jamie Elliot you would have this kid. His goal sense is unreal, and he has bags of 10+ at senior level (as a teenager!!) In the NTFL on multiple occasions. Played for the NT thunder this year at NEAFL level and was more than handy for a kid who's body is footy's equivalent of a rake.
What makes him so interesting is that his sprint speed isnt great over 50 or 100m, but he will beat anyone over that first 10, and if you put him in a phone box with 5 guys they still wouldnt be able to tackle him. His great strength though is in the air. For a mid sized player he judges the ball beautifully in the air and his natural leap is amazing. He is not afraid to try and sit on your shoulders.

Why so low? Like most guys that step up to senior level quickly from local ranks, his game sense is an issue in general play when he is away from the goals. His endurance isnt great and doesnt show an ability to understand midfield running patterns in his limited opportunities there, or really any sort area outside the forward 50. Is no certainty to be able to play midfield and as such pidgeonholing him to one position will lower his stock.
Extremely inconsistent as he will kick 6 one week and not see it the next.
His weight is an issue. Easily outbodied or taken out of the contest by physical defenders that dont allow him a run at the ball. Is almost no chance to play meaningful senior football for the first 18 months on your list while he baulks up. Significantly. (Hence clubs would hope they can take him as a rookie instead).
Tackling is ok but for the role he will likely play at AFL level it should be more consistent. This will come (potentially) as he gets stronger

Why do Adelaide pick him? He is a project who's upside is immense (perhaps even top handful in the draft class) and add him to any forwardline once he develops, look out. Put him in Adelaides where he will get the 5th defender at best? Crikey.

Make no mstake however. He will take time and a lot of work. He is super raw, but adelaide have the current stocks so that they dont need him straight away. And say what you want about player retention, if i am backing any clubs development team in the league to get the best out of this kid it is the crows, whos development record is immaculate.

At least there no 'go home factor' for a territorian

Red Black and Blue

 

[Red Black and Blue]

Twice in a row I've been had at the post, first with Daniels now with Sambono. Grrr...

North takes Angus Styles

Bit of an everywhere man, put up good numbers for Sandringham playing wing, half forward and half back. Would like him to start as a half back a position North lack, hence the Morgan long shot, using his strong run and carry, vision and skills to set up play. Potentially moving up to the wing in the future.

foj1

 

[foj1]

Pick 79 Fremantle Harrison Jones 183cm 78kg Midfielder/ Flanker Murray Bushranger
Harrison has had a lot of injuries but a talented inside midfielder who has fast hands and some speed to exit a stoppage and get on his bike. Can also play as a half forward and is a dangerous proposition on the lead as a half forward. I think he is a more a rookie choice but this late you would take a chance on some talent.

 

[eDPS]

Orazio2Joe

 

[monty1104]

Collingwood select Aaron Redhead

With the final pick Collingwood is taking on board Aaron Redhead, a player who helps bolster Collingwood’s ruck stocks. Redhead is a naturally gifted athlete however still very raw in a football sense.

In addition to this, he has both the best and most appropriate name in the draft, so was hard to pass up.

ghostdog

 

[JuniorWatch]

Qwertyboy selects Jonty Scharenberg

JuniorWatch

Interesting.
Has he beaten the doubters this year in the SANFL?
I hear he's been playing more off HB then in the middle...

 

[eDPS]

ghostdog has until 3pm to make his selection

boncer34 is next up

 

[boncer34]

Oh good. I've done plenty of research for my next pick, can't believe this blokes fallen so far.

 

[monty1104]

Oh good. I've done plenty of research for my next pick, can't believe this blokes fallen so far.

Says every recruiter ever

 

[ghostdog]

Hawthorne
Pick #81 Jordan Keras
Southport
181cm / 81kg

A mature aged prospect at 23yo, Keras was averaging 36 disposals and 10 clearances to June this year, and finished with Southport's Doc Mackenzie medal as the club's best and fairest player this year. He's terrific at the stoppages, often getting first use, but lacks a bit of polish with disposal. The former Footscray product will return to Victoria to Hawthorn as valuable depth for JOM's knees. To improve, Keras needs to find more penetration off the boot and push forward to kick goals. Thanks Knightmare and NEAFL website!

 

[eDPS]

boncer34

 

[ghostdog]

boncer34

Are you going to sort the draft selections according to each club/poster, so we can compare selections DPS?

 

[boncer34]

Western Bulldogs select Heath Hocking

 

[eDPS]

foj1 selects Flynn Appleby

Zach Package

 

[JuniorWatch]

Zach Package selects Courtenay Dempsey

 

[eDPS]

Zach Package selects Courtenay Dempsey

Very funny

 

[JuniorWatch]

Very funny

Yeah look was gonna take Hocking but he was gone.
Also considered James Polkinghorne or re-rookieing Daniel McAlister.


I'm done

 

[eDPS]

Bipolarbear

 

[Rack Watts]

Thanks DPS.

Essendon select: Zac Buechner
Harlequin Dream

 

[Zach Package]

In all seriousness I pick Gordon Narrier

 

[Harlequin Dream]

Brodie Carroll

MightyDons4

 

[MightyDons4]

Jarrod Garlett

Tippa43

 

[JuniorWatch]

Jarrod Garlett

Tippa43

Ooooh i like. Can you tell us more about what he's been up to in the last few years?