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Ok guys I posted this in the Official Thread but given that thread is discussing a heap of players throughout the draft I thought I put up this thread as a specific first round pick discussion. Judging by the phantom drafts that are floating around these appear to be the players that will be available around our pick 12.
Christian Salem:
Height: 183cm, Weight: 82kg, DOB: 15/07/1995
Recruited from: Sandringham Dragons
Style: Luke Hodge
Player comparison: Taylor Hunt
Range: 5-20
Profile: Midfielder with a real physical presence and physical style of playing. I also really enjoy Salem’s tackling game, he just hunts the man and you can see he really enjoys it, and he does big damage every time he lays a tackle and it’s a real feature of his game. When it’s his turn to go he goes, whether it be a marking contest where he knows he will get crushed or going for the hard ball he will put his head over it and just go for it. He also does some really impressive work at times with some good blocking or bumps on or off the footy where required and just has that hard edge you love to see. He plays a good two way game running both ways and also stopping his direct opponent or playing a shutdown role as required. His footskills are above average and he hits his targets and can at times do damage, particularly when within range from goal. Also has ok but only above average pace, but regardless of this will run and carry the footy and cover ground with ball in hand when the opportunity is there. He’s more outside than inside at this stage and the next step will be to develop that inside game. I’d class Salem as a guy who screams “component of a winning team” without projecting as a particularly elite individual talent. I also have some questions about how much development is left with Salem an early bloomer having been roughly the same height and size for a few years now.
TAC Cup 5 games 8 goals
Averages per game:
12.8 kicks (8.2 effective kicks)
10.2 handballs (8.6 effective handballs)
23 disposals
7.2 handball receives
4.2 marks
5.2 tackles
Nathan Freeman
Height: 181cm, Weight: 85kg, DOB: 16/06/1995
Recruited from: Sandringham Dragons
Style: Luke Shuey
Player comparison:
Range: 5-20
Profile: Freeman is an absolute dynamite midfielder. He has that Patrick Dangerfield and Chris Judd type explosion inside the contest. He’s an above average contested ball winner. He’s a guy who has that rare combination of inside game and extreme explosiveness with his pace, agility and sidestep all as good as you’ll see. In addition to that explosiveness Freeman has a real hardness to him with the way he attacks the footy and contest. Also features of Freeman’s game are his ability to take grabs overhead and his 1v1 ability. He can push forward and hit the scoreboard in a big way particularly enjoying those finishes on the run streaming into goal or running to the 50 and going long for the goal. As well as this he’s also an excellent field kick to a target with the ability to hit his targets over a variety of distances knowing his limitations but also at the same time doing some big damage. In short this guy has all the tricks and other than Jack Martin is that only other midfielder I see as a genuine game changer. To improve Freeman needs to firstly find the footy more consistently, he can find 25 disposals one game and less than 10 the next. He can also continue to improve his hands in close and become more of an inside distributor by hand instead of just jamming into onto his boot in close, so he does need to be more aware of what is around him in traffic in those situations where he can’t just burst away. Additionally he also needs to add more of an outside game so that he can find more easy ball outside the contest to boost his disposal numbers.
TAC Cup 7 games 4 goals
Averages Per Game:
15.4 kicks (9.2 effective kicks)
7 handballs (5 effective handballs)
22.4 disposals
6.8 handball receives
4.7 marks
2.7 tackles
Marcus Bontempelli
Height: 191cm, Weight: 83kg, DOB: 24/11/1995
Recruited from: Northern Knights
Style: David Mundy
Player comparison:
Range: 5-20
Profile: Bontempelli is a very athletic tall who does a bit of everything. Best known for his 50 disposal, 10 goal game in school footy through the midfield. Bontempelli can play pretty much anywhere. Off a back flank he can really break the lines with his pace but also has a nice leap on him making him a weapon in the air when he pushes forward. He has a nice combination of athletic gifts with above average speed, agility and endurance at his height. He also has some real penetration on that left foot and has the ability to do some major damage. As a midfielder he’s still developing his inside game but it’s coming along nicely with his clean hands and his improving ability to win his own ball and distribute by hand so there’s plenty to work with. With Bontempelli I’ve really enjoyed his improvement in recent seasons and he still seems to be growing and with a late year birthday he’s a guy who over future seasons has the opportunity to really develop into a monster if things go right. Just what position that ends becoming his and exactly how far he can take his game are the unknowns at this point.
TAC Cup 9* games 15 goals
Averages Per Game(8 games available):
12.1 kicks (6.5 effective kicks)
9.5 handballs (7.25 effective handballs)
21.6 disposals
6.5 handball receives
4.5 marks
3.6 tackles
Ben Lennon
Height: 187cm, Weight: 79kg, DOB: 05/06/1995
Recruited from: Northern Knights
Style: Steve Johnson
Player comparison:
Range: 5-15
Profile: Lennon is an explosive footballer with some real versatility with his ability to play midfield, forward or back and do some big damage. What most stands out with Lennon is the explosive kick he has. He can launch it 55-60m and hit a target lace out or kick the long goal. He’s also an excellent finisher around goal with serious goal sense and finishing ability from snaps. His set shot goalkicking could do with further work though and is that only real question mark by foot at this point. Pace is above average and can at times break the lines. Also at his height Lennon is an excellent overhead mark making him a weapon forward of centre or in winning the 1v1 contests down back. Despite being more of a forward and outside type Lennon has improved his ability through the midfield but will need to develop his ability in close and become a more of a clearance threat to be a viable midfield option in the future. My feel is that Lennon long term settles onto a back/forward flank because he doesn’t have a natural inside game but it depends entirely on the team he ends up at and the vision they have for him because he gives you plenty of options and a real weapon wherever you see him fitting. If you gave me the choice I’d play him on a back flank as a guy who can really penetrate the opposition zone but it’s going to be interesting to watch.
TAC Cup 7* games 10 goals
Averages Per Game(6 games available)
19.1 kicks (11.1 effective kicks)
6.5 handballs (4.5 effective handballs)
25.6 disposals
7.6 handball receives
7.3 marks
3.5 tackles
Lewis Taylor
Height: 173cm, Weight: 73kg, DOB: 17/02/1995
Recruited from: Geelong Falcons
Style: Brent Harvey
Player comparison:
Range: 5-15
Profile: Taylor is a small midfielder with crazy explosive pace and the ability to break away from contests, break the lines and use his agility to sidestep around opponents effortlessly. He can win his own footy as well as find plenty of it outside the contest and in the u18s is a big time accumulator. Excellent user of the footy on both sides and has the ability to do damage both through the midfield and up forward with his footskills finding targets but also finishing around goal. Just a shame he isn’t 10cm taller. The only issue I have with Taylor’s height is in his tackling game, he doesn’t provide enough tackling pressure and when he does he’s not strong enough to make those tackles stick.
TAC Cup 10 games 2 goals
Averages Per Game
17.2 kicks (11.4 effective kicks)
13.8 handballs (11.7 effective handballs)
31 disposals
15.3 handball receives
6 marks
1.9 tackles
Matthew Crouch
Height: 181cm, Weight: 80kg, DOB: 21/04/1995
Recruited from: North Ballarat Rebels
Style: Joel Selwood
Player comparison: Toby Greene
Range: 5-20
Profile: Crouch is an elite inside player and probably the elite inside player in this draft. In the TAC he has not had any games with less than 30 disposals and multiple 40+ disposal games to demonstrate just how dominant he is. High production player and can contribute from season one. Real stoppage specialist and just thrives on the contested aspects of the game. Hard at the ball and a really natural inside extractor burrowing in, winning the ball and setting up the receivers outside of the pack by hand with that real inside distributing side of his game particularly excellent. He does it as well as any and just thrives on that contested ball type game as that clearance specialist. Crouch is also an exceptional tackler showing strong tackling technique and really going in hard with those tackles and it seems to be another area of the game that he just really enjoys. Athletically Matt is not nearly as explosive as his older brother Brad but has shown some improvement over the past season in his foot speed which is encouraging. Footskills only average by position. He’s not going to do damage by foot but his footskills are also on the improve and can be with further training solid at the next level. The aspect I do like with his footskills is that particularly in the forward half in those stoppage situations he’s very dangerous because he gets his hands on it and can quickly get it onto his boot for a quick snap on either side. Crouch despite his competition best numbers through the midfield is relatively considered a lazy trainer with his endurance is not nearly where it could be so if he can step into an AFL program and if he smartens up and puts in the work he has the ability to become a special midfielder.
TAC Cup 7* games 1 goal
Averages Per Game(6 games available)
21.6 kicks (9.8 effective kicks)
15.3 handballs (12.1 effective handballs)
36.9 disposals
16 handball receives
3.3 marks
6.3 tackles
Billy Hartung
Height: 176cm, Weight: 71kg, DOB: 24/01/1995
Recruited from: Dandenong Stingrays
Style: Brent Harvey
Player comparison: Travis Colyer
Range: 10-30
Profile: Hartung is one of if not the elite runner of this draft. Has a 16+ beep and just goes all day. His real point of difference is his breakaway speed, Hartung breaks away from every contest and really takes on the game and any time he gets ball in hand looks to go and cover 30m through his run and carry knowing that that’s how he’s best going to put his stamp on the game. He’s also a very high production player who finds the ball so easily. Very willing tackler. Hartung is also a very clean user of the footy by both hand and foot but particularly damaging by foot with his penetration and ability to hit the scoreboard. At his size he likely always remains an outside player with some ability to be an inside receiver if looking for some breakaway from the contest but his value comes outside the contest with that rare running ability his point of difference with not only his endurance but breakaway pace also excellent.
TAC Cup 10 games 10 goals
Averages Per Game
18.1 kicks (10.7 effective kicks)
9.6 handballs (7.4 effective handballs)
27.7 disposals
14.2 handball receives
4.9 marks
3.9 tackles
Blake Acres
Height: 188cm, Weight: 84kg, DOB: 07/10/1995
Recruited from: West Perth
Style: Andrew Embley
Player comparison:
Range: 10-30
Profile: Acres is a high production player with some real versatility and the ability to play through the midfield, up forward or down back well. Finds it effortlessly on the outside but can also go inside and win some of his own ball. Very effective as a linkup player and is a really clean user of the footy and very composed with ball in hand finding the right target every time. Willing to take the game on and shows some ability with his run and carry. Also has some penetration to his kick on both sides and the ability to provide some scoreboard impact. Missed most of the u18 champs with injury but form back in WA has been excellent.
WAFL Colts 9 games 10 goals
Averages Per Game
19.1 kicks
7.7 handballs
27 disposals
4.4 marks
2.8 tackles
Kade Kolodjashnij
Height: 188cm, Weight: 76kg, DOB: 09/08/1995
Recruited from: Launceston
Style: Robert Murphy
Player comparison:
Range: 5-15
Profile: Kolodjashnij is a high production outside player with some versatility to his game. Kolodjashnij is an effective linkup player who reads the play well and has a smart running game. He’s a good user of the footy by hand and foot and can do some damage. He’s also an excellent run and carry player and can at times break the lines. He’s also excellent in the air with his marking ability strong. At this stage he has a very thin build and can struggle defensively and in 1v1 contests. He almost certainly will always remains an outside type but a high production guy who can do some damage.
Nationals Stats:
Round 1 - 37 disposals, 2 clearances and 5 rebound 50′s.
Round 2 - 24 disposals and 4 rebounds.
Round 3 - 27 disposals, 9 marks, and 1 goal.
Round 4 - 34 touches, 10 marks, 5 inside-50′s and 2 goals
Round 5 – 15 disposals, 3 marks, 2 clearances and 3 rebound 50′s.
Note: All writeups come from Knightmares Phantom Draft. The stats are compiled by me using the TAC Cup and WAFL websites, so blame them if the numbers aren't right.
Christian Salem:
Height: 183cm, Weight: 82kg, DOB: 15/07/1995
Recruited from: Sandringham Dragons
Style: Luke Hodge
Player comparison: Taylor Hunt
Range: 5-20
Profile: Midfielder with a real physical presence and physical style of playing. I also really enjoy Salem’s tackling game, he just hunts the man and you can see he really enjoys it, and he does big damage every time he lays a tackle and it’s a real feature of his game. When it’s his turn to go he goes, whether it be a marking contest where he knows he will get crushed or going for the hard ball he will put his head over it and just go for it. He also does some really impressive work at times with some good blocking or bumps on or off the footy where required and just has that hard edge you love to see. He plays a good two way game running both ways and also stopping his direct opponent or playing a shutdown role as required. His footskills are above average and he hits his targets and can at times do damage, particularly when within range from goal. Also has ok but only above average pace, but regardless of this will run and carry the footy and cover ground with ball in hand when the opportunity is there. He’s more outside than inside at this stage and the next step will be to develop that inside game. I’d class Salem as a guy who screams “component of a winning team” without projecting as a particularly elite individual talent. I also have some questions about how much development is left with Salem an early bloomer having been roughly the same height and size for a few years now.
TAC Cup 5 games 8 goals
Averages per game:
12.8 kicks (8.2 effective kicks)
10.2 handballs (8.6 effective handballs)
23 disposals
7.2 handball receives
4.2 marks
5.2 tackles
Nathan Freeman
Height: 181cm, Weight: 85kg, DOB: 16/06/1995
Recruited from: Sandringham Dragons
Style: Luke Shuey
Player comparison:
Range: 5-20
Profile: Freeman is an absolute dynamite midfielder. He has that Patrick Dangerfield and Chris Judd type explosion inside the contest. He’s an above average contested ball winner. He’s a guy who has that rare combination of inside game and extreme explosiveness with his pace, agility and sidestep all as good as you’ll see. In addition to that explosiveness Freeman has a real hardness to him with the way he attacks the footy and contest. Also features of Freeman’s game are his ability to take grabs overhead and his 1v1 ability. He can push forward and hit the scoreboard in a big way particularly enjoying those finishes on the run streaming into goal or running to the 50 and going long for the goal. As well as this he’s also an excellent field kick to a target with the ability to hit his targets over a variety of distances knowing his limitations but also at the same time doing some big damage. In short this guy has all the tricks and other than Jack Martin is that only other midfielder I see as a genuine game changer. To improve Freeman needs to firstly find the footy more consistently, he can find 25 disposals one game and less than 10 the next. He can also continue to improve his hands in close and become more of an inside distributor by hand instead of just jamming into onto his boot in close, so he does need to be more aware of what is around him in traffic in those situations where he can’t just burst away. Additionally he also needs to add more of an outside game so that he can find more easy ball outside the contest to boost his disposal numbers.
TAC Cup 7 games 4 goals
Averages Per Game:
15.4 kicks (9.2 effective kicks)
7 handballs (5 effective handballs)
22.4 disposals
6.8 handball receives
4.7 marks
2.7 tackles
Marcus Bontempelli
Height: 191cm, Weight: 83kg, DOB: 24/11/1995
Recruited from: Northern Knights
Style: David Mundy
Player comparison:
Range: 5-20
Profile: Bontempelli is a very athletic tall who does a bit of everything. Best known for his 50 disposal, 10 goal game in school footy through the midfield. Bontempelli can play pretty much anywhere. Off a back flank he can really break the lines with his pace but also has a nice leap on him making him a weapon in the air when he pushes forward. He has a nice combination of athletic gifts with above average speed, agility and endurance at his height. He also has some real penetration on that left foot and has the ability to do some major damage. As a midfielder he’s still developing his inside game but it’s coming along nicely with his clean hands and his improving ability to win his own ball and distribute by hand so there’s plenty to work with. With Bontempelli I’ve really enjoyed his improvement in recent seasons and he still seems to be growing and with a late year birthday he’s a guy who over future seasons has the opportunity to really develop into a monster if things go right. Just what position that ends becoming his and exactly how far he can take his game are the unknowns at this point.
TAC Cup 9* games 15 goals
Averages Per Game(8 games available):
12.1 kicks (6.5 effective kicks)
9.5 handballs (7.25 effective handballs)
21.6 disposals
6.5 handball receives
4.5 marks
3.6 tackles
Ben Lennon
Height: 187cm, Weight: 79kg, DOB: 05/06/1995
Recruited from: Northern Knights
Style: Steve Johnson
Player comparison:
Range: 5-15
Profile: Lennon is an explosive footballer with some real versatility with his ability to play midfield, forward or back and do some big damage. What most stands out with Lennon is the explosive kick he has. He can launch it 55-60m and hit a target lace out or kick the long goal. He’s also an excellent finisher around goal with serious goal sense and finishing ability from snaps. His set shot goalkicking could do with further work though and is that only real question mark by foot at this point. Pace is above average and can at times break the lines. Also at his height Lennon is an excellent overhead mark making him a weapon forward of centre or in winning the 1v1 contests down back. Despite being more of a forward and outside type Lennon has improved his ability through the midfield but will need to develop his ability in close and become a more of a clearance threat to be a viable midfield option in the future. My feel is that Lennon long term settles onto a back/forward flank because he doesn’t have a natural inside game but it depends entirely on the team he ends up at and the vision they have for him because he gives you plenty of options and a real weapon wherever you see him fitting. If you gave me the choice I’d play him on a back flank as a guy who can really penetrate the opposition zone but it’s going to be interesting to watch.
TAC Cup 7* games 10 goals
Averages Per Game(6 games available)
19.1 kicks (11.1 effective kicks)
6.5 handballs (4.5 effective handballs)
25.6 disposals
7.6 handball receives
7.3 marks
3.5 tackles
Lewis Taylor
Height: 173cm, Weight: 73kg, DOB: 17/02/1995
Recruited from: Geelong Falcons
Style: Brent Harvey
Player comparison:
Range: 5-15
Profile: Taylor is a small midfielder with crazy explosive pace and the ability to break away from contests, break the lines and use his agility to sidestep around opponents effortlessly. He can win his own footy as well as find plenty of it outside the contest and in the u18s is a big time accumulator. Excellent user of the footy on both sides and has the ability to do damage both through the midfield and up forward with his footskills finding targets but also finishing around goal. Just a shame he isn’t 10cm taller. The only issue I have with Taylor’s height is in his tackling game, he doesn’t provide enough tackling pressure and when he does he’s not strong enough to make those tackles stick.
TAC Cup 10 games 2 goals
Averages Per Game
17.2 kicks (11.4 effective kicks)
13.8 handballs (11.7 effective handballs)
31 disposals
15.3 handball receives
6 marks
1.9 tackles
Matthew Crouch
Height: 181cm, Weight: 80kg, DOB: 21/04/1995
Recruited from: North Ballarat Rebels
Style: Joel Selwood
Player comparison: Toby Greene
Range: 5-20
Profile: Crouch is an elite inside player and probably the elite inside player in this draft. In the TAC he has not had any games with less than 30 disposals and multiple 40+ disposal games to demonstrate just how dominant he is. High production player and can contribute from season one. Real stoppage specialist and just thrives on the contested aspects of the game. Hard at the ball and a really natural inside extractor burrowing in, winning the ball and setting up the receivers outside of the pack by hand with that real inside distributing side of his game particularly excellent. He does it as well as any and just thrives on that contested ball type game as that clearance specialist. Crouch is also an exceptional tackler showing strong tackling technique and really going in hard with those tackles and it seems to be another area of the game that he just really enjoys. Athletically Matt is not nearly as explosive as his older brother Brad but has shown some improvement over the past season in his foot speed which is encouraging. Footskills only average by position. He’s not going to do damage by foot but his footskills are also on the improve and can be with further training solid at the next level. The aspect I do like with his footskills is that particularly in the forward half in those stoppage situations he’s very dangerous because he gets his hands on it and can quickly get it onto his boot for a quick snap on either side. Crouch despite his competition best numbers through the midfield is relatively considered a lazy trainer with his endurance is not nearly where it could be so if he can step into an AFL program and if he smartens up and puts in the work he has the ability to become a special midfielder.
TAC Cup 7* games 1 goal
Averages Per Game(6 games available)
21.6 kicks (9.8 effective kicks)
15.3 handballs (12.1 effective handballs)
36.9 disposals
16 handball receives
3.3 marks
6.3 tackles
Billy Hartung
Height: 176cm, Weight: 71kg, DOB: 24/01/1995
Recruited from: Dandenong Stingrays
Style: Brent Harvey
Player comparison: Travis Colyer
Range: 10-30
Profile: Hartung is one of if not the elite runner of this draft. Has a 16+ beep and just goes all day. His real point of difference is his breakaway speed, Hartung breaks away from every contest and really takes on the game and any time he gets ball in hand looks to go and cover 30m through his run and carry knowing that that’s how he’s best going to put his stamp on the game. He’s also a very high production player who finds the ball so easily. Very willing tackler. Hartung is also a very clean user of the footy by both hand and foot but particularly damaging by foot with his penetration and ability to hit the scoreboard. At his size he likely always remains an outside player with some ability to be an inside receiver if looking for some breakaway from the contest but his value comes outside the contest with that rare running ability his point of difference with not only his endurance but breakaway pace also excellent.
TAC Cup 10 games 10 goals
Averages Per Game
18.1 kicks (10.7 effective kicks)
9.6 handballs (7.4 effective handballs)
27.7 disposals
14.2 handball receives
4.9 marks
3.9 tackles
Blake Acres
Height: 188cm, Weight: 84kg, DOB: 07/10/1995
Recruited from: West Perth
Style: Andrew Embley
Player comparison:
Range: 10-30
Profile: Acres is a high production player with some real versatility and the ability to play through the midfield, up forward or down back well. Finds it effortlessly on the outside but can also go inside and win some of his own ball. Very effective as a linkup player and is a really clean user of the footy and very composed with ball in hand finding the right target every time. Willing to take the game on and shows some ability with his run and carry. Also has some penetration to his kick on both sides and the ability to provide some scoreboard impact. Missed most of the u18 champs with injury but form back in WA has been excellent.
WAFL Colts 9 games 10 goals
Averages Per Game
19.1 kicks
7.7 handballs
27 disposals
4.4 marks
2.8 tackles
Kade Kolodjashnij
Height: 188cm, Weight: 76kg, DOB: 09/08/1995
Recruited from: Launceston
Style: Robert Murphy
Player comparison:
Range: 5-15
Profile: Kolodjashnij is a high production outside player with some versatility to his game. Kolodjashnij is an effective linkup player who reads the play well and has a smart running game. He’s a good user of the footy by hand and foot and can do some damage. He’s also an excellent run and carry player and can at times break the lines. He’s also excellent in the air with his marking ability strong. At this stage he has a very thin build and can struggle defensively and in 1v1 contests. He almost certainly will always remains an outside type but a high production guy who can do some damage.
Nationals Stats:
Round 1 - 37 disposals, 2 clearances and 5 rebound 50′s.
Round 2 - 24 disposals and 4 rebounds.
Round 3 - 27 disposals, 9 marks, and 1 goal.
Round 4 - 34 touches, 10 marks, 5 inside-50′s and 2 goals
Round 5 – 15 disposals, 3 marks, 2 clearances and 3 rebound 50′s.
Note: All writeups come from Knightmares Phantom Draft. The stats are compiled by me using the TAC Cup and WAFL websites, so blame them if the numbers aren't right.
