Knightmare
Brownlow Medallist
- Sep 22, 2010
- 19,533
- 19,542
- AFL Club
- Collingwood
- Other Teams
- Chicago Bulls
- Banned
- #1
Just a little bit of fun and something to bring down the track to see who got things right.
Will also throw some rookie selections in when the rookie draft and preseason draft comes around.
Hinesight: (Where Derek Hine and Collingwood have selected players in this years draft)
18: Brodie Grundy (Comments under Knightsight)
19: Ben Kennedy (Will be a good selection and while I rated others more highly I see him as someone who almost certainly will play games in season one and could be a really nice rotation fwd/mid who perhaps can take Dayne Beams' old post as that weapon forward flanker long term. Still a good selection)
20: Tim Broomhead (Probably a few I would have selected before him but a player with some ability. Was always going to go top 30 but really interesting that we took him and made it a SA trio first round to add to our very small South Australian group which consisted before tonight of only Didak. Really nice user of the footy and we'll probably look at him as that potential next egneration Didak replacement as that playmaking forward and high half forward)
38: Jackson Ramsay (A surprise selection, I'm probably one of the few on bigfooty who rated him inside their top 40. Like with Broomhead there are others I rated more highly but Ramsay is not a terrible get here and with his pace off a back flank or wing could be someone who with some luck finds a role. Impressive pre-injury form this year in the WA colts)
--
13: Kyle Martin (A good get and really pleasing Essendon overlooked him! The pick of our rookies and one I had very high on my shortlist. Will give our VFL midfield a big boost and is a strong chance to get promoted. For mine the better of the state league midfielders to get selected this year and can step into the senior team if needed)
27: Sam Dwyer (Another really good get and very pleased that we added him. Can play if required and like Martin gives our VFL side a big boost through the midfield. Well in that mix for promotion with his talent. Excellent user of the footy by foot and finds those forwards like few others adding much needed skill to a midfield probably needing some better ball users by foot)
35: Adam Oxley (Back flanker who is a good height and can play a variety of sizes. Despite his age possibly not as advanced as you'd think but he'll certainly add some much needed rebound to the back half at VFL level. I liked his play for QLD in the u18s but there were some other backmen I liked more and feel can have a more immediate impact)
41: Jack Frost (Athletic key defender. Has talent and stiff not to get rookied in years past but not sure he is a need with so many quality key defence options and more than enough key defence depth)
47: Ben Hudson (Strong option as cover for Jolly if required come finals time but a mentor to Witts and Grundy first until required)
49: Peter Yagmoor (A good move delisting him and moving him to the rookie list. Was struggling with the pace of VFL football so probably wasn't going to be much use to us in the immediate on the senior list so better off giving the other rookies that greater opportunity to receive promotion and senior opportunities)
Knightsight (where I would select each player given who was available at each point):
18: Brodie Grundy (Best ruckman in the draft and solves our immediate and long term ruck problems. A no brainer and one clubs will in future seasons rue passing on. Clear top 5 talent this year and the bargain of the draft at this point)
19: Tom Clurey (For mine the best key defender in the draft. Has a really complete game with elite endurance, elite skillset, as well as a solid 1v1 game. Not a need but rated him a top 10 selection)
20: Nathan Hrovat (I consider him a touch better than Kennedy despite not having the same attractive weapons but Hrovat would have been my selection instead as that small. Best performed player in all of the u18s and dominated in all levels of play from APS, TAC and U18 national level. Immediate player and has an elite inside game and has outperformed all competition consistently and I see big success ahead of him at the next level. I would have happily taken him with any selection after 10 and another I see real value in at this point)
38: Dayle Garlett (Predraft there was strong word that Garlett would be looked at by West Coast at 45 and in understanding that he would likely be available at this selection he would have been my selection here. Additionally I rated Garlett below Clurey and Hrovat anyway after understanding in more detail his off-field issues. Top 5 talent if you take away his issues and is one I'd trust the club with a strong culture to turn around with plenty of players on other AFL teams worse)
-- (note having taken Garlett already I can't take him again in the rookie draft)
13: Jason Pongracic (A surprise to get him here but very pleasing he got through as the highest player remaining on my list not named Garlett. Ultimately overlooked completely having struggled this season with injury and being restricted to mostly playing as a forward. Strong chance to get drafted next year if he comes back and persists and one of those guys where with a full preseason he has the ability to be something. Footskills damaging, has nice marking ability and that strong body and ability to win his own ball. Lacking a yard of pace but as that next generation inside midfielder is what I'd be looking for with those other mids more finesse types. Hard call overlooking Kyle Martin as I rate him very highly, Martin will have the more immediate impact being that proven VFL performer this season but with Ball and Swan still with more years to play and another mature midfielder in mind later and no guarantees Pongracic would be available at that next selection I would have taken him here)
27: Tom Langdon (Langdon I rate highly and feel is another who was exceptionally stiff not to be drafted. Langdon really exploded in the second half of the season coming from obscurity and become one of the best players on his team. Langdon is a tall back flanker who is essentially much the same thing as Oxley though I rate him slightly higher and see more upside in his game. Langdon also has nice footskills and a solid shutdown game but also can step into the midfield and win his own footy and clear the ball from congestion which he demonstrated during the TAC finals series which really impressed me. Another guy where if he keeps working at it and improves his game as he did this year and very much find himself on a list and not just win a list position but also find a role on a team)
35: Sam Heavyside (Small midfielder and very light in stature but has a rare midfield game. In the end went undrafted because he broke his foot and missed a large portion of the season but he showed more than enough to suggest he should be drafted. What makes him stand out is despite his relative lack of height and light body he doesn't get knocked off the ball and has that rare natural inside ability and is a dominant clearance player. In mind my his game very much can translate at the next level because it's not predicated on size but rather rare inside ability. He's another where I really hope he comes back and gives it another shot because he is very much capable of making it onto an AFL list and succeeding in an AFL environment)
41: Ben Duscher (With Kyle Martin most likely not available at this stage, I can only speculate anyway I'm more than happy to take Ben Dushcer here who I rated a fraction more highly anyway and with Pongracic as a strong bodied midfielder earlier and Heavyside as another natural inside type I though I'd go with the best state league midfielder who has the ability to play either inside or outside to a high level but also has excellent footskills. Duscher went undrafted having struggled with injury but I'm very confident he has the ability to make the transition and if he can put together a full year next year I don't see why he can't get onto an AFL list being that class above)
47: Josh Toy (Can't help it but the guy is too talented and such a perfect fit for our back half as that elite kicking defender that I just can't not select him regardless of what other clubs think. Gold Coast offered him a year contract and all along said that he would be fine to continue playing but he moved back to Victoria by choice, so without knowing exactly how bad his heart issues are I'd back him in on a rookie contract and give him that year to show what he can do)
49: Ben Hudson (As described before but very much a necessary player to have not only as a coach but on our list. Witts and Grundy both are yet to debut so having a proven performer who even last year was still a productive player at AFL level I'm also very happy to take him)
*Note: Yagmoor unless the salary cap absolutely meant we had no other options I would not have redrafted although obvious this was the clubs plan. I just have my doubts he can improve enough to ever be best 22 relevant and salary cap permitting would have looked explored my alternatives first.
Liam Jurrah I also would have taken but having expressed that he wants to stay in SA he was never a possible selection.
Had I know Garlett would be available in the rookie draft I would have reserved him for our final rookie selection knowing he would slide through.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hindsight (time will tell and to be edited in some years down the track):
18: Brodie Grundy
19: (Lachie Hunter F/S bid) - assuming bid matched: Tim Membrey but if not Hunter would have been incredible
20: Dane Rampe
38: Zac Williams
--rookie draft--
13: Jake Lloyd
27: Ben Brown (drafted 2013)
35: Charlie Cameron (drafted 2013)
47: Tim Kelly (2017 draft)
49: Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti (2015 draft)
*With apologies to Tom Stewart (2016 draft) who was playing local football and probably not nominating at this age.
*Summary: In Hindsight I would have loved to have known I could have added Garlett later as Membrey who I rated at 23 on my draft board would have been great at 38 but I wasn't privy to that inside information to know. With as of Jan 2021 Clurey still in the competition and having picked Langdon a year earlier than Collingwood I find myself favouring my own draft.
Will also throw some rookie selections in when the rookie draft and preseason draft comes around.
Hinesight: (Where Derek Hine and Collingwood have selected players in this years draft)
18: Brodie Grundy (Comments under Knightsight)
19: Ben Kennedy (Will be a good selection and while I rated others more highly I see him as someone who almost certainly will play games in season one and could be a really nice rotation fwd/mid who perhaps can take Dayne Beams' old post as that weapon forward flanker long term. Still a good selection)
20: Tim Broomhead (Probably a few I would have selected before him but a player with some ability. Was always going to go top 30 but really interesting that we took him and made it a SA trio first round to add to our very small South Australian group which consisted before tonight of only Didak. Really nice user of the footy and we'll probably look at him as that potential next egneration Didak replacement as that playmaking forward and high half forward)
38: Jackson Ramsay (A surprise selection, I'm probably one of the few on bigfooty who rated him inside their top 40. Like with Broomhead there are others I rated more highly but Ramsay is not a terrible get here and with his pace off a back flank or wing could be someone who with some luck finds a role. Impressive pre-injury form this year in the WA colts)
--
13: Kyle Martin (A good get and really pleasing Essendon overlooked him! The pick of our rookies and one I had very high on my shortlist. Will give our VFL midfield a big boost and is a strong chance to get promoted. For mine the better of the state league midfielders to get selected this year and can step into the senior team if needed)
27: Sam Dwyer (Another really good get and very pleased that we added him. Can play if required and like Martin gives our VFL side a big boost through the midfield. Well in that mix for promotion with his talent. Excellent user of the footy by foot and finds those forwards like few others adding much needed skill to a midfield probably needing some better ball users by foot)
35: Adam Oxley (Back flanker who is a good height and can play a variety of sizes. Despite his age possibly not as advanced as you'd think but he'll certainly add some much needed rebound to the back half at VFL level. I liked his play for QLD in the u18s but there were some other backmen I liked more and feel can have a more immediate impact)
41: Jack Frost (Athletic key defender. Has talent and stiff not to get rookied in years past but not sure he is a need with so many quality key defence options and more than enough key defence depth)
47: Ben Hudson (Strong option as cover for Jolly if required come finals time but a mentor to Witts and Grundy first until required)
49: Peter Yagmoor (A good move delisting him and moving him to the rookie list. Was struggling with the pace of VFL football so probably wasn't going to be much use to us in the immediate on the senior list so better off giving the other rookies that greater opportunity to receive promotion and senior opportunities)
Knightsight (where I would select each player given who was available at each point):
18: Brodie Grundy (Best ruckman in the draft and solves our immediate and long term ruck problems. A no brainer and one clubs will in future seasons rue passing on. Clear top 5 talent this year and the bargain of the draft at this point)
19: Tom Clurey (For mine the best key defender in the draft. Has a really complete game with elite endurance, elite skillset, as well as a solid 1v1 game. Not a need but rated him a top 10 selection)
20: Nathan Hrovat (I consider him a touch better than Kennedy despite not having the same attractive weapons but Hrovat would have been my selection instead as that small. Best performed player in all of the u18s and dominated in all levels of play from APS, TAC and U18 national level. Immediate player and has an elite inside game and has outperformed all competition consistently and I see big success ahead of him at the next level. I would have happily taken him with any selection after 10 and another I see real value in at this point)
38: Dayle Garlett (Predraft there was strong word that Garlett would be looked at by West Coast at 45 and in understanding that he would likely be available at this selection he would have been my selection here. Additionally I rated Garlett below Clurey and Hrovat anyway after understanding in more detail his off-field issues. Top 5 talent if you take away his issues and is one I'd trust the club with a strong culture to turn around with plenty of players on other AFL teams worse)
-- (note having taken Garlett already I can't take him again in the rookie draft)
13: Jason Pongracic (A surprise to get him here but very pleasing he got through as the highest player remaining on my list not named Garlett. Ultimately overlooked completely having struggled this season with injury and being restricted to mostly playing as a forward. Strong chance to get drafted next year if he comes back and persists and one of those guys where with a full preseason he has the ability to be something. Footskills damaging, has nice marking ability and that strong body and ability to win his own ball. Lacking a yard of pace but as that next generation inside midfielder is what I'd be looking for with those other mids more finesse types. Hard call overlooking Kyle Martin as I rate him very highly, Martin will have the more immediate impact being that proven VFL performer this season but with Ball and Swan still with more years to play and another mature midfielder in mind later and no guarantees Pongracic would be available at that next selection I would have taken him here)
27: Tom Langdon (Langdon I rate highly and feel is another who was exceptionally stiff not to be drafted. Langdon really exploded in the second half of the season coming from obscurity and become one of the best players on his team. Langdon is a tall back flanker who is essentially much the same thing as Oxley though I rate him slightly higher and see more upside in his game. Langdon also has nice footskills and a solid shutdown game but also can step into the midfield and win his own footy and clear the ball from congestion which he demonstrated during the TAC finals series which really impressed me. Another guy where if he keeps working at it and improves his game as he did this year and very much find himself on a list and not just win a list position but also find a role on a team)
35: Sam Heavyside (Small midfielder and very light in stature but has a rare midfield game. In the end went undrafted because he broke his foot and missed a large portion of the season but he showed more than enough to suggest he should be drafted. What makes him stand out is despite his relative lack of height and light body he doesn't get knocked off the ball and has that rare natural inside ability and is a dominant clearance player. In mind my his game very much can translate at the next level because it's not predicated on size but rather rare inside ability. He's another where I really hope he comes back and gives it another shot because he is very much capable of making it onto an AFL list and succeeding in an AFL environment)
41: Ben Duscher (With Kyle Martin most likely not available at this stage, I can only speculate anyway I'm more than happy to take Ben Dushcer here who I rated a fraction more highly anyway and with Pongracic as a strong bodied midfielder earlier and Heavyside as another natural inside type I though I'd go with the best state league midfielder who has the ability to play either inside or outside to a high level but also has excellent footskills. Duscher went undrafted having struggled with injury but I'm very confident he has the ability to make the transition and if he can put together a full year next year I don't see why he can't get onto an AFL list being that class above)
47: Josh Toy (Can't help it but the guy is too talented and such a perfect fit for our back half as that elite kicking defender that I just can't not select him regardless of what other clubs think. Gold Coast offered him a year contract and all along said that he would be fine to continue playing but he moved back to Victoria by choice, so without knowing exactly how bad his heart issues are I'd back him in on a rookie contract and give him that year to show what he can do)
49: Ben Hudson (As described before but very much a necessary player to have not only as a coach but on our list. Witts and Grundy both are yet to debut so having a proven performer who even last year was still a productive player at AFL level I'm also very happy to take him)
*Note: Yagmoor unless the salary cap absolutely meant we had no other options I would not have redrafted although obvious this was the clubs plan. I just have my doubts he can improve enough to ever be best 22 relevant and salary cap permitting would have looked explored my alternatives first.
Liam Jurrah I also would have taken but having expressed that he wants to stay in SA he was never a possible selection.
Had I know Garlett would be available in the rookie draft I would have reserved him for our final rookie selection knowing he would slide through.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hindsight (time will tell and to be edited in some years down the track):
18: Brodie Grundy
19: (Lachie Hunter F/S bid) - assuming bid matched: Tim Membrey but if not Hunter would have been incredible
20: Dane Rampe
38: Zac Williams
--rookie draft--
13: Jake Lloyd
27: Ben Brown (drafted 2013)
35: Charlie Cameron (drafted 2013)
47: Tim Kelly (2017 draft)
49: Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti (2015 draft)
*With apologies to Tom Stewart (2016 draft) who was playing local football and probably not nominating at this age.
*Summary: In Hindsight I would have loved to have known I could have added Garlett later as Membrey who I rated at 23 on my draft board would have been great at 38 but I wasn't privy to that inside information to know. With as of Jan 2021 Clurey still in the competition and having picked Langdon a year earlier than Collingwood I find myself favouring my own draft.
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