James' Draft- first ever

[rosejam]

Pick 1 Melbourne Jack Watts 196cm, 85kg Key Forward

As highly rated as the other players in my top 4 are Jack Watts is just impossible to go past, his draft camp showed ridiculous levels of agility and speed for someone his size and he is a good pack mark.
Hopefully for Melbourne his presence will straighten them up a bit and he can provide a target this year.

Also considered: Nick Naitanui

Pick 2 West Coast Nicholas Naitanui 201cm, 94kg Ruck

If you haven’t heard of Naitanui you haven’t been following AFL very closely. The highly rated talented and raw local boy provides West Coast with some extra support in the ruck with ability to go forward and take some big marks. Has a lot to learn about the game but his raw talent alone has him at pick 2.

Also considered: Daniel Rich

Pick 3 Fremantle Daniel Rich 183cm, 83kg Midfielder

Local boy and is a perfect foil for Palmer. Rich is rated by some as one of the most skilled players in the draft- a poor draft camp (carrying an injury) might see him slide beyond this though.

Also considered: Stephen Hill

Pick 4 Port Adelaide Stephen Hill 182cm, 72kg Midfielder

Despite Port Adelaide’s ageing rucks I suspect they won’t be able to look past Hill who is fast, agile and tough, combine that with good skills and the question is why not pick him?

Also considered: Tyrone Vickery

Pick 5 Essendon Jack Ziebell 188cm, 84kg Midfielder/Utility

With Mal Michael gone and Fletcher ageing Hurley will be very tempting but Ziebell who is likened in style to M. Voss is a ball getting midfielder who can push forward and kick goals and seems the more likely choice.

Also considered: Michael Hurley

Pick 6 Carlton Michael Hurley 192cm, 92kg Key Defender

Carlton is starting to look solid all over the ground. Hurley is capable of playing both ends as a key position player but Yarran (who could be anything) will be tempting.

Also considered: Chris Yarran

Pick 7 Brisbane Tyrone Vickery 200cm, 89kg Ruck/Key Forward

Really hard to split Vickery and Yarran in Brisbane’s eyes. Vickery can ruck and support Brown/Bradshaw in the forward line adding flexibility to the team. Has been rated anywhere from third pick to the second round. Yarran is an excitement machine who should develop into a player who can add spark to the midfield.

Also considered: Chris Yarran

Pick 8 Richmond Chris Yarran 180cm, 84kg Medium/Small Forward

Yarran is a hard one to place - he would add potency to Richmond’s forward line and midfield rotations with his sublime skills and ability to create play. Trengrove would be tempting as a player who canbeing develop as a backline player and provide support elsewhere.

Also considered: Jackson Trengrove

Pick 9 North Melbourne Hamish Hartlett 182cm, 74kg Midfielder
Murmurs of a poor work ethic have him sliding further than I rate him. He is a class midfielder who has fantastic disposal can set up play when he has the ball in hand however the flair of Sidebottom will be tempting.

Also considered: Steele Sidebottom

Pick 10 Adelaide Lewis Johnston 192cm, 87kg Key Forward

Will make the Crows forward line so much more dangerous and will be great support for Tippet. Sidebottom again as a goal kicker and good midfielder will be tempting.

Also considered: Steele Sidebottom

Pick 11 Collingwood Steele Sidebottom 182cm, 79kg Midfielder

Will be one of the first teams to seriously consider taking the risk on Swift but will decide to play it a little safer and pick Sidebottom who has almost as much potential but without the big question marks. Sidebottom’s incredible performance in the TAC grand final where he kicked 10 goals raised his stocks significantly.

Also considered: Tom Swift

Pick 12 Sydney Jackson Trengrove 196cm, 88kg Key Defender

The pace and addition of an extra midfielder in Blease will be considered, Trengrove however can ruck and add something up forward to help Hall, long term will help fill the void if hall Hall walks away to pursue a career in boxing.

Also considered: Sam Blease

Pick 13 St Kilda Sam Blease 183cm, 72kg Midfielder

As a St Kilda supporter I am shattered Sidebottom is gone. Would consider Swift due to his obvious potential but we have enough injury risks without adding another.
Blease adds to midfield depth and our run. Blease is rated due to his pace and skills and is one of those players with ‘potential’ to improve significantly.

Also considered: Tom Swift

Pick 14 Western Bulldogs Ayce Cordy 202cm, 77kg Ruck/Key Forward

Father-Son selection. Bulldogs were forced to select him after St Kilda bet their round 1 pick on him.

Pick 15 Geelong Tom Lynch 191cm, 84kg Tall Utility

Could pick anyone really as they are strong all over the ground but decided they are lacking in the tall forward department. Lynch will be more of a third tall/utility but will add another dimension to Geelong’s forward line.

Also considered: Tom Swift

Pick 16 Hawthorn Tom Swift 192cm, 84kg Midfielder

Hawthorn has shown an acceptance to take risks (Dew). Swift is potentially a top 5 pick quality player in this draft but the injuries will scare most off. Strauss is tempting as he is a very good key position player who teamed with Watts well this year.

 

[Vinnie Vegas]

I think you forgot to read North Melbourne's pick...

 

[rosejam]

haha how bigfooty is that I got all excited because there were two posts.

one was a correction?/sledge

the other was also a correction?/sledge at the first reply

 

[Mario the Lothario]

I think you forgot to read North Melbourne's pick...

I see that Trengrove got another run.

 

[Moo]

It is all guesswork but seeming you wnet to the bother of posting - I'll give you my feedback.

Not sure Hill will go any earlier than the Dons if Freo don't take him.

I would think Port are doing a coin toss over Vickery and Hartlett ....if they were going to go a smokey it may well be Yarren. Yarren as a Burgoyne understudy would be frightening. Port would be well aware of what Hartlett can do ...I just think they will grab best available.

Ziebel is not a bad pick for Essendon - if they were going to take a smokey this is where I think Hill may be picked up. Certainly if Hartlett is still there I would see him gone here or with anyones pick other than Carlton (who I think you have pegged correctly).

The Cats they are interesting ....if they think Swift is best - not sure they will pick for need especially with their only early pick.

Thanks mate for the read.

 

[rosejam]

It is all guesswork but seeming you wnet to the bother of posting - I'll give you my feedback.

Not sure Hill will go any earlier than the Dons if Freo don't take him.

I would think Port are doing a coin toss over Vickery and Hartlett ....if they were going to go a smokey it may well be Yarren. Yarren as a Burgoyne understudy would be frightening. Port would be well aware of what Hartlett can do ...I just think they will grab best available.

Ziebel is not a bad pick for Essendon - if they were going to take a smokey this is where I think Hill may be picked up. Certainly if Hartlett is still there I would see him gone here or with anyones pick other than Carlton (who I think you have pegged correctly).

The Cats they are interesting ....if they think Swift is best - not sure they will pick for need especially with their only early pick.

Thanks mate for the read.

thanks for the reply...

the cats and hawks were extremely hard to do for me.. not only because they are well covered in most area's but also because there are less obvious choices by that stage.

 

[Moo]

thanks for the reply...

the cats and hawks were extremely hard to do for me.. not only because they are well covered in most area's but also because there are less obvious choices by that stage.

No worries ...one thing we will have in common is the Port Supporters nailing us. They really don't want mids.

It is a funny old draft - whoever gets Hartlett is going to be very happy ..I have trouble seeing him going ouside the top 5. If he went to say Richmond ....Cotchin/Hartlett combo would be very enticing indeed.

 

[rosejam]

but what about the negative reviews on his attitude...


I thought that about port... but I just rate some of those mids very highly

 

[DaVe86]

My interest is whether the 'Go Home' factor will come into play.

If so, Hartlett would go to Port or Adelaide, Hill may slip outside the first round to the priority picks...Brisbane may look at snaring Beams at 25...Adelaide will take Johnston at 10 provided Hartlett is still not available and Saints would not punt on Yarran if he made it to them (more likely Blease)



I know i may be placing too much emphasis on it...but after reading an interview with Hill it occured to me how big this consideration should be. Hill, a very shy 17 year old who only got on a plane for the first time in his life recently would be expected to move to the other side of the continent by himself. Although he said he would be happy to do it, his tone didnt sound positive.

Its a big thing for a 17 year old to pick up and leave friends and family