Dukes Of Hurley
Team Captain
Hey guys, the first round of my phantom draft is now up http://goo.gl/96rHvS
I'm halfway through the third round at the moment, but positions may change dramatically with the rest of the championships.
1. Brisbane – Peter Wright
Calder Cannons
Height: 203cm
Weight: 102kg
Position: Key Forward / Ruck
Player Comparison: Matthew Luenberger / Mitch Clark
Strengths: Marking, Set Shots, Athleticism
Areas needing improvement: Below the knees
Wright should go number one if either the Lions or the Saints get the first pick. He can do absolutely anything. His ruck skills are improving and he is starting to get a greater volume of hitouts. Wright’s marking is phenomenal. Obviously he isn’t going to lose many one on one contests with his size, but his aerial skills and work on the lead is better than most key forwards of his size. The most impressive aspect of his game is his accurate goal kicking. Set shots from 55 metres on an angle are Wright’s bread and butter, as he kicks really well through the ball. He doesn’t have trouble kicking the easy ones either.
2. GWS – Sam Durdin
West Adelaide
Height: 197cm
Weight: 89kg
Position: Key Defender / Tall Utility
Player Comparison: Lachie Henderson
Strengths: Versatility, agility, footskilss
Areas needing improvement: Finding one position to excel in,
GWS are the toughest to pick for in the first couple of picks. If there was an outstanding midfielder, I’d say they’d choose them first, but Brayshaw and Petracca aren’t quite of the pick two quality. Instead, they find themselves with Durdin. I believe he is best suited down back, as his reading of the play is exceptional and his footskills are very reliable. His agility is great for someone at 197cm and he has all the skills to be an excellent centre half back. He can also ruck and go forward to great effect, but GWS already has plenty of forwards and they just took Lobb last year.
3. St.Kilda – Pat McCartin
Geelong Falcons
Height: 193cm
Weight: 95kg
Position: Key Forward
Player Comparison: Brendon Fevola (without the baggage)
Strengths: One on One, goal kicking, marking in general
Areas needing improvement: working up the ground, defensive pressure
McCartin is my favourite of the key position crop this year, as he is the most dominant, week in, week out. As a 17 year old in the Championships last year, McCartin showed he is one of the better pack marks to come through since Jack Riewoldt. His marking is so strong, as he can win in the air, in a wrestle and on the lead. He’s got a bit of leg speed, so he makes one metre gaps into two or three on the lead. McCartin is also an excellent shot on goal, with set shots being one of his biggest draw cards. His health is of no real concern, as he has dealt with type-one diabetes for over 10 years.
4. Melbourne – Christian Petracca
Eastern Ranges
Height: 186cm
Weight: 92kg
Position: Third tall forward / Midfielder
Player Comparison: Chad Wingard / Josh Kennedy (Swans)
Strengths: Contested marking, contested ball winning, hitting the scoreboard, delivery into the 50
Areas needing improvement: Cleaner disposal
Petracca has been my favourite in the draft since the first round of TAC Cup in 2013. There is nothing this man can’t do. He kicked over 40 goals last year in the same forward line as Tom Boyd and Michael Apeness, and he excelled as the first, second or third forward. Now he’s dropped six kilograms and become a full time midfielder. For Metro, he has been consistently dominant, and hasn’t dipped below 25 disposals in that time. His clearance work is first rate and his delivery into the forward 50 is outstanding. My biggest wrap comes from his contested marking. He will easily beat any defender, no matter what size. He is a match winner, and much like Chad Wingard, he’s freakish up forward and through the middle. If he slides past pick six, he will be a steal.
5. WBD – Hugh Goddard
Geelong Falcons
Height: 196cm
Weight: 93kg
Position: Tall Utility
Player Comparison: Jack Watts
Strengths: Versatility, pace, long kicking
Areas needing improvement: Goes missing, doesn’t have that ‘star factor’
In fairness to Goddard, he could be a star. In any other draft he would have been the first or second key tall taken. However, in big games so far, Goddard has been completely ineffective. Against Metro, Darcy Moore gave him a bath when Goddard was up forward. I prefer him as a backman, but he has the agility and talent to play all over the ground. He reminds me of Jack Watts, as he is athletic and skilled, but he isn’t quite dominant. Goddard has a ripping long kick on him and he can take a great contested mark. With those skills, he could become the star forward for a team, but with athleticism and ability to go missing, I believe he’d be best suited to a key defender’s role. He can create run off half back and set up counter attacks and swing forward when needed.
6. Richmond – Angus Brayshaw
Sandringham Dragons
Height: 186cm
Weight: 87kg
Position: Midfielder
Player Comparison: Sam Mitchell
Strengths: Clearances, tackling, ball winning ability
Areas needing improvement: needs to be a more consistent kick
Brayshaw is under rated for mine. That’s pretty strange considering he is clearly the best pure midfielder in the draft. His ball winning ability on the inside is elite and his clearance work is like watching Chris Judd in his prime. He’s not super quick, but he’s quicker than Sam Mitchell. He uses that speed to chase down players and he racks up an extraordinary amount of tackles. One game he even had 21 tackles. I talked to him about that day, and he just went through it like it was no big deal. For him, defensive effort is what ranks him far above the other midfielders. He is dual sided to an extent. Sometimes he can misfire a kick, but his decision making is first class. His delivery into the forward 50 is very classy, as he seems to have a bit more time to just make sure his kick is on point. He’s devastatingly evasive and has so many more tricks than people seem to realise.
7. West Coast – Jarrod Pickett
South Fremantle
Height: 179cm
Weight: 76kg
Position: Forward / Midfielder
Player Comparison: Chris Yarran
Strengths: Speed, Tackling, damaging by foot
Areas needing improvement: consistency
Unlike a lot of the highly rated small speedsters from WA over the past few years, Pickett comes with a difference. Yes, he is that damaging, hard running Chris Yarran type who screams X – Factor, but he also places a lot of emphasis on forward pressure, Against Vic Country, he was well held and struggled to have a great impact. So instead of chasing possessions or cheap goals, he started tackling like a mad man and showed some real quality in his defensive game. He is exciting around goals and he gathers a fair amount of the ball. To me, he has all the qualities to become an AFL standard player and may even become an A grade talent.
8. Carlton – Jake Lever
Calder Cannons
Height: 192cm
Weight: 84kg
Position: Key Defender
Player Comparison: Harry Taylor
Strengths: Reading the play, rebounding, finds the footy, one on one
Areas needing improvement: light frame
Lever was in my mind, the second best prospect coming into 2014. Obviously his season ending injury will allow him to slide, but I’d be surprised if Carlton over looked him. Lever is an excellent key defender, who reads the play better than any I’ve seen at TAC Cup level. Aerially, he will win most contests, even against star forwards. His body positioning in wrestling contests is perfect, so he can get a spoil against stronger bodied forwards. His football IQ is top shelf, and he is even an assistant coach to the Vic Metro backline as he recovers from his injury. Lever is similar to Cale Hooker in that he can really find the footy, and runs hard to get easy uncontested marks to help set up a rebound. He is a real weapon down back and if healthy, could become an A Grade key back.
9. Adelaide – Tom Lamb
Dandenong Stingrays
Height: 191cm
Weight: 83kg
Position: Wing / Half Forward
Player Comparison: Jared Brennan
Strengths: Match winner, speed, marking, hitting the scoreboard
Areas needing improvement: finding a position, consistency
Tom Lamb could be a really damaging player at AFL Level, but I fear he will be tagged out of games too easily. He is one of the most potent outside players in this draft and has the ability to win games off his own boot like Petracca. Lamb can kick bags when he wants and his marking when playing up forward can be unstoppable. His speed and athleticism is incredible for someone just under key forward size, and when the ball hits the deck, you better believe that he will crumb like he is Leon Davis. Lamb is freakish at times, but he will need to learn how to impact the game each and every week at senior level.
10. Gold Coast – Lachie Weller
Broadbeach
Height: 181cm
Weight: 71kg
Position: Midfielder
Player Comparison: Travis Boak
Strengths: great skills, great around stoppages, professional
Areas needing improvement: Strength
Weller can really find the ball, but I do wonder what he would be like if he played for a stronger team. He’s really silky on the outside and has a booming kick on him. By hand, he is very clean and his decision making skills are first rate. He can win his own ball on the inside and he excellent at not only getting the clearance, but also placing his kick to a target, rather than just bombing it when he gets it. He’s been plying his trade at the Brisbane Academy, but he doesn’t qualify as an academy player. I’m not sold that he is a top ten talent, and he may easily slide if someone else bursts out of the gates soon. That being said, if he goes later than pick 18, I’ll be surprised.
11. North Melbourne – Tyler Keitel
East Perth
Height: 194cm
Weight: 86kg
Position: Key Forward
Player Comparison: Taylor Walker
Strengths: Overhead marking, moves well for a big man, versatile
Areas needing improvement: Needs to become dominant
To be honest, I rate Reece McKenzie and Harry Dear as much as Tyler Keitel. Then again, I’ve seen much more of the Victorian two than Keitel. With Aaron Black not coming on as much as hoped, Keitel has jumped up the rankings, and a classy ball user becomes something the Roos will look for later on. Keitel really attacks the ball on the lead. He has a hunger to take strong grabs and slot his opportunities, but at this stage, he hasn’t had a game where you just go wow, that’s a truly dominant performance. He’s versatile and can swing back, but with his agility and marking prowess, I can’t go past him as a forward. He’s great by hand for a key forward and when the ball hits the deck, it’s like having another midfielder around the ball. If it wasn’t for needs, I believe Keitel would be sitting around the 15-25 range.
12. Collingwood – Darcy Moore (Father / Son)
Oakleigh Chargers
Height:199cm
Weight:93kg
Position: Key Forward / Key Back
Player Comparison: Michael Hurley / Nick Riewoldt
Strengths: Contested marking, can blanket star players, equally adept at either end, jumping
Areas needing improvement: Needs to kick more goals
Moore is one of the more athletic 199cm players going around. If you’ve seen his highlight reel, you’ll know he can really jump at the ball. His contested marking reminds me of Joe Daniher, as he just takes it at the highest point. He’s a great runner too, and when he’s up forward, he reminds me of Nick Riewoldt, as he works so hard to get to the ball. The problem is that Moore tries to do a little too much, and doesn’t concentrate on what he should be doing when up forward – being a goal kicker. In games where he’s played forward for Oakleigh, he has kicked two bags of three goals. Not bad, but he doesn’t dominate like McCartin. I much prefer him as a key defender like Michael Hurley, as he will just blanket his player. His role of Hugh Goddard showed his defensive prowess. He doesn’t have to be a world beater, just stick to his athletic game and cover his man. The Pies may well develop Moore into a key forward as their backline is looking good.
13. Geelong – Liam Duggan
Western Jets
Height:183cm
Weight:76kg
Position: Half back / Midfield
Player Comparison: Brandon Ellis
Strengths: kicking, speed, awareness
Areas needing improvement: winning inside ball
Duggan is your classic sharp kicking left footer. He doesn’t miss too many targets and can be the difference in a game with just 20 possessions. He’s so damaging, as he has the pace to break away from opponents and can deliver a dart under pressure. He’s starting to win a lot more ball through the midfield and he’s willing to put in effort with his tackle count rising rapidly. His decision making is first class, and he also reads the play well. He can play like Luke Hodge and fill the hole in defense, as he just reads it better than everyone else. A really classy, intelligent player.
14.Gold Coast – Clem Smith
Perth
Height: 177cm
Weight: 74kg
Position: Small Backman
Player Comparison: Michael Hibberd
Strengths: Core Strength, pace
Areas needing improvement: Foot skills
It’s unusual to see a sub-180cm small defender go in the first round, but Smith’s physicality is fearsome and allows him to sneak over to the Suns. He reminds me of Michael Hibberd in the way he attacks the footy. Just ferocious in his endeavours, and he isn’t afraid to put his body on the line and tackle hard. He’s got great pace, and can break lines. If he cleans up his kicking, he could be the ultimate two way weapon. It’s the intangibles for Smith that really stands out for me. He can find the footy enough for a small defender, but to be an elite prospect, foot skills are king.
15. Fremantle – Caleb Marchbank
Murray Bushrangers
Height: 193cm
Weight: 85kg
Position: Key Defender
Player Comparison: Josh Gibson
Strengths: Leadership, reading the play, stopper
Areas needing improvement: Rebounding
Marchbank can be a little over rated at times, but as a pure stopper, he is a beauty. He does seem like a backline general, as much as I hate using that term. He’ll direct traffic to his team mates and he sees the game so well. Despite getting the best key forward every week, he’s not afraid to leave his man and plug the hole to grab an intercept mark when the opportunity is there. He takes calculated risks. In a one on one contest, Marchbank positions himself to win or at least get a spoil every time. He’s not a massive unit, but with his football intelligence and natural ability, he could easily be a solid centre half back at AFL level. He’s a neat kick, but I’d like to see him expand his role on the counter attack like Jake Lever has.
16. Hawthorn – Touk Miller
Calder Cannons
Height:177cm
Weight:80kg
Position: Midfielder
Player Comparison: Lewis Taylor
Strengths: Clearance specialist, leadership, explosive
Areas needing improvement: needs to become an excellent crumber
Not sure what to make of Miller. On talent, he’s one of the best inside midfielders, but with the range of taller midfielders available, I think he could slip to around pick 30. However, the Hawks need an inside midfielder, and they can afford to take him early. He reads ruck taps so well, and has a great on field bond with Mark Koracevic and Peter Wright. He is nimble around tackles, and his core strength is incredible. For a smaller guy, he is almost impossible to ping for holding the ball. He has great pace and can just break free from the centre circle and set up a goal in a few seconds. In the middle, he is one of the better clearance players, and often gets long clean kicks away. I would like to see him take the time to look for a player rather than just bombing long. That being said, he does have Wright and Jayden Foster to kick to, so he can be excused. Plus that has been the Calder style for the last two years. He is the captain of Vic Metro, and you can just see his direction on field. He has a wonderful football IQ. I’d like to see him become a better crumber, as he has the ability to read the play and has the speed to dominate up forward.
17. Port Adelaide - Connor Blakely
Swan Districts
Height: 186cm
Weight: 81kg
Position: Midfielder
Player Comparison: Luke Parker
Strengths: big time ball winner, strong body
Areas needing improvement: hit the scoreboard more
Big fan of Blakely’s. He just wins so much of the ball and uses it so well. He can play on the inside or outside, and has had stints down back and up forward. He’s excellent by hand and not bad by foot, and for Port, he just adds to their depth. He’s a ready to go prospect, but he also has plenty of room to improve. I’d like to see him improve his running game, as I feel he could become a far more damaging player if he added an extra dimension. Blakely is an exceptional tackler, something that could be very useful as a forward pressure ALA Luke Parker.
18. Sydney – Isaac Heeney (Academy Selection)
Cardiff
Height:186cm
Weight: 82kg
Position: Midfielder
Player Comparison: Travis Boak
Strengths: Tackling, Ball winning, pace
Areas needing improvement: hitting the scoreboard
Heeney is almost the perfect midfielder. He doesn’t kick too many goals, but he is freakish in every other aspect. He finds plenty of ball, and is talented both as an in and under midfielder and on the outside. He uses his pace to chase down players and racks up tackles. Heeney is excellent by hand and fairly classy by foot. He’s not mind blowingly quick, but he will back himself in a footrace, and doesn’t shank it when running at full tilt. He’s already got an excellent frame, so I can see him making an impact for 17 teams in the AFL straight away. However, Sydney already have an abundance of excellent midfielder so he will have to bide his time.
19. Essendon – Connor Menadue
Western Jets
Height: 188cm
Weight: 69kg
Position: Midfielder
Player Comparison: Ryan Griffen
Strengths: Match Winner, Goal kicker, explosive pace, clearance specialist
Areas needing improvement: needs to build his frame
Connor Menadue is a really exciting prospect. He’s a smokey for the first round and I rate him so highly. He finds the ball enough to always have an impact. Against the Ranges, he read the hitout perfectly four times in a row. Each time he had a centre clearance and found a target in the 50. The Jets kicked four quick goals in less than five minutes. And when they hit back, Menadue kicked a goal to stop the flow, and then kicked the game winner as well. He is ice cold. His speed is terrific, and his kicking is excellent. By foot, he has plenty of penetration. Reminds me a lot of Ryan Griffen as he can break the game open with his speed and skill, but he’s also going to take a while to become that player at AFL level. Really like his height and his weight shouldn’t be too much of a problem. It’ll be interesting to see where he sits once Duggan, Ellis and Laverde come back, but I see him as one of the players with the most upside this draft.
20. GWS – Corey Ellis
Western Jets
Height: 185cm
Weight: 76kg
Position: Midfielder
Player Comparison: Robbie Gray
Strengths: Creativity, excellent kick
Weaknesses: Light body, doesn’t win his own ball enough
Ellis has shot up the draft board this year, some would even rate him as a top 15 prospect. With his excellent left boot, I think that is justifiable. Ellis is a really creative outside player who can set up play on either foot. He’s really damaging and usually makes the right decisions, however, he can try to be too fancy and his daisy cutters can fall short of the target. At this stage, he looks almost exclusively an outside midfielder. If he had a few more strings to his bow, like hitting the scoreboard or winning inside ball as well, I think he could very well be a top ten talent. However, there is still plenty of room to improve.
I'm halfway through the third round at the moment, but positions may change dramatically with the rest of the championships.
1. Brisbane – Peter Wright
Calder Cannons
Height: 203cm
Weight: 102kg
Position: Key Forward / Ruck
Player Comparison: Matthew Luenberger / Mitch Clark
Strengths: Marking, Set Shots, Athleticism
Areas needing improvement: Below the knees
Wright should go number one if either the Lions or the Saints get the first pick. He can do absolutely anything. His ruck skills are improving and he is starting to get a greater volume of hitouts. Wright’s marking is phenomenal. Obviously he isn’t going to lose many one on one contests with his size, but his aerial skills and work on the lead is better than most key forwards of his size. The most impressive aspect of his game is his accurate goal kicking. Set shots from 55 metres on an angle are Wright’s bread and butter, as he kicks really well through the ball. He doesn’t have trouble kicking the easy ones either.
2. GWS – Sam Durdin
West Adelaide
Height: 197cm
Weight: 89kg
Position: Key Defender / Tall Utility
Player Comparison: Lachie Henderson
Strengths: Versatility, agility, footskilss
Areas needing improvement: Finding one position to excel in,
GWS are the toughest to pick for in the first couple of picks. If there was an outstanding midfielder, I’d say they’d choose them first, but Brayshaw and Petracca aren’t quite of the pick two quality. Instead, they find themselves with Durdin. I believe he is best suited down back, as his reading of the play is exceptional and his footskills are very reliable. His agility is great for someone at 197cm and he has all the skills to be an excellent centre half back. He can also ruck and go forward to great effect, but GWS already has plenty of forwards and they just took Lobb last year.
3. St.Kilda – Pat McCartin
Geelong Falcons
Height: 193cm
Weight: 95kg
Position: Key Forward
Player Comparison: Brendon Fevola (without the baggage)
Strengths: One on One, goal kicking, marking in general
Areas needing improvement: working up the ground, defensive pressure
McCartin is my favourite of the key position crop this year, as he is the most dominant, week in, week out. As a 17 year old in the Championships last year, McCartin showed he is one of the better pack marks to come through since Jack Riewoldt. His marking is so strong, as he can win in the air, in a wrestle and on the lead. He’s got a bit of leg speed, so he makes one metre gaps into two or three on the lead. McCartin is also an excellent shot on goal, with set shots being one of his biggest draw cards. His health is of no real concern, as he has dealt with type-one diabetes for over 10 years.
4. Melbourne – Christian Petracca
Eastern Ranges
Height: 186cm
Weight: 92kg
Position: Third tall forward / Midfielder
Player Comparison: Chad Wingard / Josh Kennedy (Swans)
Strengths: Contested marking, contested ball winning, hitting the scoreboard, delivery into the 50
Areas needing improvement: Cleaner disposal
Petracca has been my favourite in the draft since the first round of TAC Cup in 2013. There is nothing this man can’t do. He kicked over 40 goals last year in the same forward line as Tom Boyd and Michael Apeness, and he excelled as the first, second or third forward. Now he’s dropped six kilograms and become a full time midfielder. For Metro, he has been consistently dominant, and hasn’t dipped below 25 disposals in that time. His clearance work is first rate and his delivery into the forward 50 is outstanding. My biggest wrap comes from his contested marking. He will easily beat any defender, no matter what size. He is a match winner, and much like Chad Wingard, he’s freakish up forward and through the middle. If he slides past pick six, he will be a steal.
5. WBD – Hugh Goddard
Geelong Falcons
Height: 196cm
Weight: 93kg
Position: Tall Utility
Player Comparison: Jack Watts
Strengths: Versatility, pace, long kicking
Areas needing improvement: Goes missing, doesn’t have that ‘star factor’
In fairness to Goddard, he could be a star. In any other draft he would have been the first or second key tall taken. However, in big games so far, Goddard has been completely ineffective. Against Metro, Darcy Moore gave him a bath when Goddard was up forward. I prefer him as a backman, but he has the agility and talent to play all over the ground. He reminds me of Jack Watts, as he is athletic and skilled, but he isn’t quite dominant. Goddard has a ripping long kick on him and he can take a great contested mark. With those skills, he could become the star forward for a team, but with athleticism and ability to go missing, I believe he’d be best suited to a key defender’s role. He can create run off half back and set up counter attacks and swing forward when needed.
6. Richmond – Angus Brayshaw
Sandringham Dragons
Height: 186cm
Weight: 87kg
Position: Midfielder
Player Comparison: Sam Mitchell
Strengths: Clearances, tackling, ball winning ability
Areas needing improvement: needs to be a more consistent kick
Brayshaw is under rated for mine. That’s pretty strange considering he is clearly the best pure midfielder in the draft. His ball winning ability on the inside is elite and his clearance work is like watching Chris Judd in his prime. He’s not super quick, but he’s quicker than Sam Mitchell. He uses that speed to chase down players and he racks up an extraordinary amount of tackles. One game he even had 21 tackles. I talked to him about that day, and he just went through it like it was no big deal. For him, defensive effort is what ranks him far above the other midfielders. He is dual sided to an extent. Sometimes he can misfire a kick, but his decision making is first class. His delivery into the forward 50 is very classy, as he seems to have a bit more time to just make sure his kick is on point. He’s devastatingly evasive and has so many more tricks than people seem to realise.
7. West Coast – Jarrod Pickett
South Fremantle
Height: 179cm
Weight: 76kg
Position: Forward / Midfielder
Player Comparison: Chris Yarran
Strengths: Speed, Tackling, damaging by foot
Areas needing improvement: consistency
Unlike a lot of the highly rated small speedsters from WA over the past few years, Pickett comes with a difference. Yes, he is that damaging, hard running Chris Yarran type who screams X – Factor, but he also places a lot of emphasis on forward pressure, Against Vic Country, he was well held and struggled to have a great impact. So instead of chasing possessions or cheap goals, he started tackling like a mad man and showed some real quality in his defensive game. He is exciting around goals and he gathers a fair amount of the ball. To me, he has all the qualities to become an AFL standard player and may even become an A grade talent.
8. Carlton – Jake Lever
Calder Cannons
Height: 192cm
Weight: 84kg
Position: Key Defender
Player Comparison: Harry Taylor
Strengths: Reading the play, rebounding, finds the footy, one on one
Areas needing improvement: light frame
Lever was in my mind, the second best prospect coming into 2014. Obviously his season ending injury will allow him to slide, but I’d be surprised if Carlton over looked him. Lever is an excellent key defender, who reads the play better than any I’ve seen at TAC Cup level. Aerially, he will win most contests, even against star forwards. His body positioning in wrestling contests is perfect, so he can get a spoil against stronger bodied forwards. His football IQ is top shelf, and he is even an assistant coach to the Vic Metro backline as he recovers from his injury. Lever is similar to Cale Hooker in that he can really find the footy, and runs hard to get easy uncontested marks to help set up a rebound. He is a real weapon down back and if healthy, could become an A Grade key back.
9. Adelaide – Tom Lamb
Dandenong Stingrays
Height: 191cm
Weight: 83kg
Position: Wing / Half Forward
Player Comparison: Jared Brennan
Strengths: Match winner, speed, marking, hitting the scoreboard
Areas needing improvement: finding a position, consistency
Tom Lamb could be a really damaging player at AFL Level, but I fear he will be tagged out of games too easily. He is one of the most potent outside players in this draft and has the ability to win games off his own boot like Petracca. Lamb can kick bags when he wants and his marking when playing up forward can be unstoppable. His speed and athleticism is incredible for someone just under key forward size, and when the ball hits the deck, you better believe that he will crumb like he is Leon Davis. Lamb is freakish at times, but he will need to learn how to impact the game each and every week at senior level.
10. Gold Coast – Lachie Weller
Broadbeach
Height: 181cm
Weight: 71kg
Position: Midfielder
Player Comparison: Travis Boak
Strengths: great skills, great around stoppages, professional
Areas needing improvement: Strength
Weller can really find the ball, but I do wonder what he would be like if he played for a stronger team. He’s really silky on the outside and has a booming kick on him. By hand, he is very clean and his decision making skills are first rate. He can win his own ball on the inside and he excellent at not only getting the clearance, but also placing his kick to a target, rather than just bombing it when he gets it. He’s been plying his trade at the Brisbane Academy, but he doesn’t qualify as an academy player. I’m not sold that he is a top ten talent, and he may easily slide if someone else bursts out of the gates soon. That being said, if he goes later than pick 18, I’ll be surprised.
11. North Melbourne – Tyler Keitel
East Perth
Height: 194cm
Weight: 86kg
Position: Key Forward
Player Comparison: Taylor Walker
Strengths: Overhead marking, moves well for a big man, versatile
Areas needing improvement: Needs to become dominant
To be honest, I rate Reece McKenzie and Harry Dear as much as Tyler Keitel. Then again, I’ve seen much more of the Victorian two than Keitel. With Aaron Black not coming on as much as hoped, Keitel has jumped up the rankings, and a classy ball user becomes something the Roos will look for later on. Keitel really attacks the ball on the lead. He has a hunger to take strong grabs and slot his opportunities, but at this stage, he hasn’t had a game where you just go wow, that’s a truly dominant performance. He’s versatile and can swing back, but with his agility and marking prowess, I can’t go past him as a forward. He’s great by hand for a key forward and when the ball hits the deck, it’s like having another midfielder around the ball. If it wasn’t for needs, I believe Keitel would be sitting around the 15-25 range.
12. Collingwood – Darcy Moore (Father / Son)
Oakleigh Chargers
Height:199cm
Weight:93kg
Position: Key Forward / Key Back
Player Comparison: Michael Hurley / Nick Riewoldt
Strengths: Contested marking, can blanket star players, equally adept at either end, jumping
Areas needing improvement: Needs to kick more goals
Moore is one of the more athletic 199cm players going around. If you’ve seen his highlight reel, you’ll know he can really jump at the ball. His contested marking reminds me of Joe Daniher, as he just takes it at the highest point. He’s a great runner too, and when he’s up forward, he reminds me of Nick Riewoldt, as he works so hard to get to the ball. The problem is that Moore tries to do a little too much, and doesn’t concentrate on what he should be doing when up forward – being a goal kicker. In games where he’s played forward for Oakleigh, he has kicked two bags of three goals. Not bad, but he doesn’t dominate like McCartin. I much prefer him as a key defender like Michael Hurley, as he will just blanket his player. His role of Hugh Goddard showed his defensive prowess. He doesn’t have to be a world beater, just stick to his athletic game and cover his man. The Pies may well develop Moore into a key forward as their backline is looking good.
13. Geelong – Liam Duggan
Western Jets
Height:183cm
Weight:76kg
Position: Half back / Midfield
Player Comparison: Brandon Ellis
Strengths: kicking, speed, awareness
Areas needing improvement: winning inside ball
Duggan is your classic sharp kicking left footer. He doesn’t miss too many targets and can be the difference in a game with just 20 possessions. He’s so damaging, as he has the pace to break away from opponents and can deliver a dart under pressure. He’s starting to win a lot more ball through the midfield and he’s willing to put in effort with his tackle count rising rapidly. His decision making is first class, and he also reads the play well. He can play like Luke Hodge and fill the hole in defense, as he just reads it better than everyone else. A really classy, intelligent player.
14.Gold Coast – Clem Smith
Perth
Height: 177cm
Weight: 74kg
Position: Small Backman
Player Comparison: Michael Hibberd
Strengths: Core Strength, pace
Areas needing improvement: Foot skills
It’s unusual to see a sub-180cm small defender go in the first round, but Smith’s physicality is fearsome and allows him to sneak over to the Suns. He reminds me of Michael Hibberd in the way he attacks the footy. Just ferocious in his endeavours, and he isn’t afraid to put his body on the line and tackle hard. He’s got great pace, and can break lines. If he cleans up his kicking, he could be the ultimate two way weapon. It’s the intangibles for Smith that really stands out for me. He can find the footy enough for a small defender, but to be an elite prospect, foot skills are king.
15. Fremantle – Caleb Marchbank
Murray Bushrangers
Height: 193cm
Weight: 85kg
Position: Key Defender
Player Comparison: Josh Gibson
Strengths: Leadership, reading the play, stopper
Areas needing improvement: Rebounding
Marchbank can be a little over rated at times, but as a pure stopper, he is a beauty. He does seem like a backline general, as much as I hate using that term. He’ll direct traffic to his team mates and he sees the game so well. Despite getting the best key forward every week, he’s not afraid to leave his man and plug the hole to grab an intercept mark when the opportunity is there. He takes calculated risks. In a one on one contest, Marchbank positions himself to win or at least get a spoil every time. He’s not a massive unit, but with his football intelligence and natural ability, he could easily be a solid centre half back at AFL level. He’s a neat kick, but I’d like to see him expand his role on the counter attack like Jake Lever has.
16. Hawthorn – Touk Miller
Calder Cannons
Height:177cm
Weight:80kg
Position: Midfielder
Player Comparison: Lewis Taylor
Strengths: Clearance specialist, leadership, explosive
Areas needing improvement: needs to become an excellent crumber
Not sure what to make of Miller. On talent, he’s one of the best inside midfielders, but with the range of taller midfielders available, I think he could slip to around pick 30. However, the Hawks need an inside midfielder, and they can afford to take him early. He reads ruck taps so well, and has a great on field bond with Mark Koracevic and Peter Wright. He is nimble around tackles, and his core strength is incredible. For a smaller guy, he is almost impossible to ping for holding the ball. He has great pace and can just break free from the centre circle and set up a goal in a few seconds. In the middle, he is one of the better clearance players, and often gets long clean kicks away. I would like to see him take the time to look for a player rather than just bombing long. That being said, he does have Wright and Jayden Foster to kick to, so he can be excused. Plus that has been the Calder style for the last two years. He is the captain of Vic Metro, and you can just see his direction on field. He has a wonderful football IQ. I’d like to see him become a better crumber, as he has the ability to read the play and has the speed to dominate up forward.
17. Port Adelaide - Connor Blakely
Swan Districts
Height: 186cm
Weight: 81kg
Position: Midfielder
Player Comparison: Luke Parker
Strengths: big time ball winner, strong body
Areas needing improvement: hit the scoreboard more
Big fan of Blakely’s. He just wins so much of the ball and uses it so well. He can play on the inside or outside, and has had stints down back and up forward. He’s excellent by hand and not bad by foot, and for Port, he just adds to their depth. He’s a ready to go prospect, but he also has plenty of room to improve. I’d like to see him improve his running game, as I feel he could become a far more damaging player if he added an extra dimension. Blakely is an exceptional tackler, something that could be very useful as a forward pressure ALA Luke Parker.
18. Sydney – Isaac Heeney (Academy Selection)
Cardiff
Height:186cm
Weight: 82kg
Position: Midfielder
Player Comparison: Travis Boak
Strengths: Tackling, Ball winning, pace
Areas needing improvement: hitting the scoreboard
Heeney is almost the perfect midfielder. He doesn’t kick too many goals, but he is freakish in every other aspect. He finds plenty of ball, and is talented both as an in and under midfielder and on the outside. He uses his pace to chase down players and racks up tackles. Heeney is excellent by hand and fairly classy by foot. He’s not mind blowingly quick, but he will back himself in a footrace, and doesn’t shank it when running at full tilt. He’s already got an excellent frame, so I can see him making an impact for 17 teams in the AFL straight away. However, Sydney already have an abundance of excellent midfielder so he will have to bide his time.
19. Essendon – Connor Menadue
Western Jets
Height: 188cm
Weight: 69kg
Position: Midfielder
Player Comparison: Ryan Griffen
Strengths: Match Winner, Goal kicker, explosive pace, clearance specialist
Areas needing improvement: needs to build his frame
Connor Menadue is a really exciting prospect. He’s a smokey for the first round and I rate him so highly. He finds the ball enough to always have an impact. Against the Ranges, he read the hitout perfectly four times in a row. Each time he had a centre clearance and found a target in the 50. The Jets kicked four quick goals in less than five minutes. And when they hit back, Menadue kicked a goal to stop the flow, and then kicked the game winner as well. He is ice cold. His speed is terrific, and his kicking is excellent. By foot, he has plenty of penetration. Reminds me a lot of Ryan Griffen as he can break the game open with his speed and skill, but he’s also going to take a while to become that player at AFL level. Really like his height and his weight shouldn’t be too much of a problem. It’ll be interesting to see where he sits once Duggan, Ellis and Laverde come back, but I see him as one of the players with the most upside this draft.
20. GWS – Corey Ellis
Western Jets
Height: 185cm
Weight: 76kg
Position: Midfielder
Player Comparison: Robbie Gray
Strengths: Creativity, excellent kick
Weaknesses: Light body, doesn’t win his own ball enough
Ellis has shot up the draft board this year, some would even rate him as a top 15 prospect. With his excellent left boot, I think that is justifiable. Ellis is a really creative outside player who can set up play on either foot. He’s really damaging and usually makes the right decisions, however, he can try to be too fancy and his daisy cutters can fall short of the target. At this stage, he looks almost exclusively an outside midfielder. If he had a few more strings to his bow, like hitting the scoreboard or winning inside ball as well, I think he could very well be a top ten talent. However, there is still plenty of room to improve.
An enjoyable read.
