Draft Watcher Knightmare 2020 Draft Almanac

Knightmare · Jan 18, 2020

Phantom Drafts:

16/11/2020 - 2 round phantom draft: https://www.espn.com.au/afl/story/_...*****-knightmare-espn-two-round-phantom-draft

9/12/2020 - Full phantom draft. Every pick, every bid: https://www.espn.com.au/afl/story/_...ft-************-espn-full-final-phantom-draft

AFL Draft Power Rankings:

30/3/2020 - AFL Draft Power Rankings. First of 2020: https://www.espn.com.au/afl/story/_/id/28968733/afl-draft-power-rankings-top-20-prospects-2020

2/9/2020 - September AFL Draft Power Rankings: https://www.espn.com.au/afl/story/_...ower-rankings-key-forwards-jostling-no-1-rank

1/12/2020 - December AFL Draft Power Rankings: https://www.espn.com/afl/story/_/id...an-mcdonald-firming-adelaide-crows-first-pick

Weekly AFL Draft Wraps:

AFL Draft Previews/Reviews:
17/1/2020 - My team of the decade ahead prediction 2020-2029: https://www.espn.com.au/afl/story/_/id/28492495/our-afl-team-2020-29

20/2/2020 - Each club's list needs rated short and long term: https://www.espn.com.au/afl/story/_/id/28732045/afl-club-list-rated-short-long-term

10/3/2020 - AFL Marsh Series player review including most impactful draftees, breakout players and rebound players (a must read for fantasy football/Supercoach players): https://www.espn.com.au/afl/story/_...aftees-breakout-contenders-rebound-contenders

31/7/2020 - AFL Draft state of play analysis. Details on pick 1 contenders, those prospects to watch, a draft bolter and more: https://www.espn.com/afl/story/_/id/29561470/2020-afl-draft-playing-top-prospects-clubs-holding-aces

25/11/2020 - McDonald v Thilthorpe: Who should be the Crows pick at number one?:

https://www.espn.com.au/afl/story/_...t-************-knightmare-crows-pick-number-1

7/12/2020 - ESPN's 2020 AFL Draft podcast: https://player.whooshkaa.com/episode/766877

10/12/2020 - AFL Draft 2020: Every club's draft haul rated: https://www.espn.com.au/afl/story/_/id/30479846/afl-draft-2020-every-club-draft-haul-rated

AFL Trade/Free Agency Content:

27/10/2020 - Free agency, trades, draft: Every AFL club's list needs ahead of 2021: https://www.espn.com.au/afl/story/_...draft-period-every-club-list-needs-ahead-2021

13/11/2020 - AFL Trade Period Wrap (all club trades reviewed and all teams graded)

AFL trades and free agency: Every club's moves rated

It was another hectic, tense and turbulent trade and free agency period, but which clubs did the best job at the AFL's annual meat market? Chris Doerre assesses every team's moves.

www.espn.com.au

My YouTube content:
13/8/2020 - AFL Rising Star 2020 thoughts:

17/8/2020 - Logan McDonald - better than any key forward drafted these past 15 years:

20/8/2020 - Any one AFL player. Who I'm starting a team with:

27/8/2020 - What the wing position should look like in 2030 and how key forwards can maximise their value towards winning:

3/9/2020 - 2020 AFL Draft tier list and the 28 players I view as future best 22 players:

11/9/2020 - Challenging the popular perception that strong AFL draft combine results indicate high upside:

17/9/2020 - The AFL's best stoppage player four years from now will be this five gamer:

24/9/2020 - Better than Matt Rowell? The best midfielder in this year's draft and your first picked rookie in Supercoach and AFL Fantasy for 2021 previewed:

1/10/2020 - 5 talent ID lessons all scouts must learn from the NBA draft and my 2020 top-5 NBA Draft prospects:

5 talent ID lessons ALL scouts must learn from the NBA draft and my 2020 top-5 NBA Draft prospects.

5 talent ID lessons all scouts must learn from the NBA draft and my 2020 top-5 NBA Draft prospects.Follow me on twitter:@ChrisDoerreESPN0:10: Lesson 1:Foreig...

www.youtube.com

7/10/2020 - The most unstoppable key forward i50 I've seen come through the junior ranks. That's Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, Western Bulldogs next-generation academy prospect and potential pick 1:

Jamarra Ugle-Hagan - The most unstoppable key forward i50 I've seen come through the junior ranks.

The most unstoppable key forward i50 I've seen come through the junior ranks - Jamarra Ugle-Hagan. aka Buddy with hops. Jamarra Ugle-Hagan highlights: https:...

www.youtube.com

18/10/2020: AFL Moneyball offseason targets. The best trade and free agency targets 2020 offseason:

3/11/2020 - 11 underrated AFL Draft prospects 2020:

8/11/2020 - The secrets behind how I select key position players better than AFL clubs, analysis of whether clubs should be taking kpps later than they are and where this year's best should go based on those key lessons:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yasH2pvfztw&t=1715s

17/11/2020 - The fundamental list management mistakes Collingwood have made and need to learn from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSN_VthT5YE&feature=youtu.be

27/11/2020 - The ultimate transfer of wealth - the AFL delisted free agents clubs should target: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cQJXflDjkE&ab_channel=AFLDraftExpert

6/12/2020 - AFL Draft tier list and top-50 (really top-75) power rankings 2020: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INiMxTZm3i4&feature=youtu.be

11/12/2020 - The Draft Reaches of the 2020 AFL Draft: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRBI9k1G7b4&feature=youtu.be

17/12/2020 - Biggest AFL Draft bargains 2020 edition: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66rIDJViy1c&feature=youtu.be

22/12/2020 - AFL Draft. All the pick 1s all time tier list ordered and ranked: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VHmDRDZE-M&feature=youtu.be

29/12/2020 - Supercoach and AFL Fantasy relevance of all 2020 AFL National Draft selections: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZd8ehbuDBM

13/1/2021 - A labour of love project. My biggest hits and misses in my 12 years covering the AFL draft: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fn3b-ReWkcQ&feature=youtu.be

19/1/2021 - AFL Premiership 2007 - the list management fundamentals learnt and the players I would build around: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdcTgQE-lxw&feature=youtu.be

26/1/2021 - The list management mistake all 18 AFL clubs make time and time again: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mi7S3n0I6iA&feature=youtu.be

2/2/2021 - 2020-2029 AFL Best 22: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmL67Y2HTfs&feature=youtu.be

9/2/2021 - Why Jake Lloyd's production will reduce in 2021: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9MKgRERMWg&feature=youtu.be

16/2/2021 - Interview with 2017+2018 AFL Fantasy winner Moreira's Magic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DM4Qga9KODw&feature=youtu.be

23/2/2021 - The AFL Team everyone is disrespecting in season 2021: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EaW9Z4V_UBQ

25/2/2021 - AFL Fantasy and Supercoach keepers rankings from the 2020 AFL Draft: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YwAuduWn0I

1/3/2021 - Learning Supercoach secrets with Jords Supercoach & AFL over some chess: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jKzy04Yna8

3/3/2021 - The only video Supercoach or AFL Fantasy video you'll need to watch on rookies for season 2021: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ff8nXWvzxc&feature=youtu.be&ab_channel=AFLDraftExpert

Knightmare · Jan 18, 2020

December AFL Draft Power Rankings: https://www.espn.com/afl/story/_/id...an-mcdonald-firming-adelaide-crows-first-pick

1. Jamarra Ugle-Hagan (Western Bulldogs Next Generation Academy)
Best position: Key forward
Height, weight: 195cm, 90kg
Recruited from: Oakleigh Chargers
Projected draft range: 1-3
Plays like: Lance Franklin (with hops)
September ranking: 1
Rationale: Ugle-Hagan is the most unstoppable inside-50 threat that we've seen and is unstoppable like no one we have seen at his height when launching at the football aerially. He times his jumps to perfection, leaps high and protects the ball drop in the air so he can't be spoiled. Ugle-Hagan has the scope to be a generational key forward and it's the extent to which he is unstoppable when he launches at the ball aerially or when isolated one-on-one inside 50 that puts him narrowly ahead of McDonald on this draft board.
Strengths:
Leap, timing of leaps at the ball aerially, body control in the air, protects the drop zone so he can't be spoiled, aerial marking, takes advantage of opposition defenders when isolated one-on-one, scoreboard impact, agility, speed to create separation on the lead, one-touch and instinctive pickups when the ball hits the deck, focal point up forward, performances on the board.
Weaknesses:
Kicking penetration, set shot reliability, prone to dropping simple marks, unclear capabilities further up the ground.

2. Logan McDonald
Best position: Key forward
Height, weight: 196cm, 86kg
Recruited from: Perth
Projected draft range: 1-4
Plays like: Nick Riewoldt
September ranking: 2
Rationale: McDonald led the WAFL in goals kicked for much of the season and achieved a seemingly impossible feat for a junior prospect by earning a position in the WAFL Team of the Year, which is made even more impressive given he's a key position player and talls tend to take longer to develop. Combine McDonald's rapid rate of improvement with his performances this season and McDonald can develop into one of the premier key forwards in the competition and challenge Jamarra for claims to being this draft's best.
Strengths:
Production against WAFL League competition, consistency, rate of improvement, scoreboard impact, set shot goal kicking, reliable conversion in front of goal, penetrating kick, overhead marking at the highest point, aerial marking, protects the drop zone, one-on-one bodywork, contested marking, reading of the ball in flight, endurance, work rate, leap, mobility, agility, able focal point up forward, capable both close to goal and pushing up the ground, versatility to play key defence, still growing.
Weaknesses:
Able but not freakish at ground level, upper body strength.

3. Will Phillips
Best position: Inside midfield
Height, weight: 180cm, 80kg
Recruited from: Oakleigh Chargers
Projected draft range: 5-10
Plays like: Taylor Adams
September ranking: 3
Rationale: The impact of Will Phillips during the 2019 NAB League Finals was as strong as that of Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson at the same age. His impact in last year's finals was equal roughly equal to Caleb Serong, Sam Flanders and Noah Anderson, with only Matt Rowell performing to a higher standard. Phillips is not only a prolific ball winner, but he combines contested ball winning and acceleration to impact games. He's the best and readiest midfielder in this draft. Phillips at #3 is unique to this draft board with most recruiters rating Elijah Hollands the best non-key position player. Phillips gets the nod as the slightly better performed, more immediate and lower risk recruiting choice with a higher probability of fulfilling his upside.
Strengths:
First possession winner at stoppages, contested ball winning, tackling, burst of speed out of stoppages, acceleration with ball in hand, aggressive taking on the game with his speed, spread from stoppages, line-breaking run, endurance, production, consistency, performances in big games, round one ready, proven finals performer.
Weaknesses:
Kicking consistency, handball happy and sometimes reluctant to kick, unclear versatility, scoreboard impact, limited as a marking threat.

4. Elijah Hollands
Best position: General forward/balanced midfield
Height, weight: 188cm, 85kg
Recruited from: Murray Bushrangers
Projected draft range: 1-5
Plays like: Andrew Embley
September ranking: 4
Rationale: Hollands is the most damaging player in the draft with ball in hand. His kick, run and how influential he can be when used forward of centre make him one of this draft's most desirable. There is added risk to selecting Hollands due to a ruptured ACL in February.
Strengths:
Damaging both forward and through the midfield, high impact per possession, makes quick and sound decisions with ball in hand, moves the ball on quickly, composure under pressure, takes ground balls on the move at speed, agility, evades tackles in traffic, takes on the game aggressively with his run, scoreboard impact, long range goalkicker, 60m kicking penetration, hurt factor by foot, overhead marking, one-on-one marking, protects the drop of the ball.
Weaknesses:
Improvement not as rapid as many of his peers in 2019, unclear best position, unclear scope to be a full-time midfielder, production not as high as some of the other top end midfielders, unclear following a ruptured ACL how durable or close to his best he will be.

5. Riley Thilthorpe
Best position: Key forward/ruck
Height, weight: 201cm, 100kg
Recruited from: West Adelaide
Projected draft range: 1-10
Plays like: Tom Lynch (Richmond)
September ranking: 6
Rationale: Freakishly quick and can play either as a key forward or through the ruck. Thilthorpe has held his own at SANFL League level, and despite struggling with groin issues this year he still managed to feature in the bests in five of his nine appearances. Thilthorpe's move up one spot comes on review of his ceiling.
Strengths:
Contested marking, marks at the highest point and has sticky hands overhead, clean at ground level, hands in close, decision making under pressure, leap, takes on the game at speed, speed, endurance, agility, x-factor, finishing around goal, skills, size and strength, performances at SANFL League level, versatility to play key forward, through the ruck or up on a wing, still growing.
Weaknesses:
Unclear best position, consistency of impact, conversion in front of goal, durability.

6. Lachlan Jones (Port Adelaide - Next-Generation Academy)
Best position: General defence/inside midfield
Height, weight: 185cm, 89kg
Recruited from: Woodville-West Torrens
Projected draft range: 5-20
Plays like: Brayden Maynard
September ranking: 10
Rationale: Holding his own at SANFL League level, Jones earned 16 senior games this season and is a ready-made defender who can step into an AFL side in year one as a stopper. While Jones can play right away in defence, given his contested ball winning power, winning more than 50% of his ball in contested situations, to go along with his size and acceleration, his longer-term future should be as a midfielder. Jones' rise comes on the back of a finals series where he substantially elevated his play and made clear he is one of this year's premier players.
Strengths:
Consistency of SANFL League performances, wins a high percentage of ball in contested situations, strength, strong one-on-one defence, negates influence of opposition forwards, capable of matching up against tall and small forwards, acceleration, run and carry, leap, equally adept at ground level and aerially, penetrating and damaging kick, intercept marking, contested marking, strength and acceleration, versatility to play in defence or through the midfield, round one ready, proven finals performer.
Weaknesses:
Endurance, accumulation, finds little easy ball.

7. Denver Grainger-Barras
Best position: Key defence/general defence
Height, weight: 195cm, 78kg
Recruited from: Swan Districts
Projected draft range: 3-10
Plays like: Dylan Grimes
September ranking: 15
Rationale: This year's premier key defender, Grainger-Barras is an effective shutdown key defender who combines that with promising intercept marking capabilities. Grainger-Barras has risen up these rankings due to growing 3cm since last year which makes him more viable as a future key defender in the AFL ranks. This growth combined with his strong WAFL League play headlined by a quarter directly matched up against Logan McDonald where he had complete control has ensured Grainger-Barras' rise.
Strengths:
Intercept marking, reading of the ball in flight, aerial marking, attacks the ball aerially, leap, speed, agility, one-on-one defence, clean ball user, shuts down opposition forwards.
Weaknesses:
Endurance, production, size and strength, uncertainty around whether he will become strong enough to develop into a genuine key defender.

8. Reef McInnes (Collingwood Next-Generation Academy)
Best position: Inside midfield/general forward
Height, weight: 193cm, 86kg
Recruited from: Oakleigh Chargers
Projected draft range: 5-20
Plays like: Marcus Bontempelli
September ranking: 8
Rationale: A potential tall, ball winning midfielder with the scope to also impact games as a forward. At his height and with his speed and versatility, his upside is among the highest in the pool. While Reef is far from a ready-made prospect, he holds his spot on this draft board despite others rising due to his high ceiling and rare capabilities and athleticism for someone his height.
Strengths:
Marking threat inside-50, aerial marking, scoreboard impact, versatility to play midfield, forward or defence, agility, speed, acceleration with ball in hand, evasion, clean skills, quick hands in traffic, clean at ground level, decision making with ball in hand, spread from stoppages, work rate, untapped upside due to limited midfield opportunity.
Weaknesses:
Unclear best position, limited midfield exposure, production, consistency.

9. Tanner Bruhn
Best position: Inside midfield
Height, weight: 183cm, 74kg
Recruited from: Geelong Falcons
Projected draft range: 5-15
Plays like: Zak Butters
September ranking: 5
Rationale: One of the standout talents in this draft and may be rated higher if not for missing time in 2019. Bruhn has the past performances on the board having won the Vic Country MVP in the Under-16s. Bruhn moves down a few spots as others move up.
Strengths:
Precise kick, composure with ball in hand, decision making under pressure, hands in close, evasion, agility, burst of speed out of stoppages, wins first possession at stoppages, contested ball winning, scoreboard impact, finishing around goal, stoppage specialist, past performance, versatility to play through the midfield or up forward.
Weaknesses:
Injury history, limited recent exposed form, strength, endurance.

10. Finlay Macrae
Best position: Balanced midfield
Height, weight: 186cm, 78kg
Recruited from: Oakleigh Chargers
Projected draft range: 5-25
Plays like: Jack Macrae
September ranking: 9
Rationale: Younger brother of Western Bulldogs star Jack, Finlay is a mirror image of his older brother. He moves and plays a near identical style of game and finds the ball just as easily. The main difference is that Finlay is 5cm shorter. Finlay moves down one spot due to the rise of others.
Strengths:
Class, composure and awareness in traffic, evasion, agility, speed, change of pace and capacity to stop on a dime with ball in hand, moves around opponents like they're traffic cones, distribution by hand, clean ball user, vision, production, smooth ground ball winner, improving contested ball winner, improving midfield craft, capability to play inside or outside midfield.
Weaknesses:
Unclear versatility, scoreboard impact.

11. Braeden Campbell (Sydney Academy)
Best position: Utility
Height, weight: 181cm, 75kg
Recruited from: Sydney Academy
Projected draft range: 5-20
Plays like: Daniel Rich
September ranking: 7
Rationale: Awarded player of the match in the Under-17 All-Star match, Campbell is one of the most advanced prospects in the pool. Campbell's drop is in part due to others rising and in part due to a review of his 2019 play which leaves some questions around whether he can find and win enough of the ball to be a midfielder at AFL level. A rebounding role off half-back may be how best to optimise his play and take advantage of his best in class kick along with his run.
Strengths:
Damaging and precise kick, 60m penetration on his kick, acceleration, line-breaking speed, run and carry with ball in hand, spread from the contest, X-factor, contested ball winning, aggressive tackler, scoreboard impact, versatility to impact games in defence, through the midfield either inside or outside, or as a forward, best-on-ground honours in the 2019 AFL Grand Final curtain raiser which features 2020's best prospects.
Weaknesses:
Contested marking, size, accumulation, unclear best position.

12. Heath Chapman
Best position: General defence/key defence
Height, weight: 193cm, 81kg
Recruited from: West Perth
Projected draft range: 5-20
Plays like: Grant Birchall
September ranking: 12
Rationale: Chapman is suited to the modern game and is the premier tall intercepting and rebounding defender in this year's draft. Holds firm on this draft board on the back of his consistent season. If he was taller and more certain to develop into a key defender, he might be contending with Denver Grainger-Barras as this year's best key defender.
Strengths:
Intercept marking, reading of the ball in flight, production, precise kick to target, composure with ball in hand, moves the ball on quickly, plays on after marks, run and carry, run in support, endurance, speed, leap.
Weaknesses:
Unclear whether he will be tall enough to play key defence at AFL level, unclear capacity to limit output of direct opponent.

13. Jack Carroll
Best position: Inside midfield
Height, weight: 188cm, 79kg
Recruited from: East Fremantle
Projected draft range: 10-25
Plays like: Scott Pendlebury
September ranking: not ranked
Rationale: With a late December birthday and a strong rate of improvement, Carroll was a standout in the WAFL Colts this season, averaging a competition high 15 contested possessions per game. The contested side to Carroll's game has improved dramatically having transitioned from more of a classy outside player who can also rebound off half-back into a genuine inside midfielder this season. Carroll's rise on this draft board comes on review of his WAFL Colts play and the rate the contested side of his game has developed this season.
Strengths:
Contested ball winning, agility, evasion, skills by hand and foot, composure with ball in hand, clean hands, movement through traffic, puts his body on the line, versatility to play outside or across half-back, rate of improvement.
Weaknesses:
Endurance, conversion in front of goal, light bodied.

14. Brayden Cook
Best position: General forward
Height, weight: 189cm, 80kg
Recruited from: South Adelaide
Projected draft range: 10-25
Plays like: Jaidyn Stephenson
September ranking: not ranked
Rationale: Growing around 7cm in the last year, Cook is a late bloomer and has come into his own this year as a forward. Averaging two goals and in excess of two contested marks per game in the SANFL Under-18s, Cook is one of this year's most dangerous inside 50m. Cook brings to the table a strong mix of overhead marking and ground level craft. Cook's growth, rate of improvement and performance in combination with the versatility to play forward, back or on a wing earn him this position.
Strengths:
Overhead marking, aerial marking, leap, scoreboard impact, ground level craft, crumbing capabilities, scoreboard impact, freakish finishes around goal, threat when isolated deep one-on-one inside 50, with ball in hand feels like he will make something happen, able focal point up forward, versatility to play forward, defence or wing.
Weaknesses:
Contested ball winning, strength, inconsistent conversion from set shots.

15. Archie Perkins
Best position: Utility
Height, weight: 186cm, 77kg
Recruited from: Sandringham Dragons
Projected draft range: 4-15
Plays like: Dan Houston
September ranking: 11
Rationale: High impact per possession midfielder and forward. With the way he breaks open games, taking on the game with his run and hitting meaningful targets, his game arguably could be maximised if shifted into defence in a rebounding role. Perkins drops on this draft board in part due to the rise of others and in part due to a lack of a clear best position.
Strengths:
Shows decisiveness after marks in what he will do and gets the ball moving quickly, takes on opponents and the game with his run, generates meaningful drive with ball in hand, composure under pressure, impact per possession, line breaker, speed, agility, leap, one-on-one marking, aerial marking, scoreboard impact, damaging by foot, vision, lowers his eyes, strength, aggression, clean at ground level, contested ball winning, capacity to impact games as a forward or midfielder.
Weaknesses:
Accumulation, consistency, unclear best position, midfield craft.

16. Joel Jeffrey (Gold Coast - NT Zone)
Best position: General defence/general forward
Height, weight: 192cm, 80kg
Recruited from: NT Thunder
Projected draft range: 10-30 (if not for concessions allowing Gold Coast to pre-list Jeffrey)
Plays like: Nick Haynes
Preseason ranking: not ranked
Rationale: Set to be pre-listed by Gold Coast, Jeffrey may otherwise have featured inside the first round. Equally capable at either end, Jeffrey is second only to Jamarra Ugle-Hagan aerially and whether used in defence or as a forward is a threat. Combine that with the way he moves and the magic he creates when he has ball in hand, and Jeffrey is a difference maker. Unlucky not to crack the top-20 in previous updates, Jeffrey at either end of the field impacts games too heavily to be any lower, reminding us of this with his play in the Northern Territory Under-18 All-Star Game.
Strengths:
Marks at the highest point, aerial marking, marking on the lead, creates separation on the lead, one-touch at ground level, leading patterns, evades tackles, creates time and space effortlessly with ball in hand, change of direction on the move, leap, agility, speed, line-breaking speed, mind to body connection, able focal point up forward, versatility to play back or forward, decision making under pressure, vision, instincts around goal, performances on the board.
Weaknesses: Consistency by foot, consistency converting in front of goal, endurance, strength.

17. Sam Berry
Best position: Inside midfield
Height, weight: 181cm, 82kg
Recruited from: Gippsland Power
Projected draft range: 20-40
Plays like: Dylan Shiel
September ranking: 19
Rationale: Exciting midfielder with an enviable combination of ball winning, clean skills and speed. Winning over 50% of the ball in contested situations, his probability of an AFL career is high. Berry's position on this draft board rises on review of 2019 performance and how consistently influential he was.
Strengths:
Contested ball winning, first possession winner at stoppages, tackling, aggression, kick placement out in front of targets to lead onto, dual sided kick, composure with ball in hand, distribution by hand, acceleration with ball in hand out of stoppages, line-breaking run, speed, endurance, leap, works hard both ways, strong mark, consistency, versatility to play midfield, defence or forward.
Weaknesses:
Outside accumulation, running patterns outside the contest.

18. Tom Powell
Best position: Inside midfield
Height, weight: 183cm, 74kg
Recruited from: Sturt
Projected draft range: 10-25
Plays like: Lachie Neale
September ranking: 16
Rationale: Powell is one of the most prolific midfielders in the pool. Averaging almost 35 disposals per game in the SANFL Under-18s, Powell won the SANFL Under-18s MVP. Powell remains inside the top-20 on the back of his consistency and strength of his season but moves down slightly due to the rise of others.
Strengths:
Contested ball winning, production, stoppage work, tackling, inside/outside balance, distribution by hand, hands in close, speed of decision making under pressure, reliable ball user, endurance, scoreboard impact.
Weaknesses:
Hurt factor by foot, unclear versatility, endurance, strength.

19. Jackson Callow
Best position: Key forward/key defence
Height, weight: 194cm, 101kg
Recruited from: Tasmania Devils
Projected draft range: 30+
Plays like: Jeremy McGovern
September ranking: 17
Rationale: A key forward with a deceptively hard to defend game, with strength and one-on-one marking blending in nicely with his agility, work at ground level and capability to turn opponents inside out. Although Callow drops as others rise, Callow remains inside the top-20 thanks to his strong play in defence, suggesting at either end of the field he has scope to develop.
Strengths:
Overhead marking, one-on-one marking, contested marking, body size and strength, reading of the ball in flight, intercept marking, keeps his feet in the contest, one-on-one strength, clean at ground level, agility, turns opponents inside out, intercept marking, set shot goal kicking, production, consistency, versatility to play key forward or defence to a strong standard.
Weaknesses:
Athleticism, questionable upside given how physically advanced he is already.

20. Nik Cox
Best position: Utility
Height, weight: 200cm, 87kg
Recruited from: Northern Knights
Projected draft range: 5-15
Plays like: Darcy Moore
September ranking: not ranked
Rationale: One of the more intriguing talls in the draft, Cox is an athletic and skilfull tall with the scope to either play as a key forward, key defender or as a tall wing. He earns a position on this draft board on review of his upside. With no NAB League this year or Under-18 Championships to measure his rate of development, it is guesswork as to how much he has improved as a footballer. As someone who for his height displays a rare combination of attributes, it should give him chances across a number of different positions to become effective at AFL level, and makes taking a chance on him worth the risk.
Strengths: Dual sided kick, penetration and reliability by foot, endurance, speed, agility, overhead marking, contested marking, ground level craft, versatility to play key forward, key defence, wing or as a tall flanker.
Weaknesses: Strength, size, one-on-one strength, production, wins a low percentage of ball in contested situations.

Knightmare · Jan 18, 2020

Extended AFL Draft Power Rankings: *Coming November

Knightmare · Jan 18, 2020

9/12/2020 - Full phantom draft. Every pick, every bid: https://www.espn.com.au/afl/story/_...ft-************-espn-full-final-phantom-draft

1. Western Bulldogs - Jamarra Ugle-Hagan (Western Bulldogs Next-Generation Academy - matching Adelaide's bid)
Height, Weight: 195cm, 90kg
Profile: Ugle-Hagan is unstoppable when launching at the football aerially, timing his jumps to perfection, leaping high and protecting the ball drop in the air so he can't be spoiled. Ugle-Hagan is the most unstoppable inside-50 threat that we've seen for his age and has the most diverse number of ways of taking advantage of opposition defenders.

2. Adelaide - Riley Thilthorpe
Height, Weight: 201cm, 100kg
Profile: Featuring in the bests in five of nine matches in the SANFL, Thilthorpe has the performances on the board against senior SANFL opposition. Thilthorpe combines a strong overhead mark with ground level craft and incredible acceleration and athleticism for someone his height and size.

3. North Melbourne - Elijah Hollands
Height, Weight: 189cm, 85kg
Profile: A talented forward and midfielder, Hollands is arguably the highest impact per possession player in the pool. His penetrating kick, aggressive run and carry, evasion and how influential he can be when used forward of centre as either a marking target or with his ground level craft make him a weapon.

4. Sydney - Denver Grainger-Barras
Height, Weight: 195cm, 78kg
Profile: This year's top key defender, Grainger-Barras is athletic and impressive both as a stopper and intercept mark. His game in the WAFL against Perth key forward Logan McDonald solidified his standing as one of the best in this draft pool, moving onto McDonald in the third quarter he either won each one-on-one contest, spoiled or took the intercept mark when they were matched up.

5. Hawthorn - Logan McDonald
Height, Weight: 196cm, 86kg
Profile: Leading the goalkicking for much of the year in the WAFL, McDonald secured a position in the WAFL Team of the Year. Combine his performances on the board with his meteoric rate of improvement and McDonald has the scope to become one of the premier key forwards in the competition.

6. Gold Coast - Will Phillips
Height, Weight: 180cm, 80kg
Profile: Phillips is the premier inside midfielder in this draft pool with his performances during the 2019 NAB League Finals rivalling the top midfielders in last year's draft. He combines contested ball winning with aggressive tackling, effective distribution by hand and explosive run to impact games.

7. Essendon - Finlay Macrae
Height, Weight: 186cm, 78kg
Profile: Younger brother of Western Bulldogs star Jack Macrae, Finlay plays stylistically a near identical game with the main difference being that he's not as tall. A classy midfielder, Finlay displays rare evasion and composure with ball in hand while possessing the capacity to play either inside or outside.

8. Essendon - Zach Reid
Height, Weight: 202cm, 83kg
Profile: A versatile tall who with his leap and excellent endurance can play through the ruck but has to date played his best football in defence. Reid is one of the best kicks we've seen over two metres and has shown glimpses to suggest that he may develop one-on-one and as an interceptor.

9. Sydney - Braeden Campbell (Sydney Academy - matching Essendon's bid)
Height, Weight: 181cm, 75kg
Profile: The best kick in the pool, Campbell combines this run and carry with ball in hand, contested ball winning capabilities and aggressive tackles. Campbell who is one of the most advanced prospects in the pool, possesses the versatility to play midfield, back or forward and was awarded player of the match during the Under-17 All-Star match in 2019.

10. Essendon - Oliver Henry
Height, Weight: 188cm, 77kg
Profile: Younger brother of Geelong's Jack Henry, Oliver Henry is a medium marking type with the capabilities to play either forward or in defence. Oliver is impressive aerially and is effective both behind the ball as an intercept mark or up forward with his work on the lead

11. Adelaide - Reef McInnes (Collingwood Next-Generation Academy - bid unmatched)
Height, Weight: 193cm, 86kg
Profile: Despite playing predominantly in defence in 2019, Reef is an intriguing prospect as a tall midfielder who can also impact games forward of centre. With a December birthday and limited midfield opportunity in 2019 for a loaded Oakleigh side, Reef possesses substantial scope to improve, possessing a desirable mix of speed, agility, ball winning and overhead marking.

12. GWS - Nik Cox
Height, Weight: 200cm, 87kg
Profile: Athletic and versatile enough to play key forward, key defence or on a wing, Cox is unique tall with high upside. Cox is an elite endurance runner with impressive skills and decision making, a strong overhead mark and good ground level craft.

13. North Melbourne - Tom Powell
Height, Weight: 183cm, 74kg
Profile: A prolific ball winning midfielder, Powell won the McCallum Tomkins Medal as the best player in the SANFL Under-18s. Powell is one of this draft's most productive and elite stoppage players with his contested ball winning and distribution by hand his standout features.

14. Fremantle - Brayden Cook
Height, Weight: 190cm, 82kg
Profile: A draft bolter who has broken out this year after growing 7cm over the past 12 months, Cook possesses the versatility to play forward, back or on a wing. Averaging two goals per game in the SANFL Under-18s, Cook is an effective finisher around goal and an athletic forward who is a strong overhead mark and does his best work aerially.

15. GWS - Heath Chapman
Height, Weight: 193cm, 81kg
Profile: Tall intercepting defender with impressive rebounding capabilities. Chapman is a precise kick, strong intercept mark and an excellent athlete for someone his height with his endurance, mobility and leap all features.

16. Collingwood - Archie Perkins
Height, Weight: 188cm, 79kg
Profile: Damaging utility who plays a high impact per possession game. Perkins generates meaningful drive with ball in hand, taking on the game with his run and carry, he lowers his eyes and hits inside 50m targets and provides a potent marking target inside 50m.

17. Port Adelaide - Lachlan Jones (Port Adelaide Next-Generation Academy - matching GWS' bid)
Height, Weight: 186cm, 89kg
Profile: Powerful, explosive, long kicking defender who showed he can shut down opposition defenders in the SANFL at league level. Jones is a round one ready defender and can in the future develop into a ball winning midfielder with his power and contested ball winning capabilities suggesting he could play through there and become among this draft's most influential.

18. GWS - Tanner Bruhn
Height, Weight: 183cm, 74kg
Profile: Missing most of the 2019 season due to injury, Bruhn was the Under-16 Vic Country MVP in 2018 and has a strong history of junior performance. Bruhn is a goal kicking, smart midfielder who uses the ball effectively by hand and foot and wins a high percentage of ball contested.

19. Collingwood - Conor Stone
Height, Weight: 189cm, 83kg
Profile: Stone is a medium forward who kicked five goals on debut last year for Oakleigh. He does his best work on the lead inside-50m, has some tricks around goal and enjoys taking on opponents with his run and carry.

20. Richmond - Nathan O'Driscoll
Height, Weight: 189cm, 78kg
Profile: Playing WAFL League football this year for Perth, O'Driscoll has shown the capacity to play inside, outside or on a back flank. O'Driscoll attacks the ball aggressively, tackles to hurt, demonstrates a high work rate, provides outside run and carry and has a penetrating kick.

21. Sydney - Errol Gulden (Sydney Academy - matching Melbourne's bid)
Height, Weight: 175cm, 75kg
Profile: A small outside midfielder and forward, Gulden is one of the better performed in this pool. A precise kick by foot, Gulden's kicks inside 50m out in front of targets stand out, along with his one-touch pickups, speed, agility, crumbing and scoreboard impact.

22. Melbourne - Jack Carroll
Height, Weight: 188cm, 79kg
Profile: One of the youngest in this draft pool, Carroll is a classy midfielder who has transitioned from more of an outside midfielder or back flanker previously into a genuine inside midfielder. Carroll has improved rapidly this year, developing a potent contested side to his game, and winning a high percentage of ball in contested situations, and mixing that with agility, evasion and effective ball use.

23. Melbourne - Max Holmes
Height, Weight: 189cm, 74kg
Profile: The son of Commonwealth Gold Medallist and Olympic Bronze Medallist Lee Naylor, Holmes is an impressive all-around athlete with particularly impressive speed. He is raw having played just the one game for Sandringham last year in the NAB League but the belief within the industry is had the season gone ahead he would have improved significantly.

24. GWS - Bailey Laurie
Height, Weight: 179cm, 78kg
Profile: With impressive speed, agility and evasion, Bailey Laurie impacts games as a small forward who can push through the midfield for periods. While his movement stands out, he lowers his eyes and finds inside 50m targets by foot, is an excellent front-and-centre crumber and provides second and third tackle efforts.

25. St Kilda - Zane Trew
Height, Weight: 188cm, 80kg
Profile: Ball winning midfielder who does his best work inside. Trew is a strong midfielder who wins the contested ball, demonstrates composure in traffic, dishes out effectively by hand and is a strong tackler.

26. Adelaide - Luke Pedlar
Height, Weight: 183cm, 80kg
Profile: Aggressive and forward and midfielder who exerts his influence on games with his physicality and throws his body around. Possessing a powerful contested side to his game, Pedlar also bursts away from stoppages, tackles with aggression and hits the scoreboard in bunches.

27. Adelaide - Caleb Poulter
Height, Weight: 192cm, 79kg
Profile: Poulter is a rapidly developing tall midfielder who plays a high impact per possession game and is highly productive. His long kick, explosive speed and strong overhead marking are features of his game and while the hope is he will develop into a tall midfielder, he can also impact games forward of centre.

28. Hawthorn - Zavier Maher
Height, Weight: 185cm, 83kg
Profile: Maher is a damaging midfielder who plays a high impact per possession game. While he doesn't find as much of the ball as many predicted to go before him, he can win his own ball and displays a high work rate, bursts away at speed with ball in hand and lowers his eyes and hits inside-50m targets by foot.

29. Hawthorn - Connor Downie (Hawthorn Next-Generation Academy - matching Brisbane's bid)
Height, Weight: 185cm, 83kg
Profile: Doing his best work on the outside, Downie is one of the most damaging footballers in this draft. Downie is a damaging 55m kick and combines that with a desirable mix of agility, evasion and line-breaking speed.

30. Brisbane - Tom Highmore
Height, Weight: 192cm, 89kg
Profile: Impressing in the NEAFL for a few years with his rebound from defence, Highmore joined South Adelaide in the SANFL to show against a higher level of competition his play can translate. A mature age prospect, Highmore is an excellent intercept mark who generates drive both by foot and with his run from defence.

31. GWS - Matt Allison
Height, Weight: 194cm, 81kg
Profile: Allison is a strong marking tall forward who reads the ball well in flight and possesses excellent endurance. Matt is the son of Coburg VFA Team of the Century player, Brian Allison.

32. Brisbane - Blake Coleman (Brisbane Academy - matching Geelong's bid)
Height, Weight: 181cm, 79kg
Profile: The younger brother of Brisbane's Keidean Coleman, Blake displays similar potential as a speedy, pressure forward, though is arguable more advanced at the same age. Blake plays a lively style of game and exerts his influence with his forward pressure and tackling but combines this with classy, one-touch pickups off the deck and impressive skills by hand and foot.

33. Geelong - Kaine Baldwin
Height, Weight: 193cm, 92kg
Profile: Suffering a second season ending ACL, Baldwin is one of the most exciting players in this year's draft and if not for the second ACL may have been in the top-10 draft mix. Dominating in the Under-16s, Baldwin has proven he is a strong marking force and damaging close to goal.

34. Fremantle - Fremantle - Brandon Walker (Fremantle Next-Generation Academy - matching Melbourne's bid)
Height, Weight: 184cm, 75kg
Profile: Damaging with ball in hand, Brandon Walker plays with an explosive power to his game and generates meaningful drive off half-back. Walker routinely takes on the game bursting away and providing meaningful run and carry, sidestepping, evading and fending-off opponents, he also possesses a penetrating kick and often takes high flying intercept marks.

35. Essendon - Cody Brand (Essendon Next-Generation Academy - matching Melbourne's bid)
Height, Weight: 196cm, 87kg
Profile: Brand is a shutdown key defender who blends a mix of one-on-one strength with good athleticism. Possessing versatility, Brand in one game last year played forward and kicked three goals.

36. Melbourne - Jake Bowey
Height, Weight: 175cm, 67kg
Profile: Jake, the son of former Saint Brett Bowey, is a small with the versatility to play midfield, forward or back. He shows composure with ball in hand, provides run and carry, sidesteps opponents with ease and has impressive speed, agility, evasion and ground ball winning capabilities.

37. North Melbourne - Ryan Angwin
Height, Weight: 184cm, 74kg
Profile: One of the younger prospects in this year's draft pool, Angwin while light bodied is rapidly developing, gaining a reported 10kg this year. Angwin is an elite endurance athlete and is a very competitive utility who won a high percentage of the ball in 2019 in contested situations.

38. Carlton - James Rowe
Height, Weight: 173cm, 73kg
Profile: Kicking 47 goals in 17 SANFL League games, Rowe didn't drop below 3 goals in any of the first five rounds. Ideally suited as a crumbing forward and doing his damage at ground level, Rowe is quick, evasive and daring with ball in hand.

39. Richmond - Liam McMahon
Height, Weight: 196cm, 84kg
Profile: McMahon is a key forward who attacks the ball aerially and takes marks at the highest point. While still quiet raw, McMahon is an good athlete with his leap and speed in particular impressive.

40. Carlton - Jacob Wehr
Height, Weight: 184cm, 71kg
Profile: Mature age defender who is one of the best kicks from defence in this draft and is someone you want the ball in the hands of. Coming from a long way back, having played SANFL Reserves football in 2019, Wehr is a late bloomer who still possesses further scope to develop.

41. North Melbourne - Sam Berry
Height, Weight: 181cm, 83kg
Profile: Winning a high proportion of the ball in contested situations, Berry plays with aggression and tackles strongly. He balances the aggression with acceleration out of stoppages, reliable distribution by hand, composure with ball in hand and precise kick placement out in front of leading inside 50m targets.

42. Adelaide - Liam Kolar
Height, Weight: 195cm, 82kg
Profile: A soccer convert who was late to turn his focus to football. Kolar is an elite speed and endurance athlete with the scope to develop either into a key position player or tall wing.

43. Hawthorn - Max Heath
Height, Weight: 203cm, 94kg
Profile: A project ruckman who spent most of 2019 playing APS Football for Xavier College has just one NAB League game behind. He has risen up draft boards this year on the back of rapid preseason improvement, so much so that despite the NAB League not going ahead, many recruiters believe that Heath may be this year's best ruck prospect.

44. Geelong - Isiah Winder
Height, Weight: 180cm, 79kg
Profile: An athletic utility, Winder tested strongly at the WA draft combine across the board. While super athletic with his speed and leap in particular exceptional, Winder combines this with strong hands overhead, one-touch ground level skills and excellent composure and placement of kicks out in front of inside 50m targets to lead onto.

45. Fremantle - Harry Sharp
Height, Weight: 184cm, 70kg
Profile: A former junior Australian steeplechase champion, Sharp smashed the AFL Draft Combine 2km time trial record with a 5 minute, 28 second time. With a December birthday, Sharp is an endurance beast who is hoping to develop on a wing and has earned praise for his work ethic and professionalism.

46. Fremantle - Fraser Rosman
Height, Weight: 194cm, 84kg
Profile: A freak athlete at his height, Rosman is an elite speed/endurance athlete achieving 5:52 minutes in the 2km time trial, two seconds off Jay Rantall's draft combine record set last year, while also placing in the top-10 in the 20m sprint. Rosman gives recruiters the option either to develop him as a tall wing or key forward.

47. Fremantle - Joel Western (Fremantle Next-Generation Academy - matching Port Adelaide's bid)
Height, Weight: 172cm, 68kg
Profile: A small midfielder with impressive acceleration and burst out of stoppages, Western is one of the best athletes in this year's pool. Western is highly productive and his play has a distinctively clean, silky and instinctive feel.

48. Essendon - Josh Eyre (Essendon Next-Generation Academy - matching Port Adelaide's bid)
Height, Weight: 198cm, 89kg
Profile: Struggling with injuries in recent years, Eyre has enjoyed a late growth spurt in recent years suggesting substantial untapped. Eyre is an impressive athlete, with excellent speed, endurance and is a high leaper with strong overhead marking capabilities.

49. Port Adelaide - Eddie Ford
Height, Weight: 189cm, 83kg
Profile: An athletic utility, Ford has the scope to play forward, midfield or in defence. Possessing an impressive vertical leap, Ford is an aerial marking threat and combines this with agility, evasion, class and composure with ball in hand.

50. Brisbane - Mitch Duval
Height, Weight: 187cm, 81kg
Profile: Mature age defender who has come onto the draft radar this year in the SANFL after playing amateur football previously. Duval's strengths are his intercepting capabilities and ball use by foot.

51. Adelaide - Tariek Newchurch (Adelaide Next-Generation Academy - matching Richmond's bid)
Height, Weight: 182cm, 77kg
Profile: Newchurch is a crumbing forward with speed, agility and x-factor. Newchurch does his best work at ground level as a one-touch forward and is a damaging ball user both hitting targets but also finishing around goal.

52. Richmond - Maurice Rioli Jnr (Richmond Father-Son)
Height, Weight: 173cm, 75kg
Profile: Son of Indigenous Team of the Century midfielder, Maurice Rioli, Rioli Jnr is arguably the premier pressure forward in this draft with the second and third tackle efforts he applies. Rioli Jnr possesses excellent speed, agility, ground level craft and is an instinctive finisher around goal with an impressive mind to body connection.

53. West Coast - Tyler Brockman
Height, Weight: 181cm, 75kg
Profile: Speedy forward who brings the forward pressure and has the tools to be a good forward. Playing a high impact per possession game, Brockman has the capacity to make things happen with ball in hand.

54. St Kilda - Oliver Davis
Height, Weight: 182cm, 75kg
Profile: High production midfielder who dominated in the NAB League in 2019 and played a strong brand of football in the TSL this season. Davis led the TSL in tackles and featured inside the top-10 for disposals and contested possessions.

55. Collingwood - Jackson Callow
Height, Weight: 194cm, 101kg
Profile: A key forward with a deceptively hard to defend game, with strength and one-on-one marking blending in nicely with his agility, work at ground level and capability to turn opponents inside out. This year he has received the opportunity to play key defence and has adapted nicely to give clubs a strong marking option at either end of the field.

56. Collingwood - Corey Durdin
Height, Weight: 173cm, 74kg
Profile: Speedy, small goalkicking forward with SANFL League performances behind him. Durdin's forward pressure, ground level craft, run and dare taking on the game and ball use make him one of the readiest prospects in the pool.

57. Collingwood - Jack Ginnivan
Height, Weight: 183cm, 77kg
Profile: One of this year's premier ball users, Ginnivan places kicks precisely out in front of targets to lead onto and with ball in hand makes things happen. Ginnivan draws high free kicks at will, displays football smarts and is dangerous around goal.

58. Western Bulldogs - Phoenix Spicer
Height, Weight: 173cm, 64kg
Profile: Arguably this year's fastest, Spicer takes on the game with ball in hand like no other in this draft, possessing elite speed and agility. With his athletic attributes and how instinctive his play is and one-touch he is at ground level, he possesses intriguing scope to develop as a crumbing forward.

59. Collingwood - Jack Avery
Height, Weight: 189cm, 82kg
Profile: Intercept marking defender who can also limit the influence of his direct opponent. One of the best performers in the WAFL Colts in defence this year and finished the season strongly with 33 disposals and seven marks in the Grand Final.

60. West Coast - Shannon Neale
Height, Weight: 202cm, 91kg
Profile: Athletic ruckman who has shifted his focus from athletics to football this season. With an excellent leap, endurance and good skills for someone his height, while Neale is still early stages in his development, he has developed rapidly which suggests significant upside for the future.

Gold Coast pre-draft selections:

Alex Davies (Gold Coast - Academy)
Height, Weight: 192cm, 85kg
Profile: Davies is a tall ball winning midfielder who represented Queensland as a basketballer at under-16 level and if not for Gold Coast's opportunity to add talent straight from their Academy as pre-draft selections may have been a first round choice. With strong contested ball winning capabilities, Davies is a strong tackler, possesses impressive evading capabilities and is effective with his distribution by hand.

Joel Jeffrey (Gold Coast - Northern Territory Zone)
Height, Weight: 192cm, 80kg
Profile: Jeffrey is another player who qualifies to be pre-drafted by the Suns, with Gold Coast having first access to Northern Territory talent this year. Jeffrey who was in the top-15 mix, is an aerial marking threat with his high leap, strong mark and is an influential player at either end of the field who creates separation with ease as a forward and in defence dances around opponents evasively and generates meaningful drive.

Knightmare · Jan 18, 2020

Knightmare · Jan 18, 2020

If needed.

Knightmare · Jan 18, 2020

My first piece of 2020:
My team of the decade ahead prediction 2020-2029: https://www.espn.com.au/afl/story/_/id/28492495/our-afl-team-2020-29

Feel free to post your best 22s below and see 10 years from now whether you can claim bragging rights.

flipper83 · Jan 18, 2020

Knightmare said:
My first piece of 2020:
My team of the decade ahead prediction 2020-2029: https://www.espn.com.au/afl/story/_/id/28492495/our-afl-team-2020-29

Feel free to post your best 22s below and see 10 years from now whether you can claim bragging rights.

Interesting challenge, think it needs it's own thread.

Jazny · Jan 18, 2020

Lukosious's first season was a tale of two halves... and both halves were really really bad.

Davo-27 · Jan 18, 2020

Jazny said:
Lukosious's first season was a tale of two halves... and both halves were really really bad.

Lukosius has some elite abilities but he hasnt got into the pace of AFL yet to show them off, i was not a fan of his Gold Coast games i saw last season, it seemed he was half hearted on the field which is not the best sign, it is early as he is a tall. but the signs so far are not great for him, but for talls you have to give them a second chance as young talls do take a year or so to get their body and fitness right, so i'll reserve judgement on him until after 2020.

Virgin Dog · Jan 18, 2020

Davo-27 said:
Lukosius has some elite abilities but he hasnt got into the pace of AFL yet to show them off, i was not a fan of his Gold Coast games i saw last season, it seemed he was half hearted on the field which is not the best sign, it is early as he is a tall. but the signs so far are not great for him, but for talls you have to give them a second chance as young talls do take a year or so to get their body and fitness right, so i'll reserve judgement on him until after 2020.

For talls, I think we need to reserve judgement for 4-5 years. Guys like Weitering and Schache are only just starting to really hold their own on the field 4 years into their careers, while being overwhelmingly s**t on by fans for not performing ever since they were drafted. Both look on track to do well in the next couple of years, but you might've thought they were both complete duds based on the criticism they've been getting.

Talls take a while to develop, and it's not fair for us to expect them to be able to compete at the top level too early when they are being matched up on guys like Josh Kennedy, Jeremy Cameron, Phil Davis, Tom Hawkins, Nick Haynes, etc.

Sometimes you get exceptions like Harris Andrews and Aaron Naughton, but these really aren't the guys who we should be comparing to. Jeremy McGovern is one of the best tall defenders in the competition, but he took years to really hit anywhere close to the level he's at now

Davo-27 · Jan 18, 2020

Virgin Dog said:
For talls, I think we need to reserve judgement for 4-5 years. Guys like Weitering and Schache are only just starting to really hold their own on the field 4 years into their careers, while being overwhelmingly s**t on by fans for not performing ever since they were drafted. Both look on track to do well in the next couple of years, but you might've thought they were both complete duds based on the criticism they've been getting.

Talls take a while to develop, and it's not fair for us to expect them to be able to compete at the top level too early when they are being matched up on guys like Josh Kennedy, Jeremy Cameron, Phil Davis, Tom Hawkins, Nick Haynes, etc.

Sometimes you get exceptions like Harris Andrews and Aaron Naughton, but these really aren't the guys who we should be comparing to. Jeremy McGovern is one of the best tall defenders in the competition, but he took years to really hit anywhere close to the level he's at now

yea maybe instead of 2 years maybe its 3-4 years you're right, its just compounded by the fact Ben King seems to be on course to be a very good player already in his first, i guess some talls take some time compared to other talls.

Jirik13 · Jan 18, 2020

Davo-27 said:
Lukosius has some elite abilities but he hasnt got into the pace of AFL yet to show them off, i was not a fan of his Gold Coast games i saw last season, it seemed he was half hearted on the field which is not the best sign, it is early as he is a tall. but the signs so far are not great for him, but for talls you have to give them a second chance as young talls do take a year or so to get their body and fitness right, so i'll reserve judgement on him until after 2020.

Not sure what games you watched and what you expected from Luko in his 1st year but to call him half hearted is a bit unfair. I watched him all 21 games and he tried hard. He is KPP, not strong enough at the moment, was 8-10kg lighter than he should be and is still building his tank. He struggled forward with Suns midfield under pump, then spent a couple of games on the wing. When moved back he had some excellent games there. He reads game unbelievably well, seems to always have an extra time and his kick is special. He managed to play 21 games though he looked cooked at the end of season. He looks possibly too relaxed sometimes due to his personality, but once he builds his strength and tank and as Suns midfield delivery improves, watch out. He will be hard to stop in forward line together with King, Ainsworth, Rankine. He will start 2020 season at HB.

I bet people would rave about Luko if he was drafted by top 4 team. Not easy for KPP to debut on a team that lost 18 games in a row.

I am personally vey happy with what Luko showed in his first year and looking forward to see what he can do in 2020 with a better body. He is a special talent.

ItsAllAboutMe · Jan 18, 2020

king rated above Lukosious now

sunsofanarchy · Jan 18, 2020

Do you think Stephenson will be a better player than Noah Anderson over the course of 10 years?

On SM-G960W using BigFooty.com mobile app

Peel67skin · Jan 18, 2020

ItsAllAboutMe said:
king rated above Lukosious now

Ben or Max? Ben spend nearly half a season in NEAFL Less demanding playing in NEAFL compare to AFL, especially with not much pre season training for lukosius.

Knightmare · Jan 18, 2020

Jazny said:
Lukosious's first season was a tale of two halves... and both halves were really really bad.

I couldn't disagree more strongly on this point.

His first half was glimpses but he didn't get the rewards for his hard work. The second half he was one of Gold Coast's better players.

Aaron Naughton for a point of comparison who this time last year I said was going off his first season the best player in his draft class (and this year my view is he created seperation in that discussion), in some categories Lukosius' numbers are actually favourable.

Specifically 62 marks from Lukosius in his last 11 games v Naughton (who himself got really hot late in his first season) managed only 44 over his last 11. Naughton is the stronger contested mark with 15 contested marks in his last 5 games in 2018, really getting hot during that time v Lukosius who only had the 11 for the season.

But when we're talking about first year key position players getting numbers like that, they're exceptional. Until season three and more commonly season four normally key position players aren't normally all that effective, including the great ones. Per 22 games taking Lukosius' 62 marks, that's 124 marks. They're ridiculous numbers for a key position player in their first year. That's basically Alex Rance's career marks per game average (125.84 per game). Different roles obviously, but you look at Rance and until who wasn't picked until his second season and wasn't effective until his 4th season - as someone who was a liability until then at AFL level as with so many young key position players.

Davo-27 said:
Lukosius has some elite abilities but he hasnt got into the pace of AFL yet to show them off, i was not a fan of his Gold Coast games i saw last season, it seemed he was half hearted on the field which is not the best sign, it is early as he is a tall. but the signs so far are not great for him, but for talls you have to give them a second chance as young talls do take a year or so to get their body and fitness right, so i'll reserve judgement on him until after 2020.

This is the key point with Lukosius and why I brought him up as a talking about. He hasn't even got into the pace of AFL yet. Once he knows where to run, when to run and builds that chemistry with his teams (and they're things he did to perfection at the lower levels so he'll develop that) and gains that confidence to use his kicking and vision, he can kill teams.

The half hearted element is from his appearance being laconic out on the field in the way Pendlebury looks laconic at times. He doesn't look like he's going hard, but if you watch the tape and see the tape of him running, he's really working hard. There was a clip on the Gold Coast website where from a centre bounce Lukosius ran all the way from the wing and got on the end of it in or near the goalsquare to finish. The video included Lukosius going through the footage of that play with the coaches. And they're the kinds of plays he is capable of that aren't immediately obvious unless watching him directly.

ItsAllAboutMe said:
king rated above Lukosious now

I'm taking Lukosius still.

They're good for different things. If I need someone to do damage close to goal, King's the guy doing that. He's the stronger contested mark and has that stronger presence to him.

Lukosius is a different animal entirely and beats teams in a unique way we haven't really seen yet, and I hope Gold Coast if they move him forward again in the future start playing through him as much as possible to exploit his work rate, let him take his 10 marks per game and kill teams with his kicking/vision and really generate a lot of drive with his quick through the air bullets to break through zones and generate easy offence. He can kick like Ben Reid could kick in 2011 for those who watched Collingwood that year. It may have been the best season of Pendlebury/D.Thomas/Cloke/L.Davis etc and Reid was in my view that best and most important player with the way he launched 60m bombs that cut through the air and over and through defences and set up so much offence.

sunsofanarchy said:
Do you think Stephenson will be a better player than Noah Anderson over the course of 10 years?

On SM-G960W using BigFooty.com mobile app

It's a touch call. Only because we haven't seen a season of Anderson, I played it conservatively. I considered Anderson in my side instead of Kelly (due to Kelly's age), but I'd like to see a season of him at AFL level first. Stephenson after his first two seasons is difficult not to select with McCluggage would make way first if any of those forwards made way.

Part of my conservatism with Anderson and Rankine both of whom on talent I would make arguments for is a relative lack of faith in Gold Coast as a club developing players based on past history. I hope I'm wrong, because Gold Coast have what can be a super 7 with Lukosius/Rankine/King/Rowell/Anderson/Flanders/Ballard. And if those guys can be surrounded by a few more stars, stay together and develop. There is real potential within that group. They should all be top-50 players in the competition 5 years down the road if Gold Coast nail the player development side and keep those guys healthy.

weltschmerz · Jan 18, 2020

What do you make of Cody Raak?

Knightmare · Jan 18, 2020

weltschmerz said:
What do you make of Cody Raak?

Has shown promise. Generates good drive from defence and is a good height. One who will be on the radar this year with continued improvement.

Happy Mastenator · Jan 18, 2020

Conor McKenna? You’re joking

eDPS · Jan 18, 2020

Happy Mastenator said:
Conor McKenna? You’re joking

Very good rebound defender, has an odd brain fade on occasions but would be starting 18 for any team in the comp

Happy Mastenator · Jan 18, 2020

eDPS said:
Very good rebound defender, has an odd brain fade on occasions but would be starting 18 for any team in the comp

He’s ok, but is he going to be one of the two half back flankers of the 2020’s? Don’t think so.

Also Ash McGrath isn’t going to be a back pocket. If he doesn’t move into the midfield full time he’s been a failure of a pick. Don’t think he’d make this team as a mid either.

To me Jordan Clarke is most likely to make 4-5 AA teams and be one of those back men

Knightmare · Jan 18, 2020

Happy Mastenator said:
Conor McKenna? You’re joking

McKenna is one of the best rebounding defenders in the game today and improves every season. He has entered the conversation of and can surpass Hanley/Kennelly in the All-time Irish AFL ranks if he continues his improvement.

He's rated elite by Champion Data for a reason. I'd like to see him take more intercept marks but ascending in a hurry and breaks games open with his kicking and run. Really like the drive he generates and gives balance to that group with McGrath there to shutdown opposition small forwards and provide some run and Sicily to intercept.

PMBangers · Jan 18, 2020

Happy Mastenator said:
He’s ok, but is he going to be one of the two half back flankers of the 2020’s? Don’t think so.

Also Ash McGrath isn’t going to be a back pocket. If he doesn’t move into the midfield full time he’s been a failure of a pick. Don’t think he’d make this team as a mid either.

To me Jordan Clarke is most likely to make 4-5 AA teams and be one of those back men

Ash McGrath making it in his late 30's/40's is impressive no matter what position

Knightmare · Jan 18, 2020

Happy Mastenator said:
He’s ok, but is he going to be one of the two half back flankers of the 2020’s? Don’t think so.

Also Ash McGrath isn’t going to be a back pocket. If he doesn’t move into the midfield full time he’s been a failure of a pick. Don’t think he’d make this team as a mid either.

To me Jordan Clarke is most likely to make 4-5 AA teams and be one of those back men

Clark was firmly considered and unlucky.

Andrew McGrath is likely to push more into the midfield but I view him as better in defence. Elite stopper and generates drive with his run. If Essendon develop a strong midfield, defence is where McGrath can play his best brand of football.

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