Draft Watcher Knightmare's 2011 Mock Draft

[Knightmare]

Cheers Knightmare...I have had a better clue of under 18's in the last few years, but really haven't seen anything this year so just going off what people are saying.

Ideally we would love another in the Cotch/Martin mould who wins his own ball but is a good outside accumulator/kick...your all round midfielder type.

Right now assuming you stay at the 12 spot I'd be looking at Sumner/ McKenzie. Either could be a nice fit.

Sumner is an outsideish type - doesn't have that inside ability at this stage. But has serious speed, enjoys taking players on with his run and carry but the skill level is still high. High hurt factor whenever he has the ball.

McKenzie is that mid/flanker. Not a super high level athlete. But his kicking is without a doubt his standout quality. Would be a top 5 kick in this draft without a doubt.

By what you're describing though Grigg would be the best fit - but you can't select him if he isn't available at your selection. Is that inside player with the high level kicking ability.

There could be a notable slider with someone else moving up the order. A Tyson, Kavanagh, Hoskin-Elliot, Buntine, Grigg or Longer would be a big win if one of those can slide for Richmond.

 

[TigerTime88]

I think we will end up getting passed by Adelaide and recieve pick 10. I certainly hope this is the case....I am all for tanking meaningless games!

Have a rest Cotch, Dusty, Lids, Jack, Foley...want to see more Nason, Hislop the next few weeks.

 

[Yoda_]

I'll keep an eye on young Kerridge if he is selected to play for the Bendigo Bombers this week versus Werribee at Avalon oval airport.

Played a very good debut game from some reports and more than held his own against the men.

 

[truepride]

Have heard from a couple of sources, port adelaide are considering taking little jason salopek from dandenong with a rookie selection due to how much he impressed when he participated in some of the preseason training last year.
Jordan staley (gippsland) is good but his teammate 'deery' i think it is looks to have much more potential, do you have any info on him?
Tom mitchell would easily be a top 5 pick if he wasnt father son as gws wanted to sign him as a 17 year old

 

[Hank93]

Could all our phantom drafts be rather off the mark this year. With the compromised and thin nature of the draft, clubs may have a different opinion of the players this year.

I just get a feeling it may be a little unpredictable. Other than the top 3, I have no idea what will happen after that.

 

[Riders of Rohan]

Tom mitchell would easily be a top 5 pick if he wasnt father son as gws wanted to sign him as a 17 year old

Guaranteed to go top 3 if he hadn't elected to go through father/son

Would have been interesting to see which of Coniglio/Patton/Wingard they left out.

 

[Toadvine]

There could be a notable slider with someone else moving up the order. A Tyson, Kavanagh, Hoskin-Elliot, Buntine, Grigg or Longer would be a big win if one of those can slide for Richmond.

I tend to agree with you Knight. The order of those between the 4-15 mark is so murky right now I think it will be well after the combine until we see things become more clear.

I could easily see one of Kavanagh, Buntine or WHE "sliding" to pick 10 and I think that would be a great result.

Realistically I think Sumner, Talia or Greene is much more likely.

I'd be much more open to guys like Greene or D.Smith if we didn't take a vertically challenge Conca last year to go along with Foley and Nahas in our starting 22. Especially with our likelihood to draft burger Willie Wheeler who struggles to get to 180cm.

Predicting which way Francis Jackson will go is always going to be hard given his tendency to go outside the groupthink but I wouldn't be surprised if we grabbed a Docherty or Kerridge from left field.

Right now I'm hoping Kavanagh keeps missing footy so that he can slide just a little bit to the Tigers. If his body is right, he is just the balanced type we need with his strong defensive and offensive game.

 

[Knightmare]

Have heard from a couple of sources, port adelaide are considering taking little jason salopek from dandenong with a rookie selection due to how much he impressed when he participated in some of the preseason training last year.
Jordan staley (gippsland) is good but his teammate 'deery' i think it is looks to have much more potential, do you have any info on him?
Tom mitchell would easily be a top 5 pick if he wasnt father son as gws wanted to sign him as a 17 year old

Staley I give the edge because he is that little bit taller. Has more KPP potential at the next level.

Deery isn't bad. More of a CHB at this stage but probably not quite big enough for it at the next level. But can swing forward. Has put together some reasonable form. Had him in my original draft. In there with a chance. Will likely come down to how well he closes out the season and how he tests at the combine.

Salopek is a good rookie possible. Obviously because of the name will be linked with Port Adelaide.

Could all our phantom drafts be rather off the mark this year. With the compromised and thin nature of the draft, clubs may have a different opinion of the players this year.

I just get a feeling it may be a little unpredictable. Other than the top 3, I have no idea what will happen after that.

I think you will find sections with particular level talents with no particular clarity of the order with which they will get taken. So to start there is the top 3. Then after that I have the 4-17 type range. 18-30. And after that probably another 50 or so I could see who are good enough to make an AFL list.

Guaranteed to go top 3 if he hadn't elected to go through father/son

Would have been interesting to see which of Coniglio/Patton/Wingard they left out.

I would have the big 3 (Wingard included) ahead of Tom Mitchell. But none the less at pick 20 or so Sydney are doing well to add someone who would have gone somewhere from around picks 4-8.

I tend to agree with you Knight. The order of those between the 4-15 mark is so murky right now I think it will be well after the combine until we see things become more clear.

I could easily see one of Kavanagh, Buntine or WHE "sliding" to pick 10 and I think that would be a great result.

Realistically I think Sumner, Talia or Greene is much more likely.

I'd be much more open to guys like Greene or D.Smith if we didn't take a vertically challenge Conca last year to go along with Foley and Nahas in our starting 22. Especially with our likelihood to draft burger Willie Wheeler who struggles to get to 180cm.

Right now I'm hoping Kavanagh keeps missing footy so that he can slide just a little bit to the Tigers. If his body is right, he is just the balanced type we need with his strong defensive and offensive game.

More than just a couple have Greene + D.Smith inside their top 10s, same with Elton so it could potentially push someone of note down whether picking at 10 or 12.

Agreed that by draft combine we should have a better idea of which clubs are interested in which players and who might go higher/lower.
My draft will no doubt be drastically different by then with a few different players coming onto the picture late as happens every season.

 

[Riders of Rohan]

I would have the big 3 (Wingard included) ahead of Tom Mitchell. But none the less at pick 20 or so Sydney are doing well to add someone who would have gone somewhere from around picks 4-8.

He would have gone top 3 regardless of whether they wanted him there or not. If we hadn't got him it would have meant GWS had secured his services and been forced to use one of the top 3 picks on him.

Sounds better when I just say he was a guaranteed top 3 pick and we're getting him around the 20 mark

 

[Raymann]

He would have gone top 3 regardless of whether they wanted him there or not. If we hadn't got him it would have meant GWS had secured his services and been forced to use one of the top 3 picks on him.

Sounds better when I just say he was a guaranteed top 3 pick and we're getting him around the 20 mark

i disagree with you...

Tom would be top 10, but not top 3. No doubting his ability to find the footy, the issue is his disposal.

 

[Riders of Rohan]

There was a competition for his services between GWS and Sydney last year. If Sydney had lost that fight and he had signed with GWS instead of going through father/son. GWS would have been forced to take him top 3. Regardless of whether he was good enough to go that high.

 

[truepride]

What has happened to Blair cronin? I remember watching him when he was playing for under 15's Vic metro and he absolutely dominated, him and Dylan shiels were in a class of their own. Since then I have heard that behavior has been an issue, could he possibly fit the next Dane swan mould, obviously that's a big statement due to the quality of swan but he could follow a similar path to an afl list

 

[Knightmare]

Just added a rookie draft. Didn't really bother putting any effort into the descriptions because it's just too time consuming to do in addition to my phantom draft unless I had completed those descriptions in years gone past.
I put a particular emphasis into mature agers who I believe to be really draftable even if it is unlikely that even half of these get drafted.

There will be plenty of players missing from both drafts no doubt so don't stress if i've overlooked other draftable players. Still early and plenty of players will be going in + out of my draft.

 

[Knightmare]

What has happened to Blair cronin? I remember watching him when he was playing for under 15's Vic metro and he absolutely dominated, him and Dylan shiels were in a class of their own. Since then I have heard that behavior has been an issue, could he possibly fit the next Dane swan mould, obviously that's a big statement due to the quality of swan but he could follow a similar path to an afl list

Don't know his full story and don't know his personal situation to really comment.

My understanding is as a 15+16 year old he dominated. Not sure if he has had injury issues at any stage? Plays for the Calder Cannons but didn't make the Metro squad. Hasn't stood out at TAC Cup as he might have previously so while he is a natural talent there are possible questions on work ethic and possibly even personality.

Dane Swan was in a similar situation to a degree. Only in the 2nd half of his TAC Cup year he did stand up and show that he could be a draft choice. Even then not all that many were convinced. Started his AFL career pretty slowly and in those first couple of seasons for the Pies just didn't seem to want to be there and from all reports was more interested in chasing the ladies. How he turned it around to such an extent is a credit to him as a person. Swan defies convention and probably isn't a logical drafting model to follow with that talented bad boy who isn't really all that interested. Better to stick with the motivated kids with attributes which suggest they can have an impact in this league.

 

[gotassieboys]

Information for Knightmate:

The good old Mercury newspaper listed the Tassie boys for the Draft and State testing. The article implied that the first 5 listed were Draft nominees and the other 5 were state testing

List:
1. Brown
2. Webster
3. Dobosz (already nominated as tall forward)
4. Schade
5. Mihocek
6. Mckenzie
7. Musicka
8. Joseph
9. Owen
10.Riley

Will put my head on the block and say that 7 boys will be drafted/rookied from Tassie, with a 5/2 or 4/3 split being the outcome.

Out of the first 5, Ben Brown is only doubtful to be drafted as he has "groin" concerns. Joseph will at least get rookied. Owen and Mckenzie chances for a rookie, with the other 2 outsiders.

The speculation begins!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[footyfan97]

Don't know his full story and don't know his personal situation to really comment.

My understanding is as a 15+16 year old he dominated. Not sure if he has had injury issues at any stage? Plays for the Calder Cannons but didn't make the Metro squad. Hasn't stood out at TAC Cup as he might have previously so while he is a natural talent there are possible questions on work ethic and possibly even personality.

Dane Swan was in a similar situation to a degree. Only in the 2nd half of his TAC Cup year he did stand up and show that he could be a draft choice. Even then not all that many were convinced. Started his AFL career pretty slowly and in those first couple of seasons for the Pies just didn't seem to want to be there and from all reports was more interested in chasing the ladies. How he turned it around to such an extent is a credit to him as a person. Swan defies convention and probably isn't a logical drafting model to follow with that talented bad boy who isn't really all that interested. Better to stick with the motivated kids with attributes which suggest they can have an impact in this league.

Can add a little bit of info here. At u15/16 level he dominated, he was a good player but he was much more developed than the kids around him. Since then he has dropped out of school and has done a carpentry apprenticeship and this had taken up much of his time. He has had a bad run of injuries since U16's including sticking a nail gun in his arm at work. The result of this and other issues have affected his football and attitude i am led to believe.

 

[footyfan97]

Knightmare was just wondering what has happened to Michael Mascouslis. At the start of the year he was being touted as a first round draft pick and since then he hasnt played any carnival games and i haven't heard anything of him??

 

[Knightmare]

Can add a little bit of info here. At u15/16 level he dominated, he was a good player but he was much more developed than the kids around him. Since then he has dropped out of school and has done a carpentry apprenticeship and this had taken up much of his time. He has had a bad run of injuries since U16's including sticking a nail gun in his arm at work. The result of this and other issues have affected his football and attitude i am led to believe.

Thanks for the info footyfan. Really interesting background info.

Sounds like there will be big concerns from clubs if all of this is true. Will be interesting if he doesn't get drafted to see whether he can go on to have a strong VFL career.

Knightmare was just wondering what has happened to Michael Mascouslis. At the start of the year he was being touted as a first round draft pick and since then he hasnt played any carnival games and i haven't heard anything of him??

What I have seen of him is the past is sensational talent. Super agile. Great long kick. Composed under pressure. Has gamechanging ability at times but very inconsistant.

Don't think he has played much this year. Certainly haven't seen any of his games or footage from this season. Hasn't played since possibly April? Would take info if I got any. Perhaps if he is injured and he comes back he gets drafted. With his talent could certainly feature in the draft and move up in a hurry. Would want to see a couple of games before the seasons out though before I took a chance on him.

 

[Knightmare]

Information for Knightmate:

The good old Mercury newspaper listed the Tassie boys for the Draft and State testing. The article implied that the first 5 listed were Draft nominees and the other 5 were state testing

List:
1. Brown
2. Webster
3. Dobosz (already nominated as tall forward)
4. Schade
5. Mihocek
6. Mckenzie
7. Musicka
8. Joseph
9. Owen
10.Riley

Will put my head on the block and say that 7 boys will be drafted/rookied from Tassie, with a 5/2 or 4/3 split being the outcome.

Out of the first 5, Ben Brown is only doubtful to be drafted as he has "groin" concerns. Joseph will at least get rookied. Owen and Mckenzie chances for a rookie, with the other 2 outsiders.

The speculation begins!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There are a couple of very good posters on here from Tasmania who could give you a better idea than I can.

Certainly I like Brown. REALLY want to see him receive a chance. Has big potential. Just improves with every game I see him. Has rare ability. Not sure he will go in the main draft but would be a great rookie choice for any club.

Dobosz + Mihocek should both go in the main thing and likely within the first 2 rounds.

Have Webster as a very good chance but has moved down my rankings from earlier expectations. McKenzie as a possible as well as Schade.

Could be another couple who get a shot.

 

[gotassieboys]

Dark Horse:
Heard a whisper that Jo Groenewegen from Launceston FC is on the radar of a few clubs.

Former mariner who is in the 19-20 age bracket and has taken a bit longer to mature.

Might be a chance to grab a rookie spot.

 

[Knightmare]

Dark Horse:
Heard a whisper that Jo Groenewegen from Launceston FC is on the radar of a few clubs.

Former mariner who is in the 19-20 age bracket and has taken a bit longer to mature.

Might be a chance to grab a rookie spot.

Along with SA's Jack Hanneth is in that same basket. Overlooked before but progressing well.

Both should have been rookied in 2009. Both have shown strong progress since and might get a look as a rookie.

Just takes one club.

 

[ilike]

Knightmare, can't see any mention of Hal Hunter or Alex Brown. Both were very solid in Metro's defense until injured. What's holding these guys back?

 

[Knightmare]

Knightmare, can't see any mention of Hal Hunter or Alex Brown. Both were very solid in Metro's defense until injured. What's holding these guys back?

Both good names and well in the mix - suspect others might have them in their drafts. If I wasn't so generous with my mentions of mature agers in the rookie draft I'd have these two in there as being amongst those next couple on my list.

For Hunter the question is while he does have that size advantage at TAC Cup level. At the next level what else can he bring? At this stage possibly doesn't quite stand out enough even though he has a solid game. Tackles hard. Disposal efficiency very impressive. But might need to add that something little extra whether it be that little bit more pace or little more kicking penetration. Also has had some injury issues last year + this year which may/may not concern clubs, so would want to get himself right for finals + draft testing. All he can do now is get his body 100% right, prepare well and work hard in preperation for the finals + draft combine.

Brown from memory his in those practise matches pre champs were solid but since then form has probably dropped off a little. There are a few similar type this year - in my 2nd round in particular I have a number of these. Probably haven't looked out for him enough but will keep a closer eye out. So many Oakleigh kids of draft relevance and is one of those prototype Oakleigh kids who come through every year around that same height.

 

[Balony_pony16]

Looks like the Lions will need to find another ruckman now charman failed to come back from injury and clark looking set to walk...what are the options from the lions 2nd pick and onwards...So many holes in the lions roster that needs filling...mids, small forwards, KPD, KPF, and now rucks!!!!

 

[cotter101]

]Looks like the Lions will need to find another ruckman now charman failed to come back from injury and clark looking set to walk.[/B]..what are the options from the lions 2nd pick and onwards...So many holes in the lions roster that needs filling...mids, small forwards, KPD, KPF, and now rucks!!!!

Broc McCauley?