Draft Watcher Knightmare's 2012 Mock Draft

[year of the roo]

Why do you keep misspelling Bulldogs?

 

[ThePuppetMaster]

Spencer and Fitzpatrick are nothing to write home about. It's like saying last year, we have Andy Browne and Gus, we don't need Ivan. This is the same story with the Dogs and Port as Grundy is just that class above the rest.

You'd think people would realize this - half the posters on the Melbourne board are like 'what about Fitz and Spencer?!?!?!' whenever I bring up drafting Grundy.

They don't get it - Grundy will already be better than these players, even though one will have had four years development and one will have had about six.

 

[THE_GUN]

When people are talking about Melbournes Rucks , They keep talking about Fitz,Spencer,Jamar - But their best prospect is actuallt Max Gawn

208cm 108 kg 21 yo Ruckman 2nd round selection #34

 

[ThePuppetMaster]

When people are talking about Melbournes Rucks , They keep talking about Fitz,Spencer,Jamar - But their best prospect is actuallt Max Gawn

208cm 108 kg 21 yo Ruckman 2nd round selection #34

Yes - I know.

Fitz and Spencer are unlikely to make it as better than average players IMO.

 

[Talentman]

Thoughts on Byron Pendergast?

 

[Knightmare]

Thoughts on Byron Pendergast?

Haven't seen him play so can't comment on his game.

All I know at this stage is that he is a WA ruckman who got invited to the state screenings.

I'd be interested to hear your thoughts if you've seen him play. Any insight appreciated.

 

[SumTingWong]

Hi KM,
Don't know if you can answer this yet, but I was interested in your opinion in what type of draft next year will be. This year is obviously dominated by midfielders. Is next year shaping up similar, or is it more of a bit of everything type of draft?

 

[Knightmare]

Hi KM,
Don't know if you can answer this yet, but I was interested in your opinion in what type of draft next year will be. This year is obviously dominated by midfielders. Is next year shaping up similar, or is it more of a bit of everything type of draft?

Next year is a strong year for outside midfielders and small + medium forwards. It also appears to run reasonably deep at this early stage.

Above average draft year but like this year I wouldn't be calling it a superdraft.

 

[bombermick]

Both the Dogs and Dees should pounce on Grundy. Spencer and Fitzpatrick haven't shown anything yet, so I doubt they ever will. And both Jamar and Minson are near the end.

Is Hannath just a ruck, or can he also go forward?

edit: thanks for the info you provide, it's invaluable to us plebs.

 

[Knightmare]

Is Hannath just a ruck, or can he also go forward?

edit: thanks for the info you provide, it's invaluable to us plebs.

I haven't seen much of Hannath as a forward. Has played as the no.1 ruckman mostly in those games I've seen. More a mobile - good around the ground type. Similar to Josh Fraser. Has improved every season and is one of the better young state league ruckmen.

 

[Humble Minion]

When people are talking about Melbournes Rucks , They keep talking about Fitz,Spencer,Jamar - But their best prospect is actuallt Max Gawn

208cm 108 kg 21 yo Ruckman 2nd round selection #34

Has had multiple ACLs starting in his draft year, as far as I remember, and has hardly gotten on the park. A bloke that size with knee issues - you'd hardly want to rely on him unfortunately. The really big guys tend to lose a bit more when they come back from a knee than the smaller guys do.

 

[MR]

Hey Knightmare,
What's your opinion on Zak Sherman, #20 for the Falcons?

 

[pavchamp]

Hi Knightmare, did you happen to catch the Sandringham Vs Geelong Falcons game? Just wondering your thoughts on who the bests were?

 

[Yoda_]

Next year is a strong year for outside midfielders and small + medium forwards. It also appears to run reasonably deep at this early stage.

Above average draft year but like this year I wouldn't be calling it a superdraft.

Next year seems to be shaping up rather nicely for KPP's to, Fort, Martin just to name a couple. The inside mids seem to be worth checking out to I would have thought (?).

 

[MR]

Hi Knightmare, did you happen to catch the Sandringham Vs Geelong Falcons game? Just wondering your thoughts on who the bests were?

I know you want KM's opinion but these were the best for me... (In no particular order)
Tom Temay
Christian Salem
Joshua Kelly
Cameron Banfield
Elliott Le Grice
Daniel Watson
Josh Saunders
Zak Sherman
Thomas Gribble
Darcy Fort was ok.

 

[Knightmare]

Hey Knightmare,
What's your opinion on Zak Sherman, #20 for the Falcons?

High production versatile outside player who should be in the draft mix but more as a late/rookie selection. Don't mind his game. Has looked good through the midfield and off a back flank. Likely at the next level will settle as a rebounding defender with his ability to read it well down back.

Hi Knightmare, did you happen to catch the Sandringham Vs Geelong Falcons game? Just wondering your thoughts on who the bests were?

Wish I could have. Been flogged with work this weekend and couldn't get to any games annoyingly.
Hoping I can get some vision later on or read some match reports.

Did you get to the game? Would love to hear some thoughts on the game if you were there.

Next year seems to be shaping up rather nicely for KPP's to, Fort, Martin just to name a couple. The inside mids seem to be worth checking out to I would have thought (?).

Martin is more of an explosive mid - won't be tall enough to be a KPP. Boyd is the quality KPF (think Patton) then the others talls are more 2nd round onward at the stage.

Inside mids really quite limited at this stage. Matt Crouch is the main "pure" inside mid who projects as an early selection with the others more outsideish. There will be others but it's more of an outside mid + general forwards draft next year at this stage as those top end prospects.

 

[MR]

Knightmare,
Darren Bewick (coach of Ranges) doesn't believe that Boyd will be pick 1 next year. This is from his coach. Do you think he's good enough for the number 1 handle.

 

[pavchamp]

Yeah i was at the game. Saunders for Geelong got a lot of it but wasn't necessarily smart with it. Banfield was impressive, racking up alot of footy and kicking a nice running goal from 50. Langdon was impressed me the most, Haven't seen him much but he was very good. Kicked two goals from 50 and provided a lot of drive from half back. Josh Kelly is just silk.

 

[Knightmare]

Knightmare,
Darren Bewick (coach of Ranges) doesn't believe that Boyd will be pick 1 next year. This is from his coach. Do you think he's good enough for the number 1 handle.

I'm guessing Darren Bewick has either heard of James Aish (who is probably the consensus no.1 selection at this stage anyway) or doesn't want the guy to feel the pressure to perform next year.

It hurt Jack Darling in his draft year with all that hype surrounding him that year early so with that knowledge my guess is more that he is playing down the hype.

Without knowing Boyd personally I can't say I know how he will handle the pressure of being a potential no.1 selection.

Boyd is already the best and most dominant KPF in the Tac Cup. He's another Jonathan Patton and has shown some great improvement this year really improving his body shape and looks a top 3 and possible no.1 overall selection if he can continue his improvement again next season.

 

[Knightmare]

Yeah i was at the game. Saunders for Geelong got a lot of it but wasn't necessarily smart with it. Banfield was impressive, racking up alot of footy and kicking a nice running goal from 50. Langdon was impressed me the most, Haven't seen him much but he was very good. Kicked two goals from 50 and provided a lot of drive from half back. Josh Kelly is just silk.

Thanks for the update. I appreciate it.

I've always enjoyed Banfield's game and great to hear he had another strong game. Really like his footskills and versatility and good to hear he is getting plenty of it.

Tom Langdon uses it well and good to hear he is continuing to produce. Might be a sneaky mid draft selection the way he is performing.

Have to agree on Kelly. Watch out for him in the minidraft. AFL clubs seem to favour him over Hogan as that no.2 minidraft selection and if he tests ok might even take over as that no.1 minidraft selection.

 

[pavchamp]

Thanks for the update. I appreciate it.

I've always enjoyed Banfield's game and great to hear he had another strong game. Really like his footskills and versatility and good to hear he is getting plenty of it.

Tom Langdon uses it well and good to hear he is continuing to produce. Might be a sneaky mid draft selection the way he is performing.

Have to agree on Kelly. Watch out for him in the minidraft. AFL clubs seem to favour him over Hogan as that no.2 minidraft selection and if he tests ok might even take over as that no.1 minidraft selection.

Yeah Kelly will test really well in the beep test from all reports. Hope he does get picked up this year, an extra afl pre-season under his belt could do him the world of good. Langdon was named best and banfield second. Also forgot to mention Salem, he was good.

 

[Igloo]

Both the Dogs and Dees should pounce on Grundy. Spencer and Fitzpatrick haven't shown anything yet, so I doubt they ever will. And both Jamar and Minson are near the end.

Minson is only 27. He's nowhere near the end. We have 4 capable ruckmen on our list. With our extreme lack of midfielders, it would be stupid for us to go for him.

 

[nick1408]

Minson is only 27. He's nowhere near the end. We have 4 capable ruckmen on our list. With our extreme lack of midfielders, it would be stupid for us to go for him.

Much how I see it as well. Minson, Roughead and Cordy (forgot the last, sorry.)

 

[Igloo]

Much how I see it as well. Minson, Roughead and Cordy (forgot the last, sorry.)

Campbell, who might be kept on the rookie list, but probably should be elevated. If he isn't elevated this year, he definitely will be next year.
If Minson leaves via free agency is the only way we would look at Grundy, but even then, I'd prefer to just try in the rookie draft or something. We need midfielders so badly. lol.

 

[Damo80]

G'day Knightmare. Have been watching your posts for a while. I wouldn't mind getting in on the Grundy conversation. I posted the below in one of the Richmond threads. Do you think there is a chance Grundy could slip like Billy Longer did? I do feel Melbourne are the biggest chance to take Grundy followed by Port.

Your thoughts?

Hey Nick,

One point you've overlooked (and you're not the only one), is that GWS will end up with three picks before our #9 pick via the mini-draft... potentially even 1, 2 & 3. When they have that luxury, I really can't see them bypassing Grundy, even if all the other clubs with early picks go mids/KPP.