Draft Watcher Knightmare's 2014 Phantom Draft

[Hayes4PM]

From what I've read on here everyone seems to think Wright, McCartin and Goddard are up there for pick 1, can't see a mid or utility going ahead of really talented key forwards.

 

[Eastern Rangers]

From what I've read on here everyone seems to think Wright, McCartin and Goddard are up there for pick 1, can't see a mid or utility going ahead of really talented key forwards.

Yeah. StKilda need some KPP's.

 

[Hayes4PM]

Yeah. StKilda need some KPP's.

I'm guessing we'll have pick 2, 3 or 4 next year which should get us one of these quality talls. Tom Lee is starting to come good but he's not enough. Wright/McCartin/Goddard would be good with Tom Lee and Spencer White in a few years.

 

[hayes]

I'm guessing we'll have pick 2, 3 or 4 next year which should get us one of these quality talls. Tom Lee is starting to come good but he's not enough. Wright/McCartin/Goddard would be good with Tom Lee and Spencer White in a few years.

Wright for mine, love that he's a dead eye. Would love him and Lee slotting them straight through the middle week after week.

 

[tigs2010]

Chris25 I feel you need to talk Durdin up soon. All these Vic talls being talked up over him...To a lesser extent Watchman.

 

[Chris25]

Chris25 I feel you need to talk Durdin up soon. All these Vic talls being talked up over him...To a lesser extent Watchman.

I'll be starting my South Australian thread soon enough, not sure the early starters on here really know who the top names are quite yet - which is understandable, given they wouldn't have seen them. Durdin is just one name being underrated. And just as a teaser until my thread is up, Oleg Markov is one name you'll hear a lot.

 

[RedmanWasHere]

I'll be starting my South Australian thread soon enough, not sure the early starters on here really know who the top names are quite yet - which is understandable, given they wouldn't have seen them. Durdin is just one name being underrated. And just as a teaser until my thread is up, Oleg Markov is one name you'll hear a lot.

If he's tiny do we call him the Ukrainian Underdog?

 

[tigs2010]

I'll be starting my South Australian thread soon enough, not sure the early starters on here really know who the top names are quite yet - which is understandable, given they wouldn't have seen them. Durdin is just one name being underrated. And just as a teaser until my thread is up, Oleg Markov is one name you'll hear a lot.

I've got in no real order a top 6 of Durdin, Bampton, Lever, Wright, Stretch, Nelson. SA are going to have another good year at Champs I feel.

 

[Knightmare]

Is Peter Spurling eligible for the draft next year? Was a AIS-AFL member so I assume he'll be drafted eventually.

He was the one that took the amazing crowd catch with an ice coffee in his hand at the Adelaide Oval.

Spurling is eligable.

Probably the better of the ruck prospects at this point for next season. Can play some KPP also. I look forward to seeing what he does next year.

Geelong 12th. You now have lost any credability you had left !!!

With any ladder predictions a year out it's going to cause fans of various sides to feel dismayed.

On Geelong I'm just not feeling it this year. The new recruits aren't going to help in round one. The veterans are only getting older and it feels like the heart a spirit of the team have gone with the forced retirements of Chapman, Corey, Hunt and Podsiadly along with the trading of Trent West.
It suggests to me a clear movement towards youth and I don't see that exciting the current veterans who want to win now and probably felt their chances were better with what they had.

Some calls you get right, others you get wrong. A finish outside the top 8 is still very possible for this still deep group from Geelong with all the young talent coming up but I feel a finish outside the top 8 is very possible with those other top 8 sides improving with Geelong in the immediate taking a step back.

Thanks for all your work knightmare. Looks like a massive draft for talls...

Enjoy your break.

p.s with such a stacked draft the whole player bidding might get rough next year... think I read NSW and QLD academy players go through that system from next season too. Hoping Isaac Heeney gets through to the second or third round.

What are your thoughts on Isaac Heeney?

Heeney is the better of the NSW draft prospects. He's shown some promising signs through the midfield this year but will need to continue his improvement this coming year to ensure he gets drafted.

Kids a gun, even if he sat out the season he wouldn't slide to 18... but I have my fingers crossed!

Don't sleep on Fremantle for the flag.

Sydney for depth are much weaker now and the gain of Franklin is offset by the loss of Mumford with the ruck division and midfield weakened without Mummy there to followup his own ruckwork and do damage to the opposition midfielders with that big body of his.

Sydney is a win now scenario and the chance is there but not as assured as many would assume.

Clem Smith is looking a potential top 3 pick at this early stage.

I'd be surprised to see Clem Smith go top 3 and I'd even class a top 5 draft position unlikely next year. Others can develop past him. He's a unique impact player with his physical edge and the way he takes on the game but he lacks the discipline and footskills to demand a top 5 draft position in my view. But late first round pick. Sure.

can you tell me anything about angus brayshaw

Brayshaw showed some promise in the games he played in 2013. Strong bodied inside midfielder. Maniac tackler, uses the ball reasonably well and can hit the scoreboard. Very draftable midfielder but the sample size of games small so I'm keen to see more of him next year.

 

[nottenthagain]

I've got in no real order a top 6 of Durdin, Bampton, Lever, Wright, Stretch, Nelson. SA are going to have another good year at Champs I feel.

Lever's reco might rock that boat. I think Stretch... well, might be a stretch. Still a long way to go though.

 

[Knightmare]

Knightmare, with the glut of talls that look to be set for the first round or two in 2014 I wonder if you think there are any standout ruckmen? Brodie Grundy was identified a long way out as a top 3 pick but he fell because teams are wary of using such a high pick on someone who might need 3+ years to develop.

Do you think that trend will continue or will teams grab the top talent, even if that tall is a ruck?

Duom Duwam is one I'd love to see come back and monster everyone next year but there is no Brodie Grundy quality ruckman in this draft unless you see Peter Wright as a ruckman rather than a key forward, but I like him more as a key forward as I did with Daniher a couple of years back. Good key forwards are just that much harder to find that when you find a good one you need to take that chance.
In the future I wouldn't be shocked to see the AFL farm some USA 200cm+ giants to come in as ruckmen and make many of the current starting ruckmen for most teams irrelevant as a position not requiring that same natural talent by position as key forwards need.

Thoughts on Jack Lonie from Dandenong KM?

Much shorter than Nathan/Ryan at 173cm. Goalkicker and has had a very productive season for an underager. Can play but a boarderline selection when you're sub 180cm so hopefully he continues his development next season.

Lonie is very popular amongst the fans. Don't know whether I continue to pick the right spots but everytime I see a Stingrays game Jack seems to get the loudest crowd support. Make of that as you will.

Best Tasmaina player km??

Mitch Thorp.

Not such a strong year yet of those draft eligable next year but in saying that I'm sure some will come through a really surprise.
If I had to pick Mitch Hibberd of next years crop is the more intriguing at this point but no one from Tasmania has won me over yet.

Plenty of time though and I'm sure by mid season I'll have one or two favourites from Tasmania.

So KM, by the sounds of it you see Goddard more of a defender than forward?

I would say so yes. I little like Jack Watts, Goddard just doesn't command a key forward post at this point. He's athletic as anything but he still lacks that one major point of difference to make him a special key forward.
Down back it's easier to become a higher level player by position and with his athleticism, marking ability, ability to read it down back, skills and scope to develop physically he can become one of the better key defenders in the game in the right system.

On the Peter Wright train nice and early.

I am.

Wright and McCartin as my two guys this year. Both have their questions but they're the two dominant talents in this draft and if their bodies stay healthy they're the two every team other than perhaps GWS and Melbourne with their glut of key forwards would want in this draft.

 

[Knightmare]

Lol! The thread is titled "Knightmare's 2014 Phantom Draft", ie. Where Knightmare thinks the kids who nominate for the 2014 draft will get drafted too. Its not titled "Knightmare rates the 2014 potential draftees".

Now this might come as a surprise to you but you need a predicted draft order before you can construct a phantom draft, its kind of important to know who has pick 1, 2, 3, 4 etc. . So Kightmare has given us his prediction of what the ladder will look like at the end of 2014.

It's coming good chap.

Next update when I get around to it possibly over the new year it will be contructed more as a phantom draft.

I just like some early discussion to get going.

With Jake Lever needing a knee reco do you still think he will go in the top 10?

Hurts the draft stocks and with that probably won't go top 10. Still should get drafted though if he takes his recovery seriously even if he doesn't return next season.

Late first round or second round would be about right if he misses the season. If he comes back and stars then top 10 still possible.

Will be interesting to see how things go with Lever as he is one of the better performed and more professional types so I'm optimistic things will go ok for him.

 

[aussierulesrules]

A lot may also depend on whether Lever grows at all between now and then. If he gets to "true KPP height" that will probably help to offset the injury concerns somewhat.

 

[Knightmare]

Who of the tall forward's would you select as a replacement for Nick Riewoldt KM? Is it a matter of best one still around at our pick (2-4)?

Whoever of Wright or McCartin is available at that St Kilda selection. They're the two dominant key forwards in this draft at this point.

Probably on my own but I think Smith is going to end up one of the overrated ones on BF next year.

Just up to this post now but that's largely how/where I see Smith. A 10-20 type prospect is largely where I see him going and what I see him being worth. I'm just waiting for some others to pop their heads up and present as genuine top 10ers before I really bump Smith more square into that range.

 

[Knightmare]

I've got in no real order a top 6 of Durdin, Bampton, Lever, Wright, Stretch, Nelson. SA are going to have another good year at Champs I feel.

No love for McCartin? He's big time in my view. Absolutely dominant by position and a chance for the no.1 overall selection.

 

[tigs2010]

No love for McCartin? He's big time in my view. Absolutely dominant by position and a chance for the no.1 overall selection.

I've got him in the next level with Goddard currently but of the 2 I prefer McCartin and see him the better chance of going into the top echelon. Health issues worry me a bit to use a top 5 type pick on him. But that's up to the medicos at the end of the day. Good talent.

Pickett is another I really rate though I've been burned a bit with the small indigenous boys. Like yourself I've got him before Smith.

 

[Wild Bill]

It's coming good chap.

Next update when I get around to it possibly over the new year it will be contructed more as a phantom draft.

I just like some early discussion to get going.



Hurts the draft stocks and with that probably won't go top 10. Still should get drafted though if he takes his recovery seriously even if he doesn't return next season.

Late first round or second round would be about right if he misses the season. If he comes back and stars then top 10 still possible.

Will be interesting to see how things go with Lever as he is one of the better performed and more professional types so I'm optimistic things will go ok for him.

He is aiming for June but that would be best case senerio. Like Menzel the slide will more than likely happen. Ripping kid so I hope it all turns out for him.

 

[BrianSpeaking]

Goddard will struggle to go top 5, Peter Wright a clear 1 IMO with McCartin next.

 

[eaglespremiers]

Sydney for depth are much weaker now and the gain of Franklin is offset by the loss of Mumford with the ruck division and midfield weakened without Mummy there to followup his own ruckwork and do damage to the opposition midfielders with that big body of his.

Mumford was a bit player for Sydney this year.
It does place Sydney in a precarious position but if Pyke stays fit then they should be fine.
Suppose Derickx and Nankervis are considered ruck depth, hmm....

 

[RGpies]

knightmare, do you see the pies trading heavily again to get higher into the draft like this season? i understand its probably hard to answer because it depends where we finish and player performances next season. But Hine said in an interview that they will put a lot of effort into the 2014 draft. Which players could you see us as using as trade bait? I know your a fan of goldsack but his time could be up...

 

[POKsPies252]

knightmare, do you see the pies trading heavily again to get higher into the draft like this season? i understand its probably hard to answer because it depends where we finish and player performances next season. But Hine said in an interview that they will put a lot of effort into the 2014 draft. Which players could you see us as using as trade bait? I know your a fan of goldsack but his time could be up...

The two players seen as 'trade bait' could be Goldy and Lumumba however both are FA meaning if they are to leave it won't be through a trade. They are both worth around a mid second rounder (pick 25-30) which could be handy given the depth of next years draft. Perhaps if both left via FA we could get an end of first round pick. To early to speculate though i guess.

 

[Knightmare]

Mumford was a bit player for Sydney this year.
It does place Sydney in a precarious position but if Pyke stays fit then they should be fine.
Suppose Derickx and Nankervis are considered ruck depth, hmm....

It depends on how you evaluate their talents.

Pyke is a weapon up forward with his marking but only average as a ruckman. He was an ideal no.2 ruckman.

Derickx I don't rate. He hasn't done anything yet. And Nankervis as productive as he was in the u18s will still require some time to develop even though I feel strongly about his game that he is one who will develop.

knightmare, do you see the pies trading heavily again to get higher into the draft like this season? i understand its probably hard to answer because it depends where we finish and player performances next season. But Hine said in an interview that they will put a lot of effort into the 2014 draft. Which players could you see us as using as trade bait? I know your a fan of goldsack but his time could be up...

People continue talking about Collingwood liking the 2014 draft and it makes sense with the KPPs available next year but Hine in his interviews has actually spoken about the 2015 draft as the stronger draft and the one he'd most like to be involved in.

Whether Collingwood trade into another first round draft selection depends on how we evaluate the talents on our list. With all the key forwards in this draft it's a logical draft to want to get another first round selection in, but until we've experienced the season and we feel there is someone we want to offload I'd probably class it as unlikely with no obvious player to trade away that will command that level of currency.

Goldsack as with Macaffer and Blair among others could be on the trade table at the end of the season depending on how some of the youth are coming through but none of these guys will attract that currency required to move into the first round.

Maybe a Ben Kennedy if he has a breakout season and wants to go back to SA, Sidebottom or a Brown or Keeffe if they continue to improve could be others to attract a first round selection as guys who we don't necessarily require to win but I don't see Collingwood looking to move these specific players.

 

[manny100]

Should the Dees finish bottom 3 if they do not trade that pick as they did this year then they will take best available even if its a tall. I suspect GWS will do the same.

 

[Gysberts2Bate]

I suspect GWS will do the same.

Becomes more likely if Patton goes. Otherwise it's Patton, Boyd, Cameron, McCarthy and a Wright/Goddard type + Jaksch and others. Could only lead to mutiny.

 

[coniglio_number1]

Wow arnt teams allowed to have depth talls? Developing talls? Basically I see some excellent smalls falling to lower picks despite being a grade talent