Draft Watcher Knightmare's 2018 AFL Draft Almanac

[geelong_crazy26]

Knightmare

For the geelong fans on the geelong board for me to take over, can you please give us a run down of Nathan Krueger?? How highly is he rated in your opinion and those of who you spoke with also from clubs??

Cheers.

 

[MotleyLemon]

Knightmare

For the geelong fans on the geelong board for me to take over, can you please give us a run down of Nathan Krueger?? How highly is he rated in your opinion and those of who you spoke with also from clubs??

Cheers.

Terrific athlete. Has the speed and agility like few KPPs. An able mark. Much improved this year and impressively managed good SANFL League numbers which is a real positive. The way he plays, I wouldn't be shocked if he even walked into a midfield one day - having those kinds of ground ball winning capabilities.

He reminds me of ex Pies/Swan Jesse White, though a better version with more polish and better overhead capabilities.

He's developable and one Geelong fans should continue to track the development of with interest.

 

[suns303]

Anyone know if its possible to watch under 18 championships replays?

 

[BORIS332]

KM, is Aaron Nietschke a potential bolter? Has the runs on the board at all levels this year, including the SANFL U18 MVP.

 

[Art Vandelay_]

Tim Kelly is worth (in my view) a top 7-10 pick this year. He's terrific and so impressive already.

I'm not sure why I said pick 5 above.

As for Kreuger. He could push for games next year. No real standout option I wouldn't have thought for Geelong, so depends on whether his improvement continues. Has a shot.

Could we play him and Esava at the same time? I think they'll pick Ratugolea for the ruckwork assistance and to not screw around with Blicavs.
I'm assuming no Menzel btw. Stay or go he's cooked. Sad to see

 

[Davo-27]

Anyone know if its possible to watch under 18 championships replays?

check the u/18 championships part of the forum, under Drafts, Trading & Free Agency tab

 

[gothedons]

check the u/18 championships part of the forum, under Drafts, Trading & Free Agency tab

can only see the full replay of one match here (SA v WA)...

 

[Knightmare]

Anyone know if its possible to watch under 18 championships replays?

You'd have to find somewhere to download it - a digital copy.

Not aware of the games being publcialy available.

KM, is Aaron Nietschke a potential bolter? Has the runs on the board at all levels this year, including the SANFL U18 MVP.

Not a national combine invite so I would have thought he's a late/rookie pick.

Not to say he doesn't represent late draft value if picked.

Could we play him and Esava at the same time? I think they'll pick Ratugolea for the ruckwork assistance and to not screw around with Blicavs.
I'm assuming no Menzel btw. Stay or go he's cooked. Sad to see

Maybe it's just me, but I'm still a fan of Menzel. Averaged two goals a game each of the past two seasons (elite). Elite playmaker with his ball use i50 setting up targets elite. AFL clubs don't seem to care and didn't last offseason with no one offering him a two year deal, but I would have.

On Esava and Kreuger though, I don't see playing both as being too tall. Kreuger is so athletic and freakish at ground level, that he doesn't have to count against your KPP stocks. Play them both, Hawkins and a ruckman and that's fine.

 

[Ravenhawke]

KM. I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on Rankine's kicking test at the combine.

A score of 16 out of 30 and looked terrible on the left. Could this have been to throw a few Vic clubs off in hopes of sliding later in the draft to an S.A team? Or just folded under pressure? He is usually a beautiful kick of the footy and I was quite shocked watching his footage.

 

[Knightmare]

KM. I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on Rankine's kicking test at the combine.

A score of 16 out of 30 and looked terrible on the left. Could this have been to throw a few Vic clubs off in hopes of sliding later in the draft to an S.A team? Or just folded under pressure? He is usually a beautiful kick of the footy and I was quite shocked watching his footage.

He's a mostly one sided kick - much preferring using his right though has shown some improvement on his left this year using it a couple of times on that side and hitting some targets.

He's better under pressure and more an in-game kick who seems to enjoy someone on his tail.

It's a test where good kicks can do poorly and bad kicks can do well.

Like most of the combine tests, I don't put much weight on it.

In-game metrics if I'm an evaluate for a club with that information - whether it's GPS numbers, kick rating. Whatever it is. That's more what should be valued.

The combine more than anything just helps to explain some of the things you might or might not see on match day. It's also interesting from the perspective of seeing improvement, checking measurements and seeing if kids are still growing.

 

[Squiba]

Final thoughts on Sparrow Knightmare?

 

[Knightmare]

Final thoughts on Sparrow Knightmare?

Like him. Top 25 on my draft board.

Powerful ball winner. Powerful tackler. Ultra explosive. Skills seem pretty good. Looks very developable.

Worth a second round pick.

 

[6yearsold]

who is Mitch Podhajski?

apparently we have interviewed him a few times.

 

[Knightmare]

who is Mitch Podhajski?

apparently we have interviewed him a few times.

Overage tall mid at 191cm. Powerful ball winner, can go forward and take a grab and hit the scoreboard. Has the production on the board in a big way.

Was one of the best in the TAC Cup this year and is one of the undervalued prospects in this draft pool.

 

[6yearsold]

Overage tall mid at 191cm. Powerful ball winner, can go forward and take a grab and hit the scoreboard. Has the production on the board in a big way.

Was one of the best in the TAC Cup this year and is one of the undervalued prospects in this draft pool.

where do you think he would go in the draft?

our first pick will be mid 2nd round

 

[Knightmare]

where do you think he would go in the draft?

our first pick will be mid 2nd round

One of those I evaluate as being worth a late second round pick, but is most likely to go late draft or possibly slip through to the rookie draft.

 

[Footywizard]

When do you thing Bailey scott would get bid on? Just seeing what kind of points the roos would need. Post polec deal we'd need to use quite a few picks to nab Thomas.
We may need to bring in another pick, maybe a future pick swap

 

[Crow till I die]

Hi Knightmare

With the crows securing pick 13 from Sydney, they now have picks 8, 13, 16 & 21 in this draft. Port after trading Polec & Pittard have picks 10, 11 & 23. Do you see either of these clubs having the collateral to move up into the top 5 of the draft or even higher? From a list management perspective, I think port are better served taking their 3 picks to the draft as they have lost outside run and some quality in this trade period and need quantity of quality players whereas the crows list in my opinion is probably more balanced and they may be in a better position to 'sell the farm' for one or 2 topline players - your thoughts?

 

[6yearsold]

One of those I evaluate as being worth a late second round pick, but is most likely to go late draft or possibly slip through to the rookie draft.

thanks for your info. do you have any idea why he didn't get drafted last year?

 

[drasticswans]

Enjoying the read so far. Genuinely curious. How come you know so much about all these draft prospects? Do you just follow it intensely. Sounds like you should be a scout!

 

[Knightmare]

When do you thing Bailey scott would get bid on? Just seeing what kind of points the roos would need. Post polec deal we'd need to use quite a few picks to nab Thomas.
We may need to bring in another pick, maybe a future pick swap

Mid draft. 30s-40s roughly is my best guess.

Hi Knightmare

With the crows securing pick 13 from Sydney, they now have picks 8, 13, 16 & 21 in this draft. Port after trading Polec & Pittard have picks 10, 11 & 23. Do you see either of these clubs having the collateral to move up into the top 5 of the draft or even higher? From a list management perspective, I think port are better served taking their 3 picks to the draft as they have lost outside run and some quality in this trade period and need quantity of quality players whereas the crows list in my opinion is probably more balanced and they may be in a better position to 'sell the farm' for one or 2 topline players - your thoughts?

Depends how many of those pieces those clubs are open to moving.

Carlton love Walsh and Gold Coast love Lukosius. So they're the two picks with the greatest price premiums attached and it's going to take well overs to get either. Then you've got those top 7 picks that are that next bracket in the minds of recruiters that hold serious value and again clubs will have to pay well overs to get one of those picks.

Would the Crows give up 8, 13 and their 2019 first round pick to move up to pick 1 or 2? If so maybe Carlton or Gold Coast think about it. (In points value index terms probably 1000+ points overs for either club to seriously consider the offer)

Adelaide's picks 8 and 13 or Port's picks 10 and 11 may get in the conversation for a trade for pick 3 or 4, though favourable pick switching may also be required to get the deal over the line (In points value index terms probably 500+ over).

What should both clubs do? I'm even more enthralled by the top end (not Walsh) but Lukosius/Rankine/Smith I rate more highly than recruiters do and I'd take just about any offer I can to move into that top group. In the situations of Adelaide or Port, specifically to get Lukosius or Rankine.

In Adelaide's situation I'd go big and go for picks 2 and 3 (to secure Lukosius and Rankine) and offer 8,13,16,21 and the clubs 2019 first round pick and some later pick switches if that satisfied Gold Coast. I'd also be open to changing out some of those parts for players if that suits Gold Coast better.

thanks for your info. do you have any idea why he didn't get drafted last year?

Played key defence last year and didn't stand out.

Having that opportunity to play in the midfield and forward and dominate this year, he looks like a completely different player - having contested ball winning capabilities and the capacity to hit the scoreboard like I had not imagined.

Enjoying the read so far. Genuinely curious. How come you know so much about all these draft prospects? Do you just follow it intensely. Sounds like you should be a scout!

I go to and watch as many games as I can and look through all the statistics from all the competitions each week.

I enjoy the freedom and flexibility I get with ESPN more than the lifestyle actual AFL recruiters go through. They have anywhere between 2-4 games to attend on any given day and have to drive long distances often and be at multiple different venues on a given day and often needing to leave particular games early - which aren't lifestyle choices having a full time job outside of my work for ESPN that I feel for me would be sustainable or necessarily enjoyable. I'd much rather attend one venue on a weekend day and then watch another game online and be more thorough in my analysis and have that opportunity to choose which games or venues I would like to attend.

 

[Crow till I die]

Depends how many of those pieces those clubs are open to moving.

Carlton love Walsh and Gold Coast love Lukosius. So they're the two picks with the greatest price premiums attached and it's going to take well overs to get either. Then you've got those top 7 picks that are that next bracket in the minds of recruiters that hold serious value and again clubs will have to pay well overs to get one of those picks.

Would the Crows give up 8, 13 and their 2019 first round pick to move up to pick 1 or 2? If so maybe Carlton or Gold Coast think about it. (In points value index terms probably 1000+ points overs for either club to seriously consider the offer)

Adelaide's picks 8 and 13 or Port's picks 10 and 11 may get in the conversation for a trade for pick 3 or 4, though favourable pick switching may also be required to get the deal over the line (In points value index terms probably 500+ over).

What should both clubs do? I'm even more enthralled by the top end (not Walsh) but Lukosius/Rankine/Smith I rate more highly than recruiters do and I'd take just about any offer I can to move into that top group. In the situations of Adelaide or Port, specifically to get Lukosius or Rankine.

In Adelaide's situation I'd go big and go for picks 2 and 3 (to secure Lukosius and Rankine) and offer 8,13,16,21 and the clubs 2019 first round pick and some later pick switches if that satisfied Gold Coast. I'd also be open to changing out some of those parts for players if that suits Gold Coast better.

As usual Knighmare, appreciate your thoughts. If we (crows) had to offer up all our 4 picks this year and do something with our 2019 1st to secure GC picks 2 & 3, I would do that because I think getting Rankine and Lukosius into the club (both local and big crows fans) adds serious high end talent to go with Fogarty, Milera, Gallucci etc and we also bring in McAdam and Stengle to add more pace and spice up front. I think it would be worth the gamble and I have this nagging feeling Reid is up to his eyeballs in a deal as he is going to great pains to downplay supporter expectations

 

[Knightmare]

As usual Knighmare, appreciate your thoughts. If we (crows) had to offer up all our 4 picks this year and do something with our 2019 1st to secure GC picks 2 & 3, I would do that because I think getting Rankine and Lukosius into the club (both local and big crows fans) adds serious high end talent to go with Fogarty, Milera, Gallucci etc and we also bring in McAdam and Stengle to add more pace and spice up front. I think it would be worth the gamble and I have this nagging feeling Reid is up to his eyeballs in a deal as he is going to great pains to downplay supporter expectations

For me, it's not even just that Rankine and Lukosius are local. It's a bonus.

I think the key is the Crows are a great situation in terms of the clubs capacity to develop talent generally, having never had those ultra early picks and still picking out gems from the draft and developing the playing list incredibly well.

I'm not looking at Rankine and Lukosius at Gold Coast if they were their picks developing nearly as well with Gold Coast lacking the veteran experience or proven player development.

Adelaide and I have West Coast on parr, I have long regarded as the best developers of KPP talent competition-wide. So getting Lukosius, he could maximise his potential with Adelaide. No reason Rankine's development couldn't be maximised in Adelaide either.

 

[LittleG]

For me, it's not even just that Rankine and Lukosius are local. It's a bonus.

I think the key is the Crows are a great situation in terms of the clubs capacity to develop talent generally, having never had those ultra early picks and still picking out gems from the draft and developing the playing list incredibly well.

I'm not looking at Rankine and Lukosius at Gold Coast if they were their picks developing nearly as well with Gold Coast lacking the veteran experience or proven player development.

Adelaide and I have West Coast on parr, I have long regarded as the best developers of KPP talent competition-wide. So getting Lukosius, he could maximise his potential with Adelaide. No reason Rankine's development couldn't be maximised in Adelaide either.

IF Port had 7, 10&11 plus 2019 first, is in my mind a better offer for GC.

Not sure IF Port would pull the trigger to trade Wingard for pick 7, to then trump the Crows offer and get picks 2&3.

 

[Crow till I die]

IF Port had 7, 10&11 plus 2019 first, is in my mind a better offer for GC.

Not sure IF Port would pull the trigger to trade Wingard for pick 7, to then trump the Crows offer and get picks 2&3.

They could...but gee they are losing a lot if they trade wingard, polec and pittard out and use up all their draft capital