Draft Watcher Knightmare's 2019 Draft Almanac

[Knightmare]

Did I miss your post earlier goat123 ? If so apologies.

O'Neill being a top end pick can feel pretty secure inside the first round. He could only see his stocks really reduce if he can't return to any kind of reasonable form/medicals suggest major ankle problems. He's shown plenty so he'll remain high on draft boards.

Dylan Williams hasn't started the season as strongly as I'd have liked, and that's because I liked what he did last year so much. Anderson particularly but Rowell have created a fair bit of separation to open the season whereas Williams has gone from someone some viewed as a potential number one to someone who more 5-10 is more suitable for selection if I'm picking today. It's good seeing him get opportunities through the midfield, but I've liked his play a fair bit more as a forward. It feels like his best spot at this stage.

 

[goat123]

Did I miss your post earlier goat123 ? If so apologies.

O'Neill being a top end pick can feel pretty secure inside the first round. He could only see his stocks really reduce if he can't return to any kind of reasonable form/medicals suggest major ankle problems. He's shown plenty so he'll remain high on draft boards.

Dylan Williams hasn't started the season as strongly as I'd have liked, and that's because I liked what he did last year so much. Anderson particularly but Rowell have created a fair bit of separation to open the season whereas Williams has gone from someone some viewed as a potential number one to someone who more 5-10 is more suitable for selection if I'm picking today. It's good seeing him get opportunities through the midfield, but I've liked his play a fair bit more as a forward. It feels like his best spot at this stage.

Yeah true was too good last year AA bottem age will be interesting to see how he gose when he returns

 

[Turbocat]

Knightmare .... is there some sort of rep game this weekend ..and is it broadcast like the NAB league games?

 

[Knightmare]

Knightmare .... is there some sort of rep game this weekend ..and is it broadcast like the NAB league games?

AFL U18 v Casey (Melbourne VFL) at MCG 11am. Will be there.

On Foxtel if you have it.

 

[Turbocat]

AFL U18 v Casey (Melbourne VFL) at MCG 11am. Will be there.

On Foxtel if you have it.

Thanks buddy... is there a selected side on a website somewhere .. doesnt seem to be any mention of it on the afl.com.au ?

 

[Knightmare]

Thanks buddy... is there a selected side on a website somewhere .. doesnt seem to be any mention of it on the afl.com.au ?

From Draft Central:

VIC COUNTRY
Brodie Kemp (Bendigo Pioneers)
Hayden Young (Dandenong Stingrays)
Cooper Stephens (Geelong Falcons) * injured and won’t play
Sam Flanders (Gippsland Power)
Caleb Serong (Gippsland Power)
Lachlan Ash (Murray Bushrangers)

VIC METRO
Noah Anderson (Oakleigh Chargers)
Trent Bianco (Oakleigh Chargers)
Nick Bryan (Oakleigh Chargers)
Matthew Rowell (Oakleigh Chargers)
Dylan Williams (Oakleigh Chargers)
Jack Mahony (Sandringham Dragons)
Fischer McAsey (Sandringham Dragons)
Joshua Worrell (Sandringham Dragons)
Emerson Jeka (Western Jets)

ALLIES
Will Martyn (Brisbane Lions Academy)
Connor Budarick (Gold Coast Academy)
Thomas Green (GWS Giants Academy)
Liam Delahunty (GWS Giants Academy)
Malcolm Rosas jnr (Northern Territory)
Mitch O’Neill (Tasmania Devils)

 

[Muffasa]

From Draft Central:

VIC COUNTRY
Brodie Kemp (Bendigo Pioneers)
Hayden Young (Dandenong Stingrays)
Cooper Stephens (Geelong Falcons) * injured and won’t play
Sam Flanders (Gippsland Power)
Caleb Serong (Gippsland Power)
Lachlan Ash (Murray Bushrangers)

VIC METRO
Noah Anderson (Oakleigh Chargers)
Trent Bianco (Oakleigh Chargers)
Nick Bryan (Oakleigh Chargers)
Matthew Rowell (Oakleigh Chargers)
Dylan Williams (Oakleigh Chargers)
Jack Mahony (Sandringham Dragons)
Fischer McAsey (Sandringham Dragons)
Joshua Worrell (Sandringham Dragons)
Emerson Jeka (Western Jets)

ALLIES
Will Martyn (Brisbane Lions Academy)
Connor Budarick (Gold Coast Academy)
Thomas Green (GWS Giants Academy)
Liam Delahunty (GWS Giants Academy)
Malcolm Rosas jnr (Northern Territory)
Mitch O’Neill (Tasmania Devils)

Will Gould (Capt)
Tom Green (Vice)
Noah Anderson (Vice)

 

[eDPS]

Will Gould (Capt)
Tom Green (Vice)
Noah Anderson (Vice)

Rowell would be my expectation as captain, Anderson a seriously impressive leader hearing him out on the ground and on the interchange.

 

[Muffasa]

Rowell would be my expectation as captain, Anderson a seriously impressive leader hearing him out on the ground and on the interchange.

Why would your expectation be Rowell?It was a players vote.

 

[eDPS]

Why would your expectation be Rowell?It was a players vote.

Wait that’s the confirmed leadership group? Fair enough then

 

[Muffasa]

According to one of the players

 

[mustang]

Not something that has occurred to me.

If enough teams will be active and there is enough interest, I'll consider it and/or a review.

If not, can always comment on twitter if there are standout pickups.

Is there any kids who could be picked up in the mid season that weren’t draft last November and could be top 40/50 in this years November draft if not selected in the Mid season draft. Could a club get a bargain.

 

[Soups]

Ultra impressed with the hardness of these kids against Casey. Great to watch.

 

[Knightmare]

Is there any kids who could be picked up in the mid season that weren’t draft last November and could be top 40/50 in this years November draft if not selected in the Mid season draft. Could a club get a bargain.

There isn't that standout yet, but it doesn't mean they won't appear.

It's more a group I can late make a case for. Stephen Cumming (Ex Dandenong played for NT in NAB League) and Nick Murray (GWS Academy - brother of Collingwood's Sam) as a ruckman and key defender respectively are two I've early days enjoyed the play of. Same with Peatling/Lucas from GWS Academy as mid/fwds. Kyle Dunkley (Syd F/S) as a mid.

Ultra impressed with the hardness of these kids against Casey. Great to watch.

It's a good group.

I've been saying it for a while. But the first round and those really top talents - Anderson/Rowell/Green. They're particularly exceptional and stack up with top picks from any year.

 

[BigDance]

Going to watch the game myself tonight on Foxtel. Have you done a game analysis Knightmare?

 

[Knightmare]

Going to watch the game myself tonight on Foxtel. Have you done a game analysis Knightmare?

I tweeted earlier:
Rowell, Anderson, Green all terrific as expected. Bianco's kickouts were nice. Delahunty presented up well at the footy. There is talent up the top end this year.

*Would also add to that Young went well.

My weekly wraps go up onto ESPN each Tuesday.

--
For some basic game notes that I may/may not touch upon.

Early days it took a while for the U18s to get comfortable/get the pace of the game. Second quarter onwards they felt more and more comfortable while Casey felt well drilled and moved it fairly well.

In defence with the U18s there was a real lack of accountability and focus. Giving up a lot of marks i50, but then Casey would often improve the position of the kick on goal and the U18 defenders would be asleep and not focused and it was a theme throughout. Too often in defence there were unmanned Casey forwards and when they lead up at the footy the U18s weren't all that competitive and didn't give much of a contest.

Defensive running from the mids was poor and too often (other than Rowell) there wasn't that support getting back either to support the defenders and when Casey got the ball moving it often felt like a forgone conclusion they would score.

But then again you cut the U18s some slack for being u18s and not having that chemistry, but even individually a lot of those defensive efforts were really poor.

Q3 some really nice physicality through the mids by some of the big names - Rowell/Green really didn't back down and Anderson came alight.

They're more the general game notes without going really into the individuals which I'll do in my wrap on Tuesday.

The top end looks really nice this year. Clubs with picks inside the top 5 particularly will be getting some exceptional footballers. But even top 10, first round. There are good prospects.

 

[Turbocat]

I tweeted earlier:
Rowell, Anderson, Green all terrific as expected. Bianco's kickouts were nice. Delahunty presented up well at the footy. There is talent up the top end this year.

*Would also add to that Young went well.

My weekly wraps go up onto ESPN each Tuesday.

--
For some basic game notes that I may/may not touch upon.

Early days it took a while for the U18s to get comfortable/get the pace of the game. Second quarter onwards they felt more and more comfortable while Casey felt well drilled and moved it fairly well.

In defence with the U18s there was a real lack of accountability and focus. Giving up a lot of marks i50, but then Casey would often improve the position of the kick on goal and the U18 defenders would be asleep and not focused and it was a theme throughout. Too often in defence there were unmanned Casey forwards and when they lead up at the footy the U18s weren't all that competitive and didn't give much of a contest.

Defensive running from the mids was poor and too often (other than Rowell) there wasn't that support getting back either to support the defenders and when Casey got the ball moving it often felt like a forgone conclusion they would score.

But then again you cut the U18s some slack for being u18s and not having that chemistry, but even individually a lot of those defensive efforts were really poor.

Q3 some really nice physicality through the mids by some of the big names - Rowell/Green really didn't back down and Anderson came alight.

They're more the general game notes without going really into the individuals which I'll do in my wrap on Tuesday.

The top end looks really nice this year. Clubs with picks inside the top 5 particularly will be getting some exceptional footballers. But even top 10, first round. There are good prospects.

I wonder what advantage is in it for a team like Casey ... maybe a VFL Vic u22 side would be a better way to go.. have another group of guys out there trying to show what they can offer. The Casey guys almost looked embarrassed to be being beaten at times.

 

[Knightmare]

I wonder what advantage is in it for a team like Casey ... maybe a VFL Vic u22 side would be a better way to go.. have another group of guys out there trying to show what they can offer. The Casey guys almost looked embarrassed to be being beaten at times.

Casey would have gone in fully expecting to win. They've been a top 4 side each of the past three seasons. A lot of talk that this draft class isn't much chop (what seems like a consensus and one I continue to disagree with).

With all the byes the VFL sides get, as a VFL club you'd almost be putting up your hand to play another game. Particularly with 10 of those guys Melbourne listed footballers who want senior opportunities.

There are similar concepts to what you're thinking with the Victorian Young Guns games where those sorts AFL clubs may have some interest in can have another look.

It would suck as a player being basically a talent scout out there, losing to a bunch of u18s. But great for Melbourne getting to see how their seconds players go first hand v this year's best and give them a feel for how good this draft is and a feel from the players and coaches as to who they may like in this years draft.

 

[Turbocat]

Casey would have gone in fully expecting to win. They've been a top 4 side each of the past three seasons. A lot of talk that this draft class isn't much chop (what seems like a consensus and one I continue to disagree with).

With all the byes the VFL sides get, as a VFL club you'd almost be putting up your hand to play another game. Particularly with 10 of those guys Melbourne listed footballers who want senior opportunities.

There are similar concepts to what you're thinking with the Victorian Young Guns games where those sorts AFL clubs may have some interest in can have another look.

It would suck as a player being basically a talent scout out there, losing to a bunch of u18s. But great for Melbourne getting to see how their seconds players go first hand v this year's best and give them a feel for how good this draft is and a feel from the players and coaches as to who they may like in this years draft.

It just looked to me like a no win situation for some of the casey players.. and there was some frustraition that spilled into ill-discipline. Rawling really ripped into them at on break .. and a game of the best 25 2019 draft primes V 25 of a group 19-22 looking for a chance would seem to have more for both sides... but as you say maybe there other concepts that I have not watched like the young guns.

A few players really put up there look at me signs by the end of the game.. Picket is small but man he had ping at some marks.. Worrell looked interesting ..and I really like the look of the OHead talents of DWilliams.

 

[Knightmare]

It just looked to me like a no win situation for some of the casey players.. and there was some frustraition that spilled into ill-discipline. Rawling really ripped into them at on break .. and a game of the best 25 2019 draft primes V 25 of a group 19-22 looking for a chance would seem to have more for both sides... but as you say maybe there other concepts that I have not watched like the young guns.

A few players really put up there look at me signs by the end of the game.. Picket is small but man he had ping at some marks.. Worrell looked interesting ..and I really like the look of the OHead talents of DWilliams.

O'Neil?

Pickett really elevated twice but both times felt like unrealistic attempts. Nice to see he can get up, but unless he's a realistic chance I'd rather he stay at ground level. A few times he wasn't as clean as I would have liked. Did kick a goal in the end and his final quarter was his better quarter.

D.Williams had some good moments.

Worrell likewise.

 

[Slick]

Hi KM, I've had a look through and couldn't see that anyone had asked, but how do you rate Finn Maginness? Where does he sit in your rankings and what are his strengths and weaknesses in your opinion? Cheers

 

[Knightmare]

Hi KM, I've had a look through and couldn't see that anyone had asked, but how do you rate Finn Maginness? Where does he sit in your rankings and what are his strengths and weaknesses in your opinion? Cheers

Maginness I look at as a mid-draft chance. I'd rate him around 30-50 at this early stage.

He's one some have thrown up during the preseason as a possible top 10 pick, but for me if any are talking about him like that, he's one of a larger group of players I feel has been hyped beyond his capabilities.

For me he's lacking that point of difference. Reasonably composed, able at ground level, skills mostly good, good but not outstanding ball winner, finds enough of it but doesn't often enough hurt you/influence games. There isn't anything he is great at or near best at draft at doing at this stage.

 

[briztoon]

Casey would have gone in fully expecting to win. They've been a top 4 side each of the past three seasons. A lot of talk that this draft class isn't much chop (what seems like a consensus and one I continue to disagree with).

With all the byes the VFL sides get, as a VFL club you'd almost be putting up your hand to play another game. Particularly with 10 of those guys Melbourne listed footballers who want senior opportunities.

There are similar concepts to what you're thinking with the Victorian Young Guns games where those sorts AFL clubs may have some interest in can have another look.

It would suck as a player being basically a talent scout out there, losing to a bunch of u18s. But great for Melbourne getting to see how their seconds players go first hand v this year's best and give them a feel for how good this draft is and a feel from the players and coaches as to who they may like in this years draft.

Not sure who you're talking to, to come that view of the consensus.

I'm going to cut and paste, and provide the links to, to two posts. One from the beginning of last year, and the other from the beginning of this year. Because one thread is locked, I can't hit reply and copy in direct quotes the whole post, showing the member who posted it, if you understand.

The bolded section in each post is the main point.

https://www.bigfooty.com/forum/threads/edps-draft-watch-2018.1186073/page-4#post-54814482

Hi all - this is my first post so please be gentle.

First the intro - I have been employed in AFL club land for a number of years and that ceased at the end of last season. Was in recruiting and talent id and emphasis was on observing players from U16 year through to Draft year - but mainly through APS/AGSV and TAC systems.

So now I am just an observer and these are just my opinions...

I believe the 2018 Draft crop - other than the first say 10 picks - will end up being a very disappointing group. I base this on the fact that all great draft's have historically had a strong emphasis on the strength on the Vic Metro/Vic Country groups and i am putting it out there that the 2018 groups are very, very thin...

I base this on my initial observations from 2016 U16 Nationals - VM did not win a game and VC only beat VM in a very lack lustre game and lost other 2 games. This was early indicator of the weakness of this group from a Victorian standpoint. I also dont want to take away from strength of other states - as SA this year is as strong a group as i can remember - its just that i am making the point that all good draft crops rely on the largest pool of its players coming from Victoria and i believe this years Vics are very average. The AFL Academy intake at this year level also further backs up my point - the King brothers are covering the weakness in this group.

As mentioned earlier i have been a close observer of APS/AGSV over last decade and my concern with 2018 crop was further heightened during last years private school season. Sticking just with APS to make my point - 2017 was a really interesting year - with Haileybury with about best team in private school history (Brayshaw, Constable, Davies-Uniacke, Bonar, etc...and the Kings), Geelong Grammar had the fab four (Dow, Brander, O'Brien and Daniels), Caulfield were incredibly strong and Carey were brilliantly coached etc...but the thing i noted with great interest was the distinct lack of quality year 11's in a lot of the teams.

To emphasize my concerns further i want to highlight 2 boys in particular that have recruiters very concerned about 2018 and very excited about 2019. In all my years of watching APS footy i have never seen year 10's come in and influence games as much as Matt Rowell (Carey) and Jack Mahony (St Kevins) did in 2017. History tells me that many year 10 boys play - but i have not seen young players do what these boys (and Noah Anderson from Carey) did consistently and that makes me think that they are simply a lot better than this years year 12 boys.

So that is my quick observations on last 2 years but what about this year - and round one of TAC i think further confirms my concerns. If you go through teams i simply cannot remember a Round 1 that had so many bottom age players. If you ignore the 19 year olds - which btw are becoming a joke as they were originally were meant to be either under developed bigs or injured players and now they have become just guys unlucky not to be drafted and coming back to assist teams to win games - the volume of bottom ages was very concerning from a 2018 draft perspective. Just look at Vic Metro TAC teams - bottom agers everywhere like never before in round one. I got told on weekend that initial VM squad for 2018 has 29 players - this includes 7 AFL Academy bottom agers and 3 19 year olds - so i ask the question is this really the year on the super draft ???

Now my disclaimer - the top end of 2018 draft is seriously elite - i am just questioning the depth...

https://www.bigfooty.com/forum/threads/edps-draft-watch-2018.1186073/page-40#post-59448178

Ok it’s been a while since I last posted but I had a last minute reprieve and went back into AFL system again so kept quiet whilst employed – but now definitely retired so want to share my thoughts again.

I would like to share some thoughts of how things work inside AFL land with regards recruiting and how that differs a little from what I sometimes read here.

When looking at a draft crop I think the one thing that sometimes is over looked by many here but absolutely is the most important issue for recruiters is a boy’s exposure and performance to top level footy at a young age. For many the AFL is the first exposure to ‘open age’ football so we are really interested in performances of boys against older peers. So that means National Championships (and to a lesser degree TAC finals) and school footy is really important in your bottom age years. If you look at last few drafts there have been high end picks who didn’t have great draft years but have shown earlier they can mix it against older bodies and that is what AFL is – look at Caldwell, McHenry & Butters from 2018 – all high picks). So if we look at 2019 draft crop what have AFL recruiters noted to this point?

Overall 2019 is a very strong draft – it’s way deeper than 2018 – but will be judged harsher purely on the lack of high end talls – there are basically none at this stage who are demanding a top 10 pick (although Luke Jackson you could make a case for). Vic Metro will be seriously strong in 2019 and will provide a large number of high picks.

Ok I just wanted to get this started before giving my opinions below. Please note my opinions are based on my first hand experience only at this stage – so I am only commenting about performances that I have witnessed live. So this is largely based on U16 Nationals, APS/AGSV footy (17-18), AFL Academy (NZ game), U18 Nationals and TAC.

I have deliberately left out the Futures GF game as whilst we watch it – most recruiters discount performances as it brings together a large number of boys who have not played for weeks and isn’t a level playing field. And if you watched closely this year the game was coached from a very different angle by both coaches. Tony Bamford coached Black team and played his best players in best positions all day – whilst Luke Power (White) gave priority to players not part of AFL Academy particularly in mid field and this impacted greatly on the game. So don’t read much into this game – that said Rowell and Serong were outstanding…

So for 2019 this is where most AFL recruiters have things at this stage - there are 9 standouts above all others at this time:

Vic Metro: Rowell, Anderson, Mahony & Williams
Allies: O’Neill & Green
WA: Sharp & Jackson
Vic Country: Serong

The tier below include Gould, Kemp, Gardner, Flanders & C Stephens (Vic Country).

And there are 5 at the moment who are clearly at the top end (in no particular order):

Matt Rowell (Nationals : 19.5 disposals per game (0 goals) & TAC Finals (22.6 disposals/0.6 goals):
Already been a lot written about him so I will not go on too much here – I first saw him at U15 Nationals and have seen him at U16 Nationals, APS and TAC many times. The boy is a star – ultra professional and one of best mid fielders of last few years. Has comprehensively beaten older boys almost every time he has played against them. Ignore his height – he is now 180cm but strong, fast and determined. Only possible criticism from AFL standpoint is his versatility in that he has had very little exposure forward or back over last few years – that said it doesn’t worry me at all he is going to be a star.

Noah Anderson: (NC: 18.0 disposals/2.0 goals TAC Finals: 18.3 disposals/1.5 goals):
Again no surprise here – player of U16 Nationals, perfect size, elite endurance and a natural leader (was captain of AFL Academy team – voted by players). Big game player – his game against WA in Nationals was almost as good as Izak Rankine against Metro. It is important with Noah to realise how he was used in Nationals and with Chargers late in TAC year – everyone knows he can play in midfield but was predominately used forward only to develop his AFL versatility but his numbers and impact was outstanding – will most likely move to full time mid- field role in 2019 and expect him to dominate. I think most clubs see him as a logical pick 1 at this stage as his size and endurance would see him likely to play in round one 2020.

Jack Mahony: (NC: 17.0 disposals/1.5 goals & TAC Finals: 21.0 disposals/1.5 goals):
I think Jack is the one flying under radar in threads but certainly not with recruiters. I think this is largely due to him breaking his collarbone in first TAC game after Nationals and missing rest of school and TAC season. He returned in Dragons first final after 8 weeks out and had 25 touches in limited mid field time and then kicked 2 goals as predominant small forward against Stingrays in a depleted Dragons team in Prelim. Important here to recognise how Dragons use bottom agers – they rarely play them in influential roles and thus it seems always the Dragons is where draft bolters come from (think Mcgrath and Taranto in 2016, Brayshaw in 2017 and again Bailey Smith last year) – Mahony is that player in 2019. Was arguably best on ground in first half of WA Nationals game – changed the game with Rowell when moved to outside mid in SA game and was outstanding in NZ game (as were Rowell and Anderson). Can play mid and forward and has dominated school team since first playing as a 15 year old. Tied with Sam Walsh in Yo Yo test at 2018 TAC testing so speed/endurance is elite. Like Rowell people are concerned about his size – although I hear he is now 179cm and November born so size isn’t an issue.

Mitch O’Neill: (NC: 20.0 disposals/0.8 goals):
Like Mahony is a bit under the radar – which is hard to say about a boy who was All Australian as a bottom ager. He had an outstanding Nationals and that just backed up what we saw in NZ in AFL Academy game. This game is a bit of a joke from a results aspect but the NZ team are adults with big bodies and it has always been fascinating to watch young boys work the way through this problem. Mitch got added to Academy squad for this Trip and really impressed us both during the game and at training and interviews. On field he is an elite 2 way runner who never stops working and will definitely benefit from his exposure through 4 games of Nationals in 2018. The change to TAC for a Tassie based player will only help Mitch’s development further in 2019. I have only seen him live in Nationals, NZ and GF game so I personally have limited exposure but he is on this list because he is rated very highly by a large number of clubs.

Dylan Williams (NC: 12.0 disposals/4.0 goals & TAC Finals: 11.0 disposals/4.7 goals):
Dylan is the tricky one on this list. There are some who will say that he has to be in mix for pick 1 purely on what he did in 2018 – and then there are others who will say that Vic Metro rated him below Rowell, Anderson & Mahony as he only played one game in Nationals and not against SA in final game – and they will also highlight the nature of his goals – he gets an incredible amount of his goals from snaps and leading his defender under the ball and getting it out the back – the criticism here being he will not get away with this at AFL level. My view – whilst he is not a high possession winner, he is a very clever footballer who has performed extremely well both forward and back and that versatility will hold him in good stead. 2019 will define his draft position but in 2020 he will be playing AFL football.

Please note that I have only mentioned players who have has bottom age experience in 2018 Nationals because at this point clubs have them at the top of their lists. There are plenty of boys with promise who we will find out more shortly…

 

[Knightmare]

Not sure who you're talking to, to come that view of the consensus.

I'm going to cut and paste, and provide the links to, to two posts. One from the beginning of last year, and the other from the beginning of this year. Because one thread is locked, I can't hit reply and copy in direct quotes the whole post, showing the member who posted it, if you understand.

The bolded section in each post is the main point.

https://www.bigfooty.com/forum/threads/edps-draft-watch-2018.1186073/page-4#post-54814482


https://www.bigfooty.com/forum/threads/edps-draft-watch-2018.1186073/page-40#post-59448178

Thanks for passing on the comments. Had not seen or been exposed to this draft watchers view.

There are parts I agree on and parts I don't as you'd expect by some of my earlier comments that contrast with this draft watchers.

On 2018 firstly my view is the very pointy end is among the best ever with the first round overall excellent by any standard. Depth I'd say excluding mature agers there were only 40 I would have gone out and drafted so it was thinner than most years, but those 40 prospects + another 20 mature agers I would have felt really comfortable picking. This evaluation hasn't changed since pre-draft last year and there is nothing that makes me think I need to adjust any of these positions.

On Victorian talent. I agree that 2018 was thin and 2019 strong. I would contend that last year was an exception. South Australia's talent was the best the state has produced and the Div 2 teams similarly produced an exceptional draft crop and probably the best the Div 2 sides as a group have produced.

As a draft to draft comparison. At this stage, I much prefer 2018. I like the very pointy end this year and even that first round, but interstate talent is the difference this year and it's relatively sparse in contrast to 2018 so I'm not seeing any more depth this year than 2018 either or the top end being among those all-time great top end or first round.

A lot of the names he's keen on I'm not as high on. Mahony I don't rate inside my top 20. He's close, but nowhere close to my top 5. He's a small who bloomed early and doesn't have anything close to a top 5 impact. I've seen all his games this year and I look at him as draftable, but unexceptional at this stage. What this scout from my perspective feels like he is discounting is rate of improvement. You can dominate at 16 like Ben Kennedy/James Aish, but if you can't take the next step up from that, it's not all that useful for AFL play and with Mahony like those guys I haven't seen him take that next step.

O'Neil is good but not top 5 for mine.

D.Williams had a great 2018 but probably hasn't stepped up as much as I would have liked to start this season. He's fringe top 5 and he can have a good career, but I've got different players up the top end.

Green/Anderson/Rowell are for mine a clear top 3, and not necessarily in that order. And very few recruiters have Green that high. Other than Kemp who some may argue on upside, I don't see anyone all that close to that top Lukosius/Rankine/Smith/Walsh/M.King/Blakey level of talent from last year. All the others this year fit below that for mine at this point.

 

[briztoon]

Sorry, very quick reply.

I disagree about the interstate talent being thin this year.

Just looking at the Northern academies, excluding Sydney, but the other three each have two or three draft-able kids, each with a kid who could be in first round consideration, and another who should be a second round prospect.

SA has 4 or 5 potential first round talents and WA has 3 or 4.

The only difference is that SA doesn’t have a kid in the pick 1 discussion this year, but rather more like a top 5 pick.