Midfielders in the draft

[ImperialPurple]

I've taken this from the D&T board - with thanks and recognition to ant555 for his assessments.

I know we did a thread on this a while back, but I used the search function and kept getting an error...

My estimate is that we will have picks 6, 23, 39, 55 + 4 rookie picks.

Based on the fact that we need midfielders (and not short slow ones), and ant555 has offered approximate draft position guestimations... here is a list of maybes...

Chris Masten – 180cm, 78kg – East Fremantle. A genuine in and under rover who can run all day and is very good at getting his team mates into the game. His skills are very good and creative on both sides of his body and knows how to block for his mates in the middle. He isn’t a jet as far as pace goes but his vision and composure make up for that. Finds plenty of the footy and is very good at the stoppages and clearances. He has had a pretty consistent year playing mainly in the seniors for East Fremantle in the WAFL. Had an excellent under 18 championship series where he was captain of WA and really delivered on field with his work rate and one precenters. Played really consistent footy over four quarters in all three champ matches. Work rate is very good. Doesn’t mind going forward and kicking a goal.
Top 15 pick.

Rhys Palmer – 180cm, 76kg – East Fremantle. Exploded onto the scene with a sensational National Champs where he dominated in the middle and kicked goals. Good skills on both sides of his body and has plenty of run and flair.
Before the champs he was good for East Freo without being a stand out but he has kicked on since his efforts at the Nationals with more 20 plus possession games. Very hard at the footy and looks like he enjoys going in hard. He is very good at the clearances and has a booming left foot kick. Kept working hard and finding the footy despite efforts to tag him. Very good work rate.
Top 15 pick.

Trent Cotchin – 184cm, 77kg – Northern Knights. Classy skilful player who was all the talk before the Nationals but failed to deliver his best for Vic Metro. He was tagged pretty heavily during the champs and didn’t have the answers to beat it. In the TAC Cup he has been a standout. Great skills, excellent reader of the play. He is a one touch player who finds targets. In the champ trail match’s he dominated to the extent that he was taken off the ground after a quarter and a half so that they could get a look at other players.
Top 15 pick.

Surely we would have to get one of these guys with our first pick. Either of the East Freo lads would satisfy me.

Cale Morton – 192cm , 75kg – Claremont . Tallish wingman/halfback with superb skills and a lovely long kick of the footy . Is very much an outside player who tends to be the playmaker or handball receiver but he doesn’t miss too many targets. He links in well in this role and can kick a goal from outside 50. Needs to build up a bit body wise. Has good endurance and his pace is ok. He knows how to find space and is a one touch player. If he isn’t receiving a handball he is running to space and getting a mark. Great talent.
Top 15 pick

Like the sound of him, but I feel from the descriptions of him we don't need another HBF-er.

Scott Sellwood – 184cm 81kg – Bendigo Pioneers. Gets a lot of publicity simply because of his brothers but as far as footy goes he is his own man. He isn’t as classy as Joel but he does have great skills. Isn’t overly fast and tends to crash through the smaller guys rather than beat them with skill. Has played a bit of junior footy at half back with no one on him so he finds the ball a bit but often I think he could be working harder during games. Needs to run and carry it more often. He is a good size kid who does seem to enjoy playing an inside pack crashing role.
Top 20 pick.

A Selwood on our lits would amuse me. I like the bolded part, and would be happy to get him with our second pick.

Cyril Rioli – 178cm, 74kg – St Marys NT. Despite playing most of the nationals as a small forward due to him recovering from injury he is a genuine midfielder. Has good pace and a nice left foot kick but is good on both sides of his body. His tackling is also very good.
Gets his team mates involved and was the leading goal assist player at the Champs. Showed he was very dangerous up forward with 7 goals in the last champ game against QLD. Has been playing school footy in Melbourne so he will know what to expect when he moves south.
Top 20 pick

A bit on the small side, but if we could get him with our second pick, I'd think we've done well.

Brad Ebert – 187cm, 86kg- Port Adelaide SANFL. Captain of SA and a bottom age player but he has already played senior SANFL footy for Port. Is a very good sized kid who was tagged well during the Champs but still did well. He is an excellent inside or outside player with good skills and pace and is a good contested mark of the footy. Extremely courageous in his attack on the ball and lead the SA side well.
Top 20 pick.

Would take him in a heart-beat with our second pick, but sentimentality says he probably belongs at Port. If Masten / Palmer / Cotchin are all gone by our first pick, I hope they have a good look at Ebert.

David Myers – 190cm, 85kg-Perth. Played in defence during the national champs but I’m sure people will see him as a future midfielder. He was very highly rated before the carnival and did his reputation no harm at all getting plenty of the footy as a running back man. Looks like a natural runner who has good skills. Was a standout in the 2006 International Rules series against Ireland. He has the size and body that clubs love in running wingers.
Pick 10 to 30.

Sounds like another Mundy / Drum type. Pass.

Tom Collier – 192cm, 86kg – Lauderdale Tas. Has played a lot of footy at CHB but he showed during the Nationals that he was just as good as a ruck rover. He was overlooked as a bottom age player last year but has come on in leaps and bounds this year. Has VFL experience with the Devils. He isn’t quick but he has good skills and uses the ball well. Likes to run with the footy and is also good at finding the footy in a pack. Was easily Tasmania’s best midfielder in their last champ game. Given his ability to play back or in the middle he will be well sort after.
Top 25 pick.

We feel the need for speed. Pass.

Stephan Browne – 181cm, 74kg – West Perth. Played as a small defender during the national champs but he is another that will be looked at as a future midfielder. Plays tight and hard and did well to blanket out his opponents. Has good pace and is an accurate kick. Has had very good form in the WAFL in recent weeks.
Pick 10 to 30.

Maybe, but only if Ebert, Selwood, Rioli are all gone.

Pat Vezpremi – 181cm, 83kg-Northern Knights – Strong solid straight ahead midfielder who backs up his hard at it style with a bit of flair. He isn’t subtle in any way. He just gets in and gets the footy and runs through people. Not overly quick and not silky smooth in the skills department as some of the highly touted midfielders.
Just goes hard all day long.
Pick 20 to 40.

Sounds like a Solly type. Maybe our second or third pick (especially if we can trade into another late first round, early second round pick) if he's there and some of the others with more pace have gone.

Paddy McGinnity – 182cm, 75kg-Claremont- One of the lesser knowns of the all star WA midfield but deserves a mention in his own right. Took Cotchin out of the game in their game against Vic Metro while still winning his own footy. Can run with opponents all day and has good speed. Skills are good and he can win the footy at clearances. His tagging was very disciplined.
Pick 10 to 30.

Another I'd be happy to get with our second pick.

Jack Grimes-187cm,76kg,Northern Knights- Is not quick and his skills are not outstanding but he is hard at it and reads the play very well. He is always in the game trying to block or shepherd or tackle and shows some leadership skills in the way he gets around to pump up his team mates. He doesn’t let up and gives what looks like his best all day long. He is pretty clean with his ball handling and doesn’t fumble . Has played at half back / half forward and in the middle.
Pick 20 to 50

.
Pass.

Jackson Hall -187cm,76kg-Gippsland Power/Traralgon. Tall quick winger who runs hard. His kicking isn’t always good as far as decision making goes but has been consistently good in the TAC Cup. One of Vic Country’s better players in the Champs. Will be seen as a player with a big upside as he has an A grade running game.
Pick 20 to 50

3rd rounder??

Sam Reid – 185cm, 75kg-Zillmere QLD. He was Queensland’s Mr Fix it during the carnival as it seemed a lot of the time Reid had to find the footy and then be on hand to receive it. He has alright pace but isn’t a jet. Knows how to find the footy but at times he seemed to get lost as he had to carry the load for the rest of the midfield. Skills are reasonable. Wont go early but he would be a solid late pick.
Pick 20 to 60

Pass.

Levi Greenwood- 181cm, 91kg-Port Magpies SA. Big solid kid who was pretty consistent for SA. Goes hard at the ball. Hasn’t really got the class of the better rated midfielders. Skills are good rather than great. It was a bit hard to line him up given SA didn’t perform all that well in its two Victorian games. Was in there best in all three champ games. He has played senior footy for Port in the SANFL.
Pick 25 to 60.

Pass.

Patrick Dangerfield-188cm, 80kg-Geelong Falcons. Was played mainly as a tagger during the Champs and has played a bit of back pocket at times for Geelong. His is ok by foot and has a good build for a midfielder. Plays tough and doesn’t mind getting a hard ball.
Pick 25 to 60.

Pass.

Ashley Arrowsmith – 188cm 82kg-Calder Cannons. Tall running wingman that has had a good year in the TAC Cup but was burnt at the stake during the champs. He was exposed for pace by the rampaging WA midfield. He is a very outside player who likes to find space and link in. His kicking is reliable rather than great. On his TAC form someone will pick him up.
Pick 25 to 60.

Pass.

Aaron Joseph – 178cm, 75kg-Glenorchy Tas. Tasmania’s best midfielder who performed well at the Champs. He is good at the clearances and has good hands. Gets the ball inside 50 from the middle fairly often. Works really hard all day. Isn’t quick but he can hit targets.
Pick 25 to 60

Too small with not enough other qualities. Pass. Although given we have Hase, Schammer, Josh and Bell who all pretty much fit that description he might be one they go for...

Andy Otten-192cm, 86kg-Oakleigh Chargers. Having a very good year in the TAC Cup where he has been used forward or back or on the wing. He is a real athlete with good skills. Has been averaging 27 possession a game for Oakleigh.
Pick 25 to 60

.
Later pick?

Tom Frawley-186cm, 76kg-StMarys NT. Originally from North Ballarat Frawley is a pretty tall skinny winger. Has good run and pace is reasonable. He seemed to be a bit hit and miss with his kicking skills during the champs having one excellent day and one so so day in the two games I saw him play. Is very much an outside player who didn’t win much contested footy.
Pick 30 to 60.

Pass.

Ryan Normington – 186cm,76kg-Murray Bushrangers. Didn’t have a great run at the Champs for Vic Country but the whole side didn’t go well either. His TAC Cup form has been pretty good. Plays in the middle and has good skills and works well as the link man. Not really a contested ball winner from what I have seen. Decision making is good.
Pick 30 to 60.

Pass.

Ashley Hockey – 181cm, 78kg-Murray Bushrangers. Had a reasonable champs for Vic Country. Is one of those players who you would describe as doing everything ok but not a stand out in any one area. Has good foot skills and hits targets when he is in space.
Pick 30 to 60.

Pass.

Jay Bowden-184cm, 74kg-Glenorchy TAS. Had to play a lot as a forward during the champs and is a strong mark and can kick goals. He was pretty good in the limited time he spent on the wing and in the middle. Skills are good. Pace is reasonable. Seems to make good decisions with the ball in his hands.
Pick 30 to 60

Later pick?

Daniel Noy-188cm, 78kg-Eastern Rangers. He was flying early in the year before he got injured before the Nationals. Tallish running winger who can play inside and win the footy but is best suited to playing an outside role. Has good skills and a nice long kick. Pace is reasonably good and can take a nice mark.
Pick 30 to 60.

Maybe a late pick. Good height.

Brad Jones-181cm, 76kg-Eastern Rangers. Didn’t do a lot during the champs but has had sparkling form for Rangers during the year. He is a running machine who gets in and under and brings team mates into the game. Sometimes his kicking is a bit hit and miss usually when he tries to exceed his limitations. Good leader who can tackle and run forward and kick goals. Wins plenty of the footy.
Pick 40 plus

Sounds a decent type.

Trevor Oliver-181cm, 88kg-Waratah NT. Is actually an overage kid allowed to play for NT during the champs. Got plenty of the footy in the games I saw and had good skills. Looked able to move quickly when needed and was elusive in close.
Pick 50 plus

Pass.

Luke Potts-177cm, 68kg-Dandenong Stingrays. Luke had a good time at the champs particularly as a small forward. There isn’t much off him but he can find the footy. In the few Dandenong games I have seen him play he tends to play behind the ball a lot gathering possessions and feeding it out well. His pace is ok but not super quick. Can play as a small forward and crumbs well. Wet weather skills where good during the champs.
Pick 40 plus

Too small. Pass.

Kris Nye-174cm, 73kg- Eastern Rangers. Kris just missed selection for Vic Metro but has had outstanding form in the TAC Cup. He is out for the season now with a broken leg. Before his injury he was close to being the heart or the Rangers side. Hard running in and under rover who you can throw in the middle and he will get you back in the game. His pace is only average but is one of those players who knows how to get in space or move through traffic. His skills are ok but not silky smooth. It doesn’t stop him from hitting targets though. Good hands in close. The fact that he has been disappointing as a small forward probably cost him a spot for Vic Metro with the nod going to Potts.
Pick 50 plus.

Might be worth a late pick / rookie spot.

Mitchell Farmer-179cm, 76kg-Calder Cannons. Hard to rat this bloke as a midfielder as he plays a lot as a small defender. Rebounds well from defence and has good kicking skills. Seems to have a decent motor as he doesn’t stop running from defence. Hard to know where he may go due to back pockets not being overly popular in the draft.
Pick 40 plus.

Pass.

Dane Zorko-176cm, 69kg-Broadbeach QLD. Not much of him but he goes pretty hard. Skills are pretty good and was probably Queensland’s second best midfielder.
Pick 50 plus.

Pass.

Matthew Davis-187cm, 74kg-Mt Gravatt QLD. Tallish winger that has good pace and skills. In the two games I saw him play he used the footy well and got a reasonable amount of it.
Pick 50 plus.

Rookie?

James Polkinghorne-181cm, 82kg-Calder Cannons. Solid kid who didn’t really shine for Vic Metro. He tackles hard and can win the footy in close. Pace is average but he gets the job done in the TAC Cup. Uses the ball well and seems to give 100% all the time.
Pick 40 plus.

Sounds like a lot of what we already have. Pass.

Rory Sloane-180cm, 75kg-Eastern Rangers. Has had good form for Rangers all year but has really stepped it up since Kris Nye got injured. Similar player to Jones. Pacey little running machine who has good kicking skills. Finds plenty of the footy and is good at the clearances.
Pick 50 plus.

Late pick or rookie perhaps?

Myke Cook-182cm, 76kg-Sandringham Dragons. Speedy midfielder who finds the footy well. Has a pretty long kick for a small bloke. Gets the ball in traffic and knows how to use his pace to avoid trouble. Leads up well and can kick a goal when playing half forward.
Pick 40 plus.

Sounds okay and we could do worse.



The Short-list IMO:
1st choices: Masten, Palmer, Cotchin
2nd choices: Selwood, Rioli, Ebert, McGinnity, Vezspremi
3rd choices: Browne, Hall, Otten, Bowden
4th choices / rookie: Noy, Jones, Nye, Davis, Sloane, Cook

 

[inferno66]

We will need to pick a Tall defender later in the draft as well. We dont have any good up and coming tall defenders on our list.

 

[ImperialPurple]

I think we'll also need to pick a back-up ruckman as well. Depending how ruthless the slash and burn of the list is (and I am guessing not as ruthless as we the supporters would like to see it), then we'll probably have 7-8 picks, including rookies.

A ready-to-go back-up ruckman, a tall defender, and a handful of quick, skillful midfielders would have to be the priorities.

 

[inferno66]

A ready-to-go back-up ruckman, .

We can pickup a Mature age player from the WAFL as our back up ruckman. Someone like a Grifiths from East Freo would be ideal

 

[Lach72]

Dangerfield looks alright to me

 

[Bradesmaen]

Rioli won't last till round 2.. he is a round 1 pick easy.

 

[Ripper]

http://www.effc.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=110

Spent time in the middle on Saturday as well.

He has been doing that all season.


http://www.prowess.com.au/pro-stats/WAFL/reports/WAFLL104.html

 

[TOA.]

David Myers.

If there was ever a player Smart would rate, this guy would be it.

You dont need him but thats hasnt stopped Phil in the past.

 

[TOA.]

Rioli won't last till round 2.. he is a round 1 pick easy.

Likewise Ebert. And Cotchin wont last to Freo's first pick either.

 

[Lach72]

David Myers.

If there was ever a player Smart would rate, this guy would be it.

You dont need him but thats hasnt stopped Phil in the past.

You could be right.

 

[Bateman]

Any info on Chris De Boer from Claremont?
By the way is the Trevor Oliver mentioned, the same one who is playing WAFL league for East Perth?

 

[TOA.]

You could be right.

It wouldnt be a bad pick, Myers will be a very good player.

Bateman, yes its the same Trevor Oliver as at EP.

 

[Freo Shark]

Masten might be another Haselby clone, slow and short.

 

[Wizard]

Masten might be another Haselby clone, slow and short.

He isnt slow at all, from my knowledge he actually won a 400m state underage title.

Masten and Palmer are to two. Trade whoever it takes and get them both.

 

[dockers_bengals]

Morton for on the wing sounds good and can kick goals from fifty.
Palmer a clearance man.I'm with you Wiz looks like one to get

 

[The Night Shift]

Is there any there that sound like they could be a fullback?

 

[ImperialPurple]

Rioli won't last till round 2.. he is a round 1 pick easy.

I'm hoping we can trade into a first round pick, or another early second round pick to get a look in on one of these guys like Rioli or Ebert - not necessarily that they will be available 2nd round... just that we should look at them - if available - with our second pick... hopefully higher than #23. Depends who wants a KPP, and how highly someone like Murphy - who is likely to be up for trade - is rated. Murphy + 2nd round pick for a first round pick might interest some clubs.

 

[SPEEDWAGON]

He isnt slow at all, from my knowledge he actually won a 400m state underage title.

Masten and Palmer are to two. Trade whoever it takes and get them both.

I can confirm that.

Chris has been made to play AFL.

Future captain of this club if we get him.

 

[ImperialPurple]

Is there any there that sound like they could be a fullback?

Dunno - this was just the list of likely midfielders.

 

[TOA.]

Is there any there that sound like they could be a fullback?

This year is very good for rucks and not much else.

If you want talls, last year was the draft. Absolutley loaded with quality big men, it was a freak draft. Thats why some clubs loaded up (Pies and WC come to mind).

If Freo want a tall defender then Rance and Pears are very likely types. Would probably cost a top 20 pick though.

 

[FREO81]

Im just going to throw a spanner in the works.
Brad Smith?
If he wants to try and play AFL again and if he last into the last round of the draft then should Freo go for him? Personally i think they should.

 

[Roundhouse]

http://www.effc.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=110

Spent time in the middle on Saturday as well.

He has been doing that all season.


http://www.prowess.com.au/pro-stats/WAFL/reports/WAFLL104.html

Interesting one Ripper.

Taylor's got a gangly kind of awkwardness that reminds a bit of Westhoff
from Port. Having said that he usually gets done what is asked of him and has a real presence at the contest.

Not sure he could have a big enough impact at AFL to warrant a rookie selection if we are looking for an immediate back-up, but we could do worse for a project player. He's a genuine tryer and a couple years of development at AFL level could turn him into a very handy player.

 

[theGav56]

We will need to pick a Tall defender later in the draft as well. We dont have any good up and coming tall defenders on our list.

Tall defenders is one of the areas we are fine in. MacPharlin, Mundy, Johnson, Grover, Thornton, Dodd, and Drum, give us plenty of depth in that department. What we lack is top quality, big fullback, and I doubt if a late draft pick will provide that. I would prefer to delay looking for a tall defender for another year, and maybe select another developing ruckman with a late pick, and midfielders with the other 3.

 

[dont bowl there]

Im just going to throw a spanner in the works.
Brad Smith?
If he wants to try and play AFL again and if he last into the last round of the draft then should Freo go for him? Personally i think they should.

Smith has said numerous times that he cant be bothered trying out for the AFL again.

 

[hoogs]

Masten and Palmer are to two. Trade whoever it takes and get them both.

Exactly my thoughts. Put them in with Ibbo and Foster and we have some good young stock.