Preview NAB AFL Draft

[Yoda_]

As we edge closer and closer to draft time, I thought that it is about time we stickied a draft only thread for all things draft..

Here you are able to put up your opinion on players who you would like to see Essendon draft and why, try and go deeper, not just go the first pick, but try and go deeper.

Any ways, here is what I am thinking what is going to happen.

4 National Draft Spots (Before Exchange Period), 4 Rookie Draft Spots

National Draft:

# 8: Inside Midfielder: Brodie Smith: Smith is the man I want, an explosive type who has been likened to Chris Judd in his pack busting runs and explosiveness from the pack.. A couple of extra things I like about Smith is his leadership exploits so far in his short career having captained the U18 South Australian team, whilst I also find his ability to play down back as another very, very enticing thing to have, especially in our dire straights at the moment..

# 30: Inside Midfielder: Cameron Gutherie: A very solid choice at this stage, more a safe bet in this middle stage of the draft. Gutherie is an extremely good tackler and is very tidy by hand and foot without being spectacular. He gets his own ball and would certainly benefit from being in a more professional enviroment.

# 47: Best Available: Would like to see us go with Best Available here as they need to get some quality late, someone like a Blayne Wilson, Reece Conca may slip, so nab them A.S.A.P.

# 74: Ben Howlett Rookie Upgrade: After a breakout year, Howlett will surely be upgraded to the senior list and stay there for the next couple of years.

ROOKIE DRAFT:

Round 1: Ruckmen: Pick the best remaining ruckmen, someone like a Johnathan Ceglar or a Ben Brown may still be left come this time. So expect us to nab a ruckmen in the rookie draft.

Round 2: Small Defender: A small defender is definitely on the cards I imagine, I may be criticised for saying this but a young Michael Stockdale (20) from Casey Scorpions would be a very good addition to our squad and a player that could push out labourers such as Henry Slattery or Mark Mcveigh.

Round 3: Midfielder: More midfielders must surely be on the cards, hopefully we can find some more quality on our rookie list having been lucky of late with some gems found here in Howlett, Hocking and potentially Silverlock.

Round 4: Best Available: Try and take someone that could potentially be a star. Try and unearth the next budding gem from the rookie list, would be a steal if we could land a Barlow or a Broughton.


So in summary we will have added:

Midfielders: x 3
Small Defender x 1
Ruckmen x 1
Best Available x 2
Ben Howlett Rookie Upgrade



OK guys, lets see what you have got, put your neck out there and predict what we are going to draft for, put some names out there that you would like us to pick up..

Discuss??

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Just editing the OP

The list of Draft Combine attendees is out and this is the list
here[/URL]

Gives a profile of all the attendees as well as a clip from the prospective draftee.

Enjoy

HFF_07

 

[keepzitreal]

Re: National Draft / Rookie Draft Strategy (No Trade Talk)

Starting to hear a bit about this Brodie Smith.. are we any realistic shot at getting him or will he be well and truly gone by then?

 

[table tennis]

Re: National Draft / Rookie Draft Strategy (No Trade Talk)

If jetta plays midfield which he is more suited to, then we can afford to draft one less midfielder and get a goal kicking small forward. Monfries is a lead up, Williams a lead up, davey is a defensive forward. We lack a ballantyne/Milne type.

Basically draft a pest

 

[Slattery_20]

Re: National Draft / Rookie Draft Strategy (No Trade Talk)

Mid mid ruckman mid back pocket; or maybe mid ruckman mid mid back pocket.

That's the mix tho. Mainly mids.
Improve on Quinn, improve on Laycock, improve on whichever midfielder gets cut off the main list.

 

[yaco55]

Re: National Draft / Rookie Draft Strategy (No Trade Talk)

HFF

Like your spread of players would prefer an extra draft selection.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Re: National Draft / Rookie Draft Strategy (No Trade Talk)

Pick 8- Midfielder (Gaff/Smith/Luke Parker)
Pick 30- Small defender (best available)
Pick 47-Midfielder (either mature aged or a slider)
Pick 74- Ben Howlett (rookie upgrade)

Rookie draft
Round 1- Midfielder
Round 2- Small forward (look at the WAFL/VFL)
Round 3- Mature aged forward
Round 4- Delisted player

 

[eth-dog]

Re: National Draft / Rookie Draft Strategy (No Trade Talk)

pick 8: Caddy- from all reports I've heard, he's pretty good. apparently suits our needs perfectly.

30: mid

47: Orren Stephenson- mostly for bendigo, but would be useful if Hille/Ryder go down.

74: Ben Howlett- upgraded

Rookie:

mid, Small Forward (crumber), Small defender, mid

 

[Duckworth]

Re: National Draft / Rookie Draft Strategy (No Trade Talk)

I expect we will get at least 1 ruck, probably 2.

 

[timbo3195]

Re: National Draft / Rookie Draft Strategy (No Trade Talk)

National Draft

8: Brodie Smith
30: Please slip Ben Jacobs
47: Best Available Ruckman
74: Howlett

Rookie Draft

Round 1: Ben Duscher
Round 2: Small Defender
Round 3: Inside Midfielder
Round 4: Pesty Small Forward

 

[ceebs]

Re: National Draft / Rookie Draft Strategy (No Trade Talk)

I also really like the look of Brodie Smith and would love to get him at 8. And at 30 I wouldn't mind Mitch Hallahan.

 

[Towno78]

Re: National Draft / Rookie Draft Strategy (No Trade Talk)

I know very little about the players in the draft, but this is the strategy I'd follow. Take 5 picks into the ND and at least 2 Rookie picks:
Pick 8: Patrick Dangerfield strong bodied inside mid type
Pick 30(ish): Dan Hannebery polished ball user type
Pick 47: Dane Swan type for more assistance inside
Pick 64: James Hird utility type who'll win us a couple of Brownlow's/premierships
Pick 81: Damien Hardwick ruthless small defender type
Rookie draft: Michael Barlow inside/outside explosive type
Dean Cox type project player
Not too fussy after this point, most needs should be met by now, so take whatever we can get

 

[Kaiser Powser]

Re: National Draft / Rookie Draft Strategy (No Trade Talk)

I know very little about the players in the draft, but this is the strategy I'd follow. Take 5 picks into the ND and at least 2 Rookie picks:
Pick 8: Patrick Dangerfield strong bodied inside mid type
Pick 30(ish): Dan Hannebery polished ball user type
Pick 47: Dane Swan type for more assistance inside
Pick 64: James Hird utility type who'll win us a couple of Brownlow's/premierships
Pick 81: Damien Hardwick ruthless small defender type
Rookie draft: Michael Barlow inside/outside explosive type
Dean Cox type project player
Not too fussy after this point, most needs should be met by now, so take whatever we can get

Cool strategy bro!

The equivalent of Dangerfield, Swan, Hird, Hannebury, Hardwick, Barlow and Cox from the one draft.

Draft of the century.

 

[Lance Uppercut]

Re: National Draft / Rookie Draft Strategy (No Trade Talk)

I know very little about the players in the draft, but this is the strategy I'd follow. Take 5 picks into the ND and at least 2 Rookie picks:
Pick 8: Patrick Dangerfield strong bodied inside mid type
Pick 30(ish): Dan Hannebery polished ball user type
Pick 47: Dane Swan type for more assistance inside
Pick 64: James Hird utility type who'll win us a couple of Brownlow's/premierships
Pick 81: Damien Hardwick ruthless small defender type
Rookie draft: Michael Barlow inside/outside explosive type
Dean Cox type project player
Not too fussy after this point, most needs should be met by now, so take whatever we can get

hahahaha I lol'd

 

[Houli2Gumbleton]

Re: National Draft / Rookie Draft Strategy (No Trade Talk)

Emma Quayle mention that Dion Prestia may be a chance at our 8th pick. Anyone know anything about him? This is all I could find.

"Dion is a very balanced on-baller with great ball-winning ability and the capacity to execute his disposal accurately on both sides of his body. One of the elite midfielders in the TAC Cup competition."

Rohan Welsh

 

[Yoda_]

Re: National Draft / Rookie Draft Strategy (No Trade Talk)

Emma Quayle mention that Dion Prestia may be a chance at our 8th pick. Anyone know anything about him? This is all I could find.

"Dion is a very balanced on-baller with great ball-winning ability and the capacity to execute his disposal accurately on both sides of his body. One of the elite midfielders in the TAC Cup competition."

Rohan Welsh

A really good player, a litte snippet Thanks to Wall-E from the BigFooty Phantom draft.

Pick 31: Dion Prestia
DOB: 12/10/1992, Height 175cm, Weight 82kg
Club: Calder Cannons (Vic)

Dion's an inside out mid, with a very very damaging side to his game. Wins the hard ball extremely well, burrowing inside and finds targets well in traffic to release others. When he's not feeding others the ball, he's being an 80 meter player. Runs 20 kicks 60.

Top notch agility, coupled with his flash quick side-step and excellent balance, he has a sense of 'time' when he's got the footy. He's got a great work rate and a good tank to make the most of it.

Not lightning quick for his size, but he's still pretty zippy.

Understands how to run angles to receive two possessions ahead of the play. He's got a very aggressive mindset which, when close to goal, makes him a horror for opposition. He's in range with either foot outside 50.

Plays like a cross between Kerr and a hardened Montagna.

His downfall is obvious. He's short. He can go back and forward at TAC level, but he's going to be a liability when stuck under a high ball. He'll have no problems playing a small forward/half forward role before getting into the middle, but I think he's pretty right to go. Very mature body, fit and smart should see him lining up in an AFL midfield soon.

Not sure if he is good enough to be a first round pick, however he seems to have all the right tools..

Get the feeling he will slide, maybe into the third round..

I also get the feeling that we are going to take a ruckmen, i get the feeling we are going to take one in the first two rounds, or we will wait until the rookie draft..

Would love to get Ben Brown, highly rated Tasmanian kid who is a huge lump of a lad..

Adding to my third round preference, Jake Bachelor (Dandeong Stingrays) would be an ideal fit, uses the ball well and gets a bit of it to as a bit of a link up player for the Stingrays. Vic Metro representative and stiff to miss out on TAC Cup team of the year selection..


I would like to see us have 4 - 5 National Draft picks (with one rookie upgrade - Ben Howlett), hopefully have more of these picks in the earlier rounds (through astute trading).

 

[stay true]

Re: National Draft / Rookie Draft Strategy (No Trade Talk)

At this stage, I quite like the idea of drafting Brodie Smith at 8.

 

[Yoda_]

Re: National Draft / Rookie Draft Strategy (No Trade Talk)

Starting to hear a bit about this Brodie Smith.. are we any realistic shot at getting him or will he be well and truly gone by then?

Smith is an explosive midfielder who has been likened to a Chris Judd with his explosiveness from the pack a feature of his game..

Captain of the U/18 SA team and was named in the AA U/18 team, so two things that really stand out..

He is also versatile enough that he has played down back in the SANFL seniors and done well here.

I am seriously wanting Smith first, Caddy second then Parker third.

 

[bombermick]

Re: National Draft / Rookie Draft Strategy (No Trade Talk)

I like the sound of Smith. An explosive midfielder in the Judd mould is exactly what we need.

Pick 8-Brodie Smith
Pick 30- Dion Prestia (his lack of height could see him slide ala our own pocket rocket)
Pick 47-Orren Stephenson-Need a ruck for life after Hille. Let him develop at Bendigo.
Pick
Pick 74-Howlett upgrade

It would be good if we could manage a 5th pick ... besides we need to clear a bit of dead wood.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Re: National Draft / Rookie Draft Strategy (No Trade Talk)

Do we really need to get a ruck in the National Draft? I see more sense in targetting a mature-aged ruckman from the VFL/WAFL/SANFL who is 22/23years old as a rookie pick. Cheap, and more likely to provide adequate backup if all goes pear shaped.

 

[lemon chicken]

Re: National Draft / Rookie Draft Strategy (No Trade Talk)

Do we really need to get a ruck in the National Draft? I see more sense in targetting a mature-aged ruckman from the VFL/WAFL/SANFL who is 22/23years old as a rookie pick. Cheap, and more likely to provide adequate backup if all goes pear shaped.

Who do you have in mind? I hear Cain Ackland and Michale Rix are tearing up the state leagues at the minute. Not exactly a vote of confidence.

 

[lemon chicken]

Re: National Draft / Rookie Draft Strategy (No Trade Talk)

Would love to get Gorringe but highly unlikely, looks like he needs 2-3 years to build up which would fit in nicely. I only really like Gaff as far as the mids go. I think Blayne Wilson ticks a lot of boxes for us, reminds me of a better version of Heath Shaw, would use our second pick on him. Not really much to get excited about after GC rape this draft. For the rookies i want to see us head up north and find a freak fwd pocket from NT. Maybe Merv Neagle is still coaching up there and could give us a smokie.

 

[Yoda_]

Re: National Draft / Rookie Draft Strategy (No Trade Talk)

Do we really need to get a ruck in the National Draft? I see more sense in targetting a mature-aged ruckman from the VFL/WAFL/SANFL who is 22/23years old as a rookie pick. Cheap, and more likely to provide adequate backup if all goes pear shaped.

Do we really even need a mature aged ruckmen?

1. David Hille
2. Paddy Ryder
3. Tom Bellchambers
4. Christian Bock

Depends on where the match committee rate Bellchambers I suppose. If they think he is not ready to play consistant back up senior football then we will need a mature aged ruckmen, whilst if they do think so then I would not be against the idea of taking a young ruckmen who will be 2 - 3 years away and have two developing rucks on the list (assuming Bock stays).

Then again, if Bock goes we will take one (possibly two) ruckmen in the upcoming trade/draft period, just not sure if one (or both) will be 'mature aged..

 

[bombermick]

Re: National Draft / Rookie Draft Strategy (No Trade Talk)

We don't need to draft a mature aged ruck while we have Ryder/Hille and Bellchambers. But we do need to draft a good young ruck with a reasonably high pick for life after Hille. Perhaps one ruck this year and one next year will be enough for us. Aside from that we should be drafting mids and small backs. I'd also like us to pick up Hirdy's cousin who is ripping it apart in the VFL along with Myles Sewell.

 

[Ben the Gooner]

Re: National Draft / Rookie Draft Strategy (No Trade Talk)

We need a ruck who's ready to replace Hille by the time Hille is done.

Even with Bellchambers there, we need three AFL ready ruckmen at any given point.

 

[bombermick]

Re: National Draft / Rookie Draft Strategy (No Trade Talk)

Most of the better rucks of recent years have come from first round draft picks. Guys like Nic Nat, Kreuzer and McEvoy although there are exceptions such as Stanley and Roughead. I'm not sure about using a first round pick on a ruck in the next couple of years while we so desperately need gun mids.