This is my first time submitting a Phantom Draft, at this stage I will do just the first round but may add later rounds if time permits.
I have based my predictions on both club needs & rumours surrounding certain players that clubs like. Constructive comments are welcomed. Enjoy.
Pick 1 - GWS - TOM BOYD (Eastern Ranges)
No brainer really. Clearly the top KPF in the draft & will add nicely to their already strong KPP strength with Cameron & Patton already on board. Should be a 200 plus game player for the club & GWS will be thrilled to add him to their already imposing young list.
Pick 2 - GWS - JOSH KELLY (Sandringham Dragons)
It is no secret that SOS loves this kid & it is not hard to see why. He has elite endurance & speed with the ability to use the ball well with his excellent skills. Probably more of an outside rather than inside midfielder but he will add class & run to an already deep group of midfield talent.
Pick 3 - St Kilda - JACK BILLINGS (Oakleigh Chargers)
Toss up between Aish & Billings but I feel they will take the local boy here. His stocks have risen in the last couple of months & he is just the type of player the Saints need. With excellent skills with both hands & feet as well as being a strong mark for his size, he will add much needed class to a midfield that clearly is struggling in this area. Should be ready to play from Round 1.
Pick 4 - Western Bulldogs - JAMES AISH (Norwood)
A standout junior since he was 15, Aish could have gone as high as No.1 had he not suffered a serious shoulder injury this year. If there is any criticism of him, it may be doubts about his body being able to stand up to the rigours of AFL football. Regardless if he is available here, the Dogs will snap him up. He is exactly what they need, an outside midfielder with silky skills to complement the abundance of inside midfielders the club already have.
Pick 5 - Gold Coast - KADE KOLODJASHNIJ (Launceston)
I think they will also consider Scharenberg here as well but the young Tasmanians stocks have really risen since the draft camp & I think they will pull the trigger on him here. An elite decision maker & excellent kick as well as having a hard edge to his game will suit Gold Coast nicely. He is a perfect fit for the club & they will not let him slide.
Pick 6 - Collingwood - MARCUS BONTEMPELLI (Northern Knights)
The big mail is that the Pies are really into this kid & were desperate to get pick 6 from the Eagles in order to secure him. At 192cm & blessed with terrific athleticism & endurance he could be anything. Reminds me a little of Anthony Koutoufides in the way he plays & if he ends up anywhere near as good as him, the Pies will have unearthed a gem.
Pick 7 - Brisbane - MATTHEW SCHARENBERG (Glenelg)
Poor old Brisbane, the last couple of first round picks they have had have gone home after 2 years. Lets hope this one stays a little longer & realises his potential. Its Scharenberg's versatility which has clubs intrigued. Is he midfielder, swingman or defender? The jury is still out but regardless he is an exciting prospect who could well end up the best player in this draft should he find a definitive position.
Pick 8 - North Melbourne - LUKE McDONALD (Oakleigh Chargers)
Father son selection & North will be happy with this one. An elite kick, possibly the best in this draft pool, who can operate from half back & even have a run through the midfield, McDonald could well play from round 1 next year. Has a mature build & at 188cm can play tall or small depending on match ups. A terrific fit for North.
Pick 9 - Melbourne - BEN LENNON (Northern Knights)
The Dees gave up pick 2 so they will want to secure a gun with this pick & in Lennon they could well have their man. Blessed with explosive pace & a long penetrating kick, he offers the club something they clearly lack. Can operate in the midfield as well as be used in defence & attack at various stages of a game. He is just the type of player the club needs plenty of & Lennon will be a great start for them here.
Pick 10 - Collingwood - NATHAN FREEMAN (Sandringham Dragons)
A bonus 2nd first round pick for the pies here & Freeman would be a terrific long term player to help reinvigorate their midfield. A different style of player to Thomas but a ball magnet that consistently wins his own ball & can break through packs with ease. Needs to tidy up his disposal at times but the talent is there & he should prove to be an excellent pick up.
Pick 11 - West Coast - DOM SHEED (Subiaco)
Sheed has been linked with the Eagles for months & it would be a major shock if they overlook him here. A terrific all round player, he doesn't possess any real X Factor like some others before him, but he will fit nicely into a midfield that desperately needs freshening up. Gets plenty of the ball & uses it well with hand or foot. Although lacking great pace, he isn't slow either & with a quick football brain can appear quicker than he is anyway.
Pick 12 - Richmond - CHRISTIAN SALEM (Sandringham Dragons)
Richmond love drafting midfielders with their first picks & Salem will add to that list here. Very much in the Chad Wingard mould, Salem possesses excellent kicking skills & is prepared to put his body on the line for his team. Hardwick loves this type of player & he will really complement Richmond's developing midfield. If he has a weakness, he just needs to be more consistent as he can drop out of games for periods but he is a great prospect.
Pick 13 - Carlton - CAMERON McCARTHY (South Fremantle)
Key forwards are what Carlton lack & in McCarthy they will be getting easily the 2nd best KPF in this draft. Had a super National Championships culminating in the game against SA where his stocks really rose. A terrific mark & reliable kick, he is just what the club needs given Waite's impending retirement & doubts about Casboult & Rowe being good enough. Although he broke his leg in the game against SA, he has recovered well & Carlton will be excited to add him to their list.
Pick 14 - GWS - DARCY GARDINER (Geelong Falcons)
GWS needs Key Position Defenders & Gardiner is the best from this draft by a fair way. Not the tallest defender around, but Gardiner makes up for this by being highly disciplined one on one & very physical in the contests. He is also deceptively quick & is good at closing down leading forwards. As he fills out he will become an elite defender imo & his stocks rose when he clearly got the better of Tom Boyd in a game earlier this year. Lock him in.
Pick 15 - Sydney - LEWIS TAYLOR (Geelong Falcons)
With an ageing & somewhat slow midfield that was exposed by Fremantle in last years final, Taylor will go a long way towards fixing that problem. Although only small in stature, he possesses explosive speed, evasive skills & goal kicking ability, he is just what the doctor ordered as far as Sydney are concerned. Will complement the likes of Kennedy, Jack & McVeigh perfectly & the Swans will gladly snap him up here.
Pick 16 - Fremantle - BLAKE ACRES (West Perth)
Was tossing up between Acres & Marsh here but opted for Acres due to his elite disposal skills & ability to operate from Half Back. Marsh hasn't quite found a spot yet & would be more of a long term high risk selection so I suspect the Dockers will pick the player who can have immediate impact. Suffered a major shoulder injury this season which has affected his for & draft rating but I see him as a long term replacement for Michael Johnson with his kicking & decision making ability.
Pick 17 - Geelong - JONATHON MARSH (East Fremantle)
Geelong love picking gems from WA & Marsh could well end up being another one here. Possessing dazzling speed for someone 192cm & with real X Factor to excite the fans, Marsh could end up being anything. There is a risk factor here as he is still very raw, doesn't have a defined position as yet & needs to work on his endurance, but with a mature group of players & a highly disciplined coach in place, Geelong would be the perfect environment for him to learn his trade & become the player that he promises to be.
Pick 18 - St Kilda - TRENT DUMONT (Norwood)
St Kilda need quality midfielders & plenty of them, they already have Billings & quite simply Dumont is next best available. A high possession winner through the midfield, strong at the contest, good evasive skills & good endurance. Lacks a bit of polish with his kicking but will play round 1 next year.
Pick 19 - St Kilda - BILLY HARTUNG (Dandenong Stingrays)
Another quality midfield get for the Saints here. Terrific user of the ball with elite pace & endurance who can kick the ball long distances with terrific accuracy. Only small in stature & purely an outside midfielder at this stage, he offers the Saints a player with real flair, something they lack at present.
Pick 20 - Gold Coast - ELI TEMPLETON (Burnie Dockers)
Gold Coast are well stocked in most areas but a quality utility player who can kick goals & play various roles for his team will be very welcome at the Suns. Most people have him going somewhere in the 2nd round, but on a needs basis I think the Suns will grab him here.
Pick 21 - Port Adelaide - JAMES BATTERSBY (Sturt)
I see Battersby as a direct replacement for the soon to be retiring Kane Cornes, but with a few more tricks. Has played regular SANFL Football this year & with his lock down ability & excellent kicking skills, he would be a great acquisition to the Power with this pick.
I have based my predictions on both club needs & rumours surrounding certain players that clubs like. Constructive comments are welcomed. Enjoy.
Pick 1 - GWS - TOM BOYD (Eastern Ranges)
No brainer really. Clearly the top KPF in the draft & will add nicely to their already strong KPP strength with Cameron & Patton already on board. Should be a 200 plus game player for the club & GWS will be thrilled to add him to their already imposing young list.
Pick 2 - GWS - JOSH KELLY (Sandringham Dragons)
It is no secret that SOS loves this kid & it is not hard to see why. He has elite endurance & speed with the ability to use the ball well with his excellent skills. Probably more of an outside rather than inside midfielder but he will add class & run to an already deep group of midfield talent.
Pick 3 - St Kilda - JACK BILLINGS (Oakleigh Chargers)
Toss up between Aish & Billings but I feel they will take the local boy here. His stocks have risen in the last couple of months & he is just the type of player the Saints need. With excellent skills with both hands & feet as well as being a strong mark for his size, he will add much needed class to a midfield that clearly is struggling in this area. Should be ready to play from Round 1.
Pick 4 - Western Bulldogs - JAMES AISH (Norwood)
A standout junior since he was 15, Aish could have gone as high as No.1 had he not suffered a serious shoulder injury this year. If there is any criticism of him, it may be doubts about his body being able to stand up to the rigours of AFL football. Regardless if he is available here, the Dogs will snap him up. He is exactly what they need, an outside midfielder with silky skills to complement the abundance of inside midfielders the club already have.
Pick 5 - Gold Coast - KADE KOLODJASHNIJ (Launceston)
I think they will also consider Scharenberg here as well but the young Tasmanians stocks have really risen since the draft camp & I think they will pull the trigger on him here. An elite decision maker & excellent kick as well as having a hard edge to his game will suit Gold Coast nicely. He is a perfect fit for the club & they will not let him slide.
Pick 6 - Collingwood - MARCUS BONTEMPELLI (Northern Knights)
The big mail is that the Pies are really into this kid & were desperate to get pick 6 from the Eagles in order to secure him. At 192cm & blessed with terrific athleticism & endurance he could be anything. Reminds me a little of Anthony Koutoufides in the way he plays & if he ends up anywhere near as good as him, the Pies will have unearthed a gem.
Pick 7 - Brisbane - MATTHEW SCHARENBERG (Glenelg)
Poor old Brisbane, the last couple of first round picks they have had have gone home after 2 years. Lets hope this one stays a little longer & realises his potential. Its Scharenberg's versatility which has clubs intrigued. Is he midfielder, swingman or defender? The jury is still out but regardless he is an exciting prospect who could well end up the best player in this draft should he find a definitive position.
Pick 8 - North Melbourne - LUKE McDONALD (Oakleigh Chargers)
Father son selection & North will be happy with this one. An elite kick, possibly the best in this draft pool, who can operate from half back & even have a run through the midfield, McDonald could well play from round 1 next year. Has a mature build & at 188cm can play tall or small depending on match ups. A terrific fit for North.
Pick 9 - Melbourne - BEN LENNON (Northern Knights)
The Dees gave up pick 2 so they will want to secure a gun with this pick & in Lennon they could well have their man. Blessed with explosive pace & a long penetrating kick, he offers the club something they clearly lack. Can operate in the midfield as well as be used in defence & attack at various stages of a game. He is just the type of player the club needs plenty of & Lennon will be a great start for them here.
Pick 10 - Collingwood - NATHAN FREEMAN (Sandringham Dragons)
A bonus 2nd first round pick for the pies here & Freeman would be a terrific long term player to help reinvigorate their midfield. A different style of player to Thomas but a ball magnet that consistently wins his own ball & can break through packs with ease. Needs to tidy up his disposal at times but the talent is there & he should prove to be an excellent pick up.
Pick 11 - West Coast - DOM SHEED (Subiaco)
Sheed has been linked with the Eagles for months & it would be a major shock if they overlook him here. A terrific all round player, he doesn't possess any real X Factor like some others before him, but he will fit nicely into a midfield that desperately needs freshening up. Gets plenty of the ball & uses it well with hand or foot. Although lacking great pace, he isn't slow either & with a quick football brain can appear quicker than he is anyway.
Pick 12 - Richmond - CHRISTIAN SALEM (Sandringham Dragons)
Richmond love drafting midfielders with their first picks & Salem will add to that list here. Very much in the Chad Wingard mould, Salem possesses excellent kicking skills & is prepared to put his body on the line for his team. Hardwick loves this type of player & he will really complement Richmond's developing midfield. If he has a weakness, he just needs to be more consistent as he can drop out of games for periods but he is a great prospect.
Pick 13 - Carlton - CAMERON McCARTHY (South Fremantle)
Key forwards are what Carlton lack & in McCarthy they will be getting easily the 2nd best KPF in this draft. Had a super National Championships culminating in the game against SA where his stocks really rose. A terrific mark & reliable kick, he is just what the club needs given Waite's impending retirement & doubts about Casboult & Rowe being good enough. Although he broke his leg in the game against SA, he has recovered well & Carlton will be excited to add him to their list.
Pick 14 - GWS - DARCY GARDINER (Geelong Falcons)
GWS needs Key Position Defenders & Gardiner is the best from this draft by a fair way. Not the tallest defender around, but Gardiner makes up for this by being highly disciplined one on one & very physical in the contests. He is also deceptively quick & is good at closing down leading forwards. As he fills out he will become an elite defender imo & his stocks rose when he clearly got the better of Tom Boyd in a game earlier this year. Lock him in.
Pick 15 - Sydney - LEWIS TAYLOR (Geelong Falcons)
With an ageing & somewhat slow midfield that was exposed by Fremantle in last years final, Taylor will go a long way towards fixing that problem. Although only small in stature, he possesses explosive speed, evasive skills & goal kicking ability, he is just what the doctor ordered as far as Sydney are concerned. Will complement the likes of Kennedy, Jack & McVeigh perfectly & the Swans will gladly snap him up here.
Pick 16 - Fremantle - BLAKE ACRES (West Perth)
Was tossing up between Acres & Marsh here but opted for Acres due to his elite disposal skills & ability to operate from Half Back. Marsh hasn't quite found a spot yet & would be more of a long term high risk selection so I suspect the Dockers will pick the player who can have immediate impact. Suffered a major shoulder injury this season which has affected his for & draft rating but I see him as a long term replacement for Michael Johnson with his kicking & decision making ability.
Pick 17 - Geelong - JONATHON MARSH (East Fremantle)
Geelong love picking gems from WA & Marsh could well end up being another one here. Possessing dazzling speed for someone 192cm & with real X Factor to excite the fans, Marsh could end up being anything. There is a risk factor here as he is still very raw, doesn't have a defined position as yet & needs to work on his endurance, but with a mature group of players & a highly disciplined coach in place, Geelong would be the perfect environment for him to learn his trade & become the player that he promises to be.
Pick 18 - St Kilda - TRENT DUMONT (Norwood)
St Kilda need quality midfielders & plenty of them, they already have Billings & quite simply Dumont is next best available. A high possession winner through the midfield, strong at the contest, good evasive skills & good endurance. Lacks a bit of polish with his kicking but will play round 1 next year.
Pick 19 - St Kilda - BILLY HARTUNG (Dandenong Stingrays)
Another quality midfield get for the Saints here. Terrific user of the ball with elite pace & endurance who can kick the ball long distances with terrific accuracy. Only small in stature & purely an outside midfielder at this stage, he offers the Saints a player with real flair, something they lack at present.
Pick 20 - Gold Coast - ELI TEMPLETON (Burnie Dockers)
Gold Coast are well stocked in most areas but a quality utility player who can kick goals & play various roles for his team will be very welcome at the Suns. Most people have him going somewhere in the 2nd round, but on a needs basis I think the Suns will grab him here.
Pick 21 - Port Adelaide - JAMES BATTERSBY (Sturt)
I see Battersby as a direct replacement for the soon to be retiring Kane Cornes, but with a few more tricks. Has played regular SANFL Football this year & with his lock down ability & excellent kicking skills, he would be a great acquisition to the Power with this pick.
, where do you see Crouch going?
