I have attempted a couple of drafts previously but have taken the last couple of years off mainly because I cannot get my head around the bidding system & how the draft order changes.
Anyway I am doing a top 30 based on where I believe players should be taken. Any comments, positive or negative are welcomed.
1) BRISBANE - Cameron Rayner (Western Jets)
The best available imo, offers the Lions the X Factor that they desperately need & potentially could be another Dustin Martin type of player. Oozes class & has great upside once he develops a tank that is to AFL standard. Ultimately he will play predominantly in the midfield.
2) FREMANTLE - Luke Davies-Uniacke (Dandenong Stingrays)
A toss up here between he & Dow but have gone with LDU as I feel he has a slight edge in talent. Has plenty of pace & is a power packed player that will develop into a dominant on baller in the future. A midfield of LDU, Fyfe & Neale in the future will be a mouth watering thought for Freo supporters.
3) CARLTON - Paddy Dow (Bendigo Pioneers)
A safe selection here. Does all the right things, is tough as teak & his professional attitude will sit well with Bolton's philosophies. Will be ready to play from round 1 & is a potential 10-15 year player for the club.
4) NORTH MELBOURNE - Adam Cerra (Eastern Ranges)
One of the more intriguing players in this draft. Has enormous talent but has had major injury problems over the last 2 years. I believe North will take the punt on him & if he can prove he is over his injury problems, he could yet end up the best player in this draft. Stephenson & Darcy Fogarty will also be considered here.
5) FREMANTLE - Jaidyn Stephenson (Eastern Ranges)
Naughton & Fogarty will also be considered here but I think Freos need is for quality in the midfield so therefore I think they will take the mid over the KPD. Stephenson has some terrific attributes that will only enhance the midfield in years to come & they should ignore the go home factor & take best available.
6) COLLINGWOOD - Darcy Fogarty (Glenelg)
12 months ago Fogarty was being touted as a no.1 pick & although his stocks have fallen since then due to injury & some indifferent form, the potential of this kid will be hard for the Pies to ignore. Naughton will also be considered as KPD is an area they need to bolster & he is a Magpie supporter to boot. However I believe Fogarty will be their man here.
7) ST KILDA - Aiden Bonar (Dandenong Stingrays)
Midfield quality is an area that the Saints desperately need a boost in & Bonar is best available here. Although he currently spends most of his time as a forward, midfield is where he will eventually play his footy in the future. With his height & strength he will be a perfect fit to support the over worked Jack Steven & David Armitage in the midfield & add some much needed class to this area.
8) ST KILDA - Aaron Naughton (Peel Thunder)
KPD is another area that St Kilda needs to bolster & by far Naughton is the best KPD in this draft. With the likes of Brown & Gilbert in the twilight of their careers & Goddard coming back from a knee reco, Naughton is a perfect fit here & could play early as round 1 next year.
9) WESTERN BULLDOGS - Nick Coffield (Northern Knights)
The perfect replacement for Robert Murphy with his excellent kicking & decision making from half back. Can play in numerous positions & will add some polish to a side that needs more players that can hit targets.
10) CARLTON - Andrew Brayshaw (Sandringham Dragons)
With the loss of Gibbs to Adelaide, midfield will continue to be a focus for the Blues. Brayshaw is a smart & clean user of the footy with excellent decision making skills & although he is not the quickest player around, his football brain more than makes up for this. A good fit for Carlton here to complement the earlier acquisition of Dow.
11) GWS - Jack Higgins (Oakleigh Chargers)
With the loss of Devon Smith & the need for some crumbing forwards I think Higgins would be a good fit for the Giants. His dedication to the game cannot be questioned & his character & finishing skills could be something the Giants could benefit from going forward.
12) ADELAIDE - Hunter Clark (Dandenong Stingrays)
Questions about the quality of the Crows midfield continue to be asked & despite the recruitment of Gibbs to bolster this area, I still think the Crows will take the best available mid here & Clark is that player. There is no doubt that if Fogarty was still here at this pick the Crows would swoop but I think that is highly unlikely.
13) WEST COAST - Lochie O'Brien (Bendigo Pioneers)
Although Oscar Allen has been linked to the Eagles here, it is well documented that midfield is a priority for them to strengthen & for that reason I believe they will stick to that strategy here & take O'Brien. His excellent use by foot as well as his pace is what the Eagles need more of & he will be a welcome addition.
14) SYDNEY - Jarrod Brander (Bendigo Pioneers)
One of the better talls in this draft & his ability to play at both ends of the ground will suit Sydney given that they have some aging talls, ie Franklin, Grundy & Tippett on their list. Sydney have a rendency to draft best available with their first pick & Brander is that.
15) BRISBANE - Charlie Constable (Sandringham Dragons)
Another welcome addition to the Lions midfield. Has been a consistent performer in the TAC Cup throughout the year. He is also versatile enough to play in defence & is an excellent mark. Nathan Murphy will also be considered here.
16) WESTERN BULLDOGS - Nathan Murphy (Sandringham Dragons)
Best available & once again versatility will be an enticing prospect for the Dogs here. Can be used in a multitude of positions & is capable of going forward & kicking goals when required.
17) RICHMOND - Patrick Naish (Northern Knights)
Although the Tigers would love to take Naish a little later in the draft, I believe there will be a bid made for him by another club forcing their hand. Oscar Allen would have been an excellent choice here but they have committed to Naish so will match a bid here for him. Naish has excellent skills & will complement the forward set up at the Tigers.
18) BRISBANE - Connor Ballenden (Western Magpies)
Again a bid is likely to come in for Ballenden which will force their hand. Has had a disappointing season compared to what he showed last year but he has tremendous talent as a KPP & the Lions will not let this local product escape to another club.
19) GOLD COAST - Ed Richards (Oakleigh Chargers)
With the loss of Adam Saad, Richards has all the attributes to be the perfect replacement. His speed is excellent & his ability to break the lines will appeal to the Suns.
20) RICHMOND - Noah Balta (Calder Cannons)
Balta has tremendous natural athleticism & is capable of doing some freakish things but his lack of footy smarts at times is a concern. Regardless, quality talls is not an area of strength at the Tigers right now (Rance & Riewoldt excepted) so they should be prepared to take a punt on Balta here. He could be a bust but could also end up to be a steal here.
21) WEST COAST - Oscar Allen (West Perth)
The Eagles will be rapt to be able to grab Allen here. Although he is only 191cm he can hold down a key position due to his excellent leaping ability to compensate for his lack of inches. Kennedy will be an excellent mentor for Allen's development, while his accurate goalkicking will be a welcome addition to the forward line.
22) GEELONG - Matthew Ling (Geelong Falcons)
The Cats will stay local & the Ling name returns to the Cattery. Blessed with enormous pace & good decision making skills, he will be an excellent acquisition here.
23) NORTH MELBOURNE - Lachlan Fogarty (Western Jets)
A bit of a slider but an excellent get for the Roos here. Will add to the on ball brigade & in reality is best available at this pick. Capable of playing senior footy early next year.
24) GEELONG - Harrison Petty (Norwood)
A bit of a bolter but really fits the bill for the Cats with the retirement of Lonergan & Mackie. Played some excellent football in defence for SA in the Championships & his stocks have really risen recently.
25) RICHMOND - Jack Petrucelle (Northern Knights)
A late starter to footy but has all the attributes the Tigers love, ie pace, aggression & tenacity. Could develop into tagger with some tricks & would be a good get for the Tigers here.
26) WEST COAST - Gryan Miers (Geelong Falcons)
If ever there was a perfect replacement for Mark Le Cras, this kid is it. Has outstanding goal sense & will soon become a favourite of the Eagles fans.
27) GWS - Sam Hayes (Eastern Ranges)
The best ruck prospect in this draft by far & with the retirement of Mumford & uncertainty over Lobb & Simpson as quality rucks, Hayes will be well worth taking here. He is a long term prospect but could well be worth the wait.
28) GWS - James Worpel (Geelong Falcons)
Competitive beast with leadership qualities, something the Giants need more of. Gets plenty of the footy & will add grunt to a midfield that at times was a bit soft.
29) MELBOURNE - Charlie Ballard (Sturt)
Tall rangy player who can be used in a variety of positions. Can play at both ends & also has excellent speed for a man of his size. Has been a late bloomer who Melbourne will be keen to develop.
30) CARLTON - Adam Sambono (NT Thunder)
Excitement machine with uncanny goal kicking ability. Could be a long term replacement for Eddie Betts. Well worth a punt at this pick.
Anyway I am doing a top 30 based on where I believe players should be taken. Any comments, positive or negative are welcomed.
1) BRISBANE - Cameron Rayner (Western Jets)
The best available imo, offers the Lions the X Factor that they desperately need & potentially could be another Dustin Martin type of player. Oozes class & has great upside once he develops a tank that is to AFL standard. Ultimately he will play predominantly in the midfield.
2) FREMANTLE - Luke Davies-Uniacke (Dandenong Stingrays)
A toss up here between he & Dow but have gone with LDU as I feel he has a slight edge in talent. Has plenty of pace & is a power packed player that will develop into a dominant on baller in the future. A midfield of LDU, Fyfe & Neale in the future will be a mouth watering thought for Freo supporters.
3) CARLTON - Paddy Dow (Bendigo Pioneers)
A safe selection here. Does all the right things, is tough as teak & his professional attitude will sit well with Bolton's philosophies. Will be ready to play from round 1 & is a potential 10-15 year player for the club.
4) NORTH MELBOURNE - Adam Cerra (Eastern Ranges)
One of the more intriguing players in this draft. Has enormous talent but has had major injury problems over the last 2 years. I believe North will take the punt on him & if he can prove he is over his injury problems, he could yet end up the best player in this draft. Stephenson & Darcy Fogarty will also be considered here.
5) FREMANTLE - Jaidyn Stephenson (Eastern Ranges)
Naughton & Fogarty will also be considered here but I think Freos need is for quality in the midfield so therefore I think they will take the mid over the KPD. Stephenson has some terrific attributes that will only enhance the midfield in years to come & they should ignore the go home factor & take best available.
6) COLLINGWOOD - Darcy Fogarty (Glenelg)
12 months ago Fogarty was being touted as a no.1 pick & although his stocks have fallen since then due to injury & some indifferent form, the potential of this kid will be hard for the Pies to ignore. Naughton will also be considered as KPD is an area they need to bolster & he is a Magpie supporter to boot. However I believe Fogarty will be their man here.
7) ST KILDA - Aiden Bonar (Dandenong Stingrays)
Midfield quality is an area that the Saints desperately need a boost in & Bonar is best available here. Although he currently spends most of his time as a forward, midfield is where he will eventually play his footy in the future. With his height & strength he will be a perfect fit to support the over worked Jack Steven & David Armitage in the midfield & add some much needed class to this area.
8) ST KILDA - Aaron Naughton (Peel Thunder)
KPD is another area that St Kilda needs to bolster & by far Naughton is the best KPD in this draft. With the likes of Brown & Gilbert in the twilight of their careers & Goddard coming back from a knee reco, Naughton is a perfect fit here & could play early as round 1 next year.
9) WESTERN BULLDOGS - Nick Coffield (Northern Knights)
The perfect replacement for Robert Murphy with his excellent kicking & decision making from half back. Can play in numerous positions & will add some polish to a side that needs more players that can hit targets.
10) CARLTON - Andrew Brayshaw (Sandringham Dragons)
With the loss of Gibbs to Adelaide, midfield will continue to be a focus for the Blues. Brayshaw is a smart & clean user of the footy with excellent decision making skills & although he is not the quickest player around, his football brain more than makes up for this. A good fit for Carlton here to complement the earlier acquisition of Dow.
11) GWS - Jack Higgins (Oakleigh Chargers)
With the loss of Devon Smith & the need for some crumbing forwards I think Higgins would be a good fit for the Giants. His dedication to the game cannot be questioned & his character & finishing skills could be something the Giants could benefit from going forward.
12) ADELAIDE - Hunter Clark (Dandenong Stingrays)
Questions about the quality of the Crows midfield continue to be asked & despite the recruitment of Gibbs to bolster this area, I still think the Crows will take the best available mid here & Clark is that player. There is no doubt that if Fogarty was still here at this pick the Crows would swoop but I think that is highly unlikely.
13) WEST COAST - Lochie O'Brien (Bendigo Pioneers)
Although Oscar Allen has been linked to the Eagles here, it is well documented that midfield is a priority for them to strengthen & for that reason I believe they will stick to that strategy here & take O'Brien. His excellent use by foot as well as his pace is what the Eagles need more of & he will be a welcome addition.
14) SYDNEY - Jarrod Brander (Bendigo Pioneers)
One of the better talls in this draft & his ability to play at both ends of the ground will suit Sydney given that they have some aging talls, ie Franklin, Grundy & Tippett on their list. Sydney have a rendency to draft best available with their first pick & Brander is that.
15) BRISBANE - Charlie Constable (Sandringham Dragons)
Another welcome addition to the Lions midfield. Has been a consistent performer in the TAC Cup throughout the year. He is also versatile enough to play in defence & is an excellent mark. Nathan Murphy will also be considered here.
16) WESTERN BULLDOGS - Nathan Murphy (Sandringham Dragons)
Best available & once again versatility will be an enticing prospect for the Dogs here. Can be used in a multitude of positions & is capable of going forward & kicking goals when required.
17) RICHMOND - Patrick Naish (Northern Knights)
Although the Tigers would love to take Naish a little later in the draft, I believe there will be a bid made for him by another club forcing their hand. Oscar Allen would have been an excellent choice here but they have committed to Naish so will match a bid here for him. Naish has excellent skills & will complement the forward set up at the Tigers.
18) BRISBANE - Connor Ballenden (Western Magpies)
Again a bid is likely to come in for Ballenden which will force their hand. Has had a disappointing season compared to what he showed last year but he has tremendous talent as a KPP & the Lions will not let this local product escape to another club.
19) GOLD COAST - Ed Richards (Oakleigh Chargers)
With the loss of Adam Saad, Richards has all the attributes to be the perfect replacement. His speed is excellent & his ability to break the lines will appeal to the Suns.
20) RICHMOND - Noah Balta (Calder Cannons)
Balta has tremendous natural athleticism & is capable of doing some freakish things but his lack of footy smarts at times is a concern. Regardless, quality talls is not an area of strength at the Tigers right now (Rance & Riewoldt excepted) so they should be prepared to take a punt on Balta here. He could be a bust but could also end up to be a steal here.
21) WEST COAST - Oscar Allen (West Perth)
The Eagles will be rapt to be able to grab Allen here. Although he is only 191cm he can hold down a key position due to his excellent leaping ability to compensate for his lack of inches. Kennedy will be an excellent mentor for Allen's development, while his accurate goalkicking will be a welcome addition to the forward line.
22) GEELONG - Matthew Ling (Geelong Falcons)
The Cats will stay local & the Ling name returns to the Cattery. Blessed with enormous pace & good decision making skills, he will be an excellent acquisition here.
23) NORTH MELBOURNE - Lachlan Fogarty (Western Jets)
A bit of a slider but an excellent get for the Roos here. Will add to the on ball brigade & in reality is best available at this pick. Capable of playing senior footy early next year.
24) GEELONG - Harrison Petty (Norwood)
A bit of a bolter but really fits the bill for the Cats with the retirement of Lonergan & Mackie. Played some excellent football in defence for SA in the Championships & his stocks have really risen recently.
25) RICHMOND - Jack Petrucelle (Northern Knights)
A late starter to footy but has all the attributes the Tigers love, ie pace, aggression & tenacity. Could develop into tagger with some tricks & would be a good get for the Tigers here.
26) WEST COAST - Gryan Miers (Geelong Falcons)
If ever there was a perfect replacement for Mark Le Cras, this kid is it. Has outstanding goal sense & will soon become a favourite of the Eagles fans.
27) GWS - Sam Hayes (Eastern Ranges)
The best ruck prospect in this draft by far & with the retirement of Mumford & uncertainty over Lobb & Simpson as quality rucks, Hayes will be well worth taking here. He is a long term prospect but could well be worth the wait.
28) GWS - James Worpel (Geelong Falcons)
Competitive beast with leadership qualities, something the Giants need more of. Gets plenty of the footy & will add grunt to a midfield that at times was a bit soft.
29) MELBOURNE - Charlie Ballard (Sturt)
Tall rangy player who can be used in a variety of positions. Can play at both ends & also has excellent speed for a man of his size. Has been a late bloomer who Melbourne will be keen to develop.
30) CARLTON - Adam Sambono (NT Thunder)
Excitement machine with uncanny goal kicking ability. Could be a long term replacement for Eddie Betts. Well worth a punt at this pick.
Last edited:
