Pick 27

[Ketchup]

I want a mobile forward ruck. Someone with the athletic abilities of Rhys Stanley but a much better player who can play 70/30 forward/Ruck.

Then I would trade Grundy to Adelaid3for brad crouch or port Adelaide for Ollie wines next year and have Witts as the number 1

 

[Go Woods]

Daniel Rioli

 

[Hardas]

Seems like the club expects Broomy to play that role.

 

[Soups]

I want a mobile forward ruck. Someone with the athletic abilities of Rhys Stanley but a much better player who can play 70/30 forward/Ruck.

Then I would trade Grundy to Adelaid3for brad crouch or port Adelaide for Ollie wines next year and have Witts as the number 1

Heh? Why on earth would you do that?

 

[AmellyPies]

I want a mobile forward ruck. Someone with the athletic abilities of Rhys Stanley but a much better player who can play 70/30 forward/Ruck.

Then I would trade Grundy to Adelaid3for brad crouch or port Adelaide for Ollie wines next year and have Witts as the number 1

Thats the dumbest thing I've seen on here... so far.

 

[Soaring Magpie]

I want a mobile forward ruck. Someone with the athletic abilities of Rhys Stanley but a much better player who can play 70/30 forward/Ruck.

Then I would trade Grundy to Adelaid3for brad crouch or port Adelaide for Ollie wines next year and have Witts as the number 1

Why would you trade the best young ruck man in the comp?
Plus the fact our midfield is set for the next few years anyway with aish and treloar coming in.

 

[Apex36]

I want a mobile forward ruck. Someone with the athletic abilities of Rhys Stanley but a much better player who can play 70/30 forward/Ruck.

Then I would trade Grundy to Adelaid3for brad crouch or port Adelaide for Ollie wines next year and have Witts as the number 1

You're just trying to stir up Dave, yeah?

 

[Hardas]

You're just trying to stir up Dave, yeah?

Not taking the bait, it seems.

 

[pablo disco bar]

I want a mobile forward ruck. Someone with the athletic abilities of Rhys Stanley but a much better player who can play 70/30 forward/Ruck.

Then I would trade Grundy to Adelaid3for brad crouch or port Adelaide for Ollie wines next year and have Witts as the number 1

Lol

 

[Smoky]

I want a mobile forward ruck. Someone with the athletic abilities of Rhys Stanley but a much better player who can play 70/30 forward/Ruck.

Then I would trade Grundy to Adelaid3for brad crouch or port Adelaide for Ollie wines next year and have Witts as the number 1

Yeah...

And maybe we could trade Pendlebury to Freo for Zac Dawson and make Jesse White Captain.

 

[the mighty T]

Lovell accumulates arguably better than anyone in this draft class and in game his pace, agility and endurance all really stand out with the way he uses that running and movement in game. So that's the foundation he builds his game around.

Knighta, this is nothing against you and certainly not knocking your thoughts or opinions on the kid, but I read all this stuff about Ben Ken a couple of years back.. right down to the "he'd be a top 10 selection if he had an extra 10 cm" line. Sounds like a similar skill set as well..

What's his point of difference to someone like Ben Ken whose game didn't seem to translate well to AFL level?

 

[Mudeo]

I want a mobile forward ruck. Someone with the athletic abilities of Rhys Stanley but a much better player who can play 70/30 forward/Ruck.

Then I would trade Grundy to Adelaid3for brad crouch or port Adelaide for Ollie wines next year and have Witts as the number 1

Thats the shape he has come back in from pre-season. He is going to be a gun

 

[Knightmare]

Knighta, this is nothing against you and certainly not knocking your thoughts or opinions on the kid, but I read all this stuff about Ben Ken a couple of years back.. right down to the "he'd be a top 10 selection if he had an extra 10 cm" line. Sounds like a similar skill set as well..

What's his point of difference to someone like Ben Ken whose game didn't seem to translate well to AFL level?

It's a great comment and question.

In the days of Ben Kennedy getting selected by the Pies I was opposed to the selection. Ben Kennedy's game had not evolved since he was a 16 year old. Remaining the same. No sign of improvement. Additionally as a small midfielder concerning to me was a lack of any outside game. He didn't have a way of finding uncontested ball easily. And as a forward I didn't see him as a natural crumber. So his game left me uneasy overall for a top 20 selection, and nothing has changed in that evaluation with Kennedy over time other than he doesn't use his acceleration as much as he once did.

With Lovell though my level of optimism is higher overall. Lovell he has as strong of an inside game and that's something he has developed this year as someone who unlike Kennedy is continuing to improve. Lovell's production is higher again and unlike Kennedy while he finds it inside he also finds a lot of easy uncontested ball giving him a much better rounded game overall and the ability to be a higher production mid again. Athletically I also consider Lovell far superior, and somewhat different athletically. He like Kennedy can burst through traffic though he his trademark is running around guys, with his agility and endurance relatively on another level entirely. I also favour Lovell's work overhead as a stronger mark. So given these relatively better areas of his game, better ability to play outside (which is what we need - someone who can play wing/half forward which Lovell can do), and still improving he has the opportunity to become a best 22 player and something more like Collingwood's Cory Gregson equivalent.

With that first Collingwood selection ideally I wouldn't have needed to have gone small. There just simply wasn't a second player other than Lovell I gave any best 22 chances to with every other player I would have been willing to consider at that selection already taken.
But as a backup plan, failing someone being available that we feel looks like a probable best 22 player. Lovell is in my view anyway a fine choice and someone with year one best 22 chances.

 

[the mighty T]

It's a great comment and question.

In the days of Ben Kennedy getting selected by the Pies I was opposed to the selection. Ben Kennedy's game had not evolved since he was a 16 year old. Remaining the same. No sign of improvement. Additionally as a small midfielder concerning to me was a lack of any outside game. He didn't have a way of finding uncontested ball easily. And as a forward I didn't see him as a natural crumber. So his game left me uneasy overall for a top 20 selection, and nothing has changed in that evaluation with Kennedy over time other than he doesn't use his acceleration as much as he once did.

With Lovell though my level of optimism is higher overall. Lovell he has as strong of an inside game and that's something he has developed this year as someone who unlike Kennedy is continuing to improve. Lovell's production is higher again and unlike Kennedy while he finds it inside he also finds a lot of easy uncontested ball giving him a much better rounded game overall and the ability to be a higher production mid again. Athletically I also consider Lovell far superior, and somewhat different athletically. He like Kennedy can burst through traffic though he his trademark is running around guys, with his agility and endurance relatively on another level entirely. I also favour Lovell's work overhead as a stronger mark. So given these relatively better areas of his game, better ability to play outside (which is what we need - someone who can play wing/half forward which Lovell can do), and still improving he has the opportunity to become a best 22 player and something more like Collingwood's Cory Gregson equivalent.

With that first Collingwood selection ideally I wouldn't have needed to have gone small. There just simply wasn't a second player other than Lovell I gave any best 22 chances to with every other player I would have been willing to consider at that selection already taken.
But as a backup plan, failing someone being available that we feel looks like a probable best 22 player. Lovell is in my view anyway a fine choice and someone with year one best 22 chances.

Great response and well explained. I guess my question then is, what is it that holds him back from being say a top 20 selection? Or is it purely based on his stature?

 

[Robroy22]

If Lovell is just another Corey Gregson....then I'll pass.
Too much vanilla can make anyone ill.

 

[Matt_352]

If Lovell is just another Corey Gregson....then I'll pass.
Too much vanilla can make anyone ill.

Agreed

 

[Knightmare]

Great response and well explained. I guess my question then is, what is it that holds him back from being say a top 20 selection? Or is it purely based on his stature?

With Lovell if he was 10cm taller he'd be a top 5 selection. So only height. Skills overall efficient but not on the level I'd like as he can by foot miss some targets and lack some hurt factor, though he is improved in this area. Otherwise I'd like as a small for him to prove himself as a genuine small forward, which he hasn't had the opportunity to prove as he has been required to constantly play through the midfield. So they're the questions I relatively have of Lovell.

In terms of my power rankings for some context as to where I rate Lovell v the rest. I currently have him at 17 on my draft board. But going around 30 in my phantom draft as roughly where I imagine he will on draft day feature.

If Lovell is just another Corey Gregson....then I'll pass.
Too much vanilla can make anyone ill.

It's one of those "I'd like to see you do better" kind of drafts. After pick 20, and certainly after pick 30, the talent just isn't there.

On Gregson I wouldn't go calling him vanilla. He can win the contested ball and do all the hard stuff but he also uses the footy well and has some nice acceleration. There is nothing stopping him being a fairly direct replacement for Allen Christensen in a Geelong context, who is another handy small in his own right.

 

[Bay Pie]

In the days of Ben Kennedy getting selected by the Pies I was opposed to the selection. Ben Kennedy's game had not evolved since he was a 16 year old. Remaining the same. No sign of improvement. Additionally as a small midfielder concerning to me was a lack of any outside game. He didn't have a way of finding uncontested ball easily. And as a forward I didn't see him as a natural crumber. So his game left me uneasy overall for a top 20 selection, and nothing has changed in that evaluation with Kennedy over time other than he doesn't use his acceleration as much as he once did.

Really. Your draft profile at the time says you rated Kennedy pretty highly and are now just changing your rating based on hindsight.

Even recruiters make mistakes, so no harm in you being wrong. There's no need to indicate that you didn't rate Kennedy at the time of the draft, when you clearly did.

#18 Collingwood (Via West Coast) - Ben Kennedy (SA –Fwd/ Mid)
Height: 174cm, Weight: 76kg, DOB: 03/03/1994
Recruited from: Glenelg
Style: Brent Harvey
Player comparison:
Range: 13-30
Profile: Very small midfielder, but he can play. Has really elite explosive pace which would be in the very top percentile. As well as that pace he also uses it effectively and willingly takes on opposition players to effect. More than has the performances on the board and showed a lot during the 2011 and 2012 U18 championships. Kennedy is a big accumulator and can hit the scoreboard for a number of goals. Ball use generally very good. Has a neat left foot kick with nice real penetration and hurt factor with it. Very capable of winning his own ball. Marking ability good for a player of his height. I have some queries about eventual position. Not an elite inside ball winner or stoppage player to suggest his inside game develops into anything particularly outstanding, doesn’t really have much of an outside game, not finding enough outside ball then as a forward despite his pace his tackling game is good but not elite as you’d probably expect in a player of this type. Likely he develops into a rotation forward who can push into the midfield with his explosiveness for periods but it will be interesting to see if he can develop into more than a rotation/role player. Kennedy has a big chance of doing what Dion Prestia and Devon Smith have done in recent years in getting drafted early despite lack of height.

 

[Baltimore Jack]

If my auntie had a beard....

 

[Knightmare]

Really. Your draft profile at the time says you rated Kennedy pretty highly and are now just changing your rating based on hindsight.

Even recruiters make mistakes, so no harm in you being arong. There's no need to indicate that you didn't rate Kennedy at the time of the draft, when you clearly did.

#18 Collingwood (Via West Coast) - Ben Kennedy (SA –Fwd/ Mid)
Height: 174cm, Weight: 76kg, DOB: 03/03/1994
Recruited from: Glenelg
Style: Brent Harvey
Player comparison:
Range: 13-30
Profile: Very small midfielder, but he can play. Has really elite explosive pace which would be in the very top percentile. As well as that pace he also uses it effectively and willingly takes on opposition players to effect. More than has the performances on the board and showed a lot during the 2011 and 2012 U18 championships. Kennedy is a big accumulator and can hit the scoreboard for a number of goals. Ball use generally very good. Has a neat left foot kick with nice real penetration and hurt factor with it. Very capable of winning his own ball. Marking ability good for a player of his height. I have some queries about eventual position. Not an elite inside ball winner or stoppage player to suggest his inside game develops into anything particularly outstanding, doesn’t really have much of an outside game, not finding enough outside ball then as a forward despite his pace his tackling game is good but not elite as you’d probably expect in a player of this type. Likely he develops into a rotation forward who can push into the midfield with his explosiveness for periods but it will be interesting to see if he can develop into more than a rotation/role player. Kennedy has a big chance of doing what Dion Prestia and Devon Smith have done in recent years in getting drafted early despite lack of height.

If you read my power rankings you would find that of those available at pick 18 - Grundy, Clurey, Hrovat and Garlett were players I favoured to Kennedy.

I simply listed Kennedy as going to Collingwood because he was heavily rumoured to be Collingwood's preferred selection and Grundy I wasn't going to believe would be available until he was.

If you read through the bio you will surely note that my comments are not overall glowing like they will have been over several others from that draft pool.

 

[mike123]

Really. Your draft profile at the time says you rated Kennedy pretty highly and are now just changing your rating based on hindsight.

Even recruiters make mistakes, so no harm in you being wrong. There's no need to indicate that you didn't rate Kennedy at the time of the draft, when you clearly did.

#18 Collingwood (Via West Coast) - Ben Kennedy (SA –Fwd/ Mid)
Height: 174cm, Weight: 76kg, DOB: 03/03/1994
Recruited from: Glenelg
Style: Brent Harvey
Player comparison:
Range: 13-30
Profile: Very small midfielder, but he can play. Has really elite explosive pace which would be in the very top percentile. As well as that pace he also uses it effectively and willingly takes on opposition players to effect. More than has the performances on the board and showed a lot during the 2011 and 2012 U18 championships. Kennedy is a big accumulator and can hit the scoreboard for a number of goals. Ball use generally very good. Has a neat left foot kick with nice real penetration and hurt factor with it. Very capable of winning his own ball. Marking ability good for a player of his height. I have some queries about eventual position. Not an elite inside ball winner or stoppage player to suggest his inside game develops into anything particularly outstanding, doesn’t really have much of an outside game, not finding enough outside ball then as a forward despite his pace his tackling game is good but not elite as you’d probably expect in a player of this type. Likely he develops into a rotation forward who can push into the midfield with his explosiveness for periods but it will be interesting to see if he can develop into more than a rotation/role player. Kennedy has a big chance of doing what Dion Prestia and Devon Smith have done in recent years in getting drafted early despite lack of height.

Really?

 

[Baltimore Jack]

Alex Morgan (28/01/1996. 180cm, 80kg. Oakleigh Chargers)
Medium Defender
AFL biography: Dashing medium defender who has damaging foot skills on both sides and is creative with his hands. Has a good step through traffic and was impressive for Vic Metro in the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships, playing four matches and averaging 17 disposals. A 19-year-old who has also averaged 20 disposals in his matches with the Chargers this year.

"Alex is a 19-year-old who chose to miss his 18th year to concentrate on uni and play some footy with his mates. He's an outstanding character. I think he could end up being our first player drafted. He has elite speed, a great leap and he kicks the ball really well. He's 19 and he's mature, but he's still an 18-year-old in terms of his footy development. He's had some hamstring injuries this year which have hampered his development, but he played some good footy for Vic Metro and has been good for us too. The way he's approached his rehab has been first class and shows the type of character he has."
Craig Notman, Oakleigh Chargers talent manager

 

[MyManLynch]

Medium defenders not exactly a shortage at Holden centre (Langdon, Schazz, Marsh, Williams, Ramsay, Sinclair, Toovey, Maynard, Oxley).
I would have thought another forward, small, pacey...goal sneak?

 

[THATSGOLD]

I want a mobile forward ruck. Someone with the athletic abilities of Rhys Stanley but a much better player who can play 70/30 forward/Ruck.

Then I would trade Grundy to Adelaid3for brad crouch or port Adelaide for Ollie wines next year and have Witts as the number 1

I want a key forward. Someone that can kick goals and just stay forward.

 

[The Royal Sampler]

Alex Morgan (28/01/1996. 180cm, 80kg. Oakleigh Chargers)
Medium Defender
AFL biography: Dashing medium defender who has damaging foot skills on both sides and is creative with his hands. Has a good step through traffic and was impressive for Vic Metro in the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships, playing four matches and averaging 17 disposals. A 19-year-old who has also averaged 20 disposals in his matches with the Chargers this year.

"Alex is a 19-year-old who chose to miss his 18th year to concentrate on uni and play some footy with his mates. He's an outstanding character. I think he could end up being our first player drafted. He has elite speed, a great leap and he kicks the ball really well. He's 19 and he's mature, but he's still an 18-year-old in terms of his footy development. He's had some hamstring injuries this year which have hampered his development, but he played some good footy for Vic Metro and has been good for us too. The way he's approached his rehab has been first class and shows the type of character he has."
Craig Notman, Oakleigh Chargers talent manager

Maybe we could select him in the National Draft but rookie his hamstrings...