Draft Expert PMBangers' (and ‘friends’) 2022 Draft Board

Apr 24, 2018
3,181
2,485
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St Kilda
No I still rate him highly, but Clarks one that I've struggled to place in a draft order all year. I keep switching between him not being athletic to just not having much burst woth each watch, there's some moments he shows off some good top level speed and leap but because it's not quite Tsatas or Hotton instant top speed it's hard to pick.

I actually thought he did pretty well in the Champs game, not as much of the ball as he usually gets but still did everything else that's gotten me so high on him
Who are you thinking at st Kilda first pick ?
 
Nov 7, 2017
27,654
53,308
Melbourne
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GWS
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Manchester City, Collingwood AFLW
Nov 7, 2017
27,654
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Melbourne
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GWS
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Manchester City, Collingwood AFLW
Cheers. To me he doesn't look like the kind of midfielder that excels in any specific area bar endeavour.

We need a midfielder that will mix well with Newcombe, Ward, JOM, Moore and Worpel.
I think Clarke's contested game and defensive drive are elite personally, whilst not a traditional 'two-way runner' it's rare he doesn't get a hand on an opponent from stoppages, and obviously he's extremely consistent. I'm not sure how to describe it in a word, but how much he hates losing is something that really sticks out to me as well. In the NAB league Wildcard round when Geelong lost to Western, he was the only one that looked to be unhappy at the thought of it in how he played, really fired up and did everything he could to drag Geelong across the line. It may not be something that gets everyone excited like a burst away from packs player, but that level of competitiveness is something that's difficult to teach, but will inspire others in similar situations.

Other areas of strength of his, whilst not being elite are his disposal under pressure and overhead marking, not game breaking traits for him but ones that hold him in good stead when in comparison to other contested midfielders, he's not a stoppage only inside bull
 
Nov 7, 2017
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I like Clark's competitive streak and leadership.

Gets in the face of the opposition if he sees a team mate cop unfair treatment, and fights for the ball like his life depends on it too.

Reminds me of Joel Selwood in some ways.
Agreed on all counts there, although the playing comparison I've been going for is Tanner Bruhn at NAB league level, but with a harder edge.

It's a pipe dream, but my dream combo for GWS, if we get Richmond's Pick 12 is Cadman at 3 and then Clark sliding to 12 due to the athletic concerns, however I think it will just remain a dream
 
Jun 11, 2007
34,086
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Victoria
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Essendon
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Agreed on all counts there, although the playing comparison I've been going for is Tanner Bruhn at NAB league level, but with a harder edge.

It's a pipe dream, but my dream combo for GWS, if we get Richmond's Pick 12 is Cadman at 3 and then Clark sliding to 12 due to the athletic concerns, however I think it will just remain a dream
Funny you say that cos if the dons could get the bowes + 7 deal, id want cadman and clarke at our picks. Got a feeling west coast could look at clarke and North at cadman, dashing both our hopes
 
Nov 7, 2017
27,654
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Notes on all players from the U17's All Stars game on Saturday, with so much talent on field and high rotation it was hard for any one player to really have a consistent four quarter game, but a lot of promise for the future, and as mentioned looking at the list of 'outs' from the game really puts into context the type of draft we're in for come 2023. All with the asterisk of there's still 13 months to go though, this time last year we were calling 2022 'The land of the Giants' and now we're looking at only 3 first round KPP's! Some of the more notable players in my eyes;

#6 Jack Delean (South Adelaide/South Australia)

A premiership quarter specialist, the South Australian small forward stepped up in the third term to help Team Houli come from behind. Early on, Delean did his hardest to set up goals, working up the ground to be a marking option in transition from defensive 50, and crumbing marking contests inside 50 superbly, creating his side’s first goal by handing off to a runner from behind after winning a ground ball. Delean was dangerous in the air all game, with two of his goals coming from set shots, one earned from a nice pack mark in the goal square.


#19 Connor O’Sullivan (Murray Bushrangers/NSW-ACT)

Splitting his time between the forward line and ruck, O’Sullivan showed off his speed on the lead in the forward half, reacting well when his teammates won the ball further afield to get moving quickly and be used as an option. Despite being undersized in the ruck contests, O’Sullivan’s leap made him a strong competitor at the stoppages, but it was his work below his knees and skills once the ball hit the ground that really impressed, playing smaller than his 197cm frame would suggest.


#22 Daniel Curtin (Claremont/Western Australia)

Recognised as the best player afield, Curtin may as well have had the honours wrapped up at quarter time. For every inside 50 Team Murphy managed, Curtin managed another intercept mark or rebound 50, reading the ball superbly in flight and approaching it more aggressively than any opponent. Contested or uncontested, Curtin was just holding everything he put his hands to. The marking was impressive, but what stood out with Curtin was how good his ball use was for a tall, with the left-footer hitting dangerous options at both short and long range, generally favouring options in the corridor. Unfortunately he didn’t get the opportunity to show off his forward craft, but he looms as an early selection in 2023 regardless of role.


#1 Jake Rogers (Suns Academy/Queensland)

Utilised on both sides of midfield, Rogers’ smarts and speed were on full show as one of Team Murphy’s better players. The Suns Academy member was super lively at ground level, proving clean below his knees and making his first evasiveness a factor around the contest. He missed an early chance to hit the scoreboard as he closed to 40 metres on the run, but looked much more polished as the game wore on with clever decision making and skill execution.


#10 Zane Duursma (Gippsland Power/Vic Country)

Duursma is such a natural forward and was a relatively permanent attacking fixture for Team Murphy, showcasing all he has to offer as a prospective top 10 talent. The Gippsland Power player of strong pedigree got off the leash when leading, but also rose for a solid pack mark in term two to boot his first goal. His hands were exceptionally clean all day, as was his snap finish from the pocket in the final quarter. He kicks goals from all angles and with every kick in the book.

#11 Ben Ridgway (Glenelg/South Australia)

Another outstanding ball winner for Team Murphy, Ridgway was one of the game’s more mainstay midfielders. The Glenelg Under 18 premiership captain had little trouble getting his hands on the pill, perhaps afforded less time and space than he would have liked, but still able to bomb his side forward out of the middle. He very nearly capped off a strong on-ball outing with scores, but hit the post with a second term set shot and missed a snap late in the game. A real accumulator.
 
Nov 7, 2017
27,654
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So you’ve finally come around to Ashcroft being the best player in this years draft
Your consistent whining has not changed my mind on where he sits as a prospect, but he is certainly the best performed player this year
 

pushintheback

All Australian
May 31, 2010
867
885
AFL Club
Adelaide

Notes on all players from the U17's All Stars game on Saturday, with so much talent on field and high rotation it was hard for any one player to really have a consistent four quarter game, but a lot of promise for the future, and as mentioned looking at the list of 'outs' from the game really puts into context the type of draft we're in for come 2023. All with the asterisk of there's still 13 months to go though, this time last year we were calling 2022 'The land of the Giants' and now we're looking at only 3 first round KPP's! Some of the more notable players in my eyes;

Great RMC notes once again Bangers. Really impressive scouting notes mate. You and the team have had a great year.
 

briztoon

Wannabe Draft Nuffie
Nov 28, 2015
26,151
32,461
Brisbane
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Brisbane Lions
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Your consistent whining has not changed my mind on where he sits as a prospect, but he is certainly the best performed player this year
Brisbane supporters are the worst.

I Look Good Pat Healy GIF by Take Me
 
Nov 7, 2017
27,654
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Brisbane supporters are the worst.

I Look Good Pat Healy GIF by Take Me
I miss when you were the only pain in the ass 😪.

Maybe Knightmare used to just get all of this and I never knew
 
Feb 5, 2018
13,936
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Hawthorn
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I think Clarke's contested game and defensive drive are elite personally, whilst not a traditional 'two-way runner' it's rare he doesn't get a hand on an opponent from stoppages, and obviously he's extremely consistent. I'm not sure how to describe it in a word, but how much he hates losing is something that really sticks out to me as well. In the NAB league Wildcard round when Geelong lost to Western, he was the only one that looked to be unhappy at the thought of it in how he played, really fired up and did everything he could to drag Geelong across the line. It may not be something that gets everyone excited like a burst away from packs player, but that level of competitiveness is something that's difficult to teach, but will inspire others in similar situations.

Other areas of strength of his, whilst not being elite are his disposal under pressure and overhead marking, not game breaking traits for him but ones that hold him in good stead when in comparison to other contested midfielders, he's not a stoppage only inside bull


This part is why I've seen a little bit of Jackson Macrae in his game. Macrae is an elite accumulator but doesn't get the regular plaudits for how often he simply does the right thing or executes cleanly under pressure.

I can certainly envision a long, consistent career for him. He's as safe a pick as any player in this draft.
 
Nov 7, 2017
27,654
53,308
Melbourne
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I stepped back when I saw the others arrive. Figured it’d be too much to handle.
Highlight expert season hasn't even started yet, tis going to be a long 2 months
 
Aug 9, 2019
37,994
64,900
Victorian Central Highlands
AFL Club
Adelaide
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Panthers, GWV Rebels, Central Augusta
Your consistent whining has not changed my mind on where he sits as a prospect, but he is certainly the best performed player this year
I see him as a Sam Walsh type...the same reason I would have taken Bailey Smith before Walsh (still would) and I'd likely take Wardlaw before Ashcroft...Hurt factor.
 
Nov 7, 2017
27,654
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I see him as a Sam Walsh type...the same reason I would have taken Bailey Smith before Walsh (still would) and I'd likely take Wardlaw before Ashcroft...Hurt factor.
I think Ashcroft has the hurt factor in him personally, his hands I tight are some of the best I've seem for a junior, it's what makes him such a danger from stoppage, his ability to assess options and fire it out before an opponent can even react to him winning it is superb. His kicking is good out in space too, although he doesn't have the burst to get away from other top midfield prospects which makes it hard to show sometimes.

What really diminishes his hurt factor really only started after Round 4/5 of the NAB League imo, he started giving off hospital handballs to almost force teammates to give it back to him, when a more piercing handball or kick further afield would've been better for the team, then it evolved more and more to the point where there's times he looks for an extra handball rather than hitting a clear forward target.

It'll probably get worked out of him at AFL Level, I can't imagine burning the likes of Daniher and Cameron would go down well
 

pushintheback

All Australian
May 31, 2010
867
885
AFL Club
Adelaide
I think Ashcroft has the hurt factor in him personally, his hands I tight are some of the best I've seem for a junior, it's what makes him such a danger from stoppage, his ability to assess options and fire it out before an opponent can even react to him winning it is superb. His kicking is good out in space too, although he doesn't have the burst to get away from other top midfield prospects which makes it hard to show sometimes.

What really diminishes his hurt factor really only started after Round 4/5 of the NAB League imo, he started giving off hospital handballs to almost force teammates to give it back to him, when a more piercing handball or kick further afield would've been better for the team, then it evolved more and more to the point where there's times he looks for an extra handball rather than hitting a clear forward target.

It'll probably get worked out of him at AFL Level, I can't imagine burning the likes of Daniher and Cameron would go down well
100% agree. I said the same thing about his HB's in another thread and got roasted for having a crack at Ashcroft but all I was doing was stating what i saw. Nonetheless, he is still the clear #1.
 
Oct 30, 2007
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What really diminishes his hurt factor really only started after Round 4/5 of the NAB League imo, he started giving off hospital handballs to almost force teammates to give it back to him, when a more piercing handball or kick further afield would've been better for the team, then it evolved more and more to the point where there's times he looks for an extra handball rather than hitting a clear forward target.

Always looking for the easy one-two? Sounds like a trend for top rated F/S picks.
 
What really diminishes Ashcroft's hurt factor really only started after Round 4/5 of the NAB League imo, he started giving off hospital handballs to almost force teammates to give it back to him, when a more piercing handball or kick further afield would've been better for the team, then it evolved more and more to the point where there's times he looks for an extra handball rather than hitting a clear forward target.

It'll probably get worked out of him at AFL Level, I can't imagine burning the likes of Daniher and Cameron would go down well

He's the dominant player at his age, getting 35-40 touches a week. Not outrageous to develop a cocky 'let me take care of this' attitude.

In an AFL team, he would be way down the pecking order (initially) and getting half as much ball.

Surely the 'arrogance' would/should be coached out of him pretty quickly?
 

Rusty Beam

Premiership Player
Sep 30, 2009
4,788
6,952
AFL Club
Collingwood
He's the dominant player at his age, getting 35-40 touches a week. Not outrageous to develop a cocky 'let me take care of this' attitude.

In an AFL team, he would be way down the pecking order (initially) and getting half as much ball.

Surely the 'arrogance' would/should be coached out of him pretty quickly?

Ashcroft gets the ball as much as he does because he has ridiculous footy IQ and work rate.

Even at AFL level those traits are super rare. I’m sure he’ll be right and I doubt Brisbane will want to coach that out of him.
 

Saintscomemarchingin

Club Legend
Sep 5, 2022
1,311
2,035
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St Kilda
View attachment 1518197
Final RMD for the year before I start overthinking my final one, will be interesting to see how the view on players changes as we head closer to the draft, I expect that there'll be a lot more midfielders taken in the 20's than I have given how much clubs in that range need those sorts of players rather than defenders/ forwards. Trade period is also going to be hectic, I'm not going to be shocked if we see 70% of the picks in the first two rounds change hands at some point. Just going on the rumours is probably safe to say that Geelong, Richmond and Fremantle will be out of the first two rounds completely with their targets, and Gold Coast will probably do what they did last season and just head in with the one high end pick, so some clubs may see the opportunity to take both their second rounders as well.

Anyway, putting phantoms together is my least favourite part about draft watching, this is more an exercise of putting players to clubs within their range for me rather than 'what will this club do' atm, trade period will give us a better picture of what clubs are going to need obviously, and hopefully with it the rumour mill of clubs being interested in x draftee will start to heat up
I just can't see why? Cadman wouldn't be picked up by North
 
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