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Ned Carey is one that I'm very interested in getting another look at
State Focus SA 2020 - U18 Game Notes and Draft Rankings
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The stream is set to start at the same time as the futures match. So it looks like both will be streamed.
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I'll be happy with that but I'm sure earlier they said only the All Stars game was to be streamed.
I really want to see more of South Ruckman Will Verrall who I've only seen a couple of times but he looks to be a super prospect to my eye.
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Only that the stream start time and banner pic suggest the Futures game is too.
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Thanks very much for sharing, much appreciated!
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Hopefully both are, few guys I was hoping to see play in Roberts and Horne but good to see a nice range of prospects across the years! A good friday night in!
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Is the replay stream here working for anyone?
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Nope, not here.
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Working now. 
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Team Grundy 12.18 90 def Team Hurn 4.12 36
Team Hurn
Bailey Chamberlain
Chamberlain wasn't named in Hurn's best on the night but I thought perhaps he was a little stiff to miss out. Despite being undersized and not overly quick he manages to weave his way through traffic and consistently hit short targets by foot. This is something that he has been able to show more of since he got his opportunity to play in the Reserves for West and through his school footy for Henley High. His flexibility to play on the wing and across half back and still find plenty of the footy suggests he's not far off a SANFL League debut next year. I think Chamberlain will absolutely develop into a top level State League midfielder who can accumulate the footy at a really high level.
Corey Durdin
Durdin had a few moments but I didn't feel he had a significant impact on the contest. In reality it's pretty tough for a small forward to have too much impact when the team is getting significantly beaten. Durdin did push up the ground for patches and got his hands on the footy firing out some sharp handballs to teammates. I view Durdin as a State League prospect but he probably fits into the draft as a late to rookie selection. He's a good all-round footballer but I just don't see him as particularly elite at any one thing and considering his size I think that counts against him.
Xavier Robins
Robins was one that I was really keen to see and to be honest he probably showed me more of what I already knew. He has pace and certainly finds the footy across half back but he tends to kick long to 50/50 contests rather than create or maintain possession through shorter, smarter kicks. I don't see him as advanced as some of the other half backs in this draft and I think that probably leaves him on the outer on draft day. He'll be one worth watching next year where I think he'll ply his trade in the Reserves for Glenelg and compete for a League debut.
Tom Powell
Powell was pretty good for Team Hurn and found his fair share of the footy at the contest and around the ground. He's another that probably just showed more of what we'd seen all year. Whatever your opinion of Powell, I don't think he did anything that would've changed that opinion. I'm still a fan and still think he has a good chance of being a serviceable midfielder at AFL level.
Tariek Newchurch
A fair bit was made about Newchurch lining up on the wing and I was keen to see how he'd go further up the ground. Given Team Grundy's dominance, he often found himself in unfamiliar territory at half back where I felt he struggled with his decision-making and skill execution. He doesn't look overly comfortable around the contest and doesn't seem to apply too much tackling pressure. Newchurch isn't on my draft board but I think there's a reasonable chance the Crows take a punt on him as a rookie and give him a year in the system to see if he can make something of his talent.
Brodie Lake
Lake was one of Team Hurn's best, kicking their only two goals in the first half. He's a nice size and moves well for a medium forward, although I would've liked to see him get a bit more time through the middle of the ground. Given Gold Coast's list squeeze I don't think he'll land there but I think he's a good chance to feature on draft night as a late selection (40+).
Luke Edwards
Edwards spent time through the middle and at half back and looked one of the better prospects out there. His outside game is pretty solid. He's a good user and makes pretty good decisions with ball in hand. He's got the agility and speed to create space for himself to then take the pressure off his kicks which I think contributes to his good kicking efficiency. I really wanted to see that dominant display and whilst I felt he was super assertive in his accumulation of possessions I don't think he has it in him to really cut apart the opposition and have that game-changing impact. I think he's a worthy selection in the National Draft but as a Crows fan I'd be completely understanding if a bid went unmatched.
Team Grundy notes to come.
Team Hurn
Bailey Chamberlain
Chamberlain wasn't named in Hurn's best on the night but I thought perhaps he was a little stiff to miss out. Despite being undersized and not overly quick he manages to weave his way through traffic and consistently hit short targets by foot. This is something that he has been able to show more of since he got his opportunity to play in the Reserves for West and through his school footy for Henley High. His flexibility to play on the wing and across half back and still find plenty of the footy suggests he's not far off a SANFL League debut next year. I think Chamberlain will absolutely develop into a top level State League midfielder who can accumulate the footy at a really high level.
Corey Durdin
Durdin had a few moments but I didn't feel he had a significant impact on the contest. In reality it's pretty tough for a small forward to have too much impact when the team is getting significantly beaten. Durdin did push up the ground for patches and got his hands on the footy firing out some sharp handballs to teammates. I view Durdin as a State League prospect but he probably fits into the draft as a late to rookie selection. He's a good all-round footballer but I just don't see him as particularly elite at any one thing and considering his size I think that counts against him.
Xavier Robins
Robins was one that I was really keen to see and to be honest he probably showed me more of what I already knew. He has pace and certainly finds the footy across half back but he tends to kick long to 50/50 contests rather than create or maintain possession through shorter, smarter kicks. I don't see him as advanced as some of the other half backs in this draft and I think that probably leaves him on the outer on draft day. He'll be one worth watching next year where I think he'll ply his trade in the Reserves for Glenelg and compete for a League debut.
Tom Powell
Powell was pretty good for Team Hurn and found his fair share of the footy at the contest and around the ground. He's another that probably just showed more of what we'd seen all year. Whatever your opinion of Powell, I don't think he did anything that would've changed that opinion. I'm still a fan and still think he has a good chance of being a serviceable midfielder at AFL level.
Tariek Newchurch
A fair bit was made about Newchurch lining up on the wing and I was keen to see how he'd go further up the ground. Given Team Grundy's dominance, he often found himself in unfamiliar territory at half back where I felt he struggled with his decision-making and skill execution. He doesn't look overly comfortable around the contest and doesn't seem to apply too much tackling pressure. Newchurch isn't on my draft board but I think there's a reasonable chance the Crows take a punt on him as a rookie and give him a year in the system to see if he can make something of his talent.
Brodie Lake
Lake was one of Team Hurn's best, kicking their only two goals in the first half. He's a nice size and moves well for a medium forward, although I would've liked to see him get a bit more time through the middle of the ground. Given Gold Coast's list squeeze I don't think he'll land there but I think he's a good chance to feature on draft night as a late selection (40+).
Luke Edwards
Edwards spent time through the middle and at half back and looked one of the better prospects out there. His outside game is pretty solid. He's a good user and makes pretty good decisions with ball in hand. He's got the agility and speed to create space for himself to then take the pressure off his kicks which I think contributes to his good kicking efficiency. I really wanted to see that dominant display and whilst I felt he was super assertive in his accumulation of possessions I don't think he has it in him to really cut apart the opposition and have that game-changing impact. I think he's a worthy selection in the National Draft but as a Crows fan I'd be completely understanding if a bid went unmatched.
Team Grundy notes to come.
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Team Grundy
Cooper Murley
Murley showed moments of class through the midfield but let himself down inside forward 50 where he should've had a greater impact on the scoreboard. Overall it was a pretty decent showing from the bottom-ager and he'll be better for the hit out. I've touched on Murley in previous posts but adding some size and strength over the off-season is going to be key in his development and will be pivotal in building his draft stock for next year.
Jase Burgoyne
Burgoyne is another bottom-ager who has had a really consistent year playing off half back and through the middle for Woodville West Torrens. He found his fair share of it again on Friday night and for the most part was pretty composed and efficient with his use. I'm not sure if the Eagles have had their Best and Fairest yet but I like Burgoyne's chances of taking out the B&F for the U18 side. It would be a great reward for a consistent season. It's not really a big call but I'd say Burgoyne would sit somewhere in the top 40 of next years draft at this stage.
Blayne O'Loughlin
O'Loughlin followed up a consistent year for North Adelaide's U18's with another solid outing. He's composed with ball in hand coming out of defence and has the ability to take and make tough kicks exiting defensive 50. He's another who can create his own space which helps him execute at a high level by foot. He's another that needs a fair bit of growth in his 18th year to be considered for the draft. I believe he is a member of the Crows NGA so they'd be hoping for a growth spurt over the summer.
Henry Nelligan
Nelligan was good again and just keeps on playing really good footy against some of the best talent in South Australia. He backed up a near BOG performance in the U18 GF to be in the best again on Friday night. Nelligan's growth needs to come in his finishing inside forward 50, given that he is probably going to spend a fair bit of time there due to his size. He's strong in the contest, good on both sides of his body, is a fierce tackler and just finds the footy all over the ground. He's probably just outside of the draft this year but one that is definitely worth tracking over the next few years.
Cooper Beecken
One of the most influential on the ground on Friday night, Beecken really elevated himself as a prospect for next year. He was great in the air and continually rebutted Team Hurn's ventures inside forward 50. He's a good size for a bottom-ager and with a couple of extra cm's and kg's through the pre-season he could develop quite nicely as a third tall, intercept defender. I imagine he'll play a fair bit of school footy for Sacred Heart next year but hopefully he can squeeze in some games for Glenelg too. He'll be one that will be great to watch at the Champs next year (assuming we have one).
Zac Dumesny
I'd gone a bit cold on Dumesny after he really struggled through the back end of the year coming off injury but he showed his class again and reminded me of what he does well. He played predominantly on the wing which allowed him to push up the ground a bit more and hit the scoreboard and he used the ball pretty efficiently throughout the night. I'd say he's comparable to Alex Witherden, sharing similar weapons and deficiencies. There are others that I prefer but in the right system, if given the opportunity I think he can have an AFL career.
Riley Holder
Holder started well kicking two goals in the first quarter and finishing with 3 for the game. He made the most of his opportunities with all 3 coming from set shots. He also directly set up two other goals by hand so he had a really strong impact on the scoreboard. He showed glimpses of his contested marking but probably wasn't as influential in the air or around the ground as I would've liked. I mentioned previously that he probably needed a big outing to push himself into draft calculations and whilst he probably didn't quite get there, he certainly performed strongly. I obviously rate him highly but he might need a few years in the SANFL (and maybe a few cm's too) to push his case at AFL level.
Caleb Poulter
I've mentioned previously that Tom Powell has answered some of the questions I had over his kicking. I had similar feelings about Poulter's kicking, as he'd shown similar tendencies to blaze away to contests rather than lower the eyes and hit smarter, shorter, more dangerous targets. Poulter absolutely buried that criticism on Friday night consistently hitting tough kicks back through the corridor and rarely turning the footy over. I do still have questions over Poulter's contested ball-winning game but I believe the best version of his career is still going to be as an outside leaning midfielder who can use the footy to cut up opponents and can push forward to hit the scoreboard. It's highly likely that Poulter gets pushed out to a wing where I think he could still have a solid career but I hope that he is developed as a midfielder around stoppage in the first instance. It's hard to project exactly what version of Poulter's career we're going to get which makes him very difficult to rate amongst this years crop. He wouldn't be far, if not inside my top 25.
Cooper Murley
Murley showed moments of class through the midfield but let himself down inside forward 50 where he should've had a greater impact on the scoreboard. Overall it was a pretty decent showing from the bottom-ager and he'll be better for the hit out. I've touched on Murley in previous posts but adding some size and strength over the off-season is going to be key in his development and will be pivotal in building his draft stock for next year.
Jase Burgoyne
Burgoyne is another bottom-ager who has had a really consistent year playing off half back and through the middle for Woodville West Torrens. He found his fair share of it again on Friday night and for the most part was pretty composed and efficient with his use. I'm not sure if the Eagles have had their Best and Fairest yet but I like Burgoyne's chances of taking out the B&F for the U18 side. It would be a great reward for a consistent season. It's not really a big call but I'd say Burgoyne would sit somewhere in the top 40 of next years draft at this stage.
Blayne O'Loughlin
O'Loughlin followed up a consistent year for North Adelaide's U18's with another solid outing. He's composed with ball in hand coming out of defence and has the ability to take and make tough kicks exiting defensive 50. He's another who can create his own space which helps him execute at a high level by foot. He's another that needs a fair bit of growth in his 18th year to be considered for the draft. I believe he is a member of the Crows NGA so they'd be hoping for a growth spurt over the summer.
Henry Nelligan
Nelligan was good again and just keeps on playing really good footy against some of the best talent in South Australia. He backed up a near BOG performance in the U18 GF to be in the best again on Friday night. Nelligan's growth needs to come in his finishing inside forward 50, given that he is probably going to spend a fair bit of time there due to his size. He's strong in the contest, good on both sides of his body, is a fierce tackler and just finds the footy all over the ground. He's probably just outside of the draft this year but one that is definitely worth tracking over the next few years.
Cooper Beecken
One of the most influential on the ground on Friday night, Beecken really elevated himself as a prospect for next year. He was great in the air and continually rebutted Team Hurn's ventures inside forward 50. He's a good size for a bottom-ager and with a couple of extra cm's and kg's through the pre-season he could develop quite nicely as a third tall, intercept defender. I imagine he'll play a fair bit of school footy for Sacred Heart next year but hopefully he can squeeze in some games for Glenelg too. He'll be one that will be great to watch at the Champs next year (assuming we have one).
Zac Dumesny
I'd gone a bit cold on Dumesny after he really struggled through the back end of the year coming off injury but he showed his class again and reminded me of what he does well. He played predominantly on the wing which allowed him to push up the ground a bit more and hit the scoreboard and he used the ball pretty efficiently throughout the night. I'd say he's comparable to Alex Witherden, sharing similar weapons and deficiencies. There are others that I prefer but in the right system, if given the opportunity I think he can have an AFL career.
Riley Holder
Holder started well kicking two goals in the first quarter and finishing with 3 for the game. He made the most of his opportunities with all 3 coming from set shots. He also directly set up two other goals by hand so he had a really strong impact on the scoreboard. He showed glimpses of his contested marking but probably wasn't as influential in the air or around the ground as I would've liked. I mentioned previously that he probably needed a big outing to push himself into draft calculations and whilst he probably didn't quite get there, he certainly performed strongly. I obviously rate him highly but he might need a few years in the SANFL (and maybe a few cm's too) to push his case at AFL level.
Caleb Poulter
I've mentioned previously that Tom Powell has answered some of the questions I had over his kicking. I had similar feelings about Poulter's kicking, as he'd shown similar tendencies to blaze away to contests rather than lower the eyes and hit smarter, shorter, more dangerous targets. Poulter absolutely buried that criticism on Friday night consistently hitting tough kicks back through the corridor and rarely turning the footy over. I do still have questions over Poulter's contested ball-winning game but I believe the best version of his career is still going to be as an outside leaning midfielder who can use the footy to cut up opponents and can push forward to hit the scoreboard. It's highly likely that Poulter gets pushed out to a wing where I think he could still have a solid career but I hope that he is developed as a midfielder around stoppage in the first instance. It's hard to project exactly what version of Poulter's career we're going to get which makes him very difficult to rate amongst this years crop. He wouldn't be far, if not inside my top 25.
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Did you watch the Future Stars game?
What did you think of Isaac Birt's game, really caught my eye with his run and dare and looks to have an immense tank, played outside the contest mostly but he's one I'm keen to see next year.
What did you think of Isaac Birt's game, really caught my eye with his run and dare and looks to have an immense tank, played outside the contest mostly but he's one I'm keen to see next year.
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I just finished the last quarter today. Birt's second half was really good. I've seen him play a few times this year but that second half was some of his best footy. He is very, very outside but his use is good and he's certainly got some pace so he's worth tracking next year.
A few others that I really liked included Jaiden Magor (Team Ebert) who is a 2004 prospect but one I rate really highly. I like what he does on the inside and he's real solid around the ground too. Austin McDonald (Team Ebert) is another 2004 prospect who is tough around the contest. I thought Luca Whitelum and James Willis were solid for Team Ebert as well. Brayden Calvett (Team Smith) was good all game. His pace and willingness to take the game on was great to watch. If he can tidy up some of his ball use he'll be a prospect to look out for next year and Bailey Gal (Team Smith) did some nice things too, showing strength at the contest and an accurate, penetrating kick.
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I had a conversation with a pretty reliable source who indicated that Riley Thilthorpe's groin troubles are in fact a case of osteitis pubis. I don't know that this is overly surprising but Thilthorpe to the Crows at Pick 1 had seemed to be getting a bit of momentum. I would've been surprised if they had gone Thilthorpe over McDonald before but I would be stunned now.
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Knowing us we would use Pick 1 on someone like Relton Roberts
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I've updated to include my top 35 with some minor changes to my top 20.
I really battled to find anything I was super excited from pick 27 onwards.
For full transparency I’ve added an exposure description. This is purely to give you an indication of how much I’ve seen these kids play.
High = seen a fair bit of them live and lots of game film
Medium = seen irregularly live and/or seen lots of game film
Low = seen limited game film
1. Elijah Hollands (Exposure: Medium)
2. Logan McDonald (Exposure: Medium)
3. Jamarra Ugle-Hagan (Exposure: Medium)
4. Tanner Bruhn (Exposure: Low)
5. Finlay Macrae (Exposure: Medium)
6. Will Phillips (Exposure: Medium)
7. Braeden Campbell (Exposure: Medium)
8. Archie Perkins (Exposure: Medium)
9. Riley Thilthorpe (Exposure: High)
10. Bailey Laurie (Exposure: Medium)
11. Lachlan Jones (Exposure: Medium)
12. Denver Grainger-Barrass (Exposure: Medium)
13. Tom Powell (Exposure: High)
14. Jack Ginnivan (Exposure: Medium)
15. Brandon Walker (Exposure: Low)
16. Sam Berry (Exposure: Low)
17. Brayden Cook (Exposure: High)
18. Jack Carroll (Exposure: Low)
19. Kaine Baldwin (Exposure: Low)
20. Caleb Poulter (Exposure: High)
Poulter has been dominant at U18 level this year and I would've loved to have seen what he could have done in an U18 Carnival. He improved his short kicking game drastically throughout the year and that added so much more hurt to his disposal. I still have a question mark over whether he can improve the contested side of his game enough to play in the centre square at AFL level but if he does he has weapons that will enable him to be a really damaging midfielder. Where Poulter's value drops for me is if his contested game doesn't improve and he permanently becomes a winger/half forward.
21. Brodie Lake (Exposure: Low)
I really like Lake's forward craft as a strong medium type who is capable in the air, strong in the contest and skilled enough to be a threat from anywhere inside 50. I think this gives him a chance to play some footy early as he builds his tank and midfield craft. I think he has the scope to be a handy third or fourth string midfielder who can spend considerable time in the forward half.
22. Malachy Carruthers (Exposure: Medium)
I first saw Carruthers' early in the year playing on the wing for Sturt's U18's. My first impression was that there was a rawness to his game but he definitely had ability. His rate of improvement this year has been incredibly impressive and he's really settled into a role at half back. Despite being a bit slight, his frame looks like it could hold a bit of size and that added strength will be a huge benefit. He's super competitive in the contest and a capable interceptor and user. Basically he has all the tools to be a best 22 defender at AFL level.
23. Isiah Winder (Exposure: Low)
Winder has class and I value the impact he can have with the footy. He's played a variety of roles as midfielder, small forward and defender so he has clear versatility. I think he is one that could have an impact pretty early on in his AFL career. I see him being used long-term as a half forward/wing/half back where his ability to use the footy can be maximised. A prolific ball-winner at Colts level - if Winder can find it 15-20 times a game at AFL level he will lock down a role somewhere in an AFL sides best 22.
24. Alex Davies (Exposure: Medium)
There is alot of Davies' game that I like. His size, his ability to win the footy in tight spaces and weave his way through traffic has stood out at U18 level. I'm not overly sold on Gold Coast as a fit as he may struggle for midfield opportunities and I don't necessarily think he has the versatility to play a role in the forward or defensive half at AFL level. I'm concerned that this could impact his development and feel he would be better suited on another list.
25. Maurice Rioli Jr (Exposure: Low)
Rioli Jr has that typical freakish Rioli ability around goals and his tackle pressure is first class. There is a clear role for him at AFL level as his skillset should transition nicely. If he lands at Richmond he might not feature as early as he could've at another club but I'd expect him to be closing in on a debut some time through his second year.
26. Riley Holder (Exposure: Low)
27. Heath Chapman (Exposure: Low)
Chapman's aerial ability has been high quality this year as he regularly turns defence into attack as an interceptor. He's capable by foot and overall a pretty good athlete. I have concerns over how reliant he is on intercepting to impact the game and wonder if he can find other ways to have an impact at AFL level. Additionally, I'd want to see more of his contest work to see how he'd stand up 1 on 1 defensively at AFL level. Overall with his intercepting and physical profile I'd rate him a chance to settle into an AFL defensive unit.
28. Nathan O'Driscoll (Exposure: Medium)
I like O'Driscoll's ferociousness around the contest. He's a good tackler and assuming he adds more size to his frame I think he could be a really combative midfielder. I'm far from sold on him as an outside user and would be hoping that his inside craft developed enough that he could develop into a bit of a bull on the inside.
29. Zac Dumesny (Exposure: High)
Dumesny is in a very similar mould to Alex Witherden. He's a nice size for a half back/wing but probably lacks a yard of pace. He's a good user without being a great user and at times can bite off more than he should. He's a handy interceptor as well but probably lacks a little in the contest. I think fit matters alot for Dumesny and in the right situation could spend a few years on a list as depth in the back half.
30. Luke Edwards (Exposure: High)
From a physical and skillset perspective I think Edwards ticks alot of the boxes. He's a good user. He has versatility as wing/halfback/half forward and he's had production at the Champs as a bottom-ager as well as at Reserves and U18's in the SANFL. This may be harsh but I question his motor and assertiveness at times. He rarely looks to impose himself on a game and seems content with letting it unfold in front of him. Maybe that helps him settle into a position as a genuine role player at the next level but I feel he could be one who finds himself out of the AFL system in a few years if he doesn't find a way to become more influential.
31. Eddie Ford (Exposure: Medium)
I've seen a fair bit of Eddie Ford and whilst he does have a pretty attractive physical profile, I'm not all that convinced by his football yet. That's not to suggest that he won't make it because if he puts it all together this ranking will look pretty silly. He's just got a fair way to go to sell me and I couldn't justify having him higher based on others who I feel transition more seamlessly.
32. Errol Gulden (Exposure: Medium)
Gulden is a smart user and handy finisher inside 50. He's probably more suited to the high half forward/midfield role rather than a pressure forward but his body of work suggests that he can certainly be a player. His size is an obvious concern but I'd back his overall ability to buy him enough time on Sydney's list to see if he can carve out a role at AFL level.
33. Nik Cox (Exposure: Medium)
The obvious concerns for Cox is his frame and where he actually fits on the field. He's a really nice user and has the pace to create separation once he wins the footy. I'll be curious to see how his frame fills out as that might determine where he fits positionally. Cox is a 4-5 year project and even then it's hard to predict what the finished product looks like.
34. Zavier Maher (Exposure: Low)
Maher is viewed by many as an inside midfielder but I could envision a transition to a winger role giving him a chance at the next level. Whilst he doesn't have the class and composure to hit shorter targets yet, his pace and dash and long kicking could offer some value in a similar vein to Ed Langdon. He'll be up to a 1 on 1 contest physically on the wing that's for sure. I'm not sure his inside craft will be good enough but I see a pathway for him to make it.
35. Zach Reid (Exposure: Medium)
Reid has great size for a KPD and is a more than able user. Similarly to Cox, he's a project that requires some size to compete at the next level but I think there is a version of Reid that makes it as a key back. I'd be prepared to rule out the ruck stuff right now and focus purely on his intercept craft which would give him the best chance at the level.
I really battled to find anything I was super excited from pick 27 onwards.
For full transparency I’ve added an exposure description. This is purely to give you an indication of how much I’ve seen these kids play.
High = seen a fair bit of them live and lots of game film
Medium = seen irregularly live and/or seen lots of game film
Low = seen limited game film
1. Elijah Hollands (Exposure: Medium)
2. Logan McDonald (Exposure: Medium)
3. Jamarra Ugle-Hagan (Exposure: Medium)
4. Tanner Bruhn (Exposure: Low)
5. Finlay Macrae (Exposure: Medium)
6. Will Phillips (Exposure: Medium)
7. Braeden Campbell (Exposure: Medium)
8. Archie Perkins (Exposure: Medium)
9. Riley Thilthorpe (Exposure: High)
10. Bailey Laurie (Exposure: Medium)
11. Lachlan Jones (Exposure: Medium)
12. Denver Grainger-Barrass (Exposure: Medium)
13. Tom Powell (Exposure: High)
14. Jack Ginnivan (Exposure: Medium)
15. Brandon Walker (Exposure: Low)
16. Sam Berry (Exposure: Low)
17. Brayden Cook (Exposure: High)
18. Jack Carroll (Exposure: Low)
19. Kaine Baldwin (Exposure: Low)
20. Caleb Poulter (Exposure: High)
Poulter has been dominant at U18 level this year and I would've loved to have seen what he could have done in an U18 Carnival. He improved his short kicking game drastically throughout the year and that added so much more hurt to his disposal. I still have a question mark over whether he can improve the contested side of his game enough to play in the centre square at AFL level but if he does he has weapons that will enable him to be a really damaging midfielder. Where Poulter's value drops for me is if his contested game doesn't improve and he permanently becomes a winger/half forward.
21. Brodie Lake (Exposure: Low)
I really like Lake's forward craft as a strong medium type who is capable in the air, strong in the contest and skilled enough to be a threat from anywhere inside 50. I think this gives him a chance to play some footy early as he builds his tank and midfield craft. I think he has the scope to be a handy third or fourth string midfielder who can spend considerable time in the forward half.
22. Malachy Carruthers (Exposure: Medium)
I first saw Carruthers' early in the year playing on the wing for Sturt's U18's. My first impression was that there was a rawness to his game but he definitely had ability. His rate of improvement this year has been incredibly impressive and he's really settled into a role at half back. Despite being a bit slight, his frame looks like it could hold a bit of size and that added strength will be a huge benefit. He's super competitive in the contest and a capable interceptor and user. Basically he has all the tools to be a best 22 defender at AFL level.
23. Isiah Winder (Exposure: Low)
Winder has class and I value the impact he can have with the footy. He's played a variety of roles as midfielder, small forward and defender so he has clear versatility. I think he is one that could have an impact pretty early on in his AFL career. I see him being used long-term as a half forward/wing/half back where his ability to use the footy can be maximised. A prolific ball-winner at Colts level - if Winder can find it 15-20 times a game at AFL level he will lock down a role somewhere in an AFL sides best 22.
24. Alex Davies (Exposure: Medium)
There is alot of Davies' game that I like. His size, his ability to win the footy in tight spaces and weave his way through traffic has stood out at U18 level. I'm not overly sold on Gold Coast as a fit as he may struggle for midfield opportunities and I don't necessarily think he has the versatility to play a role in the forward or defensive half at AFL level. I'm concerned that this could impact his development and feel he would be better suited on another list.
25. Maurice Rioli Jr (Exposure: Low)
Rioli Jr has that typical freakish Rioli ability around goals and his tackle pressure is first class. There is a clear role for him at AFL level as his skillset should transition nicely. If he lands at Richmond he might not feature as early as he could've at another club but I'd expect him to be closing in on a debut some time through his second year.
26. Riley Holder (Exposure: Low)
27. Heath Chapman (Exposure: Low)
Chapman's aerial ability has been high quality this year as he regularly turns defence into attack as an interceptor. He's capable by foot and overall a pretty good athlete. I have concerns over how reliant he is on intercepting to impact the game and wonder if he can find other ways to have an impact at AFL level. Additionally, I'd want to see more of his contest work to see how he'd stand up 1 on 1 defensively at AFL level. Overall with his intercepting and physical profile I'd rate him a chance to settle into an AFL defensive unit.
28. Nathan O'Driscoll (Exposure: Medium)
I like O'Driscoll's ferociousness around the contest. He's a good tackler and assuming he adds more size to his frame I think he could be a really combative midfielder. I'm far from sold on him as an outside user and would be hoping that his inside craft developed enough that he could develop into a bit of a bull on the inside.
29. Zac Dumesny (Exposure: High)
Dumesny is in a very similar mould to Alex Witherden. He's a nice size for a half back/wing but probably lacks a yard of pace. He's a good user without being a great user and at times can bite off more than he should. He's a handy interceptor as well but probably lacks a little in the contest. I think fit matters alot for Dumesny and in the right situation could spend a few years on a list as depth in the back half.
30. Luke Edwards (Exposure: High)
From a physical and skillset perspective I think Edwards ticks alot of the boxes. He's a good user. He has versatility as wing/halfback/half forward and he's had production at the Champs as a bottom-ager as well as at Reserves and U18's in the SANFL. This may be harsh but I question his motor and assertiveness at times. He rarely looks to impose himself on a game and seems content with letting it unfold in front of him. Maybe that helps him settle into a position as a genuine role player at the next level but I feel he could be one who finds himself out of the AFL system in a few years if he doesn't find a way to become more influential.
31. Eddie Ford (Exposure: Medium)
I've seen a fair bit of Eddie Ford and whilst he does have a pretty attractive physical profile, I'm not all that convinced by his football yet. That's not to suggest that he won't make it because if he puts it all together this ranking will look pretty silly. He's just got a fair way to go to sell me and I couldn't justify having him higher based on others who I feel transition more seamlessly.
32. Errol Gulden (Exposure: Medium)
Gulden is a smart user and handy finisher inside 50. He's probably more suited to the high half forward/midfield role rather than a pressure forward but his body of work suggests that he can certainly be a player. His size is an obvious concern but I'd back his overall ability to buy him enough time on Sydney's list to see if he can carve out a role at AFL level.
33. Nik Cox (Exposure: Medium)
The obvious concerns for Cox is his frame and where he actually fits on the field. He's a really nice user and has the pace to create separation once he wins the footy. I'll be curious to see how his frame fills out as that might determine where he fits positionally. Cox is a 4-5 year project and even then it's hard to predict what the finished product looks like.
34. Zavier Maher (Exposure: Low)
Maher is viewed by many as an inside midfielder but I could envision a transition to a winger role giving him a chance at the next level. Whilst he doesn't have the class and composure to hit shorter targets yet, his pace and dash and long kicking could offer some value in a similar vein to Ed Langdon. He'll be up to a 1 on 1 contest physically on the wing that's for sure. I'm not sure his inside craft will be good enough but I see a pathway for him to make it.
35. Zach Reid (Exposure: Medium)
Reid has great size for a KPD and is a more than able user. Similarly to Cox, he's a project that requires some size to compete at the next level but I think there is a version of Reid that makes it as a key back. I'd be prepared to rule out the ruck stuff right now and focus purely on his intercept craft which would give him the best chance at the level.
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Great read mate. Really well put together and researched analysis. I actually think your lists would be closer to the clubs actual talent order than anything else I’ve seen.
just wondering if you have seen much of, or know much about Luke Pedlar.
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I've not seen a great deal of Pedlar but have seen enough to suggest he'd probably fit somewhere inside my top 50. Based on my exposure rating above he'd probably fit into the 'low' category. You immediately notice his physicality when you see him play as he's a bruising competitor. He certainly impacts every contest that he gets to and is a very strong tackler. He's proven that he has forward craft too which is a critical string to his bow that pushes him into draft contention. He's very capable overheard and consistently hits the scoreboard. I'm comfortable in over-looking most injuries at junior level so the knee and shoulder injuries he's had through his 17th and 18th year wouldn't be enough to make me pass on his talent. Where I think Pedlar's improvement needs to come from is in his midfield craft and ball use. He's not the cleanest prospect and while I think he's probably not too far away physically from AFL level, I have concerns over his ability to adapt to the speed of the game. His ball use by hand and foot are areas where I would like to see improvement too.
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Given that this years draft is likely to throw up some left field selections, I thought I'd put together a Phantom Draft that reflected some of those possibilities. I've thrown out my own rankings on this one so this is not a reflection of my own talent order.
1. Adelaide - Logan McDonald
2. North Melbourne - Elijah Hollands
3. Western Bulldogs - Jamarra Ugle-Hagan* (matched bid)
4. Sydney - Riley Thilthorpe
5. Hawthorn - Archie Perkins
6. Gold Coast - Will Phillips
7. Essendon - Denver Grainger-Barrass
8. Essendon - Finlay Macrae
9. Essendon - Oliver Henry
10. Port Adelaide - Lachie Jones* (matched bid)
11. Sydney - Braeden Campbell* (matched bid)
12. Adelaide - Tanner Bruhn
13. GWS - Zach Reid
14. North Melbourne - Nikolas Cox
15. Fremantle - Jack Carroll
16. GWS - Brayden Cook
17. Collingwood - Heath Chapman
18. GWS - Bailey Laurie
19. Collingwood - Tom Powell
19. Richmond - Sam Berry
20. Collingwood - Reef McInnes* (matched bid)
21. Melbourne - Caleb Poulter
22. Melbourne - Isiah Winder
23. Sydney - Errol Gulden* (matched bid)
24. GWS - Kaine Baldwin
25. St Kilda - Zavier Maher
*Round 1 comments
Obviously Perkins to Hawthorn with their first pick is the left field selection. Whilst I think it's unlikely I wouldn't be completely prepared to rule Perkins out of being selected in the top 5 and I Hawthorn is the side that has reportedly shown some interest. The big winners from this are Essendon who would see one of Phillips or DGB slide to their trio of picks. This is right at the top of Oliver Henry's range and whilst I'm not his biggest fan, stylistically I think there is a fit there at the Bombers. I think Bruhn and Macrae are interchangeable as I think the Crows will take the best midfielder available at that pick and the talk is that Bruhn will be the slider. It would be right at the top of Winder's range too but I think his speed and class is a need for Melbourne. I think Baldwin has to go to a club with multiple picks if he's going inside the first 30 and the fourth of the Giant's makes sense to me after forcing the Swans to make a call on Gulden.
26. Adelaide - Nathan O'Driscoll
27. Adelaide - Ryan Angwin
28. Hawthorn - Eddie Ford
29. Fremantle - Brandon Walker* (matched bid)
30. Brisbane - Brodie Lake
31. GWS - Tom Highmore
**Gold Coast pass pick** (it will probably be traded on the night)
32. Melbourne - Jackson Callow
33. Brisbane - Blake Coleman* (matched bid)
34. North Melbourne - Jack Ginnivan
35. Carlton - Corey Durdin
36. Richmond - Josh Treacy
37. Essendon - Cody Brand* (matched bid)
38. Carlton - Nick Stevens
39. North Melbourne - Matt Allison
40. Adelaide - Oliver Davis
*Round 2 comments
O'Driscoll the slider might seem like a bit of Adelaide Crows bias but I'm personally not a fan and wouldn't actually take him with either of those first two selections in the second round. If he's there though it would be hard for Adelaide to pass on pairing him with McDonald. The Angwin selection seems early but the Crows always throw up a shock selection or two. Annoyingly, I have Edwards ahead of both Angwin and Davis in my own rankings but it seems the Crows have made their mind up on that one. The Hawks double down on the flair with Eddie Ford and there are a few more bids that are matched. Tom Highmore makes his way to the Giants as the first mature-ager selected. This would be at the top of his range too but I like the match between player and club.
41. Richmond - Maurice Rioli Jr* (matched bid)
42. Hawthorn - Zane Trew
43. Hawthorn - Liam McMahon
44. Hawthorn - Connor Downie
45. Geelong - Malachy Carruthers
46. Western Bulldogs - Jake Bowey
47. Western Bulldogs - Liam Kolar
48. Fremantle - Shannon Neale
49. Fremantle - Joel Western
*Round 3 comments
After bidding on a Rioli, Hawthorn round out their selections selecting Downie with their last live pick before a bid was placed. Western Bulldogs get a sliding Bowey and Fremantle round out their draft with a local ruck and NGA prospect Joel Western, also selecting him before a bid is placed.
50. West Coast - Luke Pedlar
51. St Kilda - Luke Edwards
52. Brisbane - Max Heath
53. St Kilda - Conor Stone
54. North Melbourne - Zac Dumesny
55. Port Adelaide - Tyler Brockman
56. Collingwood - Seamus Mitchell
57. Essendon - Fraser Rosman
58. Carlton - Tariek Newchurch
*Round 4 comments
A bit of value to be had late in this draft. Dumesny, Edwards, Brockman and Mitchell are all a fair bit higher on my board. I'm not sure it goes this deep but similarly to the BigFooty Phantom Draft I'm just going to make the selections for vacant list positions for each club.
59. West Coast - Phoenix Spicer
60. Collingwood - Cameron Fleeton
61. Port Adelaide - James Borlase
62. Geelong - Charlie Lazzaro
Naturally from round 1-2 onwards there aren't a great deal of surprises. Perkins into the top 5 and Oliver Henry in the top 10 are big points of difference. Campbell's late bid makes a Gulden match slightly easier for the Swans. Kaine Baldwin in the top 25 might be a surprise and O'Driscoll in the second round hasn't been too common. Both Downie and Western made it to the Club's they were tied to without a bid and Borlase and Newchurch didn't get to Adelaide.
It's a pretty comprehensive exercise so I imagine there's a few mistakes with pick orders after bids but I hope this offered something a little different.
1. Adelaide - Logan McDonald
2. North Melbourne - Elijah Hollands
3. Western Bulldogs - Jamarra Ugle-Hagan* (matched bid)
4. Sydney - Riley Thilthorpe
5. Hawthorn - Archie Perkins
6. Gold Coast - Will Phillips
7. Essendon - Denver Grainger-Barrass
8. Essendon - Finlay Macrae
9. Essendon - Oliver Henry
10. Port Adelaide - Lachie Jones* (matched bid)
11. Sydney - Braeden Campbell* (matched bid)
12. Adelaide - Tanner Bruhn
13. GWS - Zach Reid
14. North Melbourne - Nikolas Cox
15. Fremantle - Jack Carroll
16. GWS - Brayden Cook
17. Collingwood - Heath Chapman
18. GWS - Bailey Laurie
19. Collingwood - Tom Powell
19. Richmond - Sam Berry
20. Collingwood - Reef McInnes* (matched bid)
21. Melbourne - Caleb Poulter
22. Melbourne - Isiah Winder
23. Sydney - Errol Gulden* (matched bid)
24. GWS - Kaine Baldwin
25. St Kilda - Zavier Maher
*Round 1 comments
Obviously Perkins to Hawthorn with their first pick is the left field selection. Whilst I think it's unlikely I wouldn't be completely prepared to rule Perkins out of being selected in the top 5 and I Hawthorn is the side that has reportedly shown some interest. The big winners from this are Essendon who would see one of Phillips or DGB slide to their trio of picks. This is right at the top of Oliver Henry's range and whilst I'm not his biggest fan, stylistically I think there is a fit there at the Bombers. I think Bruhn and Macrae are interchangeable as I think the Crows will take the best midfielder available at that pick and the talk is that Bruhn will be the slider. It would be right at the top of Winder's range too but I think his speed and class is a need for Melbourne. I think Baldwin has to go to a club with multiple picks if he's going inside the first 30 and the fourth of the Giant's makes sense to me after forcing the Swans to make a call on Gulden.
26. Adelaide - Nathan O'Driscoll
27. Adelaide - Ryan Angwin
28. Hawthorn - Eddie Ford
29. Fremantle - Brandon Walker* (matched bid)
30. Brisbane - Brodie Lake
31. GWS - Tom Highmore
**Gold Coast pass pick** (it will probably be traded on the night)
32. Melbourne - Jackson Callow
33. Brisbane - Blake Coleman* (matched bid)
34. North Melbourne - Jack Ginnivan
35. Carlton - Corey Durdin
36. Richmond - Josh Treacy
37. Essendon - Cody Brand* (matched bid)
38. Carlton - Nick Stevens
39. North Melbourne - Matt Allison
40. Adelaide - Oliver Davis
*Round 2 comments
O'Driscoll the slider might seem like a bit of Adelaide Crows bias but I'm personally not a fan and wouldn't actually take him with either of those first two selections in the second round. If he's there though it would be hard for Adelaide to pass on pairing him with McDonald. The Angwin selection seems early but the Crows always throw up a shock selection or two. Annoyingly, I have Edwards ahead of both Angwin and Davis in my own rankings but it seems the Crows have made their mind up on that one. The Hawks double down on the flair with Eddie Ford and there are a few more bids that are matched. Tom Highmore makes his way to the Giants as the first mature-ager selected. This would be at the top of his range too but I like the match between player and club.
41. Richmond - Maurice Rioli Jr* (matched bid)
42. Hawthorn - Zane Trew
43. Hawthorn - Liam McMahon
44. Hawthorn - Connor Downie
45. Geelong - Malachy Carruthers
46. Western Bulldogs - Jake Bowey
47. Western Bulldogs - Liam Kolar
48. Fremantle - Shannon Neale
49. Fremantle - Joel Western
*Round 3 comments
After bidding on a Rioli, Hawthorn round out their selections selecting Downie with their last live pick before a bid was placed. Western Bulldogs get a sliding Bowey and Fremantle round out their draft with a local ruck and NGA prospect Joel Western, also selecting him before a bid is placed.
50. West Coast - Luke Pedlar
51. St Kilda - Luke Edwards
52. Brisbane - Max Heath
53. St Kilda - Conor Stone
54. North Melbourne - Zac Dumesny
55. Port Adelaide - Tyler Brockman
56. Collingwood - Seamus Mitchell
57. Essendon - Fraser Rosman
58. Carlton - Tariek Newchurch
*Round 4 comments
A bit of value to be had late in this draft. Dumesny, Edwards, Brockman and Mitchell are all a fair bit higher on my board. I'm not sure it goes this deep but similarly to the BigFooty Phantom Draft I'm just going to make the selections for vacant list positions for each club.
59. West Coast - Phoenix Spicer
60. Collingwood - Cameron Fleeton
61. Port Adelaide - James Borlase
62. Geelong - Charlie Lazzaro
Naturally from round 1-2 onwards there aren't a great deal of surprises. Perkins into the top 5 and Oliver Henry in the top 10 are big points of difference. Campbell's late bid makes a Gulden match slightly easier for the Swans. Kaine Baldwin in the top 25 might be a surprise and O'Driscoll in the second round hasn't been too common. Both Downie and Western made it to the Club's they were tied to without a bid and Borlase and Newchurch didn't get to Adelaide.
It's a pretty comprehensive exercise so I imagine there's a few mistakes with pick orders after bids but I hope this offered something a little different.
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I like your selections of bolters against the consensus. I can see why they might be rated higher than most on BigFooty expected.
Berry, Winder, Angwin and Lake are good choices.
Berry, Winder, Angwin and Lake are good choices.
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I believe that Carlton have narrowed one of their selections down to Corey Durdin or James Rowe.
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In the second round or rookie draft?
Sounds like a pretty underwhelming selection based on your Gundry vs Hurn summary.
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I wouldn't be surprised if Carlton pulled the trigger on Durdin with one of their picks in the 30's but the fact that it's Durdin vs Rowe suggests to me that this would be in relation to their Rookie selection.
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