- Joined
- Oct 19, 2010
- Posts
- 7,864
- Reaction score
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- Location
- Albury
- AFL Club
- Port Adelaide
- Other Teams
- Ravens, Rabbitohs, Rockets, Everton
Personal rankings
1. Jacob Hopper
2. Jacob Weitering
3. Clayton Oliver
4. Aaron Francis
5. Josh Schache
6. Darcy Parish
7. Ben Keays
8. Matt Kennedy
9. Callum Mills
10. Ben McKay
11. David Cuningham
12. Wayne Milera
13. Callum Ah Chee
14. Sam Weideman
15. Keiran Collins
16. Eric Hipwood
17. Ryan Clarke
18. Harry McKay
19. Charlie Curnow
20. Daniel Rioli
21. Hisham Kerbatieh
22. Ryan Burton
23. Luke Partington
24. Matt Flynn
25. Aidyn Johnson
26. Corey Wagner
27. Tom Glen
28. Rhys Mathieson
29. Mitch Hibberd
30. Harley Balic
31. Mitch Brown
32. Sam Skinner
33. Tom Doedee
34. Jade Gresham
35. Riley Bonner
36. Bailey Rice
37. James Parsons
38. Darcy Tucker
39. Harrison Himmelberg
40. Tom Phillips
41. Stephen Tahana
42. Alex Morgan
43. Mason Redman
44. Reuben William
45. Will Snelling
46. Thomas Jok
47. Luke Surman
48. Declan Mountford
49. Kade Stewart
50. Brayden Fiorini
1. Carlton- Jacob Weitering
Biggest strength: Excellent in the air
Biggest weakness: Movement
Club:Dandenong Stingrays
Position:Key defender
Height:195 cm
Weight:94 kg
Weitering is going to be a good player. I have no doubts about it. He reads the play exceptionally well and can take a big grab. He is one of the best kicks in the draft, with a long and accurate boot that sets up attacking thrusts or gets his team out of trouble. He does have a slightly concerning weakness in that he is not the best mover, with his agility not fantastic in my opinion and his repeat efforts not in that top category. However with his marking and ability to read the play he is likely to get himself into spots where he can hide these weaknesses and make up for them. I also don’t feel that he can play forward as well as people are saying. He relies too much on his marking for that and doesn’t have the athleticism or knowledge of how to play down that end of the ground to really excel.
2. Brisbane- Josh Schache
Biggest Strength: Marking
Biggest Weakness: Repeat efforts/Second efforts
Club:Murray Bushrangers
Position:Key forward
Height:199 cm
Weight:93 kg
Schache does a lot of things really well and that’s why I like him, although that may hurt him as to me he doesn’t have one trick that sets him apart from the rest. His marking is very good, as he uses his size and takes the ball up high and out in front while shielding the drop of the ball. He is also very good below his knees and actually quite unselfish as I’ve seen numerous times where he will pick up a ground ball and dish it off rather than snapping it over his shoulder. He is a good endurance athlete but I feel he doesn’t use his engine enough yet and could make more leads and really use it to advantage and burn people off. He has some question marks over his speed and agility which I feel are poor and also doesn’t tend to make too many efforts, both offensively and particularly defensively.
3. Sydney- Callum Mills
Biggest strength: Strong overhead
Biggest weakness: One paced
Club:
Position: Midfielder
Height: 188cm
Weight: 80kg
Mills is a really good accumulator of the footy who is adept at winning clearances, due to his ability to read taps well. He also reads the ball well in the air which is how he is such a good overhead mark for a midfielder, one of his big strengths. He runs well from contest to contest, although he is a little one paced and doesn’t have that ability to burst clear. He is an okay kick without being great and I feel he tends to take the safe option a lot. When he does, his kicks are neat and low. However when he does try to pull the trigger on a riskier option is when his kicks sit up more and can be picked off. His ball winning ability is unquestioned though and he remains a top quality distributor of the ball who has shown an ability to do this against men, racking up 20+ touches in a rare post-injury appearance for the Swans reserves earlier this year.
4. Melbourne- Clayton Oliver
Biggest strength: Clearance specialist
Biggest weakness: Lack of pace
Club: Murray Bushrangers
Position: Inside midfielder
Height: 187cm
Weight: 85kg
The hype player of the draft and Morrish Medal winner has had a very productive season when he was out on the park and that has fuelled a massive rise up the rankings of most draft watchers. I actually see a lot of similarities between him and Jacob Hopper, with Hopper probably being a better kick. He is a great extractor of the ball at stoppages and has really quick hands. He gets his hands up to make sure he can always squeeze out a handball. He is very agile and has a good little side step in traffic which helps him get some space and he isn’t afraid of running backwards to find himself some more time. He is also a very capable forward and is good overhead and is a quick thinker around goals, always looking for a way to get the ball onto his foot and into the goals. He is the big midfielder that everyone is looking for and has that scoreboard impact that teams crave. The only real concern I have is his lack of pace but he is one that I’m sure will play at least 100 games and make a good fist of an AFL career.
5. GWS- Jacob Hopper
Biggest Strength: Scoreboard impact
Biggest Weakness: Pace
Club: North Ballarat Rebels
Position: Inside Midfielder
Height: 185cm
Weight: 83kg
Hopper is a goal kicking mid who is tough as nails. He isn’t quick and doesn’t have that burst to get him out of trouble but he is super strong and can break tackles easily. He also attacks the ball really hard and will run through anyone to make a contest or get the ball. While he isn’t fast he does have some little tricks to give himself more time and space, like a nice dummy which he uses frequently. He has a good workrate as evidenced by his goalkicking record and he is a good finisher around goals. His attack on the ball and competitiveness hold him in good stead around the stoppages but his work around the ground and ability to find the footy outside of contested situations concerns me a little. Even if he can’t find much of the ball as a midfielder I feel he will still be a good small to medium forward with his size, strength and goalkicking nous.
6. Essendon- Aaron Francis
Biggest strength: Kicking and reading the flight of the ball in defence
Biggest weakness: Can be too attacking
Club: West Adelaide
Position: Rebounding/Third tall defender – Utility
Height: 191cm
Weight: 92kg
Francis is one of few footballers this year that I have struggled to find a real weakness for. He is a really good kick, with great penetration, distance and weighting over short and long kicks. He reads the play incredibly well and will chop kicks off by sliding in front of leading forwards and taking big marks. He is a courageous footballer who attacks the ball hard and appears to be hard to tackle, even when playing senior SANFL footy. He has runs on the board as a rebounding defender where he will be a safe bet to play a lot of AFL footy, however as a key defender he struggles due to his size and his want to be attacking, as shown when he was matched up against Josh Schache. I also don’t think he can play in the midfield and his ability forward of centre is overrated as he won’t be such a good mark against men as he was against the boys. He has an AFL ready body and could play from Round 1.
7. Essendon- Darcy Parish
Biggest strength: Footskills/Decision Making
Biggest weakness: Marking
Club: Geelong Falcons
Position: Midfielder/Flanker
Height: 180cm
Weight: 74kg
Parish is a guy who does a lot of things really well. He has very good footskills, being able to lace out passes accurately off both sides of his body, under pressure and at full speed. He possesses a good burst of breakaway speed which enables him to bust out of contests and find teammates. He is a good decision maker by hand and foot, and knows his limitations by foot. He also goes forward and kicks goals and is clever in where he positions himself when going inside 50. He doesn’t mark the ball and is poor overhead so he is smart enough to put himself in positions to rove the ball and is a good finisher. He doesn’t have a clear strength but is very good at a number of things and has no real weaknesses other than his marking.
8. Gold Coast- Wayne Milera
Biggest strength: Composure
Biggest weakness: Pressure acts
Club: Central Districts
Position: High half forward with midfield potential
Height: 183cm
Weight: 77kg
I really like guys who can play senior footy at a young age and make a big impact. Milera did just that by playing 11 senior games for Central Districts and kicking 11 goals. He has a great side step and has some good agility and evasiveness in the contest. He isn’t quick but this helps him get free. You won’t see him break away from a pack or burst down the wing very often but are more likely to see him pick up a ground ball and dance around a player before being composed enough to lace out a pass or snap a goal. His finishing around goals is good and he kicked 1 goal a game at senior level for Centrals. In terms of negatives, his marking isn’t great, doesn’t have an opposite foot and his tackling pressure appears to be quite poor at this stage. He also appears to be a hard worker and while he isn’t big, he may be able to put on more weight after putting on 6kg this year. I think he will be a good small forward but don’t think he becomes much more than an impact player in the midfield, although there is definitely a role for him at AFL level.
9. GWS- Matt Kennedy
Biggest strength: Overhead marking
Biggest weakness: Kicking
Club: Collingullie
Position: Midfield
Height: 187cm
Weight: 88kg
Kennedy is the big bodied, tall mid that clubs all want. He is a great mark overhead for his size and it is his biggest strength. That gives him the ability to go forward and make an impact which will be valuable with the interchange cap and lack of a sub. He can win his own ball and makes good decisions with ball in hand, particularly by hand where he is quick from picking it up to dishing it off. His kicking is neither here nor there, and can tend to float through the air rather than travelling directly to teammates. His opposite foot is pretty good though. He also seems to lack a bit of pace which may or may not hurt him, although if he can get himself to enough contests I don’t think it will matter at his size.
10. Melbourne- Sam Weideman
Biggest strength: Marking
Biggest weakness: Speed
Club: Eastern Ranges
Position: Key forward
Height: 196cm
Weight: 94kg
Weideman hasn’t played much this year which makes it tough to gauge his performances and ability compared to the others. However it is clear that he is a big, strong, talented key forward who can take a good mark. He struggles to create separation from defenders due to a lack of pace but he does take a lot of marks because he takes them right out in front and doesn’t give the defenders a chance to punch past his long outstretched arms. He is able to kick goals off both sides of the body and is quick from hand to foot. He isn’t afraid to pass the ball if a teammate is in a better option and he will kick for goal on his left if need be, rather than turning back onto his right and getting into trouble. I have concerns that he is too slow to play as a dominant key forward but his marking could make up for that and make him a good second option.
11. Carlton- Callum Ah Chee
Biggest strength: Overhead marking
Biggest weakness: Inconsistent kick
Club: South Fremantle
Position: Small forward
Height: 182cm
Weight: 71kg
Ah Chee is a small forward with an excellent leap and the ability to pull off highlight reel plays. He can take a big mark and has shown a love for trying to take hangers, while he is also very good above his head because of his leaping ability. He is also good at ground level and isn’t afraid of the hustle and bustle around stoppages, so he isn’t always a sheep dog around packs. He has good pace and agility and is a good finisher around goals. However his kicking is inconsistent. His kicks range from bullet passes that don’t require the target to break stride, to horrible shanks. He won’t kick a lot of goals but he will create opportunities. His pressure is reasonable and he averaged 2 tackles per game in his 6 senior appearances for South Fremantle. I think he can play and will do well at the next level as a small forward, although I don’t think he can go into the midfield.
12. Brisbane- Eric Hipwood
Biggest strength: Marking
Biggest weakness: Kicking
Club: Caloundra
Position: Tall forward/defender- swingman
Height: 202 cm
Weight: 83kg
I really don’t know where Hipwood’s best position is. Up forward he can use his big frame to crash packs and take big marks, while also using his freakish athleticism to burn off his opponent and kick goals when the ball hits the ground. Down back, he reads the flight of the ball so well and always puts himself in the right spot to intercept the ball. I think his big deficiency, kicking, is what will hold him back from being a gun defender as clubs are looking for two way players who can impact both offensively and defensively and his lack of ability to hit targets by foot could hurt him here, despite his willingness to take the game on. Up forward though, his hands and athleticism could allow him to be a very good forward, especially once he adds some bulk to his 202 cm frame.
13. Adelaide- Harry McKay
Biggest Strength: Movement
Biggest weakness: Physical presence
Club: Gippsland Power
Position: Tall mobile forward
Height: 200cm
Weight: 94kg
McKay plays as a mobile marking forward, with really good athleticism for someone of his size. He moves really well and has good agility for a big man as well as good disposal on his left foot, especially for a big man. This makes him an effective lead up man up the ground where he can run his defender ragged and then turn him towards goals and hit up forwards. His marking is good on the lead and he doesn’t get outmarked much there as he gets front spot and takes them out in front with his big reach. However he doesn’t like contact much if there is someone sitting in front of him and won’t crash packs or take big contested marks very often. I am also concerned by his set shot technique which I think is too long and he leans back as he kicks the ball which causes him to poke at it and miss from time to time. I think he has attributes that make him a good project although I wouldn’t bet on him with an early pick. I also think he could be a handy swingman and could plug holes down back with his closing speed and height and reach.
14. Carlton- Charlie Curnow
Biggest Strength: Marking
Biggest Weakness: Speed/Ability to create separation against people his own size
Club: Geelong Falcons
Position: Marking forward with potential midfield ability
Height: 191cm
Weight: 95kg
I haven’t seen much of Curnow so this will be brief, but from what I have seen I can see that he is a very powerful kid who is strong overhead and one on one. He uses his strength well and gets front spot and holds it. His marking is definitely his biggest strength at junior level and it will need to hold up well because it is unlikely that he can manhandle opponents like he does at TAC Cup level and he doesn’t have the speed or ability to create separation from his defender that top forwards need. I don’t think he should be played in the midfield as I don’t think he has enough to his game other than strength, physicality and marking. I think he will struggle to get free in the middle although he may have quick decision making skills or positioning that I have not seen as of yet.
15. Richmond- Daniel Rioli
Rioli is someone who has a bit of toe as well as being a poised and skilful player. He can go through the middle but is predominantly a forward with huge potential, as a raw type who hasn’t really been in an elite program for too long. His running is his strength with his speed and endurance being key parts to his game while he also has an eye for the goals and is creative around the big sticks.
16. Adelaide- Ryan Burton
After a horrific leg injury, it is hard to tell how Burton will go in the future. On exposed form from last year, he has shown that he can run well and take marks up the ground while also having good smarts and leading patterns up forward. Whoever picks him is hoping that he can recover fully and turn into the star he projected to be last year. I am not so sure he will though.
17. St Kilda- Ryan Clarke
Clarke has a great motor and wills himself from contest to contest. He can kick goals and works hard all over the ground as a real two way player which is rare in under 18 footy. He projects as a run and carry player although he can play inside as well. I think with his smarts and workrate he will succeed.
18. Hawthorn- Kieran Collins
A really strongly built defender with good skills coming out of defence. Seems to love contesting and has some real physicality to his game. Never takes a backwards step and is composed with ball in hand so is a pretty good prospect. Lack of speed is a worry though.
19. Brisbane- Ben Keays
Keays has good skills with the ball, especially by foot, while he is composed and a good decision maker. He works hard and runs all day while he also can win his own ball. I have questions over his hurt factor and speed but he is solid enough.
20. Gold Coast- Ben McKay
McKay is more of a typical big man than his brother. He is great in the air and takes some great marks. He has a bit of physicality that few others seem to have this year and is more than willing to take out bodies and crash packs while he has good hands. Kicking is ok and defensive work seems to be reasonable too.
21. GWS- Harry Himmelberg
A bit of a different player. Plays as a roaming forward although he has grown a bit now to 194cm. He likes to run around and almost play as a small and is very creative around goals, although you are never quite sure what he is going to do next.
22. North Melbourne-David Cuningham
One of my favourites in the draft, Cuningham has great pace AND wins his own ball. He can get the ball and accelerate clear of the contest. Kicking is okay without being great though and he doesn’t win a heap of the ball but when he does get it he tends to break games open. If he can find more of the footy he will be a star.
23. Hawthorn-Rhys Mathieson
Mathieson is tough as nails and will put his head over the ball time after time. His skills are average without being horrible, getting the job done as an inside mid but his strength is getting the ball in contested situations and getting it away effectively. He is an unathletic type with minimal speed and a lack of endurance but his one trick is very good.
24. Carlton- Harley Balic
Balic has really good spatial awareness and as a result he is an efficient user of the ball. He has ok speed but his strength is his slipperiness in traffic then the ability to hit up a target. My concerns are with his kicking which is hit and miss while I feel that most of his targets hit up tend to be short or sideways. IF he can tidy up his kicking then he will be pretty good.
25. Western Bulldogs- Sam Skinner
Was one of my favourites before injury, and that’s because he is another who plays with real aggression. He is versatile and always looking for a contest while he is a good size to play anywhere on the ground. Seems to be a really good character too and has by all reports really got stuck into his knee rehab.
26. Western Bulldogs-Jade Gresham
A small midfielder who accumulates the footy. Where have I heard that before? To me, Gresham isn’t too dissimilar to other small types who have gone around this mark in recent years such as Lewis Taylor or Nathan Hrovat. An accumulator who won’t break a game apart but is a good role player on a team with reasonable skills but a really good motor. The step up is massive from under 18s to AFL for these little guys and it shows as their production slips. Still a likely type though and more likely to make it than some others.
27. Fremantle- Riley Bonner
A Matt Suckling type who provides run and carry off half back as well as having a super left boot. He can kick long and low and is a real weapon when he gets it right. Not a great defender though so he is one who will fit in better to a good side where he has to defend less. Also doesn’t have a whole lot of midfield potential.
28. West Coast- Darcy Tucker
A run and carry type with good skills. Can accumulate well off half back and showed flashes of the same through the midfield when trialled there late in the season. His skills are solid without being great but I feel he lacks hurt factor. Is still a line breaker but not one with elite pace or skills that make you worry.
29. Essendon- Aidyn Johnson
A super quick wingman/forward who has electric pace and is just an exciting type that can make something out of nothing. Hardly played this year due to injury but was impressive in his junior career and if he can find that form, with his attributes he will be a handy pick up. Best suited across half forward where he can turn his man around towards goals and use his pace and smarts to beat him back.
30. Essendon- Mason Redman
Probably more half forward than midfielder, Redman impressed across both of those roles this year. His biggest strength is his leap and marking which are elite for midfielders. He likes to take the game on and run and carry while he isn’t purely outside. Is a good size for a midfielder if he can continue to develop his game and transition himself into a full time mid.
31. North Melbourne- Alex Morgan
Morgan has pace and class and has the versatility to play multiple positions. He seems like a flanker who moves into the midfield when needed but he has the ability to impact games wherever he plays. Has great skills by foot which is real weapon.
32. Collingwood- Brayden Fiorini
Fiorini is a high level accumulator with really good skills by foot. Unfortunately he seems to take the safe option more often than not which is a shame because he seems to be a pretty good kick. He can definitely find the ball though and has added the consistency to his game which he lacked last year.
33. North Melbourne- Dan Houston
I like what Houston brings as a mobile third tall forward. He can mark the ball, moves well for his size and gets into the right spots inside 50 time after time. His kicking for goal can make you worry but that can be fixed. I think he has a real football brain and has the ability to be a really good third option,
34. Gold Coast- Mitch Hibberd
He seems to be rising up the boards rapidly but I see him as a slightly worse version of Bonner skillswise, while being a slightly better defender. He misses targets he should hit but has great vision and decision making which is a bit of a catch twenty-two. He is reasonable in the air and should be able to break even defensively though and provide some run and carry from half back. GC would be pleased if he is still here at this pick.
35. Western Bulldogs- Josh Dunkley
I’m disappointed in his production this year but I still feel he will be a good player. I don’t think the Swans are sold on him but he is a big body who can win his own ball and is a tackling beast. Can go forward as well and performed solidly in the VFL so has some runs on the board against the men. I doubt the Swans match unless someone bids with a third round pick or later.
36. West Coast- Thomas Glen
Nobody is talking about this kid but I really like him. He provides run and carry from half back and is a good user by both hand and especially by foot. Reads the play really well and knows when to come off his man and when to stay back. He is really light but I think if he bulks up a bit he will be a really good rebounding defender or even a wingman where he can use his run and carry and break teams open.
37. Port Adelaide- Luke Partington
While he doesn’t have one standout attribute, Partington is good at everything. He plays inside and outside, wins his own ball and then delivers it well. He can break lines, although isn’t exceptionally quick, while he has a good workrate and can get to a lot of contests. Has played well at SANFL senior level which I like to see and I feel 37 is too low for him. I think what holds him back is that he doesn’t project to be a star, instead more likely to become a really good piece in a midfield.
38. Fremantle- Tom Doedee
A basketball convert who I noticed as a really solid defender capable of playing on talls and smalls. Probably wasn’t brave enough to talk him up until the media did but I’m glad they did start because now I can come out and be proud of my love for this kid. Reckon he is tough as nails and really athletic. Is only going to get better and better.
39. Brisbane- Corey Wagner
Earlier this year I rated him above Keays. While I now rate Keays higher, it shows that Wagner has game. Has moved from being an outside wingman into someone who is capable of crashing in and winning his own ball on the inside so can play both roles. Has good skills and is a good decision maker, while also willing to take risks with the ball.
40. St Kilda-Mitch Brown
41. Melbourne- Kieran Lovell
42. St Kilda- Bailey Rice
43. North Melb- James Parsons
44. Hawthorn- Stephen Tahana
45. Brisbane- Reuben William
46. Port Adelaide- Brayden Hackett
47. Melbourne- Tom Cole
48. Western Bulldogs- Marcus Adams
49. GWS- Matt Flynn
50. Richmond- Declan Mountford
51. Sydney- Sam Murray
Has come from the clouds to be a chance to get picked up after being knocked back from the Bushies twice. Probably more a rookie chance but wanted to get the chance to talk about him since he is from my area (I actually played against him). Played in a senior flag at 17 as one of his teams best mids then stepped up a grade to a higher league and it took his footy to the next level. He marks the ball well for a mid while he takes the game on and kicks well. His right foot is a bit sloppy at times and he needs to build up a tank but would be a good high risk high reward pick.
52. Gold Coast- Brandon White
53. Essendon- Tom Phillips
54. Carlton- Will Snelling
55. Carlton- Jack Silvagni
56. Fremantle- Jesse Glass-McCasker
57. Sydney- Callum Moore
58. West Coast- Thomas Jok
The definition of project, Jok is an athletic beast and is impressive to look at. He is quick, extremely fit and improving rapidly while also being a good size at 191cm. He is new to the game but seems to get better with every game.
59. GWS- Blake Hardwick
60. Collingwood- Liam Jeffs
Is an Academy boy who missed most of the season with injury but is a rangy wingman/half forward type who is tall and can run all day. Is a good ball user and wins his own ball well inside. As he fills out he will get better and better on the inside and eventually he will be able to hold his own in the middle as a clearance player with a big body at 192cm.
61. Geelong- Hisham Kerbatieh
62. Sydney Pass
63. GWS pass
64. North- Nick O’Kearney
65. Freo- Josh Schoenfeld
66. West Coast- Kade Stewart
Another forgotten Academy boy but is one who I have kept an eye on after impressing me during the champs. Wins his own ball and distributes it well, while being a good decision maker. Played a bit of senior footy in the WAFL and did well there too. If he was playing for Vic Country and was injured he would be a top 30 pick.
67. Hawthorn pass
68. Collingwood Tyrone Leonardis
69. Gold Coast Yestin Eades
70. Essendon Gach Nyuon
71. Collingwood pass
72. Port pass
73. Richmond Davin Ferreira
74. North pass
75. West Coast pass
76. Geelong Ryan Gardner
77. Richmond Nash Holmes
78. Freo pass
79. Essendon pass
80. Geelong Oleg Markov
1. Jacob Hopper
2. Jacob Weitering
3. Clayton Oliver
4. Aaron Francis
5. Josh Schache
6. Darcy Parish
7. Ben Keays
8. Matt Kennedy
9. Callum Mills
10. Ben McKay
11. David Cuningham
12. Wayne Milera
13. Callum Ah Chee
14. Sam Weideman
15. Keiran Collins
16. Eric Hipwood
17. Ryan Clarke
18. Harry McKay
19. Charlie Curnow
20. Daniel Rioli
21. Hisham Kerbatieh
22. Ryan Burton
23. Luke Partington
24. Matt Flynn
25. Aidyn Johnson
26. Corey Wagner
27. Tom Glen
28. Rhys Mathieson
29. Mitch Hibberd
30. Harley Balic
31. Mitch Brown
32. Sam Skinner
33. Tom Doedee
34. Jade Gresham
35. Riley Bonner
36. Bailey Rice
37. James Parsons
38. Darcy Tucker
39. Harrison Himmelberg
40. Tom Phillips
41. Stephen Tahana
42. Alex Morgan
43. Mason Redman
44. Reuben William
45. Will Snelling
46. Thomas Jok
47. Luke Surman
48. Declan Mountford
49. Kade Stewart
50. Brayden Fiorini
1. Carlton- Jacob Weitering
Biggest strength: Excellent in the air
Biggest weakness: Movement
Club:Dandenong Stingrays
Position:Key defender
Height:195 cm
Weight:94 kg
Weitering is going to be a good player. I have no doubts about it. He reads the play exceptionally well and can take a big grab. He is one of the best kicks in the draft, with a long and accurate boot that sets up attacking thrusts or gets his team out of trouble. He does have a slightly concerning weakness in that he is not the best mover, with his agility not fantastic in my opinion and his repeat efforts not in that top category. However with his marking and ability to read the play he is likely to get himself into spots where he can hide these weaknesses and make up for them. I also don’t feel that he can play forward as well as people are saying. He relies too much on his marking for that and doesn’t have the athleticism or knowledge of how to play down that end of the ground to really excel.
2. Brisbane- Josh Schache
Biggest Strength: Marking
Biggest Weakness: Repeat efforts/Second efforts
Club:Murray Bushrangers
Position:Key forward
Height:199 cm
Weight:93 kg
Schache does a lot of things really well and that’s why I like him, although that may hurt him as to me he doesn’t have one trick that sets him apart from the rest. His marking is very good, as he uses his size and takes the ball up high and out in front while shielding the drop of the ball. He is also very good below his knees and actually quite unselfish as I’ve seen numerous times where he will pick up a ground ball and dish it off rather than snapping it over his shoulder. He is a good endurance athlete but I feel he doesn’t use his engine enough yet and could make more leads and really use it to advantage and burn people off. He has some question marks over his speed and agility which I feel are poor and also doesn’t tend to make too many efforts, both offensively and particularly defensively.
3. Sydney- Callum Mills
Biggest strength: Strong overhead
Biggest weakness: One paced
Club:
Position: Midfielder
Height: 188cm
Weight: 80kg
Mills is a really good accumulator of the footy who is adept at winning clearances, due to his ability to read taps well. He also reads the ball well in the air which is how he is such a good overhead mark for a midfielder, one of his big strengths. He runs well from contest to contest, although he is a little one paced and doesn’t have that ability to burst clear. He is an okay kick without being great and I feel he tends to take the safe option a lot. When he does, his kicks are neat and low. However when he does try to pull the trigger on a riskier option is when his kicks sit up more and can be picked off. His ball winning ability is unquestioned though and he remains a top quality distributor of the ball who has shown an ability to do this against men, racking up 20+ touches in a rare post-injury appearance for the Swans reserves earlier this year.
4. Melbourne- Clayton Oliver
Biggest strength: Clearance specialist
Biggest weakness: Lack of pace
Club: Murray Bushrangers
Position: Inside midfielder
Height: 187cm
Weight: 85kg
The hype player of the draft and Morrish Medal winner has had a very productive season when he was out on the park and that has fuelled a massive rise up the rankings of most draft watchers. I actually see a lot of similarities between him and Jacob Hopper, with Hopper probably being a better kick. He is a great extractor of the ball at stoppages and has really quick hands. He gets his hands up to make sure he can always squeeze out a handball. He is very agile and has a good little side step in traffic which helps him get some space and he isn’t afraid of running backwards to find himself some more time. He is also a very capable forward and is good overhead and is a quick thinker around goals, always looking for a way to get the ball onto his foot and into the goals. He is the big midfielder that everyone is looking for and has that scoreboard impact that teams crave. The only real concern I have is his lack of pace but he is one that I’m sure will play at least 100 games and make a good fist of an AFL career.
5. GWS- Jacob Hopper
Biggest Strength: Scoreboard impact
Biggest Weakness: Pace
Club: North Ballarat Rebels
Position: Inside Midfielder
Height: 185cm
Weight: 83kg
Hopper is a goal kicking mid who is tough as nails. He isn’t quick and doesn’t have that burst to get him out of trouble but he is super strong and can break tackles easily. He also attacks the ball really hard and will run through anyone to make a contest or get the ball. While he isn’t fast he does have some little tricks to give himself more time and space, like a nice dummy which he uses frequently. He has a good workrate as evidenced by his goalkicking record and he is a good finisher around goals. His attack on the ball and competitiveness hold him in good stead around the stoppages but his work around the ground and ability to find the footy outside of contested situations concerns me a little. Even if he can’t find much of the ball as a midfielder I feel he will still be a good small to medium forward with his size, strength and goalkicking nous.
6. Essendon- Aaron Francis
Biggest strength: Kicking and reading the flight of the ball in defence
Biggest weakness: Can be too attacking
Club: West Adelaide
Position: Rebounding/Third tall defender – Utility
Height: 191cm
Weight: 92kg
Francis is one of few footballers this year that I have struggled to find a real weakness for. He is a really good kick, with great penetration, distance and weighting over short and long kicks. He reads the play incredibly well and will chop kicks off by sliding in front of leading forwards and taking big marks. He is a courageous footballer who attacks the ball hard and appears to be hard to tackle, even when playing senior SANFL footy. He has runs on the board as a rebounding defender where he will be a safe bet to play a lot of AFL footy, however as a key defender he struggles due to his size and his want to be attacking, as shown when he was matched up against Josh Schache. I also don’t think he can play in the midfield and his ability forward of centre is overrated as he won’t be such a good mark against men as he was against the boys. He has an AFL ready body and could play from Round 1.
7. Essendon- Darcy Parish
Biggest strength: Footskills/Decision Making
Biggest weakness: Marking
Club: Geelong Falcons
Position: Midfielder/Flanker
Height: 180cm
Weight: 74kg
Parish is a guy who does a lot of things really well. He has very good footskills, being able to lace out passes accurately off both sides of his body, under pressure and at full speed. He possesses a good burst of breakaway speed which enables him to bust out of contests and find teammates. He is a good decision maker by hand and foot, and knows his limitations by foot. He also goes forward and kicks goals and is clever in where he positions himself when going inside 50. He doesn’t mark the ball and is poor overhead so he is smart enough to put himself in positions to rove the ball and is a good finisher. He doesn’t have a clear strength but is very good at a number of things and has no real weaknesses other than his marking.
8. Gold Coast- Wayne Milera
Biggest strength: Composure
Biggest weakness: Pressure acts
Club: Central Districts
Position: High half forward with midfield potential
Height: 183cm
Weight: 77kg
I really like guys who can play senior footy at a young age and make a big impact. Milera did just that by playing 11 senior games for Central Districts and kicking 11 goals. He has a great side step and has some good agility and evasiveness in the contest. He isn’t quick but this helps him get free. You won’t see him break away from a pack or burst down the wing very often but are more likely to see him pick up a ground ball and dance around a player before being composed enough to lace out a pass or snap a goal. His finishing around goals is good and he kicked 1 goal a game at senior level for Centrals. In terms of negatives, his marking isn’t great, doesn’t have an opposite foot and his tackling pressure appears to be quite poor at this stage. He also appears to be a hard worker and while he isn’t big, he may be able to put on more weight after putting on 6kg this year. I think he will be a good small forward but don’t think he becomes much more than an impact player in the midfield, although there is definitely a role for him at AFL level.
9. GWS- Matt Kennedy
Biggest strength: Overhead marking
Biggest weakness: Kicking
Club: Collingullie
Position: Midfield
Height: 187cm
Weight: 88kg
Kennedy is the big bodied, tall mid that clubs all want. He is a great mark overhead for his size and it is his biggest strength. That gives him the ability to go forward and make an impact which will be valuable with the interchange cap and lack of a sub. He can win his own ball and makes good decisions with ball in hand, particularly by hand where he is quick from picking it up to dishing it off. His kicking is neither here nor there, and can tend to float through the air rather than travelling directly to teammates. His opposite foot is pretty good though. He also seems to lack a bit of pace which may or may not hurt him, although if he can get himself to enough contests I don’t think it will matter at his size.
10. Melbourne- Sam Weideman
Biggest strength: Marking
Biggest weakness: Speed
Club: Eastern Ranges
Position: Key forward
Height: 196cm
Weight: 94kg
Weideman hasn’t played much this year which makes it tough to gauge his performances and ability compared to the others. However it is clear that he is a big, strong, talented key forward who can take a good mark. He struggles to create separation from defenders due to a lack of pace but he does take a lot of marks because he takes them right out in front and doesn’t give the defenders a chance to punch past his long outstretched arms. He is able to kick goals off both sides of the body and is quick from hand to foot. He isn’t afraid to pass the ball if a teammate is in a better option and he will kick for goal on his left if need be, rather than turning back onto his right and getting into trouble. I have concerns that he is too slow to play as a dominant key forward but his marking could make up for that and make him a good second option.
11. Carlton- Callum Ah Chee
Biggest strength: Overhead marking
Biggest weakness: Inconsistent kick
Club: South Fremantle
Position: Small forward
Height: 182cm
Weight: 71kg
Ah Chee is a small forward with an excellent leap and the ability to pull off highlight reel plays. He can take a big mark and has shown a love for trying to take hangers, while he is also very good above his head because of his leaping ability. He is also good at ground level and isn’t afraid of the hustle and bustle around stoppages, so he isn’t always a sheep dog around packs. He has good pace and agility and is a good finisher around goals. However his kicking is inconsistent. His kicks range from bullet passes that don’t require the target to break stride, to horrible shanks. He won’t kick a lot of goals but he will create opportunities. His pressure is reasonable and he averaged 2 tackles per game in his 6 senior appearances for South Fremantle. I think he can play and will do well at the next level as a small forward, although I don’t think he can go into the midfield.
12. Brisbane- Eric Hipwood
Biggest strength: Marking
Biggest weakness: Kicking
Club: Caloundra
Position: Tall forward/defender- swingman
Height: 202 cm
Weight: 83kg
I really don’t know where Hipwood’s best position is. Up forward he can use his big frame to crash packs and take big marks, while also using his freakish athleticism to burn off his opponent and kick goals when the ball hits the ground. Down back, he reads the flight of the ball so well and always puts himself in the right spot to intercept the ball. I think his big deficiency, kicking, is what will hold him back from being a gun defender as clubs are looking for two way players who can impact both offensively and defensively and his lack of ability to hit targets by foot could hurt him here, despite his willingness to take the game on. Up forward though, his hands and athleticism could allow him to be a very good forward, especially once he adds some bulk to his 202 cm frame.
13. Adelaide- Harry McKay
Biggest Strength: Movement
Biggest weakness: Physical presence
Club: Gippsland Power
Position: Tall mobile forward
Height: 200cm
Weight: 94kg
McKay plays as a mobile marking forward, with really good athleticism for someone of his size. He moves really well and has good agility for a big man as well as good disposal on his left foot, especially for a big man. This makes him an effective lead up man up the ground where he can run his defender ragged and then turn him towards goals and hit up forwards. His marking is good on the lead and he doesn’t get outmarked much there as he gets front spot and takes them out in front with his big reach. However he doesn’t like contact much if there is someone sitting in front of him and won’t crash packs or take big contested marks very often. I am also concerned by his set shot technique which I think is too long and he leans back as he kicks the ball which causes him to poke at it and miss from time to time. I think he has attributes that make him a good project although I wouldn’t bet on him with an early pick. I also think he could be a handy swingman and could plug holes down back with his closing speed and height and reach.
14. Carlton- Charlie Curnow
Biggest Strength: Marking
Biggest Weakness: Speed/Ability to create separation against people his own size
Club: Geelong Falcons
Position: Marking forward with potential midfield ability
Height: 191cm
Weight: 95kg
I haven’t seen much of Curnow so this will be brief, but from what I have seen I can see that he is a very powerful kid who is strong overhead and one on one. He uses his strength well and gets front spot and holds it. His marking is definitely his biggest strength at junior level and it will need to hold up well because it is unlikely that he can manhandle opponents like he does at TAC Cup level and he doesn’t have the speed or ability to create separation from his defender that top forwards need. I don’t think he should be played in the midfield as I don’t think he has enough to his game other than strength, physicality and marking. I think he will struggle to get free in the middle although he may have quick decision making skills or positioning that I have not seen as of yet.
15. Richmond- Daniel Rioli
Rioli is someone who has a bit of toe as well as being a poised and skilful player. He can go through the middle but is predominantly a forward with huge potential, as a raw type who hasn’t really been in an elite program for too long. His running is his strength with his speed and endurance being key parts to his game while he also has an eye for the goals and is creative around the big sticks.
16. Adelaide- Ryan Burton
After a horrific leg injury, it is hard to tell how Burton will go in the future. On exposed form from last year, he has shown that he can run well and take marks up the ground while also having good smarts and leading patterns up forward. Whoever picks him is hoping that he can recover fully and turn into the star he projected to be last year. I am not so sure he will though.
17. St Kilda- Ryan Clarke
Clarke has a great motor and wills himself from contest to contest. He can kick goals and works hard all over the ground as a real two way player which is rare in under 18 footy. He projects as a run and carry player although he can play inside as well. I think with his smarts and workrate he will succeed.
18. Hawthorn- Kieran Collins
A really strongly built defender with good skills coming out of defence. Seems to love contesting and has some real physicality to his game. Never takes a backwards step and is composed with ball in hand so is a pretty good prospect. Lack of speed is a worry though.
19. Brisbane- Ben Keays
Keays has good skills with the ball, especially by foot, while he is composed and a good decision maker. He works hard and runs all day while he also can win his own ball. I have questions over his hurt factor and speed but he is solid enough.
20. Gold Coast- Ben McKay
McKay is more of a typical big man than his brother. He is great in the air and takes some great marks. He has a bit of physicality that few others seem to have this year and is more than willing to take out bodies and crash packs while he has good hands. Kicking is ok and defensive work seems to be reasonable too.
21. GWS- Harry Himmelberg
A bit of a different player. Plays as a roaming forward although he has grown a bit now to 194cm. He likes to run around and almost play as a small and is very creative around goals, although you are never quite sure what he is going to do next.
22. North Melbourne-David Cuningham
One of my favourites in the draft, Cuningham has great pace AND wins his own ball. He can get the ball and accelerate clear of the contest. Kicking is okay without being great though and he doesn’t win a heap of the ball but when he does get it he tends to break games open. If he can find more of the footy he will be a star.
23. Hawthorn-Rhys Mathieson
Mathieson is tough as nails and will put his head over the ball time after time. His skills are average without being horrible, getting the job done as an inside mid but his strength is getting the ball in contested situations and getting it away effectively. He is an unathletic type with minimal speed and a lack of endurance but his one trick is very good.
24. Carlton- Harley Balic
Balic has really good spatial awareness and as a result he is an efficient user of the ball. He has ok speed but his strength is his slipperiness in traffic then the ability to hit up a target. My concerns are with his kicking which is hit and miss while I feel that most of his targets hit up tend to be short or sideways. IF he can tidy up his kicking then he will be pretty good.
25. Western Bulldogs- Sam Skinner
Was one of my favourites before injury, and that’s because he is another who plays with real aggression. He is versatile and always looking for a contest while he is a good size to play anywhere on the ground. Seems to be a really good character too and has by all reports really got stuck into his knee rehab.
26. Western Bulldogs-Jade Gresham
A small midfielder who accumulates the footy. Where have I heard that before? To me, Gresham isn’t too dissimilar to other small types who have gone around this mark in recent years such as Lewis Taylor or Nathan Hrovat. An accumulator who won’t break a game apart but is a good role player on a team with reasonable skills but a really good motor. The step up is massive from under 18s to AFL for these little guys and it shows as their production slips. Still a likely type though and more likely to make it than some others.
27. Fremantle- Riley Bonner
A Matt Suckling type who provides run and carry off half back as well as having a super left boot. He can kick long and low and is a real weapon when he gets it right. Not a great defender though so he is one who will fit in better to a good side where he has to defend less. Also doesn’t have a whole lot of midfield potential.
28. West Coast- Darcy Tucker
A run and carry type with good skills. Can accumulate well off half back and showed flashes of the same through the midfield when trialled there late in the season. His skills are solid without being great but I feel he lacks hurt factor. Is still a line breaker but not one with elite pace or skills that make you worry.
29. Essendon- Aidyn Johnson
A super quick wingman/forward who has electric pace and is just an exciting type that can make something out of nothing. Hardly played this year due to injury but was impressive in his junior career and if he can find that form, with his attributes he will be a handy pick up. Best suited across half forward where he can turn his man around towards goals and use his pace and smarts to beat him back.
30. Essendon- Mason Redman
Probably more half forward than midfielder, Redman impressed across both of those roles this year. His biggest strength is his leap and marking which are elite for midfielders. He likes to take the game on and run and carry while he isn’t purely outside. Is a good size for a midfielder if he can continue to develop his game and transition himself into a full time mid.
31. North Melbourne- Alex Morgan
Morgan has pace and class and has the versatility to play multiple positions. He seems like a flanker who moves into the midfield when needed but he has the ability to impact games wherever he plays. Has great skills by foot which is real weapon.
32. Collingwood- Brayden Fiorini
Fiorini is a high level accumulator with really good skills by foot. Unfortunately he seems to take the safe option more often than not which is a shame because he seems to be a pretty good kick. He can definitely find the ball though and has added the consistency to his game which he lacked last year.
33. North Melbourne- Dan Houston
I like what Houston brings as a mobile third tall forward. He can mark the ball, moves well for his size and gets into the right spots inside 50 time after time. His kicking for goal can make you worry but that can be fixed. I think he has a real football brain and has the ability to be a really good third option,
34. Gold Coast- Mitch Hibberd
He seems to be rising up the boards rapidly but I see him as a slightly worse version of Bonner skillswise, while being a slightly better defender. He misses targets he should hit but has great vision and decision making which is a bit of a catch twenty-two. He is reasonable in the air and should be able to break even defensively though and provide some run and carry from half back. GC would be pleased if he is still here at this pick.
35. Western Bulldogs- Josh Dunkley
I’m disappointed in his production this year but I still feel he will be a good player. I don’t think the Swans are sold on him but he is a big body who can win his own ball and is a tackling beast. Can go forward as well and performed solidly in the VFL so has some runs on the board against the men. I doubt the Swans match unless someone bids with a third round pick or later.
36. West Coast- Thomas Glen
Nobody is talking about this kid but I really like him. He provides run and carry from half back and is a good user by both hand and especially by foot. Reads the play really well and knows when to come off his man and when to stay back. He is really light but I think if he bulks up a bit he will be a really good rebounding defender or even a wingman where he can use his run and carry and break teams open.
37. Port Adelaide- Luke Partington
While he doesn’t have one standout attribute, Partington is good at everything. He plays inside and outside, wins his own ball and then delivers it well. He can break lines, although isn’t exceptionally quick, while he has a good workrate and can get to a lot of contests. Has played well at SANFL senior level which I like to see and I feel 37 is too low for him. I think what holds him back is that he doesn’t project to be a star, instead more likely to become a really good piece in a midfield.
38. Fremantle- Tom Doedee
A basketball convert who I noticed as a really solid defender capable of playing on talls and smalls. Probably wasn’t brave enough to talk him up until the media did but I’m glad they did start because now I can come out and be proud of my love for this kid. Reckon he is tough as nails and really athletic. Is only going to get better and better.
39. Brisbane- Corey Wagner
Earlier this year I rated him above Keays. While I now rate Keays higher, it shows that Wagner has game. Has moved from being an outside wingman into someone who is capable of crashing in and winning his own ball on the inside so can play both roles. Has good skills and is a good decision maker, while also willing to take risks with the ball.
40. St Kilda-Mitch Brown
41. Melbourne- Kieran Lovell
42. St Kilda- Bailey Rice
43. North Melb- James Parsons
44. Hawthorn- Stephen Tahana
45. Brisbane- Reuben William
46. Port Adelaide- Brayden Hackett
47. Melbourne- Tom Cole
48. Western Bulldogs- Marcus Adams
49. GWS- Matt Flynn
50. Richmond- Declan Mountford
51. Sydney- Sam Murray
Has come from the clouds to be a chance to get picked up after being knocked back from the Bushies twice. Probably more a rookie chance but wanted to get the chance to talk about him since he is from my area (I actually played against him). Played in a senior flag at 17 as one of his teams best mids then stepped up a grade to a higher league and it took his footy to the next level. He marks the ball well for a mid while he takes the game on and kicks well. His right foot is a bit sloppy at times and he needs to build up a tank but would be a good high risk high reward pick.
52. Gold Coast- Brandon White
53. Essendon- Tom Phillips
54. Carlton- Will Snelling
55. Carlton- Jack Silvagni
56. Fremantle- Jesse Glass-McCasker
57. Sydney- Callum Moore
58. West Coast- Thomas Jok
The definition of project, Jok is an athletic beast and is impressive to look at. He is quick, extremely fit and improving rapidly while also being a good size at 191cm. He is new to the game but seems to get better with every game.
59. GWS- Blake Hardwick
60. Collingwood- Liam Jeffs
Is an Academy boy who missed most of the season with injury but is a rangy wingman/half forward type who is tall and can run all day. Is a good ball user and wins his own ball well inside. As he fills out he will get better and better on the inside and eventually he will be able to hold his own in the middle as a clearance player with a big body at 192cm.
61. Geelong- Hisham Kerbatieh
62. Sydney Pass
63. GWS pass
64. North- Nick O’Kearney
65. Freo- Josh Schoenfeld
66. West Coast- Kade Stewart
Another forgotten Academy boy but is one who I have kept an eye on after impressing me during the champs. Wins his own ball and distributes it well, while being a good decision maker. Played a bit of senior footy in the WAFL and did well there too. If he was playing for Vic Country and was injured he would be a top 30 pick.
67. Hawthorn pass
68. Collingwood Tyrone Leonardis
69. Gold Coast Yestin Eades
70. Essendon Gach Nyuon
71. Collingwood pass
72. Port pass
73. Richmond Davin Ferreira
74. North pass
75. West Coast pass
76. Geelong Ryan Gardner
77. Richmond Nash Holmes
78. Freo pass
79. Essendon pass
80. Geelong Oleg Markov
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