I have posted my thoughts on the upcoming AFL Draft below. I do not proclaim to have any source. All opinions are based via watching, reading and listening to rumour.
Update: Received positive recommendation on Bartlett
For all first round selections i have placed the official AFL highlights video. If any do not correspond let me know
Priority Pick
Pick 1 – Melbourne – Melbourne – Tom Scully – 182cm/74kg
Tom is a fantastic player who should fill out once he joins an AFL club. His vision is 2nd to non and will be selected first.
Others Considered: Jack Trengove
Scully in Action
Round 1
Pick 2 – Melbourne – Jack Trengove – 185cm/82kg
I have chosen Jack at pick two even though I believe he is the best player in this draft. His performances against Men in the SANFL in the latter stages were amazing.
Others Considered: No one
Trengove in Action
Pick 3 – Richmond – Dustin Martin – 187cm/86kg
It appears Martin is penciled in at pick three. Whether or not he is the 3rd best player is debatable, however he will be one first round pick Richmond should get right.
Others Considered: Cunnington, Butcher
Martin in Action
Pick 4 – Fremantle – Anthony Moribito – 192cm/93kg
People compare him to Adam Goodes and if Morobito can be half, as good Fremantle will have secured a fantastic player. Being local tips the ledger in Morobito staying in WA with Fremantle.
Others Considered: Butcher, Lucas and Rohan
Moribito in Action
Pick 5 – North Melbourne – Ben Cunnington 184cm/78kg
Some have questioned whether he is the ideal player for North. My opinion is he will add to an ominous developing midfield lead by Swallow, Zielbell and Anthony. His 5-goal haul late in the season highlights his ability both in the middle and pinch-hitting up forward.
Others Considered: Rohan, Lucas
Cunnington in Action
Pick 6 – Sydney – Gary Rohan – 186cm/79kg
Many have Rohan pushing top 5 I am of the belief he could fall anywhere from 5 -16. He is explosive and proved at the draft camp he has one of the most reliable kicks out of this years batch of draftees. Adds to Veszpremi.
Others Considered: Cunnington (If Available) Melksham, Lucas
Rohan in Action
Pick 7 – West Coast – Lewis Jetta – 178cm/72kg
Everything being said points towards the Eagles who appear desperate to land the over age player in Jetta who would unlikely slide to their second round pick (22) Jetta is an explosive wingman who has the ability to split a team in half with his skill.
Others Considered: Lucas, Sheppard
Jetta in Action
Pick 8 – Port Adelaide – John Butcher – 197cm/83kg
Draft Range:4-12
Butcher is an interesting choice. Poor goal kicking has lead many recruiters having question whether Butcher will make a good forward. My opinion is that Goal Kicking is fixable, He has Strong hands and is good on a lead. Could finally have a long term replacement for Tredrea.
Butcher in Action
Pick 9 – Port Adelaide – Brad Sheppard – 187cm 78kg
Sheppard is the player Port requires. He is a strong HBF/Midfielder who can break lines and set up many plays. Not only is he tough, he is a smart user.
Others Considered: Tapscott
Sheppard in Action
Pick 10 - Essendon – Kody Stevens – 186cm/78kg
Draft Range:10-17
He wins the contested ball and has tremendous work rate. To me he appears the idea fit for the Bombers.
Pick 11 – Melbourne – Daniel Talia – 195cm/82kg
Draft Range:8-17
Talia is an interesting proposition. For some reason many have pigeonholed him as a defender. I see Talia as a KPP who will most likely play forward. He has the athleticism to become Riewoldt type. Talia is one of the best available KPP.
Others Considered: Black, Tapscott
Talia in Action
Pick 12 - Carlton – Aaron Black – 192cm/82kg
The WA lad is a bolter. Some players are just late developers and Black appears to have come seriously into consideration by many. He is a KPP/Tall Midfielder who I believe will likely play a high half forward role at first at the Blues.
Others Considered: Carlise
Black in Action
Pick 13 – Adelaide – Callum Bartlett – 179cm/75kg
Draft Range 13 - 33
Bartlett without injuries would be touted top 10. He is Quick, Agile and can break lines with precise kicking or with dashing runs. I personally rate him as a first round choice. Told by someone who should know he will go "pretty high. To me he's the one mid after the first four who has something really dynamic about him."
Others Considered: Duncan, Lucas
Pick 14 – Sydney – Kane Lucas – 188cm/79kg
Draft Range:4-15
Lucas is a quality player who can play a variety of positions. Very impressive player.
Other Considered: MacMillan-Pittard, Tapscott, Colyer
Lucas in Action
Pick 15 – Western Bulldogs – Andrew Moore – 188cm/81kg
Moore is Very Versitile player who has been likened to Ryan O'Keefe and Andy Otten. I don’t see any major issues with his play and would be handy anywhere on the ground.
Others Considered: Jetta (if Available)
Pick 16 – Port Adelaide - Jake Melksham – 182cm/70kg
Draft Range:8-17
Melksham showed his potential in the TAC Grand Final with a BOG performance. Melksham provides inside and outside ability.
Others Considered: Panos, Tapscott
Pick 17 - Geelong – Mitch Duncan – 188cm/81kg
Draft Range - 13 - 23
Duncan is a surprise to go this high however I feel he is solid fit. He is a hard runner with leadership qualities and can play multiple roles. While there are higher touted players remaining, Duncan provides a difference that others can't bring. At 188cm he is very good at ground for his size and very strong overhead.
Others Considered: Sheppard, Vardy
Duncan in Action
Round 2
Pick 18 - Melbourne – Luke Tapscott – 180cm/86kg
Tapscott is a slider who many believe could go to Port with pick 8 or 9. He has a booming leg and will be a very solid player the only reason I feel he will slide is because it appears he does not have as much development as others around him. This is your classic Daniel Rich scenario.
Others Considered: Vardy, Carlise
Tapscott in Action
Update: Received positive recommendation on Bartlett
For all first round selections i have placed the official AFL highlights video. If any do not correspond let me know
Priority Pick
Pick 1 – Melbourne – Melbourne – Tom Scully – 182cm/74kg
Tom is a fantastic player who should fill out once he joins an AFL club. His vision is 2nd to non and will be selected first.
Others Considered: Jack Trengove
Scully in Action
Round 1
Pick 2 – Melbourne – Jack Trengove – 185cm/82kg
I have chosen Jack at pick two even though I believe he is the best player in this draft. His performances against Men in the SANFL in the latter stages were amazing.
Others Considered: No one
Trengove in Action
Pick 3 – Richmond – Dustin Martin – 187cm/86kg
It appears Martin is penciled in at pick three. Whether or not he is the 3rd best player is debatable, however he will be one first round pick Richmond should get right.
Others Considered: Cunnington, Butcher
Martin in Action
Pick 4 – Fremantle – Anthony Moribito – 192cm/93kg
People compare him to Adam Goodes and if Morobito can be half, as good Fremantle will have secured a fantastic player. Being local tips the ledger in Morobito staying in WA with Fremantle.
Others Considered: Butcher, Lucas and Rohan
Moribito in Action
Pick 5 – North Melbourne – Ben Cunnington 184cm/78kg
Some have questioned whether he is the ideal player for North. My opinion is he will add to an ominous developing midfield lead by Swallow, Zielbell and Anthony. His 5-goal haul late in the season highlights his ability both in the middle and pinch-hitting up forward.
Others Considered: Rohan, Lucas
Cunnington in Action
Pick 6 – Sydney – Gary Rohan – 186cm/79kg
Many have Rohan pushing top 5 I am of the belief he could fall anywhere from 5 -16. He is explosive and proved at the draft camp he has one of the most reliable kicks out of this years batch of draftees. Adds to Veszpremi.
Others Considered: Cunnington (If Available) Melksham, Lucas
Rohan in Action
Pick 7 – West Coast – Lewis Jetta – 178cm/72kg
Everything being said points towards the Eagles who appear desperate to land the over age player in Jetta who would unlikely slide to their second round pick (22) Jetta is an explosive wingman who has the ability to split a team in half with his skill.
Others Considered: Lucas, Sheppard
Jetta in Action
Pick 8 – Port Adelaide – John Butcher – 197cm/83kg
Draft Range:4-12
Butcher is an interesting choice. Poor goal kicking has lead many recruiters having question whether Butcher will make a good forward. My opinion is that Goal Kicking is fixable, He has Strong hands and is good on a lead. Could finally have a long term replacement for Tredrea.
Butcher in Action
Pick 9 – Port Adelaide – Brad Sheppard – 187cm 78kg
Sheppard is the player Port requires. He is a strong HBF/Midfielder who can break lines and set up many plays. Not only is he tough, he is a smart user.
Others Considered: Tapscott
Sheppard in Action
Pick 10 - Essendon – Kody Stevens – 186cm/78kg
Draft Range:10-17
He wins the contested ball and has tremendous work rate. To me he appears the idea fit for the Bombers.
Pick 11 – Melbourne – Daniel Talia – 195cm/82kg
Draft Range:8-17
Talia is an interesting proposition. For some reason many have pigeonholed him as a defender. I see Talia as a KPP who will most likely play forward. He has the athleticism to become Riewoldt type. Talia is one of the best available KPP.
Others Considered: Black, Tapscott
Talia in Action
Pick 12 - Carlton – Aaron Black – 192cm/82kg
The WA lad is a bolter. Some players are just late developers and Black appears to have come seriously into consideration by many. He is a KPP/Tall Midfielder who I believe will likely play a high half forward role at first at the Blues.
Others Considered: Carlise
Black in Action
Pick 13 – Adelaide – Callum Bartlett – 179cm/75kg
Draft Range 13 - 33
Bartlett without injuries would be touted top 10. He is Quick, Agile and can break lines with precise kicking or with dashing runs. I personally rate him as a first round choice. Told by someone who should know he will go "pretty high. To me he's the one mid after the first four who has something really dynamic about him."
Others Considered: Duncan, Lucas
Pick 14 – Sydney – Kane Lucas – 188cm/79kg
Draft Range:4-15
Lucas is a quality player who can play a variety of positions. Very impressive player.
Other Considered: MacMillan-Pittard, Tapscott, Colyer
Lucas in Action
Pick 15 – Western Bulldogs – Andrew Moore – 188cm/81kg
Moore is Very Versitile player who has been likened to Ryan O'Keefe and Andy Otten. I don’t see any major issues with his play and would be handy anywhere on the ground.
Others Considered: Jetta (if Available)
Pick 16 – Port Adelaide - Jake Melksham – 182cm/70kg
Draft Range:8-17
Melksham showed his potential in the TAC Grand Final with a BOG performance. Melksham provides inside and outside ability.
Others Considered: Panos, Tapscott
Pick 17 - Geelong – Mitch Duncan – 188cm/81kg
Draft Range - 13 - 23
Duncan is a surprise to go this high however I feel he is solid fit. He is a hard runner with leadership qualities and can play multiple roles. While there are higher touted players remaining, Duncan provides a difference that others can't bring. At 188cm he is very good at ground for his size and very strong overhead.
Others Considered: Sheppard, Vardy
Duncan in Action
Round 2
Pick 18 - Melbourne – Luke Tapscott – 180cm/86kg
Tapscott is a slider who many believe could go to Port with pick 8 or 9. He has a booming leg and will be a very solid player the only reason I feel he will slide is because it appears he does not have as much development as others around him. This is your classic Daniel Rich scenario.
Others Considered: Vardy, Carlise
Tapscott in Action
