WA Draft Standing

[Tundrawolf]

Unfortunately I only see McCarthy as the draft certainty. Guys like Johnson who kicked 5 goals and was BOG in the reserves GF and Sokol who did the same in the colts second semi should be seriously looked at.

Off the top of my head I'd have them something like this:
McCarthy - pretty much agree with your views on McCarthy. I think his upside is unbelievable, i'd have him as Souths best draft prospect of the last 5yrs.
Johnson
Sokol
Tim Kelly
Dylan Main had a really good GF and if South had won he probably would have won the colts medal. Really good height as a mid/forward.
Tom Vandeleur - I really like this guy, he was fantastic at full back in the second semi, was just ok for the GF though. He is tough and uncompromising, almost your old fashion defender. Pace might be an issue.
Willie Rioli - On talent alone i'd have Willie just behind McCarthy. Everyone knows of his build, but he is supremely skillful, and just a natural footballer. Had a very poor GF and that as well as his physique will count against him.

 

[clipboardbinocs]

Cheers TW - Think Johnson is a bit of a tweener, South's enjoyed a really good season, but I think alot of the best passages of play were generated by the under aged boys.

Think your 15 year CHF is one to watch.

 

[WAFLfan1969]

There is very little mention of Sam Garstone from Perth Colts, any thoughts ? He got a National Combine Invite must mean something

 

[Bluey_McKenna]

Great thread

 

[WAFLfan1969]

Cheers TW - Think Johnson is a bit of a tweener, South's enjoyed a really good season, but I think alot of the best passages of play were generated by the under aged boys.

Think your 15 year CHF is one to watch.

What's the kids name CHF 15 ?

 

[clipboardbinocs]

14. Rowen Powell

Powell has come from the clouds in 2013, has come from up North to play his footy down at Claremont, has been the equal of Barrass in defence and shows a fair amount of poise and application as a CHB/FB with stints as a third tall.

Has fantastic voice on the field, marshals the troops particularly well and organises his defence to make his job easier. Has excellent closing speed, stands at 192 may have grown over the course of the season, we will find out tomorrow, his form on the back of no WAFL pre-seasons suggests that his upside could be immense, hence why he has received an invitation to a state screening.

A very clean ball user by foot, kicks well over distance and seems to enjoy spotting targets further up the field, not phased coming out of defence, haven't seen him handball though a concern, but not a deal breaker.

Capable of taking a mark if he's on, some Key defenders forget to attack the football and follow a man in, if he can take a grab he will intercept and set up by foot.

A very smokey chance, but a chance none the less, may get snaffled a rookie with some serious upside.

 

[clipboardbinocs]

15 Rory Lobb

Swan Athletic lad who gave up the hoops at the request of a few mates who talked him into playing football. Found himself in the Swan Districts league side after 8 matches of football, it was a fair up trend.

Just came back from the National combine, absolutely a raw talent, but he applies himself at ground level, and gives a good contest at stoppages despite his slight frame.

He can't handball, it's really village to see him attempt to handball over distance, needs practice Polly style, his knocks are good, and his recovery is good, I can see a club picking him up as a rookie and developing him over time, I just don't see clubs using an ND pick on a speculative ruck anymore, there's no patience.

Someone to consider perhaps later in the piece or as a rookie.

That's it from me; Others to mention

- Shanahan East Perth - Good accumulator, not enough hurt for me.
- Jones - Big ruck form East Perth - very green, another late rookie pick
- Richard Bourne - lighting across the deck, but very outside, tiny frame, his pace is a weapon though.
- Dylan Main - See TW
- Vandeluer - See TW
- Johnson - See TW

Mature agers - Ian Richardson
- George Hampson
- Aaron Black

May have missed someone, but that's me done and I wish all the boys the best of luck entering the draft.

 

[Richo83]

Epic thread, GWS must be desperate, they were very keen on Lobb early on. I don't like the sound of a ruckman who can't handpass, most ruckmen who aren't particularly skilled resort to the quick handpass.

 

[2ugle]

15 Rory Lobb

Swan Athletic lad who gave up the hoops at the request of a few mates who talked him into playing football. Found himself in the Swan Districts league side after 8 matches of football, it was a fair up trend.

Just came back from the National combine, absolutely a raw talent, but he applies himself at ground level, and gives a good contest at stoppages despite his slight frame.

He can't handball, it's really village to see him attempt to handball over distance, needs practice Polly style, his knocks are good, and his recovery is good, I can see a club picking him up as a rookie and developing him over time, I just don't see clubs using an ND pick on a speculative ruck anymore, there's no patience.

Someone to consider perhaps later in the piece or as a rookie.

That's it from me; Others to mention

- Shanahan East Perth - Good accumulator, not enough hurt for me.
- Jones - Big ruck form East Perth - very green, another late rookie pick
- Richard Bourne - lighting across the deck, but very outside, tiny frame, his pace is a weapon though.
- Dylan Main - See TW
- Vandeluer - See TW
- Johnson - See TW

Mature agers - Ian Richardson
- George Hampson
- Aaron Black

May have missed someone, but that's me done and I wish all the boys the best of luck entering the draft.

August 31 on another thread you stated that Josh Cuneo was destined, almost ensured of getting drafted. No mention here so why have you fallen out of love ?

What has changed your mind about Shanahan ? You previously rated him as the premier mid outside of Sheed and Acres. IMO he kept them from a wooden spoon !

 

[clipboardbinocs]

Thanks mate, Cuneo was who I missed, knew there was someone.

I still think he'll head North, just a gut feel.

Shanahan was very good for Easts in the colts, probably got ahead of myself and like a few others forgot about the likes of Robertson and the Souths boys.

Also disappointed by his performance against Wests, rewatched the game, got caught too often.

Will be interesting to see his sprint times.

 

[ROYAL EAGLE]

13. Steven Edwards

This kid started like a bat out of hell, his pre-season and first 5 games of the season were outstanding, absolute quality. Another Albany lad, Steven toyed with his opponents running off the half back line, he sold candy in bulk, ran away from opponents and delivered some beautifully weighted kicks to running players heading toward goal. He was outstanding.

And then it stopped, almost as if someone flicked the off button on his jet pack. I'm not buying it. This boy has the potential to be an outstanding offensive half back flanker. His ball use by foot in particular is first class, just a smooth moving, agile offensive minded sweeper. I really do rate his kicking, picks out his targets very early in the piece and decides where he wants the player to run to, a skill in itself.

Now, some will say he just couldn't cope with attention after his outstanding start, I don't buy it, I think he was playing within himself, for whatever reason. Needs to improve his defensive game, lay more tackles and look to physically impose himself on more contests rather than consistently look to put the ball out in space, but I don't think he's totally against winning his own ball.

A genuine smokey for me, I wouldn't be surprised to see him snaffled up earlier than many think.

Freo into this kid a big way.
Wouldn't be surprised if the told him to take it easy in the second half of season so Freo can pick him up.

 

[Sin City]

I liked what I saw of Edwards too, does some very nice things.

Sure I can't twist your arm to do a write up on Johnson clipboardbinocs

 

[Tundrawolf]

I liked what I saw of Edwards too, does some very nice things.

Sure I can't twist your arm to do a write up on Johnson clipboardbinocs

Substitute the name Ben Sokol with Blaine Johnson and that's pretty much it.

Johnson is probably stronger in the air and less aerobic than Sokol, apart from that the vital stats are pretty much identical.

Blaine i'm sure would like to join West Coast to hopefully play alongside Darren Glass who I think is his uncle (could be cousin cant remember)

 

[Masto]

Thomas Shanahan ran 2.93, I think he'll get a shot somewhere, either late or rookie.

 

[2ugle]

Thomas Shanahan ran 2.93, I think he'll get a shot somewhere, either late or rookie.

In addition to a 8.0 second flat agility, a 24.9 second repeat sprint and a 78 cm vertical leap would place him as one of WA's best performed athletes.

Good article on www.afl.com.au

 

[Sin City]

Substitute the name Ben Sokol with Blaine Johnson and that's pretty much it.

Johnson is probably stronger in the air and less aerobic than Sokol, apart from that the vital stats are pretty much identical.

Blaine i'm sure would like to join West Coast to hopefully play alongside Darren Glass who I think is his uncle (could be cousin cant remember)

Thought Johnson might've been considerably quicker than Sokol?

 

[Chris25]

Nice work clipboardbinocs. Seems like most of my views on the WA prospects match yours, so I'm happy with that. Was pleased to see Hodgson get a mention.

Outside of those you mentioned, I'm not overly keen on Sokol, Cuneo or Shanahan. But I do quite like Sam Garstone as a rookie selection, while both Tim Kelly and particuarly Francis Watson interest me.

 

[clipboardbinocs]

Garstone is a KP who for me, doesn't work hard enough to win his own ball. Just wants it on a platter, doesn't work the other way and really needs first class service. If he gets taken I'm of the opinion it will be for the sake of taking a tall. Reminds me a lot of Houghton.

Didn't watch a whole heap of Tim, he split his time between ressies and league, hardly watch ressies so unfair to critique him too much, has certainly got the talent to play at the next level. There may be a few holes to his game which stopped him from going last year.

I like Watson, he looked really promising early in the year, especially in the trial match at Arena.

I'm just not sure he's big enough to play forward, strength wise, and probably doesn't have enough tricks to play through the middle. Very outside chance for me.

 

[clipboardbinocs]

Just on the other three you mentioned.

I thought Shanahan was the stand out at the combine, I'm hot and cold with him, I'd softened after his Semi, then he walks away as a standout from the state combine in terms of fitness and agility.

I still think he's an each way chance, will come under more consideration now.

 

[LemmingMaster]

Just on the other three you mentioned.

I thought Shanahan was the stand out at the combine, I'm hot and cold with him, I'd softened after his Semi, then he walks away as a standout from the state combine in terms of fitness and agility.

I still think he's an each way chance, will come under more consideration now.

I think a few clubs have sent some recruiters to specifically watch Shanahan, so he is on the radar.

 

[clipboardbinocs]

My concerns stemmed from his performances in the reserves, particularly in the final.

Perhaps I was being too harsh, he's a young kid against men in a final. Perhaps he was tired and spent after a big year, who knows. But he seems to have freshened up a fair bit, was a very good showing yesterday.

This is what makes it tough, a lot of factors to look at and a lot of kids around the mark.

I hope as many as 12 WA boys secure themselves an AFL contract, all down to club rankings now .

 

[LemmingMaster]

I hope as many as 12 WA boys secure themselves an AFL contract, all down to club rankings now .

So true, most people I've spoken to have a list of around 30-35 and then your guess is as good as anyones. If WA manages to get 7 on the main list and another 5 rookie contracts, that would be a good year with this crop.

I feel sorry for the WA coach losing his best talent the last two years.

 

[Eastern Rangers]

Thought Johnson might've been considerably quicker than Sokol?

Johnson is quicker but he runs on rails, his competitiveness compensates. I'd compare him to a smaller version of Darling. Sokol is more dynamic and that's why he kicks more goals from general play ect...

 

[Chris25]

Garstone is a KP who for me, doesn't work hard enough to win his own ball. Just wants it on a platter, doesn't work the other way and really needs first class service. If he gets taken I'm of the opinion it will be for the sake of taking a tall. Reminds me a lot of Houghton.

Houghton is a fair comparison for Garstone. I'd be happy to take him late in the rookie draft, even if just to see if he being in an AFL environment for a year gets him to put it all together. The pure talent looks to be there, even if the workrate isn't. You're not going to get much better at the back end of the rookie draft, so I'd give him a year like Fremantle did with Alex Howson.

Did you get to see much of Brenden Abbott before he headed back to Albany? I've only seen a couple of games, but I liked what I saw. Could be a value selection, obvious fitness issues aside.

 

[boogienights]

Houghton is a fair comparison for Garstone. I'd be happy to take him late in the rookie draft, even if just to see if he being in an AFL environment for a year gets him to put it all together. The pure talent looks to be there, even if the workrate isn't. You're not going to get much better at the back end of the rookie draft, so I'd give him a year like Fremantle did with Alex Howson.

Did you get to see much of Brenden Abbott before he headed back to Albany? I've only seen a couple of games, but I liked what I saw. Could be a value selection, obvious fitness issues aside.

Abbott tested yesterday at the state combine and heard he git the top 20m sprint and vertical leap. Garstone just lacks the toe for a kid who lacks brilliance in the air.