Weaver phantom draft 2007

[skybeau]

Anyone got a link to nevil's phantom draft and profiles? I'm just curious as to a comparison...if nevil believes this one is so terrible, I'd like to see what he thinks about the draft and its nominees...

Good read Weaver, if anything it was more entertaining than most other phantom drafts. I'd say more, but I'm clueless about recruiting.

 

[liz]

I like it Weaver. Say it how it is instead of makeing it sound like everyone is a dead set champion.

Yep. And by far and away the most entertaining read of all the PDs.

While I respect the knowledge of those who watch a lot of junior football and participated in the official BF PD, when we got to pick 60 and the write-ups still had pickers drooling over how they can't believe this guy got through to them and describing their choice as a multiple AA, you had to start wondering why this draft isn't being described as the most fantastic ever.

I really can't see Sydney taking a midfielder with our first Pick, though I do say that every year and every year we seem to pick a midfielder or flanker so you just might be on the money. I will add that our list appears set towards the drafting of a KP Talls, with only White, Grundy and Playfair as backups to the aging group of Hall, O'Loughlin, and Barry who will retire within the 3 years (with Craig Bolton and LRT in between age groups). So we need to build a spine for the future and this draft appears to be the one to do it in (or at least start building)

We need to add Key Position Tall (Defence is the area I would focus upon)and I can see us taking either Rance or Henderson if they drop to 11 (Henderson while being a forward would be too good to pass on in my opinion if he was available at Pick 11) or Pears if they don't. As for Pick 26, it will either be another Tall (unlikely, but something I would like to see with the depth we have in midfielders and flankers at the club and lack of depth in KP Talls) or a Hard running, tall midfielder.

Good effect and can understand where your coming from.

I can see the real draft going for the Swans not unlike Weaver's picks - not necessarily the players he's nominated (though I think Dangerfield's reputed pace is something that will appeal to Roos given his off-season comments) but certainly players of that ilk. Fans may think the Swans will be going tall tall tall, but history tells us that they don't like using those rare early picks on gangly teenagers, preferring the "safer" bets of the shorties before speculating on the biggies later. (Josh Willoughby - where art thou?)

So I won't be in the least bit surprised if pick 11 turns out to be a running ball carrier, rather than a KP prospect. Sounds like some taller options, like Tarrant or Simpson, can reasonably expected to still be around come pick 26.

Though if Gourdis is still available at pick 11, this Swans fan won't be upset to hear his name called out by Ricky Barham.

 

[Snoop Dog]

Good read as always - I sense you havent yet had the courage to fall out of love with Mulligan. Cannot see us effectively using our first two picks on ruckmen. Maybe at 47 but not 31.

 

[macca23]

10. Adelaide - Alex Rance

The Crows build from the back. If they could they'd field 18 defenders and rely entirely on the counter-attack. Rance is a superb fullback in the making, but importantly a modern one. He can carry the ball out of defence, kick well, switch play and provide leadership and organization. Nathan Bassett is an important part of the Crows machine with his 20-mark high-possession zonal play but getting on in years, and Rance would step happily into that spot after only a brief apprenticeship. Perhaps could even develop his motor and emulate the other WA fullback they snagged in Stenglein. Mundy was the last fullback I liked this much.

27. Adelaide - Jarrad Grant

Now Ben Reid was an outside key forward who played like a wingman and never threatened to go near a contest. He got drafted super-early and looks a natural for the Demetriou Netball League. Grant is a player who divides opinions. Some see him as the buzz who could go top-10. Some scratch their noggins wondering what the fuss is about. I am in the itchy camp. He does a bit. Moves well, presents well, gets some marks. But I always go away asking "is that all their is?" There is talent there but he really is needs to work on the quality vs quantity balance, eventually a couple of cameos is no substitute for posting some serious numbers. Apparently Scott Clayton is sold on him … personally I’d never let Clayton make a call on anyone over 6 foot.


30. Adelaide - Steve Browne

Steve Browne is the no-extras Commodore of the draft. You’d want to be able to afford something a little more sporty, maybe convince the bank to give you enough for an import. He is a solid, unspectacular backman who gets 15 touches, uses them well and restricts his opponent. Crucially he has good results and experience against those wretched, pesky, goal sneaks that cause modern AFL teams to soil themselves. He will be a little like Chris Newman or Matthew Whelan and play 150 games and no one will care.



38. Adelaide – Nick Murphy

Logic demands that some SA players will get drafted and the ones most likely are the ones that can run and kick. Murphy fits that bill and the Crows are built to run. Turned in a good 3km time trial which showed endurance but he lacked a little zip. Will be in the mix somewhere because 187cm wingman with good athleticism are prized. It often happens that a state team is so poor that everyone looks bad and the clubs miss a few. The year Wells was the only Sandgroper lead to a couple like Pettigrew and M. Johnson being unfairly overlooked. SA were dire but Murphy has promise and should be excused the crimes of his teammates. Whatever happens expect SA’s worst year.

58. Adelaide – John Walker

Early season he was a run-of-the-mill tall defender. He was one of a batch of elegant running backmen in the very traditional Murray style. Then midseason he went ruckroving and put together some 20+ touch games and showed some very slick handballing highlighted by some sharp vision. The scouts would have all had to reassess him. His work at CHF in the finals was best ignored. Every club wants a 190cm+ ruck-rover and Walker will be a candidate for that role.

71. Adelaide – David Zakharis

Wingman stocks in this draft are light without too many really showing the combination of pace, running and kicking skills. Zakharis had some good cameos and may feature in the later rounds. While he hints at some talent in truth he probably hasn’t put together enough consistently good games to be a strong draft candidate.


75. Adelaide – Taylor Walker

The Crows have done nicely out of the NSW scholarship scheme. Walker is a mobile, roaming, tall half-forward. Not really a contested marker or a true CHF, plays more a Steve Johnson role doing a lot of his damage after he has brought the ball to ground and switched into rover mode. Tends to play the game from side-to-side … from boundary line to CHF, or from CHF out the boundary. Really looks to use space more than make the play.

Excellent player reviews but surely in general of the wrong players.

Adelaide's main needs are quick or tough on-ballers and crumbing forwards, with maybe one KPP thrown in for good measure.

I'd be bitterly disappointed in our recruitment team if you have it close to right.

 

[HBF]

As a Carlton supporter......thanks for nothing ....... after #1 that is.

Just like Kevin07, how about Cotchin#1?

 

[SUNKA]

Great read Weaver just wonderin bout pick number 74 to fremantle that should be scott blesing as ryan blesing is his older brother.

 

[footyman]

weaver probably the most clueless phantom draft out there at the moment

weaver's Phantom Draft's have historically been different, nobody is going to agree totally with the rankings in any phantom draft, but he's put plenty of time and effort into his write ups and at least had a go at doing one.

i have seen the people i talk about a lot and therefore can talk about them with confidence

I have a feeling that you might see one of the people you constantly talk about every time you look into a mirror. And I think your rankings of the three Dandenong boys might be fairly accurate.

Another thing making things tough this year was the drought in the southern states. So many grounds were rockhard and almost every player has had leg or groin problems. It is almost impossible to know who was playing at full capacity and who was carrying something.

I agree with that, add to that a bit of extra travel that some teams had. Bendigo couldnt play at home for what the first 6 rounds. Gippslands home games from about June onwards were moved from Morwell to Cranbourne. Hard grounds and extra travel did take its toll on certain players no doubt. Lets hope we get a bit of rain once a week through summer just to give the grounds a water. So far has been good with a downpour about once a week through spring.

 

[Crow-mo]

As always, I rate phantom's on the basis of how much original thought they bring, and how logically they are constructed.

every year you make up your own mind, and breakaway from the BF sheep. this is no exception, a very good read and truly appreciated.

 

[Crow-mo]

weaver probably the most clueless phantom draft out there at the moment

to say that grant is going to drop to 27 is amazing you must not really watch much footy but just take everyone elses opinions

scott simpson and jarrad grant were the leading tacklers and 1% getters for the vic metro team and you say they both dont follow up enough or tackle you are a silly silly man and your opinion should not be valued as much as it is

i cannot wait till saturday to prove most of you fools wrong
i have grant pick 5
simspon anywhere from 14-21
and mccarthy nowhere after 48

not getting enough attention at home?

 

[Portia]

Port get two scraggers and two `could be anything's. That just looks way off.

 

[Crow-mo]

ii have seen the people i talk about a lot and therefore can talk about them with confidence

actually that's a schoolboy error. all you are capable of doing is filtering your observations and experiences through your own personal abilities. you can watch a player 500 hundred times, but if you are just a shit judge what difference would it make?

the number of times you watch a player has very little to do with the innate qualities of judgement and appraisal. that all you hang your hat on is how many times you've seen your team, suggests you're a homer, not a expert.

thats just stupid dont ya agree

sure do

 

[bomberandy]

Great effort Weaver. Excellent read. Especially liked your summary of Robbie Tarrant

 

[betterthanu]

This is the only PD i bothered reading. Very much appreciated.
Would be pretty unhappy if that's how it panned out in regards to the crows picks though.

 

[ant555]

Well done Weaver
Slightly different and as always a good read.

 

[tigerdan]

I don't care what order he picks the players in. I just like to wait until after the draft and read the bios of the players we just drafted, regardless of which club they were phantom drafted to.

There's only a handfull of posters here who write their own bios rather than just regurgitate.

 

[TOA.]

As always, I rate phantom's on the basis of how much original thought they bring, and how logically they are constructed.

every year you make up your own mind, and breakaway from the BF sheep. this is no exception, a very good read and truly appreciated.

I agree, personally really enjoy Weavers efforts as they are always different to consensus opinion. Although it must be said that just because somoene is different, doesnt mean they are right. Weaver's PD is slightly different because it incorporates how he rates players into his decision where they could end up. Alot of other phantom drafts just predict where a bloke will be drafted based on club needs, types they have drafted in the past etc.

 

[Go_Dogs]

Interesting read, thanks a lot for sharing Weaver.

Found your comments re: Clayton a bit interesting though.

Apparently Scott Clayton is sold on him … personally I’d never let Clayton make a call on anyone over 6 foot.

For mine, his recent selections over 6foot have been solid. In fact, has he picked someone below 6ft in recent history?

Good job.

 

[soupaman]

Interesting read, thanks a lot for sharing Weaver.

Found your comments re: Clayton a bit interesting though.



For mine, his recent selections over 6foot have been solid. In fact, has he picked someone below 6ft in recent history?

Good job.

Off the top of my key-position players picked by clayton have been (I'm assuming thats what Weaver is imlying) have been:
11 - Andrejs Everitt, looks a star
70ish - Paul O'Shea - looks very promising
70ish - Michael West - struggled with injury. You ranked him 26th in that draft
6-Tom Williams - Big gamble of a pick but he looks like he'll be a very good player
21 - Jesse Wells - Never really came oin as hoped. More of an athlete than a footy player

 

[Shaymuhz]

Why would we go for another slow midfielder who can't hit targets?

why would anyone?

 

[Vinnie Vegas]

why would anyone?

Exactly - Ridiculous to suggest that Arrowsmith can't hit targets anyway, considering that he's an above average kick.

He's got some tricks in his bag, but I'd still be surprised if he made it as a top-class AFL player though.

 

[J-Ro-20]

as a crows fan and very keen on Greenwood i was surprised to see him drop so low.

 

[xplo]

as a crows fan and very keen on Greenwood i was surprised to see him drop so low.

Looks to be the weakest year for SA kids for quite a while though.

 

[J-Ro-20]

Looks to be the weakest year for SA kids for quite a while though.

yea this year is very weak in terms of SA kids. should have about 10 kids drafted all up. I still rate Ebert and Greenwood very highly. Greenwood should be an early 2nd round in my opinion.

 

[davemills]

Little Disappointed Weaver. Was expecting a better read, definatly not in the top couple of phantom drafts. but hey i havent bothered doing one so who am i to complain..

Why does every one pinhole tarrant as a gorilla fwd? he ran a 14.2 beep under 3sec 20m sprint and has great skills around the ground. and when he was used on ball and in the backline for pioneers he looked very comfortable and in some cases dominated. one person has coined the phrase gorilla fwd and every one has jumped on it. i think he has the potential to be a nick reiwoldt style player who leads up and down but can also take the big grab. i think he is a terrific prospect..

Man your expecting a lot! Good job weaver. Don't worry one of the best in Colin Wisbey copped a fair share of criticism and I believe is now working as an AFL scout.

I also don't understand two things about Tarrant.
1) Why he has been labeled a Gorrila as per this post and...
2) Why this is a bad thing?

I would be very happy with a guy who wants to throw his weight around and can play a bit lining up for the RFC. So what is it that he lacks? We know it's not speed as has been sugested (unless the results were posted incorectly)

Are there any videos of him floating around?

 

[-VC-]

yea this year is very weak in terms of SA kids. should have about 10 kids drafted all up. I still rate Ebert and Greenwood very highly. Greenwood should be an early 2nd round in my opinion.

Do you mean 10 is the amount that SA should be producing each year, or do you expect 10 kids to get drafted from SA? You'll be sorely disappointed on draft day if you think there'll be 10 from SA going. Mature aged SANFL players like Salter might bump the SA number up, but from the kids I imagine it'll be about 4 or 5.