Draft Watcher Young Talent Time 2014

[Chris25]

Alright, it's not so early in the season anymore. It's time to get this thread going...

 

[Chris25]

I never have liked the whole big board thing, so let's actually get a draft going instead. I haven't gotten around to finishing profiles yet, so just ask about them for now...

Round 1

1. St Kilda - Christian Petracca (186cm, 92kg midfielder/forward from Eastern Ranges, VIC)
2. Melbourne - Angus Brayshaw (187cm, 86kg midfielder from Sandringhan Dragons, VIC)
3. Melbourne - Jake Lever (192cm, 84kg defender from Calder Cannons, VIC)
4. GWS - Patrick McCartin (193cm, 95kg forward from Geelong Falcons, VIC)
5. Collingwood - Lachie Weller (181cm, 71kg midfielder from Broadbeach, QLD)
6. GWS - Jordan DeGoey (187cm, 82kg midfielder from Oakleigh Chargers, VIC)
7. GWS - Peter Wright (203cm, 102kg ruckman/forward from Calder Cannons, VIC)
8. Gold Coast - Jayden Laverde (189cm, 82kg midfielder/defender from Western Jets, VIC)
9. Collingwood - Darcy Moore (199cm, 93kg defender/forward from Oakleigh Chargers, VIC)
10. Geelong - Jarrod Pickett (180cm, 68kg midfielder from South Fremantle, WA)
11. West Coast - Kyle Langford (190cm, 73kg forward/defender from Northern Knights, VIC)
12. Richmond - Corey Ellis (185cm, 76kg midfielder from Western Jets, VIC)
13. Fremantle - Sam Durdin (197cm, 87kg defender/forward from West Adelaide, SA)
14. Adelaide - Hugh Goddard (196cm, 93kg defender/forward from Geelong Falcons, VIC)
15. Gold Coast - Dillon Viojo-Rainbow (185cm, 80kg defender/midfielder from Western Jets, VIC)
16. North Melbourne - Tom Lamb (192cm, 83kg forward from Dandenong Stingrays, VIC)
17. Essendon - Caleb Marchbank (193cm, 85kg defender from Murray Bushrangers, VIC)
18. Sydney - Isaac Heeney (186cm, 82kg midfielder from Cardiff, NSW/ACT)
19. Carlton - Liam Duggan (183cm, 76kg midfielder from Western Jets, VIC)
20. Essendon - Paul Ahern (181cm, 77kg midfielder from Calder Cannons, VIC)
21. St Kilda - Jarrod Garlett (177cm, 73kg midfielder/forward from South Fremantle, WA)


Round 2

22. St Kilda - Reece McKenzie (196cm, 100kg forward from Northern Knights, VIC)
23. GWS - Keenan Ramsey (193cm, 86kg defender/forward from Port Adelaide, SA)
24. GWS - Jack Steele (186cm, 82kg midfielder from Belconnen, NSW/ACT)
25. North Melbourne - Nakia Cockatoo (188cm, 84kg midfielder/defender from NT Thunder, NT)
26. Western Bulldogs - Jackson Nelson (187cm, 80kg midfielder/defender from Geelong Falcons, VIC)
27. Western Bulldogs - Connor Blakely (186cm, 81kg midfielder from Swan Districts, WA)
28. Carlton - Oleg Markov (186cm, 69kg midfielder from North Adelaide, SA)
29. Gold Coast - Mitch McGovern (191cm, 84kg forward from Claremont, WA)
30. Collingwood - Brayden Maynard (186cm, 88kg midfielder/defender from Sandringham Dragons, VIC)
31. Hawthorn - Declan Hamilton (183cm, 68kg midfielder/forward from Port Adelaide, SA)
32. West Coast - Connor Menadue (188cm, 69kg midfielder from Western Jets, VIC)
33. Richmond - Daniel McKenzie (183cm, 77kg midfielder/defender from Oakleigh Chargers, VIC)
34. Fremantle - Clem Smith (178cm, 67kg defender/midfielder from Perth, WA)
35. Adelaide - Alex Neal-Bullen (182cm, 77kg midfielder/defender from Glenelg, SA)
36. North Melbourne - Damien Cavka (184cm, 79kg midfielder from Calder Cannons, VIC)
37. Sydney - Ed Vickers-Willis (190cm, 82kg defender from Sandringham Dragons, VIC)
38. Sydney - Jack Hiscox (184cm, 74kg midfielder from Sydney University, NSW)
39. Western Bulldogs - Josh Glenn (179cm, 78kg midfielder/defender from Central Districts, SA)
40. Melbourne - Peter Bampton (182cm, 83kg midfielder from Norwood, SA)


Round 3

41. St Kilda - Christian Buykx-Smith (193cm, 82kg defender from Gippsland, VIC)
42. Melbourne - Billy Stretch (181cm, 70kg midfielder from Glenelg, SA)
43. Adelaide - James Rose (186cm, 78kg forward/midfielder from Sturt, SA)
44. Brisbane - Liam Dawson (188cm, 81kg defender/midfielder from Aspley, QLD)
45. Western Bulldogs - Oscar McDonald (196cm, 88kg defender from North Ballarat, VIC)
46. Western Bulldogs - Brenton Payne (193cm, 76kg forward/defender from Western Jets, VIC)
47. Geelong - Cory Gregson (175cm, 72kg midfielder from Glenelg, SA)
48. Collingwood - Harrison Wigg (179cm, 74kg midfielder/defender from North Adelaide, SA)
49. Hawthorn - Dean Gore (183cm, 86kg midfielder from Sturt, SA)
50. Hawthorn - Tom Read (200cm, 92kg ruckman from Sturt, SA)
51. West Coast - Brenden Abbott (185cm, 92kg midfielder/defender from Claremont, WA)
52. Richmond - Jaden McGrath (179cm, 73kg midfielder/defender from Bendigo, VIC)
53. Melbourne - Caleb Daniel (167cm, 66kg midfielder from South Adelaide, SA)
54. Fremantle - Jack Lonie (175cm, 68kg forward from Dandenong Stingrays, VIC)
55. Geelong - Bailey Dale (182cm, 70kg midfielder/forward from Dandenong Stingrays, VIC)
56. North Melbourne - Tyler Keitel (194cm, 86kg forward/defender from East Perth, WA)
57. Port Adelaide - Ben Edwards (192cm, 73kg forward from Glenelg, SA)
58. Sydney - Brydon Hodgson (185cm, 79kg midfielder from Murray Bushrangers, NSW)
59. Adelaide - Daniel Nielson (193cm, 90kg defender from Eastern Ranges, VIC)


Round 4

60. Geelong - Daniel Howe (191cm, 84kg defender/midfielder from Murray Bushrangers, VIC)
61. Carlton - Toby McLean (179cm, 70kg forward from Oakleigh Chargers, VIC)
62. Essendon - Aidan Anderson (182cm, 83kg forward from Swan Districts, WA)
63. Brisbane - Harris Andrews (198cm, 91kg defender from Aspley, QLD)
64. Western Bulldogs - Zaine Cordy (192cm, 80kg defender from Geelong Falcons, VIC)
65. Carlton - Josh McGuinness (189cm, 72kg defender from Lauderdale, TAS)
66. Gold Coast - Tom Faul (187cm, 86kg midfielder from Ainslie, NSW/ACT)
67. Brisbane - Daniel Butler (181cm, 79kg midfielder from North Ballarat, VIC)
68. Hawthorn - Hugh Beasley (190cm, 86kg defender from Oakleigh Chargers, VIC)
69. West Coast - Lukas Webb (186cm, 80kg midfielder/forward from Gippsland Power, VIC)
70. Richmond - Mac Bower (190cm, 77kg defender/forward from Norwood, SA)
71. Essendon - Matthew Goodyear (185cm, 77kg midfielder from Calder Cannons, VIC)
72. Fremantle - Matthew Hanson (182cm, 73kg midfielder from Western Storm, TAS)
73. Geelong - Dougal Howard (195cm, 88kg forward from Murray Bushrangers, NSW)
74. North Melbourne - Brett Turner (183cm, 79kg midfielder from West Adelaide, SA)
75. Port Adelaide - Nick Jackson (195cm, 86kg defender from Aspley, QLD)
76. Sydney - Abe Davis (193cm, 90kg forward/defender from UNSW-Easts, NSW/ACT)
77. Hawthorn - Matthew Uebergang (193cm, 87kg forward from Ipswich, QLD)


Other Picks

80. GWS - Jeremy Finlayson (195cm, 84kg forward/defender from Hills Eagles, NSW/ACT)
81. Brisbane - Josh Clayton (190cm, 80kg forward/midfielder from Sandringham Dragons, VIC)
87. West Coast - Alec Waterman (183cm, 89kg midfielder from Claremont, WA)

 

[Chris25]

Predicted Draft

1. St Kilda - Patrick McCartin
2. Melbourne - Christian Petracca
3. Melbourne - Angus Brayshaw
4. GWS - Jordan DeGoey
5. Collingwood - Jayden Laverde
6. GWS - Jarrod Pickett
7. GWS - Hugh Goddard
8. Gold Coast - Peter Wright
9. Collingwood - Darcy Moore
10. Geelong - Jake Lever
11. West Coast - Lachie Weller
12. Richmond - Corey Ellis
13. Fremantle - Sam Durdin
14. Adelaide - Kyle Langford
15. Gold Coast - Liam Duggan
16. North Melbourne - Nakia Cockatoo
17. Essendon - Caleb Marchbank
18. Sydney - Isaac Heeney
19. Carlton - Paul Ahern
20. Essendon - Jarrod Garlett

21. St Kilda - Connor Blakely
22. St Kilda - Touk Miller
23. GWS - Declan Hamilton
24. GWS - Jack Steele
25. North Melbourne - Oscar McDonald
26. Western Bulldogs - Ed Vickers-Willis
27. Western Bulldogs - Daniel McKenzie
28. Carlton - Tom Lamb
29. Gold Coast - Josh Glenn
30. Collingwood - Neal-Bullen
31. Hawthorn - Lukas Webb
32. West Coast - Connor Menadue
33. Richmond - Daniel Howe
34. Fremantle - Mitch McGovern
35. Adelaide - Brayden Maynard
36. North Melbourne - Dillon Viojo-Rainbow
37. Sydney - Harrison Wigg
38. Sydney - Jack Hiscox
39. Western Bulldogs - Damien Cavka
40. Melbourne - Daniel Nielson

 

[rumoursofwinter]

Thanks for the thread Chris. Do you have any information regarding Darcy Cameron. I think a lot of people were surprised he was not drafted last year, particularly as a lot of lists are looking for mobile ruckmen. Cheers.

 

[Hutchy Jnr]

Chris,

great overview so far mate! all likely players to go in this year's draft but you never know what the clubs think. (strange world)

Im interested to see if you know much about Ned Brooks (Glenelg FC) and Andrew Bradley (Glenelg FC)....

Ned was a bolter last year throughout the Secondry Schools Football competiton. He is a true CHB but can play CHF. Played some very good games for the bays u18 last year, few games in the best, taking some huge pack marks. Im fairly sure he made the State U18 squad (or trials). I have been hearing from the bays camp, that he has a ripper off season, top 10 in the 3km trials for big man at around 186-190cm. I beileve he has the potential this year to go as a rookie. Thoughts were North Melbourne but they went with Joel Tippet instead (rumour has it, it was between them two). I really like his potential.

Andrew Bradley, easily one of the best midfielders in the SANFL. Won the bays BNF last year, easily. He has been out with Port Power before, their rookie draft picks last year, and they ended up picking Sam Gray instead of him. Height is a worry but he makes up for it with his brain, one of the best inside midfielders but can also play that outside role . He would have to be one of the most unluckiest players in SA, not to have had an AFL contract by now.


Looking forward to watching this thread throughout the season. GO you croweaters

 

[Chris25]

Thanks for the thread Chris. Do you have any information regarding Darcy Cameron. I think a lot of people were surprised he was not drafted last year, particularly as a lot of lists are looking for mobile ruckmen. Cheers.

Without any inside information as to how he performed in interviews and the like, it seems to just be the current trend that teams are following in regards to drafting ruckmen. Nobody wants to develop an 18 year old, because it takes 3-4 years until you start to get a return on your investment. They'd rather let them mature in the state leagues. Obviously there are exceptions, but someone like Brodie Grundy was playing senior football already. Whereas Darcy Cameron spent the season in the U18s.

If you look at the ruckmen drafted last year...

#29 - Rory Lobb (20 years old, 12 senior games last year)
#35 - Toby Nankervis (19 years old, senior football in the TSL)
RD #28 - Cameron Wood (26 years old)

That's pretty much it.

Cameron should get an opportunity to play league football this season in the WAFL, and there is no denying his talent for a big guy. So it wouldn't be a huge surprise if teams start to regret not using a late rookie selection on these sorts of guys.

 

[Chris25]

Im interested to see if you know much about Ned Brooks (Glenelg FC) and Andrew Bradley (Glenelg FC)....

Ned Brooks showed some good signs last year, he came from a long way back all things considered. He played in the U18 Academy trial match, but didn't end up making the final squad. There was some pretty strong competition in terms of similar sized players. Whenever I saw him last year, he was largely solid but not spectacular down back. Strong above his head, but when you're 190cm with boots on it's always that little harder to get a look in. He just needs to keep pushing for league selection, even just a handful of games would get him into rookie calculations. But that wont be easy, not with the recruits that Glenelg has for 2014 - Thorp, Scott, McCarthy.

As for Andrew Bradley, he's just one of those classic state league players who would be AFL players in another era. There are plenty around the country. If he were to get a chance, I have no doubt he would debut early and play well - and then probably go the way of Magner and Clifton. But, sub 180cm players in their twenties aren't just highly regarded, not even by the cellar dwellers.

 

[Sunny_]

Is Lach Weller really the top rated mid of the draft?

 

[Chris25]

I don't think there is a top rated midfielder. There's a group of about 10, but nobody has separated from the pack. So until the games start and someone claims that spot, I picked at random and figured better a Queenslander than a Victorian.

 

[Russell2Gibbs]

I don't think there is a top rated midfielder. There's a group of about 10, but nobody has separated from the pack. So until the games start and someone claims that spot, I picked at random and figured better a Tasmanian than a Victorian.

EFA

 

[Nemisis]

Hoping like hell Wilson and Hourigan have great years - both players are genuine afl talent

 

[tigs2010]

Chris25 Not a fan of Pickett? Would have thought you would be all over him. Or been burnt too many times with those small mids?

 

[Chris25]

I don't recall getting burnt in the past...

Pickett would have been in there, had I expanded the list a little bit. It's just that I prefer Clem Smith at the moment. I fully expect both to be BigFooty favourites this year, and for good reason. It's just kind of assumed that WA will have two or three small, exciting Indigenous midfielders each year. And they always do a good job of highlighting them at the Championships. Still the question over whether or not they develop into genuine midfielders or not, but there will always be a spot for guys with that type of speed and skill.

Last year, Jarman Impey was one of my favourites - and a Round 1 debut is looking pretty good for him. An early favoute to take over from him this year, would be Bodhi Walker. I could see him having a really good year, athough maybe slipping under the radar a little.

 

[Eastern Rangers]

Pickett is bigger, stronger and a more powerful player than Smith. He's a better kick as well.

Smith impressed in the champs but was lacklustre in the Colts. Which I can't ignore.

Jarrod Garlett is underrated at the moment. A genuine line breaker for Souths in 2013 and exciting to watch.

 

[Barrels]

Harry Kitschke (Glenelg)

Any relation to the lamentable former Saints ruck Damien?

 

[tigs2010]

I don't recall getting burnt in the past...

Pickett would have been in there, had I expanded the list a little bit. It's just that I prefer Clem Smith at the moment. I fully expect both to be BigFooty favourites this year, and for good reason. It's just kind of assumed that WA will have two or three small, exciting Indigenous midfielders each year. And they always do a good job of highlighting them at the Championships. Still the question over whether or not they develop into genuine midfielders or not, but there will always be a spot for guys with that type of speed and skill.

Last year, Jarman Impey was one of my favourites - and a Round 1 debut is looking pretty good for him. An early favoute to take over from him this year, would be Bodhi Walker. I could see him having a really good year, athough maybe slipping under the radar a little.

Not burnt in the sense they're no good. Burnt as in they go later than what you have them. Moreso recruiters not willing to take these speedy, outside types early. Wilson being one that you and I for that matter had really high and didn't go.

I have Pickett higher than Smith personally but can see the merits of having it the other way.

 

[Chris25]

It's interesting how they do tend to slip a little, those smaller outside types. I think clubs almost view them as expendable, as though there will always be a new kid coming through the ranks to replace them. And they do have to work a lot harder to get drafted. Guys like Dunstan and Crouch are very good at what they do, but have few other strings - but that doesn't matter. Yet, those fast but small outside players have to be good at everything.

Yet, when you look at the Round 1 teams, which players are making their debuts? Jarman Impey, Sean Lemmens, Jay Kennedy Harris, maybe Eli Templeton.

 

[tigs2010]

Ugh...Templeton was my cursed player this year. Year before was Atkins.

 

[eth-dog]

Hey Chris, are there any KPF's that will be around the 18 mark? If the Carlisle experiment fails (which I think it will) we'll definitely need to take a KPF this year, as well as trade for one

 

[Barrels]

Chriso, how is Watchman travelling? And is Durdin more of a ruck that can play KPP, or a particular KPP?

Also, where do you see Peter Wright ending up in a positional sense?

 

[Chris25]

Hey Chris, are there any KPF's that will be around the 18 mark? If the Carlisle experiment fails (which I think it will) we'll definitely need to take a KPF this year, as well as trade for one

At this very early stage, you would imagine McCartin and Durdin will be well and truly gone. While Goddard would only be a slim chance. But who knows what will happen to those guys this year. And also, a lot of the better KPPs at the moment can play at either end, so we'll have to wait and see where they all line up.

Your best bet of the 'big names' would be either Tom Lamb or Jesse Watchman, with Watchman being the bigger and stronger of the two. Potentially Mac Bower grows a bit more and becomes that true KPP height, him and Lamb are both more the athletic Jack Riewoldt types as opposed to say a Travis Cloke. WA has a couple in Sam Bevan and Tyler Keitel, who are again more the athletic types. Maybe you could even take a flier on a Matthew Ah Siu, although he's probably more shaping up as a taller Nathan Lovett-Murray 'in between' type player. Could always look to someone like Christian Petracca too. He's short, but would be a straight replacement for Crameri and would at least demand some attention.

You can't rule out someone like Cameron Conlon either, if he has an injury free season then he should find himself back up the draft order again.

One player I liked last year was Mitchell Mahady, he plays for NSW and the Murray Bushrangers. He's about 194cm, moves well and can take a strong mark. He looked to have a lot going for him last year, but was a bit inconsistent and obviously still had areas to improve. But he ticks a lot of boxes, so will be one to watch.

 

[eth-dog]

At this very early stage, you would imagine McCartin and Durdin will be well and truly gone. While Goddard would only be a slim chance. But who knows what will happen to those guys this year. And also, a lot of the better KPPs at the moment can play at either end, so we'll have to wait and see where they all line up.

Your best bet of the 'big names' would be either Tom Lamb or Jesse Watchman, with Watchman being the bigger and stronger of the two. Potentially Mac Bower grows a bit more and becomes that true KPP height, him and Lamb are both more the athletic Jack Riewoldt types as opposed to say a Travis Cloke. WA has a couple in Sam Bevan and Tyler Keitel, who are again more the athletic types. Maybe you could even take a flier on a Matthew Ah Siu, although he's probably more shaping up as a taller Nathan Lovett-Murray 'in between' type player. Could always look to someone like Christian Petracca too. He's short, but would be a straight replacement for Crameri and would at least demand some attention.

You can't rule out someone like Cameron Conlon either, if he has an injury free season then he should find himself back up the draft order again.

One player I liked last year was Mitchell Mahady, he plays for NSW and the Murray Bushrangers. He's about 194cm, moves well and can take a strong mark. He looked to have a lot going for him last year, but was a bit inconsistent and obviously still had areas to improve. But he ticks a lot of boxes, so will be one to watch.

We need the more lead-up type, because we have the contested stuff covered with Bellchmabers and Daniher. Mahady sounds like the perfect type.

 

[Chris25]

Chriso, how is Watchman travelling? And is Durdin more of a ruck that can play KPP, or a particular KPP?

Also, where do you see Peter Wright ending up in a positional sense?

Jesse Watchman has had an interrupted preseason, spending some time on the sidelines with a thumb injury. He was rested from the SA U18 Academy trial game, but last I heard he was up and ready to go. 196cm and 90kg are the last measurements I have for him, he used his size pretty well last year and was reasonably consistent with his play. I would have liked him to get a taste at the U18 Championships, but it wasn't to be. I'd expect him to have a pretty good year, and be around the same area as Mitch Harvey - late first to early third round.

And Sam Durdin isn't a ruck, he is a KPP who can ruck if he needs to. If you ask what his best position is, everyone will have a different answer. Personally, I like down back as an athletic tall similar to a Trengove or Roughead. But, others prefer him up forward. And he is equally adept at both positions, so it will just come down to team balance and club preferences.

Both Durdin and Watchman can play at either end of the ground, in the U18s last year they did a bit of swapping throughout the year. One week, Watchman was kicking the goals. And the next he moved back, while Durdin played up forward. But I'd be going for Watchman at FF, and Durdin around the CHB spot.

As for Peter Wright, you don't see too many guys his size end up as permanent forwards. Guys like Tippett and Petrie are largely on their one in that sense, and I typically prefer forwards who are closer to the 194-196cm mark. But Wright has everything to suggest that he could be one of the few who make it. I'd still have him as a ruckman who can rest forward, as opposed to being a forward/second ruck. That's just my personal preference though. Will have to wait and see how he does this year, a greater sample size will clear it up - impact around the ground, pushing into the back lines and how good his actual ruck work is will be key.

 

[Chris25]

We need the more lead-up type, because we have the contested stuff covered with Bellchmabers and Daniher. Mahady sounds like the perfect type.

I do like Mahady, but history says players with his background will go late. So he is more just my project for this year, as opposed to a genuine early pick.

In terms of an athletic lead up type, who is a strong enough contested mark to not be a liabilty, then Tom Lamb would be the pick at this early stage. He's another who can play down back, but seems a smart and natural forward.

 

[Turbocat]

Without any inside information as to how he performed in interviews and the like, it seems to just be the current trend that teams are following in regards to drafting ruckmen. Nobody wants to develop an 18 year old, because it takes 3-4 years until you start to get a return on your investment. They'd rather let them mature in the state leagues. Obviously there are exceptions, but someone like Brodie Grundy was playing senior football already. Whereas Darcy Cameron spent the season in the U18s.

If you look at the ruckmen drafted last year...

#29 - Rory Lobb (20 years old, 12 senior games last year)
#35 - Toby Nankervis (19 years old, senior football in the TSL)
RD #28 - Cameron Wood (26 years old)

That's pretty much it.

Cameron should get an opportunity to play league football this season in the WAFL, and there is no denying his talent for a big guy. So it wouldn't be a huge surprise if teams start to regret not using a late rookie selection on these sorts of guys.

Always enjoy you threads Chris. Interesting point. I wonder if the AFL should look at this. Perhaps an extra Rookie spot that the AFL pay for 18-24 year old guys 200+ ( perhaps an exception on height could be made in some circumstances ) but that would instantly get another 18 tall kids in the system , nothing to say they couldn't progress quickly and jump , just like Blitz has for Geelong. I bet you could name 18 kids like that who would be worthy of the development from an AFL list.


On Conlon , he seems a bit like Brown at Geelong, Do you think his game would transfer to AFL