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I was meaning to get this finalised and out a few weeks ago, but just put the finishing touches on it this morning. Probably quite a lot has changed since I started preparing it, but this is a glimpse at some of the players I rate this year and where they may land on draft day.
1. Jacob Weitering - 195cm, 94 kgs
Key defender who played for Vic Country in this years U/18 champs. Seems the consensus number one pick, which is somewhat unusual given he's 'just a key defender'. Should become a very good key defender in the modern game, is a good user and can create from the back half. Good intercept player and will be an important piece in any side's team defence model.
2. Aaron Francis - 191cm, 92kgs
One of many SA lads I will be featuring in my top 20 this year. I think Aaron will end up a very high quality player who, because of his versatility, will be a utility at AFL rotating through all areas. He's competitive, he's got a booming foot and reads the ball well in the air. He's also a good athlete and has a frame which will develop well in an AFL system, making him a quick, strong player who is difficult to match up on and will be competitive against the new medium forward (think players Stringer's size).
I'd be very surprised if he got past Melbourne/Essendon in that 3-7 range and could also see Gold Coast showing interest at 6.
3. Jacob Hopper - 185cm, 83kgs
Jacob is a NSW player who will be playing for GWS in 2016. He's a very good player inside the contest meaning he will win a lot of clearances and contested ball at AFL, and also be a player who records a number of tackles (in fact, I could see his stat sheet reading pretty similarly to Tom Liberatore). Whilst he isn't afraid to hit the scoreboard he has some development in his outside game. A good modern sized midfielder who I think is a safe bet to play 200+ games of AFL.
GWS will take him, just a matter of who bids for him so what the price will be in this crazy new system (which I actually like, as it creates opportunity for astute trading). I think he'll get a big in the first 3-4 picks.
4. Josh Schache - 199cm, 101kgs
Tall key position forward from Victoria. A neat kicking, overhead marking key forward with significant size which is what most clubs are after. Projects as the type of player who will end up a forward-ruck, spending a few minutes chopping out for the #1 ruck. Should be mobile enough to play as a big forward at AFL level and appears to have reasonable endurance (although did not test at the DC). Like Tom Boyd, will take a bit of time to make his mark.
Brisbane seem likely to jump on him at #2 given their lack of key position players.
5. Callum Mills - 188cm, 80kgs
Another Sydney Academy player, but one they will have to give up a bit for. Callum is a inside-midfielder first who will do well in the congested situations with his composure and decision making. Given his height and overhead ability could become an effective player resting at either end of the ground, which he also has the endurance for.
Sydney, again just a matter of who bids on him first. Like Hopper, expect a bid will come early.
6. Riley Bonner - 190cm, 85kgs
I'm not sure why, but the SA prospect Riley has seemed to slip a bit in the ratings over the past month or so. He's a great sized prospect who kicks the ball very well and should be capable of playing all over the park at AFL level. He won't be a powerful utility like Francis above, but he'll be a smooth moving utility who you will want one more of, and then two more of given he will be capable in the midfield, as a distributor from the back half and an effective high forward who can mark the ball.
If Adelaide don't jump at 9 I can see Carlton being all over him at 11 based on the success of Cripps and their need for midfield/versatile talent with kicking ability. Should be off the table by pick 15.
7. Ben Keays - 185cm, 80kgs
Ben is a Brisbane Lions Academy player and one they'll be very happy to land. He's an inside-outside midfielder who can mark the ball and hit the scoreboard (actually, why don't I have him higher...?). He makes good decisions and uses his left foot to good effect, although perhaps a little one-sided. He seems one of the better example of having both an inside and outside game at this stage but I won't be surprised to see a few others overtake him in time. He isn't fast off the mark but has good endurance.
Brisbane will take him and I expect a club will bid within the first 8-10 picks.
8. Ryan Burton - 191cm, 88kgs
A SA lad who has had his (un)fair share of injuries which make him one of the more intruiging prospects in this draft class. I made the mistake of having Stringer too late and as Burton draws comparisons to Jake (for a few reasons) I'm going to ensure I don't make that mistake again. He is best suited forward at the moment, is a good lead and mark player who has good size and good hands. Not sure he's as damaging as The Package at ground level, it's still an area he's good in through, and we will get a better idea as he continues to recover from his broken leg.
This is a hard one, some risk involved but the reward could be huge. Hawthorn are capable of taking a punt. Do Adelaide need him after acquiring Menzel? Maybe not. Richmond and St Kilda are my best guesses. If he gets beyond pick 15 anyone, including us, could be in the mix.
9. Mitchell Hibberd - 190cm, 86kgs
I'm not sure why I don't have everyone's favourite Tasmanian higher to be honest. The times I've seen him play I've been very impressed. He's a good mover, he uses the ball well with a penetrating boot and is versatile enough to play all over the park but perhaps best as a midfielder, half back. His testing was exceptional which means he has probably stepped up a bit in the rankings of most clubs.
Any club would do well to snare him. I wonder if he's in the mix for Melbourne and Carlon early and could see Hawthorn and North both being interested too. I'd love him at the Dogs but I expect he'll be gone before we select.
10. Darcy Parish - 180cm, 74kgs
A small midfielder from the Vic Country side who has very tidy skills and is capable of developing into an outside-in midfielder at AFL level. His best work will be done receiving in tight and using his skills, composure and decision making to move the ball effectively. He does most things well but lacks a bit of size compared to some of his contemparies. Thankfully for him, because of his ball use he could play forward or back as a smart user as his contested game continues to develop.
If Carlton snare a tall midfielder early, they could balance their selections with Parish. Otherwise I think teams like Melbourne (who lost Toumpas) St Kilda or North Melbourne could see the appeal and afford to go small in the first round. Not sure he's a player Essendon should target, which means that's where he'll probably land.
1. Jacob Weitering - 195cm, 94 kgs
Key defender who played for Vic Country in this years U/18 champs. Seems the consensus number one pick, which is somewhat unusual given he's 'just a key defender'. Should become a very good key defender in the modern game, is a good user and can create from the back half. Good intercept player and will be an important piece in any side's team defence model.
2. Aaron Francis - 191cm, 92kgs
One of many SA lads I will be featuring in my top 20 this year. I think Aaron will end up a very high quality player who, because of his versatility, will be a utility at AFL rotating through all areas. He's competitive, he's got a booming foot and reads the ball well in the air. He's also a good athlete and has a frame which will develop well in an AFL system, making him a quick, strong player who is difficult to match up on and will be competitive against the new medium forward (think players Stringer's size).
I'd be very surprised if he got past Melbourne/Essendon in that 3-7 range and could also see Gold Coast showing interest at 6.
3. Jacob Hopper - 185cm, 83kgs
Jacob is a NSW player who will be playing for GWS in 2016. He's a very good player inside the contest meaning he will win a lot of clearances and contested ball at AFL, and also be a player who records a number of tackles (in fact, I could see his stat sheet reading pretty similarly to Tom Liberatore). Whilst he isn't afraid to hit the scoreboard he has some development in his outside game. A good modern sized midfielder who I think is a safe bet to play 200+ games of AFL.
GWS will take him, just a matter of who bids for him so what the price will be in this crazy new system (which I actually like, as it creates opportunity for astute trading). I think he'll get a big in the first 3-4 picks.
4. Josh Schache - 199cm, 101kgs
Tall key position forward from Victoria. A neat kicking, overhead marking key forward with significant size which is what most clubs are after. Projects as the type of player who will end up a forward-ruck, spending a few minutes chopping out for the #1 ruck. Should be mobile enough to play as a big forward at AFL level and appears to have reasonable endurance (although did not test at the DC). Like Tom Boyd, will take a bit of time to make his mark.
Brisbane seem likely to jump on him at #2 given their lack of key position players.
5. Callum Mills - 188cm, 80kgs
Another Sydney Academy player, but one they will have to give up a bit for. Callum is a inside-midfielder first who will do well in the congested situations with his composure and decision making. Given his height and overhead ability could become an effective player resting at either end of the ground, which he also has the endurance for.
Sydney, again just a matter of who bids on him first. Like Hopper, expect a bid will come early.
6. Riley Bonner - 190cm, 85kgs
I'm not sure why, but the SA prospect Riley has seemed to slip a bit in the ratings over the past month or so. He's a great sized prospect who kicks the ball very well and should be capable of playing all over the park at AFL level. He won't be a powerful utility like Francis above, but he'll be a smooth moving utility who you will want one more of, and then two more of given he will be capable in the midfield, as a distributor from the back half and an effective high forward who can mark the ball.
If Adelaide don't jump at 9 I can see Carlton being all over him at 11 based on the success of Cripps and their need for midfield/versatile talent with kicking ability. Should be off the table by pick 15.
7. Ben Keays - 185cm, 80kgs
Ben is a Brisbane Lions Academy player and one they'll be very happy to land. He's an inside-outside midfielder who can mark the ball and hit the scoreboard (actually, why don't I have him higher...?). He makes good decisions and uses his left foot to good effect, although perhaps a little one-sided. He seems one of the better example of having both an inside and outside game at this stage but I won't be surprised to see a few others overtake him in time. He isn't fast off the mark but has good endurance.
Brisbane will take him and I expect a club will bid within the first 8-10 picks.
8. Ryan Burton - 191cm, 88kgs
A SA lad who has had his (un)fair share of injuries which make him one of the more intruiging prospects in this draft class. I made the mistake of having Stringer too late and as Burton draws comparisons to Jake (for a few reasons) I'm going to ensure I don't make that mistake again. He is best suited forward at the moment, is a good lead and mark player who has good size and good hands. Not sure he's as damaging as The Package at ground level, it's still an area he's good in through, and we will get a better idea as he continues to recover from his broken leg.
This is a hard one, some risk involved but the reward could be huge. Hawthorn are capable of taking a punt. Do Adelaide need him after acquiring Menzel? Maybe not. Richmond and St Kilda are my best guesses. If he gets beyond pick 15 anyone, including us, could be in the mix.
9. Mitchell Hibberd - 190cm, 86kgs
I'm not sure why I don't have everyone's favourite Tasmanian higher to be honest. The times I've seen him play I've been very impressed. He's a good mover, he uses the ball well with a penetrating boot and is versatile enough to play all over the park but perhaps best as a midfielder, half back. His testing was exceptional which means he has probably stepped up a bit in the rankings of most clubs.
Any club would do well to snare him. I wonder if he's in the mix for Melbourne and Carlon early and could see Hawthorn and North both being interested too. I'd love him at the Dogs but I expect he'll be gone before we select.
10. Darcy Parish - 180cm, 74kgs
A small midfielder from the Vic Country side who has very tidy skills and is capable of developing into an outside-in midfielder at AFL level. His best work will be done receiving in tight and using his skills, composure and decision making to move the ball effectively. He does most things well but lacks a bit of size compared to some of his contemparies. Thankfully for him, because of his ball use he could play forward or back as a smart user as his contested game continues to develop.
If Carlton snare a tall midfielder early, they could balance their selections with Parish. Otherwise I think teams like Melbourne (who lost Toumpas) St Kilda or North Melbourne could see the appeal and afford to go small in the first round. Not sure he's a player Essendon should target, which means that's where he'll probably land.
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