2016 Draft Watch

[comrade]

Re: 2016 Draft Watch

I'll be the devils advocate here but just say that plays out the way you've suggested, how would a Will Hayward selection at 18 shape things with later selections?
He's just under 185cm tall and probably competes with Toby McLean for that small marking forward spot. We also have Bailey Dale as a small forward option as well. Hayward would probably not be regarded as a mid sized forward but has good athleticism. Then if you added Long and Johnstone it becomes a logjam for small forward spots albeit Johnstone being a cat B rookie.

I think they all fit. In your scenario, choose a best available mid or defender at 26, a developing ruck type at 75 and a needs pick in the rookie draft.

1 mid sized marking forward (Hayward)
2 small forwards (Long & Deon)
1 mid or defender
1 developing ruck (rookie or ND)
1 needs pick (rookie or ND)

You never know, Long or Deon could turn out to be mid/forwards. Long also played in defense for NT.

I think adding 6 new kids to the list is pretty encouraging and we can cover plenty of bases.

[GVGjr]

Re: 2016 Draft Watch

So best available at first two picks and needs at second two picks?

The problem with approach is that you will probably only get one of the perceived needs based players because by pick 75 the pool would have dried up a fair bit.

As it stands it's already a huge gap between picks 26 and 50.

[GVGjr]

Re: 2016 Draft Watch

Some more names to consider for picks 50, 75 and the rookie drafts.

Mitch McCarthy - a 195cm key defender type who plays tall. He's very much a project player and was a successful basketballer before deciding on football this year. He's had some minor injury concerns but has a thumping kick
Jack Maibaum - He's been a good player in the TAC for 2 seasons now and is regarded as a solid shutdown defender. He possess very good agility and is a solid 91kg and 192cm.
Darcy Cameron has had a very niticeable season in the WAFL and at 204cm this 21yo moves easily between ruck and forward roles. He kicked 37 goals this season in the WAFL.
Tyler Keitel - Surprisingly Keitel was not drafted a few seasons back but after a strong season in the WAFL this year would make an ideal addition for any club looking to add a key position defender. Keitel is 194cm tall and 20yo and is regarded as someone who reads the play well and takes the game on.

[Rocco Jones]

Re: 2016 Draft Watch

I am very much a pro getting the best player available, 100% if it's a pick before 30.

I would only go with a 'need' if the decision is 50/50ish. I would never pass on a guy we really rate over a guy we are iffy so just because they fill a need. Good players are good players. I remember this discussion a few years back with surplus of small forwards and Dahlhaus was in the discussion as a small forward. If they are good enough, they will be able to rotate through the mid (Dahl more than good enough of course).

As a general plan...
Pick 18 and 26= CLEARLY go best available.
Pick 50= would be nice to get a tall but if Long is available and we think he is a good thing we would be mad to pass on that at 50
Pick 70ish or DFA= needs based (unless there is a hidden gem but that's with every pick)
Rookie pick= needs based
Rookie Cat C= It's a free hit, anyone who is a chance to make it is a great get.

[The Doctor]

Re: 2016 Draft Watch

So best available at first two picks and needs at second two picks?

Definitely go with best available for the first 2 picks given their position.

We must address the ruck issue however. If English goes before our 1st and no other ruckman competes for selection at the top end then we have to address it with our later picks. We have offloaded 2 and we only have 2 left so we have to.

I also think we need a key forward, especially a traditional CHF type rather than a FF type. These are hard to find at the back end of the draft so if none are available I can understand going for a best available. Surely a young KP like Mason Shaw would be worthy of a spot ahead of another run of the mill mid

FWIW, I really hope we don't throw caution to the wind and get too clever just because we are premiers.

[GVGjr]

Re: 2016 Draft Watch

3 more to round off some chances.

Esava Ratugolea - a 194cm key forward who put in some impressive performances at the combine. He had excellent sprint and jumping performances and he was right up there in repeat sprints. There is a lot of work to do on his endurance base but on raw potential he would be a exciting player to add to the list.
Tom Williamson - a 189cm defender or midfielder who performed exceptionally well at the combine. He's an attacking defender who can take strong marks and given he doesn't turn 18 until mid December there is a lot of upside to his game.
Mason Shaw - 197cm reborn forward/ruckman who's had a strong season in the WAFL after a failed stint at Port Adelaide.

[LostDoggy]

Re: 2016 Draft Watch

Some more names to consider for picks 50, 76 and the rookie drafts.

Mitch McCarthy - a 195cm key defender type who plays tall. He's very much a project player and was a successful basketballer before deciding on football this year. He's had some minor injury concerns but has a thumping kick
Jack Maibaum - He's been a good player in the TAC for 2 seasons now and is regarded as a solid shutdown defender. He possess very good agility and is a solid 91kg and 192cm.
Darcy Cameron has had a very niticeable season in the WAFL and at 204cm this 21yo moves easily between ruck and forward roles. He kicked 37 goals this season in the WAFL.
Tyler Keitel - Surprisingly Keitel was not drafted a few seasons back but after a strong season in the WAFL this year would make an ideal addition for any club looking to add a key position defender. Keitel is 194cm tall and 20yo and is regarded as someone who reads the play well and takes the game on.

I quite like Maibaum as well. Love the way he attacks the contest, looks AFL quality to me. Only knock for us may be his similarity to Collins.

[GVGjr]

Re: 2016 Draft Watch

I quite like Maibaum as well. Love the way he attacks the contest, looks AFL quality to me. Only knock for us may be his similarity to Collins.

I thought he had a better season in 2015 than this year. Measuring in a fraction under 192cm doesn't help his cause but if he gets a balance between his natural defensive traits and develops an attacking style he might become a good player.

Have you got a couple of more names that have got you interested this year?

[LostDoggy]

Re: 2016 Draft Watch

I thought he had a better season in 2015 than this year. Measuring in a fraction under 192cm doesn't help his cause but if he gets a balance between his natural defensive traits and develops an attacking style he might become a good player.

Have you got a couple of more names that have got you interested this year?

I've probably mentioned most of mine already. One who I'm warming to, who no-one is mentioning much but strikes me as a real Dal type, is Zac Fisher. Great contested ability for a small guy, footy smarts, fast and great skills with hand and foot.

[choconmientay]

Re: 2016 Draft Watch

The draft is completely magic to me. TheRoar has put up a first edition mock draft. LINK. Not sure how credible the author is but I am posting the link for you guys to judge. This probably is working in progress as he's stating this is the first edition... I am guessing there are more to come.

In essence, he came up with this:
WB – Todd Marshall, Harrison Macreadie, Ben Long

[comrade]

Re: 2016 Draft Watch

The draft is completely magic to me. TheRoar has put up a first edition mock draft. LINK. Not sure how credible the author is but I am posting the link for you guys to judge. This probably is working in progress as he's stating this is the first edition... I am guessing there are more to come.

In essence, he came up with this:
WB – Todd Marshall, Harrison Macreadie, Ben Long

I could live with that.

[choconmientay]

Re: 2016 Draft Watch

This is from footyprophet.com. Second edition of the phantom draft.

19: WESTERN BULLDOGS
Jarrod Berry| Def/Mid |North Ballarat Rebels| 191cm, 82kg
All-Australian half-back flanker with the ability to impact in the midfield and also forward. Injury troubles have seen him slide down the board, but impressed many at the combine after taking out the 3km time trial and finishing 8th overall in the repeat sprints. The Bulldogs are in a position to take the best available, and if Berry gets his body right, he is a top ten talent.
Player Comparison: Corey Enright

27: WESTERN BULLDOGS
Sam Powell-Pepper | Mid | East Perth| 187cm, 90kg
A beast of a player with a mature body that is ready to go. Good speed, elite endurance and stacks of power, he would be a sensible pick for the Premiers. His ability to play immediately in a number of roles around the ground will be a boost to a club that will want to continue to ride the wave of success.


54: WESTERN BULLDOGS
Oscar Junker| Utility| Western Jets | 191cm, 84kg
Another tall big bodied player that can fulfill a number of roles. He has been used as a tall defender, an inside midfielder and also as marking forward. Not overly quick, but blessed with natural talent in most facets of the game. A real project player that has the scope to become anything and one the Bulldogs have the luxury of being able to take.

[GVGjr]

Re: 2016 Draft Watch

I could live with that.

A couple of talls plus a pacy forward or defender. We would need to have patience with those 3 as they would all need some time.

[GVGjr]

Re: 2016 Draft Watch

This is from footyprophet.com. Second edition of the phantom draft.

19: WESTERN BULLDOGS
Jarrod Berry| Def/Mid |North Ballarat Rebels| 191cm, 82kg
All-Australian half-back flanker with the ability to impact in the midfield and also forward. Injury troubles have seen him slide down the board, but impressed many at the combine after taking out the 3km time trial and finishing 8th overall in the repeat sprints. The Bulldogs are in a position to take the best available, and if Berry gets his body right, he is a top ten talent.
Player Comparison: Corey Enright

27: WESTERN BULLDOGS
Sam Powell-Pepper | Mid | East Perth| 187cm, 90kg
A beast of a player with a mature body that is ready to go. Good speed, elite endurance and stacks of power, he would be a sensible pick for the Premiers. His ability to play immediately in a number of roles around the ground will be a boost to a club that will want to continue to ride the wave of success.


54: WESTERN BULLDOGS
Oscar Junker| Utility| Western Jets | 191cm, 84kg
Another tall big bodied player that can fulfill a number of roles. He has been used as a tall defender, an inside midfielder and also as marking forward. Not overly quick, but blessed with natural talent in most facets of the game. A real project player that has the scope to become anything and one the Bulldogs have the luxury of being able to take.

Powell-Pepper would be a great get with our 2nd selection. Oscar Junker is a decent player as well.

[comrade]

Re: 2016 Draft Watch

A couple of talls plus a pacy forward or defender. We would need to have patience with those 3 as they would all need some time.

Given our overall depth in most positions and an enviable development program at Footscray, I think we can afford to be patient with some longer term prospects if we believe they'll be excellent AFL players.

It would be a luxury seeing an actual KPF playing at Whitten Oval, rather than a makeshift set up.