2018 Draft - Players linked to Bulldogs

[The Doctor]

This is a thread for any rumours or links we have to players at this year's draft. This doesn't include Father/son or NGA prsopects.

Thus far

Pick 7 - Connor Rozee and Bailey Smith have been heavily linked to us at this pick if we retain it

Other Names

Ely Smith - Murray Bushrangers

A big bodied midfielder who played for Vic Country and tested very well at the draft combine. Made the TAC team of the year


Noah Answerth - Oakleigh Chargers

19yo mid sized defender who would have been drafted last year except for a bad injury. Bounced back to play for Vic metro this year. Tested well for kicking at the draft combine & also made TAC team of the year.


Austin Hodge - Gippsland Power

Big bodied midfielder who received an invite to the state combine


Matt McGannon - Gippsland Power

over age midfielder who played for Vic country this year. Dogs were interested last year. Uncertain if this is still the case. Performed well in the kicking test at the draft combine


Jye Caldwell - Bendigo Pioneers

Midfielder who played Vic Country last year and AFL Academy player.


Jordan Clark - Claremont

Dashing half back/midfielder who represented WA. Excellent kick!


Anthony Scott - VAFA

midfielder who was runner up to Ayce Cordy in the B & F


Will Hayes & Rueben Willam - Footscray

Small forward & half back respectively

[The Doctor]

Re: 2018 Draft - Players linked to Bulldogs

Ben Cavarra - Williamstown

22yo small forward & leading goalkicker in 2018. has won almost all the medals, made tac team of the year, VFL team etc. Not much more he can do to earn a spot on an AFL list

[Axe Man]

Re: 2018 Draft - Players linked to Bulldogs

A 2 year old article on Cavarra, but still relevant I think.

Frankston footballer Ben Cavarra attracts interest from AFL clubs ahead of national draft

AFTER being knocked back three times in a row, Lysterfield’s Ben Cavarra is hoping the fourth time’s a charm at this week’s AFL draft.

Cavarra says he has no doubt he has the ability to finally crack an opportunity on an AFL list.

The 20-year-old’s accolades speak for themselves. A Morrish Medal, two best and fairests at the Eastern Ranges, best-on-ground honours in the 2013 TAC Cup grand final and two club champion awards at Frankston, plus a runner-up finish by a vote this year.

Only two other footballers have won two Ranges best and fairest awards — four-time Hawthorn premiership champion Sam Mitchell and dual Adelaide best and fairest Rory Sloane.

One reason the 175cm midfielder/forward hasn’t been drafted has been his kicking efficiency, but he improved that to 60 per cent this year.

“That is still something I need to work on again but I definitely feel like I am getting there and getting it to AFL standard,” Cavarra said.

Cavarra was used as a midfielder as he progressed through the TAC Cup ranks, but Frankston coach Patrick Hill has exposed him up forward in his two years at the club to increase his draft chances.

“He was playing forward and still averaging 20 touches a game from the half-forward line and kicking a couple of goals,” Hill said.

“He still finds the ball no matter where he plays.”

Hill said AFL clubs would be “crazy” not to at least rookie list the pacy left-footer.

“Ben is extremely quick, he’s nimble so he has a great step on him, very evasive and hard to tackle,” he said.

“He has outstanding vision to find his teammates, good natural goal sense and his frontal pressure or ability to defend and lock the ball in the forward half is elite.

“I’ve seen players go through the system that aren’t up to his standard and have been on AFL lists.”

Cavarra, who has based his game on Ben McGlynn and Clay Smith, has been managing his football duties with a primary teaching degree and part-time work at Rowville Primary School.

He has had some interest from AFL clubs, but the Ferntree Gully product has been through the process before and knows all too well there are no certainties on draft night.

Cavarra said he believed his height had not been the reason as to why he hadn’t been drafted.

“You see players in the AFL at the same height and doing the same thing,” he said.

“I look at them thinking, ‘gee, I’m confident I could do that and I can match that’.”

Hill said Cavarra would only get better in a professional environment.

“I don’t know what else he has got to do to get a look in,” he said.

“I just know the quality of the kid and whoever decides to take him if they do, he won’t let them down.”

[Axe Man]

Re: 2018 Draft - Players linked to Bulldogs

[Doc26]

Re: 2018 Draft - Players linked to Bulldogs

This piece is concerning re Cavarra given our recent history with disposal efficiency in the forward half.

One reason the 175cm midfielder/forward hasn’t been drafted has been his kicking efficiency, but he improved that to 60 per cent this year.

Is it as bad as it sounds.

[Axe Man]

Re: 2018 Draft - Players linked to Bulldogs

This piece is concerning re Cavarra given our recent history with disposal efficiency in the forward half.



Is it as bad as it sounds.

In fairness that was a couple of years ago, it may have improved since then. Has anyone seen much of him at Willy the last 2 years?

[GVGjr]

Re: 2018 Draft - Players linked to Bulldogs

This piece is concerning re Cavarra given our recent history with disposal efficiency in the forward half.



Is it as bad as it sounds.

He's good around the goals but I'm not sure he is an AFL standard player.
Anthony Scott, Will Hayes and Reuben William have some claims to be listed by us

[Axe Man]

Re: 2018 Draft - Players linked to Bulldogs

He's good around the goals but I'm not sure he is an AFL standard player.
Anthony Scott, Will Hayes and Reuben William have some claims to be listed by us

From what I've seen of William I wouldn't be keen.

[Smads57]

Re: 2018 Draft - Players linked to Bulldogs

I'm also in the 'not keen on William' boat. He certainly played with a fair bit of flair in the first few VFL games this year for Footscray, but as the season progressed he seemed to 'regress'. It probably didn't help his game that he was thrown around a bit, but so was Hayes and he comes thru as a much more capable player who therefore may deal better with the tactical requirements of AFL footy.

[The Doctor]

Re: 2018 Draft - Players linked to Bulldogs

Tom Berry - GWV Rebels

Strong inside midfielder. Rated a top 20 candidate at the start of the year. Played for Vic Country

[GVGjr]

Re: 2018 Draft - Players linked to Bulldogs

Tom Berry - GWV Rebels

Strong inside midfielder. Rated a top 20 candidate at the start of the year. Played for Vic Country

It was a shame he was injured and I know he was hoping to test at the combine but didn't.
Did he captain Vic Country?

[The Doctor]

Re: 2018 Draft - Players linked to Bulldogs

think it was Walsh?

he might have captained the u/16's a couple of years ago

[The Doctor]

Re: 2018 Draft - Players linked to Bulldogs

Jordan Clark is being heavily linked to us recently, especially by Cal Twomey

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-11-05/tomorrows-heroes-jordan-clark

[bulldogsthru&thru]

Re: 2018 Draft - Players linked to Bulldogs

So this could be one of the most unpredictable drafts for us. I mean we could pick from either King, Smith, Clark or Caldwell or even Rozee if still available. It’s getting less clear by the day! Either way we’re getting a good player

[Murphy'sLore]

Re: 2018 Draft - Players linked to Bulldogs

Whenever I see Answerth, I think, 'yea, thou hast answerth my question.'