2019 Draft Watch

[Mofra]

Re: 2019 Draft Watch

Liam Dellamarta - a potential late smoky?

http://www.hudl.com/profile/12570712/Liam-Dellamarta

183cm and 76kgs, worked hard on his fitness the past few months apparently.

[GVGjr]

Re: 2019 Draft Watch

Liam Dellamarta - a potential late smoky?

http://www.hudl.com/profile/12570712/Liam-Dellamarta

183cm and 76kgs, worked hard on his fitness the past few months apparently.

Nice pick-up

[choconmientay]

Re: 2019 Draft Watch

Draft prospect Cody Weightman tours Whitten Oval

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/draft-prospect-cody-weightman-tours-whitten-oval/news-story/3146cbae2bbb1cf8622e176cfa6d3e52

[Axe Man]

Re: 2019 Draft Watch

Draft prospect Cody Weightman tours Whitten Oval

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/a...2e176cfa6d3e52

For those that are blocked by the paywall:

Draft prospect Cody Weightman tours Whitten Oval

Western Bulldogs are zeroing in on teenage small forward Cody Weightman, who would complement spearheads Aaron Naughton and Josh Bruce in a potent attack next season.

Weightman toured Whitten Oval today and was interviewed by a panel of Bulldogs recruiters in a sign he is in the mix to be recruited at pick 13 in the national draft on Wednesday night.

List manager Sam Power and head recruiter Nick Austin introduced the 177cm goalkicker to football boss Chris Maple and the Dandenong Stingrays product then watched the club’s youngsters train.

Weightman wouldn’t exactly crumb at the feet of Naughton and Bruce, given he is an excellent overhead mark himself and plays in the mould of Collingwood’s Jamie Elliott.

The lively prospect and Magpies supporter also models his game on Sydney’s Tom Papley and Brisbane’s Charlie Cameron.

Weightman’s nine goals for Vic Country this year earned him All-Australian honours. The Pakenham junior kicked two bags of four goals in the under-18 national championships, netting him 132 and 102 SuperCoach points in those games.

Weightman is one of the more popular players in the draft pool, with recruiters liking his charismatic personality.

The Bulldogs are actively hunting a speedy small forward, given premiership sharpshooter Tory Dickson, 32, is nearing the end of his career.

While Weightman is in the mix at the Bulldogs, they are still considering multiple players at pick 13.

Kysaiah Pickett (171cm) – who is the nephew of Norm Smith Medallist Byron Pickett – is another small forward in contention, while Miles Bergman is also around the mark.

The Bulldogs are admirers of defender Fischer McAsey, although he could be taken as early as Adelaide’s pick 6.

There is a chance Melbourne — which tabled Elliott a contract this year before he re-signed at the Pies — swoops on Weightman at pick 10 after moving on Jeff Garlett and Jay Kennedy-Harris.

Recruiters are completing their final interviews and it is not uncommon for prospects to tour several clubs on the eve of the draft.

Last year Ben King and Bailey Smith were invited to Whitten Oval in the days leading up to the draft, with the Bulldogs ultimately drafting Smith directly after Gold Coast selected King.

Weightman played school football with King at Haileybury last year and has also learnt from former teammates including Andrew Brayshaw (Fremantle) and Aiden Bonar (North Melbourne).

Weightman remains close friends with Richmond’s Jack Higgins, bonding when they trained under the same running coach seven years ago.

“We’re both similar heights, but we play pretty different styles,” Weightman said.

“He’s a much better small forward in the traditional way, whereas I like to play taller as a small forward.”

[bulldogtragic]

Re: 2019 Draft Watch

I love this period. Yes, a player might be a Jarrad Grant to Christian Howard, but they could be a Brad Johnson or Bailey Smith and play an entire good season next year. Anything is possible right now with these kids around the Mark of our decent pick. I can't wait for the draft.

[Axe Man]

Re: 2019 Draft Watch

Dogs have recently interviewed Trent Bianco/Oakleigh

Trent Bianco a high draft fancy with similarities to Collingwood’s Steele Sidebottom

He might work at Lazy Moe’s, but Trent Bianco is no slouch.

On the football field, the Oakleigh Chargers captain is a running machine whose performances on a wing in the NAB League this year have lifted him high in AFL draft calculations.

“I just try and run and work my opponent over,” Bianco said.

“I really enjoy it on the wing or as a midfielder. I feel like I play my best footy there and can play to my strengths.”

Having finished school last year, Bianco has spent much of this year working at his dad’s restaurant in Oakleigh.

It is just down the road from the Chargers’ home and has been the source of the club’s Thursday night pasta meals this year.

“I take orders, I make drinks, I take out food and just communicate with customers,” Bianco said.

“It’s got me in a good headspace for footy. I’ve had a nice balance.”

Bianco’s year in football has not been confined to Oakleigh, which he led to a premiership.

The Collingwood supporter also made the Vic Metro side and played off a half-back flank in the under-18 national championships, finishing as the equal-third ranked general defender at the tournament.

“I like to think I’m a smart, high IQ sort of player,” Bianco said.

“I play to my strengths and try to make good decisions and put my teammates in better positions.”

As a Magpies’ man, Bianco has long looked up to Steele Sidebottom, who plays a similar role and is also a gut-runner.

“He works his body into the ground and you just always see him running, even if it’s just to create space for a teammate,” Bianco said.

“But then when he gets the ball he’s an elite ball user and always makes smart decisions.”

A relaxed character, Bianco said he did not “have one bit of nerves” ahead of the uncertain waters which are the draft.

But one thing is for sure – his dad will need to find a new waiter soon.

Trent Bianco

DOB: 20/1/2001

H: 178cm W: 70kg

Position: Midfielder

Plays like: Steele Sidebottom

U18 National Championships averages: 18.5 disposals, 3.8 rebound 50s, 5.3 contested, 4.3 marks, 3.8 intercept possessions, 2.8 score involve, 3.0 tackles, 99 SuperCoach points

[GVGjr]

Re: 2019 Draft Watch

So what do you think our draft approach will be with pick 13?

Will we take the best available?
Will we look towards kick starting our indigenous program?
Will we have assessed the draft a bit differently and pick someone who might not be getting a lot of the focus?

From some of the media speculation we appear to have Kysaiah Pickett well and truely on our radar but Port with the pick before ours or Melbourne before that might be a spoilers there.
It appears we have Cody Weightman as a same, same but different alternative option to Pickett.
Miles Bergman has been linked to us as well and then there is a slight chance one of the more highly rated players like Brodie Kemp or Fischer McAsey slide as far as pick 13

Less than a week to go now so it's going to be interesting to see if any other players get linked to us.

[comrade]

Re: 2019 Draft Watch

It does seem to be narrowing down to one of Pickett, Weightman or Bergman. It's going to one of the more fascinating drafts for us in recent years.

[Bornadog]

Re: 2019 Draft Watch

We must take best available.

[GVGjr]

Re: 2019 Draft Watch

We must take best available.

What ever player we take we will say they were the best available. In reality though we might not be rating players on who is more likely to play 150 games for us.

I get sometimes you have to 'reach' a little bit to meet a need on the playing list but essentially it should be best available

[comrade]

Re: 2019 Draft Watch

What ever player we take we will say they were the best available. In reality though we might not be rating players on who is more likely to play 150 games for us.

I get sometimes you have to 'reach' a little bit to meet a need on the playing list but essentially it should be best available

Best available is subjective. Is Pickett best available - well depends on what category we’re judging it by? Maybe he’s best available small forward or best available indigenous kid and those factors outweigh being best available ‘overall’.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Re: 2019 Draft Watch

Tend to think this is the draft to go for needs.

List is fairly well balanced and with the incoming selections next year, I think that will shape our direction next week.

I don't know a thing about this crop of draftees, but I do hope we target players with electric pace and skill if available. Pickett on face value seems to fit the criteria.

[GVGjr]

Re: 2019 Draft Watch

Interesting Phantom draft from Michael Alvaro

Phantom Draft

He has us bidding on Liam Henry (makes sense) and then settling on Miles Bergmen (linked with us) passing over Brodie Kemp (hard for me to fathom that) and Kysaiah Pickett (who many consider the most likely selection)

He has Cody Weightman going to Melbourne at pick 9

Two other players heading our way, Cooper Sharman and Mitch Martin

[Twodogs]

Re: 2019 Draft Watch

Interesting Phantom draft from Michael Alvaro

Phantom Draft

He has us bidding on Liam Henry (makes sense) and then settling on Miles Bergmen (linked with us) passing over Brodie Kemp (hard for me to fathom that) and Kysaiah Pickett (who many consider the most likely selection)

He has Cody Weightman going to Melbourne at pick 9

Two other players heading our way, Cooper Sharman and Mitch Martin

I'm having a bit of trouble finding info on Mitch Martin but I see he's a Bendigo boy. You and I know the Bendigo way so does he come from the Sandhurst or the Golden Square side of town? Does he have any famous ancestors playing in Bendigo that we might know about?

[GVGjr]

Re: 2019 Draft Watch

I'm having a bit of trouble finding info on Mitch Martin but I see he's a Bendigo boy. You and I know the Bendigo way so does he come from the Sandhurst or the Golden Square side of town? Does he have any famous ancestors playing in Bendigo that we might know about?

He's from Ballarat and plays for GWV Rebels 183cm, 76kg midfielder and forward who went to the rookie me draft. Athletic and has played with Cooper Craig-Peters. I think he was originally from Horsham