AFL draft state of play:

[GVGjr]

Fox Footy article

The clubs who’ll own the first round - and who they could pick

We’re in for a frantic few weeks as AFL clubs race the clock to finalise their draft boards and prepare for the 2019 national draft.

With less than 20 days until this year’s big event, it’s go-go-go for prospects and recruiters right across the country as many put in the hard yards to reach draft day.

And for some clubs, their selections in the opening handful of picks will dictate how the entire draft order falls, with plenty of games of snakes and ladders undertaken on draft night.

Gold Coast, Fremantle, Melbourne, Geelong and Port Adelaide all have multiple picks inside the first round, with key decisions likely to impact how the first round will play out.

The Suns are all but certain to call out Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson with their first two selections, but the Demons crucially hold Pick 3 and 8 as they aim to bounce back up the ladder.

Dashing defender Lachie Ash would add zip to their side, while the class and poise of Vic Country rebounder Hayden Young and South Australian Dylan Stephens also fit the bill.

The Demons have also been linked with WA ruckman Luke Jackson, who could well evolve into the next Brodie Grundy.

The biggest unknown is GWS’ decision. Will they trade up the draft order to get another prized pick before matching a bid on Tom Green? Or will they take the punt he’s taken beyond Pick 6?

Adelaide’s Pick 4 appears to be the most likely selection to be used on Green, which could be swapped with the Giants. Sydney is seemingly the obvious candidate to bid on Green, given the inside midfielder would bolster its midfield brigade.

Fremantle could well look local with Picks 7 and 10, given Deven Robertson, the 2019 Under 18 Championships MVP, should be available alongside potentially Jackson.

Draft bolter Miles Bergman could be in the sights of Port Adelaide and Geelong with one of their selections in the second-half of the first round, while Caleb Serong and Sam Flanders should fine homes inside the top 10.

Injured pair Brodie Kemp and Josh Worrell are others who certainly could leap up the draft boards, as clubs go back to watch their vision from earlier games in the season.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: AFL draft state of play:

I've just ran an eye over the draft order, with a view to other clubs making us an offer to exchange picks. The underlying assumption is we get to Pick 13 and our main targets (McAsey, Weightman, Bergman etc) have gone.

Geelong:

Trade Picks 17 & 36 - for - Picks 13 & 53
(Within 80 draft points of even)

(Alternate: Richmond: Picks 19 & 38 - for - Picks 13 & 53
(Within 22 draft points of even)


Picks 17 & 36 (Picks shuffled down to Picks 21 & 41 after matched bids) could put us in line (reaching a bit maybe) for Pickett (Pick 21, Rich. Alt. 23) & Cahill (Pick 41, Rich. Alt. 43) both genuine high pressure small forward goal kickers. As a 'Plan B' if we get to Pick 13 and we are open to trading down looking at the players gone.




Kysaiah PICKETT

Clubs: Woodville-West Torrens/South Australia

Position: Small Forward

Size: 171cm, 71kg

Bio: The lively forward has earned an invite to the draft, indicating a club in the first round is seriously considering drafting the nephew of Port Adelaide premiership player Byron Pickett. He is a true small forward who creates spark around the ball and knows the craft inside 50. His speed and agility is outstanding, with Pickett screaming X-Factor. He averaged two goals a game in the SANFL Reserves, with a standout performance coming earlier in the season where he took a huge mark and booted six goals.



Ned CAHILL

Clubs: Dandenong Stingrays/Vic Country

Position: Small Forward

Size: 179cm, 78kg

Bio: The lively forward booted 17 goals for the Dandenong Stingrays in the NAB League this year, showcasing his X-Factor and high footy IQ. Inside 50, Cahill is one of the more tougher opponents and uses his speed and agility to outwork opposition players. For Vic Country, Cahill booted six goals and averaged 3.5 tackles

[comrade]

Re: AFL draft state of play:

We lack pressure forward depth and this year has plenty of draftable talent that suits that role perfectly (Pickett/Cahill/Mahoney/Weightman and others) so if our preferred top range options are gone by pick 13, we should definitely consider trading down to pick up 2 picks in the top 40 and take some 'need' options.

[mjp]

Re: AFL draft state of play:

Heard a rumour we have targeted Mitch Giorgiades. He’s (obviously) a WA boy but even so this is very 2nd hand info for me...

Anyone else hearing the same?

[GVGjr]

Re: AFL draft state of play:

Heard a rumour we have targeted Mitch Giorgiades. He’s (obviously) a WA boy but even so this is very 2nd hand info for me...

Anyone else hearing the same?

I've not heard that but he was impressive last year and we obviously have a link with his father John

For those not aware of much about him at the combine some of his highlights were:

191.8cm, 87kg and performed well in the 3 sprints as well as the running vertical jump. His Yo-Yo result was 20.8

He's a strong marking and straight kicking forward

[The Adelaide Connection]

Re: AFL draft state of play:

Heard a rumour we have targeted Mitch Giorgiades. He’s (obviously) a WA boy but even so this is very 2nd hand info for me...

Anyone else hearing the same?

Would he be a candidate for our 13, would we be looking at him with 53, or would he be more likely in a trade down scenario?

[GVGjr]

Re: AFL draft state of play:

An article on Georgiades

West Australian Regional Talent Manager Adam Jones believes Mitch Georgiades could be the steal of the upcoming National Draft.

The youngster is the son of ex Western Bulldogs player John Georgiades and possesses a strong forward sense and a strong set of hands.

Despite an injury derailing his 2019 season, Jones is bullish the Subiaco prospect will be well worth drafting.

“I’m a huge fan of Mitch and I reckon he could end up being one of the steals of the draft,” he told SEN Afternoons.

“He hasn’t played all year due to a quad injury, but what you’re getting with Mitch is an unbelievably well-rounded character.

“He will come in, he’s a prefect at school, he’s intelligent, he’s going to do really well with his ATAR, he’s got leadership, he’s really popular among his peers and he’s just so driven.

“He tested exceptionally well at the combine as well. You can tick the character box, you can tick the athletic box and now there’s a little bit of unknown with his footy because he hasn’t played this year, but I tell you what, if I was a club and I call his name out on draft night I’ll be really excited to see what kind of player I get over the next couple of years.”

Georgiades averaged 10 disposals, four marks and kicked three goals in four games for Western Australia’s under 18 team in 2018.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: AFL draft state of play:

Would he be a candidate for our 13, would we be looking at him with 53, or would he be more likely in a trade down scenario?

Draft Central rate him at Pick 51.

[GVGjr]

Re: AFL draft state of play:

Would he be a candidate for our 13, would we be looking at him with 53, or would he be more likely in a trade down scenario?

FWIW, I can't see him lasting anywhere near pick 53. Collingwood have been reportedly been interested in him and have a pick at 35 and I think North might be interested at pick 26 and pick 27

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Re: AFL draft state of play:

FWIW, I can't see him lasting anywhere near pick 53. Collingwood have been reportedly been interested in him and have a pick at 35 and I think North might be interested at pick 26 and pick 27

And this could be the point where our seemingly predefined list/draft strategy could see us hamstrung.
We're clearly only positioned to have 2 live picks (I presume we'll upgrade Lachie Young), and don't have list spaces to spin pick 13 into say two mid range picks. Therefore if Georgiades doesn't last til 53, we're not going to get him.

[GVGjr]

Re: AFL draft state of play:

And this could be the point where our seemingly predefined list/draft strategy could see us hamstrung.
We're clearly only positioned to have 2 live picks (I presume we'll upgrade Lachie Young), and don't have list spaces to spin pick 13 into say two mid range picks. Therefore if Georgiades doesn't last til 53, we're not going to get him.

I don't see us trading the pick but you could potentially trade it for a combination of a later pick this year and something for next year which will maintain our 2 live picks

[GVGjr]

Re: AFL draft state of play:

Draft Central rate him at Pick 51.

Thanks for reminding us of this
These are the comments on him

Georgiades is one who is hard to read where he goes. On talent, he could be a top 30 pick, but the fact a quad injury has kept him out of action throughout his entire top-age year would be a concern. He is too talented and has too much upside to not be looked at, and with his vertical leap (85cm running) and acceleration (2.925 seconds 20m sprint), Georgiades is a headache for any defender. Once the air space is clear and there is a body in front of him, expect the high-flying forward to sit on their head and bring the ball down. While he has not been able to show any improvements this year due to injury, he could also improve his defensive attributes, with few tackles despite his obvious athletic talent. In terms of what he offers offensively however, Georgiades can be a dominant goal kicker both in the air and at ground level and be that X-factor that sets him aside from other tall forwards in this draft.

[GVGjr]

Re: AFL draft state of play:

Georgiades is very much that 3rd tall option which would be a good balance in time for our 3 genuine talls in Naughton, Schache and Bruce
He might also potentially allow for Naughton to return to the back line

I don't know if there is any truth to the rumor but I find it an interesting option. If he was to score an invite to the draft it would kick start some speculation

[The Adelaide Connection]

Re: AFL draft state of play:

And this could be the point where our seemingly predefined list/draft strategy could see us hamstrung.
We're clearly only positioned to have 2 live picks (I presume we'll upgrade Lachie Young), and don't have list spaces to spin pick 13 into say two mid range picks. Therefore if Georgiades doesn't last til 53, we're not going to get him.

There is nothing stopping us trading 13 and 53 for two picks.

Something like 13 and 53 for Geelong's 17 and 36. Could also add our 89 for their 93. There is a point differential of 92, but you could argue that is the price Geelong should be willing to pay to creep up the order.

We could also exploit Port (who will be sweating that Mead doesn't get bid on before 18) and offer 13 and 53 for 18 and 29. They lose out a bit, but it would be better than burning 18 on Mead and it could mean that they potentially come out with an extra first rounder.

Far less lucrative would be 13 and 53 for Richmond's 19 and 38. On points it is a fairly even trade though (1445 points for 1413). But would 19 and 38 be about right to snare Pickett (or whoever our first target is) and Georgiades?

[Mofra]

Re: AFL draft state of play:

Would he be a candidate for our 13, would we be looking at him with 53, or would he be more likely in a trade down scenario?

Debut him in a final, take his 8 goals and move on.

I wonder if we're loading up a little too much on marking talls?

Naughton, Brucer, Schache and JUH from 2020 (I assume we can only play 2-3) with a mid sizer or two (Dale/Green/Gowers). I guess if someone is 188-192cm and mobile they could fit into the system.