2022 Draft Watch

[GVGjr]

Re: 2022 Draft Watch

From the ROAR

10. Western Bulldogs
Brayden George, Murray Bushrangers

Dear Footscray list management team: do not send Aaron Naughton back. Leave him forward with Josh Bruce and develop Jamarra Ugle-Hagan. Don’t go after Rory Lobb. and give Sam Darcy some games down back. The draft isn’t going to solve your key position problems, so go get some real X factor who can be alongside Cody Weightman and give some headaches to opposition coaches.

George makes you respect him in the air, where he has a great ability, but he will make you look silly on the ground, as he is silky smooth and has some Josh Rachele about him.

Yours sincerely (and I’m happy to come on board as a full-time recruiter),
Daz

He's a talented player and will likely be available around our first round pick. The theory of putting an x-factor player like George alongside of Weightman isn't a bad one either. He doesn't get a lot of the ball though.

The draft does however, have the potential to improve our key position gaps but most likely if we stick to the picks we have we will get a variety of playing types

[GVGjr]

Re: 2022 Draft Watch

Chris Doerre has reviewed 5 players he regards as bolters for this year.
He seems to rate Cadam like Doc did earlier in the thread.

Will Ashcroft

Prior to the start of the Under-18 Championships, the sense among club recruiters was that the majority favoured George Wardlaw for the No. 1 overall pick. Sentiment has since shifted on the back of the midfield dominance of Will Ashcroft. Ashcroft has been the dominant midfielder throughout the year with averages of 25 disposals across his two VFL games for Brisbane, a team high 24 disposals in the AFL Academy clash against Collingwood's VFL side and big NAB League numbers, including a ridiculous 51 disposals in one NAB League game. While Ashcroft can be relied on to find the football every week, what makes him this draft's premier midfielder is his ball winning at stoppages and the frequency with which he runs the ball 5-10 metres at speed before disposing of the football. While Wardlaw has missed Victoria Metro's first three Under-18 Championships matches due to a hamstring injury, and nothing Ashcroft is doing is new, the frequency of impact and consistency of production from Ashcroft is without equal in this draft and has seen him re-establish himself as the favourite to be this year's first overall selection.

Mattaes Phillipou

Seen before the Under-18 Championships by most observers as a probable first round selection, South Australian Mattaes Phillipou has rocketed up draft boards and is now viewed as a likely top 10 selection. Phillipou's first Under-18 Championships match against the Allies was one of the most influential performances of the Championships. Phillipou amassed 24 disposals, 17 contested possessions, two goals and two score assists, hurting the Allies with every involvement through the midfield and up forward. The same dominant football was played by Phillipou in his performance for South Australia against Victoria Metro. Early on, Phillipou was the most influential player and had amassed nine disposals in the first 15 minutes of play, before leaving the field under serious duress and requiring treatment on his lower back. Phillipou would return to the field in the second quarter and despite struggling to cover the ground and get low over the ball to win it as we are accustomed to seeing, he enjoyed the most striking moment of the game. Following a mark in the centre, Phillipou used his peripheral vision to notice his opponent had lost balance and Phillipou took immediate advantage. Phillipou left his opponent in his wake, burst for 20m at speed and finished on the move from 45m. With Phillipou measuring in at 192cm, having a December birthday and being a genuine dual position gamechanger with his contested ball winning capabilities, strong marking, skills, acceleration and scoreboard impact, there are shades of Marcus Bontempelli to Phillipou. As with Bontempelli in his draft year, Phillipou in this draft presents as the prospect with the highest ceiling given the way he changes games with every touch both through the midfield and as a forward.

Jhye Clark

The premier Victoria Country midfielder, Jhye Clark has found another level to his play during the Under-18 Championships as his side's premier ball winner at stoppages. Clark has demonstrated a capable inside/outside midfield balance and has also played taller than his 180cm, providing a marking and goalkicking option forward of centre, and kicking two goals across his three games. Averaging 25 disposals, 10 contested possessions and nine marks per game for Victoria Country, Clark has matched his Geelong Falcons NAB League output. Viewed as a consensus top-10 selection, Clark is in contention for a top-five draft position if he continues his potent Under-18 Championships play in the latter part of the year.

Cameron Mackenzie

The beneficiary of the absence of projected top five draft choices George Wardlaw and Elijah Tsatas from Victoria Metro has been Cameron Mackenzie. Having established chemistry sharing the midfield for Sandringham in the NAB League with Will Ashcroft, the duo establish themselves as the premier one-two midfield punch during the Under-18 Championships. The dynamic at every stoppage has been whenever Ashcroft wins the football, Mackenzie is on the spread ready to receive. When Mackenzie wins the ball, Ashcroft is on the burst looking to receive. Averaging 26 disposals and 10 contested possessions, Mackenzie has demonstrated continual improvement this year and with his combination of ball winning, classy ball use, acceleration and spread from the contest, Mackenzie has pushed his name into the top 10 draft mix. A St Kilda Next-Generation Academy prospect, the Saints would under this year's updated Next-Generation Academy rules need Mackenzie to drop outside the top 40 to be able to match bids.

Aaron Cadman

With South Australian key forward Harry Lemmey struggling to find the football or have any impact across each of his three Under-18 Championships matches, Aaron Cadman, Matthew Jefferson and Isaac Keeler have each passed him on draft boards and are likely to find themselves in the first round draft discussion. Jefferson and Keeler have elevated their draft stocks during the Under-18 Championships with several outstanding performances, respectively, but the completeness of Cadman's play should see him now regarded by most as this year's premier key forward. Kicking seven goals and seven behinds across his three games, Cadman has proven a more than potent option close to goal and felt consistently threatening whenever the ball was coming his way. Garnering comparisons to Jeremy Cameron, what has separated Cadman has been the variety of ways he impacts games. Cadman took five contested marks across his three games, created separation at will on the lead, was dangerous at ground level, pushed higher up the field and set up targets inside 50m with four total score assists.

[FrediKanoute]

Re: 2022 Draft Watch

Matteas Phillipou......surely we hold our 1st round pick and try to get this guy......I get what Rory LObb will bring, but having a Bont clone is enticing!

[GVGjr]

Re: 2022 Draft Watch

Matteas Phillipou......surely we hold our 1st round pick and try to get this guy......I get what Rory LObb will bring, but having a Bont clone is enticing!

I can't see why we would let go of a first round pick for Lobb unless we were getting something back the other way
Freo currently have picks 14, 72, 86 so I think our 2nd rounder would get the deal done.

Those picks might all change if Freo lose Logue and another player or two but right at this moment I'd say a 2nd rounder would get the deal done.

Phillipou might be gone before our pick anyway.

[GVGjr]

Re: 2022 Draft Watch

Cam Toomey phantom draft

1 - 10 , 11 - 20 fill follow

1 - Will Ashcroft

6/5/04
182cm/78kg
Sandringham Dragons/Vic Metro
Midfielder

Ashcroft's form this season has been undeniable: he has averaged 35 disposals at NAB League level, 24 at VFL level and 33 in three games for Vic Metro as the best player of the under-18 championships. The Brisbane father-son prospect, whose dad Marcus is a triple-premiership winner, stepped up in the carnival again, including his 38-disposal, 10-clearance, 10-inside-50 and one-goal game against South Australia. A ball-getter who has acceleration, skills, smarts and a determined outlook in a similar vein to 2018 No.1 pick and Carlton star Sam Walsh, a player who Ashcroft has unsurprisingly studied closely.

2 - George Wardlaw

18/7/04
182cm/82kg
Oakleigh Chargers/Vic Metro
Midfielder

A hamstring injury unfortunately saw Wardlaw miss Vic Metro's three-game run at the national carnival, but he remains a contender for the No.1 pick. His best performances this season have come in the big games – he was best-afield for Oakleigh against Sandringham in round one of the NAB League, where he has averaged 21 disposals this season, and also judged the leading player for the NAB AFL Academy against Collingwood's VFL side. Wardlaw is powerful, competitive and tough through the midfield, has some spring in his step, can go forward and kick an important goal, and lifts when his team needs him.

3 - Harry Sheezel

13/10/04
184cm/77kg
Sandringham Dragons/Vic Metro
Forward/midfielder

Sheezel brings something altogether different to the top end of the draft pool. The exciting, polished and classy half-forward can mark above his head, create opportunities and kick goals in a range of ways. He's booted 21 in eight games for the Dragons this season. He has a sidestep, a shimmy and a spin, and tricks that make him one of the most fun players to watch in the 2022 pool. Sheezel kicked four goals against the Allies in Metro's first carnival game and also starred early against Western Australia. He has also spent time in the midfield, including back-to-back games of 30-plus disposals for Sandringham in rounds 9-10.

4 - Elijah Tsatas
18/10/04
187cm/80kg
Oakleigh Chargers/Vic Metro
Midfielder

A foot fracture sidelined Tsatas for the under-18 carnival, which was a shame given his hot start to the season at NAB League level. Tsatas is the midfielder with the combination of qualities in this year's draft class: he can run (quick and long), he's taller and able to go inside and outside. His first month of the season for Oakleigh showed all of those traits, when he averaged 33 disposals for the Chargers in a series of dominant games. An exciting talent who is set for a return to the field soon.

5 - Jhye Clark

23/7/04
180cm/77kg
Geelong Falcons/Vic Country
Midfielder

It has been consistency of effort and performance that has lifted Clark right into top-five calculations. There isn't a game, or moment within a game, that Clark isn't trying at his best level: be it smothering, tackling or digging in and getting his hands on the ball. The tough inside midfielder is capable of getting ball on the outside, too, and enjoyed a strong run of games in the carnival, including 24 disposals and a goal against South Australia; 27 disposals, 11 marks and a goal against the Allies; and 23 disposals and seven clearances against Western Australia. There's a bit of Jacob Hopper to Clark's style.

6 - Cameron McKenzie

187cm/80kg
21/4/04
Sandringham Dragons/Vic Metro
Midfielder

With every game he has played this season Mackenzie has won more fans. It started with a strong trial game for the Dragons and has kept up, with the composed and damaging midfielder barely playing a quiet game all year. In the NAB League he's averaged 24 disposals and for Metro he averaged 26 disposals too. He was especially good against Western Australia with 28 disposals, five clearances and a goal. Mackenzie is relentless – he rocks up and plays well most games, stands under the ball in the air and can also press forward. Mackenzie is a member of St Kilda's Next Generation Academy but the Saints are no shot of getting priority access to him, given they would need him to be available past pick 40 under the new bidding rules.

7 - Aaron Cadman

196cm/88kg
3/3/04
Greater Western Victoria Rebels/Vic Country
Key forward

Cadman has put himself in the frame as one of the first key-position players to be drafted this year. The left-footed key forward bases his game off Geelong match-winner Jeremy Cameron but also has some similarities to Carlton goalkicker Harry McKay at the same age. He marks and leads well, has goal sense and has booted seven goals for Vic Country across three games as well as 23 in the NAB League, including four hauls of four or more and five last weekend against the Western Jets. Just gets himself involved in games.

8 - Jedd Busslinger

196cm/82kg
11/3/04
East Perth/Western Australia
Key defender

Busslinger's season has been cut short, with the key defender heading in for shoulder surgery on an issue that he had been dealing with through the season. The intercept backman at least finished on a good note, with Busslinger gathering 26 disposals, six marks and five rebounds against the Allies before making a call on his year. The East Perth product is an intercept backman in the Jake Lever mould, capable of floating in and taking strong grabs as well as setting up his side.

9 - Mattaes Phillipou

192cm/83kg
27/12/04
Woodville-West Torrens/South Australia
Midfielder/forward

There's plenty of potential in Phillipou, who looms as the first South Australian drafted this year. The midfielder/forward had some exciting moments through his state's carnival but was sore towards the end, however his under-18 form for Woodville-West Torrens has been terrific this year. He's averaged 28 disposals and 1.5 goals a game at the level, is a penetrating left-foot kick and can go through the midfield and forward line. The son of former Bulldogs player Sam, who played three games for the club, is also one of the youngest draftees in the pool, being five days off eligibility for the 2023 draft.

10 - Reuben Ginbey

188cm/81kg
10/9/04
East Perth/Western Australia
Midfielder/defender

A smokey in the top-10 pack. Ginbey started the season in Western Australia dominating as a third tall defender, where his intercept play took the eye of scouts. But he moved into the midfield for WA's under-18 state team and showed his traits in there through the championships, where he used his bigger frame and running capacity to make a difference. He went head-to-head with Will Ashcroft at times against Vic Metro and played well that day with 18 disposals, and he also had 23 touches against Vic Country to be named WA's most valuable player.

[GVGjr]

Re: 2022 Draft Watch

11 - Matthew Jefferson

195cm/78kg
8/3/04
Oakleigh Chargers/Vic Metro
Key forward

One of the big risers out of the national carnival. Jefferson stamped himself on games as a regular goalkicker, booting 12 goals in Metro's three games so far. That included a seven-goal haul against Western Australia, which saw him slot five goals in an incredible third term, as well as two goals against the Allies and three against South Australia. Jefferson reads the play well, can find space on the lead, takes strong overhead marks and converts his shots and is a similar type of forward to Essendon's Harrison Jones.

12 - Elijah Hewett

185cm/84kg
27/5/04
Swan Districts/Western Australia
Midfielder

Hewett showed his best qualities against Vic Metro, when he had 29 disposals, kicked two crunch goals and had five clearances in a powerful game in the midfield. He followed it up with a very quiet game the next week, but ended better with 18 disposals against Vic Country and 21 against South Australia. Hewett, who had a promising junior baseball career, is a bigger-bodied player who was a member of the NAB AFL Academy's leadership group earlier in the year.

13 - Oliver Hollands

183cm/71kg
16/1/04
Murray Bushrangers/Vic Country
Midfielder

Some injury interruptions at the start of the year were a frustration for Hollands, but he saved his best game of the season for one of his biggest occasions. He had 34 disposals, seven marks and four clearances for Vic Country against Western Australia and was the dominant midfielder on the ground. He has elite running capacity, works hard both ways and can also play on a flank or wing.

14 - Brayden George

186cm/87kg
13/4/04
Murray Bushrangers/Vic Country
Forward

It has been a case of out of sight, out of mind for George, who started the year in terrific form before suffering a knee injury that has seen him miss an extended period. George is an explosive forward who can also take turns through the midfield and use his power and force around the ball. But around goal is where he has excelled so far this season, including a five-goal bag against Gippsland in round one and a six-goal haul against the Rebels in round five. A super kick of the footy.

15 - Jaspa Fletcher

184cm/73kg
24/2/04
Brisbane Lions Academy/Allies
Midfielder

It has been a steady rise for Fletcher through this season and he appears well in the mix as a potential first-rounder come the draft. He is the son of former Geelong, St Kilda, Fremantle and Brisbane player Adrian, but only the Lions will have father-son access to the classy midfielder, who is an excellent user of the ball and impressed for the Allies. Has a good tank and could slot into a wing early in his AFL career.

16 - Henry Hustwaite

194cm/84kg
20/7/04
Dandenong Stingrays/Vic Country
Midfielder

Hustwaite has been something of a quiet riser in this year's draft class but brings a unique set of qualities to the table. A growth spurt has seen him push to up 194cm and he is using that size and shape more in the midfield. He has really neat foot skills and has transitioned more from half-back into the midfield with the Stingrays this year. He collected 29 disposals and nine clearances over the weekend in his return to the NAB League.

17 - Alwyn Davey jnr

180cm/74kg
26/2/04
Oakleigh Chargers/Vic Metro
Midfielder/forward

Essendon will have first call on Davey, the son of former small forward Alwyn, who played 100 games with the Bombers and kicked 120 goals. But Davey jnr is a different type of player to his dad, generally finding his best form when in a midfield role that pushes forward rather than just being at the feet of tall forwards crumbing inside 50. Davey was elevated to the NAB AFL Academy side earlier in the year and was terrific against Western Australia in the carnival with 19 touches and 2.2.

18 - Ollie Hotton

181cm/77kg
6/9/04
Sandringham Dragons/Vic Metro
Midfielder/forward

Has come from the clouds to be a top-20 chance. Hotton's run of form saw him elevated into the Vic Metro program and he hasn't put a foot wrong, having three impressive games at national level. He was particularly impactful against South Australia, when he collected 24 disposals and kicked three goals. He can go through the midfield and half-forward, has craft around goal and a sidestep in traffic, and also some spring in his legs to be a good mark above his head for his size.

19 - Josh Weddell

192cm/89kg
25/5/04
Oakleigh Chargers/Vic Metro
Key defender

Stocks in Weddle have grown as the year has gone on, with the Vic Metro backman now among the handful of key position defenders in the mix as top-30 picks. He's a steady hand in defence who can intercept mark or swing in to help out an opponent. He had 20 disposals and seven marks against Western Australia in what was his best game of the carnival.

20 - Harry Barnett

202cm/93kg
22/1/04
West Adelaide/South Australia
Ruckman

Barnett's capacity to get around the ground and have a say on a game makes him one of the standout ruck choices in this year's pool. The South Australian closed his carnival by being among his state's best players in its loss to Western Australia on Sunday, having also recently made his senior SANFL debut, where he had 25 hit-outs.

[GVGjr]

Re: 2022 Draft Watch

21 - 25

21 - Mitch Szybkowski

186cm/84kg
22/10/04
Dandenong Stingrays/Vic Country
Midfielder

A link-up midfielder who doesn't do much wrong. Szybkowski had a strong three games for Vic Country in the national carnival, averaging 26 disposals and showing he can win the ball at stoppages as well as carry it through the ground. A very consistent option for clubs to assess and is a bit taller than some of the other midfielders as well. Szybkowski is averaging 25 disposals and six tackles in the NAB League.

22 - Sam Gilby

188cm/71kg
14/5/04
Claremont/Western Australia
Midfielder/defender

Gilbey has had a challenging year, missing some time at the start of the year through illness and then having an interrupted carnival for Western Australia with health and safety protocols. The athletic midfielder and half-back has strong running capacity and finished his championships with 18 disposals and eight marks against South Australia last weekend.

23 - Michael Michalanney

192cm/78kg
26/2/04
Norwood/South Australia
Defender

Eligible to join Adelaide as a father-son choice, Michalanney is a disciplined backman who can take on a number of different types of opponents. He was excellent against the Allies in South Australia's first game of the carnival with 15 disposals and five rebound 50s. He can join the Crows under AFL father-son rules given his father Jim played more than 200 SANFL games and Max has spent time training with the club.

24 - Jacob Konstanty

176cm/70kg
9/11/04
Gippsland Power/Vic Country
Small forward

A former gun junior soccer player who is now a clever small forward with sharp skills and smarts around goal. His standout game of the carnival for Vic Country came against the Allies when he kicked 3.2 and buzzed around the forward line, and he will also appeal to clubs for the defensive pressure he applies. He averages six tackles a game for Gippsland and also had 14 in a game against the Geelong Falcons.

25 - Jacob Ryan

189cm/77kg
20/9/04
Glenelg/South Australia
Defender

The Glenelg product has been a ball magnet this year – he has averaged 28 disposals in the SANFL under-18s competition and also featured in some reserves footy. He was also solid throughout South Australia's championships, regularly breaking the lines from half-back and also getting plenty of the ball up the ground. Is a run and carry player whose versatility will appeal.

[Axe Man]

Re: 2022 Draft Watch

I like the sound of Busslinger. The last KPD we drafted out of WA has turned out alright.

[GVGjr]

Re: 2022 Draft Watch

I like the sound of Busslinger. The last KPD we drafted out of WA has turned out alright.

He's a quality 3rd defender type player and based on reports we would be very lucky if he was still available for our pick.

[FrediKanoute]

Re: 2022 Draft Watch

The more I think about it the more I feel is that Lobb is an unnecessary reach. We should have got him for this season, but next year we have JUH, a fully fit Bruce and Naughts. We have Khamis emerging as a swingman and Schache and Sweet who are good enough. We have Darcy developing. Does Lobb make us that much better that we sacrifice another gun kid? I get the premiership window and that Lobb fills a need, but I think its a need that will have evaporated come this time next year.

I think Lobb is a little like Cloke (more upside yes), but a trade orchestrated early that in hindsight we didn't really need to do!

[GVGjr]

Re: 2022 Draft Watch

The more I think about it the more I feel is that Lobb is an unnecessary reach. We should have got him for this season, but next year we have JUH, a fully fit Bruce and Naughts. We have Khamis emerging as a swingman and Schache and Sweet who are good enough. We have Darcy developing. Does Lobb make us that much better that we sacrifice another gun kid? I get the premiership window and that Lobb fills a need, but I think its a need that will have evaporated come this time next year.

I think Lobb is a little like Cloke (more upside yes), but a trade orchestrated early that in hindsight we didn't really need to do!

Some merit in that thought process Fredi but I suspect we are right in it for Lobb.

[hujsh]

Re: 2022 Draft Watch

The more I think about it the more I feel is that Lobb is an unnecessary reach. We should have got him for this season, but next year we have JUH, a fully fit Bruce and Naughts. We have Khamis emerging as a swingman and Schache and Sweet who are good enough. We have Darcy developing. Does Lobb make us that much better that we sacrifice another gun kid? I get the premiership window and that Lobb fills a need, but I think its a need that will have evaporated come this time next year.

I think Lobb is a little like Cloke (more upside yes), but a trade orchestrated early that in hindsight we didn't really need to do!

I'd argue the difference is Lobb is in career best form while Cloke was on the outer. The other part of the above I'd refute is that none of the above really solve our 'who rucks when English has a rest' problem. Bruce comes closest I suppose but it's certainly not something he is skilled at in any capacity.

[comrade]

Re: 2022 Draft Watch

Fair chance we never see the best of Bruce ever again and he’s not a viable second ruck option post ACL imo. Schache is done, Sweet is a break glass option only, Darcy is probably a year or two away from really impacting. It’s now or never with this list - chips in the middle time. Lobb is a massive upgrade on every other 2nd ruck option we’ve tried and instantly makes us more balanced and just better.

[Bulldog4life]

Re: 2022 Draft Watch

He's a quality 3rd defender type player and based on reports we would be very lucky if he was still available for our pick.

Do you mean pick 18?

[Bulldog Joe]

Re: 2022 Draft Watch

I see Alan Joyce has again let us down.

He only gave 3 games to Sam Phillipou. If he had played him every week he might have stayed a bit longer and found the other 97 games that would have given us first crack at Mattaes.

Seriously, what were putting in the water at Whitten Oval with the number of sons of former players going around ad showing promise.

Perhaps we should have a team of origin carnival and allow all these sons of Bulldogs to play in the same team.