2022 Draft Watch

[bulldogtragic]

Re: 2022 Draft Watch

We did state publicly we're taking three live picks to draft (plus two rookie upgrades), so like you said I don't think we plan on being too aggressive.

GCS are all but set on Bailey Humphrey apparently - Essendon's pick 4 still the wildcard.

Yep. Just live trading Essendon’s Pick 22 and psyching out WCE (on a WA player they want, we don’t) to change us to 12, 20 & 21 and a F3 (exchanged for a F4) would be a huge outcome to secure 3 x Top 21 Picks (2 back to back top nearly top of night two) and hold a huge draft hand and cash hand next year.

First things first, WCE need to feel the urge to move a spot and someone needs to bid high on Davey and we need.

As for Essendon, if there’s no bid on Davey on night one, they should seriously think about adding a F2 to Pick 22 to move into Pick 19 and thus securing Davey goes no higher than Pick 20 (22). Happy to give them our fourth rounder and F4 tied to Geelong for their F4.

= Pick 19 player this year. Davey for a heap of late points. Only giving up a second rounder next year and a F4 downgrade. Pretty good deal.

That’s the question I have for Dodoro. Go aggressively and get 4, trade up to 19 & Daveys and maybe Munkara. For a F2. Or trade down and forgo the Pick 19 to keep the F2. What’s better for their development?

[josie]

Re: 2022 Draft Watch

Looks like we are picking up Oskar Baker, delisted by Dees, speedy winger in SSP. Cannot remember seeing him play. Any opinions?

[GVGjr]

Re: 2022 Draft Watch

JOE RICHARDS had never spoken to an AFL club until a few months ago, but now the schoolteacher from Wangaratta looms as the biggest bolter heading into next week's NAB AFL Draft, five years after being overlooked by all 18 clubs in his draft year.

It has been a dramatic turn of events for the country football star, who turns 23 on Wednesday.

Richards has never played a minute of state league football, but established himself as one of the best players in the Ovens and Murray Football League this year, winning a third best and fairest and second premiership for the Wangaratta Magpies, after a best-on-ground performance in an interleague game.

AFL.com.au understands that Richards has met with seven clubs, while others have indirectly expressed interest in the only prospect from local football to be invited to the draft combine.

The 176cm midfielder received that late invite to the state combine last month – which arrived via email days after winning the premiership – following a season where he gradually built a case for recruiters to head to the north-east of Victoria, where a few were spotted during the finals series.


Now there is a belief from some clubs that Richards will be taken in the second round, potentially even before pick No.30.

"When I was at Bushies in the NAB League I didn’t have any contact with any clubs, it has just come about this year," Richards told AFL.com.au on Monday.

"This year has been the first year where I've spoken to any club and it sort of came about three months ago when the first club reached out. Since then, I've spoken to more. It has been a really interesting time."

Geelong has a long history of plucking left-field options and is understood to have contemplated recruiting Richards ahead of the NAB AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft in June, but it was unable to act given he was ineligible.

It was only after a talent manager from the Murray Bushrangers called Richards out of the blue that he realised he was on the radar of an AFL club. That led to him finding someone to represent him in the form of John Meesen from Kapital Sports. Things have certainly progressed since then.

"In the pre-season I hadn't even thought about the prospect of being drafted," Richards said.

"It sort of came about halfway through the year when I linked up with John Meesen after he heard there was a little bit of interest there. That's when it came to light. Since then, it has slowly unravelled. A quarter of a way through the footy season was when it kicked into gear."

Richmond, Greater Western Sydney, Collingwood, Sydney and the Western Bulldogs are believed to be among the clubs who have spoken to Richards or those around him, with plenty of interest sparked after he published a video of his 2022 highlights on YouTube in September.

Mature-age recruits aren't new, but most are drafted out of a state league, not a powerhouse league in country Victoria. So where has the meteoric rise come from?

Richards chose to play for his local club after his time at the Murray Bushrangers finished in 2017, returning full-time to Wangaratta where he kicked 11 goals in just his third senior game as a 16-year-old.

He moved to Melbourne to join Josh Fraser's program with Carlton's reserves at the start of 2020 before the season was shut down due to the pandemic and he returned home.

After starting his senior career in the Ovens and Murray League closer to goal, Richards has developed into a game-breaking midfielder, averaging 25 disposals, six tackles, six inside 50s and five clearances – ranked in the top 10 for all categories according to Premier Data – from 19 appearances in 2022.

Richards played in a flag this year with 2010 Collingwood premiership defender Ben Reid – who was the playing coach – ex-Demon Michael Newton and former Richmond and Carlton forward Callum Moore.

Reid started fielding calls midway through the season and knew recruiters were dotted around the outer watching Richards late in the campaign.

Those who have followed Richards closely see some similarities between him and Collingwood star Steele Sidebottom, citing his polished kicking ability on both feet – and his deep range of kicks – plus a clever ability to bounce on both sides of his body.

Richards' rise has drawn similarities with four-time premiership wingman Isaac Smith, who was drafted by Hawthorn with pick No.19 at 21 after dominating for Redan in the Ballarat Football League. Unlike Richards, Smith played a handful of games for North Ballarat in the second half of that season.

If his name is read out next week, it will be one of the most memorable stories to emerge from the 2022 NAB AFL Draft, even if Richards isn't daring to dream just yet.

"To be honest, I haven't thought too much about the whole story about the potential of being drafted out of country footy," he said. "If it does happen, I'll think about it over the Christmas break. I've just enjoyed the whole experience."

Only a few of months after appearing a long shot of being drafted, it appears to be a matter of when, not if, for the teacher's aide from Wangaratta District Specialist School.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: 2022 Draft Watch

I can’t see Oskar Baker nominating, who we are reportedly into. Sitting back away from the draft for an SSP straight to dogs? (Or DFA if list balance is tweaked)

Interesting…

Called it…

In: Lobb (fwd/ruck), Jones (kpd), Baker via SSP rookie spot (wing)
Upgraded: Sweet & Khamis
In: ND Picks 11, 21, 39 currently
In: RD Pick 11 currently (leaving the one spot for Baker via SSP)

In: Future First, Future Second, Future Fourth x 2 currently
Out: Future Second, Future Third currently

[GVGjr]

Re: 2022 Draft Watch

Looks like we are picking up Oskar Baker, delisted by Dees, speedy winger in SSP. Cannot remember seeing him play. Any opinions?

Hard to say Josie. He has plenty of pace but while he has been on a strong list just didn't get a lot of opportunities.
Kicking skills are patchy and we have a few of those already.
I'd rather use an extra pick in the draft but given we lost some experienced players I can understand why we might be interested.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: 2022 Draft Watch

Hard to say Josie. He has plenty of pace but while he has been on a strong list just didn't get a lot of opportunities.
Kicking skills are patchy and we have a few of those already.
I'd rather use an extra pick in the draft but given we lost some experienced players I can understand why we might be interested.

We’ve had worse rookies (unfortunately). I take it it’s as a rookie in the SSP, so it’s Pick 29 in the RD or Baker. Not a huge gamble if the club thinks he can play the wing which we need more depth in.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: 2022 Draft Watch

duplicate

[josie]

Re: 2022 Draft Watch

Thanks Bulldogtragic & GVGjr.

Goodness, you’d think we’d make decent disposal a high priority. Hopefully Oskar is a tackling machine and can make up for his possible suspect kicks. He and Bailey Smith as well as McComb (possibly others I cannot remember) could drive me crazy if they continue with frequent haphazard kicks.

Wish Oskar well and hope he’s a big success with us.

[Mofra]

Re: 2022 Draft Watch

TBH I feel it's a bit premature to target Baker before the draft. Two of the players in our pick 11 range (Allen and Hollands) are wingmen. I'd rather wait until after the draft then reassess.

[GVGjr]

Re: 2022 Draft Watch

TBH I feel it's a bit premature to target Baker before the draft. Two of the players in our pick 11 range (Allen and Hollands) are wingmen. I'd rather wait until after the draft then reassess.

It's media speculation given he didn't nominate and I guess that strengthens the speculation.
I won't lose any sleep over it but I agree in principle that it's best to wait until after the draft to see who we land.

My guess is that Busslinger is a likely option for us at pick 11.

[GVGjr]

Re: 2022 Draft Watch

Does anyone else think that if the picks we have stay roughly where they are we might pull a surprise selection with our 3rd pick?

[Mofra]

Re: 2022 Draft Watch

I wonder if we could trade our pick 39 up to GWS' pick 31 with a future pick? That would put us in Ethan Phillips range, ahead of the Port/St Kilda/North picks where he's likely to be taken.

[Mofra]

Re: 2022 Draft Watch

Does anyone else think that if the picks we have stay roughly where they are we might pull a surprise selection with our 3rd pick?

Luke Teal if we get a KPD with one of our first two picks

[GVGjr]

Re: 2022 Draft Watch

Luke Teal if we get a KPD with one of our first two picks

He's a good prospect, a team just needs to be patient with him.

[Grantysghost]

Re: 2022 Draft Watch

Apparently we are one of the teams that have spoken to this guy Joe Richards from Wangaratta

https://www.afl.com.au/news/866324/country-footy-ball-magnet-looms-as-draft-s-biggest-bolter

I know nothing other than what i've read in that article. Anyone got a clue?