2023 Draft Watch

[GVGjr]

Re: 2023 Draft Watch

Interesting comment from a draft watcher on Stevens - "he's Ginbey without the pace" as a defender.
DeMattia could be a late bolter if his off-field stuff checks out as ok. Some say it's overblown and he's just immature, others said he has a few issues to work out.

Suns Academy kids x 3 are looking even better than expected this year. They're going to have to be very creative as their points needed will be more than any other team in draft history

Stevens is coming off a knee injury but doesn't look slow to me but he's certainly not a speedster.
Thanks for the update on DeMattia.

[The Doctor]

Re: 2023 Draft Watch

A couple of cracking matches coming up this week at the Champs

WA V Vic Country - both need to win and win well to have any chance of taking out the title. SA are out of it and not in contention.

Allies v Vic Metro - Allies biggest chance since their inception to take out the title. Both teams very impressive so far. Whoever wins this probably wins the Champs. Can the Allies stop Metro in the forward line. Metro have Caddy, Croft, Morris & Watson all in form & will take some stopping. Allies perhaps with the upper hand in midfield and that beast up forward Walter. Hope we see Croft v O'Sullivan. Can't wait for this one.

George Stevens (GWV) has to be in 1st round contention now. Absolutely dominating. I'd go as far as to say top 10 candidate right now.

starting to get a feel for the pointy end of the draft;

Reid, Walter, Watson, Caddy & McKercher looking good for the top 5 as it stands now with the next wave of Duursma, Curtin, Read, Sanders, Tholstrup, Stevens, Edwards and Delean battling it out for a top 10 spot. Hypothetically, could the winner of Croft v O'Sullivan match up, should it happen, become a top 10 candidate? Still plenty of opportunity for others to rise.

[GVGjr]

Re: 2023 Draft Watch

Koltyn Tholstrup had a solid game vs SA and spent a lot of time in the midfield. His kicking skills and endeavor were pretty good as well. He could probably play a few different roles at the senior level.

[mjp]

Re: 2023 Draft Watch

Koltyn Tholstrup had a solid game vs SA and spent a lot of time in the midfield. His kicking skills and endeavor were pretty good as well. He could probably play a few different roles at the senior level.

Here's my opinion on Tholstrup.

Tholstrup is just a player who "knows what to do". He plays simple, high level footy and is incredibly competitive. Is he the 'best' player? Nope. But I think he's going to have the 'best' career. He will play from Round 1 2024 and will stay in the side based on his effort and ability to simply keep the footy in front of him and win/halve contests.

Is he a bit of a different unit?

Sure is. But however 'alternative' his appearance and off-field outlook might be, he is an old-school player who just gets the job done and understands that what he needs to be is reliable, not remarkable.

Excellent young footballer.

[MrMahatma]

Re: 2023 Draft Watch

Here's my opinion on Tholstrup.

Tholstrup is just a player who "knows what to do". He plays simple, high level footy and is incredibly competitive. Is he the 'best' player? Nope. But I think he's going to have the 'best' career. He will play from Round 1 2024 and will stay in the side based on his effort and ability to simply keep the footy in front of him and win/halve contests.

Is he a bit of a different unit?

Sure is. But however 'alternative' his appearance and off-field outlook might be, he is an old-school player who just gets the job done and understands that what he needs to be is reliable, not remarkable.

Excellent young footballer.

Just googled him based on your comments around his appearance.

That mop of hair needs to get to Whitten Oval. It's destiny.

[GVGjr]

Re: 2023 Draft Watch

Here's my opinion on Tholstrup.

Tholstrup is just a player who "knows what to do". He plays simple, high level footy and is incredibly competitive. Is he the 'best' player? Nope. But I think he's going to have the 'best' career. He will play from Round 1 2024 and will stay in the side based on his effort and ability to simply keep the footy in front of him and win/halve contests.

Is he a bit of a different unit?

Sure is. But however 'alternative' his appearance and off-field outlook might be, he is an old-school player who just gets the job done and understands that what he needs to be is reliable, not remarkable.

Excellent young footballer.

I read that he might have done some tagging roles as well. I like competitive players and especially ones that will just get in doing the job they're asked to do.

How do you think he would handle a move away from WA?

By the way Lance Morris had a quiet one again at SA, while it's early days do you think it will impact his draft position?

[mjp]

Re: 2023 Draft Watch

I read that he might have done some tagging roles as well. I like competitive players and especially ones that will just get in doing the job they're asked to do.

How do you think he would handle a move away from WA?

He's a country kid (Esperance) which isn't exactly a small drive from the city...you'd be driving for 8-hours to get there from Perth (south coast). I'm sure he'd be fine.

By the way Lance Morris had a quiet one again at SA, while it's early days do you think it will impact his draft position?

Lance Collard? So quiet as to be invisible!

I'd still take him.

[GVGjr]

Re: 2023 Draft Watch

He's a country kid (Esperance) which isn't exactly a small drive from the city...you'd be driving for 8-hours to get there from Perth (south coast). I'm sure he'd be fine.



Lance Collard? So quiet as to be invisible!

I'd still take him.

Sorry yes Collard. He looked well off the pace based on the performance against SA but it's a difficult role to fill at times and quiet games will happen.

[GVGjr]

Re: 2023 Draft Watch

Some players to watch from Vic Country

Harley Reid (Tongala/Bendigo Pioneers)

This guy needs no introduction. Reid justified the No.1 pick hype with three goals inside the first 10 minutes of his first U18 championships match – and that was after coming in underdone following his concussion in the AFL Academy game. The fend-off king has upped his match conditioning and will play more of a mid-forward role this time. Watch out WA.

Zane Duursma (Foster/Gippsland Power)

Duursma, the brother of Xavier and sister of Yasmin, will play a similar role to Reid against WA. The Foster product was one of Vic Country’s best in game one with 20 disposals, 13 contested possessions and six clearances. Has put himself in the top-five frame with a strong season to date.

Darcy Wilson (Wangarratta/Murray Bushrangers)

Set up a goal and kicked two himself from 11 touches in the opening game of the championships, but he has shown he can go to another level. The dynamic wingman was one of the AFL Academy’s best against the Port Adelaide Magpies in April and his form for the Bushrangers has been strong all year.

George Stevens (South Warnambool/GWV Rebels)

Starting the season as a defender, Stevens is in red hot form as an inside midfielder. He was arguably Vic Country’s top performer in game one with 25 disposals, 13 contested possessions, nine tackles, a goal and 179 SuperCoach points. Stevens then produced a stunner against Dandenong in wet conditions over the weekend, amassing 44 disposals, 29 contested possessions, 13 clearances, 11 score involvements and 235 SuperCoach points. The 189cm ball-magnet has another opportunity to strengthen his draft claims against WA.

Joel Freijah (Horsham/GWV Rebels)

Freijah has come with a bullet since a standout six-goal haul in the first month of the season for the Rebels, and he wasn’t far behind Stevens on the weekend. The hard-running 191cm wingman finished with 21 disposals, 11 intercepts, two goals and 155 SuperCoach points where his immense workrate and tidy skills stood out in the wet. Freijah has an elite running capacity, is good overhead and has the ability to go inside with his strong frame.

Harry De Mattia (Edithvale/Dandenong Stingrays)

De Mattia gave up a burgeoning cricket career to focus on footy and has had a strong season at Coates Talent League level for the Stingrays. A midfielder with serious speed, De Mattia can play on the inside, as he did against South Australia, or as a high half-forward. The Vic Country co-captain showed off his line-breaking ability in the first championships game and will be another to keep tabs on.

Billy Wilson (Dromana/Dandenong Stingrays)

Wilson had been touted by Dandenong Stingrays coach Nick Cox as a player to watch at the start of the year and the rebounding defender has been super consistent. Vic Country are stacked with running backs and Wilson was one of their best against South Australia with 16 possessions and his attacking flare could see him rise up the board.

Angus Hastie (Geelong West Giants/Geelong Falcons)

Corrigan, also the Geelong Falcons coach, put a lot of the Falcons’ strong form down to the drive of Hastie off half back. The defensive side of his game has also stood out this year and he is another running defender who can boost his stocks throughout the carnival.

Lachie Charleson (East Point/GWV Rebels)

Charleson burst onto the scene in Vic Country colours earlier in the year with four goals against the Young Guns. The 176cm forward applies great defensive pressure, has good speed off the mark and is lively around goal.

Michael Rudd (St Mary’s/Geelong Falcons)

Rudd was one of the surprise packets for Vic Country in their first outing, booting two goals, clunking two contested marks and providing a presence in the air and at ground level. The Falcons forward has been a consistent performer throughout the year, kicking a goal in all but one of his seven games.

[mjp]

Re: 2023 Draft Watch

Some players to watch from Vic Country

Harley Reid (Tongala/Bendigo Pioneers)

This guy needs no introduction. Reid justified the No.1 pick hype with three goals inside the first 10 minutes of his first U18 championships match – and that was after coming in underdone following his concussion in the AFL Academy game. The fend-off king has upped his match conditioning and will play more of a mid-forward role this time. Watch out WA.

Zane Duursma (Foster/Gippsland Power)

Duursma, the brother of Xavier and sister of Yasmin, will play a similar role to Reid against WA. The Foster product was one of Vic Country’s best in game one with 20 disposals, 13 contested possessions and six clearances. Has put himself in the top-five frame with a strong season to date.

Darcy Wilson (Wangarratta/Murray Bushrangers)

Set up a goal and kicked two himself from 11 touches in the opening game of the championships, but he has shown he can go to another level. The dynamic wingman was one of the AFL Academy’s best against the Port Adelaide Magpies in April and his form for the Bushrangers has been strong all year.

George Stevens (South Warnambool/GWV Rebels)

Starting the season as a defender, Stevens is in red hot form as an inside midfielder. He was arguably Vic Country’s top performer in game one with 25 disposals, 13 contested possessions, nine tackles, a goal and 179 SuperCoach points. Stevens then produced a stunner against Dandenong in wet conditions over the weekend, amassing 44 disposals, 29 contested possessions, 13 clearances, 11 score involvements and 235 SuperCoach points. The 189cm ball-magnet has another opportunity to strengthen his draft claims against WA.

Joel Freijah (Horsham/GWV Rebels)

Freijah has come with a bullet since a standout six-goal haul in the first month of the season for the Rebels, and he wasn’t far behind Stevens on the weekend. The hard-running 191cm wingman finished with 21 disposals, 11 intercepts, two goals and 155 SuperCoach points where his immense workrate and tidy skills stood out in the wet. Freijah has an elite running capacity, is good overhead and has the ability to go inside with his strong frame.

Harry De Mattia (Edithvale/Dandenong Stingrays)

De Mattia gave up a burgeoning cricket career to focus on footy and has had a strong season at Coates Talent League level for the Stingrays. A midfielder with serious speed, De Mattia can play on the inside, as he did against South Australia, or as a high half-forward. The Vic Country co-captain showed off his line-breaking ability in the first championships game and will be another to keep tabs on.

Billy Wilson (Dromana/Dandenong Stingrays)

Wilson had been touted by Dandenong Stingrays coach Nick Cox as a player to watch at the start of the year and the rebounding defender has been super consistent. Vic Country are stacked with running backs and Wilson was one of their best against South Australia with 16 possessions and his attacking flare could see him rise up the board.

Angus Hastie (Geelong West Giants/Geelong Falcons)

Corrigan, also the Geelong Falcons coach, put a lot of the Falcons’ strong form down to the drive of Hastie off half back. The defensive side of his game has also stood out this year and he is another running defender who can boost his stocks throughout the carnival.

Lachie Charleson (East Point/GWV Rebels)

Charleson burst onto the scene in Vic Country colours earlier in the year with four goals against the Young Guns. The 176cm forward applies great defensive pressure, has good speed off the mark and is lively around goal.

Michael Rudd (St Mary’s/Geelong Falcons)

Rudd was one of the surprise packets for Vic Country in their first outing, booting two goals, clunking two contested marks and providing a presence in the air and at ground level. The Falcons forward has been a consistent performer throughout the year, kicking a goal in all but one of his seven games.

I'm heading along Friday night to what I hope will be a competitive game.

Pity about the really, really, really, really, really POOR decision to play this game at the WACA.

#dumb
#typicalwafc

[GVGjr]

Re: 2023 Draft Watch

For those based elsewhere watching it on AFL.com is a good option. Let's hope it's a good contest MJP.

[mjp]

Re: 2023 Draft Watch

For those based elsewhere watching it on AFL.com is a good option. Let's hope it's a good contest MJP.

Well, it's gonna be a mud-bath so prepare yourself for footy 1980's style.

[GVGjr]

Re: 2023 Draft Watch

Well, it's gonna be a mud-bath so prepare yourself for footy 1980's style.

That's even better. That will test the drainage.

[The Doctor]

Re: 2023 Draft Watch

Allies slaughtering Metro. at 1/4 time its 43 to 6

Croft at CHF &2nd ruck. Only 1 possession by my count but the ball is hardly going forward of centre.

[Mofra]

Re: 2023 Draft Watch

Allies slaughtering Metro. at 1/4 time its 43 to 6

Croft at CHF &2nd ruck. Only 1 possession by my count but the ball is hardly going forward of centre.

4th rounder