WOOF - Official Phantom Draft #1 (4 Rounds)

[GVGjr]

Re: WOOF - Official Phantom Draft #1 (4 Rounds)

I have Griffen #16 picks

Pick 8 - Port Power

- John Butcher

Pick 9 - Port Power

- Ben Cunnington

The Bulldogs Bite is up next and Happy Days is due to make another pick.

Just remember it might slow down a bit but we have made good progress tonight.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Re: WOOF - Official Phantom Draft #1 (4 Rounds)

Pick #10 - Essendon - Luke Tapscott
180cm / 86kg
(Forward/Mid)

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Re: WOOF - Official Phantom Draft #1 (4 Rounds)

Luke Tapscott is a powerful footballer first and foremost. He's big bodied and can kick the ball 50-60m off one or two steps. I would rate him in the top three skills wise. With AFL guidance I have no doubt his decision making and ball use will improve further. He'll be given the ball as much as possible. The fact that he's very hard at the contest will attract Essendon too. Loves the rough stuff and is a good tackler. Essendon need to find a replacement for Lovett, but they need some bigger bodied midfielders to help Watson. With Tapscott, they get a player capable of providing a bit of both.

His ability to play forward should not be underestimated either. Very good in contested situations and is a beautiful kick for goal. He's the type of player that can seriously influence a game of footy with 15-18 disposals. Very clever and good at ground level. He's had a consistent year, but the knock on him is that he doesn't get enough of the ball. At AFL level, he won't find it any easier. It could be a risk - but his application should see him deliver because he has all the tools to become a fine player.

Strongly considered Talia with Lloyd/Lucas' retirements. Gumbleton is injury prone, Neagle I don't rate. Pears needs support. Talia's versatility will really tempt the Dons - especially with club's last chance to stock up on quality talls.

[boydogs]

Re: WOOF - Official Phantom Draft #1 (4 Rounds)

Yep. Big task.

Will leave whoever drafts him wanting more for the next 10 years.

Sounds like Daniel Wells?

[Go_Dogs]

Re: WOOF - Official Phantom Draft #1 (4 Rounds)

Port Power #8 - John Butcher - 197cm, 84kgs.
We were really keen to add a tall forward, and are very happy to have Butcher fall through to #8. Although he has dropped in the rankings a bit as the year progressed, he is still the best KPP in the draft. He's athletic, very good at ground level and his second/defensive efforts are very good for a big man, as well as having a clean pair of hands. His kicking will however need some work. We had Butcher rated as the 5th best player in the draft, so very happy to walk away with him here.

Port Power #9 - Ben Cunnington - 186cm, 84kgs
After securing a KPF with #8, grabbing a quality mid was the next need. We were hopeful Lucas would slip, as he offers a good combination of outside - inside, however we are thrilled to land Cunnington. Cunnington is probably more inside - outside, and his hands and vision in congestion are probably his strengths. He attacks the contest hard, and is a strong body who can probably play senior footy in his first year. At times, his poise and awareness looks exceptional, but can just as easily turn it over through a lack of awareness. Should thrive in an AFL environment and will add some inside grunt to Port's midfield and feed the likes of Pearce and Salopek.

[comrade]

Re: WOOF - Official Phantom Draft #1 (4 Rounds)

Nice work G16. Port would be very happy if that's how it fell on the day.

I strongly considered both of those players at pick 5 - Cunnington in particular is a beast and will be ready to play from the get go IMO.

[Sockeye Salmon]

Re: WOOF - Official Phantom Draft #1 (4 Rounds)

Pick 7 West Coast Eagles - Kane Lucas (East Fremantle, WA)
Height: 188cm, Weight: 79kg, DOB: 26/06/91

I went along to the Nationals armed with a list of Peel players to watch (and a mandate to report back on all of them) but walked away only talked about 1 guy - Kane Lucas.

In 20 min quarters (no time on) Lucas had it 30+ times - if they did one of those videos that showed every play he was involved in, it would have gone for 15 minutes. He won his own ball inside and then hit targets by foot when he received it as a link man outside.

And all this in a package bigger than Dermott Brereton was.

[Go_Dogs]

Re: WOOF - Official Phantom Draft #1 (4 Rounds)

Nice work G16. Port would be very happy if that's how it fell on the day.

I strongly considered both of those players at pick 5 - Cunnington in particular is a beast and will be ready to play from the get go IMO.

Definitely. It's such an interesting draft as to where everyone could end up and both these guys could go at 5 or just as easily slip out of the top 10.

And from now, it gets really interesting.

[Go_Dogs]

Re: WOOF - Official Phantom Draft #1 (4 Rounds)

I went along to the Nationals armed with a list of Peel players to watch (and a mandate to report back on all of them) but walked away only talked about 1 guy - Kane Lucas.

Great selection SS - I was hoping he could be in the mix for 8 or 9. Lucas can really swoop on a contest at speed, gather cleanly and create space by hand, as well as the ability to run and deliver with good foot skills. He's a good size too as you say, a real modern day midfielder.

[Go_Dogs]

Re: WOOF - Official Phantom Draft #1 (4 Rounds)

Yep. Big task.

Will leave whoever drafts him wanting more for the next 10 years.

Why is this? Work ethic, or just not being able to get everything to 'click'?

My big knock on him based on what I have seen is decision making and disposal under pressure, and whilst I think he is certainly a risk, there aren't really any others that have the upside he has. He could be the next Goodes, or the next Ray. (And I could be a 1000 miles off the mark, so don't shoot me mjp)

[Happy Days]

Re: WOOF - Official Phantom Draft #1 (4 Rounds)

Melbourne

Pick 11 Nathan Vardy

[Happy Days]

Re: WOOF - Official Phantom Draft #1 (4 Rounds)

I'll admit to only have very limited viewing of Nathan live, at the U-18 Championships, where he wasn't terribly impressive, but he seems to be a pretty consensus pick as the best ruck in the draft. From highlights and internet sources, he looks to have good disposal and skills for a ruckman, and his tap work is outstandings.

Concerns are more around his height (198cm - which is fast becoming undersized for a ruckman), and his fitness level (had the 2nd worst skinfolds at DC), but, like I said, he is the best ruckman in the draft, and Melbourne, whose ruck division is probably the weakest in the league, need one of these desperately.

[Go_Dogs]

Re: WOOF - Official Phantom Draft #1 (4 Rounds)

Melbourne

Pick 11 Nathan Vardy

Interesting choice here HD. Certainly thought you'd be eyeing a ruck, but thought you may hold off till 18 and hope Vardy was still available there. The next few selections are wide open now.

[Rocco Jones]

Re: WOOF - Official Phantom Draft #1 (4 Rounds)

I am tossing up between two players. Hope gogriff picks one of them to make my choice easier!

[The Doctor]

Re: WOOF - Official Phantom Draft #1 (4 Rounds)

Jake Melksham (Calder Cannons, VIC)
Height: 182cm, Weight: 69kg, DOB: 29/8/91

Well balanced with tremendous ball-winning ability. Strong and hard at stoppages with clean skills by hand and foot. Can play both inside and outside. Vic Metro U18 representative in 2009. AIS/AFL Academy graduate. Best on ground in the TAC Cup Grand Final by a mile.

I really wanted Melksham here as a quality midfielder was the priority. Gave Lucas some thought and even toyed with the idea of Aaron Black. In the end Melksham was just too good to pass up.