Draft Review 2008 - Re-do the 2008 draft

RedmanWasHere · Mar 10, 2023

Season No. 15 coming up for those remaining.

To think that Sidebottom, Ziebell and Shiels were in Year 12 at the time of their debuts is believable then but not so now.

Until the 2022B AFLW Season, this was the last AFL season to have players debut in the year they turned 18 years old.

RedmanWasHere · Aug 11, 2023

BUMP!

Any new thoughts on how this draft has turned out?

Sidebottom becomes the first player from this draft to 300 career games.

adammania9 · Aug 11, 2023

Do you rank on footballing ability or on their careers? I think Sidebottom has undoubtedly had the best career - 300+ games, a premiership, second in NSM at 19 years old, All-Australian, 2 best and fairests, a Gary Ayres medal. A model of durability and consistency for many years, seamlessly fitting in from the start of his career and becoming a high level footballer quickly and didn't stagnate. Looked done two years ago but was rejuvenated under McRae and has enjoyed two really good seasons playing wing. Great player.

The two arguably best footballers though to me were Hannebery and Beams - 226 and 177 games respectively. I have no love for Beams whatsoever but he was one hell of a player despite numerous injury setbacks. High quality right through to his indefinite leave which he never returned from. Hannebery was an absolute tank at his size and polled 5 NSM votes at the age of 21 in a flag, and won 3 AA's by the age of 25. Probably the best player in a wonderful Sydney midfield, but as everyone knows his career was never quite the same following the '16 grand final. He could still find the footy but the fire was gone from his game.

Trying to strike a balance between career output, and plain footballing ability:
1. Steele Sidebottom
2. Dan Hannebery
3. Rory Sloane
4. Dayne Beams
5. Luke Breust
6. Michael Hurley
7. Nic Naitanui
8. Luke Shuey
9. Michael Walters
10. Daniel Rich
11. Tom Rockliff
12. Jack Ziebell
13. Phil Davis
14. Liam Shiels
15. Jack Redden
16. Tom Lynch
17. Mitch Robinson
18. David Zaharakis
19. Neville Jetta
20. Jeff Garlett
21. Hayden Ballantyne
22. Steven Motlop
23. Mike Pyke
24. Liam Picken
25. Stephen Hill
26. Rhys Stanley
27. Matthew Broadbent
28. Jordan Roughead
29. Matt Suckling
30. Matt De Boer

Other 100 gamers:
Hamish Hartlett, Jackson Trengove, Jack Watts, Shane Savage, Nick Suban, Sam Wright, Ty Vickery, Ryan Schoenmakers, Chris Yarran, Zac Clarke, Taylor Hunt, Ricky Henderson, Jarryd Blair, Robin Nahas, Greg Broughton, Lachlan Keeffe, Clancee Pearce

KissKiss · Aug 11, 2023

Was a good draft for the Lions with the three Rs (Rich, Rockliff and Redden) all being good players. Rich sadly going to fall short of the 300 it seems but been a club legend through our bad years. Also ended up with Beams and Robinson to show it was a big draft for us

Reckon all of Beams, Hannebery and NicNat could have been the best from the draft (talent was there) but injuries just held them back a bit too much

00Stinger · Aug 12, 2023

No real clear cut stand out in this draft

Sidebottom definitely in the discussion for number 1

Sent from my SM-S908E using Tapatalk

HairyO · Aug 12, 2023

00Stinger said:
No real clear cut stand out in this draft

Sidebottom definitely in the discussion for number 1

Sent from my SM-S908E using Tapatalk

Sure, but only because Breust was in the 2009 preseason Rookie draft, selected in the 40s. Meaning over 120 players were selected before him.

Has been the best small forward since Milne, and arguably even better.

Only time he has kicked less than 30 goals in a year was with the shortened season and shortened games with COVID, plus he also had a fractured jaw and missed a month.

Dockeroo · Aug 17, 2023

adammania9 said:
Do you rank on footballing ability or on their careers? I think Sidebottom has undoubtedly had the best career - 300+ games, a premiership, second in NSM at 19 years old, All-Australian, 2 best and fairests, a Gary Ayres medal. A model of durability and consistency for many years, seamlessly fitting in from the start of his career and becoming a high level footballer quickly and didn't stagnate. Looked done two years ago but was rejuvenated under McRae and has enjoyed two really good seasons playing wing. Great player.

The two arguably best footballers though to me were Hannebery and Beams - 226 and 177 games respectively. I have no love for Beams whatsoever but he was one hell of a player despite numerous injury setbacks. High quality right through to his indefinite leave which he never returned from. Hannebery was an absolute tank at his size and polled 5 NSM votes at the age of 21 in a flag, and won 3 AA's by the age of 25. Probably the best player in a wonderful Sydney midfield, but as everyone knows his career was never quite the same following the '16 grand final. He could still find the footy but the fire was gone from his game.

Trying to strike a balance between career output, and plain footballing ability:
1. Steele Sidebottom
2. Dan Hannebery
3. Rory Sloane
4. Dayne Beams
5. Luke Breust
6. Michael Hurley
7. Nic Naitanui
8. Luke Shuey
9. Michael Walters
10. Daniel Rich
11. Tom Rockliff
12. Jack Ziebell
13. Phil Davis
14. Liam Shiels
15. Jack Redden
16. Tom Lynch
17. Mitch Robinson
18. David Zaharakis
19. Neville Jetta
20. Jeff Garlett
21. Hayden Ballantyne
22. Steven Motlop
23. Mike Pyke
24. Liam Picken
25. Stephen Hill
26. Rhys Stanley
27. Matthew Broadbent
28. Jordan Roughead
29. Matt Suckling
30. Matt De Boer

Other 100 gamers:
Hamish Hartlett, Jackson Trengove, Jack Watts, Shane Savage, Nick Suban, Sam Wright, Ty Vickery, Ryan Schoenmakers, Chris Yarran, Zac Clarke, Taylor Hunt, Ricky Henderson, Jarryd Blair, Robin Nahas, Greg Broughton, Lachlan Keeffe, Clancee Pearce

Stephen Hill at 25 is a crime. The guy was an absolute gun at his peak, a top 3 or 4 player in a very decent freo side from 2010 onwards. Was getting tagged in his first year because he was so damaging by foot. Having guys like Rockliff redden and Robinson (the definition of a bottom 6 role player) ranked ahead of him is way off.

freo_leo29 · Aug 17, 2023

adammania9 said:
Do you rank on footballing ability or on their careers? I think Sidebottom has undoubtedly had the best career - 300+ games, a premiership, second in NSM at 19 years old, All-Australian, 2 best and fairests, a Gary Ayres medal. A model of durability and consistency for many years, seamlessly fitting in from the start of his career and becoming a high level footballer quickly and didn't stagnate. Looked done two years ago but was rejuvenated under McRae and has enjoyed two really good seasons playing wing. Great player.

The two arguably best footballers though to me were Hannebery and Beams - 226 and 177 games respectively. I have no love for Beams whatsoever but he was one hell of a player despite numerous injury setbacks. High quality right through to his indefinite leave which he never returned from. Hannebery was an absolute tank at his size and polled 5 NSM votes at the age of 21 in a flag, and won 3 AA's by the age of 25. Probably the best player in a wonderful Sydney midfield, but as everyone knows his career was never quite the same following the '16 grand final. He could still find the footy but the fire was gone from his game.

Trying to strike a balance between career output, and plain footballing ability:
1. Steele Sidebottom
2. Dan Hannebery
3. Rory Sloane
4. Dayne Beams
5. Luke Breust
6. Michael Hurley
7. Nic Naitanui
8. Luke Shuey
9. Michael Walters
10. Daniel Rich
11. Tom Rockliff
12. Jack Ziebell
13. Phil Davis
14. Liam Shiels
15. Jack Redden
16. Tom Lynch
17. Mitch Robinson
18. David Zaharakis
19. Neville Jetta
20. Jeff Garlett
21. Hayden Ballantyne
22. Steven Motlop
23. Mike Pyke
24. Liam Picken
25. Stephen Hill
26. Rhys Stanley
27. Matthew Broadbent
28. Jordan Roughead
29. Matt Suckling
30. Matt De Boer

Other 100 gamers:
Hamish Hartlett, Jackson Trengove, Jack Watts, Shane Savage, Nick Suban, Sam Wright, Ty Vickery, Ryan Schoenmakers, Chris Yarran, Zac Clarke, Taylor Hunt, Ricky Henderson, Jarryd Blair, Robin Nahas, Greg Broughton, Lachlan Keeffe, Clancee Pearce

How on earth do you have Hill so low?

Jesus

adammania9 · Aug 17, 2023

Dockeroo said:
Stephen Hill at 25 is a crime. The guy was an absolute gun at his peak, a top 3 or 4 player in a very decent freo side from 2010 onwards. Was getting tagged in his first year because he was so damaging by foot. Having guys like Rockliff redden and Robinson (the definition of a bottom 6 role player) ranked ahead of him is way off.

freo_leo29 said:
How on earth do you have Hill so low?

Jesus

Yes probably poor judgement by me. Would have him around 15 in a revision.

RedmanWasHere · Dec 3, 2023

And then, there were 7 names.

Sloane.
Shiels.
Sidebottom.
Walters.
Rhys Stanley.
Breust.
Liam Jones.

gandaal · Dec 3, 2023

RedmanWasHere said:
And then, there were 7 names.

Sloane.
Shiels.
Sidebottom.
Walters.
Rhys Stanley.
Breust.
Liam Jones.

I doubt any would've said these could be in the final 7 on draft day. Maybe Sidebottom from a few.

rye · Dec 3, 2023

stanley shiels and sloane should have retired

nahnah · Dec 15, 2023

Very very deep draft, I'd have Sidebottom and Breust as the top 2 and hard to split them

gandaal · Dec 16, 2023

nahnah said:
Very very deep draft, I'd have Sidebottom and Breust as the top 2 and hard to split them

Over Nik Nat? Not a chance

Caligo · Dec 16, 2023

Bruest and Sidebottom are so far ahead of everyone else in terms of longevity. Either could easily have been AA in 2023.

nahnah · Dec 16, 2023

gandaal said:
Over Nik Nat? Not a chance

Nic Nat isnt top 5 in this draft imo, he could have been though. He isnt even the first west coast player for me

Here we go dogs · Dec 16, 2023

Shuey the best in that draft for me.

Here we go dogs · Dec 16, 2023

adammania9 said:
Do you rank on footballing ability or on their careers? I think Sidebottom has undoubtedly had the best career - 300+ games, a premiership, second in NSM at 19 years old, All-Australian, 2 best and fairests, a Gary Ayres medal. A model of durability and consistency for many years, seamlessly fitting in from the start of his career and becoming a high level footballer quickly and didn't stagnate. Looked done two years ago but was rejuvenated under McRae and has enjoyed two really good seasons playing wing. Great player.

The two arguably best footballers though to me were Hannebery and Beams - 226 and 177 games respectively. I have no love for Beams whatsoever but he was one hell of a player despite numerous injury setbacks. High quality right through to his indefinite leave which he never returned from. Hannebery was an absolute tank at his size and polled 5 NSM votes at the age of 21 in a flag, and won 3 AA's by the age of 25. Probably the best player in a wonderful Sydney midfield, but as everyone knows his career was never quite the same following the '16 grand final. He could still find the footy but the fire was gone from his game.

Trying to strike a balance between career output, and plain footballing ability:
1. Steele Sidebottom
2. Dan Hannebery
3. Rory Sloane
4. Dayne Beams
5. Luke Breust
6. Michael Hurley
7. Nic Naitanui
8. Luke Shuey
9. Michael Walters
10. Daniel Rich
11. Tom Rockliff
12. Jack Ziebell
13. Phil Davis
14. Liam Shiels
15. Jack Redden
16. Tom Lynch
17. Mitch Robinson
18. David Zaharakis
19. Neville Jetta
20. Jeff Garlett
21. Hayden Ballantyne
22. Steven Motlop
23. Mike Pyke
24. Liam Picken
25. Stephen Hill
26. Rhys Stanley
27. Matthew Broadbent
28. Jordan Roughead
29. Matt Suckling
30. Matt De Boer

Other 100 gamers:
Hamish Hartlett, Jackson Trengove, Jack Watts, Shane Savage, Nick Suban, Sam Wright, Ty Vickery, Ryan Schoenmakers, Chris Yarran, Zac Clarke, Taylor Hunt, Ricky Henderson, Jarryd Blair, Robin Nahas, Greg Broughton, Lachlan Keeffe, Clancee Pearce

Mike Pyke better than Stephen Hill is very interesting…

Caligo · Dec 16, 2023

As others have said, Hill seems conspicuously unloved. Predominantly outside players don't get the respect they deserve from the footy public (and the AA committee).

gandaal · Dec 16, 2023

nahnah said:
Nic Nat isnt top 5 in this draft imo, he could have been though. He isnt even the first west coast player for me

adammania9 · Dec 16, 2023

Here we go dogs said:
Mike Pyke better than Stephen Hill is very interesting…

Yeah butchered that. I remembered him mostly for his injury plagued last few years. Was a stud in his day. Around 12-17.

Freomaniac · Dec 17, 2023

Caligo said:
As others have said, Hill seems conspicuously unloved. Predominantly outside players don't get the respect they deserve from the footy public (and the AA committee).

Stephen Hill was never respected or loved outside of the dockers. I loved him. In His best he was really good. Shame injuries and that lack of a premiership medal worked against him.

Brad Hill is rated at multiple clubs as he played in Multiple clubs. Crazy to think he got 3 premiership medals at 22 years old and 86 days.

Caligo · Dec 17, 2023

Freomaniac said:
Stephen Hill was never respected or loved outside of the dockers. I loved him. In His best he was really good. Shame injuries and that lack of a premiership medal worked against him.

Brad Hill is rated at multiple clubs as he played in Multiple clubs. Crazy to think he got 3 premiership medals at 22 years old and 86 days.

I always thought Stephen was a gun and wanted to bring him across to join his brother. As it turned out it was us who lost out.

It just annoys me that class outside players don't get the plaudits. How often are genuine wingmen ever AA?

Here we go dogs · Dec 17, 2023

Caligo said:
I always thought Stephen was a gun and wanted to bring him across to join his brother. As it turned out it was us who lost out.

It just annoys me that class outside players don't get the plaudits. How often are genuine wingmen ever AA?

In the last 15 years has there really been many genuine wingman though?

Most teams either initiate future mids for development (ie - Sam Walsh) or part time mids (ie - Mitch Robinson) on the wing that role through numerous other positions as there expendable.

They are starting to make a come back, but really I can only think of 5 or so that have been genuinely elite:

Isaac Smith
Stephen Hill
Brad Hill
Daisy - at Collingwood
Hugh Mclugage - plays on ball now
Gaff - good for a couple of years
Ed Langdon - good for a couple of year

Probably a few I’m missing.

Lachie Hunter also played the role well. Never elite though.

Caligo · Dec 17, 2023

Here we go dogs said:
In the last 15 years has there really been many genuine wingman though?

Most teams either initiate future mids for development (ie - Sam Walsh) or part time mids (ie - Mitch Robinson) on the wing that role through numerous other positions as there expendable.

They are starting to make a come back, but really I can only think of 5 or so that have been genuinely elite:

Isaac Smith
Stephen Hill
Brad Hill
Daisy - at Collingwood
Hugh Mclugage - plays on ball now
Gaff - good for a couple of years
Ed Langdon - good for a couple of year

Probably a few I’m missing.

Lachie Hunter also played the role well. Never elite though.

Mitch Duncan and Tom Scully were two I would add to that list. Duncan in particular was criminally underrated. Without him, Geelong would have looked very slow for years. You could really tell any time he was hurt or not playing.

WBBL Season 10 - Oct '24 to Dec '25

Draft Review 2008 - Re-do the 2008 draft

Rarely in kitchens at parties.

Rarely in kitchens at parties.

Brownlow Medallist

Norm Smith Medallist

100 - 7

Hall of Famer

Brownlow Medallist

Hall of Famer

Brownlow Medallist

Rarely in kitchens at parties.

Brownlow Medallist

⠀

Hall of Famer

Brownlow Medallist

Premiership Player

Hall of Famer

Club Legend

Club Legend

Premiership Player

Brownlow Medallist

Brownlow Medallist

Hall of Famer

Premiership Player

Club Legend

Premiership Player

Draft Review 2008 - Re-do the 2008 draft

Similar threads

Log In or Create New Account