Player Watch 2022 AFL National Draft Discussion - read the pinned post

[Strapping Young Lad]

National AFL draft Monday November 28(first round only).
All other selections to be held on Tuesday November 29.
The pre-season and rookie drafts will then take place at 3pm (AEST) on Wednesday November 30.

 

[VandoHawk]

Surely we’d only do that if we split the pick. Makes zero sense otherwise.

Would try to get a future first out of Melbourne since they have 2 and might want to move up. Think 14 is the latest Jefferson will be available, simply because other teams have more pressing needs (Carlton stacked with tall forwards, WB stacked with tall forwards, WC committed to Hewett).

I like Jefferson. Wouldn't mind if we take him but would be looking to split the pick. Went bananas earlier in the year and then it turned out he had a leg fracture.

 

[H00t]

HHQ saying we're looking at Jefferson at 6. Surely not!!

I know he kicked 7 earlier on in the year. But from what I saw it wasn’t an overly dominant 7. At least one soft free kick.

And this is just a personal thing but I’m not sure how well his game will translate to AFL level. I didn’t see a key forward.

If we do draft him. I hope I’m wrong

 

[Randy Campbell]

The scouting report would be interesting. Big-bodied, happy-go-lucky player who is fun to tackle. Has very sticky hands, particularly after the quarter and halftime breaks.

But struggles with communication.

 

[matey]

Have been keen on Poo and Macca for a while now because they provide a point of difference to our young midfield group and likely to be at our pick. However over the last week Bumbers maybe keen on Poo and GC perhaps unlikely to go with Tsatas as he said he would prefer to stay in Melbourne …… Tsatsas also provides a point of difference with his break away speed, inside/outside ability, gets plenty of it and at 6’ 2 ain’t a midget. Would be happy with either Tsatas, Poo or Macca and a big big big NO in splitting our first I would be furious if we did that.

 

[Judd2Sewell]

That bolded part is certainly very debatable. You seem to have discounted a lot of what Tsatas and Wardlaw are capable of.

As for the rest of your post, I don’t know why you’d bother mentioning Cunnington and Greenwood when they’re about done and McDonald is a back flanker. There’s still question marks on Thomas(at the moment) and Phillips hasnt had much of a run at it at this stage, so they’ve essentially got only LDU, Simpkin and Powell as mids for their 2024 and beyond squad.

Then there’s the game trend for explosive mids, who can break the game wide open with consecutive centre bounces and take meterage.

I would almost garantee that if North overlook one of Tsatas and Wardlaw when they have Picks 2 & 3 we won’t have to wait long for people to start questioning if they screwed up.

By classier I mean a smoother mover and a better kick - that's been demonstrably true.

IMO there's no doubt that Sheezel is a classier footballer than both Wardlaw (power midfielder) and Tsatas (all round midfielder), but then again that's been Sheezel's game from day one.

Sheezel showed at TAC level he could dominate playing out of the middle and still hit the scoreboard, which was something that Wardlaw and Tsatas didn't show they had in them at TAC level (not to say they can't or won't in the future).

North have multiple areas of concern. But they'd be backing themselves to get the best out of LDU, Simpkin, Powell, Phillips and Thomas. Add Wardlaw to the group and they have a nice mix of explosive contested midfielders (LDU and Wardlaw), inside/outside all-rounders (Simpkin, Phillips and Powell) and a classy ball user (Thomas).

I mentioned the older heads and included MacDonald because he did spend time in the middle this season as a relief midfielder. These guys are there to bridge the gap between this current batch and whoever they bring in over the next few years.

IMO they simply can't afford to draft arguably the most talented player in the pool when they have two early picks. Especially given he can have an impact in two areas of the field that no one else at TAC level has shown this season. They'll make out like bandits with a Midfielder and a Forward/Midfielder.

 

[Judd2Sewell]

Nothing guarantees pick 18 will be better than 24 or 41 or even a rookie selection.

Of course. But which pick would anyone rather have out of 18, 24 or 41?

 

[Judd2Sewell]

It’s been a bit of recurring theme in here about Sheezel and McKenzie being hawks fans.

I just want the best player available.

They also appear to be the two best kicks amongst the draftees. I daresay that has a lot more to do with it.

Supporting the club is a bonus, and for me personally they are both smooth moves which are the kinds of players that I enjoy watching.

 

[Judd2Sewell]

Looking more and more likely that Essendon will take Phillipou

Which would mean:

1) Brisbane - Ashcroft
2) GWS - Cadman
3) North - Wardlaw
4) North - Sheezel
5) Essendon - Phillipou
6) GCS - Humphrey (?) or Ginbey (?)
7) Hawks - Tsatas (?) or Mackenzie (?)

Honestly I'd love if we could draft Tsatas, Phillipou, Mackenzie or Humphrey. They all have their strengths and address areas of need.

I just have no interest in Clark though.

 

[RIOLINWITPUNCHS]

Has there been question marks on players in past drafts who have that inside/outside hybrid game such as Tsatas?

I remember reading some things about certain players (might have been Callaghan) that questioned where they would actually fit in as they are neither purely inside or outside.

 

[Big Hotdog]

Agreed. Expect that to be Jhye Clark.

Agreed. I reckon that is who we will take.
Has quality traits that cant be taught.

I would personally like the Pou.

 

[Dewnior]

It’s just a shame we didn’t secure that teens pick.

We did and he comes with 3 years of development

 

[Judd2Sewell]

Has there been question marks on players in past drafts who have that inside/outside hybrid game such as Tsatas?

I remember reading some things about certain players (might have been Callaghan) that questioned where they would actually fit in as they are neither purely inside or outside.

Ward and Callaghan are similar in terms of being midfielders that are "all-rounders" like Tsatas. I think those concerns were raised at one point in relation to both for them.

On a side note - IMO both Ward and Callaghan are better kicks than Tsatas based on what I've watched. But Tsatas has a bigger frame than Ward, which may suggest he'd have more scope for improving his contested game.

Callaghan is more unique in that he's even taller for a midfielder and has a longer kick than both Ward and Tsatas.

Anyway Brayshaw, Kelly and Walsh are elite midfielders that are a great mix of both roles. These are the kinds of midfielders that Ward and Tsatas should be modelling themselves on.

 

[BigLittleHawk]

I would absolutely love Ginbey at the Hawks. The way he goes about it reminds me of a (much) lower grade Luke Hodge, minus the sweet foot skills (and dark hair). Powerful, Strong hands, hard at it, contested beast, left-footer.

However, there is less risk in taking someone like C. Mac. At this stage, it seems as though Tsatas will be available, which would probably be a no-brainer.

But gee I'd love to get Ginbey.

 

[TylerDurden]

I would absolutely love Ginbey at the Hawks. The way he goes about it reminds me of a (much) lower grade Luke Hodge, minus the sweet foot skills (and dark hair). Powerful, Strong hands, hard at it, contested beast, left-footer.

However, there is less risk in taking someone like C. Mac. At this stage, it seems as though Tsatas will be available, which would probably be a no-brainer.

But gee I'd love to get Ginbey.

He's an animal. Get the feeling GC take him at 5 anyway.

 

[HawthornHawk]

Love his foot skills

 

[flinchfree]

Love his foot skills

Jet.

 

[Judd2Sewell]

He's an animal. Get the feeling GC take him at 5 anyway.

WCE will be crying if this happens.

 

[Judd2Sewell]

Love his foot skills

Superb kick. He loves placing the ball out in front of his teammates and seems to be able to pull his kicks, even when he's running at top speed.

 

[Brishawk]

Superb kick. He loves placing the ball out in front of his teammates and seems to be able to pull his kicks, even when he's running at top speed.

There is a lot to like. Hard to see us passing on Tsatsas if he slides but I’ll be happy if we land mckenzie.

 

[rei154]

Question for draft watchers: who has the better outside game out of Mackenzie and Tsatas?
Given we've also just nabbed Stephens I wonder if we'll be focusing on players with more outside game this draft given our inside mid stocks seem to be fine from a numbers perspective.

 

[MasterSamurai]

Question for draft watchers: who has the better outside game out of Mackenzie and Tsatas?
Given we've also just nabbed Stephens I wonder if we'll be focusing on players with more outside game this draft given our inside mid stocks seem to be fine from a numbers perspective.

Tsatas, actually, arguably the best of the whole lot. But McKenzie is really good as that second reciever from stoppage. He bursts away and uses it cleanly. Not to make a ' ironed on' comparison but Burgoyne type. Tsatas on the outside is a jet¡ But not too shabby on the inside as well.

 

[Bugs1977]

There is a lot to like. Hard to see us passing on Tsatsas if he slides but I’ll be happy if we land mckenzie.

This is where I'm at too

 

[FB19]

Superb kick. He loves placing the ball out in front of his teammates and seems to be able to pull his kicks, even when he's running at top speed.

For those older hawks maybe a bit of the Darren Pritchards about him?

 

[Davo-27]

Question for draft watchers: who has the better outside game out of Mackenzie and Tsatas?
Given we've also just nabbed Stephens I wonder if we'll be focusing on players with more outside game this draft given our inside mid stocks seem to be fine from a numbers perspective.

Tsatas plays mostly wing, but loves to run and handball receive through the middle as a winger, whereas Mackenzie is more inside that can spread, Tsatas can also play the attacking run through the centre inside mid as well, but he is more making space to receive and use rather than contest poss ect.

 

[Bugs1977]

Tsatas plays mostly wing, but loves to run and handball receive through the middle as a winger, whereas Mackenzie is more inside that can spread, Tsatas can also play the attacking run through the centre inside mid as well, but he is more making space to receive and use rather than contest poss ect.

Davo if you had a choice between Tsatas, MacKenzie and Phillipou which way would you go?