Game Day 2022 AFL National Draft Thread (North's current picks - Sheezel, Wardlaw, #23, #63)

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2022 REPLAYS

Metro v Young Guns: Colgate Young Guns v Victoria Metro - Round 1
Country v Young Guns: Colgate Young Guns v Vic Country - Round 2
Fitzroy Cubs v Carlton VFL: AFL Diversity Talent Programs
Match Replay: NAB AFL Academy v Collingwood
Match Replay: 2022 SA v Allies: 2022 NAB AFL National Championships - U18

AFL DRAFT COMBINE RESULTS 2022

Vertical Jump

75cm – Darcy Jones (WA)
75cm – James Van Es (VIC C)
72cm – Jack O’Sullivan (VIC M)
70cm – Olli Hotton (VIC M)
70cm – Reuben Ginbey (WA)
70cm – Elijah Hewett (WA)
69cm – Jacob Konstanty (VIC C)
68cm – Blake Drury (VIC M)
68cm – Tyrell Dewar (WA)
68cm – Josh Weddle (VIC M)
68cm – Edward Allan (WA)

Running Vertical Jump

98cm – James Van Es (VIC C)
90cm – Josh Weddle (VIC M)
90cm – Will Verrall (SA)
89cm – Jack O’Sullivan (VIC M)
87cm – Darcy Jones (WA)
87cm – Mattaes Phillipou (SA)
84cm – Toby McMullin (VIC M)
83cm – Mitch Szybkowski (VIC C)
83cm – Reuben Ginbey (WA)
83cm – Anthony Munkara (ALLIES)
83cm – Lachlan Cowan (ALLIES)

Agility

7.072sec – Darcy Jones (WA)
8.182sec – Jaxon Binns (VIC C)
8.217sec – Elijah Hewett (WA)
8.247sec – Steely Green (WA)
8.255sec – Edward Allan (WA)
8.267sec – Luke Teal (VIC M)
8.285sec – Toby McMullin (VIC M)
8.292sec – Jacob Konstanty (VIC C)
8.325sec – Harry Rowston (ALLIES)
8.343sec – Noah Long (VIC C)

20m Sprint

2.814sec – Edward Allan (WA)
2.880sec – Toby McMullin (VIC M)
2.883sec – Coby Burgiel (VIC C)
2.910sec – James Van Es (VIC C)
2.912sec – Darcy Jones (WA)
2.924sec – Olli Hotton (VIC M)
2.928sec – Reuben Ginbey (WA)
2.929sec – Cooper Vickery (VIC C)
2.937sec – Josh Weddle (VIC M)
2.951sec – Lloyd Johnston (ALLIES)

2km Time Trial

5min 54sec – Ollie Hollands (VIC C)
5min 54sec – Jason Gillbee (ALLIES)
6min 00sec – Jaxon Binns (VIC C)
6min 03sec – Josh Weddle (VIC M)
6min 15sec – Reuben Ginbey (WA)
6min 16sec – Jakob Ryan (SA)
6min 17sec – Steely Green (WA)
6min 21sec – Will Dowling (SA)
6min 25sec – Blake Drury (VIC M)
6min 25sec – Seth Campbell (ALLIES)
6min 25sec – Mattaes Phillipou (SA)
Player Profiles and Updated Top 50 - Post Championships & Combine.

Comment -
Not much changed in the top 5,but a fair bit has changed beyond that. Also added in half a dozen more profiles which mostly feature at the end.

1. Will Ashcroft 06/05/04 - Sandringham Dragons - 183cm Midfielder - Professional and balanced midfielder who accumulates the footy at will. Consistency at all levels has been seriously impressive. Has nominated Brisbane to be a F/S selection. Will no doubt be taken inside the top 2 picks. Unfortunately didn't test at the combine.

2. George Wardlaw 18/07/04 - Oakleigh Chargers - 182cm Midfielder - Tough, fast and explosive inside midfielder. Has the ability to take first possession and explode from the contest making him very damaging. Had a tough run over the past 3 months with re-occurring hamstring injuries. Has excellent defensive intent and pressure. Didn't test at the combine as a precaution.

3. Harry Sheezel 13/10/04 - Sandringham Dragons - 183cm Forward/Mid - Classy half forward/mid who can find space in a phone booth. Sums up situations quickly and can hit the hardest of kicks. Duel sided, smart, and excellent over head. Composure and overhead marking a real feature in his game. Question marks on his speed and ability to transition to the midfield at AFL level, but I think he has the footy IQ to overcome those deficiencies.

4. Aaron Cadman 03/03/04 – GWV Rebels – 194cm Forward - High work rate and elite leading CHF. Works up and down the ground and get involved in possession chains. Has dynamic movement for a big man and is a decent grab, particularly on the lead. Needs to improve his set shot goal kicking. Cadman is no doubt the premier key forward in this years draft class, but I still have concerns about his height and game style and whether that will translate to being a 50+ goal key forward at AFL level.

5. Elijah Tsatas 18/10/04 - Oakleigh Chargers - 184cm Midfielder - Powerful running midfielder who can play inside and outside. He is a true line breaker, with a combination of long running gait and long kicking. High footy IQ with positioning around the ground allowing him to always stay involved. Kicking can sometimes be a little bit hit and miss. Missed a big portion of the year due to a foot fracture.

6. Oliver Hollands 16/01/04Murray Bushrangers – 182cm Midfielder/Defender - Versatile midfielder who can play inside/outside, wing or across half back. Has an elite tank, and is arguable one of the best disposer in the draft. A long kick who can also provide some run and carry. Won the 2km time trial at the combine to highlight his elite running capacity. Have him ranked far higher than others mainly due to his kicking.

7. Bailey Humphrey 11/09/04 – Gippsland Power – 184cm Forward - A tough and a powerful athlete who loves the physical side of the game. A real game breaker with his overhead contested marking, goal kicking, physicality and ability to step up in pressure situations. Large scope of development due to his power and general footy IQ.

8. Mattaes Phillipou 27/12/04 – Woodville-West Torrens – 192cm Midfielder/Forward - Powerful left footer who can break the game open either in the midfield or across half forward. Strong overhead and has goal kicking ability when playing forward. Huge amount of upside, but no obvious best position at AFL level at this stage.

9. Jedd Busslinger 11/03/04 - East Perth - 195cm – Defender - Elite intercept defender who is good overhead but also has an excellent kick for a big man. Isn't afraid to take the game on, but also can lock down on the big tall forwards. Equally at home to playing that third tall interceptor role. Has a slight frame at this stage so will take some time to mature before playing AFL footy. While I think he is an elite intercept defender I do have concerns as to whether he will be big enough (physically) to play as a genuine KP at AFL level.

10. Cam Mackenzie 21/01/04 – Sandringham Dragons – 187cm Forward/Mid - Rarely plays a bad game and has benefitted from playing alongside Ashcroft. Can win the footy at the coal face but can also provide some run on the outside. Is crafty around goal when resting forward.

11. Jhye Clark 23/07/04 - Geelong Falcons - 180cm Midfielder - Consummate professional who rarely has a bad game. Fantastic balance between inside and outside game. Balanced, clean and always stays involved. Lacks an athletic point of difference to those rated above him, but in my opinion he is a sure bet to be a 200 gamer. Slips down the rankings due to a poor combine.

12. Elijah Hewett 27/05/04 - Swan Districts – 27/05/04 - 186cm Midfielder - Powerful, tough and physical goal kicking midfielder. Has a good turn of speed and is explosive off his first 3-4 steps allowing him to get separation from the contest.

13. Reuben Ginbey 10/10/04 – East Perth - 189cm Midfielder/Defender - A shift from half back to inside mid seen him thrive at the championships. Has a mature body, and is at home in the contest. Ball use by hand is really solid, but decision making and execution by foot is a big area of his game that needs to improve. Showed a lot of form in the WAFL playing as an intercept half back with his marking a real feature. Tested really well at the draft combine.

14. Lachlan Cowan 01/12/04 - Tasmania Devils - 187cm Defender - Arguably the best half back in the draft, Cowan provides a tonne of drive with his ability to intercept and kick long. Provides good run and carry but also has good balance between his offensive and defensive game. Sees the game well and has a damaging footskills that make him a serious weapon across half back. Rarely has a bad game.

15. Lewis Hayes 17/12/04 – Eastern Ranges – 195cm Key Defender - Rangy intercepting key defender who I rate a lot higher than most. Has all the attributes you could want in a defender; closing speed, long limbs, positioning and ability to intercept. Can accumulate the footy as well if allowed to play a loose role. Impressive decision making and has the foot skills to be damaging when exiting D50. Will take some time to mature physically.

16. Isaac Keeler 23/04/04 - North Adelaide - 197cm Ruck/Forward - Freakishly gifted tall forward, who has impressive movement below his knees and goal kicking ability. A special athlete, who has a good leap and speed. Bucket loads of potential but still very raw.

17. Oli Hotton 06/09/04 – Sandringham Dragons – 181cm Midfielder - Skillful midfielder who is at home both on the inside and out on a wing. Works hard both ways and is an attacking threat inside forward 50. Has a touch of class and his decision making is excellent.

18. Matthew Jefferson 08/03/04 – Oakleigh Chargers – 194cm Forward - Strong marking athletic key forward who kicked 7 goals against WA in the champs. Is slight, and will take some time. Doesn't seem to accumulate much footy around the ground at this stage and does his best work closer to goal.

19. Alwyn Davey Jr 26/02/04 – Oakleigh Chargers – 180cm Forward - Slick & quick is the best way to describe Davey. Slices through traffic with speed and agility. Has beautiful finishing skills and loves getting forward of centre to impact the scoreboard. F/S to Essendon.

20. Henry Hustwaite 20/07/04 – Dandenong Stingrays – 193cm Midfielder/Defender - Tall mid/key defender who has been consistent in the NAB League. Equally at home across half back or as an inside mid, he shows composure where ever he plays. When playing midfield he is a clearance machine who takes first posession and always manages to get his hands free. Across half back he sets up play with his good decision making and skill. Hard to see where his best position is at AFL level, too small to be a key back, and probably doesn't have much point of difference to be a mid. I think he ends up being a 3rd tall defender who can setup behind the play.

22. Billy Dowling 01/07/04 – North Adelaide – 187cm Midfielder - Putting up stupid numbers in the SANFL U 18's, averaging nearly 32 disposals and 1.5 goals per game. Also had a consistent champs where he was arguably SA's most consistent mid. Hard worker who impacts the contest with physicality. Has a mature body and isn't afraid to put it on the line. Works hard both ways and is often seen in D50 while playing in the midfield. His ability to accumulate is up there with the best in the draft and I feel he is underrated because he lacks a point of difference athletically. His ability to find the footy highlights his high footy IQ.

22. Charlie Clark 04/01/04 – Sandringham Dragons – 182cm Forward - Had him ranked far lower in previous rankings, but after watching a few of his previous games he has surged up my rankings. He is crafty, has a mean streak and has an appetite for the goals. Has an impressive side step and loves to carry the ball with aggression. He is the type of player that doesn't need a lot of the footy to generate scoring opportunities. Has kicked 23.15 in 12 games this year including a bag of 7.

23. Mitch Szybkowski 09/01/04 – Dandenong Stingrays – 186cm Midfielder - Big bodied inside mid who thrives at the coal face. He is strong, and uses his big frame to advantage when extracting the footy. Displays excellent hands and vision to release players on the outside. Most have him inside the top 15 but he is a little bit one paced and doesn't have much versatility, which is why I rank him lower than others.

24. Jaspa Fletcher 24/02/04 – Brisbane Academy – 184cm Midfielder - Hard running winger who has shown he can also play inside. Has a bit of pace that he likes to use to break the lines. Has good skills and already has a good tank. Brisbane will do all they can to ensure he is a F/S.

25. Harry Barnett 22/01/04 – West Adelaide – 202cm Ruck - Best tap ruckman in the draft. Not to dissimilar to our very own Todd Goldstein, with his ruck craft and follow up work. Good below his knees and a good kick for a big man. Decent mark, and already covers the ground well.

26. Jed Hagan 15/10/04 – East Fremantle – 175cm Midfielder/Defender - Tenacious, physical and well rounded footballer. Arguably one of my favourite players in the draft, simple because he always shows up to play. Despite his height, he can play as an inside mid, winger, lock down defender or as a small forward. Has recently kicked multiple goals in the seniors for East Freo in the WAFL. Has very neat skills, a bit of toe and absolutely thrives in the contest. I think whoever picks him up will get a gem.

27. Harry Lemmey 30/01/04 - West Adelaide - 199cm Forward - Was a sure bet to be a top 5 pick after his impressive under age year. Hasn't quite come in as well as many expected this year. At his best, he is a strong contested mark and smart footballer who has really good skills for a guy his size. His inconsistency and failure to really dominant any games this year is concerning.

28. Tom Scully 02/11/04 – West Adelaide – 204cm Forward - Tall forward who burst on to the scene earlier this year with bag after bag of goals in the SANFL under 18's. Tall, long and mobile for a guy his size, Scully has good lead up play and positioning. He has good agility and ground level game for a kid his size. Form has dropped away a bit over the last couple of months and he failed to have an impact in his one champs game.

29. Darcy Jones 03/04/04 Swan Districts – 173cm Wing - Small, zippy midfielder who has a number of attributes well suited to AFL. Quick, agile, evasive and courageous. Jones loves taking the game on using his speed and creativity. Has neat skills and composure in space. Had an excellent draft combine by breaking the agility record.

30. Brayden George 13/01/04 – Murray Bushrangers – 185cm Forward - Medium powerful forward who has a real dynamic presence when inside 50. The type of player who just makes things happen either at ground level or in the air. One of the better contested marks in this years draft class. Recently done his ACL, which is why he has fallen down my draft rankings. In all reality, due to his talent he will most likely go far earlier than this pick.

31. Jacob Konstanty 09/11/04 - Gippsland Power - 176cm Forward - Clever goal sneak who has a real evasiveness in his game. Is arguably the most consistent small forward in this years draft class, he plays the game with a real physical edge. Run down tackles and defensive intent are a real feature of his game. Can push up into the midfield and get involved too. Has a good centre of balance, and rarely goes to ground in the contest. In order to be a real premium small he just needs to sharpen up his goal kicking and skill level around the ground.

32. Adam D'Aloia 09/04/04 - Woodville-West Torrens - 184cm Midfielder - SA skipper, who is a grunt midfielder who loves the physical stuff. High footy IQ who runs to the right areas to be damaging. Loves a goal, but is also very accountable. One of the best tacklers and two way runners in this draft pool.

33. Jakob Ryan 20/09/2004 – Glenelg – 188cm Defender - Athletic defender who sees the game well. Long kicking half back who likes to take the game on, he has a nice leap and solid contested mark. Can play up the ground on a wing or even across half forward.

34. Jaxon Binns 29/10/04 - Dandenong Stingrays - 182cm Wing - Hard running wingman who has the ability to accumulate the footy at will. Doesn't have much of an inside game, but uses his elite tank to find space and break the game open. Despite his ability to find the football, his disposal is sometimes questionable. Due to his athleticism and ability to play as an outside runner, there is still plenty of scope for development. Tested really well at the draft combine for most athletic traits, which is why he has moved up my draft order.

35. Max Gruzewski 21/07/2004 - Oakleigh Chargers - 193cm Forward/Defender - Athletic key position player who is happy playing at either end of the ground. Has strong hands and good lateral movement for his size. Some draft watchers believe he is now shaping as a top 30 pick, while I like him as a prospect I'm still unsure as to his best position at AFL level.

36. Anthony Munkara 3/10/04 - West Adelaide – 190cm – Forward - Mercurial and freakishly talented, Munkara has an eye for goals and has the ability to win games off his own boot. Has beautiful vision in traffic and the skills to match. Was touted as potential top 10 pick at the start of the year but has only played one championship game and a couple of games at SANFL. Unsure if he is injured or simply not playing footy. On talent alone he deserves to be placed much higher.

37. Sam Gilbey 14/05/04 - Claremont - 185cm Defender - Another classy half back, who has strong rebounding ability. Reads the play well and uses his elite vision and kicking to setup across half back. Reads the play well and is solid in the air. He has slipped down my rankings due to a broken leg a few weeks ago.

38. James Van Es 07/08/04 – GWV Rebels – 196cm Defender - Dour and tough key defender who locks down on the oppositions best key forwards. Has decent closing speed and is an aerial threat with his intercept marking. The type of footballer you can just rely on to do the basics right all of the time. Surprised a fair few at the combine with the way he tested.

39. Kobe Ryan 17/02/04 – West Adelaide – 183cm Midfielder - Quick midfielder who is at home either inside or outside the contest. Has a long kick and clean hands inside the contest. Works hard both ways, but also likes to impact the scoreboard. Has played some league footy at SANFL level which highlights his potential, average 30+ disposals per game at under 18's level.

40. Josh Weddle 25/05/04 – Oakleigh Chargers – 191cm Defender - Intercepting defender who often made to play as genuine key position player. Has strong hands and is excellent one v one. He provides good skill off half back but also has a bit of run in his game. Has excellent closing speed. He is now a couple of cm's taller, but still not quite tall enough to be a genuine key defender, which is why I have him lower than most.

41. Cooper Harvey 12/07/04 – Northern Knights – 180cm Midfielder - Nuggety and tough midfielder who has come back two consecutive fractured arms to play a big role in the Knights resurgence. Has a real defensive edge in his game which results in him providing multiple efforts in the contest. His tank and foot skills need some work, but there is plenty to work with. F/S to North this year, it is a bit of an unknown as to where a bid will come.

42. Jonti Schuback 18/03/04 - Gippsland Power - 183cm Wing - Dashing half back/wingman who isn't afraid to take the game on. Has a bit of toe and good evasiveness. One of my favourites from this years draft, has he has good footy IQ and rarely plays a bad game. Has good balance between his offensive and defensive game.

43. Coby Burgiel 09/09/04 - Gippsland Power - 183cm Midfielder - Hard running, consistent midfielder who can play on every line. Has really neat skills and is very capable around goals. At home either inside or outside the contest. Has an excellent agility which allows him to find space in and around the contest.

44. Callum Verrell 22/04/04 – Eastern Rangers – 187cm Defender - Reliable defender who rarely gets beaten. Verrell has good balance between his offensive and defensive game. Can lock down on opponents, but also provide some run and carry. His composure and balance in the contest really stands out. Is capable of going with both talls and smalls.

45. Nick Sadler 08/01/04 – Sturt – 180cm Midfielder/Defender - Capable of playing on every line, Sadler is a reliable footballer who does all the team things. Tackling and defensive effort are features of his game. Has very neat skills and decision making and is capable both inside and outside the contest. Biggest question mark is to what role best suits him at AFL level.

46. Max Michalanney 26/02/04 – Norwood – 191cm Defender - Half back who can play a variety of roles and is suited to playing on both talls and smalls. Offers some rebound but can also lock down on his direct opposition. F/S to Adelaide.

47. Luke Teal 20/05/04 – Oakleigh Chargers – 188cm Wing - Attacking half back/wing who can win the footy in the air and on the ground. He is smart, balanced and composed. Was looking as a likely top 25 pick before the start of the season but has played less than 10 games due to a number of niggly injuries.

48. Blake Drury 11/01/04 – Oakleigh Chargers – 177cm Wing - Zippy half forward/mid who loves kicking a goal. Drury has leadership qualities, effort and competitiveness in spades. Works up and down the ground and can get involved in the inside and on the outside as a link up player. Probably ends up being a half forward at AFL level, but there are concerns as to whether he has enough tools to overcome his stature.

49. Lloyd Johnston 10/08/04 – NT Thunder - 184cm Defender - Dashing and evasive half back who loves the take the game on either by foot or by using his speed. Has excellent intercept marking for his size due to his athleticism and leap.

50. Jaiden Magor 16/02/04 - South Adelaide - 185cm Forward/midfielder - Talented midfielder forward who has some serious assets. Has natural forward craft, and can kick goals from anywhere. Is both an aerial threat and a threat at ground level. Very capable in the midfield as well where he uses his ball use and evasiveness to good affect.


Next 10 in no particular order:

Jason Gillbee
15/04/04 – Bendigo Pioneers – 190cm Midfielder - Tall, lean and hard running midfielder who can also play as a running half back. Likes to take the game on with his run. Has no worries finding the footy, but his disposal often lets him down.

Kane Bevan 25/4/2004 - West Perth - 192cm Midfielder - Big bodied, strong inside mid who can get forward and provide a marking target. Bevan is a clearance/contested machine who uses his clean hands around the contest. Loves the physical side of the game, but lacks in the outside game department.

Noah Long 23/08/04 – Bendigo Pioneers – 178cm Forward/Midfielder - Creative small mid/forward who uses his zip in and around the contest to create separation. Played more forward in the championships and had an impact on the scoreboard. Has natural goal sense and the skills/creativity to finish. Has had an injury interrupted year.

Harry Rowston 12/08/04 – GWS Academy – 181cm Midfielder - The Allies MVP, a hard two way midfielder who thrives in the contest. Covers the ground well and uses the ball well particularly by hands. He is really good overhead and isn't afraid to go back with the flight of the ball when pushing back into defence. Lacks a little of a point of difference which is why he is down my order. GWS will no doubt match a bid for him which could come as early as the top 30.

Tom McCallum 15/05/2004 - Tasmania Devils - 192cm Defender - Undersized key defender who uses his body and positioning to beat bigger opponents. Is slight, but has good core strength that allows him to compete. Has some speed that allows him to break the lines. He is let down by an awkward kicking style that sometimes results in poor kicks particularly when he is on the move. His intercept game is really impressive which will translate well to AFL level. However, he will take some time to get a mature body.

Finn Emile-Brennan 07/05/04 – Dandenong Stingrays – 181cm Defender - Skinny, slight but classy half back who has composure and a nice turn of foot. Uses his speed and agility to break the lines, and despite his smaller stature he is a long, powerful kick of the football. Linked to the Demons academy, but I wouldn't imagine he will receive a bid inside the top 40. Looks a long term prospect and will take time considering his weight.

Hugh Bond 25/09/04 – GWV Rebels – 184cm Midfielder - Physical and tough inside mid that likes to heap the pressure on his opponents when they don't have the footy. Tackling and defensive intent, along with his inside work are real features of his game. Has an elite tank which allows him to get from contest to contest. His hands in close are excellent, but can sometimes seem rushed when using the ball by foot. Lacks a bit of composure and can sometimes be slow to dispose of the ball.

Rye Penny 03/01/04 – Calder Cannons – 185cm Defender - Elite athlete who has a good leap, some speed and agility. Suited to playing across half back or on a wing where he can put his running capacity and speed to good use. Can break the lines with run and carry but is equally at home flying for marks and intercepting. His decision making particularly when under pressure is what lets him down, but there are plenty of athletic traits to work with.

Edward Allen 26/05/2004 - Claremont - 194cm Midfielder - Rangy outside midfielder who has come onto the scene late in the piece, after avg close to 25 disposals per game late in the season at WAFL colts level. Despite testing incredibly well for both speed and agility, he is one of those players that doesn't seem to use it during the game. Clubs would see a huge scope for potential considering his athleticism and height.

Harvey Gallagher 26/09/2003 - Bendigo Pioneers - 179cm Defender - Overage defender, who was incredible consistent this year for the pioneers. Provides run and carry off half back, but is equally at home defending one on one.

Late Draft or Rookie List Options:

Paul Pascu
20/08/2004 - Calder Cannons - 183cm Midfielder - Balanced midfielder who can also play across half back. Has a beautiful kicking action and can kick well on both sides of his body. Is equally at home inside or outside the contest. Attacks the contest with vigour, but has finishing skills outside the contest as well. Has had an injury interrupted which has impacted his consistency and draft standing. Earlier this year he was considered a top 30 prospect. Players like him don't lose their talent so it wouldn't surprise me if he was taken in the top 40.

Toby McMullin 06/0/2004 - Sandringham Dragons - 182cm Forward/Mid - Solid midfielder/forward who has some AFL capable qualities. Tested well for the 20m sprint with a 2.88, but also has good game sense and finishing. Some clubs may see some potential in him, despite only avergaing 11 disposals per game at NAB league level.

Jack O'Sullivan 22/10/2004 - Oakleigh Chargers - 177cm Midfielder - Physical small midfielder who has good balance between his inside and outside game. Has excellent vision and kicking to match often opening up the play with neat kicking. Has had some injury concerns this year. Question marks has to whether he has enough tools to overcome his height at AFL level.

Shadeau Brain 13/02/2004 - Brisbane Academy - 185cm Forward - Physical half forward who has some impressive athletic tools. Has a defensive edge to his game, often applying high amounts of pressure inside forward 50. Not only is he defensive, but he has some flair with his speed, leap and agility. Needs to work on his production and finishing skill, but does have some AFL qualities.

Darcy Edmends 28/04/2004 - Northern Knights - 183cm Midfielder - Classy ball user who doesn't need a heap of possessions to have an impact. Makes good decisions with ball in hand, and is particularly damaging when kicking inside forward 50. Avg'd 18.6 disposals and close 7 marks per game at NAB league level which highlights his work rate.

Oscar Murdoch 24/09/2004 - Geelong Falcons - 190cm Defender - No fuss defender who toils away doing his job. Only avg'd 11 disposals across 11 games for the Falcons, but will come under consideration to be drafted after he featured in the final championship game where he was one of VC's best players. Provided excellent intercepting marking and disposal while playing on the dangerous Harry Sheezel.

Archie Lovelock 19/12/2001 - Glenelg - 178cm Midfielder - Classy midfielder who seems to be somewhat underrated. Has played good footy at every level he has played at this year. Featured in the bests for SA for 2 out of his 3 games. Was also best afield in the SANFL u 18's grand final where he outshone much more fancied draftees in Will Dowling and Jakob Ryan. Avg'd 26.3 disposals per game in under 18's as well as 6 tackles and 3 clearances. Is a strong runner with good defensive application.

Angus Anderson 31/12/2003 - Sydney Academy - 189cm Midfielder - Overage midfielder from Northern NSW. Anderson had 2 covid impacted years during his development as a 17 and 18 year old. Tough inside mid, who thrives at the coal face. Wins the ball and distributes well by hand. Has a good tank so gets from contest to contest well. Has a mature body which he loves to throw around. Has played AFL most of his life, but has played some rubgy as well which results in him having an exceptional tackling technique. Biggest knock on him is that he struggles to have an impact when not playing as a clearance midfielder.

Seth Campbell 29/12/04 – Tasmania Devils – 182cm Forward - Zippy half forward/wing who loves getting on the scoreboard. Pushes up the ground to provide an option through the midfield, and then works back hard into inside 50. Plays with real flair and creativity. This is matched with good vision and a skillset that allows him to hit some lower % kicks. Defensive intent is solid too. Still very raw but plenty to work with.

Oliver Northam 28/07/2004 - Geelong Falcons - 195cm Forward/Ruck - Athletic player who has been playing as a genuine ruckman for the Falcons. Has a solid leap that allows him to ruck against opposition far taller than him. Has good follow up work and is solid below his knees. Can go forward and kick a goal. Will be more suited to playing as a key forward at AFL level. Still very raw.

Jack Cleaver 22/05/04 – East Fremantle – 188cm Defender - Tough and courageous half back who can also push into the midfield. Has good balance between his defensive and offensive work. Can lock down on an opponent, but can also provide some run and carry when playing a more loose role. Kicking can be a little bit hit and miss. Has played a couple of senior games in the WAFL.

Noah Bradshaw 01/01/2003 - Murray Bushrangers - 183cm Midfielder - Son of Brisbane champion Daniel Bradshaw, he is a uncompromising and tough overage inside midfielder who thrives in the contest. Likes to release teammates by hand but also works well around the ground to provide an option. Has good defensive application, averaging nearly 6 tackles per game. Lacks a bit of speed, but makes up for it with Footy IQ. Potential F/S to Brisbane.

Jackson Broadbent 2/12/2004 - Peel - 201cm Ruck - Excellent tap ruckman who provides some follow up at ground level. Was rated as an early first round choice prior to this year but he hasn't had much of a consistent impact at WAFL level or in the championships. He covers the ground well and has neat skills for a ruckman, but he isn't much of a threat aerially at this stage.

Phoenix Foster 12/9/2004 - Norwood - 196cm Forward - Key Forward who has kicked 26 goals from 11 games in the SANFL under 18's. He is an aerial threat with strong contested marking and a good leap. He attacks the footy with vigour and can provide an option up the ground. Also can pinch hit in the ruck. Plenty to work with if taken later in the draft or as a rookie.

Nick Madden 17/5/2004 - GWS Academy - 204cm Ruck - Monster lumbering ruckman in the Braydon Pruess mould. Physical type who isn't afraid to throw his weight around. Because of his huge frame he has solid contested marking and can be a threat up forward. Endurance and overall athleticism is below average which means he is a rookie at best. In the GWS academy.

Will Verrall 11/03/2004 – South Adelaide – 200cm Ruck - Mobile ruckman who works hard once the footy hits the deck. Wins clearances and finds the footy around the ground. Has good skills for a ruck and can be a threat in the forward line. Biggest question mark is is he tall enough to be a genuine ruck at AFL level?

Max Knobel 27/06/2004 - Gippsland Power - 204cm Ruck - Son of Trent Knobel. Raw, but has plenty of upside. Looks to have a good tank and has a nice deft touch when palming the ball. Has improved out of sight in the last two months, getting more involved around the ground and with clearances. Will be a slow burn as it will take him a fair while to fill out.

Tyrell Dewar 27/03/2004 - Subiaco - 185cm Forward - General forward who is a threat both aerially and at ground level. Has excellent lateral movement which allows him to get separation. When in range he has excellent goal sense. Lacks a bit of consistency and is still quite raw.

Taj Campbell-Farrell 29/06/04 – Dandenong Stingrays – 185cm Midfielder - Morrish Medal winner, who is the epitome of consistency. Tough inside mid, who uses his physicality on the inside to win the footy, Has clean hands around the contest, and he knows his limits with his kicking. At this stage he lacks a bit of versatility in his game and there are questions marks as to how much upside he has.

Cooper Vickery 16/12/04 - Gippsland Power - 180cm Defender - Neat small defender who does all the team things, while also providing some run and carry. His skills combined with his good decision making means he is always makes the most of is possessions. Lacks a little bit of a point of difference compared to other defenders in the draft pool.

Ted Clohesy 09/06/04 – Geelong Falcons – 184cm Midfielder - Prolific inside mid who does his best work at the coal face. Avg 24 disposals and 7 tackles per game for the Falcons this year, which highlights the balance between his ball winning and defensive application. Releases the ball well by hands, but is also a good option when kicking the ball inside 50. Has a neat short field (30m) particularly to leading targets. At this stage lacks some versatility in his game.

Steely Green 09/01/2004 - East Fremantle - 178cm Midfielder/Defender - No fuss footballer who does all the basics right. A real footballer's footballer who can play a variety of roles inside and outside the contest or in the back pocket. he has defensive intent, neat skills and composure with ball in hand. Has played WAFL seniors this year in a strong side, which highlights his footy IQ and ability to step up to any level.

Kelsey Rypstra 02/05/2004 - North Adelaide -172cm Forward - Zippy small forward who has a real energy about his game. Provides excellent pressure and defensive intent, but is also crafty around goals. He is tough, and has a low centre of gravity which makes him hard to tackle. Played more midfield at U 18's level but will be suited to a small forward role at AFL level. Unfortunately done his ACL just after mid year, which may impact his draft chances.

Jovan Petric 17/4/2004 - Western Jets - 196cm forward - Athletic key forward who works hard around the ground. Has good speed off the mark which allows him to get separation on his opponents. Decent at ground level and can also rotate through the ruck. Was consistent at Nab League level but didn't have much of an impact at championship level.

Will Splann 25/10/2003 - Tasmania Devils - 195cm Forward - Overage key forward who has a mature body. Very much a lead, mark and kick Full Forward. Doesn't offer a heap around the ground, but does the basics well. Leading patterns and multiple efforts repeat leads highlight his forward craft. Lacks a bit at ground level and overall athleticism which is why he is a rookie option.

Casey Voss 14/9/2000 - Sturt - 182cm Defender - Mature age intercepting half back who's game has gone from strength to strength over the last 2 years. He was looked at as a mature age option for the MSD but was overlooked. His pure weight of numbers in the SANFL is hard to ignore. Averaging 24 disposals, 9 marks, 6 rebound 50's. Voss is strong in the air, composed and very neat by foot. His overall athleticism is probably the only thing holding him back.

Mutaz El Nour 14/8/2001 - Northern Bullants - 192cm Defender - Athletic defender who has impressive skills, overhead marking and closing speed. After a solid first half of the year, El Nour was unlucky not to be drafted in the MSD. Unfortunately didn't play much in the 2nd half of this year due to a number of niggling injuries. In a draft that is lacking a bit of depth after the top 40. Development players like El Nour who have high potential may appeal in the rookie draft.

Ethan Phillips 17/7/1999 - Port Melbourne - 196cm Defender - The premier key defender in the VFL won the Fothergill medal for most talented player under 24 years old. Phillips has strong hands, and has elite positioning that allows him to cut off attacks. He has excellent one on one but lacks a little bit of top end speed which means he can be exposed on the lead against quicker opponents. With a lack of key position players in this draft he will appeal as a ready made option.

Another extended write up for a lesser known prospect who I really like:

Jaiden Magor 16/02/04 - South Adelaide - 185cm Forward/midfielder - Talented midfielder forward who has some serious AFL qualities. Prior to this year it was looking as though he could be a first round prospect, but he probably didn't come on as much as expected, especially as a genuine mid. He also didn't have as much impact as he would've been hoping for at the championships. Nonetheless, he still has stacks of natural potential. He has natural forward craft, and can kick goals from anywhere. It doesn't matter if they are snaps, on the run or from a set shot. Magor, is also both an aerial threat and a threat at ground level. Outside of Sheezel, he is probably the cleanest and most balanced ground level player in this draft. He has also shown that he is very capable in the midfield as well where he uses his ball use and evasiveness to good affect. For a 185cm player, his marking is impressive. The reason why his marking is so impressive is his ability to time the ball while also protecting the ball drop. He has natural footy IQ and goal sense but also has defensive tenacity, with solid tackling and pressure. He has performed consistently in the SANFL under 18's over the past two years and represented SA at both under 17 and under 18 level.

At championship level he played 2 of 4 games. He got squeezed out of the midfield due to the likes of Ryan, D'Aloia and Dowling dominating the centre square. Played mainly across half forward and showed small flashes of brilliance and vision. Featured in the bests against the Allies where he had 20+ disposals and kicked 2 goals.

At SANFL U18's level he played 10 games, avg'd 22.4 disposals, 6 marks and 3 tackles, 4 clearances and 2.3 goals per game. He only went goalless once, splitting his time between deep forward and the midfield. His best game came in round 8 against Glenelg where he was a level above the opposition. He stuffed the stat sheet with 41 disposals, 9 marks, kicked 2.1 and 4 tackles. Also kicked a bag of 6 and another bag of 5 in the last two games on the season. Was surprising he didn't get a chance in the reserves or seniors considering his consistent form.

 
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Him suggesting Paul Curtis was a similar player stylistically to Daniel Menzel and JHF to Ben Keays was the purest gold.

Great comedic value.
Don't be disrespecting JHF like that, it was a comparison to Hugh Greenwood!
 
Cliff notes:
  • AFL gave GC concessions
  • That slid everyone else down the order
  • GC are good for the competition and made other clubs be more resourceful to find talent
  • The end
Note: I haven't read the article

You forgot that if they didn't get the concession pick, Melbourne might have Anderson instead of Jackson but as you said, you didn't read the article.
 

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Gold Coast were given Picks #1, #11, #19, and #20 as priority picks, as well as the entire state of Darwin in a draft where Alex Davies was roughly a top 10 prospect.

That was after 13 wins in three years. We need 5 more wins this year to match that total. It's bad enough that we didn't get one last year. If we win 4-5 games total this year and don't receive pick #1 it will be a complete farce.
As much as I’d love one MR, let’s be real… even if we only won 3 more games in 2022, there is absolutely zero chance the AFL will give us any priority pick. Absolutely none.
 
Gold Coast were given Picks #1, #11, #19, and #20 as priority picks, as well as the entire state of Darwin in a draft where Alex Davies was roughly a top 10 prospect.

That was after 13 wins in three years. We need 5 more wins this year to match that total. It's bad enough that we didn't get one last year. If we win 4-5 games total this year and don't receive pick #1 it will be a complete farce.
Yep they got a shit ton for about where we are over the last few years

Considering we have never had even one pp we should be in line for it pending results this year but under 5 wins should qualify
 

Will Brodie, Peter Wright, Jack Martin and the curious case of the Gold Coast Suns​

Late in 2019, the AFL unveiled a dramatic assistance package for the battling Gold Coast Suns. Two and a half years on, its impact is being felt across the league, writes DANIEL CHERNY.
@danielcherny

7 min read
April 12, 2022 - 11:10AM
2019 draft pick Noah Anderson has been in stellar form for the Suns. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

2019 draft pick Noah Anderson has been in stellar form for the Suns. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

When the AFL confirmed its extensive suite of concessions for Gold Coast in late 2019, there was considerably more focus on the what rather than the why.

The big ticket item was pick one of the 2019 draft, which was in effect more like giving the Suns pick No. 2, because they already first dibs as wooden-spooners.

The stars aligned to make it a perfect time for the gift to be given, allowing Gold Coast to draft underage guns Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson as a package.

By taking the best mates together, the idea was that they would be considerably less of a flight risk; a perennial concern for the expansion club.

The freebies didn’t stop there though for the Suns. While Rowell and Anderson will forever be concessions poster boys, Gold Coast also received an end of first-round pick in 2019, a mid-first round pick in 2020, a start of second round selection in 2021, priority access to the Darwin recruiting zone, and an expanded rookie list of 10 players.

Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson were key picks for the Suns in 2019. Picture: Michael Klein

Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson were key picks for the Suns in 2019. Picture: Michael Klein

Even when AFL lists shrunk as a result of Covid-19 austerity measures in 2020, the Suns kept their advantage on a pro rata basis.

In the AFL’s press release that accompanied details of the concessions, the league’s general counsel Andrew Dillon said that it was in the broader interests of football that Gold Coast was given every chance to succeed.

“There is no doubt the Gold Coast Suns have had enormous challenges throughout their short history and it is to the benefit of the entire competition that the Suns are competitive,” Dillon said.

“The AFL and football fans want a strong and even competition and while the endeavour and intent can’t be faulted by the Gold Coast Football Club, there have been executional challenges along the journey that have impacted the on-field competitiveness of the team.”

Such words were cold comfort at the time for Adelaide, who felt the goalposts had shifted from beneath them.

The Crows had been part of a blockbuster draft night trade the previous year with Carlton, but because of the Suns’ extra pick at the top of the 2019 order, Adelaide’s first selection – tied to the Blues’ ladder position – fell from No. 5 to No. 6. The pick was eventually used on tall Victorian utility Fischer McAsey, who has thus far been unable to secure a regular spot in the Crows’ line-up.
Fischer McAsey has been unable to keep a regular spot at the Crows. Picture: Sarah Reed

Fischer McAsey has been unable to keep a regular spot at the Crows. Picture: Sarah Reed
In reality this was merely the first in a long list of trickle-down effects from Gold Coast’s concessions.

One rival list manager said the AFL had been overly generous with concessions to the Suns and Giants, creating an inflationary mechanism across the league’s wages and stifling the prospects of player continuity at either club.
And the weekend just gone provided a fascinating cross-section of the unintended consequences.

We will start, counterintuitively, at the end of the story. Well, the end at least chronologically; the ninth of the round four matches.

On late Sunday afternoon at Metricon Stadium, the Suns jumped Carlton early, ending the Blues’ unbeaten start to the season with a heartening five-goal victory, one which for the time being eased the pressure on out-of-contract Suns coach Stuart Dew.

This game was the one where the concessions shouted at you in the face. Anderson upstaged Carlton’s much-vaunted midfield, finishing with an equal-career high 35 disposals and claiming nine AFL coaches’ association votes for his performance.

Needless to say, the Suns would not have Anderson without that bonus pick.

It is entirely hypothetical, though nonetheless intriguing, to ponder whether Melbourne, who had the first non-Gold Coast pick in the 2019 draft, would have taken Anderson had he been available, or opted for the player they ultimately chose: the freakish Luke Jackson, who has already become one of the AFL’s best talls and hottest properties.
Demon Luke Jackson has quickly become one of the league’s most exciting players. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Demon Luke Jackson has quickly become one of the league’s most exciting players. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Equal-leading goalkicker on the ground on Sunday was a much lesser known and cheaper player; small forward Malcolm Rosas jnr, who kicked three goals in an eye-catching display.
Like Anderson, Rosas arrived at the Suns at the end of 2019 via the Darwin concessions.

A very handy bonus and a player Gold Coast would probably not have been able to take without the handout package. Essendon were keen to lure him at the end of 2021.

At the other end of the ground was Jack Martin. Once considered among the Suns’ brightest prospects, his talent has come to the fore all too fleetingly.

In his defence, Martin may still be recovering from his recent bout of Covid-19, but his fumbles belied his class.

Finishing with 0.2 from just 11 disposals, he is at the moment a genuine fringe player at Carlton.

It is extraordinary, because by dint of a heavily front-ended deal, Martin was among the handful of highest paid players in the competition across 2020 and 2021. When he fell out of contract at the end of 2019, the Suns wanted Carlton’s pick No. 9 as part of any deal.

The Blues were unwilling to hand over that selection, having siloed that pick for any dealings to land Tom Papley from Sydney, a move which did not eventuate.

The Suns ultimately got nothing for Martin, allowing him to walk to the pre-season draft and opting against picking him back up. There were a couple of key reasons for this.

Firstly, after a spate of high-profile deportees (Tom Lynch, Steven May, Gary Ablett, Jaeger O’Meara, Dion Prestia etc.) Gold Coast list manager Craig Cameron was keen to send something of a message to any Suns thinking about leaving in the future: we will not make it easy.
Richmond’s Tom Lynch left the Suns. Picture: Michael Klein

Richmond’s Tom Lynch left the Suns. Picture: Michael Klein

But perhaps more to the point, there was also little to gain for Gold Coast in compromising on a lesser selection.

They already had more early picks than they really knew what to do with. What was an extra second-rounder?

This is where the concessions created something of a two-speed economy.

A particular draft selection does not necessarily hold the same worth to every club, particularly where the Suns have been involved.

This played out during the 2019 national draft, when the Suns traded their future mid-first rounder freebie to Geelong and pick 64 for selection No. 27, used to take Jeremy Sharp.
The Cats ultimately used that future first to trade for Jeremy Cameron at the end of 2020, the pick ending up at Greater Western Sydney, who used it on the hitherto untested Conor Stone.

Players and picks are two of the three key commodities in list management. The other considerably more opaque property is money.
Unlike in US sports, player salaries remain officially private, meaning reports of what certain players ultimately hinge on the honesty of journalistic sources.

But it is a key consideration, and one which cannot be forgotten in the evaluation of another couple of former Suns who have shone so far this season.

Tall forward Peter Wright has arguably been Essendon’s best performer across the first four rounds, while midfielder Will Brodie was best afield for Fremantle in their win over Greater Western Sydney.
Peter Wright has been in great form to start the season. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

Peter Wright has been in great form to start the season. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

At face value this could seem like poor list management from Gold Coast, who traded away both players while under contract for negligible returns.

In Wright’s case it was a future fourth-round pick, a selection the Suns didn’t end up using, while with Brodie it was even more stark, with Gold Coast actually handing pick 19 to Fremantle as part of the deal to get Brodie, with the Suns getting back a future second round pick.

Some fourth-rounders were also exchanged in the deal.

At one level this seems like just the latest cases of players leaving the Gold Coast and playing better.

Jarryd Lyons, delisted at the end of 2018, is the face of this phenomenon, although Jack Scrimshaw and Trent McKenzie are a couple of other examples.

This argument has some merit, and in the face of Hugh Greenwood’s embarrassing stealth defection to North Melbourne, the Jordan Murdoch flop and Rory Atkins’ highly-questionable long-term deal, there are legitimate queries around plenty of the Suns’ list decisions.
On the flip side though, Martin has if anything gone backwards since departing, while the Suns have made good from discarded Blues Levi Casboult and Nick Holman. Gold Coast have also turned ex-Docker Sam Collins into a reliable key defender.

There is a bit of swings and roundabouts to it all.
And with Brodie and Wright, the truth was neither lived up to their potential at Gold Coast, and were taking up valuable cap space which the Suns realistically needed to secure some of their top-end young talent.

More to the point, Gold Coast just don’t need any more early picks.
The Suns have their nucleus built. Picture: Matt Roberts/AFL Photos/Getty Images

The Suns have their nucleus built. Picture: Matt Roberts/AFL Photos/Getty Images

They have their nucleus (Rowell, Anderson, Ben King, Jack Lukosius, Wil Powell, Izak Rankine, Jack Bowes, Elijah Hollands, Mac Andrew, Sam Flanders etc) and their attention must now be centred on keeping them all.

Brodie has so far proven a ready-made replacement for Adam Cerra at the Dockers, who appear to be focusing more on what the onballer can do rather than limitations with his running which had worked against him under Dew.

Also easy to forget is once Rowell and Anderson came into the side, they were always likely to take two midfield spots for the long term.

With Touk Miller having emerged as a genuine A-grader since the start of last year, midfield spots were always going to be in short supply.

Brodie’s departure has helped smooth the way for Brayden Fiorini, who had stagnated, to again get regular senior matches.

Wright’s departure is being felt much more acutely given King’s knee injury. And top key forwards, as a rule, are much harder to find than solid midfielders.

But then again, who is to say the Suns would have been able to re-sign King had they kept Wright and Brodie? For what it’s worth, Wright is winning immense plaudits at Essendon for his attitude and dedication to improvement.

Yes, Gold Coast have made some serious missteps along the way, but just as has been the case with Sydney, Greater Western Sydney and the Brisbane Lions, the traditional principles of list management at Victorian clubs cannot apply in the same way to the Northern clubs. The AFL’s view is that the only way for the Suns to break out of their retention and coach-sacking death cycle is to build a crop of top-end and super well-paid talent and then fill much of the rest of the list with role players.

This was also the model used by the Giants, and while they haven’t won a premiership it has taken them to a grand final and five finals series in six seasons.

The Suns must ultimately be judged on their own on-field performance, not those of players who used to play in their reserves.
Cheers GR
 
Like the sound of Isaac Keeler. Maybe a Charlie Curnow type player. Handy in the Fwd line.
 
Like the sound of Isaac Keeler. Maybe a Charlie Curnow type player. Handy in the Fwd line.
Curnow was always a dangerous forward in juniors and averaged close to 4 shots on goal a game while Keeler is averaging 2 over the first 3 games this year. Curnow is/was definitely the more dangerous forward at the same age.

Keeler is just different, it's very difficult to come up with a comparison. People will understand what I mean when they get a chance to watch some footage. My biggest worry is that 90% of the time he moves like he's in 2nd gear and is taking the piss - he almost looks lazy and like he's going through the motions - a good way of putting it is that he seems to lack intensity most of the time when you watch him play. He also needs to improve his defensive work.

But then there are moments a few times a game where he just does something really special - he'll attack a ground ball at serious pace and with intensity, pick it up as clean as you've ever seen for a guy his size and perfectly hit a target inside forward 50m. His first 3-4 steps are super explosive for a guy his size and it catches the eye. Or on the weekend an example was him contending a centre bounce, and instead of winning the tap, he decides to grab it out of the air in flight with one hand, land, and get the handball off to a teammate - he just does odd things like this that demonstrate his athleticism and you can't ignore it. I think it was a game last week where he grabbed it out of a ball up, faked a defender with a kick on the right, then turned and faked another out on the left before handing it off to a teammate who then had all the time in the world inside forward 50 because the defenders were drawn to Keeler.

He's a real boom or bust type to say the least, and quite unique. He'll make watching footy very fun or extremely frustrating for whichever team drafts him.
 
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Curnow was always a dangerous forward in juniors and averaged close to 4 shots on goal a game while Keeler is averaging 2 over the first 3 games this year. Curnow is/was definitely the more dangerous forward at the same age.

Keeler is just different, it's very difficult to come up with a comparison. People will understand what I mean when they get a chance to watch some footage. My biggest worry is that 90% of the time he moves like he's in 2nd gear and is taking the piss - he almost looks lazy and like he's going through the motions - a good way of putting it is that he seems to lack intensity most of the time when you watch him play. He also needs to improve his defensive work.

But then there are moments a few times a game where he just does something really special - he'll attack a ground ball at serious pace and with intensity, pick it up as clean as you've ever seen for a guy his size and perfectly hit a target inside forward 50m. His first 3-4 steps are super explosive for a guy his size and it catches the eye. Or on the weekend an example was him contending a centre bounce, and instead of winning the tap, he decides to grab it out of the air in flight with one hand, land, and get the handball off to a teammate - he just does odd things like this that demonstrate his athleticism and you can't ignore it. I think it was a game last week where he grabbed it out of a ball up, faked a defender with a kick on the right, then turned and faked another out on the left before handing it off to a teammate who then had all the time in the world inside forward 50 because the defenders were drawn to Keeler.

He's a real boom or bust type to say the least, and quite unique. He'll make watching footy very fun or extremely frustrating for whichever team drafts him.



Reminds me a little bit of Jared Brennan in his movement, long loping style but has that ability to increase his pace really quickly.

Looks like a very interesting prospect.
 
Curnow was always a dangerous forward in juniors and averaged close to 4 shots on goal a game while Keeler is averaging 2 over the first 3 games this year. Curnow is/was definitely the more dangerous forward at the same age.

Keeler is just different, it's very difficult to come up with a comparison. People will understand what I mean when they get a chance to watch some footage. My biggest worry is that 90% of the time he moves like he's in 2nd gear and is taking the piss - he almost looks lazy and like he's going through the motions - a good way of putting it is that he seems to lack intensity most of the time when you watch him play. He also needs to improve his defensive work.

But then there are moments a few times a game where he just does something really special - he'll attack a ground ball at serious pace and with intensity, pick it up as clean as you've ever seen for a guy his size and perfectly hit a target inside forward 50m. His first 3-4 steps are super explosive for a guy his size and it catches the eye. Or on the weekend an example was him contending a centre bounce, and instead of winning the tap, he decides to grab it out of the air in flight with one hand, land, and get the handball off to a teammate - he just does odd things like this that demonstrate his athleticism and you can't ignore it. I think it was a game last week where he grabbed it out of a ball up, faked a defender with a kick on the right, then turned and faked another out on the left before handing it off to a teammate who then had all the time in the world inside forward 50 because the defenders were drawn to Keeler.

He's a real boom or bust type to say the least, and quite unique. He'll make watching footy very fun or extremely frustrating for whichever team drafts him.

Jarrad Waite imo.


Looked like he was going at half rat power for most of his career, barely seen the inside of the gym, jogging around, yet every few games when he looked like he could be arsed he would kick a bag or win a game off his own boot.
 
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Jarrad Waite imo.


Looked like he was going at half rat power for most of his career, barely seen the inside of the gym, jogging around, yet every few games when he looked like he could be arsed he would kick a bag or win a game off his own boot.

Lol I was going to say

The description of

"But then there are moments a few times a game where he just does something really special - he'll attack a ground ball at serious pace and with intensity, pick it up as clean as you've ever seen for a guy his size and perfectly hit a target inside forward 50m. His first 3-4 steps are super explosive for a guy his size and it catches the eye. Or on the weekend an example was him contending a centre bounce, and instead of winning the tap, he decides to grab it out of the air in flight with one hand, land, and get the handball off to a teammate - he just does odd things like this that demonstrate his athleticism and you can't ignore it. I think it was a game last week where he grabbed it out of a ball up, faked a defender with a kick on the right, then turned and faked another out on the left before handing it off to a teammate who then had all the time in the world inside forward 50 because the defenders were drawn to Keeler."

That is a carbon copy of Waite
 
Gold Coast were given Picks #1, #11, #19, and #20 as priority picks, as well as the entire state of Darwin in a draft where Alex Davies was roughly a top 10 prospect.

That was after 13 wins in three years. We need 5 more wins this year to match that total. It's bad enough that we didn't get one last year. If we win 4-5 games total this year and don't receive pick #1 it will be a complete farce.
The AFL doesn't care about our situation and as long as we're compeditive then things won't change. If we were getting slaughtered by 100 every week and every star on the list was leaving once their contract was up then it'd be a different story.
 

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Has any of our junior track watchers seen much of Mitch Szybkowski ? He’s been pretty good for the Rays early doors .
 
Curious if we get the #1 pick again will we be drafting another gun midfielder if that’s what’s best available ? Looking like Tsatsas and Ashcroft will be right up there. We need a key back or two, another forward, small forward and some dashing half back men. Do we pick for need or talent. Just curious as our midfield stock is getting quite large.
 
Curious if we get the #1 pick again will we be drafting another gun midfielder if that’s what’s best available ? Looking like Tsatsas and Ashcroft will be right up there. We need a key back or two, another forward, small forward and some dashing half back men. Do we pick for need or talent. Just curious as our midfield stock is getting quite large.
The good oil is the bottom three will Tanking for Tsatsas..
 
Has any of our junior track watchers seen much of Mitch Szybkowski ? He’s been pretty good for the Rays early doors .
Yep - he'd be in that 10-20 zone for me, probably closer to 10 than 20. Super impressive particularly in round 2 - was involved in a number of plays where he worked really hard to get the ball moving with chain possessions up the ground and was really strong in the contest. Looking forward to seeing how his season unfolds and how he presses his claims.

Looks a bit taller than the 185cm he's listed at.

Closest thing I've seen to Clayton Oliver since Clayton Oliver - very similar styles.
 
Yep - he'd be in that 10-20 zone for me, probably closer to 10 than 20. Super impressive particularly in round 2 - was involved in a number of plays where he worked really hard to get the ball moving with chain possessions up the ground and was really strong in the contest. Looking forward to seeing how his season unfolds and how he presses his claims.

Looks a bit taller than the 185cm he's listed at.

Closest thing I've seen to Clayton Oliver since Clayton Oliver - very similar styles.
186cm and 84kg he is
 

LIVEWIRE FORWARD ON MID-SEASON RADAR

TASMANIAN small forward Jye Menzie is attracting interest from AFL clubs ahead of the mid-season rookie draft, following a blistering start to life at South Adelaide.

The 19-year-old has kicked 10 goals in the first two rounds to lead the SANFL, ahead of former Crow Matthew Wright, ex-Cat Daniel Menzel and Port Adelaide recruit Jeremy Finlayson.

Menzie followed up a brilliant debut for the Panthers in round one, where he kicked 4.3 against Central District, slotting 6.1 against Port Adelaide last weekend.

AFL.com.au understands that four clubs have enquired about Menzie as they start to get a lay of the land ahead of the mid-season rookie draft on June 1.

South-v-Central-District.jpg


Jye Menzie in action for South Adelaide in the SANFL. Picture: Cory Sutton
Menzie received a late call up to last year's Tasmanian Draft Combine following some eye-catching performances in the NAB League for the Tasmania Devils, but didn’t speak to a club in the lead-up to the drafts.

The North Hobart product moved to South Australia in November after being overlooked in the NAB AFL Draft and the Rookie Draft and met with two SANFL clubs before signing with South Adelaide.

Menzie was selected in the Allies side to play South Australia last year before the Tasmanian contingent was ruled out due to border restrictions.

It is understood that recruiters have been impressed by Menzie's ability to pack up life in Tasmania, move to Adelaide and make such a big impact so quickly as a teenager. – Josh Gabelich
 

SAINTS TO GET CLOSE LOOK AT TALENTED TEEN

ST KILDA is getting a glimpse of one of the most exciting players in this year's NAB AFL Draft class as Harry Sheezel trains at the club this week.

Sheezel, a marking medium forward, is completing his AFL placement at the Saints through the NAB AFL Academy program having not been able to do the training through the pre-season.

The club experience is a major part of the elite Academy's program and allows the highly rated draft prospects to get a short taste of life inside a club ahead of their draft.

pcKEuGIj.jpg


Harry Sheezel celebrates a goal with Max Heath during the NAB League clash between the Calder Cannons and the Sandringham Dragons at Highgate Recreation Reserve on July 10, 2021. Picture: AFL Photos
The Sandringham Dragons prospect starts the season as a potential top-10 pick at this year's draft and booted four goals in a NAB League practice game before registering three majors in the opening two rounds of the year.

Sheezel, a 186cm forward, is a unique player with strong marking skills and great touch at ground level as well as goalkicking nous. The Saints and Dragons have a close relationship as clubs with the under-18s program using the RSEA Park facilities.

Cam McKenzie, who is another Dragon and a member of St Kilda's Next Generation Academy this year, has also trained with the Saints this week after an impressive opening to the NAB League season. - Callum Twomey
 
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