Opinion 2023 AFL Draft Prospects

[hatescaptcha]

I’m just hoping there some good will/tampering to get him to us.

Hopefully his comments about wanting to be a dog will deter some…


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[hatescaptcha]

Philactides would be a good late get. That speed is an absolute weapon.


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[bobs head soup]

LUAMON Lual remembers being woken up by his dad, Thomas, in the middle of the night. Then 14, Lual was in Bendigo, more than three hours from home, ready for a basketball tournament the following day.

"Mum's in hospital in Melbourne," Thomas told his oldest son, one of four siblings in the family. "We've got to go."

By the time they had made the two-hour drive to be by her side, the news wasn't good. Regina had suffered a stroke having attended an event with oldest daughter Juina, where she started to feel nauseous and unwell.

"It was an awful car trip," Luamon remembers. "I was confused and didn't know what to think. We got to the hospital room and she had a few family members there already and I could see the devastating looks on their faces.

"It's something you don't want to go through, but unfortunately that can be life. It was completely out of the blue and then suddenly it happened."

Regina died four days later, aged 48. There is not a day that goes by without Lual thinking about his mum, but he has had her on his mind even more so recently as the now 18-year-old gets closer to being drafted by an AFL club.

Regina had been there all the way through his sporting journey, having made immense sacrifices for her family.

Regina and Thomas were born in South Sudan and moved to Australia as refugees in the early 2000s. Juina was born in Melbourne, where the family set up upon arriving in the country, but the busyness of city life didn't suit them, so they shifted three hours out of town to Warrnambool. It was here that Luamon, younger sister Cigi and younger brother Mali were all born.

Regina was well known in the community – in 2016, she and Thomas helped organise a fundraiser for their war-torn homeland by staging a film night. Her death was met with an outpouring of grief around the state, with a large funeral held in February, 2020, just before the COVID lockdowns prevented many families from being able to gather and say goodbye. It is something Lual is grateful for.

"It was a devastating time, but we were blessed to be able to celebrate her life," he says. "She was one of a kind. I loved her to bits. She was such a humble person, likewise with my dad, and she had done so much for me up until the point she left.

"She's shaped me to be the person I am, off the back of dad's help as well. She's so loving, so caring. I just love her to bits."

Lual and his siblings took a few weeks off school to mourn together, before Thomas urged them back to class. Without his dad's insistence, Lual thinks he probably would have been off class for 10 weeks

The loss of his mum meant other things for Lual. He continued to forge ahead with his own dreams; he made more and more squads for the Greater Western Victoria Rebels and in Vic Country's football programs, whilst also taking part in the Western Bulldogs' Next Generation Academy, where he is eligible given his African background. But he also wanted to step up for Cigi, now 17, and 14-year-old Mali, particularly with Juina, now 21, in Melbourne studying at university.

"We had a chat to Dad after it all happened and it was such a significant loss for our family, so it was time for myself and my older sister to be good role models for our younger siblings," he says.

"We try to do everything we can around the house. My sister's moved now so I'm the bigger brother and look after them when I need to. Whether that's cooking, taking them to their sport trainings and games now I've got my licence, those types of things."

He hasn't had to look far for role models. He is in awe of his dad, who has taken up working at night at an aged care centre so that he can be there for his kids during the day.

"He's been very supportive. He has had trauma in his life in moving here and also the loss of family members back home, but he's had a significant role in my life," Lual says.

"He works night shifts just to cater for us during the day. He did that so he can work through the night, have a sleep and then after school be able to come and pick us up and take us to our sporting commitments.

"Sometimes he'd work night and not have time for a sleep, but take us to where we need to go when he got back from work. It's a pretty huge effort."

As has been Lual's ascent to draft contention. The attacking half-back is quick, smart and takes the game on. He showed that through this year with the Rebels and also in the under-18 carnival for Vic Country. He has trained at the Bulldogs as part of the NGA program and would like to go there, but the Dogs can't match a bid inside the first 40 selections due to Academy rules. A bid will probably come before then, and Lual says he will be happy to go anywhere.

Clubs like his speed and rebound, but also his character. During interviews at the Draft Combine, he spoke openly about his mum and family background. He was emotional during the conversation with Richmond, with the club's recruiters moved to follow up with him to make sure he was OK.

"Whenever clubs ask about family, I have to bring it up," he says. "I ended up shedding a tear when I had a meeting with the Tigers but they were very supportive, and likewise the other clubs. Over the years I've become more comfortable talking about it, but the build up that day probably got to me. They were very supportive and got in contact with me the next day."

With the countdown to the draft now on, Lual will finish his year 12 exams this week before biding time until names are called on November 20-21.

He knows he will have his mum in mind then.

"During footy games, I wish she was there to watch me and see how I go about it," he says. "For me to be drafted would mean so much to her.

"I'm doing everything for her."

Quality human being who deserves to be near to his family. Come on rival recruiters do the right thing.....

 

[Euku]

Am I right in thinking it's a bit of a loophole to have extra picks to get croft by delisting 2 players then redraft them to match picks used to players picked

 

[Foxman98]

Am I right in thinking it's a bit of a loophole to have extra picks to get croft by delisting 2 players then redraft them to match picks used to players picked

You'd be correct that is why they did it

 

[dogwatch]

Am I right in thinking it's a bit of a loophole to have extra picks to get croft by delisting 2 players then redraft them to match picks used to players picked

Yes, but it's not without risk, as earlier posts have pointed out. So not a serious loophole.

We have promised both McNeil and Duryea we'd re-draft them but the process involves leaving them on the open market for a short time. In that brief window some other club could snaffle them (and apparently that's happened once or twice).

So the strategy has to be to de-list players we wouldn't lose too much sleep over if they were sneakily drafted by another club. Often it will be an older player (Duryea) who no other clubs would consider, but it can also be a player who was on the cusp of de-listing anyway (McNeil). You wouldn't risk doing it with a regular senior player even if he was over 30 years old (eg Liberatore or L Jones).

Correct me if I'm wrong on this but I think if we re-draft them we have to offer them a 2 year contract but if we rookie them instead it can be just a one year contract. For that reason I suspect we'd prefer to rookie them rather than draft them to the main list. However I'm not sure if we're allowed to re-rookie McNeil.

So there's a further loophole involved here: the rookie list wasn't originally intended for players at the tail-end of their career, like 32yo Duryea. It was designed to give overlooked young players a further opportunity to prove themselves worthy of the big time.

 

[Cadillac]

For the people who have been following the mock drafts online, is it looking like Nick Watson is going to be picked by hawthorn now? I wanted him

 

[House_of_Dahl]

For the people who have been following the mock drafts online, is it looking like Nick Watson is going to be picked by hawthorn now? I wanted him

Think it very much depends on if Curtin slides. I still suspect WC swaps pick 1 for pick 2 and other firsts with North to take Curtin at 2 (or 3 after Walter bid).

 

[_Cerberus_]

For the people who have been following the mock drafts online, is it looking like Nick Watson is going to be picked by hawthorn now? I wanted him

Hawks lack goals up front. I think their top two list might be Duursma and Watson.

Though Watson is an interesting one, with their recruitment of smalls in the off season. Will they add another?

 

[Mojorisin]

Yes, but it's not without risk, as earlier posts have pointed out. So not a serious loophole.

We have promised both McNeil and Duryea we'd re-draft them but the process involves leaving them on the open market for a short time. In that brief window some other club could snaffle them (and apparently that's happened once or twice).

So the strategy has to be to de-list players we wouldn't lose too much sleep over if they were sneakily drafted by another club. Often it will be an older player (Duryea) who no other clubs would consider, but it can also be a player who was on the cusp of de-listing anyway (McNeil). You wouldn't risk doing it with a regular senior player even if he was over 30 years old (eg Liberatore or L Jones).

Correct me if I'm wrong on this but I think if we re-draft them we have to offer them a 2 year contract but if we rookie them instead it can be just a one year contract. For that reason I suspect we'd prefer to rookie them rather than draft them to the main list. However I'm not sure if we're allowed to re-rookie McNeil.

So there's a further loophole involved here: the rookie list wasn't originally intended for players at the tail-end of their career, like 32yo Duryea. It was designed to give overlooked young players a further opportunity to prove themselves worthy of the big time.

We can re-rookie Mcniel, you can't keep them on the rookie list more then three years but if you delist and re-rookie them that starts the 3 years again.

I believe if you re-draft the player back onto the list via the preseason draft you can have prearranged contract length with no minimum years, that is what suns are doing with Day.

Another risk of this loophole is that every time a previously delisted player comes out of contract he is a free agent. We seen that this year with Jordan, Melbourne shifted him to the rookie list before he found a more regular role and although they offered him a decent deal he walked.

 

[Bonti 5416]

AFL Draft Profile: Dan Curtin

The WA teenager is arguably the most versatile prospect of 2023.

www.zerohanger.com

Really coming around to Curtain. He seems the modern prototype utility. Might not be a need but sometimes you just got to take the best player there.

Agree that still the most likely scenario is Nth eventually get pick 1 and West Coast get curtain (which means hawks get Duursma/Mekercher and we get Watson.

But if draft order stays as is and Reid goes to WC then we should get Curtain.

At best he is Bont like and at Worst he is a proper swingman, better version of Van Rooyen.

Could be used to get a Harley Reid or Caleb Serong

3

Caleb Serong

Age

23

Ht

180cm

Wt

87kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

13.0

3star

K

7.0

3star

HB

6.0

4star

M

1.8

2star

T

3.6

5star

CL

2.6

4star

D

13.0

3star

K

7.0

3star

HB

6.0

3star

M

1.8

2star

T

3.6

4star

CL

2.6

4star

D

13.0

4star

K

7.0

3star

HB

6.0

4star

M

1.8

2star

T

3.6

5star

CL

2.6

5star

back to the dogs if it doesnt work out in a couple of years.

 

[Bonti 5416]

Can anyone post Herald Sun Mockdraft that has been published this morning?

 

[doggies ftw]

Another risk of this loophole is that every time a previously delisted player comes out of contract he is a free agent. We seen that this year with Jordan, Melbourne shifted him to the rookie list before he found a more regular role and although they offered him a decent deal he walked.

Spot on, this is why it’s not worth doing it for a guy like Bedendo who actually has decent upside, just to take an extra 50 points or whatever, that we don’t need, into the draft. Doc or other older guys are fine to do it with.

 

[VitalDread]

Can anyone post Herald Sun Mockdraft that has been published this morning?

Sanders at our pick
Croft at 16
Blues take Lual at 27

 

[doggie dog]

Curtin’s the one I want too. Starts at half back from next year. Despite his size I don’t see him as a Bont or Cripps style clearance beast inside midfielder, he still sometimes approaches ground ball contests a bit like a tall and doesn’t hunt the ball the way those two or Oliver do. I think he’d be a bit more of a Jordan Dawson type as a mid, able to patrol the middle of the ground and win contests on the ground and in the air and really take advantage of smaller opponents, while being an aerial threat all over the ground (but without the same ridiculous boot as Dawson). I could see him being a very effective wing eventually as well and being a genuine utility that could be slotted in to any part of the ground. But what you’d get from him as a defender would be more than valuable enough to keep him there.

He’s very agile and composed and a great short to medium kick. Between him and O’Donnell we’d have a couple of tall defenders that would be able to sweep up and kick start our attacks with some run or incisive field kicking. You would welcome either being involved in attacking chains. He could be our version of Tom Stewart. Having him and O’Donnell at half back would give us the luxury, if needed, of playing a full back with limited offensive ability as they’d be our only one down there. If Croft made it as a full back we’d be sorted for tall and intercept defenders for 10 years.

The big however though is that I’d be pretty surprised if the club picked him, after investing pick 13 in Busslinger last year.

The dogs couldn't hit up fwd targets and the ball moved from our offensive to defence far to easily in 2023, more of a weakness than a need for another small fwd.
If Curtin can be that Tom Stewart role and patrol the middle of the ground, plus if he can operate in the midfield, is great short to mid kick that can hit up a target on the lead in the fwd line that's a massive yes for me.

 

[Mofra]

For the people who have been following the mock drafts online, is it looking like Nick Watson is going to be picked by hawthorn now? I wanted him

Watson or Sanders seem the most likely - either would be great gets for us.

 

[doggie dog]

scratches head (how many times can someone flipflop? ). Dont agree - we could absolutely use another gun tall defender, particularly one good at ground level that could potentially play round 1. Buss, Croft, Curtin... :-O

however, our need for a mid that can take over from libba/macrae when they retire in X years is greater - agree there for sure

....but.... If its sanders who is likely off to tassie at exactly that time, then we arent really addressing that need, are we?

So, I think if it comes down to sanders and curtin, then Id rather curtin.

If we want to load up for flag tilts at the back end of bonts career, then curtin/watson could be a big part of that. sanders, not so much. (am I too harsh on sanders ability to contribute early in his career?)

Either of those curtin/watson mean we go serious headhunting for established mids next year's trade.

With Bruce retired, Keathy looking past it and LJones over 30 the dogs could absolutely use a gun defender that can also operate in the midfiled.
The dogs also have to see what we have with Charlie Clarke before investing in another small/ med fwd.
I have seen a general consensus on big footy that the dogs needs are a KPD, Winger and a inside Midfielder to relieve Libba.
Sanders or Curtin could potentially address 2 of these positions.

 

[hujsh]

Watson or Sanders seem the most likely - either would be great gets for us.

Fair to say if Curtin goes top 3 we probably get Watson (unless North/Hawks both decide they need forwards and somehow pass on McKercher) and if not we pass on Curtin and take Sanders? Or a least that's what the mock drafts suggest.

 

[Mojorisin]

If things fall our way I'm hearing we have our target.

Kade De La Rue Draft Profile

Dandenong Stingrays' Kade De La Rue is a crafty midfielder-forward with clean hands and productive decision making.

central.rookieme.com

 

[Dannnnnnnnnn]

If things fall our way I'm hearing we have our target.

Kade De La Rue Draft Profile

Dandenong Stingrays' Kade De La Rue is a crafty midfielder-forward with clean hands and productive decision making.

central.rookieme.com

ACL followed by a foot injury, yep sounds like our kinda guy.

 

[_Cerberus_]

Can anyone post Herald Sun Mockdraft that has been published this morning?

Can see the full version posted a couple of pages back. Along with the ESPN version a few posts after it.

 

[flipper83]

AFL Draft Profile: Dan Curtin

The WA teenager is arguably the most versatile prospect of 2023.

www.zerohanger.com

Really coming around to Curtain. He seems the modern prototype utility. Might not be a need but sometimes you just got to take the best player there.

Agree that still the most likely scenario is Nth eventually get pick 1 and West Coast get curtain (which means hawks get Duursma/Mekercher and we get Watson.

But if draft order stays as is and Reid goes to WC then we should get Curtain.

At best he is Bont like and at Worst he is a proper swingman, better version of Van Rooyen.

Could be used to get a Harley Reid or Caleb Serong back to the dogs if it doesnt work out in a couple of years.

I'm not so sure about Curtain. I worry he could be a jack of all trades, master of none.

I'm not sure he's sharp enough to be an inside mid or fast enough to be an outside mid.

I don't think he's a good enough contested mark to play as a key forward.

He's best role is probably the Jake lever style intercept role where he is freed up to play lose.

We already have Busslinger who is most suited to that role albeit not as athletic.

If it was a choice between Sanders and Curtain I'd prefer Sanders who already does everything you want to see an onballer do.
I really think feel end up an elite midfielder.

This is all based off watching edits mind you so happy to be persuaded otherwise.

If things fall our way I'm hearing we have our target.

Kade De La Rue Draft Profile

Dandenong Stingrays' Kade De La Rue is a crafty midfielder-forward with clean hands and productive decision making.

central.rookieme.com

Good list fit, particularly if we don't get Watson early.

 

[doggies ftw]

If things fall our way I'm hearing we have our target.

Kade De La Rue Draft Profile

Dandenong Stingrays' Kade De La Rue is a crafty midfielder-forward with clean hands and productive decision making.

central.rookieme.com

Would you see his long term future at HF? Sanders & De La Rue would be a great mix. I love Watson but I am starting to lean towards Sanders, I’m pretty comfortable with our small forwards going forward and we have spent a lot up there.

Would be absolutely stoked with Sanders, Lual, De La Rue & Croft, that would be a terrific mix. for Lual

 

[Mojorisin]

Would you see his long term future at HF? Sanders & De La Rue would be a great mix. I love Watson but I am starting to lean towards Sanders, I’m pretty comfortable with our small forwards going forward and we have spent a lot up there.

Would be absolutely stoked with Sanders, Lual, De La Rue & Croft, that would be a terrific mix. for Lual

Yes definitely a Half forward pushing into the contest. He can lay a good tackle and whilst not very physically developed looks to be strong through the hips so has decent upside if he puts things together.

 

[_Cerberus_]

Yes definitely a Half forward pushing into the contest. He can lay a good tackle and whilst not very physically developed looks to be strong through the hips so has decent upside if he puts things together.

I think he will do a better job at that half forward role, that pushes into the MID than Smith does. From what I have read, he has been able to adapt well to the role, that it is more natural to him. Can also play inside as well.