Opinion 2023 AFL Draft Prospects

Who do you want for our first pick at the AFL Draft?

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    104
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Golden_6 said:
He’s like a combination of Butters, Papley & Elliot with the strengths of all three.
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But can he jump tall buildings in a single bound?
 
Chris Cavanagh in Herald Sun reporting Croft hasn’t decided to nominate Dogs as Father Son and may go into open draft.

Are there any more stories to stick the boots into the club this week ?
 
DueWest said:
Chris Cavanagh in Herald Sun reporting Croft hasn’t decided to nominate Dogs as Father Son and may go into open draft.

Are there any more stories to stick the boots into the club this week ?
Click to expand...
I mean the club is not exactly an enticing place for a young tall developing forward, is it?
 
DueWest said:
Chris Cavanagh in Herald Sun reporting Croft hasn’t decided to nominate Dogs as Father Son and may go into open draft.

Are there any more stories to stick the boots into the club this week ?
Click to expand...

CROFT YET TO DECIDE​

Highly-rated key forward Jordan Croft is yet to decide whether he will nominate as a father-son for the Western Bulldogs as he continues to climb up club draft boards.

The 200cm Calder Cannons product has produced an eye-catching season to emerge as a first-round prospect in November’s national draft.

One recruiter said this week that Croft comfortably sat “somewhere between pick 10 and 15, just on what he could be”.

The 18-year-old, who is the son of 186-game Western Bulldogs defender Matthew Croft, trained at Whitten Oval for a week over pre-season and has been involved with the club’s Academy for the past six years.

Jordan Croft playing for Maribyrnong College. Picture: Getty Images

Jordan Croft playing for Maribyrnong College. Picture: Getty Images
However, Croft told this column that he was yet to sit down with his manager Tom Petroro and discuss whether he would officially nominate for the Bulldogs or enter the open draft.

“I’m not sure at the moment,” Croft said.

“I’ve still got to have a discussion with Tom and my dad and family.

“I’ve still got a bit of footy to go and we’ll see if the Cannons can go deep into finals. I haven’t had a real good think about it yet.”

The Bulldogs currently hold picks 10 and 17 in this year’s draft, but already have a stack of key forwards on their list with the likes of Aaron Naughton, Rory Lobb, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and Sam Darcy.

Croft’s overhead marking and impressive running ability have stood out during his Coates Talent League matches this season, as well as in three games for Vic Metro during the under-18 national championships.

In a match earlier this month he faced off with Murray Bushrangers key defender Connor O’Sullivan – who is considered a top-10 draft prospect – in a battle which was evenly scored by recruiters.

Croft had 17 disposals, seven marks (four contested), 12 score involvements and kicked 3.4, while O’Sullivan finished with 26 disposals, eight marks and six spoils.

“I played him (O’Sullivan) against the Allies and I think he got the upper hand in that one so it was good to get a second chance,” Croft said.

“We didn’t quite get the win in that one but individually I think I showed my strengths.”

Still lightly-framed, Croft is weighing in at 82kg after tipping the scales at just 80kg during pre-season.

Hitting the gym will be a focus over the off-season as he prepares to play on bigger bodies at AFL or VFL level next year.

“In-season I haven’t been able to get to the gym as much but over pre-season a big focus will definitely be trying to put on a bit more size,” Croft said.

“Playing against some bigger bodies next year, I’ll need to put on a bit more weight so I don’t get thrown around too much.”
 
doggies ftw said:
Ah so a nothing article then, that’s literally always how it plays out at this time of year (“I haven’t decided yet”)
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Players have till Oct to nominate their clubs i'm pretty sure
 

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weltschmerz said:
The Davey twins had a lot of speculation last year iirc, and nominated.
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Same with Nick Daicos
Was strongly considering going to Gold Coast for a long period of time
 
I think we finish with pick 8, bit of an awkward spot as doesn’t seem to be any genuine mids around there? Does Caddy have real midfield potential?

It’s a great spot for Croft though as surely we get a pick in before him and don’t need to trade up, then use the brissy pick smartly to get some points for Croft and trade back in for Lual.

Caddy, Croft & Lual sounds pretty tasty - providing Caddy has genuine midfield scope otherwise we probably couldn’t take him
 
doggies ftw said:
I think we finish with pick 8, bit of an awkward spot as doesn’t seem to be any genuine mids around there? Does Caddy have real midfield potential?

It’s a great spot for Croft though as surely we get a pick in before him and don’t need to trade up, then use the brissy pick smartly to get some points for Croft and trade back in for Lual.

Caddy, Croft & Lual sounds pretty tasty - providing Caddy has genuine midfield scope otherwise we probably couldn’t take him
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No midfield scope at all in my opinion. Wilson or O'Sullivan should be available at 8 any later then that and I'd look to trade up or out.
 
Mojorisin said:
No midfield scope at all in my opinion. Wilson or O'Sullivan should be available at 8 any later then that and I'd look to trade up or out.
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O’Sullivan sounds great but geez I just don’t think we can use another high pick on a tall, admittedly I don’t know too much on the crop but 8 feels too high for Wilson, does he have enough of an inside game, where do you see him playing his best footy?

It’s a really awkward spot for our needs, and probably for GC too so not sure they’d want to trade down to 8.
 
doggies ftw said:
O’Sullivan sounds great but geez I just don’t think we can use another high pick on a tall, admittedly I don’t know too much on the crop but 8 feels too high for Wilson, does he have enough of an inside game, where do you see him playing his best footy?

It’s a really awkward spot for our needs, and probably for GC too so not sure they’d want to trade down to 8.
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O'Sullivan is a special talent and if he is there we just have to take him. I also see more scope in him to be that FB we have all been crying out for. Would be a perfect combo for JOD and Buss, all three importantly won't make your eyes bleed with their disposal.

Wilson is one I've been hot and cold on all year. He has won me over again playing as an inside mid I'm the CTL. His also played at half forward and more then likely starts off there. If we drafted him though I suspect he is trusted with a wing straight away and he is built for that position. His got a tank to rival Langdon, his not fast or Flashy but gets from arc to arc.
My biggest concern with him is although he is a good kick it is inconsistent and having less time at afl level that could be worse, after over rating Aish and O'brien in the past I'm a bit gun shy on his type although he looks to be the real deal and his consistency on the inside has settled my fears on him being another one of those.
He is tracking better then Hollands Jr at the same age and I'd expect similar or great Immediate impact and total career.

Sorry for the long reply.
 
Mojorisin said:
O'Sullivan is a special talent and if he is there we just have to take him. I also see more scope in him to be that FB we have all been crying out for. Would be a perfect combo for JOD and Buss, all three importantly won't make your eyes bleed with their disposal.

Wilson is one I've been hot and cold on all year. He has won me over again playing as an inside mid I'm the CTL. His also played at half forward and more then likely starts off there. If we drafted him though I suspect he is trusted with a wing straight away and he is built for that position. His got a tank to rival Langdon, his not fast or Flashy but gets from arc to arc.
My biggest concern with him is although he is a good kick it is inconsistent and having less time at afl level that could be worse, after over rating Aish and O'brien in the past I'm a bit gun shy on his type although he looks to be the real deal and his consistency on the inside has settled my fears on him being another one of those.
He is tracking better then Hollands Jr at the same age and I'd expect similar or great Immediate impact and total career.

Sorry for the long reply.
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Thanks Mojo, O’Sullivan definitely would be a great fit alongside Buss/JOD but geez using another 2 high draft picks on talls would sure be interesting! Probably fine long term but it’s a lotttt of assets we would have used.

Thanks for the write up on Wilson, he does seem like another good fit for us but just made me think even more that 8 is probably too high for that type, those non-flashy outside players who don’t really star at anything but are solid really worry me with their transition from juniors to AFL, glad to hear he’s shown a fair bit on the inside recently
 
doggies ftw said:
Thanks Mojo, O’Sullivan definitely would be a great fit alongside Buss/JOD but geez using another 2 high draft picks on talls would sure be interesting! Probably fine long term but it’s a lotttt of assets we would have used.

Thanks for the write up on Wilson, he does seem like another good fit for us but just made me think even more that 8 is probably too high for that type, those non-flashy outside players who don’t really star at anything but are solid really worry me with their transition from juniors to AFL, glad to hear he’s shown a fair bit on the inside recently
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There isn't anyone else around that range I'd take before him and his type are extremely sort after in the modern game so you need to spend to get them. We need to bring in atleast one wingman somewhere and to me it has to be Wilson or Lual.
Lual is alot more exciting/Attacking but is a Burst Player and won't be able have the game time Wilson would.

I'm all aboard the Watson train though. He is exactly what we need in the forward line and would essentially mean our full forward line is set up for 10 years.
 
doggies ftw said:
Thanks Mojo, O’Sullivan definitely would be a great fit alongside Buss/JOD but geez using another 2 high draft picks on talls would sure be interesting! Probably fine long term but it’s a lotttt of assets we would have used.

Thanks for the write up on Wilson, he does seem like another good fit for us but just made me think even more that 8 is probably too high for that type, those non-flashy outside players who don’t really star at anything but are solid really worry me with their transition from juniors to AFL, glad to hear he’s shown a fair bit on the inside recently
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This is Hollands from last year though and he was great all year as a first year wing. As long as you’re clean, good tank and above avg pace you’re a fit.
 
Tholstrup still strikes me as someone who would suit our needs however I don’t think we have a pick in his range after the Croft bid at this stage.

Definitely keen on Caddy as well, if we see him being able to develop into that De Goey, Martin and lesser extent Stringer type of player.

Also really like O’Sullivan think he’ll complement the tall defenders we have already nicely.

Would be keen on Watson if we do trade up.

Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com
 
Last edited:
hatescaptcha said:
Tholstrup still strikes me as someone who would suit our needs however I don’t think we have a pick in his range after the Croft bid at this stage.
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He runs exactly like Dermie. He'd be amazing for us but I suspect West Coast find a pick in the teens and jump early.
I still think Kane McAuliffe showed AFL-like traits earlier in the season.

If we don't get Wilson, I hope our links to de la Rue later in the draft are correct. A genuine wing, not a HB or failed CBA mid shoe-horned into the wing role.
 

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Opinion 2023 AFL Draft Prospects

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