Recruiting AFL Draft Watch 2023

[Lore]

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Spoiler: LIVE DRAFT ORDER (2023 Draft Order)

 

[eth-dog]

Time to look at a few MSD options that I hope we're considering:

VFL:

Ethan Phillips (198/90, key defender, Port Melbourne). Phillips is the best key defender in the VFL and possibly the best that isn't on an AFL list. Still only 23 so has plenty of time on his side too if he makes it, but could be a short term stop gap if not. I'd say he's the one I want the most.

Tyreece Leiu (194/93, key defender, Carlton VFL). Leiu is a bit smaller than Phillips but more athletic. I think he probably lasts to our pick so hopefully we snap him up if Phillips isn't there.

Corey Preston (182/76, half back/wing, Williamstown). A little left field but I've been impressed with his kicking from the games I've seen of him this year and last.

The best mid in the VFL so far has probably been Shaun Mannagh from Werribee but I'd take Narkle ahead of him.

 

[Keystone agony]

Phillips would be probably good as that mature aged KPD, if we have a good next 4 weeks. Never seen him play.

I like what im hearing of Samuel Otto East Fremantle KPF/Ruck still only 18

In the mould of Jacob Edwards, Ramsden, Sebit Kuek, Max Heath who were all those younger 196cm+ mid season picks

Edit: Not sure he nominated for last years draft

 

[RedmanWasHere]

Otto didn't nominate.

 

[Keystone agony]

Otto didn't nominate.

You watched him at all this year?

 

[eth-dog]

Harlequin Dream who've been the standouts in the SANFL? eDPS any over agers take your eye?

And anybody who watches the WAFL also please input ideas in here.

 

[faible]

It’s a bit early but dynamic Gippsland forward Ryan Maric looks very likely.

Put one Gipplsand boy in Heppell, in Maric

 

[citizen-erased]

Some wraps on luke teal from Richmond fans. (Can be a bit hyperbolic though) but did hope he'd get a spot somewhere after reading his story
HBF probably not our biggest need though.

Kobe Ryan was another one. But again, a smaller mid is also not a need.

Szybkowski fired any shots?

These 3 i liked the look of at the draft last year.

 

[Keystone agony]

Harlequin Dream who've been the standouts in the SANFL? eDPS any over agers take your eye?

And anybody who watches the WAFL also please input ideas in here.

Sam Otto but he will be the ND and still no guarantee, depends how his entire year goes. Id say he wouldve been picked up MSD if he had nominated last year though

The only one really is Jack Buller from Claremont 200cm, 100kg mainly KPF, bit of ruck. 21 years old

Probably suits us well
Wright 27
Weideman 26
H.Jones 23
J.Buller 22

Would be a handy KPF age demographic.

Also allows us better flexability with our first rounder end of season. If there are no gun KPF that we rate our pick can be content going a small-med front half player

 

[ant555]

Have had a look at a couple of games. No grand thoughts yet but and early one I will be keeping an eye on is Joel Freijah.

 

[Saintsone]

Have had a look at a couple of games. No grand thoughts yet but and early one I will be keeping an eye on is Joel Freijah.

Freijah would be great

 

[Ants]

Do we think we'd take a MSD player who was on an 18 month contract? Or only one on a 6 month contract?

List spots look like they'll be very tight. Especially if the club wants Heppell to stay on. Right now the only really strong likely main-list candidates would be Lord (still time to improve, been looking better), Heppell (but club doesn't appear to agree) and Stewart (either retiring, delisting or delist and rookie). McBride is unlikely to get a senior contract but doesn't free up a spot.

 

[boncer34]

Do we think we'd take a MSD player who was on an 18 month contract? Or only one on a 6 month contract?

List spots look like they'll be very tight. Especially if the club wants Heppell to stay on. Right now the only really strong likely main-list candidates would be Lord (still time to improve, been looking better), Heppell (but club doesn't appear to agree) and Stewart (either retiring, delisting or delist and rookie). McBride is unlikely to get a senior contract but doesn't free up a spot.

Doubt it. He's signed as a coach next year.

 

[andleanback]

Do we think we'd take a MSD player who was on an 18 month contract? Or only one on a 6 month contract?

List spots look like they'll be very tight. Especially if the club wants Heppell to stay on. Right now the only really strong likely main-list candidates would be Lord (still time to improve, been looking better), Heppell (but club doesn't appear to agree) and Stewart (either retiring, delisting or delist and rookie). McBride is unlikely to get a senior contract but doesn't free up a spot.

Depends how much you want the player. I don’t think at our list position there is any point of taking a player for 6 months (which is really 3). So if you don’t think they’re worthy of 18 months you probably shouldnt be taking them regardless.

 

[Ants]

Doubt it. He's signed as a coach next year.

Really? How certain is that?

 

[andleanback]

Really? How certain is that?

He’s not signed as a coach next year. It’s just expected he’ll be intergrated into the coaching group once he retires.

 

[Lore]

He chose Essendon's deal over Gold Coast's, which would've included a couple of years of coaching as a transition contract, might be what you were thinking of boncer34?

Don't think they ever made explicit what else Essendon's deal included other than "at least one more year" of playing footy, but it was fairly widely reported that he wasn't happy with being offered 1 year initially. Not sure what changed, because in the end it is a one year base contract as far as we know, but there might be triggers or an informal coaching offer for when he does finish up, whenever that might be.

What we do know is Scott rates him pretty highly and would probably want him to stay on in some capacity even if he can't play at the level anymore.

 

[boncer34]

Really? How certain is that?

90%

My mails not in the media.

 

[eth-dog]

Do we think we'd take a MSD player who was on an 18 month contract? Or only one on a 6 month contract?

List spots look like they'll be very tight. Especially if the club wants Heppell to stay on. Right now the only really strong likely main-list candidates would be Lord (still time to improve, been looking better), Heppell (but club doesn't appear to agree) and Stewart (either retiring, delisting or delist and rookie). McBride is unlikely to get a senior contract but doesn't free up a spot.

I'd say Phillips and Walla are decent chances of not going on too.
Bryan might get offers (I know people disagree on here but I still see it as a possibility)
Parish could leave as a Free Agent, same with Redman
Hobbs, Zerk, Jones, Menzie, Voss, Baldwin and D'Ambrosio are all probably seen as part of our future but are yet to re-sign.
Snelling, who knows?

I think all of Hobbs, Zerk, Jones, Menzie, Voss, D'Ambrosio, Baldwin and Redman re-sign. But I can see us shedding/losing Lord, Heppell, Stewart, Phillips, Walla, Bryan, Parish and Snelling as far as draft relevancy goes. Add a mature key defender in the MSD, trade in a second ruck like Briggs or Hayes and then you have 6 draft or trade spots

 

[Ants]

I'd say Phillips and Walla are decent chances of not going on too.

Walla is an interesting one, because if you could get him fit he should be an option for a few years. But I agree he's at risk.

I kind of discount Phillips because if he does retire I assume we'd trade for some semi-mature backup anyway. Bryan is not ready to hold the #1 ruck if something happened to Draper. So, I kind of assume his spot would be filled with a trade/FA and not count towards availability per se.

Bryan might get offers (I know people disagree on here but I still see it as a possibility)
Parish could leave as a Free Agent, same with Redman
Hobbs, Zerk, Jones, Menzie, Voss, Baldwin and D'Ambrosio are all probably seen as part of our future but are yet to re-sign.
Snelling, who knows?

I think all of Hobbs, Zerk, Jones, Menzie, Voss, D'Ambrosio, Baldwin and Redman re-sign. But I can see us shedding/losing Lord, Heppell, Stewart, Phillips, Walla, Bryan, Parish and Snelling as far as draft relevancy goes. Add a mature key defender in the MSD, trade in a second ruck like Briggs or Hayes and then you have 6 draft or trade spots

I also kind of ignore guys we might lose due to poaching. Unless the club knows its going to happen, then from planning around list spots I would say you just don't assume it will in Plan A. Unless the club was pushing someone out (e.g. Parish). I also think Voss, Baldwin, Mass and Menzie have all shown enough to be offered a contract. I doubt Snelling is at risk.

I think the club's assumption would be that Bryan, Parish, Redman, Hobbs, Jones, Baldwin, Mass, Voss, Menzie all re-sign. If they do unexpected leave, you have more flexibility but also potentially a headache (depending on who it is).

Worth noting that Baldwin will need to be promoted as well.

I think all of Hobbs, Zerk, Jones, Menzie, Voss, D'Ambrosio, Baldwin and Redman re-sign. But I can see us shedding/losing Lord, Heppell, Stewart, Phillips, Walla, Bryan, Parish and Snelling as far as draft relevancy goes. Add a mature key defender in the MSD, trade in a second ruck like Briggs or Hayes and then you have 6 draft or trade spots

Stewart as I said above I think is a shoe-in to be delisted/retired, or delisted and re-rookied. Nobody is going to 'steal' him, and the free-agency concerns over him being rookied are minimal.

Therefore, my list of options would be: Lord, Heppell, Stewart and Walla as far as main-list relevancy goes (McBride & Montgomerie not relevant). Which for only four players at risk is a tiny number. Two of which the club are playing when fit (Heppell & Walla) in the best 22. That is a pretty short list. And hell, even Lord has been improving in the VFL (albeit, from a low base). Stewart is the only one I'd be sure won't be on the main list next year. Well, Heppell as well if I believe boncer34!

 

[Schnitzengruben]

 

[BrunoV]

FMD

 

[andleanback]

Yuck

 

[Zach Package]

Sydney will pick him up and we will all laud it as ‘shrewd recruiting from a model organisation’

 

[RedmanWasHere]

Yeah no thanks.

No battlers please.

 

[Schnitzengruben]

Sydney will pick him up and we will all laud it as ‘shrewd recruiting from a model organisation’

Sydney pick him up: On The Couch segment highlighting McDonald leading their BnF and how did other clubs overlook him, averaging 8 intercepts a game.
"Sydney has done it again!" they'll proclaim.

Essendon pick him up: Immediate stress fracture in lower back, out for 15 weeks.