BigFooty Official Big Footy 2016 Phantom Draft - Trial Run

[Offsider]

Good selection . I was wondering who would pull the trigger first on Witherden.

I feel that Gold Coast could really use his skill off half-back and without the injury he would probably have gone higher based off his underage form.

 

[Sin City]

Next available on my (not yet online updated) draft board (and a nice needs fit as it turns out) is Shai Bolton...

34. Sydney - Shai Bolton

Good pick

 

[Snoop Dog]

LemmingMaster

 

[LemmingMaster]

33 Geelong - Oliver Florent
36 Hawthorn - Jack Graham
38 Geelong - Alex Villis
40 Gold Coast - Alex Witherden
41 Carlton

Well it is always interesting when you have your eye on a number of players and they fly off the board before your selection.

Carlton Pick 41 - Myles Poholke
184cm and 84kg

 

[LemmingMaster]

Bishop

 

[JAMES_B_101]

I'm a little surprised to still see Zac Sproule on the board in the 40's

 

[13Beast]

Pick 28 - Brisbane

Jeremy Goddard

Coming into the year Goddard was clearly the number 1 ruck for me and if he was available last year I would have taken as the first ruck last year. He was easily better than any of the rucks running around last year even when he was a year younger. He suffered at the Champs from the introduction of English who got the majority of ruck time for WA. I think WA was worse for that.

In the ruck contest Goddard is a lot better ruck technician than English and he would have given the WA mids first use more often if he was given more time in the ruck. He has dominated in the ruck in the WAFL Colts the last couple of years and looking at the stats from the WAFL Ressies it looks like he picked up 48 hit outs per game in his two games. He is good both at the centre bounce and around the ground ruck contests. He has a decent leap and he is strong enough to overpower many of opponents he has come up against. He had an undersized VFL opponent in the AFL Academy game earlier in the year but he dominated the hit outs all the same.

As mentioned he is a powerfully built young guy but is pretty fluid for a guy his size. From my perspective he seems above average athletically for a ruck but he is not in the same stratosphere as the likes of Nic Nat. With the ball on the ground he will go after it and his hands below the knees are pretty reasonable. He has not been a high possession winner to date but I do think there is untapped potential there. He seems to read the game pretty well and as he builds his engine I think he could be a presence around the ground.

The Lions have to take a ruck this year I think and I actually like quite a lot of the options this year. None had particularly great Champs but there is quite a bit of depth of talent this year and there are a few guys who could find their way onto team lists. Archie Smith is the only young ruck on the Lions list and I have long been pessimistic of his chances of making it. Adding someone like Goddard is very much needed. There are a few forward \ rucks but I think we need a true ruck as we have a few of the forwards who can back up ruck coming down the pipe. One to keep an eye on for the rookie draft is Nate Dennis. He has improved a lot since last year and was the best ruck technician in Div 2 and was ripped off not getting a chance in the Div 1 Champs. What that has meant though is that he is well under the radar.

Would you change that pick now Quigley after seeing Archie Smith's rather impressive debut performance against Trengove last night? Seems the Lions might have found that elusive young ruck with potential for the list now...

 

[M Malice]

Would you change that pick now Quigley after seeing Archie Smith's rather impressive debut performance against Trengove last night? Seems the Lions might have found that elusive young ruck with potential for the list now...

pardon for butting in with a reply to a question to Quigley. my 2 cents worth- never been a fan of taking ruckman early (first 40 or so picks) as they are too much of a risk IMO ie. longer, luenberger. would rather go for the safer pick leave the rucks for the late 3rd round and on or FA/trade them in.

instead of goddard i would have gone any of drew, florent or bolton who went just after pick 28. loved Quigleys first 2 selections (SPS/parfitt).

EDIT- disregard what i said about who i would have taken with pick 28, i didn't realize zac fisher was still available, i would take him at 28. i think he will be a gun and have since i first read KMs list of strengths and no weaknesses a while ago.

 

[Bishop]

I'm a little surprised to still see Zac Sproule on the board in the 40's

Can't believe it either! Won't be anymore.

 

[Bishop]

Pick 42: Richmond

Zachary Sproule
KPF

Write up to come tomorrow, but was superb on the weekend for Murray from all reports.

 

[Bishop]

Over to you Knightmare

 

[Knightmare]

43 Collingwood - Zac Fisher (WA)

Rationale: Best available. Last player remaining from inside my top 30. Forget height. He's a complete player and the last player remaining I look at as a definite AFL grade performer. I'd back him in to play from season one and wouldn't be surprised to see him appear from round one. Has the smarts, skills, movement, ball winner and inside/outside balance to go with WAFL League production (averaging 18.7 disposals per game). Won the WA U18 State MVP and was WA's clear best midfielder and arguably the most impressive mid during the U18 champs. Gun.

How he fits Collingwood's list: Fisher can rotate on-ball, wing, forward. He can fit into that rotation and play games from season one at AFL level. Collingwood only have Elliott, Blair and J.Thomas under 180cm, and Fisher is one of the high quality sub 180cm players for that balance not to matter.

Summary draft profile
Zac Fisher (WA)
Best position: Inside midfield
Height, weight: 175cm, 61kg
Recruited from: Perth
Plays like: Cory Gregson
Projected draft range: second round onwards
Strengths:
- Production
- Stoppage work
- Ability to win first possession at stoppages
- Contested-ball winning ability
- Tackling
- Clean hands
- Precise footskills
- Vision
- Decision-making ability
- Acceleration
- Agility
- Evasiveness
Weaknesses:
- Size by position

 

[Gee Dub]

Grrrrrr wanted Fisher or Sproule. Back to the drawing board.

 

[AFLprospectss]

43 Collingwood - Zac Fisher (WA)

Rationale: Best available. Last player remaining from inside my top 30. Forget height. He's a complete player and the last player remaining I look at as a definite AFL grade performer. I'd back him in to play from season one and wouldn't be surprised to see him appear from round one. Has the smarts, skills, movement, ball winner and inside/outside balance to go with WAFL League production (averaging 18.7 disposals per game). Won the WA U18 State MVP and was WA's clear best midfielder and arguably the most impressive mid during the U18 champs. Gun.

How he fits Collingwood's list: Fisher can rotate on-ball, wing, forward. He can fit into that rotation and play games from season one at AFL level. Collingwood only have Elliott, Blair and J.Thomas under 180cm, and Fisher is one of the high quality sub 180cm players for that balance not to matter.

Summary draft profile
Zac Fisher (WA)
Best position: Inside midfield
Height, weight: 175cm, 61kg
Recruited from: Perth
Plays like: Cory Gregson
Projected draft range: second round onwards
Strengths:
- Production
- Stoppage work
- Ability to win first possession at stoppages
- Contested-ball winning ability
- Tackling
- Clean hands
- Precise footskills
- Vision
- Decision-making ability
- Acceleration
- Agility
- Evasiveness
Weaknesses:
- Size by position

Fantastic selection, was hoping he would last to pick 46! Rate him way above this selection also

 

[Monocle]

43 Collingwood - Zac Fisher (WA)

Rationale: Best available. Last player remaining from inside my top 30. Forget height. He's a complete player and the last player remaining I look at as a definite AFL grade performer. I'd back him in to play from season one and wouldn't be surprised to see him appear from round one. Has the smarts, skills, movement, ball winner and inside/outside balance to go with WAFL League production (averaging 18.7 disposals per game). Won the WA U18 State MVP and was WA's clear best midfielder and arguably the most impressive mid during the U18 champs. Gun.

How he fits Collingwood's list: Fisher can rotate on-ball, wing, forward. He can fit into that rotation and play games from season one at AFL level. Collingwood only have Elliott, Blair and J.Thomas under 180cm, and Fisher is one of the high quality sub 180cm players for that balance not to matter.

Summary draft profile
Zac Fisher (WA)
Best position: Inside midfield
Height, weight: 175cm, 61kg
Recruited from: Perth
Plays like: Cory Gregson
Projected draft range: second round onwards
Strengths:
- Production
- Stoppage work
- Ability to win first possession at stoppages
- Contested-ball winning ability
- Tackling
- Clean hands
- Precise footskills
- Vision
- Decision-making ability
- Acceleration
- Agility
- Evasiveness
Weaknesses:
- Size by position

Excellent choice. If they are good enough , they are tall enough.

 

[Monocle]

Grrrrrr wanted Fisher or Sproule. Back to the drawing board.

Same.

 

[beowulf]

Pick 36 - Hawthorn
Jack Graham - North Adelaide/South Australia
DOB: 25/2/98, Height: 183cm, Weight: 83kg

Natural leader who averaged 25 disposals at 69% DE for South Australia as captain of their 2nd place finish at the U18 National Championships while also becoming the Larke Medalist for the best player at the carnival. The son of former West Torrens player Jeff Graham, is depth to the inside midfield corps at Hawthorn who will be looking to replace Jordan Lewis and Luke Hodge in years to come, with Sam Mitchell replacement Kieran Lovell been taken in 2015. He made his league debut for North Adelaide in 2015 in Round 11 against West Adelaide. Kicking needs to be improved but Hawthorn of all clubs probably can make that improve the most.

Also considered a tall key defender at this pick or just going best player available but being able to take a strong character and fill a need was something couldn't pass up

I thought he did as much as he could do at the Carnival: he wanted to produce and he did his best most of the time. Some of the other guys who are much higher ranked certainly did not produce as consistently as Graham did.
I would be interested to see how he tested before committing an early pick to him, but I think he is decent value at this pick. A team like Hawthorn, which needs to reinvent its midfield, could do much worse.

 

[briztoon]

I don't always understand people wanting to see how a kid tests at the combine before finalising the kids draft range.

Athletic testing in such a format isn't aways inductive of how a kid plays on the field. It's great just to get the measurables of a kid, but I don't believe much of the rest of the testing sways recruiters much. Just to reference NBA basketball, they have found that many young kids athletic testing improves significantly once kids spend a year or two training professionally. Skill development and growth more often comes down to finding themselves in the right situation as it does working with professional coaches in a professional environment.

 

[LemmingMaster]

I don't always understand people wanting to see how a kid tests at the combine before finalising the kids draft range.

Athletic testing in such a format isn't aways inductive of how a kid plays on the field. It's great just to get the measurables of a kid, but I don't believe much of the rest of the testing sways recruiters much. Just to reference NBA basketball, they have found that many young kids athletic testing improves significantly once kids spend a year or two training professionally. Skill development and growth more often comes down to finding themselves in the right situation as it does working with professional coaches in a professional environment.

The issue is many of us mug punters don't get enough vision to know how good their physical attributes are when we select them.

Ainsworth is an example, if he clocks a very good beep test or time trial, it gives you a little more confidence in his ability to move into the midfield.

 

[DraftMe]

Pick 44 (Melbourne) - Noah Hura

Running Defender / Outside Mid
187cm / 78kg

Continuing to add a bit more outside run for the Demons with WA's Noah Hura. I love the attacking style Hura plays utilising his elite speed to carry the ball and take on the game. He's averaged 20.7 disposals in the Colts this year for Peel Thunder and would be a great addition to Melbourne who could contribute as outside support for Viney & co. or as a partner in crime to Jayden Hunt as a running defender. His size would also allow him to match up with a wide variety of opponents. I think he's one who could translate his game to the AFL without too much difficulty.

Others that were strongly considered at this pick were Josh Williams, Taylin Duman and Brodie Romensky.

 

[Quigley]

Would you change that pick now Quigley after seeing Archie Smith's rather impressive debut performance against Trengove last night? Seems the Lions might have found that elusive young ruck with potential for the list now...

No I think Goddard is a level above Smith in talent and in the second round he is great value. Rucks have been undervalued for a few years new but positional scarcity is starting to kick in with a lot of the better tall talents now playing KP and not wanting to ruck. Banking another ruck before the tide fully turns I think would definitely be helpful. There is depth in the ruck position this though so teams could wait and see who falls through to later in the draft and hope for value.

On Archie, he was impressive but I would like to see how he goes against an AFL level ruck first. There has been a huge improvement in his game this year though and if it has clicked for him and he continues to improve it will be great for us. We still need to add another ruck or two to our squad though.

 

[Snoop Dog]

Well it is always interesting when you have your eye on a number of players and they fly off the board before your selection.

Carlton Pick 41 - Myles Poholke
184cm and 84kg

Good choice - I think I said earlier really found hard to choose at last pick between he, Witherden and Brown.

Poholke reminds me of Jordan Lewis. Got really good hands he could be a bit of a bolter come draft day. Be interesting to watch where he goes and half hoping Pies have an eye on him. Love his competitiveness.

 

[Snoop Dog]

# 45 Port Adelaide

Quinton Narkle

Gee Dub

 

[Snoop Dog]

AFLprospectss your pick

 

[Offsider]

Write up for Alex Witherden.

Gold Coast select Alex Witherden with Pick 40

Pick 40 - Gold Coast - Alex Witherden

At this stage there is still some good prospects on the board and a number I believe could be good players at AFL level. What this tells me is that there is reasonable depth in the draft and this could be seen by the quality of the U18 champs. Alex Witherden missed most of this year after breaking his leg and has had some other injury problems as well prior to this. This is a pick based off last years season and he started this year in the first round easily imo.

At junior level he has played predominantly as a half back but has shown that he can push into the midfield on occasions. I believe that his best position will be half back as that allows him to set play up with his elite kicking ability. He is also a reasonable defender, strong overhead for his size and reads the play very well. He is a tough player who has a lot of poise and just makes good decisions with the footy. He is one player from around this mark who has a ton of upside and could be a very good component of Gold Coast's defence. The risk as always is that he is an unknown a bit given his injury and the potential impact that it will have on his development.