BigFooty Official Big Footy 2016 Phantom Draft

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Chris25 we are waiting on you bud. Give til 6pm but post that its Ben Ronke

Well I certainly don't want him. I'll have to delay things even longer though, because...

Fremantle bid on Josh Williams. Part of the Gold Coast academy. So over to you Offsider. If you have the spots/points...
 
Well I certainly don't want him. I'll have to delay things even longer though, because...

Fremantle bid on Josh Williams. Part of the Gold Coast academy. So over to you Offsider. If you have the spots/points...

Happy to stand corrected Offsider but my read is that you dont have the list spot to do it. Will give you half an hour but otherwise Williams to Fremantle.
 
Happy to stand corrected Offsider but my read is that you dont have the list spot to do it. Will give you half an hour but otherwise Williams to Fremantle.

He should after Jarrod Garlett getting delisted/quit yesterday


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If you count Joyce most likely being upgraded off the rookie list then no. If you don't as they haven't done it yet than yes they have a spot.

Garlett offset by Barlow.
 

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#42 Fremantle - Josh Williams (189cm, 73kg midfielder from Surfers Paradise)

At this point in the draft, I'm comfortable taking a chance - especially given my first two picks. And if you're going to take a project player, might as well be someone with a whole heap of x factor. Also, it wouldn't surprise me if Williams did go somewhere in the second round come the real thing.

First things first, he's a stick. He has put on about 5kg this year, but he still has a long way to go. But hey, Oleg Markov doesn't exactly have an AFL build and he did alright this year. So never say never. The only thing it means is that Williams is solely an outside player at the moment.

But the reason for taking him is here is simple - it's his running game. His speed is elite and his acceleration in game is up there with the best. Not only that, he looks to run at every opportunity. It's always good when a young player actually makes the most of his strengths. I know what Fremantle fans are thinking, I liked Clayton Hinkley for his outside run too. And he was also skinny. The difference with Williams though, is that he can actually kick too. He's had some very impressive long runs this year, where he's then finished accurately on goal. He could still slow down and compose himself better at times, but he's shown the ability to finish at top speed.

He also has good vision. He doesn't just get it, put the head down and run. He can work his way through traffic, and he's a hard player to tackle.

At the moment though, he's basically a sprinter. He can have a huge impact in a short burst, but doesn't back it up. So I'm seeing him as a 2 year project. Get him into the gym, so he can build on both muscle and endurance and then put him on a wing and let him run. There were a few utility types that I thought were good value here, but most I see developing across the half back line - which is what gave Williams the nod here.
 
Pick 43 Essendon Ben Long 181cm 73kg Utility NT/ Allies/ Footscray VFL/ Melbourne Grammar

Ben Long has been a football journeyman in his young life.
Son of Chris Long. He started his football in the top end and then moved to Melbourne Grammar on a football/academic scholarship.
This has paid off in spades. He has done extremely well in his studies and his footy has come on in leaps and bounds.
Long has demonstrated the ability to play as a forward and a defender which is pleasing versatility for a young player to demonstrate.
He had two standout performances this year.
His defensive effort against Ben Ainsworth at the Nationals was terrific.
Ainsworth couldn't out sprint him, couldn't outwork him, couldn't physically dominate him and mentally was beat by a determined opponent.
Long also has a wonderful final for the Footscray VFL side in a final against Collingwood. He played as a small forward and kicked 6 goals. He showed speed, goal sense and footy smarts. He also showed his kicking was a bit better than advertised. I was equally as impressed by his Grand Final performance. He was not overawed by the occasion and he sat a couple of Demons on their arses in a somewhat spiteful contest.

Longs strengths are his speed, his versatility, his aggression and his dislike of losing a contest.
I think he can be a lockdown small defender at AFL level who could be capable of turning into a tagging midfielder.
He tested well at the combine.
He ran 20 metres in 3.01. He ran 3km in 10.52 which is a little below expectation. He scored 13.5 in the beep which was average. He scored 25 in the kicking test and 25 in the clean hands test which was both above average but 14 in the goal kicking test which was below average. His 25.90 in the repeated sprints was slightly below average.

Rationale
I have selected Andrew McGrath who I reckon is the best player in the draft.
He will play as an attacking half back and then as a inside/ outside midfielder.
Clarke and Graham are both inside, hard at it midfielders who are drafted to be replacements for Watson, Hocking, Stanton and Goddard and join Heppell, Merrett, Parish and McGrath as our future midfield with Myers, Zaharakis and Colyer as the future experienced midfielders. Long can play as a small defender and small forward but I prefer him as a defender and Tippa and Fantasia as small forwards.

My alternative to Ben Long was Jack Maibaum who I rate highly. Maibaum is a lockdown tall defender who doesn't get a lot of the footy. With Hurley, Hartley, Brown and Hooker all on our list he just doesn't meet our needs. There are no tall forwards who I think are worthy of this selection.
I also think there is a bit of romanticism of another Long at Essendon and disagree with Nightmare not taking Brown or Daicos.
Tradition is important especially when your club has been down and the Bombers are only slowly on the way up.

 
Geelong select Josh Begley
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Josh Begley
Eastern Ranges/Vic Metro
DOB: 3/7/98, Height: 186cm, Weight: 93kg
Position: Midfielder/Forward

2016 Stats:
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Profile: Begley went from general obscurity at the start of 2016, to a genuine prospect in 2016. Was playing seniors for Upper Ferntree Gully in the EFL Seniors, after two games he was in the Ranges side, kicking six on debut against Tasmania. He is a strong body (listed at 93kg), with more than half of his possessions being contested. He also pushed into the midfield for Ranges, showing a versatility that is needed for a player of his type. His kicking lacks at times (55%) but capped off his year with a national combine invite.

Rationale: Provides competition and/or an upgrade on other mid/fwd's on the Cat's list. Provides another strong body and target for his size at 185cm, and gives them x-factor in the Forward-50, something they've lacked after the drop of form in Steven Motlop and injuries to others.
 
Morris, Murphy and Boyd closing in on 35 with Adams likely out the door and Suckling approaching 30 too, though...

I dunno. Think it's an interesting discussion. My concern with taking two forwards is that our next pick is so far back but there are still some pretty significant holes that haven't been touched. Collins, Cordy, Williams, Johannisen, Biggs and R. Smith has the makings of a solid group but four of the six are largely unproven and we have little stock behind them - if one doesn't make it, we're short. Meanwhile, Dickson and Crameri are nearing the end but we have a bit more depth and competition for those forward slots.

With that said, on limited viewing I like both Battle and Hayward so wouldn't complain too much if it worked out that way. I do think it makes our situation in the back half quite dire, though, and in an ideal world perhaps we better balance needs across the two picks (without reaching). Ryan first and Battle second, or Hayward first and Rotham second, for example, would probably be my preferred options - but I haven't followed the draft very closely this year.
I've said this many times on our draft Board, with pick 18 and 26 i'm sure we will pick up 2 good young players and i trust Del and the team to pick the Gems.

The other thing i have said is who we do pick up will be a good indicator in to who we will target via trade and FA in 2017.

that said when i did my best 22 for our AFL and VFL sides, there is a lack of young key Forwards coming through, i think with Cloke there for the next 2 years it'll be a great time to bring in a Marshall/Battle or Kerr to help develop over the next 2 years.
 

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