Draft Expert Davo-27's 2024 Draft Thread

[SSSSSS]

I would say the Hawks midfield group has potential. And are improving sure.

The kids though we don't know yet if they will be A graders or B+.

The only proven A grader is Newcombe and yes, he averaged just over 20 touches a game. Very similar to Chad Warner in stats output.

However look at the Swans. Chad is ranked 3rd best in the midfield behind Gulden and Heeney. So where would Newcombe rank, the Hawks highest ranked mid. 3rd or 4th at the Swans?

Look at Lions. Neale, Dunckley and McLuggage. Will be kind and rate Newcombe 3rd here, even though McLuggage gets more of the ball. Workout I put in this group as well ut is playing back in his final years.

That to me indicates the Hawks midfield has not shown to date it is up the same standard as the teams contending. Which is fair as the kids haven't peaked yet. Or has the current Hawks list. The question is what is their ceiling?

Hence my view they are one elite mid short of competing against the best midfields. Maybe one of the kids already there becomes that elite mid. Time will tell either way.

Newcombe finished 9th in the Brownlow in 2024 and 11th in 2023. Whilst not the most credible award it seems to be at the very least a decent judge of the output of an inside midfielder.

He stepped up and dominated a midfield of Bont, Libba, Treloar in a cut throat final as a BOG. Had Sicily's kick swung a few inches one way instead of the other he's probably got another BOG performance against a Port midfield of Rozee, JHF and Butters.

If Day stays fit he's our best midfielder. I have high hopes for Mackenzie as well. Think he's the classy midfielder to be the cherry on top to compliment the blue collar work of Nash and Worpel.

 

[mac11]

Newcombe finished 9th in the Brownlow in 2024 and 11th in 2023. Whilst not the most credible award it seems to be at the very least be a decent judge of the output of an inside midfielder.

He stepped up and dominated a midfield of Bont, Libba, Treloar in a cut throat final as a BOG. Had Sicily's kick swung a few inches one way instead of the other he's probably got another BOG performance against a Port midfield of Rozee, JHF and Butters.

If Day stays fit he's our best midfielder. I have high hopes for Mackenzie as well. Think he's the classy midfielder to be the cherry on top to compliment the blue collar work of Nash and Worpel.

I know he wasn’t a sexy high draft pick but at some point opposition supporters have got to start recognising just how good Newk is. Quietly putting together a great résumé. So underrated.

 

[Polkinghorne]

We have 33, 71 & 77. Would love to take Hynes if gets to 33 as I rate him much higher but seems this may be a chance. We need a developing Ruckman with only 2 out and out rucks on list so would love to get Harding at 71 and would either of the other Bushrangers boys Warburton or Murphy get through to 77.

 

[Tommy Wigs]

I know he wasn’t a sexy high draft pick but at some point opposition supporters have got to start recognising just how good Newk is. Quietly putting together a great résumé. So underrated.

I suspect he is rated very highly by the heavy footy watchers. Gun

 

[Goatie]

Where would he rank in the Swans and Lions midfield?

There are a lot of quality emerging mids. Every team has one or two.

But how do they and the collective midfield group compare against the top teams?

Thats the crux of it. Hawks must believe their midfield is close to being set as they really havent added to it this trade period or draft. Will only hold the Blues 1st next year. Maybe they are chasing a free agent in 2025? LDU?

There is a unicorn called Josh Weddle. He has an incredible skillset and athletic profile. Will most likely play as a wingman with Battle and Barrass coming in. If he does train with mids in preseason and is half decent around centre bounce and stoppage he could be a cross between Bont/Warner type of mid. Dylan Moore also plays through our midfield at times but I do agree that if Ward and Mackenzie become A graders it could be the difference between finals and a premiership.
The other part of the midfield you’re forgetting is Lloyd Meek. He wins clearances and ground balls and is part of the offensive transition. Teams with ruckman like Meek, Blivacs, Xerri & Marshall have an extra mid. That is why we improved so much in the midfield when he replaced Reeve’s who only got hit outs to advantage and did nothing else.

 

[Obeanie1]

There is a unicorn called Josh Weddle. He has an incredible skillset and athletic profile. Will most likely play as a wingman with Battle and Barrass coming in. If he does train with mids in preseason and is half decent around centre bounce and stoppage he could be a cross between Bont/Warner type of mid. Dylan Moore also plays through our midfield at times but I do agree that if Ward and Mackenzie become A graders it could be the difference between finals and a premiership.
The other part of the midfield you’re forgetting is Lloyd Meek. He wins clearances and ground balls and is part of the offensive transition. Teams with ruckman like Meek, Blivacs, Xerri & Marshall have an extra mid. That is why we improved so much in the midfield when he replaced Reeve’s who only got hit outs to advantage and did nothing else.

Weddle I agree is a very promising player. I would almost say he has the highest ceiling from what Ive seen in the past 2 years, he keeps on getting better too. A very capable youngster.

Has played defense and outside so far.

 

[Davo-27]

i should update 2026 a little, heres a few names i liked the look of for the 2026 draft, early draft potential


Matthew Owen - Bris A - 178cm (def/mid)
Doug Cochrane - Central Dist - 194cm (KPF) (his dad didnt play enough to be FS)
Arki Butler - Sandringham - 180cm (mid/forw) (skill and composure)
Max Downes - Northern - 180cm (mid)
Cody Walker - Bendigo (Carl FS) - 185cm (mid) (early pick 1 favourite)
Harry Van Hattum - Northern - 202cm (ruck) (one of the best young rucks in a few years, could be good enough to go top 10 as a ruck which is rare)


i need to catch up on the u16s from this year and ill update it when i finish...

 

[GC2015]

Doug Cochrane - Central Dist - 194cm (KPF) (his dad didnt play enough to be FS)

Isn't the old man pushing for him to join Port's NGA through his suspected indigenous heritage? Would be a huge win for Port if it happens considering Cochrane is viewed as the probable number 1 pick in the 2026 draft. That's one way to get around the F/S criteria should the father have not reached 100 AFL games and still wants their child to play for a former club of his. Port are going to be absolutely stacked with high quality sons of former Power players if this keeps up.

 

[Addy23]

Isn't the old man pushing for him to join Port's NGA through his suspected indigenous heritage? Would be a huge win for Port if it happens considering Cochrane is viewed as the probable number 1 pick in the 2026 draft. That's one way to get around the F/S criteria should the father have not reached 100 AFL games and still wants their child to play for a former club of his. Port are going to be absolutely stacked with high quality sons of former Power players if this keeps up.

This will never be approved. It's Port Adelaide haha

He might be approved to train with us as NGA but not get picked

 

[GC2015]

This will never be approved. It's Port Adelaide haha

He might be approved to train with us as NGA but not get picked

Why shouldn't it be allowed? If the Cochrane family can prove their indigenous heritage, then how is it any different to Port's previous NGA pick 16 Lachie Jones?

 

[Addy23]

Why shouldn't it be allowed? If the Cochrane family can prove their indigenous heritage, then how is it any different to Port's previous NGA pick 16 Lachie Jones?

Because he would need the AFL to go through and make a change to the zoning around encompassing the metropolitan areas of Adelaide for the Next Generation academy. This will never happen to favour Port

 

[tigs2010]

Because he would need the AFL to go through and make a change to the zoning around encompassing the metropolitan areas of Adelaide for the Next Generation academy. This will never happen to favour Port

Yeah this is what I had typed earlier and forgot to hit post.

He not only needs to prove indigenous heritage he needs the rules completely changed and then also needs to hope they don't change the matching rules again. AFL seem incapable of leaving this shit alone for 2 years lol

 

[GC2015]

Yeah this is what I had typed earlier and forgot to hit post.

He not only needs to prove indigenous heritage he needs the rules completely changed and then also needs to hope they don't change the matching rules again. AFL seem incapable of leaving this shit alone for 2 years lol

Are Victorian clubs allowed to draft indigenous players from metropolitan areas through their NGA access? If so, then the rules should be changed for SA & WA too. The four clubs should band together and make the case to the AFL in the interest of fairness. Then Port would have access to Cochrane and the AFL should achieve one of their goals of increasing indigenous players participating in the AFL.

 

[tigs2010]

Are Victorian clubs allowed to draft indigenous players from metropolitan areas through their NGA access? If so, then the rules should be changed for SA & WA too. The four clubs should band together and make the case to the AFL in the interest of fairness. Then Port would have access to Cochrane and the AFL should achieve one of their goals of increasing indigenous players participating in the AFL.

Vic is a bit different as there are 10 clubs each with its own zone to fit in. Some are Metro, some are country.

 

[Vinnie Vegas]

Vic is a bit different as there are 10 clubs each with its own zone to fit in. Some are Metro, some are country.

There's also not much of an indigenous population in Victoria, and even less in the Metro area - Per the ABS: "Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander made up 1.6% of the population of Victoria exc. Melbourne, and 0.5% of the population of Melbourne"

 

[go_the_dockers]

Are Victorian clubs allowed to draft indigenous players from metropolitan areas through their NGA access? If so, then the rules should be changed for SA & WA too. The four clubs should band together and make the case to the AFL in the interest of fairness. Then Port would have access to Cochrane and the AFL should achieve one of their goals of increasing indigenous players participating in the AFL.

They can from 2025.

 

[GC2015]

They can from 2025.

Vic is a bit different as there are 10 clubs each with its own zone to fit in. Some are Metro, some are country.

Doesn't it apply for Vic metro players this year? From what I can see, Isaac Kako lives in Melbourne where he attends Parade College and played for the Calder Cannons + Vic Metro this year. We know he's NGA eligible for Essendon this year and the Bombers will match a bid for him. So why don't the SA & WA clubs also have NGA access to metro players like the Victorian clubs?

 

[Vinnie Vegas]

So why don't the SA & WA clubs also have NGA access to metro players like the Victorian clubs

Because it's not about metro vs. non-metro, it's about how many total prospects clubs have access to. The only way to give Victorian Clubs any access to a reasonable number of NGA prospects is to carve up Victoria as a whole into 10 different areas and give them a sliver.

SA and WA clubs are only splitting the available prospects two ways, so obviously the AFL feels like they have access to sufficient numbers without giving them metro access. Now, that might be completely untrue, but boiling it down to metro access in Victoria vs. SA & WA is a massive oversimplification.