Draft Watcher Knightmare's 2012 Mock Draft

[Sunny_]

No mention of Clay Cameron, Knightmare?

Do you know what's been up with him? I don't think he's participated in the u18's so far.

 

[Testekill]

So Knightmare, what are your thoughts of Lachlan Hunter?

 

[Knightmare]

No mention of Clay Cameron, Knightmare?

Do you know what's been up with him? I don't think he's participated in the u18's so far.

Cameron wasn't part of the first two matches but played game 3 v Tasmania. Was ok without standing out. Would want a strong finish to the champs.

Cameron was talked up in this years AFL prospectus but as an undersized tall forward I don't really see it. Probably a few other QLDers ahead of him with Jordan Bourke a possible late F/S option for Geelong. Conway and Boston are probably the other Queenslanders this year who should get a look. Coleman-Broome if he has a strong 2nd half to the season also could be among those considered.

 

[Knightmare]

So Knightmare, what are your thoughts of Lachlan Hunter?

Solid mid range prospect. Should be able to get him with a 3rd rounder. Looks like he could be played as a rotational midfielder who can spend some time forward.

I like his tackling game. Good finisher around goal. Ball use generally good. By hand can set up some meaningful ball movement and is hard at the footy. Has been solid so far this year and through the champs and would want to continue building on what he is currently producing.

 

[JasRulz63]

Conway is a 2013 draft prospect (Lions academy player), so can't be drafted till next year. Glad to see he's looked decent so far though.

 

[Chris25]

Cameron wasn't part of the first two matches but played game 3 v Tasmania. Was ok without standing out. Would want a strong finish to the champs.

Cameron was talked up in this years AFL prospectus but as an undersized tall forward I don't really see.

Might be a little harsh on Cameron. For starters, I assume he played in the back lines seeing as though that's where most of his football recently has been played. And if so, his stats actually look quite good. Of course, I didn't see the game though. And in terms of being undersized, is he? Bourke has just 2cm on him, and Cameron is better above his head. I think height is a bit overrated at times, it all depends on the player and if he can actually play. And Cameron can.

 

[zorro1836]

Shaw is probably further developed than most key forwards at this stage but I still wouldn't bet on him as an immediate option. Will need time before he can contribute at AFL level as with all the other KPPs this year.

i think this is a good call knightmare,he is not a walk in kpf like a lot of peoplethink. not many are at 18/19.

question time now. do you think gws will want draft someone from sydney. the only 2 non scholarship guys that have shown any thing are turner & wharton both defenders, or do you think they might try & trade moller from fremantle or is izzy enough of a sydney face.

 

[HereIam86]

What type of player is Aliir Aliir? Seen in todays couriermail that the Lions and Suns are both keeping and eye on him

 

[Toadvine]

Very impressed with Pongracic's game yesterday. He's one I think will go a bit higher than you have him KM. Has a really well rounded skillset that makes him a utility type midfielder who can impact in the score board or anywhere on the ground. Very good leader being the Stingers captain and flying under the radar a bit with injury and missing out on the champs so far.

Would love him at the Tigers with one of our 2nd rounders, I think he's shaping up as a potential bargain.

 

[Smiley Boy]

Hey Knightmare

Going on the current ladder positions with the possibility of the bulldogs dropping below port adelaide who do you think they will use with their first 2 picks? Would Stringer be the most likely first choice for the dogs?

 

[SchuPie]

Knightmare
(I'm not really sure what my question is)
My draft "crush" Spencer White kicked 5 yesterday and took a huge hanger.
I know we have an abundance of talls and will most likely go mid in the draft (?) but i feel this kid might be be a rocket.

Any chance for the Pies?

 

[Schnail73]

What type of player is Aliir Aliir? Seen in todays couriermail that the Lions and Suns are both keeping and eye on him

Have seen him play a couple of times, plays as a changing ruckman, excellent leap, does get lost in the fast moving traffic of the midfield though. One positive aspect is he seems to really thrive on the crash and bash of the game. Don't know how long he has been playing, but will get better with gametime and some direct instruction.

 

[Yoda_]

KM

Any guys that weren't on your radar jumped out at you since the championships have taken place?

Also heard there is a fair bit of interest in Stingray, Jason Pongracic. I won't be surprised to see him go earlier than most people expect, have heard from a very reliable source that "he is just that good' when asking my source how he stacks up against the other under 18 players and wether or not it's due to his size.

 

[Yoda_]

Very impressed with Pongracic's game yesterday. He's one I think will go a bit higher than you have him KM. Has a really well rounded skillset that makes him a utility type midfielder who can impact in the score board or anywhere on the ground. Very good leader being the Stingers captain and flying under the radar a bit with injury and missing out on the champs so far.

Would love him at the Tigers with one of our 2nd rounders, I think he's shaping up as a potential bargain.

I didn't see your post Toadvine, but I agree with everything you've said, however, Nic Tuddenham is the Rays captain I thought..

 

[Raymann]

They share the role as co captains

 

[Knightmare]

Might be a little harsh on Cameron. For starters, I assume he played in the back lines seeing as though that's where most of his football recently has been played. And if so, his stats actually look quite good. Of course, I didn't see the game though. And in terms of being undersized, is he? Bourke has just 2cm on him, and Cameron is better above his head. I think height is a bit overrated at times, it all depends on the player and if he can actually play. And Cameron can.

I don't really consider any of the Queenslanders this year to be top prospects. There are a few who could go late-rookie (Bourke, Boston, Cameron and maybe Coleman-Broome if he can put together some stronger performances) but what I'm illustrating more than anything is that Cameron is more one of many in this area rather than a likely early draft selection. Bourke at the earliest will go as a 3rd rounder and then some of the others should after this come into consideration.

For Cameron as a defender at 191cm he should be ok and should be in the mix for selection, as a forward despite his marking ability he isn't dominant enough for my liking going off past viewings. You really need to be Jack Darling/Shane Kersten/Jackson Paine level production as a key forward around 190cm to make the grade. Down back I also expect it to get more difficult for these low 190cm types to make it with more ruck size forwards coming in - you only have to look at Daniher and Shaw to get a feel for what the next generation key forward size will be. Gold Coast's Tom Lynch, Kurt Tippett, then most clubs are using their resting rucks forward so I expect it will become increasingly desirable to have taller key defenders over coming years. By no means am I suggesting that 190cm key defenders won't be able to make it and will become extinct, this is not my view at all, but like with those shorter key forwards they really need to be outstanding and very high level key defenders to be worthy of a high draft selection.

 

[Knightmare]

Conway is a 2013 draft prospect (Lions academy player), so can't be drafted till next year. Glad to see he's looked decent so far though.

He's looking good. Thanks for the correction on age. Looks so mature that I just assumed he was eligable this year. He's playing some strong football through the midfield and if he continues to improve you might have something.

Already one of Queensland's bests this year. Has an excellent tackling game and like the Selwood boys has that knack for drawing frees.

 

[Chris25]

I'd rate Clay Cameron above Jackson Paine and Shane Kersten without a second thought. He is a much more complete footballer. He'll be a zone selection to the Gold Coast, but in an open draft would be a second round pick at the worst in my opinion. Probably would have been a top 25 pick last season, but the depth in KPDs is far stronger this year.

 

[Knightmare]

i think this is a good call knightmare,he is not a walk in kpf like a lot of peoplethink. not many are at 18/19.

question time now. do you think gws will want draft someone from sydney. the only 2 non scholarship guys that have shown any thing are turner & wharton both defenders, or do you think they might try & trade moller from fremantle or is izzy enough of a sydney face.

With the list cull it will be very difficult to find room for any more NSW prospects on the GWS list. I'd say the greater concern is adding the best possible talent this year and look to build a winner because this is what will draw in the crowds and really build the franchise into one worth watching. Let Izzy be the face of the franchise with his marketability and let Sheedy do his thing. The only real NSW boy I see lasting is Jacob Townsend who up to this stage has had a solid first year but I really see GWS focusing on the ideas of diversity and really trying to focus on that rather than just focusing on locals for the sake of going for local talent.

 

[Knightmare]

What type of player is Aliir Aliir? Seen in todays couriermail that the Lions and Suns are both keeping and eye on him

Has played allot of minutes through the ruck - but at 193cm would expect him to develop into a KPP.

He has competed well through the ruck for someone at his size and his 2nd efforts and 3rd efforts have been solid but probably hasn't stood out up to this point in the u18 champs so interesting Brisbane + Gold Coast are interested.

In fairness I haven't seen enough of him as a KPP and would want to see him played down either end for an extended period to get a better feel for his game before making an informed judgement on his game.

 

[Knightmare]

Very impressed with Pongracic's game yesterday. He's one I think will go a bit higher than you have him KM. Has a really well rounded skillset that makes him a utility type midfielder who can impact in the score board or anywhere on the ground. Very good leader being the Stingers captain and flying under the radar a bit with injury and missing out on the champs so far.

Would love him at the Tigers with one of our 2nd rounders, I think he's shaping up as a potential bargain.

Pongracic has been an excellent player for a number of years now. Very strong lad. At this stage I expect he will be available around Richmond's 2nd round selection.

I look forward to seeing what he can put together in the 2nd half of the season though because he does have the ability to really shoot up the rankings.

 

[Knightmare]

Knightmare
(I'm not really sure what my question is)
My draft "crush" Spencer White kicked 5 yesterday and took a huge hanger.
I know we have an abundance of talls and will most likely go mid in the draft (?) but i feel this kid might be be a rocket.

Any chance for the Pies?

For Collingwood I have no issue with going for more talls if the right one comes along and represents strong value at some stage. If we went for another tall I'd probably be looking at an earlier draft option. Kristian Jaksch is probably the more appealing and Mason Shaw is the other we might consider depending on whether available but otherwise I'd expect us to be pretty satisfied with what we have and take James Stewart 2nd/3rd round and go with smaller/medium defenders with the other selections.

There is no doubting White's ability. Will be interesting to know how he interviews. Just not sure what clubs think of him and having not made the Vic Metro side it will be very difficult to place him.

White isn't an early selection but could come into consideration later in the draft but probably could be got as a rookie. If he continues to put together some more strong performances and can continue to build on his current form he would have to be a draft chance.

 

[Knightmare]

Hey Knightmare

Going on the current ladder positions with the possibility of the bulldogs dropping below port adelaide who do you think they will use with their first 2 picks? Would Stringer be the most likely first choice for the dogs?

Stringer probably hasn't put together the form many of us expected and I get the feeling he might drop down the rankings some as Kavanagh did last year, but Stringer could still be an option.

Jimmy Toumpas if available would have to really appeal. Josh Simpson as an outside midfielder might be an option. Also Oliver Wines, Nick Vlastuin and Sam Mayes should all get looked at early and would be the others I can imagine would be on the list as others to look at.

 

[Knightmare]

KM

Any guys that weren't on your radar jumped out at you since the championships have taken place?

Also heard there is a fair bit of interest in Stingray, Jason Pongracic. I won't be surprised to see him go earlier than most people expect, have heard from a very reliable source that "he is just that good' when asking my source how he stacks up against the other under 18 players and wether or not it's due to his size.

Interesting on Pongracic. Noted.

Jackson Thurlow was a surprise and one I didn't have on my radar pre champs. Sam Colquhoun has impressed and jumped up my rankings.

The one player I had no idea about and never heard in draft discussions but I keep leaving every game thinking this guy can play is: Nathan Stark from SA. Really hard at it midfielder who reminds me allot of Toby Greene. His numbers aren't at that same level but he is a guy who you just notice every time he is around the ball and has a really neat inside game. Gets out of congestion well and decision making excellent in close when pressured.

 

[Yoda_]

Also bud, Anyone from the TAC Cup you Have been impressed with who wasn't selected in the Country or Metro squads?

Just interested to hear your thoughts on some other guys, rather than the same names (Stringer, Whitfield, Menzel, Paparone, Martin etc, etc).