Draft Watcher Knightmare's 2013 phantom draft

[Snoop Dog]

When will you be doing your mock draft Snoop Dog? I always look forward to reading yours each year

yeah I will be.

Jury still out for me a bit this year. I probably rate the top 30 or so and think some gels will unearth amongst the rest but its not the bumper year I was hoping the first uncompromised draft would be. Feedback am getting is clubs will aggressively trade into the first two rounds. Heaps of midfielders / flankers, few good key tall fwds, few tall backs but a couple of handy rough ruck prospects. I am probably more excited about some of the 19yo's and some of the mature players at the back end of the National Draft and I think some can offer an immediate 'sugar hit' so expecting them to come in around selection 40 onwards.

in the meantime I enjoy catching up with Knighta's thoughts on here.....how he finds the time for this is beyond me. I think his order is pretty right

 

[nofearbrowny]

yeah I will be.

Jury still out for me a bit this year. I probably rate the top 30 or so and think some gels will unearth amongst the rest but its not the bumper year I was hoping the first uncompromised draft would be. Feedback am getting is clubs will aggressively trade into the first two rounds. Heaps of midfielders / flankers, few good key tall fwds, few tall backs but a couple of handy rough ruck prospects. I am probably more excited about some of the 19yo's and some of the mature players at the back end of the National Draft and I think some can offer an immediate 'sugar hit' so expecting them to come in around selection 40 onwards.

in the meantime I enjoy catching up with Knighta's thoughts on here.....how he finds the time for this is beyond me. I think his order is pretty right

Snoop dog do you think the draft is slowly going towards older players who have got the bodies to step straight into afl. What percentage of draft will be 18 and what will be over 18 or those that are playing in sanfl,wafl or gfl

 

[nofearbrowny]

That's vfl !

 

[hemetj]

What do you guys think are the best mature age recruits that could be a good fit for Hawthorn. We are obviously in our premiership window so I think we'll like a good mature-age recruit that could go straight into the side. Maybe one a bit like Dean Towers (def/mid) or a back pocket. Not sure. Can't see too much weaknesses in our side, not to be bais. Maybe a tagger?

 

[fronkalicious]

I dont even think it is a fair assessment of Jack Steven.

Agree entirely (as a dogs fan) re Steven. He's a jet. Big time under the radar and on his way to being elite IMO.

 

[aussierulesrules]

Despite not having a particularly great year last year and it only being his 2nd full season, Jack was apparently ranked no.1 in the league for clearances that led to a score, so I don't think his decision making and disposal is too much of an issue if that was the case.

 

[HereIam86]

Do you think Myles Sewell will ever get draft?

 

[Dazb86]

Knightmare this is a bit off topic but anyway...

Given Lachie Hunter could have come through with this draft with his age where do you think he would have gone?

 

[Knightmare]

What do you guys think are the best mature age recruits that could be a good fit for Hawthorn. We are obviously in our premiership window so I think we'll like a good mature-age recruit that could go straight into the side. Maybe one a bit like Dean Towers (def/mid) or a back pocket. Not sure. Can't see too much weaknesses in our side, not to be bais. Maybe a tagger?

John Baird if you are ok going with a guy who is 30+ is the best player not in the AFL.

George Hampson (WA - util). Braydn O'Hara (SA - util). Mat Suckling (SA - inside mid). Can't go wrong with any of them.

yeah I will be.

Jury still out for me a bit this year. I probably rate the top 30 or so and think some gels will unearth amongst the rest but its not the bumper year I was hoping the first uncompromised draft would be. Feedback am getting is clubs will aggressively trade into the first two rounds. Heaps of midfielders / flankers, few good key tall fwds, few tall backs but a couple of handy rough ruck prospects. I am probably more excited about some of the 19yo's and some of the mature players at the back end of the National Draft and I think some can offer an immediate 'sugar hit' so expecting them to come in around selection 40 onwards.

in the meantime I enjoy catching up with Knighta's thoughts on here.....how he finds the time for this is beyond me. I think his order is pretty right

Great, great call on the 19 year olds. It's not just Garlett either. Herbert, Langdon, Glenn, J.Scott, Pongracic, Haynes. There's some excellent guys who are worth a shot and should have been drafted last year.

 

[Knightmare]

Do you think Myles Sewell will ever get draft?

It only takes one team. Sam Dwyer proved that last year.

You can never say never but with mature agers until they're on an AFL list you can never expect it.

Knightmare this is a bit off topic but anyway...

Given Lachie Hunter could have come through with this draft with his age where do you think he would have gone?

Hunter likely would have gone somewhere in the 30-50 range otherwise, which even then would have been strong value. Hunter has that opportunity to become a top 15 guy to come out of last years so in any case he's better than where he was selected.

 

[Knightmare]

Hey Knightmare
In your description of Nathan Freeman it seems like he is in more the mould of Jack Steven, in that when he gets the ball he can explode away from his opponents but then doesn't really know what to do with it after that. Is that a fair assessment?

Freeman is quicker than Steven who isn't slow, but now elite quick which Freeman is for an inside type.

 

[rumoursofwinter]

Hey Knight,

I'm wondering where you think Lewis Taylor will end up in the draft? Port needs a fast, evasive mid with good skills. You seem to have him lower than the 'consensus'. Is there anything not to like?

I'm also interested in your thoughts about Alik Magin and Sean Tighe.

 

[Knightmare]

Hey Knight,

I'm wondering where you think Lewis Taylor will end up in the draft? Port needs a fast, evasive mid with good skills. You seem to have him lower than the 'consensus'. Is there anything not to like?

I'm also interested in your thoughts about Alik Magin and Sean Tighe.

I tend not to like those smalls going so, so early but Taylor has something. He has pace, uses it well, wins his own footy so he's got one of the more advanced games and does have his real points of difference that suggest he can really make it at the next level and do so right away. How high his ceiling is I'm not yet certain and that's why I'd have him a touch lower, but he can become good and will go somewhere in the top 20 on draft day.

Magin has had a strong season. It's not a great team to be playing on that young Bendigo Gold team but Magin has really improved as the season has gone and thrived with that added responsibility through the midfield while also hitting the scoreboard. If he has a strong final month to the season he could be a sneaky chance if scouts have bothered to watch Bendigo Gold - which admittedly has been difficult this season. He could be a fit as a rotation midfielder/forward for a team and the fact that he can perform on a struggling team and hold his own is a great sign.

Tighe again having an excellent season. Young, athletic and wins enough hitouts but finds plenty of the footy around the ground. I'd be interested to see him move back to playing key defence. I'm just not convinced a club will necessarily look at him as a no.1 ruckman which is my main concern for him but when you're still young and coming back every year a better player he's a guy who has to come up in conversations.

 

[BRG93]

Hi Again Nightmare,
There has been a lot of discussion on the Bulldogs board about future father/sons and wanted to get your take

Just Wondering have you seen any of Jayden Foster, Zaine Cordy or Josh Wallis play and how do you rate them

Cheers

 

[FlowersByIrene]

KM why does carlton have pick 5 in the OP
Havent updated in a while or have we got a special pick im not aware of?

 

[No1Suspect]

KM why does carlton have pick 5 in the OP
Havent updated in a while or have we got a special pick im not aware of?

I think it was updated after the loss to collingwood mate, when the entire world including myself thought we were going down the ladder at a rate of knots!

 

[Knightmare]

Hi Again Nightmare,
There has been a lot of discussion on the Bulldogs board about future father/sons and wanted to get your take

Just Wondering have you seen any of Jayden Foster, Zaine Cordy or Josh Wallis play and how do you rate them

Cheers

I haven't seen Wallis but have seen bits of Foster and Cordy without really watching for them.

Foster is draft eligable this year. Key position size. Only played the three games this year but until we see more doesn't look draft relevant.

Zaine Cordy isn't nearly as tall as his brother. Draft eligable next year and still has time but not a top prospect as more a medium, light bodied tall.

I probably wouldn't draft either with the more recently drafted Dogs father son boys clearly the better ones.

KM why does carlton have pick 5 in the OP
Havent updated in a while or have we got a special pick im not aware of?

It was just a case of completing the ladder predictor a couple of weeks back now. This is what it churned out so but if I complete it another week from now it will probably all look completely different again.

 

[sflgenius]

watched freeman and kelly both play from when they were 15 along with salem through interleague(msjfl) now onto sandringham. freeman will by far be the better come afl. kelly has a super tank but in an elite league where there are no cheats then i cant see him doing much damage where as freeman will carve teams with pace and ball winning ability watch richmond froth over deledio,cotchin, martin ,freeman combo

 

[tigs2010]

watched freeman and kelly both play from when they were 15 along with salem through interleague(msjfl) now onto sandringham. freeman will by far be the better come afl. kelly has a super tank but in an elite league where there are no cheats then i cant see him doing much damage where as freeman will carve teams with pace and ball winning ability watch richmond froth over deledio,cotchin, martin ,freeman combo

Are we keen on Freeman?

 

[Snoop Dog]

watched freeman and kelly both play from when they were 15 along with salem through interleague(msjfl) now onto sandringham. freeman will by far be the better come afl. kelly has a super tank but in an elite league where there are no cheats then i cant see him doing much damage where as freeman will carve teams with pace and ball winning ability watch richmond froth over deledio,cotchin, martin ,freeman combo

I agree with this. I think Kelly is very hyped but I have a couple of issues with his game that I think will cause him to go a bit lower. I still want to see a bit more of Freeman. He has some elite characteristics but by the same token there are some issues for him to improve on as well.

 

[smashbox gill]

Knightmare i like your review of Nathan Freeman. You say he looks like becoming one of the most complete players in this draft. What are the knocks on him for you to only have him at 13 and other phantoms to have him in the late teens early 20's. Surely a ranging bull type would be highly sort after seeing as there so rare.

What are the chances Carlton would get him with there pick around 10. Exactly what we need

 

[Yoda_]

Been meaning to ask this but this years buzz player seems to be this kid Freeman.

Snoop Dog, what downfalls are you referring to with him?

 

[Knightmare]

Knightmare i like your review of Nathan Freeman. You say he looks like becoming one of the most complete players in this draft. What are the knocks on him for you to only have him at 13 and other phantoms to have him in the late teens early 20's. Surely a ranging bull type would be highly sort after seeing as there so rare.

What are the chances Carlton would get him with there pick around 10. Exactly what we need

Freeman isn't a great inside distributor - in traffic after winning the footy looks more to blast away by foot rather than find the higher % option by hand.

Freeman could find more of the ball more often - he's not like Crouch who will get you 30 disposals per game in the TAC and is instead more someone who will average anywhere from 10-30 disposals.

He could find more easy ball outside the contest with most of that ball coming inside the contest.

He's not super tall at 181cm.

I wouldn't draft Freeman expecting someone who can play even strong footy from season one. He'll probably need more time developing through the VFL and really working to find more of the footy more often but with a couple of seasons into him he can be a dynamic midfielder who can really add something for a team if he can continue to build on his strengths and continue to make them more dominant which is what I feel needs to be his focus, even beyond addressing his weaknesses because it's through those building those points of difference that can really help you make it in this league.

Freeman more likely than not is there around pick 10 and probably goes somewhere in the teens if the draft was tomorrow, but as I've mentioned I'd take him earlier. Absolutely a fit for Carlton among other teams looking for some more inside punch through the midfield.

 

[dlanod]

Next year while I feel the draft is a weaker one I like next year for KPPs so if at the end of next year the situation is broken down as "we need another key forward or key defender" do it next year would be my answer.

We've got Hogan and Boyd (technically) as the top end KPPs this year. Will there be more than one or two in next year's top 5? Over the last five years it's really seemed to stall early.

 

[texdog]

We've got Hogan and Boyd (technically) as the top end KPPs this year. Will there be more than one or two in next year's top 5? Over the last five years it's really seemed to stall early.

Hugh Goddard and Pat McCartin next year are shaping as high level KPFs