Draft Watcher Knightmare's 2014 Phantom Draft

[12Chill]

What are your thoughts that possibly, the Saints decide hell, Petracca is the most likely the best player of the draft and we don't want to miss out on him, and they take him with pick #1 or #2 (depending on where us and Brisbane finish as I still think us two will be bottom two teams). So we could take Petracca and then draft Reece McKenzie (big forward I've heard a bit about?) as well so we end up with a big forward and possibly the best player of the draft to improve our midfield also. Just something I was thinking about, depends on how we trade to get draft picks but I'd rather hypothetically to get Petracca/McKenzie/Another early second rounder in comparison to McCartin/Blakely/Someone early third round? Idk haha. This tall forward/or/Petracca situation is killing me.

 

[Knightmare]

I was gutted when we missed out on McCarthy. Any of those you mentioned would be a good fit for us. More so because they've spent some time in the system.

I actually really want us to push hard to get into the top 10 picks somehow to land a quality KPF

It would be the smart move if Fremantle can find a way into the top 10 if looking for a long term piece. That's where the quality big men in the most part typically come from and it's looking no different this year with the real cream of the talls looking like certainly first round picks and likely top 10 picks.

With Ross Lyon as coach though as a win now guy I could equally see him going the other way and looking for one last year while Pavlich, Sandilands and McPharlin are all still playing to have one last shot at going all the way. But it depends on what Fremantle want to achieve this offseason.

Knightmare what do you see Essendon doing list management wise and in the draft? Any chance of us taking Conlon a bit later in the draft?

Conlon has only just come back and played his first game and that was at the end of last month. As an overager only to get 2 kicks, take 2 marks and kick 1 goal he's hardly likely to get drafted this year.

He needs another year of matchplay to be even spoken about as a draft prospect as a guy who will need to go the long way as Ben Brown from Tassie did coming back from injury and earning his way onto an AFL list.

On Essendon if a tall presents value - key forward, key defence, ruck at any of the picks they could be looked at. Some inside types with some of the picks. A crumbing forward perhaps late draft. They're the types I'd be looking at for Essendon.

Hampson?? haha

I didn't exclude any names from that list of tall Queenslanders but Hampson is hardly the worst ever pick 17. Since 2006 when Hampson was drafted Harry Taylor is the only player clearly better/to have a stronger career tham Hampson.

 

[Knightmare]

What are your thoughts that possibly, the Saints decide hell, Petracca is the most likely the best player of the draft and we don't want to miss out on him, and they take him with pick #1 or #2 (depending on where us and Brisbane finish as I still think us two will be bottom two teams). So we could take Petracca and then draft Reece McKenzie (big forward I've heard a bit about?) as well so we end up with a big forward and possibly the best player of the draft to improve our midfield also. Just something I was thinking about, depends on how we trade to get draft picks but I'd rather hypothetically to get Petracca/McKenzie/Another early second rounder in comparison to McCartin/Blakely/Someone early third round? Idk haha. This tall forward/or/Petracca situation is killing me.

Petracca may be picked early on.

McKenzie I'm not a massive fan of, but unless you're a first round key position player I'm generally not. He had the one big 10 goal game but I'm waiting for him to back that up and make that routine. It's a one off performance until he makes a habit of it.

I'm an advocate of going big early and get the other pieces later. Early is the only time you can adequately get the quality of talls required.

But which way the Saints go whether that be Petracca or McCartin as those two most likely, it will be interesting with both obviously projecting as high level pros by position and go picks for different reasons for whoever picks them both up early.

 

[aussierulesrules]

The bonus with Petracca is that if we get him it's not like we have to play him in the midfield. Being able to rotate he and Billings between the forward line and the midfield would hardly be the worst thing ever I wouldn't think, nor would one of them playing forward most of the time.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

Petracca may be picked early on.

McKenzie I'm not a massive fan of, but unless you're a first round key position player I'm generally not. He had the one big 10 goal game but I'm waiting for him to back that up and make that routine. It's a one off performance until he makes a habit of it.

I'm an advocate of going big early and get the other pieces later. Early is the only time you can adequately get the quality of talls required.

But which way the Saints go whether that be Petracca or Wright as those two most likely, it will be interesting with both obviously projecting as high level pros by position and go picks for different reasons for whoever picks them both up early.

I hope the Saints recruiters agree. I think its not so easy just to get an "average" forward of that type , let alone a good one. Also on a year to year basis, tall's take longer to develop, so I think its better we get one now. I don't doubt there will be some gun midfielders available to us after the next couple of seasons.

 

[borderbarry]

Nick Reiwoldt is a Tasmanian! Represented Tassy as a Junior. He was recruited from Qld though, as Lachlan Weller will be this year.

 

[SumTingWong]

KM,
Apparently Jake Lever is now 194cm/89kg. Would be considered a KPD now rather than a "3rd tall" or "rebounding defender"?

 

[Knightmare]

KM,
Apparently Jake Lever is now 194cm/89kg. Would be considered a KPD now rather than a "3rd tall" or "rebounding defender"?

He plays in a rebounding style but I've got Lever listed on page 1 as a key defender.

 

[kickit2Carlise]

Hi Knightmare. What's your thoughts on the 2nd and third round picks is there any real talent there? or some that have weapons that may be overlooked early

 

[Monocle]

KM,
Apparently Jake Lever is now 194cm/89kg. Would be considered a KPD now rather than a "3rd tall" or "rebounding defender"?

Not doubting the info SumTingWong . Curious how you found this piece on info.

Even before this growth spurt I had a sneaky feeling that Lever is going to be taken a lot higher than he is being touted , I think he could go top six.
Had he not done his knee I think he would have ranged top three. Just my opinion but he is a real talent.

 

[SumTingWong]

Not doubting the info SumTingWong . Curious how you found this piece on info.

Even before this growth spurt I had a sneaky feeling that Lever is going to be taken a lot higher than he is being touted , I think he could go top six.
Had he not done his knee I think he would have ranged top three. Just my opinion but he is a real talent.

First time poster Frank Berry in Skippo's phantom draft gave this info. I don't have any inside info myself.

 

[blueiris]

What are your thoughts that possibly, the Saints decide hell, Petracca is the most likely the best player of the draft and we don't want to miss out on him, and they take him with pick #1 or #2 (depending on where us and Brisbane finish as I still think us two will be bottom two teams). So we could take Petracca and then draft Reece McKenzie (big forward I've heard a bit about?) as well so we end up with a big forward and possibly the best player of the draft to improve our midfield also. Just something I was thinking about, depends on how we trade to get draft picks but I'd rather hypothetically to get Petracca/McKenzie/Another early second rounder in comparison to McCartin/Blakely/Someone early third round? Idk haha. This tall forward/or/Petracca situation is killing me.

It will be interesting to see what Stkilda and Brisbane do with pick 1 or 2. Knights has said Brisbane really rates Petracca and with us having Hammelmann in our back pocket we could go Petracca first

 

[carnthemlions]

It will be interesting to see what Stkilda and Brisbane do with pick 1 or 2. Knights has said Brisbane really rates Petracca and with us having Hammelmann in our back pocket we could go Petracca first

I certainly hope not.

 

[blueiris]

I certainly hope not.

Why what's wrong with Petracca very talented dominated the under 18s and TAC Cup our midfield still needs plenty of work someone capable of winning Clearances would be great

 

[carnthemlions]

Why what's wrong with Petracca very talented dominated the under 18s and TAC Cup our midfield still needs plenty of work someone capable of winning Clearances would be great

We need someone capable of developing into a top 10 KPF if we want to get anywhere. I'd rather not gamble on one of Hammelmann, Close or Freeman becoming that player, personally.

 

[richoatthedisco]

Not doubting the info SumTingWong . Curious how you found this piece on info.

Even before this growth spurt I had a sneaky feeling that Lever is going to be taken a lot higher than he is being touted , I think he could go top six.
Had he not done his knee I think he would have ranged top three. Just my opinion but he is a real talent.

I agree.

 

[dlanod]

We need someone capable of developing into a top 10 KPF if we want to get anywhere. I'd rather not gamble on one of Hammelmann, Close or Freeman becoming that player, personally.

I agree though for slightly different reasons - it wouldn't surprise me if one of those reaches that level, but in any lottery (and picking KPFs out of the draft is a lottery) I want as many tickets as possible... especially if the tickets often end up being quite valuable in their own right.

 

[blueiris]

We need someone capable of developing into a top 10 KPF if we want to get anywhere. I'd rather not gamble on one of Hammelmann, Close or Freeman becoming that player, personally.

I can see your point but you don't know how much they could improve under Brown and Leppa

 

[carnthemlions]

I agree though for slightly different reasons - it wouldn't surprise me if one of those reaches that level, but in any lottery (and picking KPFs out of the draft is a lottery) I want as many tickets as possible... especially if the tickets often end up being quite valuable in their own right.

I hope they all reach that level, but you can't really place too many expectations on a guy who was drafted in the 2nd round, an extremely raw F/S who as overlooked the first time and an apparently promising but physically undeveloped player who may not be as highly rated by other clubs as he is on here.

A top 2 draft pick makes our odds of getting at least 2 or 3 quality talls look a lot better. You have to spend something to get something most of the time.

I can see your point but you don't know how much they could improve under Brown and Leppa

I don't, no. At the same time, we could end up with a solid player in Close and a couple of project players who will never be AFL standard in Freeman and Hammelmann(worst case scenario).
It's not to say that they won't all succeed- it's just that the odds are against us if this is the path we go down. Hoping we can get a top 10 KPF through trade/FA in the future is not a realistic solution. Someone else can have Petracca, I don't think he's worth missing out on a good chance to create a functioning fwd line over the next few years.

 

[imabowss]

No news is good news. Heard nothing to suggest either will be problem guys.

Clem Smith will get reported quite possibly a record number of times the way he goes about it and it's not something I see changing.

Pickett is a one way offensive runner and may not completely develop his defensive running but that may depend on the club he goes to.

Ahern is another indigenous football - not that you'd know looking at him. He's also made of the right stuff and is a worker. One of the more rapid improvers in this draft class so I'm not worried about him either from a character standpoint.



There are lots around the country and not just TAC Cup.

Erin Wasley-Black from NT.
Josh McGuiness from Tassie.
Jack Steele from NSW.
Tyler Cornish from QLD.
Darcy Cameron has competed well in the WAFL and Francis Watson down back has some real scope to improve. Will Frampton some like. Cameron Loersch.
Josh Miller from SA has shown something.

But to answer your question from the TAC: Nathan Drummond I like. Hugh Beasley has had another strong season. Liam Hunt has performed strongly. Ryan Tester has shown something. Dane Howe. Zach Ballard. There are plenty around. Drummond and Howe probably the most likely I would have thought.



Ellis may get through to the Saints at 21. It's within his rough draft range. Not guaranteed but possible.

Blakely probably there.



It depends entirely on the clubs evaluation of the talls taken last year and whether they're enough to go forward with or whether more needs young talls need adding.

Personally I don't rate Fremantle's young talls. I'm not seeing a young key forward or key defender to build around at this point. So I'd definitely be looking tall at Fremantle's picks if there is someone deemed to be representing strong value at that selection.

Matthew Hammelmann (Bris - Academy) I'd start off by nominating with Fremantle's first round selection. Brisbane if they're smart would match and use their second round pick on him. Assuming Brisbane match on Hammelmann I'd be hoping like anything Goddard, Durdin, Lever or Marchbank slide. I don't see either of them sliding which would mean (as I'm predicting in my draft) a Keitel, Cripps, Bevan or Watchman would have to be added later on.

Fremantle having gone tall with the first two selections last year I half suspect will want to give the existing talls another year to get a better feel for exactly what they've got but I'd personally be going tall if the opportunity is there to get someone who can play.

Will Frampton is born in November of 96, very far from an over ager

 

[Knightmare]

Hi Knightmare. What's your thoughts on the 2nd and third round picks is there any real talent there? or some that have weapons that may be overlooked early

There will be enough talent in the 2nd/3rd round for clubs but as always it comes down to correct talent identification.

Connor Menadue as one example likely goes somewhere in that rough range unless he rises closer to the draft.

It will be interesting to see what Stkilda and Brisbane do with pick 1 or 2. Knights has said Brisbane really rates Petracca and with us having Hammelmann in our back pocket we could go Petracca first

Both Saints and Brisbane are said to be considering Petracca based on what the media have suggested.

Whether he's picked by either club it's hardly guaranteed at this stage. Don't have any inside information on who either club like most.

 

[Knightmare]

Will Frampton is born in November of 96, very far from an over ager

Recording error on my part.

 

[Skippos]

First time poster Frank Berry in Skippo's phantom draft gave this info. I don't have any inside info myself.

Yeah he shot me a message about it too. Apparently last Thursday out at the Cannons they did some new measurements. I'm trying to get a little more but I'm inclined to believe him purely because I have too much faith in the human race to think that someone would waste their time signing up to an internet forum just to lie about a kid's height and weight.

 

[Knightmare]

We'll find out Lever's updated measurements closer to the draft I imagine.

If he's 194cm, 89kg he's a top 10 pick. If he's going more somewhere around 10 and still well inside the first anyway.

It's hardly making a difference with his draft stocks strong anyway even missing this season. In his situation I'd probably prefer to go to a contending team. On a better team I like the chances of early picks particularly of reaching greater heights and going on to have stronger careers. But with many of those Victorian teams down the very bottom of the ladder perhaps he'd like to stay home.

Either way we'll eventually know his correct measurements, but as a key defender even if he's 192cm he'll still be fine so I'm not fussed either way.

 

[lenny2013]

Hi KM,

If we (Essendon) happen to bid on some of these academy players with pick 19, will our pick 19 have to be matched with first round pick or second?

TIA