Draft Watcher Knightmare's 2015 Draft Almanac

[Knightmare]

Hey km, how does Harry Mckay's U18 form compare with Darcy Moore's?

Both played different roles. Moore was for not the whole season, but more than half of it played as a key defender. McKay on the other side of things was mostly a key forward who later in the season played more minutes through the ruck.

In saying that Moore did more. With higher totals across the board. More goals when played forward. More marks per game. More disposals per game etc. Not that Moore starred in 2014 through the TAC Cup.

With AcHee and Milera gone do you think Richmond just took the next best small forward thinking that was a spot where they needed the most improvement?

It appears to me certainly as a needs based selection by Richmond drafting Rioli. Filling a pressing hole with a view to a deep finals run.

Hey km what are the knocks and strengthhs on snelling and Houston?

Snelling is specially small is that the only thing holding him back? Looks like he can find the pill

Snelling is a strong contested ball winner, high level accumulator and was excellent at SANFL League level which are all great signs. The major weakness is footskills and a relative lack of x-factor which as a sub 180cm mid is troubling.

Houston is a strong marking medium forward. He has been hurt and only played the 9 TAC Cup games this season. Consistency from game to game is poor (had an 8 goal game which was fabulous but then 4/9 of his games he didn't provide any scoreboard impact), it also doesn't appear that Houston can play up the field or offer any particular versatility which is something that ideally he develops.

Great work KM, Wagner was in your top 50 and was picked by Demons as a rookie. U seem to like him. Do you think he could be best 22 for us?

I like the Josh Wagner selection by Melbourne and while I won't be calling him a certain best 22 player he is someone with best 22 chances off a back flank and someone I'd expect will get games at some point. He is a highly skilled back flanker who can be a component to a back half. Only average as a stopper and not super athletic, but has the class, footskills and the production and improvement in the NEAFL this past season particularly to be have chances.

can I just KM say that I love your reports, question, do you do this as an interest or are you connected some way gee you are on it 24/7, do you have a day job?

This is all a hobby at this point given I'm unpaid and not working for anyone. I work in another field, but would certainly be open to working in clubland or with the media in some capacity whether that's as an extra or instead of my current career I'd be open to looking into what opportunities present.

 

[CatRiot]

Hey KM

Just your overall assessment of the Cats selections at the National Draft and Rookie Draft? Perhaps a score out of 10?
They were very late picks, so my expectations will be low, but surely we will get at least a couple of good players out of this crop to compete at the top level.

I think Buzza can develop into a KPF, but needs a couple of years, there is no rush with him given our depth in tall forwards. I'm not so sure about Gardner, he will also take time to bulk up, but at 196cm and given he seems to play from the front, he could be an attacking type of KPD.
What player comparison would you give for Buzza and Gardner?

Menegola looks pretty good to me, and provides midfield depth and can rotate forward, which will be ever so more required with the interchange cap reduced - I'd be expecting more midfielder's resting forward or in defence.

Ruggles also adds depth as a small defender, which we need, I just hope he can make play from the back half (like Malceski, Duryea, Hibberd, Suckling - those types), he will probably challenge Bews for that small defender position.

Parsons/Hayball/Cornell all similar in height and weight, can all mark the footy, rotate forward and through the midfield, they all look like they have potential, but they need time in the AFL system and in the gym.

Who do you think is the best of the picks?
Who has most potential?
And do you think Ruggles and Menegola could be starting 22 and good enough at the top level?

 

[LynchysMob]

Hey Knightmare how did you rate GC's rookie draft selections?

Particularly Keough, Davis and MacPherson?


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[Knightmare]

Hey KM

Just your overall assessment of the Cats selections at the National Draft and Rookie Draft? Perhaps a score out of 10?
They were very late picks, so my expectations will be low, but surely we will get at least a couple of good players out of this crop to compete at the top level.

I think Buzza can develop into a KPF, but needs a couple of years, there is no rush with him given our depth in tall forwards. I'm not so sure about Gardner, he will also take time to bulk up, but at 196cm and given he seems to play from the front, he could be an attacking type of KPD.
What player comparison would you give for Buzza and Gardner?

Menegola looks pretty good to me, and provides midfield depth and can rotate forward, which will be ever so more required with the interchange cap reduced - I'd be expecting more midfielder's resting forward or in defence.

Ruggles also adds depth as a small defender, which we need, I just hope he can make play from the back half (like Malceski, Duryea, Hibberd, Suckling - those types), he will probably challenge Bews for that small defender position.

Parsons/Hayball/Cornell all similar in height and weight, can all mark the footy, rotate forward and through the midfield, they all look like they have potential, but they need time in the AFL system and in the gym.

Who do you think is the best of the picks?
Who has most potential?
And do you think Ruggles and Menegola could be starting 22 and good enough at the top level?

Not a draft Geelong could do much with.

If 5/10 is the median (average) I'd go with a 6/10 draft by Geelong.

A lot of talls added which is not a strategy I generally recommend late draft with the probability of talls taken late, particularly key forwards being very low. Of the national draft selections Sam Menegola is the pick of the group and someone I see as a strong selection. Good height and size, excellent endurance and while he can find the footy in bunches through the midfield he can also push forward, take a mark and provide scoreboard impact. So to me he is that one that I'd give a tick to. Of Geelong's talls taken in the national draft Buzza is relatively in my view the more interesting of the group as he improved strongly this year and has the height/size and solid production but again late draft I'm uneasy about the selection and don't necessarily see the pressing need in Geelong's situation.

The rookie picks I felt were overall better than the national draft selections. Cornell and Parsons as rookies are solid gets who many would have expected to see feature inside the national draft. Cornell as a medium forward who can push up through the midfield and Parsons who can add some drive on the outside. Ruggles had a good season for Geelong off half back and with Enright and Mackie those only real quality general backmen there is room for Ruggles to get some games depending on his formline v the younger guys. But like Menegola, Ruggles next year looks like that second guy who from this group should push for senior games.

Hey Knightmare how did you rate GC's rookie draft selections?

Particularly Keough, Davis and MacPherson?

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Of the rookie selections. Danny Stanley was worth bringing back. Keough is probably the player I'm relatively more optimistic about of that group as someone down back who could plausibly step in and play a role as a mature age backman who had an excellent year through the SANFL. Ryan Davis also is a very reasonable selection as a mature age forward/midfielder who can offer immediate impact if he is required to. Darcy McPherson is a sufficient small forward and just another option without being someone I'm enthusiastic about. Cameron Leorsch was a late blooming ruck/forward who showed some signs in the WAFL in 2013 and 2014 but I have no idea this past year where he has been playing his footy as I haven't been tracking him. And Joyce as a smallish mid hasn't done so much to impress me as a low production mid who hasn't done anything to catch my eye from an AFL relevance perspective.

Did Gold Coast do well? It's just adding some more mature players who can perform immediately as required but it's not a group that will add anything long term. Given the nature of this years draft being so even and relatively shallow many would consider that acceptable but ideally I would have liked to have seen a better overall outcome through both drafts and this offseason more broadly with no new pieces added who I can say with confidence will add to Gold Coast's core group and make the club better. In saying that the club probably see the situation as being such that they have to get better some time, and they're making an effort towards that. So it will be interesting particularly with the mature agers added to see what impact they have in making the club overall more competitive.

 

[LynchysMob]

Thanks mate. Interesting perspective. I am rather optimistic on Davis having watched him numerous times and he really stood out as being a level above state league.

Do you know what Keoughs dimensions are?


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[Knightmare]

Thanks mate. Interesting perspective. I am rather optimistic on Davis having watched him numerous times and he really stood out as being a level above state league.

Do you know what Keoughs dimensions are?


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Davis may be a chance. He is something like the WAFL's version of Jonathan Beech from the SANFL. And both are very reasonably choices as mature age rookies.

Keough is around 193cm, 91kg. It will be interesting to see whether he plays as a key defender or more a 3rd tall at the next level. I expect probably the latter as he isn't so tall or so extremely strongly built. Good shutdown player and able rebounder. So he has that balance down with more finding that position at AFL level relatively the more likely challenge I foresee ahead of him.

 

[VaultWanderer]

Opinions on Richmond in the rookie draft?

 

[Knightmare]

Opinions on Richmond in the rookie draft?

Callum Moore was an interesting choice given how many tall forwards broadly Richmond have. I'm not sure how he is going to fit as a mild production tall, athletic forward.

Chol is an interesting project ruck and worth a rookie position and if he puts in the work could in time develop.

Marcon is an uninspiring but solid mature age midfielder from the VFL who can play next year as required and provide some depth.

 

[SumTingWong]

Callum Moore was an interesting choice given how many tall forwards broadly Richmond have. I'm not sure how he is going to fit as a mild production tall, athletic forward.

Chol is an interesting project ruck and worth a rookie position and if he puts in the work could in time develop.

Marcon is an uninspiring but solid mature age midfielder from the VFL who can play next year as required and provide some depth.

Moore has been told that he will be played in defence.
Marcon will help our VFL team for the most part much like Thomas has recently, but at least it gives the guy a shot on an AFL list

 

[LynchysMob]

Davis may be a chance. He is something like the WAFL's version of Jonathan Beech from the SANFL. And both are very reasonably choices as mature age rookies.

Keough is around 193cm, 91kg. It will be interesting to see whether he plays as a key defender or more a 3rd tall at the next level. I expect probably the latter as he isn't so tall or so extremely strongly built. Good shutdown player and able rebounder. So he has that balance down with more finding that position at AFL level relatively the more likely challenge I foresee ahead of him.

We seem to be lacking a real genuine third tall with most our guys who play that position being more 188-191. Keough could very well line up for a few games in our back half next year. Liked what I just saw of him on YouTube.

Cheers mate!


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[Jootube]

Hey KM, I'm wondering if you can give a really brief assessment of the Eagles first 2 picks and whether you think we got value from our selections.
Thank you in advance Knightmare, you're doing Gods work.

 

[Knightmare]

Hey KM, I'm wondering if you can give a really brief assessment of the Eagles first 2 picks and whether you think we got value from our selections.
Thank you in advance Knightmare, you're doing Gods work.

WCE got excellent value in the national draft with Partington and Cole. I rated them 13th and 18th respectively in this draft class which in the late 20s and 30s is highly impressive.

Partington can play as a mid (outside or inside) and can also play forward. Highly productive, excellent pace/endurance athlete, uses the footy well and can provide scoreboard impact. Has played good footy in SA and through the u18 championships so he is a very solid selection.

Cole is a very versatile type. Can play through the midfield (outside/inside) and on a flank at either end. Also highly productive. Endurance and work rate good and will willingly take on the game and do his best to do damage with ball in hand even if his disposal efficiency at times can suffer as a result.

 

[scanlon]

Thoughts on Mason Redman? You have him rated at 50 but seems a classy, versatile type

 

[Knightmare]

Thoughts on Mason Redman? You have him rated at 50 but seems a classy, versatile type

Redman is versatile. Reasonably strong overhead. Improved strongly through the year and has shown glimpses of talent without putting it all together and out and out dominating. He is someone with the scope to develop without being developed or ready to play at this point and I put him into my top 50 purely off the back of his form and improvement late season with my thought process being that given he is improving he likely has further improvement in him, and if that comes to fruition, he may develop into something.

 

[saintsrfreak]

Would love if you could give an assessment of St Kilda's draft period

 

[Knightmare]

Would love if you could give an assessment of St Kilda's draft period

Gresham was an immediate fit. Low impact, but can be a component.

White is developable and a maybe if he improves his endurance.

Rice with that final selection represents value and adds some hurt factor with his pace and footskills on the outside.

O'Kearney as a rookie is fine as a high production mid, not overly impactful and relatively lacking a point of difference, but he'll find the footy in bunches no problems.

Coughlan as a key defender I like the addition of and see some value in. Liked his improvement this season through both the TAC Cup and at VFL level.

Good draft? It's not a draft with gamechangers but the objective instead would with this group be more to find a couple of guys who can more generally go on to have AFL careers and be compliments to St Kilda's better young players.

 

[Andre the Giant]

Ok. There was some talk on SEN today about the GWS eventually re-locating to Canberra. I am not sure if there is any merit in that but next season GWS will play 8 games at Sydney Showgrounds and 3 in Canberra. But I think GC is going to remain an uphill battle.

That talk was from Brian Waldron, the mastermind of the Melbourne Storm salary cap rorting disaster that cost that club multiple Premierships.

Waldron apart from being a cheat is clearly very naive about the early challenges that a start from scratch sides faces in developing markets. That is unless you try to manufacture success by systematic rorting.

With respect to Canberra, good luck trying to keep any interstate player drafted if they have to be based there all the time. Sydney is a challenge, Canberra is impossible.

For a couple of games a year it's fine but that is it.

The AFL needs to persevere with Western Sydney if it wants to truly capture NSW.

 

[JD Tomahawk]

Hey KM would be interested to see your list of 5-10 players who didn't get picked up in either draft that may have a shot as a 19 yr old or mature ager next year?
Did you think anyone was unlucky to miss out

 

[Gunstall555]

Hey KM would be interested to see your list of 5-10 players who didn't get picked up in either draft that may have a shot as a 19 yr old or mature ager next year?
Did you think anyone was unlucky to miss out

Greg Clark is probably the biggest omission for mine (unless I missed it and he did get picked up?)

 

[Knightmare]

Hey KM would be interested to see your list of 5-10 players who didn't get picked up in either draft that may have a shot as a 19 yr old or mature ager next year?
Did you think anyone was unlucky to miss out

Nick Dodge, Jadyn Brind and Nash Holmes are the only three inside my top 60 who missed out of those who became draft eligible this year. As overagers this year I also liked Daniel Capiron and Clint Hinchliffe as overagers. Kaine Stevens as a mature ager maybe. But none of those guys were inside my top 45 so there weren't the usual major draft stubs with the recruiters this year in my view doing pretty well to capture the better talents this year.

As for some who would have featured on other draft boards who got overlooked: Thomas Glen, Lachlan Tiziani, Greg Clark, Stephen Tahana, Hisham Kerbatieh, Davin Ferreira, Liam Jeffs, Kade Answerth (overager), Kieran Malone, Dylan Smith and Andre Parrella are some others who were reasonably draftable.

 

[tenderwarrior]

Nick Dodge, Jadyn Brind and Nash Holmes are the only three inside my top 60 who missed out of those who became draft eligible this year. As overagers this year I also liked Daniel Capiron and Clint Hinchliffe as overagers. Kaine Stevens as a mature ager maybe. But none of those guys were inside my top 45 so there weren't the usual major draft stubs with the recruiters this year in my view doing pretty well to capture the better talents this year.

As for some who would have featured on other draft boards who got overlooked: Thomas Glen, Lachlan Tiziani, Greg Clark, Stephen Tahana, Hisham Kerbatieh, Davin Ferreira, Liam Jeffs, Kade Answerth (overager), Kieran Malone, Dylan Smith and Andre Parrella are some others who were reasonably draftable.

Jansen you had inside your top 50 missed out too I think.

 

[Knightmare]

Jansen you had inside your top 50 missed out too I think.

Correct. Jansen as a mature ager is another where he possibly could have been fine for a rookie position.

Just like that whole group though. None of those leftovers are so incredible that I'd even bother calling them draft snubs. It's not such a deep group this year that I feel overly sorry for any specific few this year as I have in years past.

 

[Gollo]

Nick Dodge, Jadyn Brind and Nash Holmes are the only three inside my top 60 who missed out of those who became draft eligible this year. As overagers this year I also liked Daniel Capiron and Clint Hinchliffe as overagers. Kaine Stevens as a mature ager maybe. But none of those guys were inside my top 45 so there weren't the usual major draft stubs with the recruiters this year in my view doing pretty well to capture the better talents this year.

As for some who would have featured on other draft boards who got overlooked: Thomas Glen, Lachlan Tiziani, Greg Clark, Stephen Tahana, Hisham Kerbatieh, Davin Ferreira, Liam Jeffs, Kade Answerth (overager), Kieran Malone, Dylan Smith and Andre Parrella are some others who were reasonably draftable.

Really, really devastated that Holmes and Answerth didn't get picked up. Both deserve it so much, in my opinion, and could become nice cogs in any team in a few years. Even players like Kerbatieh and Tahana would have been good pickups. I guess Holmes has another year to show his wares, but Answerth now has to prove he can match it in the VFL, and I believe he can.

 

[MightyDons4]

KM last year it was Aidan Anderson, this year it was Nick Dodge. Why do these medium/small forwards with good aerial ability, crumbling ability and scoreboard impact get overlooked?

 

[Knightmare]

KM last year it was Aidan Anderson, this year it was Nick Dodge. Why do these medium/small forwards with good aerial ability, crumbling ability and scoreboard impact get overlooked?

There were some personality questions with Anderson.

Dodge while talented and not a bad guy probably isn't from coaching reports as coachable as some of his peers.

It's just the age of footy we're in. Clubs want the hardest trainers and highest character guys who are most coachable and willing to learn and adapt according to the needs of teams.

Further to this clubs like forwards with greater versatility which for both Anderson and Dodge doesn't help their cases.