Draft Watcher Knightmare's 2015 Draft Almanac

[aussierulesrules]

Must say I look forward to Brisbane's PP then - five years without a finish above 12th

That's the exact sort of thing they are wanting to do something about apparently.

Free agency is making it much easier for the top clubs to stay up the top, so something probably needs to be done to balance out the effect of FA and make it easier for the bottom ranked clubs to get back into serious premiership contention again.

 

[God Save Max King]

I've seen Weitering used up forward (albeit in short stints), great hands + strength + game nous should justify either the Rays or Country playing him there for at least 1 game, likely more. We already know what he is as a defender, time to see what he can do up forward and on the wing, 2 positions where he could seriously boost his already super high 'draft stock'.

 

[Crippa16]

Hey KM
Do you see any comparisons with Will Hoskin Elliot in Callum Ah Chee ?

 

[Knightmare]

Hey KM
Do you see any comparisons with Will Hoskin Elliot in Callum Ah Chee ?

They're both quick and both have taken hangers. Both can go in a similar draft range. So that's a possible player comparison for Ah Chee.

In terms of who he is comparable to, I see him as something like a Steven Motlop. Ah Chee similarly is not your pure midfielder but more a talented and super quick forward who can push up the field. Whether he becomes that, that good, I'm not sure at this point. But that's roughly the style of game I'm seeing.

 

[ItsAllAboutMe]

KM interested in your thoughts on the Sydney academy that has produced Isaac Heeney, arguably the best player of last years draft and Calum Mills who is almost unanimously the #1 pick this year...

How much of an influence is being part of the academy set up that has put these guys development a head of others and how much is just pure natural ability.. Do you expect the other players once they have been part of an elite football setup to quickly catch up on Heeney & Mills?

My very uneducated view, is that what ever sydney are doing to develop these guys is working and is a head of the game in terms of developing talented kids into elite footballers and this model should be rolled out nationally. I dont think it is a question about 'equality' within the AFL clubs more so just getting the most out of our elite kids.

 

[Diehardbomber]

Hey KM,
Just some info on 2 x West Adelaide boys that performed well from the weekend -
Aaron Francis - played his first league game v Sturt at full back, stats : 9 disposals, 4 marks (one massive contested), 2 tackles and 1 inside 50. His opponent only kicked 1 goal.
Riley Bonner - Won the Rnd 3 Maccas Cup MVP Award : Played HB & midfield, 34 disposals, 8 marks, 3 tackles, 7 clearances, 8 I50, 3 R50 and kicked 4 goals.

 

[Knightmare]

KM interested in your thoughts on the Sydney academy that has produced Isaac Heeney, arguably the best player of last years draft and Calum Mills who is almost unanimously the #1 pick this year...

How much of an influence is being part of the academy set up that has put these guys development a head of others and how much is just pure natural ability.. Do you expect the other players once they have been part of an elite football setup to quickly catch up on Heeney & Mills?

My very uneducated view, is that what ever sydney are doing to develop these guys is working and is a head of the game in terms of developing talented kids into elite footballers and this model should be rolled out nationally. I dont think it is a question about 'equality' within the AFL clubs more so just getting the most out of our elite kids.

Heeney coming into his draft year was only a borderline first round pick, then went on to become a consensus certainly top 4 pick, with pick 2 bid on him. So the academy is making a difference. No question. And you're going to see a lot of that in future seasons as well as a substantial increase both in the number of players from these regions drafted and the number of top end picks, with Mills, Keays and Hopper all examples of I'd argue top 4 quality players, and I'd guess without the academy you'd be lucky to have one of those guys in the top 5 discussion.

The key with these kids is teams such as Sydney can develop these guys from the ages or 12. So from a development perspective. It's going to make a substantial difference to developing players from these regions and helping them advance their games as far as possibly can be achieved before getting into the AFL system. And that affect will be accumulative over the years to come and become greater and greater.

I'm not sure I'd role out an academy model nationally. In NSW/QLD it's needed to attract players to the game and produce more talent from those regions, and to generate interest in the game that otherwise wouldn't be there. Then giving them the opportunity to play in their home state, which seems necessary given with rugby it seems most can. So there are all those factors that aren't as applicable for VIC/SA/WA and TAS could probably be thrown into that basket of footy mad states.

Perhaps NT could have something further, as well as perhaps some other smaller communities to give as an example some of the young indigenous talent in more remote locations greater opportunity. But that might be more applicable if/when there is an NT/Darwin team. And until then probably more something the AFL should invest more heavily in.

My idea within all this is, I'd like to see the AFL go down a fairly extreme route and let the four clubs with the academies just straight sign their academy players onto the senior list, but then not award these clubs with any national or rookie draft selections, with their opportunity to fill the senior list to be through the preseason draft, and then to fill out the rookie list, if not filled with local talent, then they can pick after all other clubs have chosen. The other disadvantage would be from a trading perspective it would make things more challenging as they would have no picks to trade, unless they were to trade for picks. So that reduces the ability to execute trades without giving up players. But within a system like this, it really puts the onus on the clubs with the academies to really invest heavily and make their academies successful to fuel their success, and it's this incentivisation that will help grow the game in those regions.

 

[GT619]

What kind of player would carlton look at best available mid or best available kpp

 

[Knightmare]

What kind of player would carlton look at best available mid or best available kpp

If it's a top five pick it may just be a straight best available.

In either case, Carlton need both mids and KPPs so both needs need to be addressed at some point either way.

 

[Ben Drever]

Any news how Gold Coast Suns academy youngster Brad Scheer has been travelling the year..?
Wanting to keep an eye on him after he was called the next Michael Voss Cheers.

 

[Knightmare]

Any news how Gold Coast Suns academy youngster Brad Scheer has been travelling the year..?
Wanting to keep an eye on him after hie was called the next Michael Voss Cheers.

Not a name I'm familiar with and haven't seen him play as best I know. Must be an underager I'd assume given that and given he wasn't played u18 champs last year. So I'll be seeing him through the u18 champs this year I imagine if that's the case and make an evaluation then.

 

[Ben Drever]

Not a name I'm familiar with and haven't seen him play as best I know. Must be an underager I'd assume given that and given he wasn't played u18 champs last year. So I'll be seeing him through the u18 champs this year I imagine if that's the case and make an evaluation then.

http://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au...-to-michael-voss/story-fnj9yd7s-1226988432551

 

[grundog49]

Not a name I'm familiar with and haven't seen him play as best I know. Must be an underager I'd assume given that and given he wasn't played u18 champs last year. So I'll be seeing him through the u18 champs this year I imagine if that's the case and make an evaluation then.

Won the qld MVP last year in the u16 champs and the best player in division 2 by a mile.

 

[Knightmare]

Won the qld MVP last year in the u16 champs and the best player in division 2 by a mile.

Early days but sounds promising.

Looking forward to seeing whether he can mirror or exceed Keays' impact from last year as an underager for QLD.

GC might finally have someone through their academy! They still need more quality midfielders to add to that group, but Scheer if he has any Michael Voss in him I'm sure will be a welcome addition in time if he continues his improvement.

 

[Ben Drever]

Early days but sounds promising.

Looking forward to seeing whether he can mirror or exceed Keays' impact from last year as an underager for QLD.

GC might finally have someone through their academy! They still need more quality midfielders to add to that group, but Scheer if he has any Michael Voss in him I'm sure will be a welcome addition in time if he continues his improvement.

Amen to that.

 

[blueiris]

Would have thought Brisbane would take the key forward in Schache if we don't have to use our first pick on Keays

 

[Knightmare]

Would have thought Brisbane would take the key forward in Schache if we don't have to use our first pick on Keays

There is a lot of love from the "experts" for Curnow. It seems Curnow may even be favoured to Schache with Curnow being spoken about as a likely top 5 pick and Schache more likely to be picked around pick 10. And given this is roughly what is being portrayed at this stage I am keeping my phantom draft consistent with that.

The intriguing element with Curnow is his improvement and growth. He has grown from his 188cm of last year, and has really put on size, to go with his already excellent athleticism and excellent endurance to go with it. He can take a grab. And has some unique versatility. So there is substantial appeal for all those reasons.

I'm personally not such a strong advocate for Curnow (as I'm sure you gathered looking at my power rankings) because at this point in time I'm not as confident as to his true best position, and as a mostly key forward he still has some convincing to do regarding scoreboard impact for me to be sold on what he offers. But none the less I'm watching with interest and have certainly been intrigued with what he showed last year and in the opening rounds of this year.

--
As an unrelated side note. I'm hoping to find the time next week to post a profile for Ben Keays. So as a Brisbane fan that will be worth looking out for.

 

[BlackGun1]

Any news how Gold Coast Suns academy youngster Brad Scheer has been travelling the year..?
Wanting to keep an eye on him after he was called the next Michael Voss Cheers.

I know he's been injured in the early part of this season, didn't play QLD's first TAC cup game or the Vic country trial the week before.

 

[Ashton Agar]

Great work Knightmare, read through all 18 pages.

Wanted to know who you what order you rate Darcy Parish, Darcy Tucker and Christian Petracca (pre-ACL)? Thanks in advance.

 

[Knightmare]

Great work Knightmare, read through all 18 pages.

Wanted to know who you what order you rate Darcy Parish, Darcy Tucker and Christian Petracca (pre-ACL)? Thanks in advance.

Petracca, Parish, Tucker would be the order I'd take them.

Petracca is my choice of those boys, and maybe even with the ACL.

Petracca is the more powerful and more physical guy. He a stronger inside game and is much more damaging forward of centre with his 1v1 power and marking ability.

In saying that Parish and Tucker are both playing excellent football to this point and both look like probable top 5 picks, and are both in the mix for that first overall selection. Both are showing they can find the ball in bunches and also have a substantial impact on the outcome of games with their pace and footskills. Not much between but if I had to pick I'd lean towards Parish who of the two has a slightly better inside game and contested ball winning ability.
But that may change over the season with lots of football still to be played and Tucker like Parish really improving strongly and showing strong progress.

 

[Ashton Agar]

Petracca, Parish, Tucker would be the order I'd take them.

Petracca is my choice of those boys, and maybe even with the ACL.

Petracca is the more powerful and more physical guy. He a stronger inside game and is much more damaging forward of centre with his 1v1 power and marking ability.

In saying that Parish and Tucker are both playing excellent football to this point and both look like probable top 5 picks, and are both in the mix for that first overall selection. Both are showing they can find the ball in bunches and also have a substantial impact on the outcome of games with their pace and footskills. Not much between but if I had to pick I'd lean towards Parish who of the two has a slightly better inside game and contested ball winning ability.
But that may change over the season with lots of football still to be played and Tucker like Parish really improving strongly and showing strong progress.

Thanks KM. A St Kilda supporter I know was saying they took McCartin over Petracca because next year Parish is rated even higher than Petracca (according to him). So you rate Petracca over Parish but what are your thoughts on that theory?

 

[TheLastEmperor]

Thanks KM. A St Kilda supporter I know was saying they took McCartin over Petracca because next year Parish is rated even higher than Petracca (according to him). So you rate Petracca over Parish but what are your thoughts on that theory?

Just to jump in. Many varied opinions.

Looking at last years u18 top ranked mids, there weren't many big possession games from them, like the previous year, and already this year. Tucker accumulated 40 odd touches last weekend. I can't recall Petracca or Brayshaw or any other u18 with those numbers last year.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Knightmare]

Thanks KM. A St Kilda supporter I know was saying they took McCartin over Petracca because next year Parish is rated even higher than Petracca (according to him). So you rate Petracca over Parish but what are your thoughts on that theory?

There will be people that favour Parish to Petracca. And I expect you'll find opinion divided as to who will have the better career. But that will happen at this early stage.

In St Kilda's situation McCartin while they may like Parish over Petracca and may also have favoured McCartin over Petracca. Those are unknown factors as obviously I would not know who fits where on St Kilda's draft board.
I imagine their decision, or a large part of it was around the need for a key forward. Riewoldt will only have a small number of years left, and then it is a question of then who? And looking ahead to this years draft St Kilda may have seen Schache as more someone they'd consider to be worth around pick 10, Weideman let's say pick 20. And given the assumption that St Kilda will finish bottom 1-3, it made more sense to get that key forward given St Kilda's draft position last year. So that likely will have played a significant part in St Kilda's eventual decision.

And this year with those key defence posts looking an issue, maybe Weitering ends up St Kilda's eventual selection depending on St Kilda's assessment as to whether another good key defender can be had later in the draft or through trade/free agency.

 

[Wizard17]

Bruno Laguda seems to have jumped up your ratings a fair bit KM.

 

[Knightmare]

Bruno Laguda seems to have jumped up your ratings a fair bit KM.

Laguda is one of many to move up my draft board. But Laguda is a definite improver this season. He after today's performance has made the bests in 4/5 games. Last year of his 11 games he made the bests in just the 1 game. And he has showing why with improved play on both sides of the ball.