Draft Watcher Knightmare's 2015 Draft Almanac

[Knightmare]

I think you are saying a lot about a group of KPP, when Casboult is the pick.
Carlisle is still desperately needed and I hope Carlton get him.

Casboult I find wrongly gets a bad wrap for what he does on the field. There are a lot of key forwards I'd play him ahead of.

But you're right. It does really show how lacking in good young key position players Carlton are, with Casboult more adequate than good.

 

[Gus Poyet]

Even with the addition of Weitering, I would still look at Carlton as needing x1 long term key defender and x2 long term key forwards (with my view that Carlton's existing key position players are not up to the required standard).

So Carlisle would be able to fill one of those three remaining key position posts under the assumption that Weitering or even Schache is added.

Others may have different opinions though and have different views on Casboult/Jaksch/Watson/Jones/Giles, but I'm not optimistic about any of them developing at this point in time, with Casboult based on his yearly improvement and contested marking ability the only maybe as the only of those I'd consider adequate to go forward with due to his excellent contested marking ability and yearly improvement.

From what has been written Carlisle would seem to want to be played in the backline, so could he and Weitering co-exist in the same backline?

Would Weitering simply become the permanent third tall down back? Playing either of JK or Weitering at FUB would seem to not play to their strengths.

I think Rowe is probably the FUB option for the next 2-3 years.

 

[Knightmare]

From what has been written Carlisle would seem to want to be played in the backline, so could he and Weitering co-exist in the same backline?

Would Weitering simply become the permanent third tall down back? Playing either of JK or Weitering at FUB would seem to not play to their strengths.

I think Rowe is probably the FUB option for the next 2-3 years.

Weitering has the ability to be whatever you want him to be, and co-exist with anyone.

He can be a genuine key defender, third tall or even push up onto a wing if you were too tall down back.

So I wouldn't be worried about fitting any particular player alongside Weitering because he is someone who can make it work.

 

[Gus Poyet]

Weitering has the ability to be whatever you want him to be, and co-exist with anyone.

He can be a genuine key defender, third tall or even push up onto a wing if you were too tall down back.

So I wouldn't be worried about fitting any particular player alongside Weitering because he is someone who can make it work.

I like him even more now after that description.

We've had woeful success picking talls early in drafts so hopefully he's the start of a change in fortunes.

 

[Knightmare]

I like him even more now after that description.

We've had woeful success picking talls early in drafts so hopefully he's the start of a change in fortunes.

If you're after a low - no risk tall, Weitering is an excellent pick.

He has already shown v VFL competition that he can as a key defender more than hold his own against VFL bodies. But then he also has the talent with his intercept marking, 1v1 ability, footskills, but then versatility to suggest he will be one of the better key defenders in the competition.

Last year Weitering was spending time up on a wing, so he is while a genuine key defender, he also in many respects is unique by position.

 

[skippa007]

Will Mathew Allen get picked up this draft?

 

[Knightmare]

Will Mathew Allen get picked up this draft?

He is in the mix without being a certainty.

He is at the national combine, so there are some clubs at least interested in talking to him and keen to see how he tests. But if selected, he is a late/rookie pick.

 

[Knightmare]

It's probably about time with the home and away season complete to update the phantom draft and my power rankings.

*See page one for the update.

 

[Patty25]

Looking at some of the TAC cup results Crocker and Olliver seem like good options, do you have any info on them? Goal kicking midfielders are always nice, so was wondering if they have good speed, size and are able to play inside and get clearances. If they have these qualities they seem like they'd bet a good result for us with a second rounder.

 

[Knightmare]

Looking at some of the TAC cup results Crocker and Olliver seem like good options, do you have any info on them? Goal kicking midfielders are always nice, so was wondering if they have good speed, size and are able to play inside and get clearances. If they have these qualities they seem like they'd bet a good result for us with a second rounder.

They're both good late 1st/early 2nd round type options.

Crocker has very strong hands and ability to mark overhead for a medium sizer, and this season has really found his niche up forward. He can also push up the field and could plausibly also become a rotational midfielder in the future with improvement but until then is a handy medium marking forward.

Oliver is a tallish, strong bodied midfielder. He has at times pushed forward and hit the scoreboard, but he is a genuine bid bodied stoppage specialist who has really improved this season in a big way. He can really win the contested ball in bunches. Doesn't have that outside balance to his game, but in saying that his ball use for a pure inside type is pretty reasonable also.

 

[majortinkle]

It's probably about time with the home and away season complete to update the phantom draft and my power rankings.

*See page one for the update.

what's your reasoning behind saints 2nd rounder - hard to make sense of it given your power rankings. They ignore 20 Gresham to pick 40 parsons - Gresham seems exactly what we need as well.....

 

[Knightmare]

what's your reasoning behind saints 2nd rounder - hard to make sense of it given your power rankings. They ignore 20 Gresham to pick 40 parsons - Gresham seems exactly what we need as well.....

My reasoning is St Kilda have enough smalls and may want some running height. Inside options are looking pretty good with not enough outside options, so Parsons looks like a natural and logical fit with few really good pure outside types.

Worth noting, my power rankings are where I personally rate players. My phantom draft is my best guess at where I expect players to land.

So while last year I may have rated Reece McKenzie the 5th/6th best talent last year or wherever I had him in my power rankings last year, I was aware he would not be going inside the first round and as such I positioned him in my phantom draft accordingly to reflect where he was actually expected to go, without my personal player preferences coming into it.

And this year again I'm going to follow that system.

 

[majortinkle]

Worth noting, my power rankings are where I personally rate players. My phantom draft is my best guess at where I expect players to land.

.

Ah I see - consider me enlightened - cheers

 

[Bicks]

KM, James Parsons, do think he would be a good fit for Adelaide who are in desperate need of outside mids with pace and good foot skills, around where do you see him going in the draft, best case and worst case...

 

[Kciza]

I see you've got us taking Ryan Burton with our first pick, what's the reasoning behind that? I'm not sure a medium sized forward is on the radar at the moment considering guys like Wood, Black and Garner are coming through at the moment. Would've thought we'd be adding more midfield talent considering the upcoming retirements. Mind you if things go to plan we probably won't have a first round pick this year anyway.

 

[Knightmare]

KM, James Parsons, do think he would be a good fit for Adelaide who are in desperate need of outside mids with pace and good foot skills, around where do you see him going in the draft, best case and worst case...

Parsons will from the second round come into consideration. And from pick 20 onward, consider the draft wide open to interpretation.

Parsons could go as high as a pick in the 20s or he could go in the rookie draft or go undrafted completely. It's just that wide open.

But I tend to think he probably goes 2nd/3rd round, and if you really want him, you'd have to take him second round.

Is he a suitable fit for Adelaide? I feel he is among those who certainly would be. The question would be more whether he is best available and whether you like what he offers. His numbers aren't on the level of some others, but none the less, for Eastern he is a real go-to-guy who team-mates really try to feed the ball to as much as possible because they like what he can do with ball in hand, mostly due to his ball use, but he is willing to provide some run and carry. So there is always room for guys like that, particularly with height.

I see you've got us taking Ryan Burton with our first pick, what's the reasoning behind that? I'm not sure a medium sized forward is on the radar at the moment considering guys like Wood, Black and Garner are coming through at the moment. Would've thought we'd be adding more midfield talent considering the upcoming retirements. Mind you if things go to plan we probably won't have a first round pick this year anyway.

Burton I have going to North Melbourne on a best available basis, and it was mostly a deliberate slotting him into that range that saw Burton in this update of my phantom draft land with North Melbourne.

Coming into this season Burton was deemed a top 10 pick, and I can see a club anywhere from pick 10 onward taking him and really seeing substantial value.

 

[John_Proctor]

Hi km I'm interested to know why you don't have Brisbane matching Sydney's bid on Chol at pick 52 given likelihood of leuenbeerger leaving 29yo Martin, 29yo west and dodgy rookie Archie smith ad the lions ruck options.

Also can you advise if gws, Sydney and Gold Coast have academy players next year. I'm interested because this may effect how they trade this year to ensure they have the academy points to avoid a deficit next year - I'm sure Brisbane will want to avoid a debt to capture Allison next year. Seems gws won't have to worry given they'll get the pies oick for treloar. Sydney might be the one looking for a highish pick given their draft picks are relatively low and mills will go very high and Dunkley may require a an early second rounder.

 

[Mighty_sainter]

Why do you have us taking mathieson? We already have enough inside midfielders. I think we would go with balic? What's you're reasoning

 

[Apex Predators]

Thanks for all your work knightmare, I always find it an interesting read. I see you have Kieren Collins going to West Coast in the first round. I would not complain about that, he seems a great talent. I am wondering about your reasoning though.

West Coast currently has McGovern and Schofield, with McKenzie and Brown to return from knee injuries next year and Barrass developing nicely. I think the oldest of these guys is around 26/27 and the strength of our game this year has been run from the backline. Also, guys like Sheppard, Wellingham and Hurn have been pretty effective playing on talls. Therefore, it will be interesting to see how many of the KPBs that will actually be played in the same team when fully fit.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

 

[Tiggyyy8]

Hey KM, have you heard much of a bottom ager from the bushrangers Ryan Garthwaite? One of their key defenders and seems to be doing really well. Watched their game on wkend and him and Julius Battista looked to be the better defenders for them. Battista is extremely athletic and reads play well. What are your thoughts on these boys?

 

[Ben Drever]

Hi km I'm interested to know why you don't have Brisbane matching Sydney's bid on Chol at pick 52 given likelihood of leuenbeerger leaving 29yo Martin, 29yo west and dodgy rookie Archie smith ad the lions ruck options.

Also can you advise if gws, Sydney and Gold Coast have academy players next year. I'm interested because this may effect how they trade this year to ensure they have the academy points to avoid a deficit next year - I'm sure Brisbane will want to avoid a debt to capture Allison next year. Seems gws won't have to worry given they'll get the pies oick for treloar. Sydney might be the one looking for a highish pick given their draft picks are relatively low and mills will go very high and Dunkley may require a an early second rounder.

I know the Suns have a gun kid named Brad Scheer in there Academy for next yr.
Should go top 20 if everything stays the same.
Though it never does.
He is a big bodied mid, similar to Keays i guess

 

[ThePuppetMaster]

I can see where you draw the comparisons between Parto and Parish, KM, they're both quite well rounded, but the difference to me is Partington is merely decent at all facets while Parish is brilliant at most.

His contested game, while it probably won't be elite at the AFL level, is fantastic in the u18s and he wins genuine clearances. They aren't bash and crash style clearances, but that doesn't mean he can't win inside ball, his hands are uber clean and he reads the play very well. His evasiveness means it's very hard to bring him down in tackles when he does win it.

Endurance wise while 2 way running isn't there, his ability to cover ground at speed is up there with the elite mids, it's just so hard to keep up with him on the spread which is a big reason for his ball winning ability. His disposal is elite, vision is superb and he makes decisions super fast, just an extremely damaging player.

This is a very underrated part of his game - cleanness and quick decisions.

Not to mention he's a naturally smart accumulator.

He reminds me of a slightly quicker Sidebottom to be honest, he'll fill out very similarly and has very similar strengths.

 

[ThePuppetMaster]

Re: Collins KM - surely he's pushing into top 5 consideration now? He's had a terrific year and looks a great all round defender.

 

[TheLastEmperor]

Re: Collins KM - surely he's pushing into top 5 consideration now? He's had a terrific year and looks a great all round defender.

Gary Buckenarra has him at 3.

 

[FreeAgent1]

Gary Buckenarra has him at 3.

He also didnt have Mills in top 10, which is different from basically every BF phantom draft i have seen.