Draft Watcher Knightmare's 2016 Draft Almanac

[Knightmare]

Agree with the Taranto calls. Loving his finals series.

I'm increasingly considering who I'd take of Taranto v McGrath.

McGrath is the consensus choice but I'm increasingly tempted by Taranto. His impact in the big games has been greater and overall his impact has felt more consistent this year whereas McGrath by contrast has his games where he offers meaningful run that breaks games open, but other games where he doesn't feel as influential or doesn't use the ball as cleanly.

 

[bird_man]

Is take Taranto ahead of Brodie to be honest

 

[Knightmare]

Is take Taranto ahead of Brodie to be honest

They have different games. Taranto is the better forward. So if you want someone who can have an impact in the front half. He offers that. As a pure onballer Brodie is definitely better as the stronger contested baller who gets meaningful clearances and does some of the best work off the ball in this draft.

 

[Jack Richards]

They have different games. Taranto is the better forward. So if you want someone who can have an impact in the front half. He offers that. As a pure onballer Brodie is definitely better as the stronger contested baller who gets meaningful clearances and does some of the best work off the ball in this draft.

Seems to be an ordinary draft this year. Can McCluggage turn into onballer? Got tagged out of his last game didn't he?

 

[JD Tomahawk]

They have different games. Taranto is the better forward. So if you want someone who can have an impact in the front half. He offers that. As a pure onballer Brodie is definitely better as the stronger contested baller who gets meaningful clearances and does some of the best work off the ball in this draft.

Tiziani kicked 6 on the w.e to back up a 4 goal haul the weekend before. Surely he can't miss out this time around KM.

 

[VandoHawk]

Hi Knightmare, love the work you do.

Just curious, do you think Brodie will still go top 2 or will he slide this draft?

 

[Knightmare]

Seems to be an ordinary draft this year. Can McCluggage turn into onballer? Got tagged out of his last game didn't he?

Views are varied this year as to the strength of the draft. It's a draft lacking a clear pick one, pick two etc and also lacks the quality of key position players. What this draft does have is an even top 10, a good top 40 and outstanding depth in midfielders, so much so that there are several to miss both the state and national combines that I would no hesitate in recommending clubs consider as rookie choices.

Tiziani kicked 6 on the w.e to back up a 4 goal haul the weekend before. Surely he can't miss out this time around KM.

Tiziani has had a terrific season and has been excellent since shifting forward, kicking several goals each week.

He is one of the better top agers.

Might post-season write about some of the better top agers in this draft. Needless to say, Tiziani will be among those first few mentioned.

If I'm to extend my power rankings out to 50 (if ESPN permit me to go past 30), to give a spoiler Tiziani is among my top 50 to give a feel for where I rate him.

Hi Knightmare, love the work you do.

Just curious, do you think Brodie will still go top 2 or will he slide this draft?

Brodie will still be a high draft selection and should feature somewhere inside the top five.

 

[SumTingWong]

KM, do you expect GWS to definitely take Sproule and how high? Do you think there's a chance of anyone taking him with an unmatched bid?

 

[Knightmare]

KM, do you expect GWS to definitely take Sproule and how high? Do you think there's a chance of anyone taking him with an unmatched bid?

Perryman and Setterfield GWS have to take based on quality.

Macreadie and Sproule are both chances more than certainties. Given their willingness to load up on KPPs and with a few set to be moved this offseason, it wouldn't be surprising to see both picked (likely in the second round).

Mutch may also receive consideration but is likely overlooked - which is great news for clubs looking for midfielders with Mutch as productive as any in this draft.

 

[ChookNorris]

Knightmare any updates on Z Guthrie, still a potential second rounder? Or has he gone off the boil?

 

[Old navy]

Perryman and Setterfield GWS have to take based on quality.

Macreadie and Sproule are both chances more than certainties. Given their willingness to load up on KPPs and with a few set to be moved this offseason, it wouldn't be surprising to see both picked (likely in the second round).

Mutch may also receive consideration but is likely overlooked - which is great news for clubs looking for midfielders with Mutch as productive as any in this draft.

See this is why the academy's are a good thing for football. It's adding more high level talent to the draft pool from non traditional AFL states.
We have already seen a few cases of players being developed and coming through a academy, but ending up at other AFL clubs.
Now we have Steele who was GWS academy product possibly leaving for a Melbourne club for more opportunity.

 

[Knightmare]

Knightmare any updates on Z Guthrie, still a potential second rounder? Or has he gone off the boil?

Guthrie is a draft chance but not a draft certainty.

Shows some glimpses down back as an intercepter.

State combine invite and probably seen as more a late/rookie if picked.

See this is why the academy's are a good thing for football. It's adding more high level talent to the draft pool from non traditional AFL states.
We have already seen a few cases of players being developed and coming through a academy, but ending up at other AFL clubs.
Now we have Steele who was GWS academy product possibly leaving for a Melbourne club for more opportunity.

It's only good depending on your agenda.

It increases the talent pool and makes the potential quality of the AFL competition greater with the extra NSW/QLD players who either come to the game or are better as a result.

But it also gives GWS/Sydney/Brisbane/GC a steep draft advantage with all the talent they each get priority access to and discounts on.

My personal view is the concept is right but execution of the academy system still requires some work. Like with our political system and so many things in life. There is no perfect but more so less imperfect options and with the academy system we're slowly moving towards a less imperfect system.

 

[Old navy]

Hey KM what do you think about Scrimshaw, do you think he could end up playing as a mid.
I know he has had a lot of injuries over the last two years and may not have the tank ATM.
Seems to get a high number of handball recieves per game, which isn't to say he can't win his own ball as his one on one work is pretty good and he move through traffic very well too.
Think if clubs view him as a tall midfielder he could go top 5, if not around pick 10+ is probably closer to the mark.

 

[Knightmare]

Hey KM what do you think about Scrimshaw, do you think he could end up playing as a mid.
I know he has had a lot of injuries over the last two years and may not have the tank ATM.
Seems to get a high number of handball recieves per game, which isn't to say he can't win his own ball as his one on one work is pretty good and he move through traffic very well too.
Think if clubs view him as a tall midfielder he could go top 5, if not around pick 10+ is probably closer to the mark.

Scrimshaw's composure and evasiveness through traffic make him a curious midfield prospect. He seems to have the awareness of those around him. Kicks off one or two steps which works perfectly in traffic. So his game has some compatibility. Able mark overhead and reads the flight, so could in theory also be a mid who pushes fwd/back.

The concern I have is that he would win enough contested ball, though perhaps that is something with time that he could develop given his height/size/1v1 game which is the chance you would be taking.

It's taking a chance developing Scrimshaw as a mid. Less certainty of an AFL career. But it heightens his potential upside if he can make it work and develop that contested ball winning through the midfield.

Given he has played mostly back that's where I'll look at him as most probably finding a role. So that's what my analysis of him will be based off. My philosophy is that if a player hasn't done something, assumptions are not a good idea unless their attributes 100% suggest compatibility. Assuming development of players is a poor way to go about things, with players mostly fundamentally remaining much of a muchness and generally just improving incrementally in their areas of strength and slightly improving in their areas of weakness. Scrimshaw without that dominant contested ball winning isn't there. 7-15 is Scrimshaw's rough range and for me based on my personal ranking also feels about right.

 

[MightyDons4]

Couple of questions KM, why is Tim English rated so highly this year? I really don't see it with him at all, could be a good CHB but hasn't been played there this season. How would you compare him against Gach Nyuon?

The other question is why does no one rate Brennan Cox? He has the size, elite athleticism for that size, strong mark and is versatile. Seems like the complete package for mine, can't understand why most people have him outside the first round, let alone the 2nd.

 

[eDPS]

Scrimshaw's composure and evasiveness through traffic make him a curious midfield prospect. He seems to have the awareness of those around him. Kicks off one or two steps which works perfectly in traffic. So his game has some compatibility. Able mark overhead and reads the flight, so could in theory also be a mid who pushes fwd/back.

The concern I have is that he would win enough contested ball, though perhaps that is something with time that he could develop given his height/size/1v1 game which is the chance you would be taking.

It's taking a chance developing Scrimshaw as a mid. Less certainty of an AFL career. But it heightens his potential upside if he can make it work and develop that contested ball winning through the midfield.

Given he has played mostly back that's where I'll look at him as most probably finding a role. So that's what my analysis of him will be based off. My philosophy is that if a player hasn't done something, assumptions are not a good idea unless their attributes 100% suggest compatibility. Assuming development of players is a poor way to go about things, with players mostly fundamentally remaining much of a muchness and generally just improving incrementally in their areas of strength and slightly improving in their areas of weakness. Scrimshaw without that dominant contested ball winning isn't there. 7-15 is Scrimshaw's rough range and for me based on my personal ranking also feels about right.

The same things being said about Scrimshaw are the same things I think where said about Bontempelli and he does look like it at times. One bit of play against Eastern in the finals the ball hit the deck after a boundary throw in down back and he just swooped in took on a line of players and booted the footy on his left and that certainly got a few people talking.

 

[HedgeFund]

Hey KM what do you think about Scrimshaw, do you think he could end up playing as a mid.
I know he has had a lot of injuries over the last two years and may not have the tank ATM.
Seems to get a high number of handball recieves per game, which isn't to say he can't win his own ball as his one on one work is pretty good and he move through traffic very well too.
Think if clubs view him as a tall midfielder he could go top 5, if not around pick 10+ is probably closer to the mark.

If Scrimshaw gets a contested possession, it's usually because he's fumbled an uncontested one.

Goes one handed a lot and doesn't crave contact. Yes, he is skilful, slippery and evasive but I haven't seen him lay many tackles, or take "the heat" and keep the ball in tight.

Having said that, he's clearly got tricks, but whichever club selects him will have to do serious work on his body size and willingness to get hit in order to turn him into a midfielder.

 

[CrusaderAussie1]

Tim

Couple of questions KM, why is Tim English rated so highly this year? I really don't see it with him at all, could be a good CHB but hasn't been played there this season. How would you compare him against Gach Nyuon?

The other question is why does no one rate Brennan Cox? He has the size, elite athleticism for that size, strong mark and is versatile. Seems like the complete package for mine, can't understand why most people have him outside the first round, let alone the 2nd.

engkish rated so highly for a number of reasons,

Couple of questions KM, why is Tim English rated so highly this year? I really don't see it with him at all, could be a good CHB but hasn't been played there this season. How would you compare him against Gach Nyuon?

The other question is why does no one rate Brennan Cox? He has the size, elite athleticism for that size, strong mark and is versatile. Seems like the complete package for mine, can't understand why most people have him outside the first round, let alone the 2nd.

see the following he knows much more about footy than anyone on this forum at a guess , Tim is 204cm that's a start point

Athletic South Fremantle big man Tim English has catapulted into top-10 draft calculations after earning AFL Under-18 All-Australian selection.

Aside from WA best and fairest, Perth Demons midfielder Zac Fisher, English was arguably the Black Swans’ most consistent player in the Under-18 Championship which concluded this week.

AFL national talent manager Kevin Sheehan felt it was a case of everything coming together for English after his whopping 20cm growth spurt in the past three years.

“Everyone that’s going to make an AFL list has their moment, or their year, where they’re ready to show their very best,” Sheehan told The Sunday Times.

“He was impressive throughout (the carnival) for a boy of that size — he’s a mobile, agile kid who generally showed an ability in the air and at ground level.

“He’s got massive upside, he needs probably another 8-10kg and all of that will come in time.

“He’s the kid that probably at the start of the year was on the radar to playing some terrific footy locally, and then handling it very well at national level to push his name right up there.”

Hope this helps

 

[Old navy]

Scrimshaw's composure and evasiveness through traffic make him a curious midfield prospect. He seems to have the awareness of those around him. Kicks off one or two steps which works perfectly in traffic. So his game has some compatibility. Able mark overhead and reads the flight, so could in theory also be a mid who pushes fwd/back.

The concern I have is that he would win enough contested ball, though perhaps that is something with time that he could develop given his height/size/1v1 game which is the chance you would be taking.

It's taking a chance developing Scrimshaw as a mid. Less certainty of an AFL career. But it heightens his potential upside if he can make it work and develop that contested ball winning through the midfield.

Given he has played mostly back that's where I'll look at him as most probably finding a role. So that's what my analysis of him will be based off. My philosophy is that if a player hasn't done something, assumptions are not a good idea unless their attributes 100% suggest compatibility. Assuming development of players is a poor way to go about things, with players mostly fundamentally remaining much of a muchness and generally just improving incrementally in their areas of strength and slightly improving in their areas of weakness. Scrimshaw without that dominant contested ball winning isn't there. 7-15 is Scrimshaw's rough range and for me based on my personal ranking also feels about right.

He certainly has a lot of good attibutes and the clean hands will certainly help with the inside work if he does end up playing as a mid.
Think a lot of the hype around Scrimshaw is due to everyone looking for the next Bontempelli.
He shaping up as very much high risk high reward type prospect, as he will most likely go top 10.

Did you catch Ben Long's game yesterday. Has been pretty impressive in the last few weeks playing VFL finals footy. What range do you see him going in ?

 

[Knightmare]

Couple of questions KM, why is Tim English rated so highly this year? I really don't see it with him at all, could be a good CHB but hasn't been played there this season. How would you compare him against Gach Nyuon?

The other question is why does no one rate Brennan Cox? He has the size, elite athleticism for that size, strong mark and is versatile. Seems like the complete package for mine, can't understand why most people have him outside the first round, let alone the 2nd.

English can find the footy in bunches, has the endurance, quality skills - think the skills you'd expect on a midfielder who's skills are their major strength. So he is of a high level by position in several categories. He also has developed well this season and is relatively a late bloomer which is a great indicator for future improvement in young talls and particularly ruckmen.

English is very much contrasting to Nyuon. Nyuon is a high leaper with some power but can't get his hands on the ball around the ground, isn't a ball user etc. English is clearly the better prospect if judging on who they are today.

English just doesn't have that power or that ruck contest dominance which is why I'm not as high on him as others seem to rate him.

Cox of the key defenders I view as one of the better. Good through the U18 champs and in SA has shown signs, though playing forward mostly in the Reserves. I really like his intercept marking. Good size and good athlete. Can take on the game. Can shutdown key forwards and get the spoils. I've also enjoyed his smothering in the small sample of games I've seen of him, he isn't afraid to go after it and put himself in danger. He reminds me Collingwood's Jonathon Marsh in the style he plays down back. You'd have to ask SA viewers as to what his knocks are as I haven't had any major issues with his game. But there is some scope there to develop.

The same things being said about Scrimshaw are the same things I think where said about Bontempelli and he does look like it at times. One bit of play against Eastern in the finals the ball hit the deck after a boundary throw in down back and he just swooped in took on a line of players and booted the footy on his left and that certainly got a few people talking.

Bontempelli as a junior played a lot up around half forward. Scrimshaw while he has played forward for stretches and like Bontempelli shows some attributes, they offer different attributes, even if they both have an appealing looking style of game at great heights.

Scrimshaw seems much less midfielder like. He doesn't have the same explosiveness as Bontempelli and doesn't seem to have that same hunger for the contest. He doesn't burst onto loose balls at speed, winning it at Scrimshaw does, who by contrast looks more so to receive then uses it. Their instincts are very much contrasting and suggest they'll be different players at AFL level.

He certainly has a lot of good attibutes and the clean hands will certainly help with the inside work if he does end up playing as a mid.
Think a lot of the hype around Scrimshaw is due to everyone looking for the next Bontempelli.
He shaping up as very much high risk high reward type prospect, as he will most likely go top 10.

Did you catch Ben Long's game yesterday. Has been pretty impressive in the last few weeks playing VFL finals footy. What range do you see him going in ?

Was at the TAC Cup yesterday, Futures Game today and just now watched the SA U18s granny. So you can expect reviews of those in my weekly wrap this week.

Was not at the VFL but if CollingwoodFC website stick up a replay I'll be sure to watch it. 6 goals is a terrific effort. WBD's reported midfield dominance for the game no doubt played a major part there. But that's an exciting performance and only elevates his draft standing.

I really liked the look of Long down back during the U18 Champs. Limited the influence of opponents and showed some glimpses on the rebound. So that's terrific that he is showing the capacity to play well at either end. He won't be an early pick but from the 3rd round he can come into consideration from clubs.

 

[eDPS]

Bontempelli as a junior played a lot up around half forward. Scrimshaw while he has played forward for stretches and like Bontempelli shows some attributes, they offer different attributes, even if they both have an appealing looking style of game at great heights.

Scrimshaw seems much less midfielder like. He doesn't have the same explosiveness as Bontempelli and doesn't seem to have that same hunger for the contest. He doesn't burst onto loose balls at speed, winning it at Scrimshaw does, who by contrast looks more so to receive then uses it. Their instincts are very much contrasting and suggest they'll be different players at AFL level.

I meant more similar in their queries in juniors if they could play midfield at AFL level. Would argue that Scrimshaws explosiveness can be very good from what I've seen.

 

[Dannnnnnnnnn]

Was not at the VFL but if CollingwoodFC website stick up a replay I'll be sure to watch it. 6 goals is a terrific effort. WBD's reported midfield dominance for the game no doubt played a major part there. But that's an exciting performance and only elevates his draft standing.

I really liked the look of Long down back during the U18 Champs. Limited the influence of opponents and showed some glimpses on the rebound. So that's terrific that he is showing the capacity to play well at either end. He won't be an early pick but from the 3rd round he can come into consideration from clubs.

FWIW, Long was good but the game was an absolute no contest after half time. Collingwood blatantly stopped trying and he got on the end of a few with greater work rate. Still looks to be a good prospect, but what he did on Saturday wasn't hugely different from his previous few games.

 

[LittleG]

FWIW, Long was good but the game was an absolute no contest after half time. Collingwood blatantly stopped trying and he got on the end of a few with greater work rate. Still looks to be a good prospect, but what he did on Saturday wasn't hugely different from his previous few games.

One of the biggest finals folds I have seen by any team for many years.
I appreciate your work KM but I strongly don't recommend watching it, unless you want to see Eddy aging 5 years during the many sideline camera shots of him fuming.

 

[Old navy]

English can find the footy in bunches, has the endurance, quality skills - think the skills you'd expect on a midfielder who's skills are their major strength. So he is of a high level by position in several categories. He also has developed well this season and is relatively a late bloomer which is a great indicator for future improvement in young talls and particularly ruckmen.

English is very much contrasting to Nyuon. Nyuon is a high leaper with some power but can't get his hands on the ball around the ground, isn't a ball user etc. English is clearly the better prospect if judging on who they are today.

English just doesn't have that power or that ruck contest dominance which is why I'm not as high on him as others seem to rate him.

Cox of the key defenders I view as one of the better. Good through the U18 champs and in SA has shown signs, though playing forward mostly in the Reserves. I really like his intercept marking. Good size and good athlete. Can take on the game. Can shutdown key forwards and get the spoils. I've also enjoyed his smothering in the small sample of games I've seen of him, he isn't afraid to go after it and put himself in danger. He reminds me Collingwood's Jonathon Marsh in the style he plays down back. You'd have to ask SA viewers as to what his knocks are as I haven't had any major issues with his game. But there is some scope there to develop.



Bontempelli as a junior played a lot up around half forward. Scrimshaw while he has played forward for stretches and like Bontempelli shows some attributes, they offer different attributes, even if they both have an appealing looking style of game at great heights.

Scrimshaw seems much less midfielder like. He doesn't have the same explosiveness as Bontempelli and doesn't seem to have that same hunger for the contest. He doesn't burst onto loose balls at speed, winning it at Scrimshaw does, who by contrast looks more so to receive then uses it. Their instincts are very much contrasting and suggest they'll be different players at AFL level.



Was at the TAC Cup yesterday, Futures Game today and just now watched the SA U18s granny. So you can expect reviews of those in my weekly wrap this week.

Was not at the VFL but if CollingwoodFC website stick up a replay I'll be sure to watch it. 6 goals is a terrific effort. WBD's reported midfield dominance for the game no doubt played a major part there. But that's an exciting performance and only elevates his draft standing.

I really liked the look of Long down back during the U18 Champs. Limited the influence of opponents and showed some glimpses on the rebound. So that's terrific that he is showing the capacity to play well at either end. He won't be an early pick but from the 3rd round he can come into consideration from clubs.

How would you rate Long compared to someone like Cedric Cox, I know Cox is that year older.
But he was also pretty impressive at VFL level.

 

[Bert Man]

Knightmare, do you know if Setterfield will be available for the GF?