Draft Watcher Knightmare's 2016 Draft Almanac

[Fozdog]

Without the academies half of these players would not be identified or developed from young ages. That is the difference and why we are talking about the academy players.

So the objective of the academies - in identifying and developing talent in QLD and NSW is happening and the draft pool is expanding as a result. So they're all positives.

I grew up in Albury/Wodonga. It's hardly reflective of the rest of NSW. You'd have to search high and low for a game of Rugby such is the stranglehold of AFL. It's not fair that the academies get access to this area.

 

[Experimental]

I grew up in Albury/Wodonga. It's hardly reflective of the rest of NSW. You'd have to search high and low for a game of Rugby such is the stranglehold of AFL. It's not fair that the academies get access to this area.

I don't think you'd find many who would disagree with you

 

[KissKiss]

I grew up in Albury/Wodonga. It's hardly reflective of the rest of NSW. You'd have to search high and low for a game of Rugby such is the stranglehold of AFL. It's not fair that the academies get access to this area.

Having seen the lack of top level players coming from the area over the past 15 or so years compared to the current glut coming now, I'd say that there was a clear need for a better development pathway in the area. Whether GWS gets the priority access is a different issue

 

[Knightmare]

Hey KM, what's the depth in this year's draft like, particularly WRT outside players? Thinking guys with reasonable legspeed and kicking on the outside who would then develop the vision at VFL level.

Depth becomes more obvious over the course of the season but early days looks solid.

I tend to like the depth of inside types and general backman mostly this year at this stage when talking about those later draft types.

 

[Knightmare]

I grew up in Albury/Wodonga. It's hardly reflective of the rest of NSW. You'd have to search high and low for a game of Rugby such is the stranglehold of AFL. It's not fair that the academies get access to this area.

There are some seriously great players to come out of Riverina. Straight from the GWS website in a piece about the Riverina team of the century. With all time great Wayne Carey, Brownlow Medalists in Shane Crawford and Paul Kelly and then the Daniher boys (Anthony, Chris, Neale and Terry) to name a few of the biggest names. Then current premiership players Tom Hawkins, Luke Breust, Isaac Smith and Matt Suckling. There is not only the all time talent, but also the current name players.

 

[saintkildaman]

Hey KM, how do you rate ACT boys Sam Fisher and Tom Highmore?

 

[LittleG]

KM how do you rate the Rucks this year? I think we found a young forward ruck last year (Goetz) but really looking for more of a first ruck in either the Wynd (tap and then drop back defensive Ruckman) OR a Goldstein around the ground mobile ruck.
There is also the school of thought that a truly dominant tap Ruckman who influences stoppages would complete our already strong inside mids.
Your thoughts on the choices this year?

 

[Chizm]

How do you rate Todd Marshall?

 

[Knightmare]

Hey KM, how do you rate ACT boys Sam Fisher and Tom Highmore?

Both are genuine late/rookie draft chances which is saying something for probably 5th-10th on draft board type NSW/ACT boys.

Haven't seen much of either so look forward to seeing more of them this season.

KM how do you rate the Rucks this year? I think we found a young forward ruck last year (Goetz) but really looking for more of a first ruck in either the Wynd (tap and then drop back defensive Ruckman) OR a Goldstein around the ground mobile ruck.
There is also the school of thought that a truly dominant tap Ruckman who influences stoppages would complete our already strong inside mids.
Your thoughts on the choices this year?

There are draftable ruck prospects this year in Sweet, Ladhams and Goddard. All three are good tap ruckmen but need to improve around the ground and start finding more of the footy. Sweet is probably the best tap ruckman and tends to find more of it around the ground, but in each case they're still in the early stages of adding those other elements to the game, as so often is the case with young ruckmen who almost always find themselves later.

How do you rate Todd Marshall?

Promising forward and someone teams will be excited to see not longer come under the GWS Academy because he gives teams another genuinely good option to Battle. Marshall early days looks like a mid-late first round selection if I'm to estimate his rough draft position.

 

[Tigers1]

Hey nightmare. New to this forum. Have u seen the small forwards from stingrays lately? Brilliant!!

 

[Knightmare]

Hey nightmare. New to this forum. Have u seen the small forwards from stingrays lately? Brilliant!!

It's a pretty great Dandenong team this year.

Some very capable forwards. Two excellent talls in Battle and De Koning. Fowler and Allsop as the two smalls. All four are offering excellent scoreboard impact and offering great options forward of centre.

 

[RedmanWasHere]

What's this scoreboard impact you guys talk of?

 

[Knightmare]

What's this scoreboard impact you guys talk of?

Kicking goals.

High scoreboard impact = lots of goals kicked.

 

[blueiris]

On where teams stand at the moment what would be you're top 10 players for that I mean if you were picking for teams needs

 

[Michaels]

It's a pretty great Dandenong team this year.

Some very capable forwards. Two excellent talls in Battle and De Koning. Fowler and Allsop as the two smalls. All four are offering excellent scoreboard impact and offering great options forward of centre.

any thoughts on Reece Piper playing in the stingrays backline? been in the best 3 weeks in a row. nice long 50m goal today as well.

 

[RedmanWasHere]

Kicking goals.

High scoreboard impact = lots of goals kicked.

Cheers.

So many people on here and even commentators say that instead of kicking goals.

Why can't they say "they've kicked a few goals today" instead of the above?

Also, I saw a DeKoning kicked about 8-9 goals.

 

[Knightmare]

On where teams stand at the moment what would be you're top 10 players for that I mean if you were picking for teams needs

I'll hold off doing a phantom draft but I'll indulge you with some possible early names and a feel for what the top 10 may look like. Petrevski-Seton would make a lot of sense for Fremantle as a local talent who can have an impact anywhere and offer more offense, Essendon could use Will Brodie through the midfield and Brisbane on a needs basis could consider Battle if he continues his strong start to the season. From there you're probably looking at a bunch of academy players to be selected in a hurry. Or perhaps Fremantle or Essendon place a bid on someone like Jack Bowes or Harrison Macreadie with one of those opening selections.

Very open top end at this stage, and you're sure to hear several different interpretations likely with a variation of these ideas.

any thoughts on Reece Piper playing in the stingrays backline? been in the best 3 weeks in a row. nice long 50m goal today as well.

Piper may be one of many Stingrays in the mix to get drafted.

He is not tall at 177cm but can offer some meaningful rebound with his long but damaging kick and the run he can offer.

Cheers.

So many people on here and even commentators say that instead of kicking goals.

Why can't they say "they've kicked a few goals today" instead of the above?

Also, I saw a DeKoning kicked about 8-9 goals.

De Koning kicked 9 goals which is a big haul for a bottom ager. I had the pleasure of seeing him live last week (kicked no goals but felt like he could kick 3-4). 199cm and a big contested mark. One to watch for next season.

 

[blueiris]

So you're saying the Lions would consider going with forwards for 3 drafts in a row with Schache Battle and Ballenden with they're first pick

 

[Knightmare]

So you're saying the Lions would consider going with forwards for 3 drafts in a row with Schache Battle and Ballenden with they're first pick

Josh Walker isn't even averaging a goal a game and given Ballenden is already 200cm and available in next years draft I'd imagine he will be more than tall enough all things said and done to develop into a relief ruck who plays predominantly forward, given how much of a threat he is already proving to be forward of centre.

Brisbane have a strong midfield (that will rank more highly with stars healthy) and with Allison and Rolls coming along this year as skilled utilities I definitely feel another high level key forward if the value is appropriate would be a worthwhile addition for Brisbane. Just as a ruckman later in the draft or through the trade period also would be on the agenda with ruck depth also nonexistent if we're talking list needs.

 

[quin_stick]

What do you think of Griffin Logue as a draft prospect? Only in his second or third year of footy and already promoted to the Swans league side, played really well today.

 

[Knightmare]

What do you think of Griffin Logue as a draft prospect? Only in his second or third year of footy and already promoted to the Swans league side, played really well today.

Doing exceptionally well to be playing some league footy if he has only played footy for 2-3 years. He's a handy tall with good size and leaping ability. Not sure where his best position is. Will be interesting to see how he goes for WA during the u18 championships. That will likely determine where he fits in the draft order. But at this stage I'm looking at him as a draft chance.

 

[CaptainMurphy]

Both are genuine late/rookie draft chances which is saying something for probably 5th-10th on draft board type NSW/ACT boys.

Haven't seen much of either so look forward to seeing more of them this season.



There are draftable ruck prospects this year in Sweet, Ladhams and Goddard. All three are good tap ruckmen but need to improve around the ground and start finding more of the footy. Sweet is probably the best tap ruckman and tends to find more of it around the ground, but in each case they're still in the early stages of adding those other elements to the game, as so often is the case with young ruckmen who almost always find themselves later.



Promising forward and someone teams will be excited to see not longer come under the GWS Academy because he gives teams another genuinely good option to Battle. Marshall early days looks like a mid-late first round selection if I'm to estimate his rough draft position.

Wait, are you saying he's no longer a GWS academy player?

 

[grundog49]

Wait, are you saying he's no longer a GWS academy player?

Wasnt in the Academy for two years. Didnt show that they had any impact on his improvement. He's in the open pool.

 

[bjlucas]

Alex Witherden (Geelong Falcons) is out for the rest of the year after breaking his tibia and fibula

 

[Knightmare]

Wait, are you saying he's no longer a GWS academy player?

You got it. And suddenly the KPP stocks in this draft class become more interesting with Marshall a second genuinely impressive key forward.

Alex Witherden (Geelong Falcons) is out for the rest of the year after breaking his tibia and fibula

Had heard the news. Very unfortunate as Witherden was looming as a possible first round selection.

Witherden has still done more than enough to get drafted, so if he does all the right things in his recovery and continues taking an interest in the game while he is out - be it helping the coaches or whatever. They're probably among the more proactive things he could do from here that can help further his case and keep him inside that top perhaps 30 selected on draft day.