Draft Watcher Knightmare's 2018 AFL Draft Almanac

[philthy05]

It's worth noting that the "father/son" link is through coaching, so aren't eligible through the actual father/son rules - similar to how you have the U100 notation for player linkages who aren't eligible. Instead they're eligible for selection via the clubs' academies.

I think he is being very broad with his connections ie cousins and brothers being mentioned too rather than a list of concession eligible kids

 

[dlanod]

I think he is being very broad with his connections ie cousins and brothers being mentioned too rather than a list of concession eligible kids

He's being specific on the father/son connection eligibility elsewhere (U100 notes) so I figure it makes sense to note these guys as well to avoid any confusion.

 

[Bicks]

I'll add on Lloyd having seen a bit of him last year. Really good kick. Plays a very uncontested game down back, but he'll rack it up like his brother and uses it very effectively to a target.



In my haste in responding I have the spelling wrong on Dillon (I have him right on page 1 in my preview for this years draft last year).

Pretty handy getting a 7 and two 5 goal hauls in 2017 as an underager in the Colts. Will be interesting to track his development this year.

I've seen quite a bit of Matt, been out injured but like his brother a fitness fanatic and and faultless with his preparation so he'll be rarin' to go when he comes back....I'd be expecting him to move into the midfield rotations this year.

 

[Bicks]

Knightmare I'll give you a GWV Rebel name to keep your eye out for.... Tynan Shannon, only seen him the once here a fortnight ago but he really caught my eye, great mover, pacy, outstanding agility and boy does he ever have a great sidestep to get around the opposition.

 

[GoGrows]

I think he is being very broad with his connections ie cousins and brothers being mentioned too rather than a list of concession eligible kids

are you a 36ers fan?

 

[philthy05]

are you a 36ers fan?

Yeah. Well basketball fan in general.

 

[HBF]

Looking forward to seeing how the Carlton F/S selections progress throughout the year.

 

[Knightmare]

AFL Draft weekly wrap with a focus on the ridiculous performance of Max King: http://www.espn.com.au/afl/story/_/...ightmare-wrap-max-king-next-great-key-forward

 

[Knightmare]

HBF you're in luck mate. Also made mention of Silvagni (liked the look of him v Sandy!) and Hickmott.

 

[Knightmare]

Also a couple of mentions of Dogs prospects and one for Saints fans.

 

[HBF]

HBF you're in luck mate. Also made mention of Silvagni (liked the look of him v Sandy!) and Hickmott.

Cheers KM.
Will be watching your reports throughout the year.

 

[whiskeytown]

Hi Knightmare... It's great to be reading your columns again.

Only early in the year but I'm assuming around a bottom 6 finish for the Pies again this year. With pick 5-6 I'm thinking Ben King and even perhaps Max might still be available... with a KPF the priority in my opinion.

1) Would you agree with me that other likely bottom 6 teams like Lions (Hipwood,, Wooler), Kangas (Brown), Blues (Curnow, McKay f/s Silvagni), Suns (if Lynch retained, Wright)... might not take Max King as they all have current or budding deep forward line options... as Max King is likely to play only as a deep forward not a half forward? Most of these clubs appear to have greater needs in developing there midfield.

2) Ben King is likely to go after Max. You spoke of his intercept defending, but could he be a capable forward in your opinion... but is just not getting significant time there to develop as he is in the same team as excelling KPF only Max? Pies more in need of a KPF than a KPD.

Thanks.

 

[Knightmare]

Hi Knightmare... It's great to be reading your columns again.

Only early in the year but I'm assuming around a bottom 6 finish for the Pies again this year. With pick 5-6 I'm thinking Ben King and even perhaps Max might still be available... with a KPF the priority in my opinion.

1) Would you agree with me that other likely bottom 6 teams like Lions (Hipwood,, Wooler), Kangas (Brown), Blues (Curnow, McKay f/s Silvagni), Suns (if Lynch retained, Wright)... might not take Max King as they all have current or budding deep forward line options... as Max King is likely to play only as a deep forward not a half forward? Most of these clubs appear to have greater needs in developing there midfield.

2) Ben King is likely to go after Max. You spoke of his intercept defending, but could he be a capable forward in your opinion... but is just not getting significant time there to develop as he is in the same team as excelling KPF only Max? Pies more in need of a KPF than a KPD.

Thanks.

1. It's possible some of those clubs if selecting before Collingwood pass on Max King. Lukosius is probably too good for any club with pick one to pass on. But with King there may be some greater variation with the analysis of his game and where he is ranked compared to some others. So you can never say never. Still needs to prove himself as a set shot goal kicker. Can he be effective outside the forward 50m? Can he play another role to as strong of a standard? At this stage though, my early feel is he'll go pick 2/3. We're two rounds into the season. We don't know how his season will go, which teams will be down the bottom or who could pass him by so we'll have to wait and see.

2. Ben King I don't love as a forward. It's something he can do to an extent, but he's not dominant like Max is as a forward - not drawing the ball the same way and isn't as unstoppable leaping up at the ball and going for his grabs. I'd be investing in him as a key defender. It's where he plays his best footy. It's a bit like a Cale Hooker or Harry Taylor. You can play them forward at a pinch, but you're not getting as much out of them up front, I see King the same way.

It's could be another hard offseason for Collingwood because they're probably not going to be bad enough to get either of Lukosius or Max King and won't have the salary cap space to take a serious shot at Tom Lynch. So you may be seeing another offseason where that need isn't solved to the standard you'd hope.

 

[whiskeytown]

1. It's possible some of those clubs if selecting before Collingwood pass on Max King. Lukosius is probably too good for any club with pick one to pass on. But with King there may be some greater variation with the analysis of his game and where he is ranked compared to some others. So you can never say never. Still needs to prove himself as a set shot goal kicker. Can he be effective outside the forward 50m? Can he play another role to as strong of a standard? At this stage though, my early feel is he'll go pick 2/3. We're two rounds into the season. We don't know how his season will go, which teams will be down the bottom or who could pass him by so we'll have to wait and see.

2. Ben King I don't love as a forward. It's something he can do to an extent, but he's not dominant like Max is as a forward - not drawing the ball the same way and isn't as unstoppable leaping up at the ball and going for his grabs. I'd be investing in him as a key defender. It's where he plays his best footy. It's a bit like a Cale Hooker or Harry Taylor. You can play them forward at a pinch, but you're not getting as much out of them up front, I see King the same way.

It's could be another hard offseason for Collingwood because they're probably not going to be bad enough to get either of Lukosius or Max King and won't have the salary cap space to take a serious shot at Tom Lynch. So you may be seeing another offseason where that need isn't solved to the standard you'd hope.

For mine then.... given his projected low ceiling up front... I'd say the pies shouldn't bother with Ben King then, given they have Moore, McLarty, Mihocek as young 190cm+ KPD. Add to that Reid and Dunn still on the list... and potentially Kelly as a f/s or Wraith as an academy kid.

Apart from Lukosius and Max King... who may be taken by Collingwoods pick...any other KPF that the pies should consider with a 1st round pick?

Thanks.

 

[HedgeFund]

For mine then.... given his projected low ceiling up front... I'd say the pies shouldn't bother with Ben King then, given they have Moore, McLarty, Mihocek as young 190cm+ KPD. Add to that Reid and Dunn still on the list... and potentially Kelly as a f/s or Wraith as an academy kid.

Apart from Lukosius and Max King... who may be taken by Collingwoods pick...any other KPF that the pies should consider with a 1st round pick?

Thanks.

Ben King can clearly play forward if he is required. He just happens to play back better than any other u18 KPP in the country.

Every time he and Max played together at school last year, Ben kicked more goals (usually double). Will probably happen again this year, both at APS and TAC.

No dramas.

You’ll probably need to either finish bottom 3, or trade up to a top three pick to get him though.

 

[Sin City]

Ben King can clearly play forward if he is required. He just happens to play back better than any other u18 KPP in the country.

Every time he and Max played together at school last year, Ben kicked more goals (usually double). Will probably happen again this year, both at APS and TAC.

No dramas.

You’ll probably need to either finish bottom 3, or trade up to a top three pick to get him though.

Ben looked really strong when he moved forward for the last quarter against Oakleigh on the weekend. His kicking was terrific all day too.

 

[HedgeFund]

Ben looked really strong when he moved forward for the last quarter against Oakleigh on the weekend. His kicking was terrific all day too.

Spot on - he’s a bit more versatile than Max.

 

[Knightmare]

Ben looks fine at CHF, but he isn't that dominant deep forward who dominates like Max does. He's more versatile, better up the ground and best suited as a key defender, and he can play key forward if you need him to, but I'm not seeing him as a star key forward as Max has the chance to be.

If I'm drafting him. It's as a key defender. Being that intercept marking defender, with extreme height but mobility who can beat his direct opponent and use the ball out of defence. That's where his value is.

 

[Hellgood]

2. Ben King I don't love as a forward. It's something he can do to an extent, but he's not dominant like Max is as a forward - not drawing the ball the same way and isn't as unstoppable leaping up at the ball and going for his grabs. I'd be investing in him as a key defender. It's where he plays his best footy. It's a bit like a Cale Hooker or Harry Taylor. You can play them forward at a pinch, but you're not getting as much out of them up front, I see King the same way.

I don't know a heck of a lot about Ben King as have only been able to see one or two of his games on the net, but disagree on the assessment of Hooker who is now a legitimate full forward in anyones language.

 

[eDPS]

Ben looks fine at CHF, but he isn't that dominant deep forward who dominates like Max does. He's more versatile, better up the ground and best suited as a key defender, and he can play key forward if you need him to, but I'm not seeing him as a star key forward as Max has the chance to be.

If I'm drafting him. It's as a key defender. Being that intercept marking defender, with extreme height but mobility who can beat his direct opponent and use the ball out of defence. That's where his value is.

I preferred Hipwood as a key defender aswell but now he is one of the better up and coming key forwards and i feel Ben will do just fine if a club feels he holds more value as a forward much like Hipwood has. I still agree that Max looks the better forward of the 2.

 

[Knightmare]

I don't know a heck of a lot about Ben King as have only been able to see one or two of his games on the net, but disagree on the assessment of Hooker who is now a legitimate full forward in anyones language.

Hooker is an all-Australian key defender.

As a key forward he still managed a very strong 270 disposals, 139 marks and 41 goals from 20 games.

I'd personally much rather 422 disposals, 170 marks from 23 games though.

Playing as a key forward is harder. But just playing at an All Australian standard as a key defender. I'd be recommending Essendon play Daniher and Stringer as their key forwards and shift Hooker back to partner with Hurley.

I preferred Hipwood as a key defender aswell but now he is one of the better up and coming key forwards and i feel Ben will do just fine if a club feels he holds more value as a forward much like Hipwood has. I still agree that Max looks the better forward of the 2.

Ben King while a more solid mark is overall pretty comparable to Hipwood.

Hipwood is another I feel this way about. He's capable enough as a key forward but as a key defender, he has All-Australian capabilities. With Hipwood, Hooker, Ben King. They're guys who aren't attack the ball in the air as it's coming to you types who will take those grabs on an elite level. They're more guys who read it behind the play and get to the drop of the ball for marks. Those types are best suited as key defenders. I'd say the same of Collingwood's Ben Reid who in Collingwood's 2011 season was in my view the clubs best player, when he played key defence. His value that year for mine was greater towards winning than Pendlebury, Swan or Cloke.

 

[RedmanWasHere]

Getting in a early KM but who are the family links we should be read about in next year's draft outside of Noah Anderson and Finn Maginness?

 

[Bicks]

Anywhere we can find the named team for the MCG curtain raiser to the Dees vs Roos game on the weekend between the U18 AFL Academy squad and the North Melbourne VFL team?

 

[Turbocat]

...

Ben King while a more solid mark is overall pretty comparable to Hipwood.

Hipwood is another I feel this way about. He's capable enough as a key forward but as a key defender, he has All-Australian capabilities. With Hipwood, Hooker, Ben King. They're guys who aren't attack the ball in the air as it's coming to you types who will take those grabs on an elite level. They're more guys who read it behind the play and get to the drop of the ball for marks. Those types are best suited as key defenders. I'd say the same of Collingwood's Ben Reid who in Collingwood's 2011 season was in my view the clubs best player, when he played key defence. His value that year for mine was greater towards winning than Pendlebury, Swan or Cloke.

Interesting observation... insightful.

So would you say BenK is more Taylor/Lever type in a taller body. ..and therefore prefer to play off a man?

 

[Knightmare]

Interesting observation... insightful.

So would you say BenK is more Taylor/Lever type in a taller body. ..and therefore prefer to play off a man?

King is comfortable playing an accountable game and beating his opponent, but he'll still peel off and take some intercept marks and rebound. More Taylor than Lever stylistically. He's overall fairly well balanced as a stopper/rebounder. Neither troubles him.