Draft Watcher Knightmare's 2019 Draft Almanac

[Flags_In_The_Bag]

21/10/2019: Two round phantom draft: https://www.espn.com.au/afl/story/_/id/27891050/expanded-afl-phantom-draft-risers-sliders-new-names

1. Gold Coast: Matthew Rowell (VIC)
Height, Weight: 178cm/74kg
Profile: A big-game player, Rowell is the first person to ever win two successive Grand Final best-on-ground medals in TAC Cup/NAB League history. He is this year's premier midfielder as a hardworking, ball-winning midfielder with explosive pace.

2. Gold Coast (priority pick): Noah Anderson (VIC)
Height, Weight: 188cm/86kg
Profile: A match-winner who breaks games open in the matter of minutes whether he is winning his own ball or hitting the scoreboard. The most influential in the pool whether he's used as a midfielder or forward.

3. Melbourne: Hayden Young (VIC)
Height, Weight: 188cm/82kg
Profile: One of this year's premier ball users from defence. A reliable stopper who has the capability to push through the midfield and win his own ball.

4. Greater Western Sydney (matching Adelaide's bid): Thomas Green (NSW/ACT - GWS Academy)
Height, Weight: 188cm/85kg
Profile: The most prolific stoppage player and contested ball-winner to come through the junior ranks in recent years. Able to rotate forward as required and provide a leadup target.

5. Adelaide: Sam Flanders (VIC)
Height, Weight: 182cm/81kg
Profile: Arguably this year's most damaging forward of centre and has become just as valuable as a midfielder. Flanders is ready to go, plays a high-impact-per-possession game and possesses explosive power.

6. Sydney: Caleb Serong (VIC)
Height, Weight: 178cm/83kg
Profile: Strong ball-winner and tackler through the midfield. Impressive athlete who is just as good up forward with his ground ball-winning and work aerially causing problems.

7. Fremantle: Lachlan Ash (VIC)
Height, Weight: 186cm/80kg
Profile: Line-breaking defender who breaks games open with his speed, agility and kicking. Does his best work generating drive from defence but has the versatility to push up through the midfield.

8. Fremantle (matching Melbourne's bid): Liam Henry (WA - Fremantle Academy)
Height, Weight: 179cm/67kg
Profile: Speedy forward who is dangerous at ground level and on the lead inside 50m. Henry is a composed ball user and applies heavy forward pressure.

9. Melbourne: Brodie Kemp (VIC)
Height, Weight: 192cm/82kg
Profile: Explosive ball-winning utility who impacts games through the midfield, up forward or in defence. Torn ACL likely keeps Kemp out until mid-2020.

10. Carlton: Luke Jackson (WA)
Height, Weight: 198cm/94kg
Profile: A raw, athletic, high leaping ruckman who made the decision to pursue football instead of basketball. Jackson is an aggressive tackler who follows up powerfully from ruck contests, often winning first possession.

11. Hawthorn: Dylan Stephens (SA)
Height, Weight: 183cm/69kg
Profile: Consistent performer at SANFL League level, playing 13 games through Norwood's midfield. Stephens is a ready-to-go, hard running left-footer who can play outside or inside.

12. Port Adelaide: Fischer McAsey (VIC)
Height, Weight: 195cm/86kg
Profile: This year's most promising key defender. A high-level intercept mark and stopper with athleticism.

13. Western Bulldogs: Cody Weightman (VIC)
Height, Weight: 177cm/73kg
Profile: Speedy small forward who makes something out of nothing. Weightman is dangerous at ground level, flies for marks, applies heavy forward pressure and hits the scoreboard.

14. Geelong: Deven Robertson (WA)
Height, Weight: 182cm/80kg
Profile: A worthy winner of the Larke Medal for the best performer during the Under-18 Championships. Robertson is one of this year's premier midfielders, winning the ball and moving it on aggressively.

15. Gold Coast: Will Gould (SA)
Height, Weight: 191cm/98kg
Profile: Strong bodied defender with the performances on the board at SANFL League level including a premiership for Glenelg. Gould throws his weight around, plays an aggressive style of game and is a penetrating kick.

16. Brisbane: Trent Rivers (WA)
Height, Weight: 188cm/85kg
Profile: Possesses the versatility to play either as a ball-winning midfielder or in defence. A strong contested ball-winner, Rivers combines this with class and composure.

17. Geelong: Josh Worrell (VIC)
Height, Weight: 195cm/74kg
Profile: Athletic utility with the scope to play key forward, key defence or on a wing. Worrell is an excellent reader of the ball in flight, displays a high work rate and was Vic Metro's leading goalkicker during the Under-18 Championships.

18. Port Adelaide: Jeremy Sharp (WA)
Height, Weight: 187cm/79kg
Profile: Speedy line-breaker who is also damaging by foot. Has performed strongly at WAFL League level.

19. Hawthorn (matching Richmond's bid): Finn Maginness (VIC - Hawthorn Father-Son)
Height, Weight: 187cm/80kg
Profile: Ball-winner midfielder who is a hard to stop mark one-on-one inside 50m. Finn is the son of Hawthorn defender Scott Maginness.

20. Richmond: Cooper Stephens (VIC)
Height, Weight: 188cm/83kg
Profile: Strong ball-winning midfielder who distributes effectively by hand and bursts out of stoppages at speed. Has not played since round three due to a fractured fibula.

21. Port Adelaide (matching Brisbane's bid): Jackson Mead (SA - Port Adelaide Father-Son)
Height, Weight: 184cm/83kg
Profile: Ball-winning midfielder with class and reliable skills. Jackson is the son of former Power defender Darren.

22. Brisbane: Miles Bergman (VIC)
Height, Weight: 186cm/75kg
Profile: High leaping, strong marking medium forward. Arguably possesses the most penetrating kick in the draft pool.

23. Gold Coast: Elijah Taylor (WA)
Height, Weight: 185cm/75kg
Profile: Instinctive forward with speed and tricks around goal. Possesses good skills and is composed, evasive and dangerous aerially.

24. Fremantle: Will Day (SA)
Height, Weight: 187cm/70kg
Profile: Lightly built outside midfielder with good skills and speed. Viewed by recruiters as one of the prospects with the greatest upside in this draft.

25. Adelaide: Mitch O'Neill (TAS)
Height, Weight: 181cm/70kg
Profile: Touted as a potential first round selection at the beginning of the season, O'Neill has struggled with injury for much of the year. O'Neill is an outside midfielder who is a polished ball user and moves well.

26. Geelong: Dylan Williams (VIC)
Height, Weight: 185cm/79kg
Profile: Talented forward and midfielder who hurts opponents aerially and at ground level. Projecting as a top-five selection this time last year, Williams has battled injury and form in 2019 which has limited his output.

27. Sydney: Harry Schoenberg (SA)
Height, Weight: 180cm/78kg
Profile: Won South Australia's MVP award during the Under-18 Championships. Schoenberg is a prolific ball-winning midfielder with a high work rate.

28. North Melbourne: Trent Bianco (VIC)
Height, Weight: 178cm/70kg
Profile: Precise and consistent ball user who has the versatility to play on a wing or in defence. Captained the talented Oakleigh Chargers to this year's NAB League premiership.

29. North Melbourne: Harrison Jones (VIC)
Height, Weight: 194cm/75kg
Profile: Lightly built key forward who is at his best taking marks at full stretch. Jones is athletic, capable at ground level, hits the scoreboard heavily and possesses a high ceiling.

30. Adelaide: Sam De Koning (VIC)
Height, Weight: 200cm/85kg
Profile: Athletic, versatile but raw key position player. Sam is the younger brother of Carlton's Tom.

31. Essendon: Jay Rantall (VIC)
Height, Weight: 184cm/82kg
Profile: Endurance running machine who set a new draft combine record in the 2km time trial. Rantall is a basketball convert who is excellent at stoppages as a ball-winner and distributor.

32. Sydney: Jack Mahony (VIC)
Height, Weight: 176cm/70kg
Profile: Crumbing forward who can push up through the midfield. Polished ball user who applies forward pressure.

33. Essendon: Callum Jamieson
(WA) Height, Weight: 200cm/80kg
Profile: Mobile ruckman who finds plenty of the ball around the ground. A project ruckman who will take time to develop physically.

34. Brisbane: Thomson Dow (VIC)
Height, Weight: 182cm/72kg
Profile: Dow is a speedy midfielder with growing ball-winning capabilities. Thomson is the younger brother of Carlton's Paddy.

35. Collingwood: Jake Riccardi (VIC)
Height, Weight: 195cm/92kg
Profile: Turning 20 in November, Riccardi showed positive signs in the TAC Cup last year as an overager and has made meaningful progress this year in the VFL. Riccardi is a strong marking, athletic key forward and won the Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal as the VFL's Rising Star.

36. Geelong: Joshua Shute (SA)
Height, Weight: 187cm/73kg
Profile: A smooth moving, classy ball user with evasion. Shute showed strong improvement throughout the year as a midfielder placing in Sturt's SANFL Reserves bests in four of his last five matches.

37. Adelaide: Cameron Taheny (SA)
Height, Weight: 185cm/80kg
Profile: A strong marking forward who does his best work close to goal. Taheny doesn't need much of the ball to hit the scoreboard heavily.

38. Richmond: Ryan Byrnes (VIC)
Height, Weight: 181cm/80kg
Profile: Consistent ball-winner through the midfield. Wins the contested ball, combined with pace and damaging ball use.

39. Richmond: Darcy Cassar (VIC)
Height, Weight: 183cm/75kg
Profile: Midfielder with the versatility to play forward or back. Cassar does his best work on the outside and possesses good skills.

40. Greater Western Sydney: Kysaiah Pickett (SA)
Height, Weight: 170cm/67kg
Profile: Lively forward with speed who applies forward pressure as well as any in the pool. Kysaiah is the nephew of dual premie

Port will go for Will Gould

 

[Knightmare]

Port will go for Will Gould

Gould is expected to slide into the second round. Clubs weren't pleased with the condition he presented himself and more specifically the weight he was carrying and the way he tested during the National Combine. If Gould lands at Port, it's with their second round choice.

 

[TryAnHit]

Gould is expected to slide into the second round. Clubs weren't pleased with the condition he presented himself and more specifically the weight he was carrying and the way he tested during the National Combine. If Gould lands at Port, it's with their second round choice.

Any chance he tanked it to get to an SA side?
His sanfl form was decent

 

[Procrastinator35]

Mitchell isn't assured for round one and has struggled in his return. I tend to think it will take him another 12 months until he gets back to playing like his former self.

My concern is about Hawthorn's age demographics. Hawthorn have minimal good youth (Worpel won the B+F) but has little support with the bulk of the better part of their list in their late 20s and early 30s. There isn't much growing from that unless Mitchell returns in tip-top shape,

I suppose if you're not that familiar with our list then Worpel does seem like the only up n coming star junior......However, we have a group of 21 year old kids coming through along-side of him, in the likes of Mitch Lewis, Jack Scrimshaw, Oliver Hanrahan, Conor Nash, James Cousins & Harry Morrison....Other than Morrison, all these guys showed a marked improvement in their game in 2019; Particularly Lewis, Scrimshaw, Nash & Hanrahan.....That's seven 21 year olds, including Worpel.

Contrary to reports, Mitchell will be fine to go, as he is such a super pro who leaves no stone unturned in both his training & re-hab. Remembering he was the reigning Brownlow Medallist, coming off the 2 highest possession winning seasons in the history of the game....The query was over whether he could return in time for the finals in 2019 or not, had we made them....However, a few minor set-backs along the way, made that impossible.

We've also added to our mid-tier age stocks in the big-man department, with the signings of Patton, Frost & soon to be Hartley....These 3 join all of Mitchell, Wingard, O'Meara, Sicily, Hardwick, O'Brien, Howe & Impey in the 23-26 year old range, informing the core of our squad going forward. That's 11 blokes in the prime of their careers.....Then there's another group of 5 comprising Shiels, Breust, Ceglar, Gunston & Scully in the 28-29 years of age range.

Our group of vets comprise 7 names, in the evergreen Burgoyne, McEvoy, Puopolo, Smith, Henderson, Frawley & our Captain Stratton....Henderson is coming off a career best year & both Frawley & McEvoy have just had their best seasons to date for us....Smith is still an elite runner/wingman & Silk, Poppy & Stratts are definitely in their last season, no doubt....The latter 2 will likely struggle to see out the year in the senior side.

So the better part of our list that informs our core, lies in that 23-26 year age bracket....The 3 blokes we need to find replacements for fairly soon are McEvoy, Frawley & Smith, without a doubt....The signing of McAsey would address one of those concerns immediately.

 

[LittleG]

I suppose if you're not that familiar with our list then Worpel does seem like the only up n coming star junior......However, we have a group of 21 year old kids coming through along-side of him, in the likes of Mitch Lewis, Jack Scrimshaw, Oliver Hanrahan, Conor Nash, James Cousins & Harry Morrison....Other than Morrison, all these guys showed a marked improvement in their game in 2019; Particularly Lewis, Scrimshaw, Nash & Hanrahan.....That's seven 21 year olds, including Worpel.

Contrary to reports, Mitchell will be fine to go, as he is such a super pro who leaves no stone unturned in both his training & re-hab. Remembering he was the reigning Brownlow Medallist, coming off the 2 highest possession winning seasons in the history of the game....The query was over whether he could return in time for the finals in 2019 or not, had we made them....However, a few minor set-backs along the way, made that impossible.

We've also added to our mid-tier age stocks in the big-man department, with the signings of Patton, Frost & soon to be Hartley....These 3 join all of Mitchell, Wingard, O'Meara, Sicily, Hardwick, O'Brien, Howe & Impey in the 23-26 year old range, informing the core of our squad going forward. That's 11 blokes in the prime of their careers.....Then there's another group of 5 comprising Shiels, Breust, Ceglar, Gunston & Scully in the 28-29 years of age range.

Our group of vets comprise 7 names, in the evergreen Burgoyne, McEvoy, Puopolo, Smith, Henderson, Frawley & our Captain Stratton....Henderson is coming off a career best year & both Frawley & McEvoy have just had their best seasons to date for us....Smith is still an elite runner/wingman & Silk, Poppy & Stratts are definitely in their last season, no doubt....The latter 2 will likely struggle to see out the year in the senior side.

So the better part of our list that informs our core, lies in that 23-26 year age bracket....The 3 blokes we need to find replacements for fairly soon are McEvoy, Frawley & Smith, without a doubt....The signing of McAsey would address one of those concerns immediately.

You mentioned 11 blokes forming the core of your squad, they included: Hartley, Frost and Patton.

Hartley got delisted by Essendon for a reason. When the Bombers had defensive injuries this year, Hartley wasn’t even given a go as a defender. They had seen enough to know he was a liability.

Frost is one of the worst players with ball in hand. He makes poor decisions and Can’t kick. I thought giving anything for him was a huge win for the Dees. I don’t know a single Dees fan who is unhappy about him leaving. Just let the kick-in go via Frost and pressure him into the turnover.

Patton had lost most of his mobility after his second knee reco. His third will not make that better. Forward pressure is going to be non-existent.


These guys aren’t going to improve much, as they are in the prime of their careers. They are currently VFL standard and I expect they will play more VFL than AFL. IF they are playing AFL, then Hawks are a bottom 6 team.

Happy for you to bookmark my post and give it to me, if I am wrong about any of the 3.

 

[Wines to cripps]

I'm so surprised to see philp getting plonked so high in the rankings?

Very limited inside mid .Great family but

 

[Procrastinator35]

You mentioned 11 blokes forming the core of your squad, they included: Hartley, Frost and Patton.

No...I said the age range from 23-26 contained 11 players....And that group contained the core of our current side.....AKA Mitchell, O'Meara, Wingard & Sicily....All A-graders.

I won't bother with the rest of your post, given your faulty premise to begin with, upon which most of it is based.

 

[Yoda_]

I'm so surprised to see philp getting plonked so high in the rankings?

Very limited inside mid .Great family but

As someone constantly linked to Essendon, how limited is he as an inside mid? From all reports he really expanded his game in the second half of this season to rocket into draft calculations.

 

[Yoda_]

No...I said the age range from 23-26 contained 11 players....And that group contained the core of our current side.....AKA Mitchell, O'Meara, Wingard & Sicily....All A-graders.

I won't bother with the rest of your post, given your faulty premise to begin with, upon which most of it is based.

To be fair, Worpel and Mitch Lewis are the only guys most outside your football club rate as "up n coming star junior". Internally they may be rated highly and showed glimpses but to the rest of the footballing public they are role players which is ok.

 

[Yoda_]

Gould is expected to slide into the second round. Clubs weren't pleased with the condition he presented himself and more specifically the weight he was carrying and the way he tested during the National Combine. If Gould lands at Port, it's with their second round choice.

Surely he is the perfect example of a footballers footballer being selected? Seems like his natural footballing ability is far to good to slip into the 20's?

 

[Sidthehat]

Who do you see Freo most likely trading with to get out of ten if melbourne/carlton bid on henry and they match?

 

[RedmanWasHere]

Captain Stratton

That's Pinchy Stratton.

Slight correction.

 

[Wines to cripps]

As someone constantly linked to Essendon, how limited is he as an inside mid? From all reports he really expanded his game in the second half of this season to rocket into draft calculations.

Disagree he dropped off as the year went on. Was given ago at hf but didn't stand out. He was the knights number 1 mid a lot of time so had a lot of freedom but was very muh

Better value with Garcia. Ralph Smith at that pick

 

[Davo-27]

To be fair, Worpel and Mitch Lewis are the only guys most outside your football club rate as "up n coming star junior". Internally they may be rated highly and showed glimpses but to the rest of the footballing public they are role players which is ok.

under 23's that are of high quality at Hawthorn are

Hardwick - 22
Worpel - 20
Scrimshaw - 21
Lewis - 20

with a few more with real potential including, Nash 21, Koschitzke 18, Walker 19, Ross 20, but we could do with more high end youth tbh.

 

[Platten44]

The lack of height, top end running and kicking are fair knocks on him but I think his hands and the way he positions/holds space around the contest are exceptionally clean and his tackling looks excellent. Richmond are edging closer to a team that can use 10 players as inside mids, outside mids and forwards and can just run opponents in to the ground and to me Serong would be like Prestia on ball with a forward game as well. And Prestia's gone from butcher to beautiful kick in the last 24 months.

You mentioned 11 blokes forming the core of your squad, they included: Hartley, Frost and Patton.

Hartley got delisted by Essendon for a reason. When the Bombers had defensive injuries this year, Hartley wasn’t even given a go as a defender. They had seen enough to know he was a liability.

Frost is one of the worst players with ball in hand. He makes poor decisions and Can’t kick. I thought giving anything for him was a huge win for the Dees. I don’t know a single Dees fan who is unhappy about him leaving. Just let the kick-in go via Frost and pressure him into the turnover.

Patton had lost most of his mobility after his second knee reco. His third will not make that better. Forward pressure is going to be non-existent.


These guys aren’t going to improve much, as they are in the prime of their careers. They are currently VFL standard and I expect they will play more VFL than AFL. IF they are playing AFL, then Hawks are a bottom 6 team.

Happy for you to bookmark my post and give it to me, if I am wrong about any of the 3.

Hartley did not get delisted by Essendon, that is why he has to nominate for the draft. Same situation as Jack Martin

 

[Yoda_]

under 23's that are of high quality at Hawthorn are

Hardwick - 22
Worpel - 20
Scrimshaw - 21
Lewis - 20

with a few more with real potential including, Nash 21, Koschitzke 18, Walker 19, Ross 20, but we could do with more high end youth tbh.

Procrastinator35 said under 21. You're moving the goal posts to suit your argument. As mentioned, outside of Lewis and Worpel, no one really rates the other kids you listed as highly as the club itself.

 

[Yoda_]

Hartley did not get delisted by Essendon, that is why he has to nominate for the draft. Same situation as Jack Martin

Hartley doesn't need to nominate for the draft

 

[Platten44]

That's Pinchy Stratton.

Slight correction.

*

 

[Yoda_]

Disagree he dropped off as the year went on. Was given ago at hf but didn't stand out. He was the knights number 1 mid a lot of time so had a lot of freedom but was very muh

Better value with Garcia. Ralph Smith at that pick

I was always under the impression he lifted post championships. Sort of with a chip on his shoulder. Thanks for that though

 

[Platten44]

Hartley doesn't need to nominate for the draft

Pre-season draft for former Bomber as Hartley delists himself

Former Essendon defender Michael Hartley will need to go through the pre-season draft after the Bombers chose not to delist him.

amp.theage.com.au

 

[Procrastinator35]

Procrastinator35 said under 21. You're moving the goal posts to suit your argument. As mentioned, outside of Lewis and Worpel, no one really rates the other kids you listed as highly as the club itself.

No....I said 21 year olds…..Go back & read properly.

 

[Yoda_]

No....I said 21 year olds…..Go back & read properly.

Im agreeing with you!! Davo-27 was trying to shift the goal posts (from u21 > u23) for youngsters rated. The only U21's people really rate at Hawthorn are Worpel and Lewis.

 

[Procrastinator35]

To be fair, Worpel and Mitch Lewis are the only guys most outside your football club rate as "up n coming star junior". Internally they may be rated highly and showed glimpses but to the rest of the footballing public they are role players which is ok.

Most would rate Scrimshaw given he was a first round pick for Gold Cost.....His 2019 was most impressive....Hanrahan will be a gun also, as he has all the tools....Nash's athleticism is off the charts for a 200cm Irishman just learning the game & the same goes for the Somalian kid Jiath…..There's plenty there to work with.

 

[Wines to cripps]

I was always under the impression he lifted post championships. Sort of with a chip on his shoulder. Thanks for that though

Just on that.his mum joked he was annoyed the under 18 app got his stats wrong by 2.he had a chip on his shoulder for days lol

 

[Platten44]

He was offered a contract and turned it down, Essendon could have delisted him and let him walk as DFA like St.Kilda did with Newnes but they did the typical Essendon thing and made him delist himself and have to go into the PSD.