Draft Expert Knightmare's 2021 Draft Almanac

[PMBangers]

I dont think Callow makes the SANFL look like a joke either and I can see how that might annoy someone from SA, but it seems hypocritical to then support equally unfair and over the top calls. And the difference is Callow is a real person, who is still 18, with people that support him so of course that is going to annoy people to be negative about him just to score points in a bigfooty thread.

If it makes Callows supporters feel any better, I'm a ****ing nobody whose greatest claim to fame is that I watch junior football and likely won't ever be considered for a position as a recruiter at AFL level so I wouldn't be losing any sleep on my thoughts

There are also wildly different things clubs look for and rate between themselves let alone nuffies like myself on bigfooty, Callow could well be seen as the best MSD prospect by some clubs and not even be in consideration for others

 

[Knightmare]

Yes club boards are a cesspit of some of the meanest stuff you will see written about players from their own clubs... and Im a bay poster At least the bay is meant to be stupid and tongue in cheek. It's hard having Aaron Hall as my favourite player and looking at posts about him on here... except for this year. No wonder so many players have mental health issues. At least could we not start on them until they become AFL players?

From 2016 I've been big time in love with Hall's game and have been calling 'trade target' every time he got dropped to anyone I talk to around Hall.

It's great to see him finally garnering recognition and being allowed to impact games his way and generate the meaningful drive he has always been capable of providing.

I keep thinking back to 2018 and saying at the time how much of an opportunity it was for clubs to gain Gold Coast's two best players from that season in Jarryd Lyons and Aaron Hall.

There is so much of people trying to make guys into who they want to be as opposed to accepting who they are and putting them in positions based on what they're good at to maximise their games. They're guys I would have made moves for at that time knowing exactly what they can do as players I respectively view as low priced, but still excellent components.

It's like people trying to change how Jack Lukosius plays. All I care about from him is metres gained and how man marks he takes, if he's top or near top in the competition in both categories, then he's killing it. Just as with Lyons, it's about letting him be a difference maker at stoppages, as one of the competition's best stoppage players (he was at Gold Coast also for those who bothered to watch), or with Hall letting him find a lot of the footy, and kill teams with the drive he generates.

With footballers at any level, it's about finding how they influence games and putting them in positions to do what they do best, so as to maximise team outcomes, and all the time at AFL level and at other levels I'm seeing poor player utilisation. Most commonly, and my long time followers will be well aware of this, players who are used as key forwards, but have games that in defence given their contested marking capabilities, how good they are one-on-one and how they read the game are far better suited to playing in defence.

 

[M Malice]

From 2016 I've been big time in love with Hall's game and have been calling 'trade target' every time he got dropped to anyone I talk to around Hall.

There is so much of people trying to make guys into who they want to be as opposed to accepting who they are and putting them in positions based on what they're good at to maximise their games. They're guys I would have made moves for at that time knowing exactly what they can do as players I respectively view as low priced, but still excellent components.

It's like people trying to change how Jack Lukosius plays. All I care about from him is metres gained and how man marks he takes, if he's top or near top in the competition in both categories, then he's killing it. Just as with Lyons, it's about letting him be a difference maker at stoppages, as one of the competition's best stoppage players (he was at Gold Coast also for those who bothered to watch), or with Hall letting him find a lot of the footy, and kill teams with the drive he generates.

With footballers at any level, it's about finding how they influence games and putting them in positions to do what they do best, so as to maximise team outcomes, and all the time at AFL level and at other levels I'm seeing poor player utilisation. Most commonly, and my long time followers will be well aware of this, players who are used as key forwards, but have games that in defence given their contested marking capabilities, how good they are one-on-one and how they read the game are far better suited to playing in defence.

Brilliant observation KM, Chris Fagan has said many times that he likes to utilise his players "weapons" and works on them at training just as much as their weaknesses.

Just on another note, apparently the Lions are interested in Eamon Wilkinson in the draft tonight, you know much about him if so do you rate him?

 

[Knightmare]

Brilliant observation KM, Chris Fagan has said many times that he likes to utilise his players "weapons" and works on them at training just as much as their weaknesses.

Just on another note, apparently the Lions are interested in Eamon Wilkinson in the draft tonight, you know much about him if so do you rate him?

It's a method I agree with Fagan on, and should be applied both to where a team plays someone and how they're used on match day, but also from a talent ID perspective - be it with junior talent, state league talent and rival list talent. That's why my concern in the context of the conversation that has been happening re. Callow is so low. If he doesn't make it as a key forward, I wouldn't be at all upset because I can look at his strengths and switch him back with a high degree of confidence - with how I look at the position and what attributes are needed to what standard to have a high level of success by position.

On Wilkinson. He's a pressure forward and that's his main go from what I've seen. He has some speed. Scoreboard impact is only so/so. Haven't noticed much in the way of scope to push up the field or through the midfield though. He may for AFL purposes with further development have some role playing potential, but he's not necessarily someone I'd be picking, with in my view at least some better forwards out there. If picked though, he'd be far from the worst taken I'm sure.

 

[THE_GUN]

Has Callow's athleticism and agility improved since the draft ?
the step up in defenders and team defences at afl compared to lower league's are huge and defensive running is required alot more from fowards
How will his athletic attributes be at the AFL level. We all know he can mark and kick the ball

 

[Knightmare]

Has Callow's athleticism and agility improved since the draft ?
the step up in defenders and team defences at afl compared to lower league's are huge and defensive running is required alot more from fowards
How will his athletic attributes be at the AFL level. We all know he can mark and kick the ball

His leap (he gets more hangtime) and how he leaps at it aggressively I feel has improved. Work rate is also showing improvement. He's no faster or more agile though than he was in 2019. Or at least to my eye test.

 

[blueiris]

What can you tell me about Lane? Knightmare

 

[mustang]

It's a method I agree with Fagan on, and should be applied both to where a team plays someone and how they're used on match day, but also from a talent ID perspective - be it with junior talent, state league talent and rival list talent. That's why my concern in the context of the conversation that has been happening re. Callow is so low. If he doesn't make it as a key forward, I wouldn't be at all upset because I can look at his strengths and switch him back with a high degree of confidence - with how I look at the position and what attributes are needed to what standard to have a high level of success by position.

On Wilkinson. He's a pressure forward and that's his main go from what I've seen. He has some speed. Scoreboard impact is only so/so. Haven't noticed much in the way of scope to push up the field or through the midfield though. He may for AFL purposes with further development have some role playing potential, but he's not necessarily someone I'd be picking, with in my view at least some better forwards out there. If picked though, he'd be far from the worst taken I'm sure.

Could Callow become a FB in the Brian Lake mould.

 

[woopy doo]

Watched a few Norwood games this year. Kid could be anything

 

[Knightmare]

What can you tell me about Lane? Knightmare

Developing ruckman. Good height at 204cm last time I looked. Still raw, but there are attributes there that suggest potentially developable. Good tap ruckman, and follows up pretty well.

In the WAFL Reserves he has been getting better numbers than he did last year in WAFL Colts, so the rate of development is solid and what you're looking for.

One to give time to, adding to the long term developing ruck stocks.

Could Callow become a FB in the Brian Lake mould.

That may eventually turn out to be his best use case.

Watched a few Norwood games this year. Kid could be anything

We're on the same page. Can really influence games in a big way. Influences games every time he gets into the frame of camera.

 

[db26]

Interesting by tigers Knightmare did you have him on the radar Parker ?.Fits a need through medium half forward bit if class , speed and loves to tackle.Apparently spend time on the wing and on ball for Sth Freo.

 

[Knightmare]

Interesting by tigers Knightmare did you have him on the radar Parker ?.Fits a need through medium half forward bit if class , speed and loves to tackle.Apparently spend time on the wing and on ball for Sth Freo.

There was some talk about Parker being a possible pick. He has attributes, but will need to start finding and winning more of the ball at AFL level to establish himself. I'd have gone with a Schloithe ahead of him, but as a stylistic fit if after immediate performance, but Parker also works and can provide depth.

 

[Knightmare]

AFL Mid-Season Draft review. The biggest surprises, best selections, plug-and-play options and hard luck stories: https://www.espn.com.au/afl/story/_...aft-analysis-how-every-club-fared-draft-table

 

[Knightmare]

AFL Mid-Season Draft review with a Supercoach and AFL Fantasy focus (projected Supercoach and AFL Fantasy scores included as well as likeliness to play in 2021):

 

[LittleG]

AFL Mid-Season Draft review with a Supercoach and AFL Fantasy focus (projected Supercoach and AFL Fantasy scores included as well as likeliness to play in 2021):

Are you going to run for the Pies board?

They do need people & are struggling to find ones (who actually support Collingwood).... It would certainly increase your media profile and maybe get you a full time job in the football media. It would be better for us non-Pies fans too, as the current media people are, well, if I have to be polite, campaigners of the worst kind.

 

[Knightmare]

Are you going to run for the Pies board?

They do need people & are struggling to find ones (who actually support Collingwood).... It would certainly increase your media profile and maybe get you a full time job in the football media. It would be better for us non-Pies fans too, as the current media people are, well, if I have to be polite, campaigners of the worst kind.

I enjoy what I do and the combination of things I do. I'm in a rare position where everything I get paid to do, I thoroughly enjoy doing and would continue doing even if I was to one day be financially free and in a position where I never needed to work another day in my life.

I have no interest in running for the Pies board and enjoy the freedom and flexibility I have with what I do for ESPN, so a full time media gig isn't something I'm after either, with freelance writing and covering exclusively those things that interest me more-so what I consider a worthwhile use of my time.

 

[RanaNaved]

Hey K,

Do you think Bazzo is too nonchalant/bordering on disinterested on the field?

 

[Knightmare]

Hey K,

Do you think Bazzo is too nonchalant/bordering on disinterested on the field?

Different guys have different styles/appearances to them with how they look on the field.

eg. Scott Pendlebury may at times look nonchalant, but he's obviously one of the hardest workers and most professional people in football.

I will be looking for a lift from Bazzo though given the preseason hype. There were some WA draft watchers who were talking about him as a first rounder pick, so if he wants to get into that conversation, he'll need to prove it with performance.

 

[RanaNaved]

Yes there are some competitive/motivated players who appear nonchalant.

His (Bazzo) lack of intensity and effort is concerning imo.

 

[Davo-27]

Yes there are some competitive/motivated players who appear nonchalant.

His (Bazzo) lack of intensity and effort is concerning imo.

Thats one of the reasons he has dropped down the order for me from my pre season ratings.

 

[Knightmare]

Yes there are some competitive/motivated players who appear nonchalant.

His (Bazzo) lack of intensity and effort is concerning imo.

I'll need to watch more of him, and more closely.

I've seen a lot more of the SA boys compared to the WA boys due to the SANFL pass and how easy that is to watch every game.

 

[THE_GUN]

Best current or past player comparison to Bazzo ?

 

[chopflop]

Wait until Callow plays a bad game at AFL level and his own supporters start to tee off. This forum is probably one of the nicest on the site.

Looking forward to our new whipping boy getting a game

 

[Knightmare]

Best current or past player comparison to Bazzo ?

I'm still deciding with Bazzo where even is his best position. Is he a key forward? Key defender? Third tall? I haven't loved him at either end yet and am still hoping he impresses me. I don't have a player comparison on Bazzo yet, just not necessarily seeing that player he distinctly plays like until I see something more from him in the games I watch.

 

[offshore]

One of the most promising young forwards in the country debuts for Falcons in NAB League Sunday. Hopefully he gets enough supply in a very ordinary Falcons side.