Draft Watcher LemmingMasters 2019 BigBoard

[LemmingMaster]

Welcome to the 2019 edition of the LemmingMasters guide to the 2019 draft.
If you want some indepth knowledge with regards to random players, you're better off asking in the Slice of Pie or Knightmare phantom draft boards. They watch a lot more junior football than myself. I go to a few live games here in WA and then watch the rest of the games online here and there. Having been around BF interested in the draft, I am slowly developing a concept of what I like in a player. I still massively struggle to rate tall forwards, rucks and defenders.

Just going to update this thread as I watch the games and get a feel for each player. At the moment, there will be a combination of my thoughts and people I trust within the industry. Currently have no new vision of SA players, so my thoughts on those are very limited.

At first this draft did not appeal to me, but it seems rather even across the board. The top end in my personal opinion is not nearly as loaded as last year. Walsh, Lukosious, Rankine, King, Smith and even Rozee would be highly likely to go before a lot of these players in this draft. They would all certainly be top 3 picks in my eyes. Let alone considering the likes of Blakey, Thomas... It was certainly a loaded draft class.

Second update 29/06/2019

1. Hayden Young - I am going to stick with this kid has my #1, just has marking, tackling, kicking and agility. Not 100% locked on him being pick 1, but he has a massive ceiling for me and if he moves into the midfield like Kemp has shown, he should be around the mark.
2. Brodie Kemp - Just another likely prospect that can play anywhere in my mind. I think he could move forward, back and certainly looks at home in the midfield. Lovely size, just screams AFL to me and once again like Young has plenty of upside at AFL level.
3. Lachlan Ash - Was my favourite player last year and still is close to my favourite player in this draft. He has speed, kicking and can play back and forward, another massive upside pick in my eyes.
4. Thomas Green - Okay, I am onboard with this player now, he is a contested beast and was close to a one man army for the Allies in the middle. I am less worried about those players with AFL developed bodies not having upside, this guy is a beast already.
5. Matt Rowell - This kid is about as close to a lock to play 200 games in this draft. You could certainly argue for pick 1 with this kid, I am just knocking him down due to size and scope for pure upside. Still, whoever gets this kid will not be upset in the slightest.
6. Sam Flanders - Jump on board this kids train, showed against SA that he can play midfield. He has shown he is very dangerous forward so a goal kicking midfielder is always wanted at AFL level. Once again is a man playing against kids, but that does not bother me as much these days, I know he can build an AFL bodie.
7. Noah Anderson - I wanted more from this kid and he was very solid, just did not hit the highs I would hope. Again another player that if you picked him with the first pick, I would not complain.
8. Will Gould - Once again another man child that does not worry me at AFL level, just wins the ball and attacks every contest.
9. Caleb Serong - Gets the ball, marks the ball and is a contested beast. I just question his kicking and decision making skills at times, that is where he drops down the list.
10. Trent Rivers - He will move into the midfield in the second half of the season and has shown he is very good in the backline. Reads the play before most players, has a great kick on him and hits his targets, hard at the ball and has a defensive side to his game.
11. Jeremy Sharp - Where do you rate this kid, could be anything and could be a flop. I am going for upside here and selecting him high. There is a massive * next to his name that would allow me to drop him down the rankings.
12. Trent Bianco - You want the ball in this kids hands, tough and makes good decisions.
13. Fisher Mcasey - If you need a key defender this is your man and is a lovely kick and makes great decisions.
14. Trey Ruscoe - Okay this is my bandwagon and I am sticking to it. I think he will move into the midfield long term but maybe spend the first 5 years as a defender. Such a tough player at the ball and strong overhead and kicks the ball nicely.
15. Finn Maginess - Inside contested ball winning midfielder that always has a place at AFL level.
16. Liam Henry
17. Dylan Stephens
18. Jay Rantell
19. Devon Robertson
20. Mich O'Neill
21. Elijah Taylor
22. Luke Jackson
23. Josh Worrell
24. Will Day - If he can show he has the ability to develop a larger frame, he may go higher.
25. Harry Schoenberg
26. Jackson Mead
27. Miles Bergman
28. Dylan Williams
29. Brock Smith
30. Harrison Jones - Maybe a little too high, but I like him.
31. Jake Pasini - If someone really wants a tall defender, he may go higher
32. Cameron Taheny
33. Dyson Hilder - If someone really wants a tall defender, he may go higher
34. Malcolm Rosas Jnr - Small forward could go higher if required
35. Cody Weightman - Small forward could go higher if required
36. Thomson Dow
37. Riley Garcia
38. Sam De Koning
39. Louis Butler
40. Kysaiah Pickett



12/06/2019 - First attempt at a rough ranking, it will be interesting to see how much this changes over the months.
This version is without seeing SA play a game, so no doubt I am missing some good SA talent or over/under rating them.

1. Hayden Young - To maintain this position, I will want to see him smash it in the midfield, but massive upside for me.
2. Noah Anderson
3. Matt Rowell
4. Lachlan Ash - Like Young, I want to see him smash it in the midfield
5. Brodie Kemp - Surely he plays midfield, he is a jet
6. Caleb Serong
7. Dylan Williams
8. Will Gould - To maintain this position, he might have to be more than just a defender
9. Jeremy Sharp - I am very harsh on his work rate, but my god the talent is there.
10. Devon Robertson - Might be a one hit wonder, but looks solid
11. Thomas Green
12. Sam Flanders
13. Cameron Taheny - Purely based on what I hope he will become
14. Trent Rivers
15. Mitch O'Neill
16. Luke Jackson - Very hard to rate, could go anywhere, reminds me a little of Bailey Williams that could drift on draft night
17. Trey Ruscoe - Okay, bandwagon player that may be WAY too high
18. Josh Worrell
19. Jackson Mead
20. Finn Maginess
21. Dylan Stephens
22. Elijah Taylor - Sorts his life out and he has massive potential, hopefully AFL life will make his off field life easier.
23. Liam Henry - Head screwed on and already running a good business, I think he rockets up the rankings and could be a late first round pick
24. Thomson Dow
25. Louis Butler
26. Trent Bianco
27. Riley Baldi
28. Riley Garcia
29. Harrison Jones
30. Fisher Mcasey
31. Jake Pasini
32. Ryan Byrnes
33. Cooper Stephens
34. Brady Rowles
35. Jay Rantell

 

[LemmingMaster]

18/11/2019 Update

1. Rowell
2. Young
3. Green
4. Anderson
5. Flanders
6. Ash
7. Robertson
8. Henry
9. Rivers
10. Serong
11. Stephens
12. Rantall
13. Maginness
14. Bergman
15. Kemp
16. Cooper Stephens
17. Sharp
18. Jackson
19. Day
20. Taylor
21. Weightman
22. Bianco
23. Jones
24. Georgiades
25. Ruscoe
26. Worrell
27. McAsey
28. Williams
29. De Koning
30. Smith
31. Gould
32. Mead
33. Taheny
34. Phillips
35. Schoenberg
36. Dow
37. O’Neill
38. Pickett
39. Comben
40. Philp
41. Warner
42. Cahill
43. Cassar
44. Pasini
45. Prior
46. Johnson
47. Bryan
48. Park
49. D'Intinosante
50. Dean

 

[LemmingMaster]

Saved for Later

 

[briztoon]

Hi LemmingMaster what can you tell me about Elijah Taylor. Size, Position, Strengths, plays like/similar?

 

[LemmingMaster]

Elijah TAYLOR
5/1/01 DOB
185 Height
75 Weight
PerthThornlie JFC

Size - As above
Position - Medium to small forward
Strengths - Athletic, Great leap, Clean Hands, Goal Sense
Plays like/similar - I would say a young version of Liam Ryan from West Coast at the moment. He will go for a big mark and at the same time has ground level ability. Seemed to play as one of the main forwards for WA and contested a few marks but would certainly benefit from having Vic Metro styled forwards.
He was not at the same level of defensive pressure as Henry and Anderson from WA but he did his bit.
He has plenty of scope for improvement in a professional environment.
He is a high risk, high reward styled selection that often get picked from 15-50 mark in my eyes.

 

[briztoon]

Thanks LemmingMaster.

 

[theGav56]

Elijah TAYLOR
5/1/01 DOB
185 Height
75 Weight
PerthThornlie JFC

Size - As above
Position - Medium to small forward
Strengths - Athletic, Great leap, Clean Hands, Goal Sense
Plays like/similar - I would say a young version of Liam Ryan from West Coast at the moment. He will go for a big mark and at the same time has ground level ability. Seemed to play as one of the main forwards for WA and contested a few marks but would certainly benefit from having Vic Metro styled forwards.
He was not at the same level of defensive pressure as Henry and Anderson from WA but he did his bit.
He has plenty of scope for improvement in a professional environment.
He is a high risk, high reward styled selection that often get picked from 15-50 mark in my eyes.

I think the Dockers need a bit of live-wire/X-factor in their small forward make up. For sure we will take Henry, but I would double up in this area of the list, especially if a player has the capacity to play through the midfield. I am hoping our draft pans out along the lines of;
pick 10; Sharp, Taheny, Flanders
Pick 28; Taylor, Rivers, Jackson
Henry

Feels like a rich draft for mids, especially running mids who can play forward.

What do you think of Rivers? Does he have midfield capacity?

 

[LemmingMaster]

Rivers is a personal favourite of mine, I think he certainly has midfield ability. He is just working on his defensive game and at worst when he heads back to WAFL, he will smash it in the midfield.

 

[Ysaye]

LM what do you reckon Taheny is at the next level? Does he work hard enough?

Taylor is a noticeable type of player but I'm not convinced yet it isn't just flashy stuff and little substance - I notice a few people saying he is coming from a lower training base so maybe that has a part to play. I get the comparison to L. Ryan, but Ryan had piled a couple of mountains of goals in WAFL seniors before getting drafted and had noticeably improved his work off the ball the year before he got drafted. Does he have enough workrate atm to get drafted? I just think (notwithstanding personal circumstances) that if I were a drafter I just think I would want to see a sustained (maybe even a year in the WAFL/VFL/SANFL seniors) set of performances first.

Also Ruscoe's position has improved for mine from the first two games of the champs but yes you have him (as of 16/6) WAaaaaay too high IMO!

 

[LemmingMaster]

LM what do you reckon Taheny is at the next level? Does he work hard enough?

Taylor is a noticeable type of player but I'm not convinced yet it isn't just flashy stuff and little substance - I notice a few people saying he is coming from a lower training base so maybe that has a part to play. I get the comparison to L. Ryan, but Ryan had piled a couple of mountains of goals in WAFL seniors before getting drafted and had noticeably improved his work off the ball the year before he got drafted. Does he have enough workrate atm to get drafted? I just think (notwithstanding personal circumstances) that if I were a drafter I just think I would want to see a sustained (maybe even a year in the WAFL/VFL/SANFL seniors) set of performances first.

Also Ruscoe's position has improved for mine from the first two games of the champs but yes you have him (as of 16/6) WAaaaaay too high IMO!

Taheny - God his body language reminds me of Brendon Goddard, just hate they way he walks and seems to act on the field. To be honest, he will have to go back to the SANFL and I hope injury free and move into a midfield or backline to show he is close to being worth a top 20 pick, let alone top 10. He walked around like a cripple all game with his head down... I cannot judge this guy in the slightest, I am a massive fan but it is getting hard to maintain my thoughts from last year.

Taylor - Personally I would back my systems to get him up to AFL standard. I struggle to see a world in where 18 AFL clubs decide to skip him to watch him develop in the WAFL. At worst in my mind he is on a rookie list somewhere, otherwise you're rolling the dice on someone not picking him up in a midseason draft.
He may not have the perfect work rate, I don't have someone super close to him, but third hand information says that he has a few obstacles in life to achieve the best results. (This could be way off the mark)
I am backing in a strong AFL team to get the best out of him because talent alone he is easily in the top 10.

I am sorry with Ruscoe, you just watch this space mate and come back to this thread in 5 years time and say, LM, you nailed it... I'm even considering placing him higher in my rankings.
Lets put Ruscoe up against the other HBF rated highly and tell me what they have that he does not?
Ash, Kemp, Young, Gould - They are all slightly different players but Ruscoe has certain aspects of all of them.

Ruscoe - Strong overhead, very good kick, intense tacklers, great defender and is now showing midfield ability at a higher level..... Mate JUMP ON BOARD!!!
*removes Sharks glasses*

 

[Davo-27]

Taheny - God his body language reminds me of Brendon Goddard, just hate they way he walks and seems to act on the field. To be honest, he will have to go back to the SANFL and I hope injury free and move into a midfield or backline to show he is close to being worth a top 20 pick, let alone top 10. He walked around like a cripple all game with his head down... I cannot judge this guy in the slightest, I am a massive fan but it is getting hard to maintain my thoughts from last year.

Taylor - Personally I would back my systems to get him up to AFL standard. I struggle to see a world in where 18 AFL clubs decide to skip him to watch him develop in the WAFL. At worst in my mind he is on a rookie list somewhere, otherwise you're rolling the dice on someone not picking him up in a midseason draft.
He may not have the perfect work rate, I don't have someone super close to him, but third hand information says that he has a few obstacles in life to achieve the best results. (This could be way off the mark)
I am backing in a strong AFL team to get the best out of him because talent alone he is easily in the top 10.

I am sorry with Ruscoe, you just watch this space mate and come back to this thread in 5 years time and say, LM, you nailed it... I'm even considering placing him higher in my rankings.
Lets put Ruscoe up against the other HBF rated highly and tell me what they have that he does not?
Ash, Kemp, Young, Gould - They are all slightly different players but Ruscoe has certain aspects of all of them.

Ruscoe - Strong overhead, very good kick, intense tacklers, great defender and is now showing midfield ability at a higher level..... Mate JUMP ON BOARD!!!
*removes Sharks glasses*

i agree on Ruscoe, he is up there with Ash, Young, Butler, Bianco, Gould as the top 6 pure half backs, his difference is that he is taller and stronger except for Gould, more willing to battering ram his way through contests and his kicking and decision making out of defence is up their with those other 5, he doesnt accumulate as much as the other 5 which is his only weakness and the others have more midfield potential as well, but Ruscoe is one to watch.

Taheny and Taylor are both hard to judge, both have talent in different ways, Taylor is very athletic and looks to have some good ability, especially in the air and snaps at goal, he is just not very consistent with his efforts and Taheny is a good goal kicking talent but moves around like an old man, his body/attitude problems are a concern, i also think Pickett is a little inconsistent as well, which could be a slight concern and drop him out of the top 20?

Rivers and Kemp i see as more midfielders playing in the back end, the way they play is more like mids than defenders.

 

[LemmingMaster]

i agree on Ruscoe, he is up there with Ash, Young, Butler, Bianco, Gould as the top 6 pure half backs, his difference is that he is taller and stronger except for Gould, more willing to battering ram his way through contests and his kicking and decision making out of defence is up their with those other 5, he doesnt accumulate as much as the other 5 which is his only weakness and the others have more midfield potential as well, but Ruscoe is one to watch.

Taheny and Taylor are both hard to judge, both have talent in different ways, Taylor is very athletic and looks to have some good ability, especially in the air and snaps at goal, he is just not very consistent with his efforts and Taheny is a good goal kicking talent but moves around like an old man, his body/attitude problems are a concern, i also think Pickett is a little inconsistent as well, which could be a slight concern and drop him out of the top 20?

Rivers and Kemp i see as more midfielders playing in the back end, the way they play is more like mids than defenders.

Nailed it, same thoughts from me.
I'm just predicting Ruscoe will finish these champs and show midfield ability and even if he does not get a chance, at AFL level he will.


I really rate Rivers and Kemp.

 

[Ysaye]

i agree on Ruscoe, he is up there with Ash, Young, Butler, Bianco, Gould as the top 6 pure half backs, his difference is that he is taller and stronger except for Gould, more willing to battering ram his way through contests and his kicking and decision making out of defence is up their with those other 5, he doesnt accumulate as much as the other 5 which is his only weakness and the others have more midfield potential as well, but Ruscoe is one to watch.

Taheny and Taylor are both hard to judge, both have talent in different ways, Taylor is very athletic and looks to have some good ability, especially in the air and snaps at goal, he is just not very consistent with his efforts and Taheny is a good goal kicking talent but moves around like an old man, his body/attitude problems are a concern, i also think Pickett is a little inconsistent as well, which could be a slight concern and drop him out of the top 20?

Rivers and Kemp i see as more midfielders playing in the back end, the way they play is more like mids than defenders.

A little bit off the original topic but do you not see Sharp is a half back?

 

[Davo-27]

A little bit off the original topic but do you not see Sharp is a half back?

i see Sharp as more of a winger, even though he plays a lot of half back as well, but if you consider him a half back then he also would be among those top tier half backs.

 

[LemmingMaster]

A little bit off the original topic but do you not see Sharp is a half back?

I just struggle to see his defensive nature, he looks like a winger and my issue at the next level is his lack of ability to find his own ball.

 

[Ysaye]

I just struggle to see his defensive nature, he looks like a winger and my issue at the next level is his lack of ability to find his own ball.

I know what you are saying but he is more a half back that doesn't defend as well as he should than he is a winger who can't get the ball IMO.

 

[LemmingMaster]

I know what you are saying but he is more a half back that doesn't defend as well as he should than he is a winger who can't get the ball IMO.

Is a great user of the ball that kicks it out on the full a heap.

 

[BigDance]

Is a great user of the ball that kicks it out on the full a heap.

I agree with you. I think Sharp might be resting on his laurels- AA last year, shining light- has already made it. Doesn’t work hard enough at the contest but content to take the easy ball. He’s confusing to me. Not sure where he sits at the moment.

 

[Joao]

Is a great user of the ball that kicks it out on the full a heap.

I agree with you. I think Sharp might be resting on his laurels- AA last year, shining light- has already made it. Doesn’t work hard enough at the contest but content to take the easy ball. He’s confusing to me. Not sure where he sits at the moment.

Think I agree with both of these posts. Maybe somebody will tell him to pull his finger out?

 

[Snuffaluphagus]

Skimmed through both WA games. Kid certainly has some arrogance about him that doesnt seem quite warranted yet. Taheny and himself will find out on draft night how much recruiters value personality, work ethic and drive if someone doesnt tell them sooner.

 

[Muzzz68]

Is a great user of the ball that kicks it out on the full a heap.

Who do you think is the better winger sharp or oneill

 

[LemmingMaster]

Who do you think is the better winger sharp or oneill

Everyone seems to be in love with O'Neill, either he has a heap of mates or he loves BF.

O'Neill does not seem like a player I would call a winger. Maybe Sharp would be better, but O'Neill can find his own ball.

 

[briztoon]

Everyone seems to be in love with O'Neill, either he has a heap of mates or he loves BF.

O'Neill does not seem like a player I would call a winger. Maybe Sharp would be better, but O'Neill can find his own ball.

O’Neill is very much like the type of player the Lions want playing wing.

Some one who can win their own ball, go into the contest if needed, and is class on the outside.

 

[Muzzz68]

Everyone seems to be in love with O'Neill, either he has a heap of mates or he loves BF.

O'Neill does not seem like a player I would call a winger. Maybe Sharp would be better, but O'Neill can find his own ball.

I personally think sharp is better good height and speed

 

[eDPS]

I personally think sharp is better good height and speed

You need that on a wing but the biggest things is your damage by foot and I think O’Neill has the edge in that regard.