Looking to the draft...

[Schulzycrow]

Now that the 2011 U18 Champs or the 2011 predraft meat market are over the Herald Sun the fine paper that it is, has given a very early look at 10 of the best from the Champs. Talk already that this will be a repeat of the 2001 super draft...but have heard that before... Can only hope as we need all the good picks we can muster.

Now GWS get 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15 Holy!!!!

So its a race in four GFC, PA, AFC and BL for the bottom of the barrel. From the highlights I've watched coz its a bit more interesting than what has been served up lately the top three are pretty clear cut. Would have loved to have seen Wingard in the tricolours being a local lad and a very good player, but I can't see that happening, unless we really stink it up and lose to all of the other bottom teams.

Here's the HSun's Jay Clark's early tips for the top 10.


1 Jonathon Patton
Eastern Ranges Key forward
HEIGHT: 197cm WEIGHT: 95kg
STYLE: Jonathan Brown
Can take big pack marks but just as dangerous on the lead. Ideal forward-50m target.

2 Stephen Coniglio
Swan Districts Midfielder
HEIGHT: 182cm WEIGHT: 76kg
STYLE: Marc Murphy
Undecided whether he will nominate for the draft. Wins hard ball and uses speed to spread and create up forward.

3 Chad Wingard
Sturt Midfielder
HEIGHT: 181cm WEIGHT: 73kg
STYLE: Scott Pendlebury
Left footer is super clean and agile slipping through traffic. Quick to move and a tough tackler.

4 Billy Longer
Northern Knights Ruckman
HEIGHT: 202cm WEIGHT: 95kg
STYLE: Dean Cox
Elite speed and neat skills give the ruckman an edge over a lot of his opponents. Improving his endurance.

5 Devon Smith
Geelong Falcons Onballer/small forward
HEIGHT: 175cm WEIGHT: 73kg
STYLE: Sam Mitchell into David Rodan
Ferocious in his pursuit of the ball and ball-carrier at ground level. Highly productive in attack.

6 Todd Elton
Dandenong Stingrays Key forward/ruck
HEIGHT: 197cm WEIGHT: 87kg
STYLE: Jarryd Roughead
Flexibility to be either a focal point in attack or ruck is a huge plus. Big leap and high workrate.

7 Matthew Buntine
Dandenong Stingrays Half-back/wing
HEIGHT: 188cm WEIGHT: 83kg
STYLE: Corey Enright
Can either shut down or rebound from half-back. Selfless type who is natural leader.

8 Hayden Crozier
Eastern Ranges Forward flank/midfielder
HEIGHT: 184cm WEIGHT: 68kg
STYLE: Dale Thomas
Spring-heeled forward is spectacular in the air and highly skilful around goals.

9 Liam Sumnert
Sandringham Dragons Outside midfielder
HEIGHT: 182cm WEIGHT: 70kg
STYLE: Ryan Bastinac
Exciting ball-carrier oozes class with his dashing outside run and slick ball use. Not a big kick.

10 Will Hoskin-Elliott
Western Jets Half-back/wing
HEIGHT: 182cm WEIGHT: 73kg
STYLE: Harry O'Brien
Smooth utility has pace and clean skills in tight situations. Penetrating kick and a strong mark.

Now not too many SA lads in there, but I'm surprised they even knew who Wingard was.

I know Kennedy's name has come up and the situation he presents being only 17. Griggs and Grundy have also had good carnivals. I would assume that mids is what we will be going for this time with at least our first 3 if not 4 picks. Natural footballers, who can hunt their own ball and kick it well ala Jaenschy no Symes kickers need apply.

Is it too soon to be thinking about who we might go for?
Any other smokies or Barlow's running around?
Or have I gone too soon, bored already by the bye this week.

 

[Dirty Bird]

Now that the 2011 U18 Champs or the 2011 predraft meat market are over

No it's not.

 

[earlsta]

The 2012 class will be the superdraft, not the draft at the end of this year. It's next years draft that people are saying 10+ superstars will come from it.

Hopefully we dont win again this year and win under 5 next year so we can get a PP for the 2012 class!

 

[bigman]

The 2012 class will be the superdraft, not the draft at the end of this year. It's next years draft that people are saying 10+ superstars will come from it.

Hopefully we dont win again this year and win under 5 next year so we can get a PP for the 2012 class!

This draft is not as bad as people say.

You will pick up a good player up to and including R3.

Issue is the tail - drops off there.

If we have 3-4 picks we will be OK.

 

[Crow About It]

Would love to get our hands on Chad Wingard.....
Tough, agile, clean skilled and a left footer which we really need more of....

The only way I could see this happen is for us to somehow get one of GWS's first 3 picks. He certainly won't be there at 10 (likely where we'll have our first pick) and even less likely Port won't take him with their first pick if he's still around.....

 

[Vader]

Adelaide's win over Sydney places us 2 wins clear of GC & PA, and we're still 1 win ahead of Brisbane. Note that we play all 3 of them again before the year is out - and GC & Brisbane have another shot at each other too. Of the 4 teams, Brisbane have the best percentage, followed by Adelaide.

It's highly unlikely that we'll finish 16th or 17th. This means that we're looking at pick 8 at best, with a good chance that it will be pick #10.

Forget about Wingard, he'll be long gone by the time we enter the draft.

 

[Team DJ]

Im not too sure about who may be avaliable when we have a pick.
I'd like to have 3 picks in the draft after we promote a couple of rookies.

Im thinking:
Round 1: Tough inside, ball winning clearance player. Help Thompson out and be able to feed our outside runners. An area we have been lacking big time this year.
Round 2: Big athletic Ruckman, Maric and Moran wont be at the club post 2012 you'd think. Id like someone who can play ruck but is mobile enough around ground to back up Jacobs allowing Tippett to play forward. As i think McKernan will be back in Melbourne soon
Round 3: Another midfielder, someone like a Vince who has a bit of class, good skills can play inside and outside as well.

 

[alex_is_on_fire]

I don't know where they will fall in the draft, that is someone else responsibility to determine that but I hope we can grab these guys somewhere. These players really impressed last night.

Josh Simpson from North Adelaide
Mitchell Grigg from Norwood
Brodie Grundy from Sturt. This kid was super impressive.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

Should we be tanking to get Wingard?

We play Gold Coast and Port again. Losses there would cut the margin to one win...

 

[alex_is_on_fire]

Should we be tanking to get Wingard?

We play Gold Coast and Port again. Losses there would cut the margin to one win...

Not sure we can tank that far but. Wingate is expected to go top 3 to GWS.

 

[Mego Red]

Not sure we can tank that far but. Wingate is expected to go top 3 to GWS.

I think our best option would be pick 8 or 10 and a player for pick 3.

We should be right in their ear, trying to get Kennedy and Wingard.

 

[Bovo]

Should we be tanking to get Wingard?

We play Gold Coast and Port again. Losses there would cut the margin to one win...

I don't think the AFC would ever tank.....however the great irony for the Crows is that in our wonderful 20 years of playing footy, we have to wait until GWS enter the arena before we finally well and truly bomb out....preventing us from getting some decent picks *sigh*

 

[Poached_Egg]

GWS are going to take Wingard in the top three.

 

[DREAM TEAM BUFF]

What about this UGANDAN lad Emmanuel Irra

 

[WALL-e]

Toby Greene

 

[DJ75]

Toby Greene

Agreed. I sent Matt Rendell a message about him in April last year.
Boy can play and finds the footy! Will be one of those guys who racks up 25 - 30 touches a game without even trying.
The one question mark I had was on his disposal, but from what I saw this year, it looks pretty solid now.

 

[WALL-e]

His hands are clean as, his inside disposal is top notch. His disposal by foot isn't elite, needs a bit of work controlling how far he kicks, but action is solid. Like a Rory Sloane with more ball winning ability. Batman and Robin in the center?

 

[Vader]

Should we be tanking to get Wingard?

We play Gold Coast and Port again. Losses there would cut the margin to one win...

Given the relative percentages (Adelaide >> Port >>>>>>>>>> GC), Port & GC would have to win 3 games for us to drop below them on the ladder. We can "arrange" for one of those wins (each), but it's a struggle to see where they'll find the 2nd & 3rd wins we require.

In short, there's very little point in us tanking. We're sufficiently bad anyway that there are only 5 games left this year where we have the remotest chance of winning anyway. We're 1 1/2 games behind 13th ranked Richmond, so there's no way we'll be going up the ladder - and I can't see us sliding below 15th in the other direction (noting that we're currently 14th).

 

[Hank93]

I think we should try and get Mitchell Grigg. His kicking on wednesday was elite and a lot better than a number of our current players. And he is a left footer.

We only have one left footer that I can think of and that is Chris Knights, who bombs the ball to no one in paticular.

Is Grigg to high for our likely pick at 10 or is he more of a 2nd round pick.

 

[Bockchoy67]

His hands are clean as, his inside disposal is top notch. His disposal by foot isn't elite, needs a bit of work controlling how far he kicks, but action is solid. Like a Rory Sloane with more ball winning ability. Batman and Robin in the center?

Has a bit of swagger and arrogance about him as well, which is something our club is very short on at present.

 

[Mad Fan of AFL]

Don't need a ruckman. We have Jacobs, Maric and Moran. The first two picks should be reserved for the two best midfielders or medium/small forwards we can get. The last pick or rookie pick im happy to get a ruck

 

[Vader]

Don't need a ruckman. We have Jacobs, Maric and Moran. The first two picks should be reserved for the two best midfielders or medium/small forwards we can get. The last pick or rookie pick im happy to get a ruck

Odds are that Maric could well be traded. At least one of (and preferably both) Moran & Sellar is certain to be delisted.

We may be looking to get a ruckman, but will probably only do so with a late pick - possibly via the RD.

 

[WALL-e]

Rucks are pretty poor this year, well the pool is pretty poor.

 

[WALL-e]

Has a bit of swagger and arrogance about him as well, which is something our club is very short on at present.

Love it. Backs himself and enjoys telling his opposition about how he just beat him.

 

[Chief Crow]

If we end up with pick 12 or 14, would it be better to trade that pick given the apparent lack of quality. We could potentially chase one of the young GC mids or offer it to GWS for there 1st or 2nd pick in the 17 year old mini draft. That would land us Ben Kennedy.