Skippos's 2015 Draft Resource

[Wizard17]

Mock draft (post #2) isn't yet updated but I've spent the last few hours phantoming and came up with this

Rounds 1 & 2
Rounds 3 & 4

As always, I'm eager to get some feedback - especially from supporters about what their club will target as I'm not involved enough to accurately project all. In round one I've gone best available with an eye towards filling a need if there was a player who suited that need within 1-2 of being 'best available' and gradually phased out best available in favor of relative (perceived!) needs throughout the later rounds. If you reckon I've gone with the wrong positions, let me know! Chances are, I have. Or I've decided to ignore that need due to lack of quality in it (as I've done for clubs who need KPD/KPFs and haven't filled them early in this. There's some good KPDs in this draft but after ~25 it ends pretty quickly, no point bolting on one that's purely speculative. And I don't particularly believe in wasting late picks on project KPFs who are an exceptionally high chance of not working out)

What sort of forward game does Sullivan have? We seem to value ruck how can be effective forwards/play defensive over the others. Might be a bit hard for Sullivan given the injury he has.

The dogs tend to go with goal kickers when we draft for midfielders later on genuinely these guys are usually half forwards or flankers that we want to develop into the middle of the ground in time, guys like Dale, Daniel, Honeychurch, Hamilton, Webb, McLean in recent years. Though we draft for what we need in the first round. Would be suprised if we went after someone like them who are seen as more small forwards, general forwards or goal kicking utilities on Bigfooty and who our recruiters believe can become more into goal kicking flankers or inside types.

 

[Dav1d]

I was a little surprised that you didn't pick Collins for Adelaide; Talia, Lever & Collins sounds like it would make a fine defense (on paper anyhow)

I like the picks you selected for us, seems like you really thought about what each club might want
not sure if in the real thing if the Bulldogs take a ruckman at the ND (though we need one) I suspect that they will try trading for one or selecting one at the rookie draft

Dalyrymple will most likely take a player that is less known somewhere in the third round or beyond; he has his favourites

 

[GT619]

Brisbane would be cursing if you guys pick up Shache

Oh well can't please everyone

 

[MightyDons4]

Mock draft (post #2) isn't yet updated but I've spent the last few hours phantoming and came up with this

Rounds 1 & 2
Rounds 3 & 4

As always, I'm eager to get some feedback - especially from supporters about what their club will target as I'm not involved enough to accurately project all. In round one I've gone best available with an eye towards filling a need if there was a player who suited that need within 1-2 of being 'best available' and gradually phased out best available in favour of relative (perceived!) needs throughout the later rounds. If you reckon I've gone with the wrong positions, let me know! Chances are, I have. Or I've decided to ignore that need due to lack of quality in it (as I've done for clubs who need KPD/KPFs and haven't filled them early in this. There's some good KPDs in this draft but after ~25 it ends pretty quickly, no point bolting on one that's purely speculative. And I don't particularly believe in wasting late picks on project KPFs who are an exceptionally high chance of not working out)

Filthy with Melbourne in this draft, they've stolen Partington and Haysman from our grasps.

 

[eth-dog]

Mock draft (post #2) isn't yet updated but I've spent the last few hours phantoming and came up with this

Rounds 1 & 2
Rounds 3 & 4

As always, I'm eager to get some feedback - especially from supporters about what their club will target as I'm not involved enough to accurately project all. In round one I've gone best available with an eye towards filling a need if there was a player who suited that need within 1-2 of being 'best available' and gradually phased out best available in favour of relative (perceived!) needs throughout the later rounds. If you reckon I've gone with the wrong positions, let me know! Chances are, I have. Or I've decided to ignore that need due to lack of quality in it (as I've done for clubs who need KPD/KPFs and haven't filled them early in this. There's some good KPDs in this draft but after ~25 it ends pretty quickly, no point bolting on one that's purely speculative. And I don't particularly believe in wasting late picks on project KPFs who are an exceptionally high chance of not working out)

Our biggest need is a KPP at either end still

 

[Honeyboy Wilson]

From the two VC games I've watched, Alex Morgan has been a standout. A real backline leader with composure, neat skills and great decision making.

Is there a reason he's not getting talked about too much do you think? He doesn't even seem to be featured in most mock drafts.

 

[Bring back Bas]

Hi Skippos. Thanks for sharing this, there must be a stack of work involved in putting something like this together. I imagine that it would be an enjoyable thing to do though, if you are willing to put the effort in.

I noticed that you have Milera ranked 15th but you have him sliding to Essendon at 25 while other around him go a lot earlier (eg Bonner and Ah Chee). What is the reason for this? It sounds like Ah Chee and Milera are similar players and you rate Milera higher yet he goes later in your phantom..?

Also, you have Adelaide reaching for Shaw in the second round. I know nothing about him but I can't imagine Adelaide drafting a 177cm small defender even if he was the best available. You would know Adelaides needs as well as anyone so I am interested as to why you have us taking him so early.

 

[Gollo]

Is it likely that Brayden Florini and Lachie Tardrew will get a game in the U18 Champs? Both look quite good and have had great TAC Cup campaigns.

 

[Gollo]

I was a little surprised that you didn't pick Collins for Adelaide; Talia, Lever & Collins sounds like it would make a fine defense (on paper anyhow)

I like the picks you selected for us, seems like you really thought about what each club might want
not sure if in the real thing if the Bulldogs take a ruckman at the ND (though we need one) I suspect that they will try trading for one or selecting one at the rookie draft

Dalyrymple will most likely take a player that is less known somewhere in the third round or beyond; he has his favourites

I think that no. 1 ruck trade priority for the Dogs will or should be Leuenberger. Terrific ruckman, but isolated at Brisbane because of the emergence of Stefan Martin. IMO a trade is what Leuenberger and Brisbane want, and teaming Leuey up with Minson could be devastating.

 

[t_94]

Skippos, what is your assessment of Bailey Rice?

 

[Skippos]

Eade has constantly talking about more midfielders.. More people to go through the middle to help the Swallow Ablett Prestia and O'Mearas
And needing better runners.. We're hopeless at spreading!

Under the impression we'd take a classy mid with our first pick..
But since the top few mids are Academy players.. Can't exactly take the 5th best mid at pick 1 or 2
Maybe we do take best available and pick up mids with our later picks.

Keep up the good work skip.

I do reckon you certainly need more mids - but specifically inside ones. Miller looks good with his ruthless attack on the ball but lacks the pure power and size to change fortunes and while Ablett is a natural, he's not around forever. Swallow's good but he's more a link man between the inside and out than the pure insider himself, likewise O'Meara. Feel a pure inside mid is key, not just any old mid - Ablett, JOM, Martin, Bennell - there's enough class there. Hence if one isn't available I'm going best available, and Weitering certainly is without question.

 

[Gee Dub]

I'm not sold at all on McKay as a forward. Spends far too much time away from goals and leads to silly spots. However I definitely agree with your assessment that he could be a defender. I think he has the size and mobility to be a really solid tall down back.

 

[Skippos]

Just on Leonardis, I managed to catch a couple of quarters of the VC vs VM game. Obviously a few of the already highly rated prospects justified the hype (Parish, Schache, Weitering, O'Kearney) but Leonardis stood out to me as a prospect and I can't seem to find much info on him around here. What have his other performances been like, and does he always play in the back or has he been tried in the middle or on a wing?

Leonardis is good. Real good. Reminds me a bit of Castagna from last year but a lot more poise and composure. Sees the angles and runs well. Quick, agile, controlled in his runs, breaks the lines, attacks the play - a bit like a Jason Johannisen/Heretier Lumumba but perhaps not as remarkably aggressive but a better kick. It's a good spot, I suspect he'll go second round like most players of his type. Haven't seen much of him before the champs but seen him twice in them and I'm confident enough in my read there. He certainly looks like a half back but has the game to play off a wing, too.

 

[Skippos]

Who are the best ruck prospects in this years draft and where do you see them falling come draft time.

Essendon may need to reach for a ruckman.

The only ruck from WA who could make the grade is Della Franca who looks more of a forward and didn't even make the state squad, so there's nothing there. NT/Tas have none either. QLD have Buzza and Chol who are both predominantly KPPs but could perhaps move there - but they're low grade and speculative. From the other states. Nate Dennis is the standout as a basketballer come footballer with his spacial awareness and touch a highlight - he's also shown some ability down back. I think he makes the grade but as a Brisbane academy pick not sure he's available.

SA - Parella. He's raw. He's a project. But he's got the upside. 203/104 - already a monster. Not just in size but in muscle, he's got an efficient distribution of weight and his upper body strength is second to none. The improvement in his tap work has been incredible. Ourmuscles all opposition at this level. Around the ground doesn't find it at all but the improvement has been there - at the start of the year he wouldn't be near the ball. Now he's in better places just learning how to impact. Can provide some real aggression and can tackle well. Has that bit of campaigner in him that you want in a young ruck. I *believe* he has a background in another sport...Tennis I think? Can see him developing into an AFL ruck.

SA - Tim Sullivan. He's good, done his ACL however. Not 2 metres yet but he's solid. Has the ability to impact forward or back but I favour him in the ruck at the moment. Probably the safest best of all the players - played champs last year too.

VM - Jarrod Smith. Not sold on him - but from what I've seen he's got a bit of composure and poise in traffic but has a lot to develop with his ruckwork. Not sure he's going to make it.

VM - Mark Kovacevic. Overaged ruck, absolute beast of a player.

VC - Gach Nyuon. He's talented. Only 198 cm though but makes up for it with his leap and athleticism. Has a more developed football game than Daw/Dawam/Chol have/had at a similar age. I think he makes it too.

NSW - Matthew Flynn. Looks a good player, does a lot of things right but perhaps isn't dominant enough at any facet. Worried he might be a bit of a 'no-rounder' in that he's good in a variety of roles but not great enough in one to make it.

Also Kyle Galloway who I don't know enough about.

As for assessing them, I think Parella, Sullivan and Nyoun are the three best. I suspect all go 40-first round rookie. Kovacevic and Flynn along with mature agers I suspect are more rookie types.

 

[Skippos]

What sort of forward game does Sullivan have? We seem to value ruck how can be effective forwards/play defensive over the others. Might be a bit hard for Sullivan given the injury he has.

The dogs tend to go with goal kickers when we draft for midfielders later on genuinely these guys are usually half forwards or flankers that we want to develop into the middle of the ground in time, guys like Dale, Daniel, Honeychurch, Hamilton, Webb, McLean in recent years. Though we draft for what we need in the first round. Would be suprised if we went after someone like them who are seen as more small forwards, general forwards or goal kicking utilities on Bigfooty and who our recruiters believe can become more into goal kicking flankers or inside types.

It's there. I think he's a hybrid type. Normally I'm not too fond of hybrid types as I feel they're more 'no-rounders' - the football equivalent of a bloke who averages 40 with the bat and 30 with the ball at shield level and is an excellent player but at the next test level up they average 28 with the bat and 35 with the ball and aren't good enough to bat top six or lethal enough with the ball. So many of these inbetween blokes have the same concern for mine - great state league rucks and forwards but not quite there in either discipline.

Sullivan has the scope to develop a forward game not dissimilar to the influence Tom Campbell, Zac Clarke, Max Gawn or Tom Hickey have. Tom Bellchambers or Matthew Kreuzer would be the ceiling and a unlikely peak. He's certainly got the scope to be good enough to justify playing two rucks but not enough to really be that second forward in his own right.

 

[Skippos]

I was a little surprised that you didn't pick Collins for Adelaide; Talia, Lever & Collins sounds like it would make a fine defense (on paper anyhow)

I like the picks you selected for us, seems like you really thought about what each club might want
not sure if in the real thing if the Bulldogs take a ruckman at the ND (though we need one) I suspect that they will try trading for one or selecting one at the rookie draft

Dalyrymple will most likely take a player that is less known somewhere in the third round or beyond; he has his favourites

If the Crows select Collins it'd be 3 out of their last 4 first round picks spent on KPDs and all 4 on defenders 4/5 and all 5 if you count Phil Davis. It's excessive especially given the ability to find capable key defenders through other means than the first round. A weak key defence unit will be an issue for awhile until Lever comes on and/or Hartigan and Shaw finds their feet but it's one that will resolve itself over time. I suspect the Crows won't look to further improve those stocks. It's all good and well having elite stoppers however in investing solely in that area you leave yourself deficient in other areas.

Obviously the phantom will develop after trade week to incorporate filled needs. For now I've just got to assume no holes are filled via trade. I do expect the 'Dogs to bring in one or two new ruckmen over the list maagement period.

I've learnt not to ever doubt anything Dalrymple does. He's a genius.

 

[Scham]

I'm liking the sound of Collins for us. Especially with where our KD stocks are currently at.

 

[hawk2]

The only ruck from WA who could make the grade is Della Franca who looks more of a forward and didn't even make the state squad, so there's nothing there. NT/Tas have none either. QLD have Buzza and Chol who are both predominantly KPPs but could perhaps move there - but they're low grade and speculative. From the other states. Nate Dennis is the standout as a basketballer come footballer with his spacial awareness and touch a highlight - he's also shown some ability down back. I think he makes the grade but as a Brisbane academy pick not sure he's available.

SA - Parella. He's raw. He's a project. But he's got the upside. 203/104 - already a monster. Not just in size but in muscle, he's got an efficient distribution of weight and his upper body strength is second to none. The improvement in his tap work has been incredible. Ourmuscles all opposition at this level. Around the ground doesn't find it at all but the improvement has been there - at the start of the year he wouldn't be near the ball. Now he's in better places just learning how to impact. Can provide some real aggression and can tackle well. Has that bit of campaigner in him that you want in a young ruck. I *believe* he has a background in another sport...Tennis I think? Can see him developing into an AFL ruck.

SA - Tim Sullivan. He's good, done his ACL however. Not 2 metres yet but he's solid. Has the ability to impact forward or back but I favour him in the ruck at the moment. Probably the safest best of all the players - played champs last year too.

VM - Jarrod Smith. Not sold on him - but from what I've seen he's got a bit of composure and poise in traffic but has a lot to develop with his ruckwork. Not sure he's going to make it.

VM - Mark Kovacevic. Overaged ruck, absolute beast of a player.

VC - Gach Nyuon. He's talented. Only 198 cm though but makes up for it with his leap and athleticism. Has a more developed football game than Daw/Dawam/Chol have/had at a similar age. I think he makes it too.

NSW - Matthew Flynn. Looks a good player, does a lot of things right but perhaps isn't dominant enough at any facet. Worried he might be a bit of a 'no-rounder' in that he's good in a variety of roles but not great enough in one to make it.

Also Kyle Galloway who I don't know enough about.

As for assessing them, I think Parella, Sullivan and Nyoun are the three best. I suspect all go 40-first round rookie. Kovacevic and Flynn along with mature agers I suspect are more rookie types.

Della Franca didn't make squad because he had a broken wrist. Is a lot better ruckman than any who did make state squad and he is showing his versatility as a ruck forward. May be should check his stats for last colts game.

 

[Skippos]

Our biggest need is a KPP at either end still

I'm not sold on that. Hooker and Hurley have plenty of time left and Carlisle is a perfect replacement if one is injured. Perhaps the depth is an issue - Fletch is old and not going to play key defence well while Gwilt is undersized - but at a stretch would be okay. Pears if he keeps getting his touch back, too. To me the issue is more depth, there. You'd perhaps like a better replacement to come in if one got injured - like what Fremantle can do when one of McPharlin/Dawson/Johnson go down; they've got Silvagni and now Pearce in the wings and at a stretch can throw Mayne/Clarke back or play Ibbo taller. Probably not that flexibility there, yet. Forward you shouldn't expect to have fantastic depth options. There are very few sides in the AFL that, if their #1 or #2 forward got injured, most end up playing blokes like Josh Walker types. In McKernan you've got someone who, like every other club, isn't going to set the world on fire but he'll do an okay job. Daniher/Carlisle isn't an A grade KPF setup but Daniher soon will be a top notch #1 forward and Carlisle is okay as far as #2 forwards go.

I agree that you're perhaps one good KPP short - someone who could play as that third tall with some real mobility and not make you feel too top heavy, but if there's an injury to a Joe/Jake or a KPD (and Jake goes back) they'd be able to play that #2 role well enough too. Blokes like Darling, McCarthy, Stewart, Stringer, Westhoff, Gunston, even a Mayne type. Langford *may* develop into this kind of player but I suspect not, plays a little smaller than the aforementioned.

However I don't think it's something that requires you to bolt, especially if your first pick is 6-7 as I expect it to be. You've got other needs that can be filled with blokes worth that pick instead of wasting pick 6-7 on a 12-13 type player. Downgrading is perhaps an option whereby you could punt on a Curnow or a Burton type. Or even going for Allen at your second.

But while the pick remains at 6-7 I'd be backing you to target speed. Colyer the only quick player in that side and it shows. Not only speed is an issue but I feel you're also another inside ball winner away, with Watson getting on. I'd expect you to target the relatively best available player in the first as most clubs do. But I could be wrong. And if Carlisle goes then this all changes.

From the two VC games I've watched, Alex Morgan has been a standout. A real backline leader with composure, neat skills and great decision making.

Is there a reason he's not getting talked about too much do you think? He doesn't even seem to be featured in most mock drafts.

I've liked him too. But not enough to absolutely sell me like Leonardis has - I'm tentatively rating him but want another game or two to refine that and check out some things. He doesn't feel as dominant in any trait to really carry him up the order, being more of a solid all round jack of all trades type which often don't go in the top 30-40. And perhaps that's why he's not getting in the conversation as much.

I'd like to further look at his kicking as I agree, the mental aspects are there. He's composed, creative and makes good decisions. Now I'd like to assess the technique, range and penetration before deciding whether he's a 'good at most things, elite at none' type as I've tentatively got him now or someone who could be considered as a half back with great/elite footskills.

 

[eth-dog]

I'm not sold on that. Hooker and Hurley have plenty of time left and Carlisle is a perfect replacement if one is injured. Perhaps the depth is an issue - Fletch is old and not going to play key defence well while Gwilt is undersized - but at a stretch would be okay. Pears if he keeps getting his touch back, too. To me the issue is more depth, there. You'd perhaps like a better replacement to come in if one got injured - like what Fremantle can do when one of McPharlin/Dawson/Johnson go down; they've got Silvagni and now Pearce in the wings and at a stretch can throw Mayne/Clarke back or play Ibbo taller. Probably not that flexibility there, yet. Forward you shouldn't expect to have fantastic depth options. There are very few sides in the AFL that, if their #1 or #2 forward got injured, most end up playing blokes like Josh Walker types. In McKernan you've got someone who, like every other club, isn't going to set the world on fire but he'll do an okay job. Daniher/Carlisle isn't an A grade KPF setup but Daniher soon will be a top notch #1 forward and Carlisle is okay as far as #2 forwards go.

I agree that you're perhaps one good KPP short - someone who could play as that third tall with some real mobility and not make you feel too top heavy, but if there's an injury to a Joe/Jake or a KPD (and Jake goes back) they'd be able to play that #2 role well enough too. Blokes like Darling, McCarthy, Stewart, Stringer, Westhoff, Gunston, even a Mayne type. Langford *may* develop into this kind of player but I suspect not, plays a little smaller than the aforementioned.

However I don't think it's something that requires you to bolt, especially if your first pick is 6-7 as I expect it to be. You've got other needs that can be filled with blokes worth that pick instead of wasting pick 6-7 on a 12-13 type player. Downgrading is perhaps an option whereby you could punt on a Curnow or a Burton type. Or even going for Allen at your second.

But while the pick remains at 6-7 I'd be backing you to target speed. Colyer the only quick player in that side and it shows. Not only speed is an issue but I feel you're also another inside ball winner away, with Watson getting on. I'd expect you to target the relatively best available player in the first as most clubs do. But I could be wrong. And if Carlisle goes then this all changes.

I guess you wouldn't know our reserves especially well considering you live in Adelaide, other than possibly Fantasia who is an Adelaide boy and McKernan for obvious reasons. Smack has actually been dominant in the VFL so far this season and we as a board are very frustrated that he has only had one game in the seniors. Our pace in the reserves is really good, with genuine speedsters in Edwards, Laverde, Aylett, Dalgleish, Fantasia, Jackson Merrett (who has been in between AFL and VFL), Browne, Long and McKenna, and of the youth that isn't fast you have genuinely good endurance players in O'Brien, Ashby, Hams and Kavanagh.

Looking at our list, assuming Carlisle leaves (which I'm leaning towards right now), our KPP stocks will be pretty bare, with only Hooker, Hurley, Gwilt, Daniher, Ambrose, Langford (if he's a genuine KPP, which I doubt) and the rucks. Fletch is likely to retire, Pears and Steinberg likely to be delisted. We need to draft good, young KPP's.

Ideally our forward set up in a couple of years would be:

Fantasia - ??? - Langford
McKernan - Daniher - McKenna

With blokes like Laverde, Zaharakis, Colyer, Edwards rotating through there. Our defence if Carlisle stays will be fine, but he's too similar to Daniher as a forward IMO.

 

[Skippos]

Hi Skippos. Thanks for sharing this, there must be a stack of work involved in putting something like this together. I imagine that it would be an enjoyable thing to do though, if you are willing to put the effort in.

I noticed that you have Milera ranked 15th but you have him sliding to Essendon at 25 while other around him go a lot earlier (eg Bonner and Ah Chee). What is the reason for this? It sounds like Ah Chee and Milera are similar players and you rate Milera higher yet he goes later in your phantom..?

Also, you have Adelaide reaching for Shaw in the second round. I know nothing about him but I can't imagine Adelaide drafting a 177cm small defender even if he was the best available. You would know Adelaides needs as well as anyone so I am interested as to why you have us taking him so early.

The power rankings are purely how I see it, whereas the mock draft is how I project it. One is my rating, one is how I perceive others (i.e. clubs) to see it.

Ah Chee and Milera are both creative and quick indigenous small forward types but that's where the comparisons end. Ah Chee is more athletic. I suspect he's quicker, more agile, has a higher vertical leap and more x-factor in how he plays. He also has more willingness to break the lines and more x-factor. Milera is more of a footballer - he's clean, has great vision and decision making, composed, spacially aware and skilled. He's also relatively okay defensively. He still has indigenous traits but he's far less typical an indigenous forward, whereas Ah Chee is more like what we're used to.

I've noticed clubs tend to favour the pure athleticism and x-factor types compared to my assessment - which favours pure footballers at times. Milera is neither blisteringly quick nor a gifted accumulator so while there are flashes - I can understand why there's some skepticism towards him. But he's sold me - players with his game sense, composure, cleanliness and spacial awareness rarely bust, so I've got him high partially because I have such confidence that he will make the grade, as opposed to the risk factor with others.

As for Shaw - it's a very speculative selection. Leonardis, Parsons, Allen, Milera and Cameron who all went 5 or so picks before would have been selected there if available. I have no doubt in a week one of them is there and Shaw slides. I feel the crows need three things - outside speed, composure and run, a key forward and a depth key back. But the first one is the major, major concern hence why the first three picks all address it. I don't particularly like picking key forwards outside the first so the plan for mine is to take a KPF if an appropriate one is there in round one, otherwise best available within reason and list fits there after.

Shaw is someone I think will draw some more attention, players with his line breaking, speed, evasion and seemingly good skills are rare. Has a way to come defensively but looks a player. Not sure if he's a small defender long term, wouldn't mind seeing him as a half forward/wingman - but in a second round pick if he develops like I think he might he could be a handy point of difference as that wide, line breaking receiver.

Interesting you say that about drafting a 177cm small defender - as we did that last year with Wigg. The difference is that Wigg looks limited to small defence, is far slower and defensively just as poor. Just a nice but rushed at times kick. What we wanted out of Wigg I didn't and still don't think we'll get, so I wouldn't be putting our eggs into his basket and assuming he'll fill that role.

Is it likely that Brayden Florini and Lachie Tardrew will get a game in the U18 Champs? Both look quite good and have had great TAC Cup campaigns.

I believe Fiorini is injured at the moment and won't be back until round 5 most likely. Hopefully he gets a game then. Tardrew I'm unsure of - still only having seen small bits of him I'm not sure if he's worth all the hype - hopefully he gets a game so we know either way, though.

 

[Skippos]

I think that no. 1 ruck trade priority for the Dogs will or should be Leuenberger. Terrific ruckman, but isolated at Brisbane because of the emergence of Stefan Martin. IMO a trade is what Leuenberger and Brisbane want, and teaming Leuey up with Minson could be devastating.

I disagree regarding Leuenberger. We've seen this season that he's got no aptitude as a forward and Minson has very little too. If the Dogs play two rucks for mine it's one of them and Campbell or Roughead, who both have some ability inside 50. If you play Minson and Leuey the gain is essetially the 10-20% of time the 'backup ruck' would have rucked for is now replaced by a good ruckman, instead of a backup weaker ruck. But the tradeoff is the other 80-90% of the game you have a weaker forward in place, something I feel is more detrimental given the nature of the game at the moment with hitouts, clearances and inside 50s meaning far less as stats than ever before. Leuey is also a free agent, I believe?

If you're recruiting Leuenberger, it's as the #1 ruckman with Minson finishing his career as the backup. Or you're recruiting him as the backup - something I doubt he'd want. I'm relatively certain that given the way Beveridge plays, he's not going to play both of them in the same side, that's for sure. Leuey's 27 too, rucks often don't last too long past 29-30. If you're going for a ruck IMO Jarrod Witts, Sam Naismith, Matthew Kreuzer, Zac Clarke or Tom Nicholls should be plan A with plan B being that hybrid forward/ruck - blokes like Toby Nankervis, Scott Lycett, Mitch Harvey, Craig Moller, Ben Griffiths, Tyrone Vickery or Majak Daw being blokes I'd look at.

But really, I think Jordan Roughead is your man, anyway. Long term, Boyd as #1, Rougy as #2/relief ruck and Stringer as #3/pinch hitting mid/#2 when roughy rucks/injury hits is a good enough plan. Some clubs would love those options, I reckon.

Skippos, what is your assessment of Bailey Rice?

Nice seeing you in here, mate!

I haven't seen as much of Rice as I'd have liked to. Hopefully he re-appears later in the champs and his injury isn't serious.

But he intrigues me. With the press coming back kicking off half back is a priority for most clubs and Rice has that. I'm not sure if he's an elite kick but he's certainly a very good one. What intrigues me more is his inside game - it's definitely there. It's not like he's your typical elite kicking outside receiver style half back, he's one that wins his own ball and then disposes of it well. Inside mids who hit targets are rare and it's for that reason I'd probably be looking at developing him as a midfielder as there's scope for him to be from that rare school of midfielder who wins his own ball, disposes well under pressure and provides an outside option to hit targets as well.

He's still got a few things to work on, and I haven't seen him really dominate games of football yet which is why he's not in first round contention for me yet, but he's got such a handy skill-set that it wouldn't take much to push him there. I'm looking forward to seeing more of him.

 

[RedmanWasHere]

Hi Skippos.

At this rate, what position should each club take with their first pick?

Or a better way to word it is, what should each club do for this year's draft?

 

[Skippos]

I'm not sold at all on McKay as a forward. Spends far too much time away from goals and leads to silly spots. However I definitely agree with your assessment that he could be a defender. I think he has the size and mobility to be a really solid tall down back.

Nor am I. And I have the same concerns - he looks like an athlete and not a forward for mine. His leading patterns are questionable and things like that are often natural and very difficult to learn. What's working in his favour is just how young he is, so I've got a little more hope that he's got more time to grow than others. Reminds me a lot of James Stewart who looks okay but doesn't look like having the contested ability nor leading patterns to ever be dominant. But agreed regarding his potential to be a defender, I'd be surprised if he didn't end up there, to be honest.

I'm liking the sound of Collins for us. Especially with where our KD stocks are currently at.

I agree, I'd be having him well up on the list if I was a Fremantle recruiter. He's a good list fit but his style also fits well with the way you guys play. The issue is that he just might not be there when you're on the clock!

Della Franca didn't make squad because he had a broken wrist. Is a lot better ruckman than any who did make state squad and he is showing his versatility as a ruck forward. May be should check his stats for last colts game.

I'd heard he was injured but I suspect it's more than that. You've got 40 slots in that squad. You can afford to carry a bloke who's going to miss half the champs if he's in your best 22 - and I can't see why he wouldn't be (that said, as far as championship outfits go, with Goddard/Smith/Strnadica the ruck/key forward division is the least of WA's worries)

I agree, I like what he does in the ruck but I'm not sure he's a pure ruck at this stage. What intrigued me was his potential forward which he seems to be delivering on a bit now. He was in my top 20-25 until about a month or two ago. Have seen his colts results, it's partly the reason I even bothered including him in the earlier post - I'm probably the only person who still has him on my radar

The worry for mine is that he's in that inbetween zone of being a handy ruck and a handy forward but not good enough at either discipline to really impose. And regarding his non-selection, surely something more is there. Either they grossly overestimated the time it'd take to recover (which is still stupid, 5-10 blokes in that squad won't play one game, so including him harms nobody. SA included Burton!), they just don't rate him (which would surprise me after last year) or he's done something/there are character concerns.

 

[Bobby Beecroft]

Brisbane would be cursing if you guys pick up Shache

Not so much if Dixon was to come over.
A combination with youngsters Freeman, McStay & Close would be heading in the right direction.