Draft Watcher Young Talent Time 2014

[Chris25]

Thought it was time for a mini update. The only real changes are Liam Duggan jumping into the top 10, and big Tom Read pushing up into the top 40. Otherwise, I added another 10 names onto the end too.

 

[LachG03]

Hey Chris,

What are your thoughts on Daniel Nielson from Eastern Ranges?

 

[Chris25]

Hey Chris,

What are your thoughts on Daniel Nielson from Eastern Ranges?

I think Nielson has shown some good improvement last year. I think I wrote about him earlier in the thread, and about how last year he wasn't really much of a factor on the rebound. Eastern had Daniel McStay for that, so Nielson took on a more defensive role. I still don't think he'll ever be a big offensive defender, but he has shown he can handle himself with ball in hand.

 

[Tank Girl]

Put the

on Caleb Hislop, Chris. He's the Tassie Mariner I have the highest hopes for so far this year.

 

[nottenthagain]

Thought it was time for a mini update. The only real changes are Liam Duggan jumping into the top 10, and big Tom Read pushing up into the top 40. Otherwise, I added another 10 names onto the end too.

Hopefully Heeney's name doesn't creep any further up the list.... I'm really hoping we don't need to use our first rounder on him.

Can see Sydney trading pretty hard this year, we need a bit of a clean out but salary cap means we don't necessarily want established (ruckman excluded) players in return. So I'm thinking pick plus player for pick upgrades. A lot of good players sitting in the ressies with little chance of breaking through... or getting back into the team

 

[george2]

Hey Chris just wondering if you could give me some information on Brad Walsh from Peel? He seems to be in the best players everytime he plays colts and was also very good when he played League for Peel also. What type of player is he? Thanks

 

[Nemisis]

Brooksby has been a revelation for me... I can remember him in the under 18s as a slow, grossly overweight kid that had a great kick. Now he is extremely skilled in all areas - he could be a rookie surprise packet. Imagine him with a AFL pre season.

 

[Lionmoe21]

Chris25 is there any chance that liam dawson isnt taken by brisbane and also what is a player comparison you would give him and hammelman

 

[6BTS]

When AFL drafting doesn't go your way.

Imagine you're a 192cm key position forward. You've just finished playing in the under 18 national tournament where you were such an impressive player that your performance strongly assisted your team to win the Div 1 National titles. They thought so highly of you that you were selected into the All Australian team with other teammates who had names like James Aish, Luke Dunston and Matthew Scharenburg.

You have such a buzz around your pedigree that the AFL website includes you in their player profiles of the next young and up coming talent. You have a write up on that website where the words could be the next key position player picked up after Tom Boyd. You also get interview and have an in depth analysis of your potential. You have such honors like being the youngest ever player to represent the South Adelaide Football Club A Grade at the tender age of 15. Despite all this you are predicted to go 30-60 in the draft as there is a knock on his athleticism and stamina.

So Draft day comes and draft day goes. 62 young players have all found homes at AFL football clubs yet despite all that is said above, your name is not called out...

Not to worry. It's not the first time that All Australians have missed out in the main draft. There is the rookie draft which will vacuum up all the remaining talent on offer and you're one of the big names available. Another 54 talented players are picked up, there are quite a few with question marks over their heads, but the rookie draft gives the AFL clubs the ability to take a punt on a few players without suffering the consequences of having a guy not up to standard consuming one of your main list spots. Again, you are completely overlooked and that was your final chance for 2013 to get on an AFL list. No more reports, no more news articles or stories about you, nothing.

This was Darcy Hourigan's experience. Quite amazing that he didn't get picked up. Now I know for a fact that big bodied kids are sometimes capable of dominating their peers at the underage level and giving a false impression of super star potential. I saw it first hand with one of the guys that I played with and against. Of course the inevitable happens, everyone else starts to catch up with their size and strength and they all start leaving you for dead with their stamina. I'm wondering if this is exactly what happened to this kid. I've checked to see how he's going this year, but the only thing I could find was him on the injury list so I don't think he's played a game yet. Will be interesting to see if he carves up in the near future and that the clubs were wrong not to draft him.

 

[Nemisis]

6BTS - great write up - I was/am still amazed that the clubs let this kid slip. I hope he proves them all wrong. I have wondered how he is coping after such a slap in the face.
He has no history of poor off field behaviour.
Talking to someone close to the Port recruiters - the talk was always about his endurance or lack of it.
The kid deserves a chance at AFL but first he must get over his injury and kick bags of goals. The AFL drafting system can be brutal and heart breaking.

 

[6BTS]

6BTS - great write up - I was/am still amazed that the clubs let this kid slip. I hope he proves them all wrong. I have wondered how he is coping after such a slap in the face.
He has no history of poor off field behaviour.
Talking to someone close to the Port recruiters - the talk was always about his endurance or lack of it.
The kid deserves a chance at AFL but first he must get over his injury and kick bags of goals. The AFL drafting system can be brutal and heart breaking.

I find it amazing that over and over again, AFL clubs don't pick up players because they lack endurance. How many kids have to prove them wrong about that attitude. I am of the thought process - if the kid is making waves without endurance, imagine what will happen when we train the endurance into him! They see a kid who can't keep up at AFL level, I see a kid who could become an even better footballer because endurance is something you can train into a guy who is taking the game up full time. smh

 

[Chris25]

Put the

on Caleb Hislop, Chris. He's the Tassie Mariner I have the highest hopes for so far this year.

Can't say I'm the biggest fan of the Tassie boys this year, definitely nowhere near the level we saw in 2013. But it will be good to see them in the TAC Cup in the next couple of weeks.

Personally, my favourite would probably be Ashton Dickenson from Clarence. He isn't the most talented or the flashiest, but he's a solid small midfielder/defender and I think he projects as having the best chance to find a spot at the next level. The other one I've liked in the past is Jarrod Harper from Clarence, but he doesn't seem to even feature in the state academy this year. I thought he had a decent amount of skills, and at a good size. Otherwise, guys like Mitch Hibberd, Bryton Mullins and Josh Watts will be looking to impress.

As for Caleb Hislop, I'll be keeping an eye on him to see how his midfield move goes this season. Didn't see much of him last year what with injury and the like, but moving up the ground should help his cause.

Hey Chris just wondering if you could give me some information on Brad Walsh from Peel? He seems to be in the best players everytime he plays colts and was also very good when he played League for Peel also. What type of player is he? Thanks

What type of player is Walsh? He's an inside midfielder, and at the moment not much else. That's why I don't have him quite as high as others. He's possibly the best pure contested ball winner on offer at the moment, just reads the ball really well and has good hands in close. Chance are he will be the leading possession getter at the Championships this year, and could end up being named captain of the AA side. But otherwise, he isn't hugely damaging in space and doesn't have a real impact going forward.

Chris25 is there any chance that liam dawson isnt taken by brisbane and also what is a player comparison you would give him and hammelman

There's always the chance, and it will probably depend on the cost and what role he plays this year. If Brisbane like his prospects as a midfield option, then they might be more keen than if they see him purely as a defender. As for player comparisons, I'd rather see more of the Division 2 players before I really start throwing out names. But Dawson could range anwhere from a Jeremy Laidler type fringe medium defender to a Robert Murphy or even David Mundy type.

As for Hammelmann, lets call him a poor mans Harry Taylor or Brian Lake. He moves well for a big guy, can play at either end and is good in the air.

 

[captainMyCaptain]

Hopefully Heeney's name doesn't creep any further up the list.... I'm really hoping we don't need to use our first rounder on him.

Looks like you might have to

Expect Heeney to dominate the division two championships for the Rams. Some recruiters rate the strong and athletic 17-year-old as the best midfielder in the draft. Heeney is a star at the stoppages, working his way through traffic, finding the ball and then getting it out. Heeney is already linked to the Swans as part of their zone Academy, meaning they have access to him in the same way as clubs do with father-sons.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-05-14/top-20-under18-players-to-watch

 

[Mofra]

I find it amazing that over and over again, AFL clubs don't pick up players because they lack endurance. How many kids have to prove them wrong about that attitude. I am of the thought process - if the kid is making waves without endurance, imagine what will happen when we train the endurance into him! They see a kid who can't keep up at AFL level, I see a kid who could become an even better footballer because endurance is something you can train into a guy who is taking the game up full time. smh

Not necessarily.
See Patrick Veszpremi

 

[ROYAL EAGLE]

Hey Chris article on Waterman

http://tenplay.com.au/sport/2014/5/14/clear-waters?autoStart=true

 

[lionshine]

Hey Chris, thanks for answering all of these questions. They have been quite insightful. I have one of my own. The Lions glaring weakness is a KPF with Browny at the very end of his career. We have tried desperately recently to recruit a quality KPF and we almost struck a deal to get that mini-draft selection and draft Hogan. Anyway we have a lot of prospects on our list but none of them were taken with a top 30 pick and none of them look like they will step up and become an A grade key forward to replace Browny.

The Lions are currently sitting last on the ladder and we are certain to finish bottom 3. I just wanted to know how you rate the top end KPP prospects in order and I was wondering if you could go into a bit of detail on them? I am talking about Peter Wright, Patrick McCartin, Sam Durdin, and Hugh Goddard. All 4 look like quality players. Cheers mate

 

[Johnston]

Thoughts on Jayden Short from the Knights and Michael Manteit from Sandy Dragons?

 

[Chris25]

The Lions are currently sitting last on the ladder and we are certain to finish bottom 3. I just wanted to know how you rate the top end KPP prospects in order and I was wondering if you could go into a bit of detail on them? I am talking about Peter Wright, Patrick McCartin, Sam Durdin, and Hugh Goddard. All 4 look like quality players. Cheers mate

In terms of how I personally rate them, I'd have Sam Durdin at the top of the list. Although I've seen a lot of TAC Cup football over the past 18 months, I've still seen more of Durdin and I just think he is a special player. Not many guys his size can play as well as him at both ends, plus use the ball so well. I don't think he'll be quite at 100% during the Championships which is a shame, but he'll still show his class.

But for Brisbane, I'd probably go for Patrick McCartin followed by Peter Wright. To me, it seems like a lot of their KPPs are more the versatile second/third talls. And although Durdin will be a great player, I don't think they'll want the 'is he a forward, is he a defender' type question. And for a team lacking quality, the temptation will always be there to rotate him rather than let him develop in one spot. With McCartin, you don't really have that issue. He is a genuine full forward, and that's it. He's strong, he's a big target and he'll straighten any team up.

With Peter Wright, I see him more as a ruckman/forward as opposed to a stay at home guy. And I think that's more a luxury, which Brisbane perhaps can't afford. Take the forward in McCartin, and build from there.

And I should just mention Hugh Goddard quickly, I have him on the next rung down from those three. Don't think he is quite at their level, and I wouldn't say he is a guaranteed #1 tall at the next level. So would have him more in the 10-20 range personally.

 

[lionshine]

In terms of how I personally rate them, I'd have Sam Durdin at the top of the list. Although I've seen a lot of TAC Cup football over the past 18 months, I've still seen more of Durdin and I just think he is a special player. Not many guys his size can play as well as him at both ends, plus use the ball so well. I don't think he'll be quite at 100% during the Championships which is a shame, but he'll still show his class.

But for Brisbane, I'd probably go for Patrick McCartin followed by Peter Wright. To me, it seems like a lot of their KPPs are more the versatile second/third talls. And although Durdin will be a great player, I don't think they'll want the 'is he a forward, is he a defender' type question. And for a team lacking quality, the temptation will always be there to rotate him rather than let him develop in one spot. With McCartin, you don't really have that issue. He is a genuine full forward, and that's it. He's strong, he's a big target and he'll straighten any team up.

With Peter Wright, I see him more as a ruckman/forward as opposed to a stay at home guy. And I think that's more a luxury, which Brisbane perhaps can't afford. Take the forward in McCartin, and build from there.

And I should just mention Hugh Goddard quickly, I have him on the next rung down from those three. Don't think he is quite at their level, and I wouldn't say he is a guaranteed #1 tall at the next level. So would have him more in the 10-20 range personally.

Thanks so much Chris! I appreciate it.

 

[Ruse]

When AFL drafting doesn't go your way.

Imagine you're a 192cm key position forward. You've just finished playing in the under 18 national tournament where you were such an impressive player that your performance strongly assisted your team to win the Div 1 National titles. They thought so highly of you that you were selected into the All Australian team with other teammates who had names like James Aish, Luke Dunston and Matthew Scharenburg.

You have such a buzz around your pedigree that the AFL website includes you in their player profiles of the next young and up coming talent. You have a write up on that website where the words could be the next key position player picked up after Tom Boyd. You also get interview and have an in depth analysis of your potential. You have such honors like being the youngest ever player to represent the South Adelaide Football Club A Grade at the tender age of 15. Despite all this you are predicted to go 30-60 in the draft as there is a knock on his athleticism and stamina.

So Draft day comes and draft day goes. 62 young players have all found homes at AFL football clubs yet despite all that is said above, your name is not called out...

Not to worry. It's not the first time that All Australians have missed out in the main draft. There is the rookie draft which will vacuum up all the remaining talent on offer and you're one of the big names available. Another 54 talented players are picked up, there are quite a few with question marks over their heads, but the rookie draft gives the AFL clubs the ability to take a punt on a few players without suffering the consequences of having a guy not up to standard consuming one of your main list spots. Again, you are completely overlooked and that was your final chance for 2013 to get on an AFL list. No more reports, no more news articles or stories about you, nothing.

This was Darcy Hourigan's experience. Quite amazing that he didn't get picked up. Now I know for a fact that big bodied kids are sometimes capable of dominating their peers at the underage level and giving a false impression of super star potential. I saw it first hand with one of the guys that I played with and against. Of course the inevitable happens, everyone else starts to catch up with their size and strength and they all start leaving you for dead with their stamina. I'm wondering if this is exactly what happened to this kid. I've checked to see how he's going this year, but the only thing I could find was him on the injury list so I don't think he's played a game yet. Will be interesting to see if he carves up in the near future and that the clubs were wrong not to draft him.

Not everyone gets drafted in their first try, not many people know but Jonathon Brown was overlooked the first year he entered the draft.

 

[Skippos]

Not everyone gets drafted in their first try, not many people know but Jonathon Brown was overlooked the first year he entered the draft.

To be fair there were different circumstances there. He was passed over as a 17 year old. But

- Each club was only allowed 1 17 year old at the time
- Brisbane had already committed to Headland as their 17 year old
- Browny said he'd go elsewhere if a club committed in advance their first rounder to him

None did as they couldn't guarantee it so he waited till he was 'of age' and the Lions drafted him F/S. It wasn't that he was overlooked, it was that he set a few stipulations which weren't met so he didn't nominate and waited till he was the proper age.

By that logic plenty of players in that era missed the draft the first time due to not nominating/being passed over as 17 year olds.

 

[dlanod]

To be fair there were different circumstances there. He was passed over as a 17 year old. But

- Each club was only allowed 1 17 year old at the time
- Brisbane had already committed to Headland as their 17 year old
- Browny said he'd go elsewhere if a club committed in advance their first rounder to him

None did as they couldn't guarantee it so he waited till he was 'of age' and the Lions drafted him F/S. It wasn't that he was overlooked, it was that he set a few stipulations which weren't met so he didn't nominate and waited till he was the proper age.

By that logic plenty of players in that era missed the draft the first time due to not nominating/being passed over as 17 year olds.

The mind boggles at what could have been - apparently both Port and Hawthorn told him that they'd strongly consider him and would probably take him, but they wouldn't commit.

 

[Skippos]

The mind boggles at what could have been - apparently both Port and Hawthorn told him that they'd strongly consider him and would probably take him, but they wouldn't commit.

And you fellas would've given up Browny for Des ****in Headland

 

[dlanod]

And you fellas would've given up Browny for Des ****in Headland

Now he was an entirely separate what could have been. The difference between him at the Lions and him at Fremantle...

 

[george2]

Hey Chris just wondering what your thoughts on the Dockers going for Clem Smith at their first pick? do you think he will be available at their first pick and also do you think he is a player that they would go for? Thanks mate