Draft Watcher Young Talent Time 2015

[Chris25]

Hi Chris not really related to this post but I hope you can shed some light for me and other supporters.
Mason Shaw has been delisted by Port. Have you seen him play and San you give us a rundown on him from his time in SA?
Also what his current height and weight?
There is talk that he may be worth us picking up as a rookie but I would like your honest assessment of him?
Thanks

I didn't really see a lot of him. Since they've gone to Reserves teams in the SANFL, I don't really follow the Adelaide or Port sides. Not really draft relevant. But Shaw was showing good signs last year, when he wasn't injured that is. And he really didn't have a chance this year with his groin injury, played a little down back but he is best up forward. As far as I know, he is 197cm and 92kg.

As a rookie, clubs could do worse. He'd still likely be better than the other mature aged key forwards available, being injury prone helps you keep the 'potential' tag. I don't know about Fremantle though. We do need key forwards, but we need different key forwards to what we already have. Can't fit Shaw in a side with Taberner and Apeness, along with the ruckmen rotating through the forward line. We need the guys in the 190-194cm height range in my opinion. Not just more monsters.

 

[Chris25]

hi Chris, been awhile since i was last on. Pretty wrapped with our year and I think a things unfolded we showed we had the best but not quite there game to get over the hawks in finals - where it counts. But as we all know it is hard to get the key position to a level required and recruiting can only be achievable if have the salary cap and picks and players to trade. This leads me to ask you about a guy who i have not seen play but think his record and ability is someone who we could develop quickly and be a very good key forward - your thoughts on
Luke STRNADICA (East Fremantle)
DOB: 1st January 1998
Debut: N/A
From: Winnacott
Height: 199
Weight: 88
Number: 29

Strnadica is one for next year, he was born a day too late for this years draft. He's showed good signs in the Colts, averaging nearly 3 goals a game. Wait and see how he goes in 2016.

 

[Chris25]

Hi Chris who do you think Gold Coast will take with pick 3, possibly 10, 19 and 22 I think at the moment?

If I was in charge of the Gold Coast, I'd be focusing on the forward line. It doesn't seem to have clicked for me. And as good as the giants like Lynch, Wright and Day might be, a cohesive structure is more important than just height alone. But also, they can't reach like in previous years.

Pick 3 - Darcy Parish or Aaron Francis. I'd probably go Parish, just because I think Francis is best suited to Kolodjashnij's role. And the Suns have too many half backs as it is.

Pick 19 and 22 - I'd aim to get one of Ryan Burton or Harry Himmelberg, to play that strong marking third tall role. And then just best available with the other pick. Ideally, they'd have a pick around the 30 mark for either Hisham Kirbatieh or Blake Hardwick. Because I think 22 would be early for both.

 

[Rondo Dazza]

Gidday Chris, do you have an opinion on Anthony Brolic from Eastern Ranges ?

 

[Chris25]

A few days late, but I've updated my big board with a pre-Combine update. No real major changes, just a few new names in the bottom half.

Gidday Chris, do you have an opinion on Anthony Brolic from Eastern Ranges ?

Rookie chance, the fact that he has come from (relatively) nowhere this year would help his chances. Clubs like rapid improvement in a players draft year, so they may view Brolic as having more development to come. Looks a composed and reasonably skilled half back to me.

 

[george2]

Hey Chris if Freo aren't able to get McCarthy this year and do keep their first pick what are the chances they will look at someone like Himmelberg? I really like the look of him and would add a bit of X factor to our forward line. Having Apeness and Taberner coming through the ranks Himmelberg just seems to add something different as a more mobile tall.

And yes he does remind me of McCarthy that me be what first caught my eye about him.

 

[Chris25]

Hey Chris if Freo aren't able to get McCarthy this year and do keep their first pick what are the chances they will look at someone like Himmelberg? I really like the look of him and would add a bit of X factor to our forward line. Having Apeness and Taberner coming through the ranks Himmelberg just seems to add something different as a more mobile tall.

And yes he does remind me of McCarthy that me be what first caught my eye about him.

I've been high on Himmelberg all year, since about Round 1. I'd be all for Fremantle bidding on him. He's a talented player, it's all finally clicked for him and you now can't knock his ability or consistency. He's more the third tall forward, put him at CHF and let him run and run all day. But it's still a piece we need in the forward line. And he would provide a nice foil to the likes of Taberner, Apeness and the resting ruckmen.

My shortlist at our first round pick would definitely have Himmelberg on it, but #1 would be Ryan Burton - whether he is available, well that depends on his medical assessments. I wouldn't be surprised if he goes later than expected. But, despite being smaller than Himmelberg, he can play as more of a second tall - I'd say he is closer to Pavlich than Mayne in playing style. Burton is strong and confident, he'd also fit in very well.

Dylan Smith, Sam Skinner and Callum Moore are the three other talls I'd be looking at around the second round - all three are strong athletes, and can play at either end of the ground.

 

[Clems Knee]

Hi Chris. I read an article in the West today about Jimmy Miller who played one game in the Colts for South Fremantle. The suggestion was that Fremantle had hidden him from other recruiters.

https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/sport/afl/a/29834408/state-draft-combine-starts/

My question is: does hiding like this still happen? Apparently Luke McPharlin was hidden by Hawthorn before being drafted. What chance does a player who only gets exposed in private school games have of getting drafted?

 

[Chris25]

I should have my update posted tonight. Any late requests? Maybe a McKay slipping into the 30s...?

 

[eth-dog]

I should have my update posted tonight. Any late requests? Maybe a McKay slipping into the 30s...?

If they're there:

4. Francis
5. Weideman
24. Lovell
25. Skinner
57. Hartley

 

[mattyc75]

I should have my update posted tonight. Any late requests? Maybe a McKay slipping into the 30s...?

oliver to the eagles please..

 

[george2]

Hey Chris do you think it would be an option to go for Harry Mckay with 22 and then his Brother with 35 for Freo? it kind of sets us up for the future with a KPF and a KPB which by drafting both of them together may also eliminate the go home factor as well. Would they be available at these picks and if so would it be a stretch for them? Thanks in advance.

 

[blueiris]

Hey Chris do you think it would be an option to go for Harry Mckay with 22 and then his Brother with 35 for Freo? it kind of sets us up for the future with a KPF and a KPB which by drafting both of them together may also eliminate the go home factor as well. Would they be available at these picks and if so would it be a stretch for them? Thanks in advance.

What go home factor? Your not Brisbane/GWS have ever lost any one to a go home factor?

 

[go_the_dockers]

Hi Chris25, would appreciate your opinion on Mitch Brown, Marcus Adams, Josh Bootsma and Shane Yarran.

Which ones should Freo being looking at? What role would they play?

 

[Bicks]

Hey Chris do you think it would be an option to go for Harry Mckay with 22 and then his Brother with 35 for Freo? it kind of sets us up for the future with a KPF and a KPB which by drafting both of them together may also eliminate the go home factor as well. Would they be available at these picks and if so would it be a stretch for them? Thanks in advance.

Pretty confident the Crows will take Harry McKay with one of their picks 9 & 13.

 

[Mofra]

Pretty confident the Crows will take Harry McKay with one of their picks 9 & 13.

Bulldogs keen on his brother with one of our picks at 20 & 21 too apparently

 

[george2]

What go home factor? Your not Brisbane/GWS have ever lost any one to a go home factor?

We seem to have steered clear of taking Victorians as of late because of the go home factor that's all. And if we were lucky enough to have the academies that your two suggested teams have then we also wouldn't need to worry about this.

 

[Chris25]

Hey Chris do you think it would be an option to go for Harry Mckay with 22 and then his Brother with 35 for Freo? it kind of sets us up for the future with a KPF and a KPB which by drafting both of them together may also eliminate the go home factor as well. Would they be available at these picks and if so would it be a stretch for them? Thanks in advance.

Chances are that Harry and Ben aren't available at 22 and 35 respectively. I'd expect Harry to go in the top 15, and Ben probably somewhere around that 22 mark. Although I wouldn't take either of them that high. I'm just not all that sold on Harry. He's big and athletic, but I don't see him as a dominant target. A bit like Josh Jenkins from Adelaide, he'd be okay as a second tall forward. But I wouldn't be building a side around him. As for Ben, I think he projects as a fine defender but I prefer others - Smith, Skinner, Coughlan for example.

Hi Chris25, would appreciate your opinion on Mitch Brown, Marcus Adams, Josh Bootsma and Shane Yarran.

Which ones should Freo being looking at? What role would they play?

I think Mitch Brown goes earlier than he perhaps should. Not a lot of mature aged talls, particularly forwards - Brown has the added appeal of versatility. I just see him as a bit like Silvagni - too good for the state league, but not really good enough to be an AFL starter. Marcus Adams would be a decent enough pick late in the draft, but he really is more of a third tall. He won't really be solving too many of our issues. The same goes for Bootsma, who'd be a good rookie selection as a medium tall defender. Can't see Yarran being on our radar, now that we've picked up Bennell.

 

[TerryWallet]

Pretty confident the Crows will take Harry McKay with one of their picks 9 & 13.

If Weideman and Curnow are gone by Carlton's Pick 8, it wouldn't surprise me if Carlton pull the trigger on McKay at 8 precisely because Crows have 9 and are also interested. McKay might be raw now, but if he were born 1 week later he would be an under ager. If he played TAC again next year he might be anything. I wouldn't mind Carlton taking a punt on a baby giraffe who might be Top 3 quality this time next year.

Carlton can then take a mid at Pick 11. Someone who wins their own ball like Oliver or Mathison would suit the beginning of a large rebuild.

 

[TheLeftFist8]

Bulldogs keen on his brother with one of our picks at 20 & 21 too apparently

That will work well, Ben could have some good chats with Harry before we play each other

 

[Keystone agony]

As a SA junior watcher, thoughts on Milera Chris25

Not to where he goes just your opinion on him? I really like what i see

 

[nottenthagain]

I should have my update posted tonight. Any late requests? Maybe a McKay slipping into the 30s...?

Hopper before Mills would be good

EDIT - and Coughlan with our only other live pick

 

[dwoody15]

Hey Chris do you think it would be an option to go for Harry Mckay with 22 and then his Brother with 35 for Freo? it kind of sets us up for the future with a KPF and a KPB which by drafting both of them together may also eliminate the go home factor as well. Would they be available at these picks and if so would it be a stretch for them? Thanks in advance.

I think zero chance Harry being there at 22. Crows will take him before then.

 

[Chris25]

The first page is updated with my new draft. I know some clubs wont be picking so late, so treat those picks as rookie selections.

 

[dwoody15]

Crows will not take Hibberd and Collins. They need tall forwards and ruckmen, not defenders.