Yep, hence why I want Parish too, outside speed. You would think that Laverde, Langford and Edwards have us covered in that 3rd tall midfield sort of guy.Where's curnow play?I believe 3rd tall forward with massive potential to move into the midfield
Agree - those three are the short terms key. Strong improvement from them over the next few years added to Zerret, Hepp, Colyer and Parish/Curnow plus hopefully we snag a Bennel, Hall type and mids not too bad.
I just want midfielders and forwards. It’s been a long time since we had a midfield that struck fear into the best opposition teams.
Yep, hence why I want Parish too, outside speed. You would think that Laverde, Langford and Edwards have us covered in that 3rd tall midfield sort of guy.Where's curnow play?I believe 3rd tall forward with massive potential to move into the midfield
Completely agree. Ultimately though we will only be able to select from what is left to select. I hope Parish is as I can’t remember at any point where we have been able to pick the best genuine midfielder in the draft.
build a midfield, buy free agent forwards. problem don sign me up essington.
Still can't see Leuenberger or Kreuzer commanding compensation to that level. Probably end of first round more likely.
I couldn’t see Frawley commanding a 3rd round compo… look what happened.
If we want a chance at parish we're gonna have to lose next week it seemsDees are in full tank mode
Wanna bet??
Wanna bet??
Cue: Humbert stage right.
Yep, hence why I want Parish too, outside speed. You would think that Laverde, Langford and Edwards have us covered in that 3rd tall midfield sort of guy.Where's curnow play?I believe 3rd tall forward with massive potential to move into the midfield
Completely agree. Ultimately though we will only be able to select from what is left to select. I hope Parish is as I can’t remember at any point where we have been able to pick the best genuine midfielder in the draft.
Maybe 2006 with midfielders like Selwood and Boak available unless you consider Gibbs a genuine midfielder.
Trade period key dates
August 31, 2015 11:00 AM
The AFL have released key dates for the 2015 season around club list requirements, AFL Trade Period and the NAB AFL Draft Process:
Friday 25 September 2pm - Draft Eligible Academy Player Nominations Lodged
Friday 9 October - AFL Restricted Free Agency Offer and Unrestricted Free Agency Period Commences
Monday 12 October 10am - NAB AFL Trade Period Commences
Sunday 18 October 5pm - Close of AFL Restricted Free Agency Offer and Unrestricted Free Agency Period.
Wednesday 21 October - AFL Restricted Free Agency Matching Offer 3 Day Period Ends
Thursday 22 October 2pm – NAB AFL Trade Period Closes
Friday 23 October 5pm - Application to Relist a Player Close
Friday 30 October 2pm - List Lodgement (1)
Saturday 31 October - AFL Delisted Player Free Agency Period (1) Commences
Monday 9 November 5pm - AFL Delisted Player Free Agency Period (1) Closes
Monday 9 November 2pm - Out of Contract Listed AFL Primary List Players Draft Nomination Form and Player Request for Removal from List Form Lodged with AFL
Tuesday 10 November 2pm - List Lodgement (2); TPP Pre-Season Estimates (2)
Wednesday 11 November - AFL Delisted Player Free Agency Period (2) Commences
Tuesday 17 November 2pm - Delisted Primary List Draft Nomination Form Lodgement; Non–Retained Rookie Players Draft Nomination Form Lodgement; Players Not Registered or Played for Three years Rookie List Form lodgement; New or Expired (after 3 years) Draft Nomination Form Lodgement.
Friday 20 November 5pm - AFL Delisted Player Free Agency Period (2) Closes
Tuesday 24 November - NAB AFL Draft Selection Meeting (Adelaide Convention Centre) including Father/Son & Academy Players Bidding.
Wednesday 25 November - AFL Delisted Player Free Agency Period (3) Commences
Thursday 26 November 2pm - AFL Delisted Free Agency Period (3) Concludes; AFL Club List Lodgement (3).
Friday 27 November 11am - NAB AFL Pre-Season Draft Selection Meeting
Friday 27 November 11:05am - Notification of Pre-Selected Rookies if not selected in the Pre-Season Draft.
Friday 27 November 11:10am - NAB AFL Rookie Draft Selection Meeting
Tuesday 1 December 2pm - Final AFL Club List Lodgement; Final TPP Pre-Season Estimates
Friday 4 December 2pm - International Players Inclusion on Rookie List Form Lodgement.
Yep, hence why I want Parish too, outside speed. You would think that Laverde, Langford and Edwards have us covered in that 3rd tall midfield sort of guy.Where's curnow play?I believe 3rd tall forward with massive potential to move into the midfield
Completely agree. Ultimately though we will only be able to select from what is left to select. I hope Parish is as I can’t remember at any point where we have been able to pick the best genuine midfielder in the draft.
Maybe 2006 with midfielders like Selwood and Boak available unless you consider Gibbs a genuine midfielder.
If you DO consider squibs … I mean Gibbs a genuine mid your opinion probably shouldnt count anyway
So, I’m going to question two common stated beliefs. The first is that we need mids, mids and more mids. With a dash of small forward. The second is that we need pace. To be clear, I’m playing a little devils advocate, but I am questioning these memes.
The first one
Ok, so our midfield got hit hard. But virtually every major injury we had this year was to the midfield. Yes, they’re ageing. But Laverde is looking more and more like a midfielder. Zerrett pretty much will be. Langford picked up 25 possessions in the VFL playing through the midfield. Yes, they were recruited as HF flankers/3rd talls. So were Mercuri, G. Ablett jnr, S. Johnson, Chapman, Zorko, Rockliff, etc. There is a long history of top class HF players becoming top midfielders.
So do we really need just mids, mids, mids + a small forward? Especially when next year is meant to be a midfielder’s draft? Or have we already been recruiting for mids? With Zerrett, Laverde and Langford have we already done a big part of that recruitment?
After all, we’ve only got 2 rucks and 6 KP players on the senior list (including Fletcher and Pears). Even with McKernan’s possible promotion, surely we need to bring 2-3 more talls onto the list? We saw what happened when two were injured (Hurley & Carlisle) and it wasn’t pretty.
The second one
We keep saying we need pace. Which is true. But have we already recruited for that? Or got a chunk of it on the injury list? Laverde isn’t a slouch. Zerrett, Zaha, Gleeson, Jerrett and McKenna can all hold their own against most. Fantasia and Edwards are quick. And Colyer is lightning. Now, will they all make it and be on the park? Probably not. But is that enough that maybe pace shouldn’t be prioritised? I’d say yes.
The area we really struggled this year was good ball use and getting the hands on the ball without Myers, Watson and Hocking. Although avoiding guys who are treacle, should the priority be on getting guys with good foot skills, and who maybe can get a chunk of it themselves? They can then feed the faster guys (that’s if a Zerret or Laverde aren’t getting it themselves).
Conclusion
I think the first pick should be best available. Even if that’s a tall. The only exception would be a ruck, and there isn’t any that are top picks anyway. Tall, small, flanker, we just need game breakers. Hell, even if they play small back, Bags is 28 and Gleeson hardly set in stone. The only proviso I would make is if we go tall first, we should go small 2nd. And vice versa.
After that, the priority should be good disposal, and (if sufficiently good ones are available) a bunch of talls when its all weighed at the end. Its hard to see how we’re not going to have fewer than 5 live picks, so if we ended up with 2 smalls, 2 talls and a ruck with the first two picks used on one of both groups, I’d be pretty happy.
FYI next year has some ripper rucks in there
If we get mid first rounder for Carlisle, maybe could get these two playing together … Mids mids mids
So, I'm going to question two common stated beliefs. The first is that we need mids, mids and more mids. With a dash of small forward. The second is that we need pace. To be clear, I'm playing a little devils advocate, but I am questioning these memes.The first one
Ok, so our midfield got hit hard. But virtually every major injury we had this year was to the midfield. Yes, they’re ageing. But Laverde is looking more and more like a midfielder. Zerrett pretty much will be. Langford picked up 25 possessions in the VFL playing through the midfield. Yes, they were recruited as HF flankers/3rd talls. So were Mercuri, G. Ablett jnr, S. Johnson, Chapman, Zorko, Rockliff, etc. There is a long history of top class HF players becoming top midfielders.So do we really need just mids, mids, mids + a small forward? Especially when next year is meant to be a midfielder’s draft? Or have we already been recruiting for mids? With Zerrett, Laverde and Langford have we already done a big part of that recruitment?
After all, we’ve only got 2 rucks and 6 KP players on the senior list (including Fletcher and Pears). Even with McKernan’s possible promotion, surely we need to bring 2-3 more talls onto the list? We saw what happened when two were injured (Hurley & Carlisle) and it wasn’t pretty.
The second one
We keep saying we need pace. Which is true. But have we already recruited for that? Or got a chunk of it on the injury list? Laverde isn’t a slouch. Zerrett, Zaha, Gleeson, Jerrett and McKenna can all hold their own against most. Fantasia and Edwards are quick. And Colyer is lightning. Now, will they all make it and be on the park? Probably not. But is that enough that maybe pace shouldn’t be prioritised? I’d say yes.The area we really struggled this year was good ball use and getting the hands on the ball without Myers, Watson and Hocking. Although avoiding guys who are treacle, should the priority be on getting guys with good foot skills, and who maybe can get a chunk of it themselves? They can then feed the faster guys (that’s if a Zerret or Laverde aren’t getting it themselves).
Conclusion
I think the first pick should be best available. Even if that’s a tall. The only exception would be a ruck, and there isn’t any that are top picks anyway. Tall, small, flanker, we just need game breakers. Hell, even if they play small back, Bags is 28 and Gleeson hardly set in stone. The only proviso I would make is if we go tall first, we should go small 2nd. And vice versa.After that, the priority should be good disposal, and (if sufficiently good ones are available) a bunch of talls when its all weighed at the end. Its hard to see how we’re not going to have fewer than 5 live picks, so if we ended up with 2 smalls, 2 talls and a ruck with the first two picks used on one of both groups, I’d be pretty happy.
The mids + pace stuff comes from the thought that although we’ve recruited for those roles (and I would guess we actually recruited Langford and Laverde as long term mids…who recruits anyone as HFFs?), the ones we have recruited are either still young and developing (L/L + Fantasia), or people have significant questions about them becoming full time mids (think J. Merrett, Gleeson).
Now I’m prepared to back these guys in to become gun mids based on what I’ve seen, but I can understand the thinking that we need mids.
We absolutely need talls though. 1 x ruck + 2 x potential KP types as a minimum to get the list balance back close to right (probably keeping Gwilt + Stein or Pears as well).
For me I would take the best we can get at our first pick, but I kind of hope Weitering and Schache are gone, because I think we could do with some more of the elite midfield type. I’d be happy with Curnow or Francis as well as Parish, if they have midfield potential, even if their current role is more as a flanker type.
I do wonder if we would have a bid at (eg) Hopper at our pick if we rate him above Parish as a mid.
Then I’d be looking at a couple of talls, a ruck and another runner.
Of course it depends on how many picks etc, and what we know of the future. For instance if we didn’t really rate available rucks, perhaps we’d be happy to take a McKay as a KP (with a little ruck potential), and then rookie a ruck with the option to turn them over into next years draft if they didn’t improve)
unrelated but draft tidbits:
Hmm, not sure Mills isn’t a better prospect than Hopper (although obviously based on last year…)
Latest footyprophet rankins:
A lot can change in a month of football, and we’ve seen some exciting talent continue to rise, whilst others have just started taper off.
South Australia’s Riley Bonner is rapidly raising, ditto that with Vic Metro skipper Jade Gresham who a fortnight ago feasted on the lowly Bendigo Pioneers in the TAC Cup, finishing with 42 disposals, 12 clearances and two goals. Darcy Parish continues to find a new gear, Josh Dunkley has made his long-awaited return to TAC Cup Footy, so too has Charlie Curnow who is flourishing up forward for the Falcons.
Without further ado, let’s get stuck into the Top 25 for August. Keep in mind, that September 28 will be the first official Phantom Draft, which will carry on from the monthly Big Board of current form.
1: Joshua Schache (-)
Height: 199cm, Weight: 96kg
Club: Murray Bushrangers
Position: Key Forward/Ruck
The hulking key forward who plucks marks close to the moon has bagged nine goals in his last three outings, and included he’s averaged 6.6 marks during that period. Josh Schache has continued to go from strength-to-strength, and has confirmed himself as a top-two talent for November’s draft. Schache has continued to have impact in wins and losses, and has been named in the best in each of Murray’s last four outings. Blessed with vice-like hands, a terrific vertical leap and efficiency in front of goal, the 2015 Larke Medallist boasts competitiveness at and courage scouts are raving about. With the ability to move into the ruck, the key forward has terrific agility and athleticism, times his leads well, and is unbeatable in the air.
2: Jacob Weitering (-)
Height: 195cm, Weight: 90kg
Club: Dandenong Stingrays
Position: Defender
Having missed a month of TAC Cup football, Jacob Weitering returned to Dandenong side against reigning Premiers Oakleigh two weeks ago, and put in a strong performance, finishing with 25 disposals, nine handball receives and six marks. The key defender rebounded at will, with the Chargers having no answering for the elite ball-winner, cutting off forward entries and quickly looking to move the ball on with his booming kick, that sets play up further afield. Weitering managed juts the 13 disposals against the Jets last weekend, but don’t let that fool you. The key defender still took nine marks, six of which were contested. He has the ability to debut early in his debut season, and serves as a ‘ready-made’ player who can step into any team’s backline and have immediate impact.
3: Darcy Parish (6)
Height: 181cm, Weight: 72kg
Club: Geelong Falcons
Position: Midfielder
If Darcy Parish was a thermometer, then not only would the mercury be rising, but it very well could have exploded through the top by now. A 38-disposal effort against reigning Premiers Oakleigh last weekend means the lid is off. The kid is a jet – but we already knew that. In the past month, Parish’s stats have been off the Richta. The blonde-haired, nimble midfielder has averaged 30 disposals over his past month of TAC Cup footy, has shown his outside prowess and running capacity with an average of 9.5 hand ball receives per game, and leads the competition in metres gained. He gutsy line-breaker isn’t afraid of winning his own ball, and is no stranger to making his presence felt on the scoreboard, either.
4: Aaron Francis (-)
Height: 191cm, Weight: 88kg
Club: West Adelaide
Position: Defender/Utility
Continuing on from his good form, the tall utility from West Adelaide looks a safe bet as a top-five talent, if that wasn’t already known. He’s safe as houses in defence, cutting off entries with strong marks, and finding avenues to propel his team into attack, whilst up forward he’s not shy of flying for a pack mark; put simply, he has game-changing attributes. Francis also has provided minutes through the midfield; it’s where his mature body and thirst for the contested ball make him a wrecking ball in close, but the question mark on him is his tank – it’s not quite at a level where he can threaten the midfield for prolonged periods of time, and looms more of a swingman prospect at either end of the ground.
5: Callum Mills (3)
Height: 188cm, Weight: 78kg
Club: North Shore
Position: Midfielder
A busy midfielder who on the open market would be right in the frame, if not already the draft’s ‘best’ and ‘safest’ pick. Callum Mills is the ultimate professional on and off the track, and presents as the complete package as the modern day midfielder. Mills ticks all the boxes – speed, endurance, agility, he is a volume accumulator and tackler, impacts the scoreboard and is unselfish when in possession. Mills has been held back slightly this year due to a shin injury, however bids will come thick and fast for the Sydney Academy wonder kid who some believe is already ‘better than’ Isaac Heeney. He’s still continued to suffer problems thanks to a stress reaction that’s limited to just one game this year.
6: Jacob Hopper (5)
Height: 186cm, Weight: 82kg
Club: North Ballarat Rebels
Position: Midfielder
Having really hit his straps in his past two TAC Cup games for the Rebels, Jacob Hopper has averaged almost 23 disposals, five tackles, five marks, six handball receives and two goals per game, with his contested possessions almost forming 50 per cent of his disposal tally in 2015. A wrecking ball in close that also possesses a great kick, quick hands and a hard-nosed approach – Hopper has a mean, ferocious streak that the Giants are licking their lips at. Never one to take a backward step, Hopper’s competitiveness and attack on the ball makes him arguably the best contested-ball winner the draft has to offer.
7: Charlie Curnow (-)
Height: 191cm, Weight: 95kg
Club: Geelong Falcons
Position: Utility
The big fella is back, and my gosh has he returned with a vengeance. Charlie Curnow has put together three consecutive games now for the Falcons since suffering a dislocated knee back in May that put a line through his National Championships. Curnow has been stationed up forward since returning, bagging nine goals across games against the Knights, Chargers and Stingrays. During that period, he’s thrown up some exciting numbers; averaging almost 13 possessions, six marks (three contested), and has kicked 6.1 in the past fortnight. The aggressive utility is strong and competitive, has courage and excels in the air. He always looks a threat when he’s near the ball, and isn’t afraid of playing high up the ground where he can out-work his opponent. He’ll go early, but isn’t one who I believe that’ll impact early in his debut year. Curnow is a natural footballer, but he’s still got development to go in his game. He’s more of a long-term prospect.
8: Rhys Mathieson (10)
Height: 185cm, Weight: 79kg
Club: Geelong Falcons
Position: Midfielder
Another contested beast that makes a habit of ensuring his opponent eats dirt when thrown to the ground in a tackle, Geelong’s Rhys Mathieson is a competitor with a football character that coaches crave. A workhorse that loves the physical stuff – Mathieson has a tank that allows him cover huge territory, and remain on the park for long periods of time. A midfielder who’ll dominate the clearances and contested ball, Mathieson doesn’t have any breath-taking traits, however you’ll always know what you’ll get with the fierce midfielder; courage in spades, leadership by the bucket load and an unrelenting attack on the ball that inspires teammates. His disposal can be rushed and scrappy at times, but he’s worked hard on that, and it showed during the championships, averaging 68 per cent disposal efficiency, a tick off AFL-elite.
9: Matthew Kennedy (8)
Height: 187cm, Weight: 84kg
Club: Collingullie-Glenfield Park
Position: Midfielder
Another top-end talent to miss the carnival through injury, Matt Kennedy is yet another elite product from the GWS Academy System who clubs will be quickly placing bids for later in the year. The mature-bodied midfielder is incredibly well balanced on both sides of his body, finding targets short and deep with ease. Kennedy is a prime mover, another contested ball winner with grunt and ferocity, but has a smooth, classy outside game in space that gives him a point of difference. I’m a big fan of his work rate, his defensive game (volume tackler) and transition running. He’s no stranger to the ‘don’t argue’, and has a powerful core and strong legs that rarely see him brought to ground.
10: Harry McKay (11)
Height: 200cm, Weight: 85kg
Club: Gippsland Power
Position: Key Forward/Ruck
A powerful unit that strikes an imposing figure deep forward, Harry McKay burst onto the scene early in the TAC Cup season for the Power with a bag of four goals, and carried that form right through to the National Championships where his impact was seriously felt as the carnival went on. Does all the things a player of his size should do – he hits packs, throws his weight around and is deceptively agile and clean below his knees. Offers some versatility with the ability to be rolled through the ruck, but has an eye for goal and is a strong mark of the ball, both contested and uncontested, and on the lead, with marks above his head a feature. He does have a habit of playing higher up the ground, where he likes to really outwork his opponent, but understands how to lead back into space to put himself into dangerous positions.
11: Eric Hipwood (10)
Height: 200cm, Weight: 82kg
Club: Aspley
Position: Key Utility
There must be something in the water in Queensland, because the Lions have made a habit of listing 198cm+ beanpole prospects from their Academy in recent years. With a booming left foot that penetrates well beyond 50 metres, and athleticism that’ll measure off the Richter scale at this year’s combine, the Lions are licking their lips at the raw, exciting prospect that they’ll have exclusive access to thanks to their Academy system. I loved Hipwood’s four-goal performance against Tasmania in the Championships; he made smart leads, impressed with sure hands overhead, and looked ultra-cool and composed kicking for goal. Down back, he’s quick off the mark, competes well below his knees and gets front position, playing the percentages with a strong spoil. There’s a lot of Harris Andrews about Hipwood, it’s a scary prospect to think these two will be the pillars of Brisbane’s spine in the coming years.
12: Sam Weideman (-)
Height: 196cm, Weight: 91kg
Club: Eastern Ranges
Position: Key Forward
A competitive beast blessed with terrific athleticism, agility and a strong leap, Sam Weideman has become somewhat of a hard man to place given his lack of football this year, thanks to a stress fracture in his foot. Weideman had a consistent year for the Ranges as a bottom-age prospect last year (albeit a minor hiccup midway through), getting better as the season progressed, but you only need to look back at his remarkable game for the Academy against the Northern Blues VFL to see what he’s capable of. Weideman has clean hands and is an elite contested mark. He doesn’t mind flying for a ball in a pack situation, just as much as he loves going one-on-one. An efficient power forward, and when you watch him next, check out his composure on either side of his body – something very rare for key forwards.
13: Riley Bonner (15)
Height: 189cm, Weight: 76kg
Club: West Adelaide
Position: Defender
If you were tracking last year’s draft, Riley Bonner is like Harrison Wigg, but taller. Some recruiters believe that Bonner is the best kick of the 2015 Draft Class, and it’s not hard to see why. Bonner hits the ball hard, flat and gets serious penetration and purchase with a variety of kicks. He’s got speed, he’s got dare and dash, his lateral movements rate elite, and his sidestep through traffic coming out of the backline makes him a tantalizing prospect for a club that’s looking for a chief playmaker coming out of defence. The left-footer has a raking kick, but is super-efficient on his right – a very rare trait for ‘lefties’. He’s shown both at West Adelaide and at Championship level that there is scope for him to play minutes with the midfield, and with his attacking nature, he projects to be a wanted man for those in the 12-20 bracket for picks in November.
14: Ryan Burton (-)
Height: 191cm, Weight: 83kg
Club: North Adelaide
Position: Medium Forward
You could be forgiven for forgetting who Ryan Burton is. A horrific leg break sustained late last year has seen Burton’s final junior year stalled at the moment, as he recovers from the sickening accident. The North Adelaide forward was touted as a top-five talent after a super-strong championship for South Australian as a bottom-aged player in 2014. Burton is a deadly medium forward who needs little of the ball to stamp his influence on the game. Burton plays exclusively as a specialist forward, and whilst some might knock his lack of versatility, it’s a position he owns and executes. Burton’s leads are quick, well-timed and precise. His marking rates elite, he is unbeatable when he gets front position, is a ripping overhead mark, and is so clean at ground level that he presents an awkward match up for opposition teams. He’ll kick goals from short or long range and from all angles. A very unique player who is still some chance to return to football before the year is out.
15: Kieran Collins (13)
Height: 193, Weight: 94kgs
Club: Dandenong Stingrays
Position: Key Defender
The development and improvement in 12 months from Kieran Collins is almost hard to fathom. The brute key defender has had a remarkable season to date, shutting down opposition key forwards and rarely having his colours lowered. Collins does everything demanded of a modern day defender. He takes intercept marks, is neat by foot, rebounds from 50 frequently, but is also tough to beat one-on-one in a contest when playing as a stopper. Collins is vanilla, but he does the small things right, and often. His ability in the air and at ground level is robust, he kills contests with big spoils, and doesn’t shy away from being dragged to the goal square, or putting his body on the line. Very much a heart-and-soul player, who could easily churn out 150+ games.
16: Ben McKay (new)
Height: 200cm, Weight: 91kg
Club: Gippsland Power
Position: Key Position ForwardThe identical twin to top-10 bolter Harry, Ben McKay is making his own waves having come from out of nowhere to find himself not only in draft contention, but as a player who could just as easily join his twin brother as a first round selection come November. Having recently been invited to the National combine, Ben – a 200cm athletic big man, has shown athleticism and agility rare in players his height. He attacks a contest with vigour, whilst thinly built, he has a competitive and hard-nosed edge that see’s him throw himself at the footy. He leads up to the footy well, gets into good spots, times his leads and recovers well from a contest. He’s still raw in aspects of his game, but his contested marking is one of his standout attributes; his vice-like hands are safe as houses, and he’s also got a natural kicking technique in front of goal, but it’s still something can be more finely honed. He’s exciting, one who will start to get a bit more ‘air-time’ in the coming month or so by the general public, because draft nerds are already all over him.
17: Harley Balic (-)
Height: 187cm, Weight: 80kg
Club: Sandringham Dragons
Position: Midfielder
A former basketballer whose lateral movements, vision and awareness have made him a hot prospect for those with a pick within the first 15 selections, Harley Balic makes time stop around him. He sees things unfold before others, and understands space and time in thick congestion, finding a way to dish off a slick handball to release a player, or sidestep an opponent to get a kick away. He’s played mostly across half forward, but has really started to make inroads as an on-baller, a position he is projected to hold-down full time in years to come. He is an elite mark, a strong kick for goal and an important avenue to goal with goal assists and involvements.
18: Darcy Tucker (16)
Height: 184cm, Weight: 78kg
Club: North Ballarat Rebels
Position: Defender
Had a quiet carnival by his lofty standards, but there is no disputing that Darcy Tucker is an exceptionally well-credentialed prospect, and one that has been talked about extensively since being named All Australian in his bottom-age year in 2014. The pacey rebounding-defender is an elite intercept mark and user of the footy. He makes good decisions coming off half-back, and rolls through the midfield when required. Tucker has a sweet sidestep, and is the type of player who can spot a opening in congestion, and burst through it, opening up space for him to break the lines and become a dangerous ball carrier. He’s tough, uncompromising, leads by example and has a fierce streak that coaches love. A strong tackler and somebody who isn’t afraid of b-lining the ball with reckless abandon, Tucker is a favourite among draft watches.
19: Callum Ah Chee (17)
Height: 182cm, Weight: 71kg
Club: South Fremantle
Position: Midfielder/Forward
Capable of the impossible, and the type of player who’ll create something from nothing – Callum Ah Chee is exhilarating to watch when he’s on song, he’s got speed and acceleration, a natural leap that sees him float high over opponents to take big grabs, and is tidy and precise with the ball by foot. His run-and-carry is arguably the highlight of his game. His three-bounce escapades are that of legend in the WAFL, and conversely, he loves a chase-down tackle, a feature of his game that is adrenaline-charged. Struggled for consistency during the National Championships, but had moments of brilliance where onlookers shook their head in disbelief. He’s a special talent.
20: Jade Gresham (22)
Height: 177cm, Weight: 74kg
Club: Northern Knights
Position: Midfielder
Who says size matters? Anybody that’s watched Jade Gresham’s footy this year will attest that the pint-sized on-baller has some serious tricks, and showed on the weekend why he has a place within the first round of this year’s draft. Off the back of a super impressive game last week, in which Gresham finished 42 disposals, 12 clearances and two goals, he’s backed it up with arguably a game-winning performance for his Knights against the Power on Saturday, bagging two final-quarter goals, and having almost a dozen last-quarter disposals to help his side, the Northern Knights over the line by the slimmest of margins. A player who makes his teammates walk taller when he’s around, there is no denying Jade Gresham the ball when he wants it. The elite ball winner and TAC Cup superstar was a standout for Vic Metro in a sub-par year, the busy on-baller providing energy and courage in spades at the stoppages, while he proved he was also a handy option up forward. Universally admired by his peers, Gresham has fantastic leadership traits, he excels at the stoppages with his clearances and tackling rating elite, he is vocal and demanding of his teammates, and his efficiency by hand and by foot rounds him out as a very nice package.
21: Wayne Milera (-)
Height: 185cm, Weight: 75kg
Club: Central District
Position: Midfielder/Forward
Wow! The carnival that Wayne Milera put together was nothing short of extraordinary. He ticked all the ‘C’s for me during the championship; he was competitive, courageous, classy and cool under pressure. A deceptive ferocious edge that sees him attack the ball and the ball carrier with reckless abandon, Milera is shooting up draft boards very quickly. He was super-elite with his disposal, showed his marking prowess with some stellar overhead grabs, loomed large through the midfield and proved a very big headache when stationed across half forward. He’s already got consistent senior action under his belt in the SANFL, where he’s shown he can match and beat some of the stronger bodies, particularly in traffic where he barely caught with the ball. There are so many exciting attributes to his game, particularly when he runs with the ball. It’ll be interesting to see how he’s placed on draft boards as the year rolls on.
22: Ben Keays (-)
Height: 183cm, Weight: 78kg
Club: Redland
Position: Midfielder/Forward
Is there another player in this draft crop that has more ■■■■■ and swagger than Ben Keays? Probably not; but the classy midfielder-■■■-forward can talk the talk, and certainly walk the walk. He’s got some attitude in the way that he plays, he’s energetic, intoxicating, unforgiving and was born for the big time. I love how he hunts the ball, rather than kick chasing, but his disposal could still use a bit of polish at times. The Harrison Medalist has put two super impressive Championships in as many years together, and the Brisbane Lions Academy member looks more than capable of playing early in 2016.
23: Tom Cole (19)
Height: 185cm, Weight: 76kg
Club: Bendigo Pioneers
Position: Defender/Midifelder
An uncompromising defender who hates being beaten, there is a reason Tom Cole’s opponents become a little quieter when he is around. He is tough, physical and flat out aggressive, and I’ll still never forget the day I saw him run 100 metres out of his way to push another player over who had dropped his teammate behind play. That is just the type of player Cole is. The tough defender is a rudder in defence, he likes to control things and usually sets the tone early with his hardness at the ball. Not one to shirk a contest, Cole b-lines the ball and commits with his body, in the air he’s also courageous, and he’s not afraid to drop back into a hole whilst expecting contact. While he’s a little rough around the edges, he’s still got polish in the places he needs it the most. His kicking is tidy, his marking strong, his defensive ability one-on-one sees him often lower the colours of his opponent. Cole is hardly a shirking flower, and he’s become quite an accumulator through the midfielder, undoubtedly improving since his addition to the AFL Academy.
24: Clayton Oliver (new)
Height: 187cm, Weight: 86kgs
Club: Murray Bushrangers
Position: Midfielder
Moving into the top 30, Clayton Oliver has been threatening this position for weeks, but showed why on the weekend that draft nerds around the country are talking about the 17 year-old who has some good senior bush footy under his belt to go along side his stunning run of form of late. Oliver bagged six goals – from the midfield! He also helped himself to 27 disposals and six clearances. In the past two months, Clayton has finished in the Bushrangers’ best seven out of eight games he has played, averaging 26 disposals throughout that period. The hard-nosed on-baller is ultra composed in a contest; his hands at the stoppages are slick and quick, his mature body means he’s rarely brought to ground, . Featured in the best for Richmond VFL’s side clash against Sandringham late in July playing as the 23rd man
25: Luke Partington (24)
Height: 182cm, Weight: 72kgs
Club: Norwood
Position: Midfielder
One of very few players who tests elite for both speed and endurance, Luke Partington is an outside-leaning midfielder who has really worked hard on his inside game to find the right balance between the two. He’s shown at Colts level he can be a damaging and effective by foot, whilst he is also a hard-runner whose link up work and ability to find space and create opportunities for forwards is why he’s so highly rated. Partington put together an impressive championship, leading the way for SA in disposals and clearances, and capped off the carnival with All Australian honours. The goal-kicking midfielder joined Norwood this year as part of the SANFL’s re-zoning, and isn’t far off a senior debut.
26: Mitchell Hibberd (new)
Height: 191cm, Weight: 85kg
Club: Clarence
Position: Defender/Midfielder
Suffered an ACL tear in 2013 and followed that up with a shoulder reconstruction which sidelined the talented utility for 18-odd months. However since coming back into the Clarence side pre-championships, Mitchell Hibberd has stringed together some impressive form that’s seen him continuously rise up draft board rankings. A tall defender-come-wingman, Hibbered moves smoothly with the ball in hand, and his lateral movements, coupled with a good burst of speed off the mark make him a tantalising prospect for clubs in the second and third rounds. The Tasmanian, who is benefiting greatly from the 19-year old rule, has shown his tremendous athletic traits. He is a strong overhead mark; he moves the ball swiftly and soundly by foot, and loves to attack from half back, setting up play further afield. Most will remember his 30 possession effort against NSW/ACT in the Championships, in which he showed just exactly what he was capable of.
27: Ryan Clark (25)
Height: 180cm, Weight: 77kg
Club: Eastern Ranges
Position: Midfielder
I’m a very big fan of the way that Ryan Clarke plays his football. He’s got versatility in spades and strong leadership that allows him to play all over the park. Whilst he plays predominately as a balanced midfielder, who is as good as winning the contested ball, as he is with it on the outside of packs – Clarke also is a genuine goal-kicking midfielder. His stoppage work is good, and whilst he’s not overly pacey, he’s got a strong three or four-step burst away from a stoppage that gives him enough time to make good decisions by foot. He gets a big tick for his defensive pressure, his tackling is a highlight, and he’s the type of midfielder who’ll push into defence, and be good enough in his end-to-end running to follow the ball to the other end to present as an option.
28: Nick O’Kearney (23)
Height: 181cm, Weight: 71kg
Club: Calder Cannons
Position: Midfielder
How many players win their club best and fairest in their bottom age year? Not many, but that’s what Nick O’Kearney did last year, and he’s continued that form in 2015, albeit in a very different looking Cannons lineup. Captaining basically every team he’s played for since he was a kid, O’Kearney has future club captain written all over him. He quietly goes about his business with minimal fuss. He collects the ball with ease, finds himself in the right places and is balanced with his inside and outside game. O’Kearney’s work rate needs to be seen to be believed. He is constantly getting to the right spots, and is a workhorse at the stoppages. The nimble midfielder could be compared to Steele Sidebottom in the way that he is so efficient by foot off either side of his body, it’s hard to tell which exactly is his preferred. Every sense an elite player who comes without the bells and whistles, he’ll be a bargain if he’s still around in the late teens or even early 20’s.
29: Hisham Kerbatieh (new)
Height: 177cm, Weight: 77kgs
Club: Calder Cannons
Position: Small Forward
Hisham Kerbatieh features for the first time in my 2015 draft rankings, and with good reason. The classy, explosive small forward is slick, polished and is always ice-cool in front of goal. With the ability to launch bombs from outside 50, Kerbatieh’s attack on the ball is relentless, and his form over post-championships have seen his draft stocks continue to rise, particularly given that the Cannons have given him greater minutes in the midfield where he’s shown can cut through congestion, bounce through would-be tacklers and goose-step through traffic making a mockery of his opponent. Not too dissimilar to a Jamie Elliott-type, Kerbatieh leaps like a flea off a wet dog, and sets up numerous goal scoring opportunities with his selfless, team-first approach. He’s worked hard to improve his tank, but looms as a specialist small, speedy forward at AFL level that will appeal to plenty of suitors.
30: Josh Dunkley (new)
Height: 187cm, Weight: 84kg
Club: Gippsland Power
Position: Midfielder
Working his way back from injury, it’s been a tough year for Josh Dunkley who promised big things as a bottom-age player for the Power last year, but has been limited thanks to a back injury that’s plagued the majority of his final junior year. The good news for Dunkley, is that he’s put two strong performances together in a row for Gippsland, and hasn’t lost any of his endurance or leadership that are the cornerstones of his game. Dunkley, an inside midfielder who is influential around the stoppages, can take a strong mark and is a volume tackler, but he still has work to do on his overall skill set. He can be scrappy at times, his kicking doesn’t have much depth, and I’d expect at the top level he’ll need development on his spread and outside game. The fact that he’s been playing senior football since he was 15 shouldn’t come as a surprise, he’ll assimilate into AFL level nicely, but still has some work to do on areas of his game before he gets there.
Paige Cardona is Footy Prophet’s AFL Draft expert. The AFL Draft Board – August edition is the latest instalment in the series, previewing the top 30 junior football talents ahead of the 2015 National Draft.
Who does parish go for? same with francis?Francis supports us. Not sure about Parish.
Are you sure about Francis?? He is an Adelaide lad after all.
Article from 2 weeks ago has him a #1 pick chance. It could be a bit of SA bias though.
Top draft prospect Aaron Francis relishes home support as Adelaide wins hosting rights
August 11, 2015 7:59pm
POSSIBLE No. 1 selection Aaron Francis is delighted that the AFL’s national draft will be held in Adelaide on November 24, making it easier for family and friends to share the experience.
It was announced on Tuesday that the SA Government had won a tender to stage the event, after three years of the draft being on the Gold Coast.
It will be the second time South Australia hosts the event — the first was at Football Park in 1997 — since the draft began in 1986, and the sixth time it will be held outside Victoria.
To Princes Alfred College student Francis, 18, it means more support on the day — something hugely important for the West Adelaide star, who lost his brother Hayden to cancer last year.
“It’s great that it will be here,’’ Francis said.
“It makes it easier for family and means I can get a couple of friends here.’’
The announcement brought the reality of a life in the AFL closer to Francis, who is considered a genuine chance to be the first selection of the talent pool and certain to be a first-round choice.
At 192cm and 91kg, he was outstanding in the national carnival for SA and can play forward, back or through the midfield.
This season he has honoured Hayden in the best way he knows — by playing cracking football.
If, as expected, he makes it on to an AFL list, he will follow a long line of former PAC students including Rick Davies, Craig Kelly, Rodney Maynard, David Pittman, Bernie Vince, Jack Trengove and Jack Viney to hit the big time.
But Francis, who has signed former Crows player Michael Doughty as his manager, is trying to stay away from the hype that is gradually building ahead of the draft.
He has already been approached by AFL clubs, via his SANFL club West Adelaide or directly through his parents, but is concentrating on finishing his schooling.
“You don’t want to read too much into it,’’ he said. “And it doesn’t matter where (at which club) I end up.’’
Callum Twomey @AFL_CalTwomey
Big game from Murray Bushrangers midfielder Clayton Oliver on the weekend. 27 disposals, 6 clearances & 6 goals. A smokey as a top-30 pick.
We already got a best by foot player in zmerret who was 100percent on the accuracy test at the combine in his draft year haha.