Let’s face it, we’ve only GOT late picks this year, might as well talk about a few of the lesser-known blokes who might be around later in the draft or as rookies…
(not going to inclued Wulla here, everyone knows what I think about him)
Karl Amon - mid/hff, Sandringham Dragons, about 180cm and lighter than he needs to be. He was my REAL smokie until he tested the roof off in the sprints at the draft combine, but he might still be available. Had a tough year at the Dragons, stuck behind Freeman, Kelly, Salem, Merrett in the midfield pecking order, but when he got a chance to take on more responsibility he generally did it. Slippery, goal-hungry, a little inconsistent, and good at finding space in dangerous spots. Think Caracella with more pace but lesser overhead.
Micheal Gibbon - mid, Murray Bushrangers. Not sure if he’ll be around cos he’s zoned to GWS, but he’s worth a look if not. Only 175cm, but has 100% the attitude you could ask for, runs hard both ways, tackles hard and frequently, has good pace and dominated clearance work at the champs.
Aliir Aliir - kpd/ruck, WA. Played as a key defender for WA in this year’s champs as an overager after rucking for Qld last year. Raw but improving, has only been playing footy a couple of years. Would be a project player, still needs to learn a lot about positioning etc and his disposal by foot needs work, but he has athleticism, agility and one-touch ball-handling that you can’t teach. Has showed some impressive clearance potential too.
Mitch Keedle - mid, Eastern. Skinny but with good height, wasn’t really a workhorse so much as a barometer for the Ranges this year. Wen he did well, the Ranges did well (or vice versa). Mostly played outside but shows a bit of time under pressure and i think has real inside potential when he bulks up. Just has that little bit of extra thinking time - will picch a ball out from the other guy’s arm etc. Good runner, good disposal, inconsistent and prone to going quiet. Bit of a Gleeson.
Matthew Haynes - utility, Northern. Overager this year after being overlooked last year despite being an AIS kid. Was given another chance and I think took it well. Tall quick runner, high 180s in height. Played CHF a bit this year, though it’s not his position. Developed a lot more consistency, improved his disposal, and acquitted himself well in his games at VFL level. Became quite the ball magnet and a regular goalkicker.
Reid Adams - mid, Geelong. Another one who I think suffered from being stuck behind a very strong midfield unit (Taylor, Tsitas, Boag, Lang, Maishman etc). Nuggetty little inside/clearance guy who also links up well. Tackles maniacally, uses ball effectively. When given a solid run in the middle, attracts the ball like ■■■■ attracts flies. Only moderate size, pace also only moderate but he uses it well, maybe lacking a bit of penetration on his kicking.
Jake Owen - mid/utility, Calder. Clever slim 191cm bloke in search of a position. Good overhead mark for his size but ‘his size’ isn’t really kpp stuff. Fair bit of time with the ball in his hands (does the bullet-time thing), but hasn’t really yet showed he can consistently get midfielder numbers. Upside makes him worth taking, he quite literally could he anything. Stick him in the middle for the magoos for a couple of years. If he busts he busts, if he kicks on, he could be a new Jobe.
Will add names to this thread as the fancy takes me…
Thanks for your good work HM!
I think we should draft Aliir Aliir, not only because he would provide an instant impetus to Grog Squad chants, but would also appeal to enthusiasts of recursive nominatism.
Thanks for your good work HM!
I think we should draft Aliir Aliir, not only because he would provide an instant impetus to Grog Squad chants, but would also appeal to enthusiasts of recursive nominatism.
Not to mention Allir-teration.
Can we have all of HM's players? They all sound good. Sure, we've only got 4 picks all up, but we can always delist a few players we don't rate, can't we?
I like the way Aliir Aliir moves through traffic. Has moments when he looks class.
HM Would love your thoughts on Dylan Main and Ben Sokol (Sokol as a rookie)
Much appreciated, HM.
Liked Owen in the one game I saw of him. Very composed in traffic and a good handball.
HM Would love your thoughts on Dylan Main and Ben Sokol (Sokol as a rookie)
Don't think I've seen either of them play, tbh. I've seen a lot less of the juniors this year - I moved a fair bit further out away from where the games are played, plus after the whole draft picks penalty thing I just said 'stuff this' and pretty much stopped bothering...
Sooooooo... pick 26 and 55? BRING THEM IN
l like the sound of a few of these in particular Haynes. As others have said good work HM, sorry you can't keep it up, but after the ASADA issue, l can understand the sentiment.
A few more on the night before the ND...
Bear in mind a lot of the blokes in this thread are potential rookie material as well, so I'll keep up this going after tomorrow. A few other late-round possibilities like Conlon, TIPPA, Garlett, Nankervis, Holman and Christiansen have been covered in exhaustive detail elsewhere, so I'll refain from repeating myself. And others like Sicily, Bastinac, Herbert, Byrne-Jones, Heppell, and basically anyone from WA or SA I haven't seen enough of, so will refain from making a fool of myself...
Jimmy Tsitas - mid, Geelong Falcons. AIS kid, and up til a couple of months ago I would have said he was a top 30 prospect, but from what I hear he did the complete reverse of what blokes do when you say they 'tested the roof off at the draft camp'. Apparently his sprint times both 5m and 20m were really poor indeed, and that's probably dropped him from a 2nd round prospect to a 'might be lucky enough to get drafted'. Thing is, the kid can just flat-out play football. Inside mid, clearance specialist, and a persistent (but not fast...) runner who can accumulate lots of the ball in space. Very high possession winner. Disposal not a particular feature - it's certainly not actually bad, but his kicking range isn't the longest which leads him to take safe, conservative options, and neither it nor his handball are standout weapons. Dedicated, professional kid by all reports, maybe just needs to spend a year doing squats and box jumps to work on his major weakness.
Max King - fwd/ruck, Murray Bushrangers. Proper ruckman size, but still a bit skinny. Proper dual-position, though could improve his rucking a lot by doing more when the ball's on the ground. Good contested mark while playing as a kpp - he's a regular goalkicker and is a genuine forward target who can take the best defender rather than a resting dinosaur ruckman who can only make an impact when he's got a mismatched defender. Speed only ok, tank only ok, but he's a longer-term prospect.
Josh Scott - fwd, Gippsland Power. Overager who won the TAC goalkicking despite playing a couple of VFL games and a couple in the champs. Pretty much your like-for-like Crameri replacement. 3rd fwd size at about 190cm, but extremely strong overhead, and a solid, big-bodied, tireless worker. I didn't see a huge amount of him this year, but last year he certainly showed he had some spring - sat on a few blokes heads. He's been well subdued up against big fast #1 defenders at times, which is why I think he presents as a 3rd fwd at AFL level. He demands an opponent who'll respect him or he'll kick a bag, he's not someone you can afford to risk running off. Round the ground work is workmanlike but not really all that much to write home about, has played back at times without opening my eyes particularly. Kicking ok, handball ok, pace ok. Good work rate.
Zac Webster - mid, Tassie. Poised and intelligent mid with a little bit of time. Highly-rated heading into the year but apparently had some injury concerns in the champs and imho was played a little out of position so maybe did less than he would have preferred. Inside-outside, neat mover. Not as big a possession winner as I'd prefer in the couple of games I've seen though.
Archie Smith - ruck, Qld. Apparently only a very recent convert to the game, and it shows a bit. Huge fast beefy bloke with a big leap and amazing agility, can turn on a dime. Lacks a little bit of footy IQ at the moment and very much a project, but the raw tools are very impressive. Might be aligned to one of the Qld sides by some rubbish zone concession or other though.
Thanks HM. Can't wait to hear what you think about who we eventually get. Appreciate your posts as always. FIRE UP. ITS THE DAYLE SHOW
Thanks HM. Love your work.
Thanks HM
Any ideas on Jon Marsh. He was talked up as first round and now looks like he will fall from what I am reading. Would he be a good get at 55?
Thanks HM
Any ideas on Jon Marsh. He was talked up as first round and now looks like he will fall from what I am reading. Would he be a good get at 55?
As he's an interstater, I haven't seen enough of him to have an intelligent opinion...
Edit: I can give you a stupid, uninformed opinion if you like... ;)
Thanks HM
Any ideas on Jon Marsh. He was talked up as first round and now looks like he will fall from what I am reading. Would he be a good get at 55?As he's an interstater, I haven't seen enough of him to have an intelligent opinion...
Edit: I can give you a stupid, uninformed opinion if you like... ;)
We are buried in those already thanks. You just stick to the good stuff Minion.
As he's an interstater, I haven't seen enough of him to have an intelligent opinion...Thanks HM
Any ideas on Jon Marsh. He was talked up as first round and now looks like he will fall from what I am reading. Would he be a good get at 55?
Edit: I can give you a stupid, uninformed opinion if you like... ;)
Happy to take your stupid uniformed opinion mate. Probably more reliable than many others
I’ll go uninformed.
Seems a good kid with some positive qualities (size, speed, coachability) and some negative (not really kp, kicking)
Like a lot of this draft it will depend on how the individual recruiters see it. If you think his problems are easily fixed and you rate his positive qualities he could be early. If you think his problems mean he’ll always struggle to fill a role you probably wouldn’t draft him at all. (and this is assuming you have a clear idea of what role you’re recruiting him for)
The definitive answer? There is none.
For me? I’m not sure of his role going forward but he has some good qualities, so it depends who else is available at any pick you’d be considering him for.
Thanks HM - always good reading! I'll also be interested in your thoughts on the players we actualy select.