I’m definitely in the “get a half-back” camp. If we have two SSP picks, I think the second could be any position, although trying out a young ruck wouldn’t go astray. On the half-back options, I’ve listed a few possibilities below. Love your thoughts @THE_DON1 on any of them, a lot of the references are now very out of date! And of course they have to make it through the rookie draft.
Sam Gilbey (187cm)
His athletic traits and class with ball in hand play strongly in his favour, counteracting his lack of top-age exposure and the need to add some size to his frame. He projects as somewhat of a long-term option given his current injury status, but has all the talent to be a value pick in the second to third round range.
Casey Voss (22yrs old, 182cm)
The son of Michael, Casey Voss has now won Sturt’s best and fairest and earned SANFL team of the year honours in successive seasons. He also won the Fos Williams Medal for best-on-ground in the annual SANFL vs. WAFL match. Having just turned 22 years old in September, Voss has developed into the premier general defender outside the AFL and has impressed with averages of 23.8 disposals, 8.8 marks, one contested mark and 5.3 rebound 50s in the SANFL. Voss also secured 29 disposals and 15 marks in this year’s SANFL vs. WAFL match.
A consistent year on year improver, Voss possesses a ready-to-go and well-rounded game with how he intercepts behind the ball, generates drive by foot and restricts the influence of his direct opponent. Voss displays a combination of competitiveness and smarts in defence seen in only the very best by position.
Lloyd Johnston (185cm, from Darwin)
One of the rare draft age players with a full season of senior football under his belt, on top of his late VFL exposure, Johnston has taken great strides in a short space. His rate of improvement has been impressive, and he could go so much further with more of the same application. The freedom with which he plays as a running defender with plenty of flair makes him a great watch, and that intercept marking ability is certainly something recruiters value highly. With links to Gold Coast, he looms as a developable option late in the draft, or as a rookie.
Luca Macnab (183 cm, 19yrs old)
Lachlan Carrigan (191cm, about to turn 20)
Wing/Defender, 191cm, 78kg
Herald-sun MSD write-up: The Blues don’t have a dominant wingman as it stands, but have had an eye on Carrigan. A former Sandringham Dragons product, the 19-year-old had a rough run with injuries over the past two years which meant he was virtually unsighted by recruiters. However, Carrigan has shown some good signs this year in both of the Colgate Young Guns games after earning a spot on Richmond’s VFL list over summer.
Brad Lynch
Luke Teal (189cm)
It was not the perfect year for Luke Teal, with the early season delay and only managing the one game for Vic Metro and four games for Oakleigh, but he had showed enough to be right in the draft mix. Teal was a player to watch coming into the season so there was plenty of expectation and he did well to finish the year strong at least to remind clubs of his talent and he could be a real bargain mid-draft for a club wanting to add some quality to their defence.