State your draft preferences

[Jarka 767]

Watts or Naitanui at 1. Unlike alot here I don't care which one we end up with, I think both will make it.

I'd love to get Swift or Yarran at 17, but unfortunately I don't think either will slide to our pp. I'd be over the moon if we got both those guys with 17 and 19. With such an even top 30 odd will still get some very decent talent with our first 3 or 4 picks.

[Freak 100]

unfortunately yarran could go as high as pick 5

[Yencks 8]

watts is the preferred choice for pick 1, from 78% of fans on the websight

[Hannabal 4]

Interestingly, neither Inside Footy or the HS have Sidebottom in the first round. The latest rumour is Dayne Beams being a chance to go to Collingwood at 11 as Brisbane will probably pounce at 25 before the Pies second round pick.

Who knows, but more and more I'm convinced that we'll get very highly rated players at 17 and 19. I change from week to week, but presently I'd salivate over:

1 Watts

17 Sidebottom/Blease

19 Suban

35 Strauss

51 Wright

[H_T 3,047]

Interestingly, neither Inside Footy or the HS have Sidebottom in the first round. The latest rumour is Dayne Beams being a chance to go to Collingwood at 11 as Brisbane will probably pounce at 25 before the Pies second round pick.

Who knows, but more and more I'm convinced that we'll get very highly rated players at 17 and 19. I change from week to week, but presently I'd salivate over:

1 Watts

17 Sidebottom

19 Suban

35 Strauss

51 Wright

What can you tell me about Suban, I haven't read up much on him..

I also think that about picks 17,19. I still like Zaharkis. I'd be happy with him at 19. Shoenmakers at 17 for me. I think Sidebottom will go before 17.

[dee-luded 2,959]

What can you tell me about Suban, I haven't read up much on him..

I also think that about picks 17,19. I still like Zaharkis. I'd be happy with him at 19. Shoenmakers at 17 for me. I think Sidebottom will go before 17.

Nick Suban >

SMALL DEFENDERS - HALF BACK FLANK - BACK POCKET

NICK SUBAN

179cm 82kg BP/HBF North Ballarat Rebels

Tough and uncompromising, the best way to describe this old fashioned defender cum midfielder, has shown sublime skills and was one of the better small defenders in the champs.

PROS: - Leadership - Competitive - Kicking - Tough - Reads play well CONS: - Genuine pace

- Field kicking (placement) - Size PREDICTION: 10 - 25

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=X08wv0dsM7g

[e25 5]

Nick Suban >

SMALL DEFENDERS - HALF BACK FLANK - BACK POCKET

NICK SUBAN

179cm 82kg BP/HBF North Ballarat Rebels

Tough and uncompromising, the best way to describe this old fashioned defender cum midfielder, has shown sublime skills and was one of the better small defenders in the champs.

PROS: - Leadership - Competitive - Kicking - Tough - Reads play well CONS: - Genuine pace

- Field kicking (placement) - Size PREDICTION: 10 - 25

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=X08wv0dsM7g

Kyle Cheney clone by the sounds of things... has he got red hair?

[Freak 100]

he is more of a dane swan with good disposal if you ask me

[Yencks 8]

i dont think sidebottom will be taken top 20

whilst he did have that most outstanding game when he kicked 10 goals, he reminds me of a russell robertson/medhurst medium forward...he could be awesome but i think clubs are more after their more tall forwards with their early picks

[Yencks 8]

Interestingly, neither Inside Footy or the HS have Sidebottom in the first round. The latest rumour is Dayne Beams being a chance to go to Collingwood at 11 as Brisbane will probably pounce at 25 before the Pies second round pick.

sounds like us with frawley...if their not the best availiable in round 1 then dont take them i recon

[Hannabal 4]

i dont think sidebottom will be taken top 20

whilst he did have that most outstanding game when he kicked 10 goals, he reminds me of a russell robertson/medhurst medium forward...he could be awesome but i think clubs are more after their more tall forwards with their early picks

I couldn't disagree more. He's a hard talented midfielder. He's nothing like the two you mention.

[Hannabal 4]

For those unfamiliar Sidebottom here's a bit more information from Quigley at BF on his game and prospects. In fact he has a very detailed Phantom Draft that is well worth the read:

He has him at pick 5

Steele Sidebottom (DOB – 2/1/91, Ht – 182, Wt – 79)

The bottom aged Vic Country player has the tools to be a very good AFL player. After the Champs I had him around the 10 to 12 mark thinking he lacked a little class and natural tools to break into the top 10. Since then he has continued to develop at speed and his last 6 weeks or so of the season were very good and he absolutely dominated in the TAC GF picking up 10 goals to go along with 32 possessions. To pull out a game like that when it counts most will grab a lot of attention and I would have thought he had shot himself up into the 5 and 8 range on draft day. Reports coming out of Camp though is that he did not perform well and this might have dropped him back down a bit. Me I still like him and I remember Cyril being the worst interviewee ever apparently last year and yet still being able to play. For me Steele can play and I have no problem with him going high. At AFL level I see him as an inside midfielder who he can go forward or back and do a very nice job wherever he is played. He has reasonable size for a bottom aged player who looks like he will fill out nicely and whatever his size he doesn’t mind throwing it around. He is courageous to a fault and led the Champs in contested possessions (48) and was right up there in clearances as well. He commits to contests knowing he is going to get crunched and on the other side of the coin he really makes his tackles felt and hammers the man with the ball. Skills wise he is pretty good although I would not put him in the same category as teammate Zeibell. Some matches (and parts thereof) his skills look fantastic but in others he will make a few silly errors. He is one of the few genuinely dual sided players that play at any level. It is worth noting that 4 of the 10 goals that he kicked in the TAC final were kicked on his left foot. He has good finishing skills and his kicking and nose for goal are good although I would not put him in the same category as Yarran in this regard. Overhead he is a good mark and from what I have seen he seems to have excellent vision and takes pretty good options. What I really like about Sidebottom is his balance in contested situations. He keeps his feet when others are going to ground and recovers quickly, steadies and this improves the quality of his disposals in contests a lot. He is a very passionate player who has a reputation for being very coachable. He does not usually play a full game in the midfield so it is often hard to judge his tank but when in the middle he gets to every contest and makes good space without the ball. Going into camp he was expected to go close to 15 in the beep test and maybe even give the record a nudge. On the day though he only managed a 14.5 which was good enough for second. He also finished second in the 3km in a time of 10.32. The biggest issue with him is probably his pace which seems a little below a few of the other top midfield prospects. Maybe because of the pace issues he tends not to burst tackles or run with the ball as much as I like to see at junior level. That being said though there is a lot to like and he quite simply looks like a natural footballer. He is a very low risk midfield prospect who I expect to be a good player at the next level at least but may lack the class to be a star.

[Jarka 767]

For those unfamiliar Sidebottom here's a bit more information from Quigley at BF on his game and prospects. In fact he has a very detailed Phantom Draft that is well worth the read:

Have you got a link H?

cheers

Edit: nvm, found it

http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=518477

[Eastie Boyz 0]

sounds like Bartel.

Medium sized midfielder with excellent vision, good overheard but perhaps a tad on the slow side.

[Jarka 767]

Quigley makes some very, very interesting points between Watts and Naitanui.

[Lord Travis 10,730]

Why is Sidebottom not going to go top 20? Did he test poorly at Draft Camp, or does he have injury concerns?

From what I understood, he has been touted as a top 20 pick all year, and was extremely consistent and solid well before that grand final. If he is there at pick 17, you take him. Doesnt matter if he is slow, he would very likely be the best available. Going to be a really solid player.

Bartel is a good comparison Eastie Boyz. He is already well built, and will fill out more probably. Add more fitness and he will be a hard midfielder, who can rest forward and be dangerous there too.

I really hope we get him. I was saying to my mate 6 months ago DRAFT TEH SIDEBOTTOM!!

I mean cmon! Motherf*ckers name is Steele! Hard as a rock he is !

Not holding my breath though. Cant see why he would slide out of the first round...

Really hope we can nab a great midfielder with pick 17!

[Eastie Boyz 0]

if he's a little on the slow side he may get found out while you're struggling, but if you've got a solid midfield with an even spread I can see him being a very handy utility type

[Yencks 8]

-i'm probably incorrect

-i just have a funny hinch (dont ask why because i have no proof or reasons)

[Diablo 1]

Quigley makes some very, very interesting points between Watts and Naitanui.

If only he had done so with paragraphs.

Nonetheless its a very comprehensive and informative effort. Can't say I think Yarran will be around at pick 17, having heard him touted as 'the most talented footballer' of the draft, but I certainly wouldn't be upset to get another mercurial forward into the joint.

Personally I'm holding out for a combination of Swift, Blease and/or Schoenmakers at 17 and 19, but I profess that this year my knowledge is only based on a couple of U18s Championship matches and those wonderfully flattering Youtube highlights.

[e25 5]

Why is Sidebottom not going to go top 20? Did he test poorly at Draft Camp, or does he have injury concerns?

From what I understood, he has been touted as a top 20 pick all year, and was extremely consistent and solid well before that grand final. If he is there at pick 17, you take him. Doesnt matter if he is slow, he would very likely be the best available. Going to be a really solid player.

Bartel is a good comparison Eastie Boyz. He is already well built, and will fill out more probably. Add more fitness and he will be a hard midfielder, who can rest forward and be dangerous there too.

I really hope we get him. I was saying to my mate 6 months ago DRAFT TEH SIDEBOTTOM!!

I mean cmon! Motherf*ckers name is Steele! Hard as a rock he is !

Not holding my breath though. Cant see why he would slide out of the first round...

Really hope we can nab a great midfielder with pick 17!

Can you imagine?!

It'd sound like a Wrestlemania Tag Team Combination - Brockkkkkkk McLeannnnnnnn & Steeeeeeeeele Sidebottommmmm!!

[Lord Travis 10,730]

It'd sound like a Wrestlemania Tag Team Combination - Brockkkkkkk McLeannnnnnnn & Steeeeeeeeele Sidebottommmmm!!

Hahahaha! And Nathan Jones! Who was actually a wrestler in WWE a few years back, and also happened to be bald

[BAMF 4,353]

This is a link to the bigfooty phantom draft.

http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=515196

While of course it is a phantom draft, But I wouldn't be too surprised if the first round were pretty close to being right.

I personally would have thought that Ash Smith would have just slipped out of the top 20. but who knows.

I would love to get Swift. Would prefer Mckernan over Shoenmakers.

Just out of interest, here is the bigfooty phantom draft for 2007

http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=393244

And here is the real 2007 draft order

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_AFL_Draft

[Mousey 47]

Well there is 10 days left till we find out who we select for our footy club! i am excited!!!

On the afl site today they have been doing a countdown with player profiles each day.

Was interested in the one today-

Luke Shuey

DOB: 02/06/90

Height: 185cm

Weight: 84kg

Club: Oakleigh Chargers

Shuey is an inside midfielder who excels at stoppages and has good ball-winning ability. He has pace and can go forward with good effect. A Vic Metro under-18 representative in 2008. From Marcellin College.

Which AFL team do you support?

I'm a Melbourne supporter.

Which AFL player do you feel you most resemble?

I model my game around Nathan Jones. I do most of my work inside and I've got a bash-and-crash game. I like that stuff and I look up to him.

Now i know we probably dont need another mid in the likes of style played like jones, brock and beamer but does anyone know much about this kid?

Saw youtube highlights of him against WA and he seems a bit of a ball magnet but lacks some polished foot skills.

[Mousey 47]

1 Jack Watts- Exactly what this club needs in so many ways. Forward that may take a while to develop a body to be that KP forward we are all dying for but when he has developed he is going to be very special. Also i love how the way kid speaks for his age, seems very mature and someone who can really talk infront of a camera. Future leader?

17 Tom Swift- Saw footage of him for the first time a couple of days ago but really like the way he moves, is a risk with the injuries he has had but i think a risk worth taking at pick 17.

19 Ryan Shoenmakers- What a fantastic name hahaha another KPP to add to the list and from what i have seen this kid has a lot of potential.

35 Zaharakis or Tom Hill-Tom Hill- I know i have not seen alot of him but i saw a clip of him on youtube against some team and i liked what i saw- Big boy at 198cm, seems to have nice strong hands and i really love his kicking style Forward or ruck option?

51 Kade Klemke- Good leader that has impressed

64 Steven Motlop- Why not? looks very talented

[H_T 3,047]

Melbourne's picks: 1, 17, 19, 35, 51, 64, 76

My selections:

1 Watts - fwd/h-fwd/kpp

17 Blease - mid/pace

19 Shoenmakers - fwd/h-fwd/kpp

35 Zaharkis - mid/pace

51 Redden (slide) ruck

64 still looking

76 still looking