At first I dismissed pick 12 as being too high for this kid, but I've been conviced otherwise.

He's 202cm, 95kg and is a very good mover for a kid his size, covers a lot of ground, good overhead, good tap ruckman, looks a very likely type to succeed at the next level.

The worry I had from watching him at the championships was his kicking, but I'm starting to think it isn't quite as bad as first thought.

There's good footage of him on youtube but I can't find the link right now.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/98174/default.aspx

The most interesting story among the seven talls belongs to Lycett. The strapping prospect is from Thevenard, near Ceduna on the Great Australian Bight, about eight hours’ drive from Adelaide. His original senior footy club is the Thevenard Magpies.

Lycett played a season of senior footy with Thevenard when he was 15. The Magpies played in the Far West league, which has only four teams. They lost every game during the home-and-away rounds but won in the first week of the finals after Lycett kicked seven at full-forward.

“I loved playing there,” Lycett said. “You build a special kind of bond in country clubs.”

Last year, at 16, Lycett moved to Adelaide with fellow Far West prospect Sam Gray (who shone for South Australia during this under-18 carnival as a rover). The pair play with the Port Adelaide Magpies. Lycett has played senior footy this season and is a strong chance to be drafted in the first round. His main quality, beside his ability to get his hands on the ball, is his competitive drive.

The most outstanding aspect of Lycett’s carnival had its origins in tragic circumstances. His best friend died in a car accident. Lycett played against Tasmania at Visy Park in Melbourne on a Saturday, flew back to Adelaide and drove to the Riverland town of Barmera, about three hours away, to speak at his friend’s funeral on the Monday.

Then he drove back to Adelaide, flew back to Melbourne and lined up with South Australia in the final match of the under-18 carnival on the Wednesday. It was against Vic Country at Geelong’s Skilled Stadium. Phillips took a gamble by starting Lycett in the ruck, whereas Lycett had played second ruck behind Gorringe for most of the carnival.

Lycett leapt at the challenge and was a key player in the Croweaters’ four-point win over the eventual champions despite the duress over his friend’s death.

“I thought he showed outstanding maturity,” Phillips said.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/104728/default.aspx

Scott Lycett: Tall and strong, with a sound attitude as well as a competitive streak and a willingness to link up. Port Adelaide has pick 16 and desperately needs a young ruckman. Lycett fits the bill.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/102234/default.aspx

Which AFL player do you feel you resemble, and why?

Matthew Kreuzer. He knows where to go around the ground and also go forward and be dangerous.

What are your strengths as a footballer?

Competitiveness, will do anything for the benefit of the team, have a willingness to get better as a person and player, and I want to learn.

Kevin Sheehan says: Strong-marking ruckman who is agile and super competitive. Team-oriented player who impressed with South Australian in the under-18 championships.

I'd draft him if there was a very high degree of certainty that he'd make it. But Meesen, Brookes, Spaanderman Pattison, Willits, Hansen, Laycock,Bradley, Wood or Lobbe (and I know the jury is still out on some of these blokes) show how hard it is to pick these sort of players at this level so I'd hesitate. All these blokes were taken early and failed. The failure rate of ruckmen taken at this spot in the draft is alarming.

Barry would have to be very sure.

In my opinion it might be better for us to go a safer option (like Billy Smedts, where it's pretty clear how his talents will translate to AFL level).

It we need to trade for a ruckman in the future, a pick 12 would net us a player like Jolly or Mumford. So if we trade a pick 12 for a senior ruckman we can guarantee ourselves a good ruckman, rather than trying to develop our own which could take 5+ years to develop.

Why would a club with Fitzpatrick, Gawn and Spencer as developing talls want to add another with such a high draft pick. Not going to happen

Yes have to agree with Roost it we have our ruck men, just a strong forward please

Why would they take Hale?

Similar sort of question.

Of course he's not a seasoned AFL player, but he would be capable of playing the same role in a year or so.

But are you drafting to win now or to win a premiership later?

I say the latter.

Why would they take Hale?

Similar sort of question.

Of course he's not a seasoned AFL player, but he would be capable of playing the same role in a year or so.

Hale's coming into his prime at 26. We don't need another 18 year old project tall, unless it's for a much lower pick.

Why would a club with Untried, Untried and Unco McGee as developing talls want to add another with such a high draft pick. Not going to happen

Edited to reflect reality.

I wouldn't be adverse to the idea, as we arrn't exactly strong in the ruck department. If the FD see potential in him brilliant- we can't put all our eggs in the Gawn/Spencer/Fitzpatrick basket just yet, the ruck department is far from a "lock" if a good ruck prospect who can play forward presents itself we would be downright bloody negligent to let it pass.

It's all irrelevant anyways as the plastic Matel club will pick him up if hes any good. GC will take

He's not solely a ruck prospect either, he can go forward and that's the whole point.

I see him as hopefully developing into a more coordinated and more aware Kosi.

Not such a bad thing.

Trading in Hale was not a stop gap measure. Two years ago he was in NM top 5 B&F. He had a bad year last year. He can play which is why 3 clubs really chased him.

He will play for 4 years so could easily be part of a GF. He provides what we don't have now which is a mature back up for Jamar and he can play a key deep forward role which allows for structure and game plan to be honed.

Hale was both.

He can't be THAT good as we weren't exactly tripping over ourselves trying to get a deal done.

There are question marks over his rucking ability from North supporters. Two years ago he was in NM top 5 B&F doesn't say too much.

Hale and his 40 page thread are dead to us.

There's good footage of him on youtube but I can't find the link right now.

The AFL has made You Tube remove the player highlights. So annoying.

Really?

Good thing I downloaded all the videos I could find.

But I guess I can't upload them in that case.

I disagree.

A Hale type who has only 4 years in him and could conceivably play in a premiership is a stop-gap and in my mind you only trade for them once the rest of the side is rock solid and you just need a nudge over the edge.

Hale's coming into his prime at 26. We don't need another 18 year old project tall, unless it's for a much lower pick.

Agree- we have enough project players now-Gawn & Fitzpatrick whilst I still classify Spencer as one.Will take nearly a decade for Gawn to reach his top.