I'm hoping this doesn't turn into a whole recruitment development arguement, I'm hoping for a real good discussion on who you would rate the top twenty players drafted between 07-10. The reason i thought this would be a good thread is because so many different players have shot right up this year, like sidebottom he's playing great football at the moment, scott selwood from west coast he'd have of moved up the ranks a bit, but for my number 1 I'd have to think kreuzer, he's played a key role since drafted and has been consistant. some of these players really make watching footy fun again.

Commonly discussed. In hindsight Id have taken Yarran in a heart beat. Hindsight Martin over Scully (but no one would have done this at the time and not because of potential but because of buy in), Gysberts might still prove a decent midfielder I think and hopefully Blease will keep improving. But there are numerous examples from each of the last drafts where players we didnt pick have gone on to be far ahead of any of our picks.

1. kreuzer
   
2. cotchin
   
3. nic nat
   
4. sidebottom
   

fyfe

Commonly discussed. In hindsight Id have taken Yarran in a heart beat. Hindsight Martin over Scully (but no one would have done this at the time and not because of potential but because of buy in), Gysberts might still prove a decent midfielder I think and hopefully Blease will keep improving. But there are numerous examples from each of the last drafts where players we didnt pick have gone on to be far ahead of any of our picks.

I'm leaving the melbourne players out of my list cos lets face it we'll all be biased and they'll end up higher then some other players any way, but if selwood keeps up with his early season form he'll be leap frogging into the top ten you'd think, hurley's had a slow start, so its a bit tuffer now

yarran i'd forgotton about him, dangerfield would of shot up, redden's doing well, martins had a slowish start but still going strong, then all the gold coast draftees too, hurleys still got runs on the board, alot of exiting young talent starting to show through at this stage, hard to figure out the next 5.

Hmm.. ok, a bit of footy speculation to take my mind off things...

I go with a shortlist for each year, no offense to several honourable non-mentions each year of course, and a couple of players still on a 'path' that could prove exceptional.

The Shortlists;

2007 - Kruezer, Cotchin, Dangerfield, Rioli, Grimes, Ward, T. Walker.

2008 - Naitanui, Hurley, Ziebell, Sidebottom, Yarran, Shuey, Zaharakis, Redden, Hannebery, Jurrah, Rockliff, Suckling.

2009 - Martin, Fyfe, Jetta, Barlow... and the rest get a bit too early to tell.

2010 - Swallow, Gaff, Heppell, Darling, Prestia, and again, too early to tell for most.

That's 27... I'll cut a few and make a team of sorts...

For: Hurley, Darling, Rioli, Prestia, Fyfe

Mid: Cotchin, Dangerfield, Ward, Ziebell, Sidebottom, Shuey, Zaharakis, Redden, Rockliff, Martin, Barlow,

Def: Grimes, Yarran, Suckling, Heppell

Ruck: Kruezer, Naitanui

Aside from a couple of freak ruckmen, the list really makes clear the old story of young midfielders coming into their prime much faster than key position players. There's a lot of key defenders from those years who are 'going alright' but might mature into something very valuable, though.

These are always hard to do because it’s hard to compare players on exposed form and then potential for further development. Also some are playing in their 5^th while others are still finding their feet in only their second. But what the hell, it’s a good procrastination tool.

My top 20 picks between 07 -10.

1. Trent Cotchin

2. Nathan Fyfe

3. Dustin Martin

4. Matt Kreuzer

5. Cyril Rioli

6. Luke Shuey

7. Patrick Dangerfield

8. David Swallow

9. Jack Zieball

10. Michael Hurley

11. Harry Taylor

12. Callan Ward

13. Steele Sidebottom

14. Chris Yarran

15. Jake Melksham

16. Jack Trengove

17. David Zaharakis

18. Tom Scully

19. Ryan Bastinac

20. Jack Redden

Damn that was hard. Obviously this is my ridiculously uninformed opinion so I don’t expect anyone to agree with it. There are so many quality players that could have fit anywhere in there easily. I didn’t even look at the rookies drafted over that time. Maybe a bit of bias putting Trengove in but he will come good.

Edit: Stupidly named a player twice, adjusted accordingly.

Edited May 20, 201213 yr by Nascent

My top 20 picks...

19. Tom Scully

Not a chance. You cannot be serious.

Not a chance. You cannot be serious.

Yes I can.

Really interesting thread.

Watching Dangerfield today, I'd almost put him in the top 1 or 2. He is absolutely sensational.

If we have a spare mil, we should be chucking it at him, and the compo pick(s) at Adelaide.

Not a chance. You cannot be serious.

You really rate David Swallow dont you? Listed him twice.

A pretty good effort all round.

My top 4

1. Fyfe

2. Sidebottom

3. Dangerfield

4. Shuey

You really rate David Swallow dont you? Listed him twice.

Lol, well I do think he'll be a gun... adjusted the list so I look less stupid :s.

Yes I can.

I'm glad there was no Naitanui in your list though, Nascent. Horrendously overrated pineapple.

These are always hard to do because it’s hard to compare players on exposed form and then potential for further development. Also some are playing in their 5^th while others are still finding their feet in only their second. But what the hell, it’s a good procrastination tool.

My top 20 picks between 07 -10.

1. Trent Cotchin

2. Nathan Fyfe

3. Dustin Martin

4. Matt Kreuzer

5. Cyril Rioli

6. Luke Shuey

7. Patrick Dangerfield

8. David Swallow

9. Jack Zieball

10. Michael Hurley

11. Harry Taylor

12. Callan Ward

13. Steele Sidebottom

14. Chris Yarran

15. Jake Melksham

16. Jack Trengove

17. David Zaharakis

18. Tom Scully

19. Ryan Bastinac

20. Jack Redden

Damn that was hard. Obviously this is my ridiculously uninformed opinion so I don’t expect anyone to agree with it. There are so many quality players that could have fit anywhere in there easily. I didn’t even look at the rookies drafted over that time. Maybe a bit of bias putting Trengove in but he will come good.

Edit: Stupidly named a player twice, adjusted accordingly.

Fair effort, but Sidebottom is definitely top 10 imo and I'd have him ahead of Ziebell by some way.

I'm glad there was no Naitanui in your list though, Nascent. Horrendously overrated pineapple.

Agree... looks flashy but is inconsistant and has poor disposal (although I will admit he has got a decent handpass on him).

Fair effort, but Sidebottom is definitely top 10 imo and I'd have him ahead of Ziebell by some way.

Yes Sidebottom is enhancing his reputation game by game and his exclusion from the top 10 maybe culminated from a mix of my hate from collingwood and my first impression of Zieball as a pure tough inside midfielder. And admittedly, I only watch Melbourne play on a weekly basis and may watch the occasional game(s) of other teams depending on what’s on and my plans for the weekend. But he is definitely worthy of a top 10 birth. In my views though I feel that the players named above him will reach a higher level over their careers. But of course this is extremely speculative and for all I know he may end up snagging a Brownlow or two and be the best of the lot.