Zeroing in on Picks 49 and 53

[Whispering_Jack 30,140]

Let's face it.

The first half of the 2012 AFL National Draft is hardly going to make interesting viewing for Demon fans. It seems to me that the script's already been more than half written and the terrible twins Ollie Wines and Jack Viney will be reunited per medium of Picks 4 and 27 (although that might come back down to 26 if the AFL hits Adelaide with the expected sledgehammer).

Now there's a fair chance that Melbourne will now use both picks 49 and 53 which are situated in the first half of the third round and in an area where, if you're good/lucky then you might still snaffle a player or two with talent.

I've tried this exercise before as a way of determining perhaps the type of player who might be available within this range. It's only for the purposes of discussion and not anything else.

I've taken three of the more long standing contributors to bigfooty's phantom draft section and will reproduce their selections starting at pick 46 through to pick 56. They appear in the next three posts.

[Whispering_Jack 30,140]

Knightmare

#46 West Coast (Via St Kilda and GWS) -Marvin Warrell (WA – Fwd/Mid)

Height: 182cm, Weight: 70kg, DOB: 19/09/1994

Recruited from: South Fremantle

Style:

Player Comparison:

Range: 45-rookie

Profile: Very quick forward with great pace and tackling ability. Would be among the very elite of this draft for pace. Just so aggressive with his tackling and really goes hard at the man for someone with such a light frame. Lacks consistency with his play which is to be expected with a small forward but on a good day Warrell can do some serious damage.

#47 Sydney (Via Gold Coast) - Samuel Lowrie (WA – Mid/Def)

Height: 187cm, Weight: 80kg, DOB: 22/07/1994

Recruited from: South Fremantle

Style:

Player comparison:

Range: 35-65

Profile: Lowrie is a tall midfielder who has played some really impressive footy and has produced some big numbers and shown strong improvement with particularly impressive late season form. Strong mark overhead. Lowrie can play either inside or outside to a high level and gets that combination of inside and outside ball. Lowrie is one of those work all day types and endurance would be up with the best in this draft.

#48 North Melbourne (Via Collingwood and Melbourne) - Matthew McDonough (SA - Fwd)

Height: 180cm, Weight: 85g, DOB: 26/01/1994

Recruited from: Woodville West Torrens

Style:

Player comparison: Jason Porplyzia

Range: 30-rookie

Profile: Forward who is physically very strongly built and ready to produce. Has already shown that he can kick big goal hauls and his production throughout his career up to this stage has been sensational. Just knows where the goals are and has a real uncanny knack of finding ways to hit the scoreboard. I really like his kicking, very duel sided, hits his targets either foot and has that great goal sense and some nice penetration. Good finisher around goal and excellent from set shot attempts. The real highlight in McDonough’s game is his marking ability, very strong contested mark, 1v1 mark and on the lead. Doesn’t get much off the ground but even in the air is strong and has good body control. Despite his primary feature being his marking game McDonough is also very good at ground level and is very capable as a crumber, getting to the right positions for the bigs to bring to ground and to his advantage. Where McDonough falls short is his lack of athleticism. Speed not great and endurance a long way off where it needs to get to but he has shown promise through the midfield this season showing himself as a capable stoppage player and clearance specialist. Stands up in tackles and has wonderful strength. As a forward also needs to work on his tackling game but with his lack of pace I doubt it will ever be a feature of his game. Might be an interesting potential late draft bargain if he slides because he certainly has the proven production to back up his case. I’d look to draft him into an inside midfielder who can rotate forward and have an influence at times. He won’t be able to monster players physically at the next level with his size advantage he has in the u18s but with his marking ability, kicking ability on both sides and his strong ability 1v1 and improving inside game I think there is plenty to work with.

#49 Melbourne (Compensation Pick) - Matthew Dick (VIC – Def)

Height: 187cm, Weight: 86kg, DOB:

Recruited from: Calder Cannons

Style:

Player comparison:

Range: 30-rookie

Profile: Line breaking defender with some real pace. Can play on either talls or small well. Tackling game very good for a defender. Also capable of stepping into the midfield and playing a role. Ball use fine and performed well at the draft combine.

#50 Western Bulldogs- Lachie Hunter (VIC – Mid/Fwd) F/S

Height: 181cm, Weight: 78kg, DOB: 13/12/1994

Recruited from: Western Jets

Style: Dayne Beams

Player comparison:

Range: 3rd round

Profile: Lachie is yet another of those Western Bull Dogs midfielders via the F/S rule. He’s had a very productive year and has accumulated some big numbers in the TAC. Contested ball winning ability good but not great but what he does really well it attack the ball but even better is his attack on the man. Excellent tackler and makes his tackles stick and just goes after the man with the ball. Has some real pace to him and can evade tackles using his agility and side step. By hand very good and in congestion typically makes the right decisions. Has improved his kicking this year and has done some big damage around goal regularly playing off a forward flank showing just how good his finishing skills are at times when not playing through the midfield. Disposal efficiency not as high as it could be but I expect it to improve.

#51 Western Bulldogs (Compensation Pick) - James Stewart (VIC – KPF/KPD)

Height: 197cm, Weight: 82kg, DOB: 04/03/1994

Recruited from: Sandringham Dragons

Style: Jack Watts

Player comparison: Corey Gault

Range: 15-rookie

Profile: Potential Collingwood Father Son selection who Collingwood elected not to take. Stewart is a long term prospect who still physically has a long way to go. Has played most of his footy either as a key forward or on a wing to this stage but also looks very capable as a key defender and to be honest this is where I see him making a position his at AFL level. Stewart as a key forward often looks lost not knowing where to run, often standing around and just doesn’t influence games enough mostly playing as a tallish flanker, certainly doesn’t scream “focal point key forward” at this early stage and if he is to make it as a key forward it would be on the basis of superior work rate and his work at ground level. Down back on the other hand Stewart looks a lot more natural with his ability to read the ball down back, mark strongly and kick accurately to a target down the field. Intuitively he seems to know when he can leave his opponent and looks a class above down back which is interesting for someone who has played mostly as a key forward/wing as a junior. Skill level is excellent for a key position player and by foot is particularly good – duel sided, can find targets over a range of distances and his long kicking in particular is excellent, but at times the consistency has been lacking by foot despite his good kicking action. Stewart is very clean for a tall lad below the knees and can easily pick the ball up cleanly without any difficulty. When he has ball is hand shows great poise and can easily spin out of tackles, never really looking phased when pressured. Athleticism impressive and for someone at his height and is incredibly mobile for a tall. Willing tackler and will give those 2nd and 3rd efforts. What impresses me is his ability to read the play and read the ball in the air, it’s a real feature of his game. Strong mark overhead but I don’t see him ever developing into a dominant contested marking presence which makes me favour him as a defender even with the knowledge that the Collingwood key defence group is far superior to that of the key forward group.

#52 Essendon (Via Port Adelaide) - Dean Towers (VIC – Mid)

Height: 189cm, Weight: 83kg, DOB: 04/05/1990

Recruited from: North Ballarat

Style:

Player comparison:

Range: 25-65

Profile: Mature ager who has really impressed this year at times. Has come from a fair way back and has shown some strong development over these past two seasons. Tested strongly at the draft combine standing out with his leaping ability and speed both on display. More your outside line breaker. One criticism of Towers is being that outside line breaker and with his pace being that primary feature I just don’t see enough of it. He doesn’t threaten to take over games with his pace as a Lewis Jetta or Isaac Smith can and he just doesn’t utilise that pace enough in games. At his size and with limited time in the VFL system might be an interesting player to develop with more potential for improvement having not been in the system for as long.

#53 Melbourne (Via Brisbane) - Sean Lynch (WA –Def/ Mid)

Height: 184cm, Weight: 76kg, DOB: 30/01/1994

Recruited from: South Fremantle

Style: Brent Stanton (Without the ball use concerns)

Player comparison:

Range: 30-70

Profile: High production outside player who mostly plays off a back flank. Work rate excellent and runs all day. Has some pace. Real link up type player and has a natural read on the game and knows where to run. Also has impressed with his kicking skills and is a good user of the footy. Lacks the flashiness of many back flank types but he makes up for it with the substance in his play and production. Defensively could put some further work into his game but otherwise I’ve liked what I’ve seen.

#54 Adelaide (Via Richmond) - Nick Rodda (WA – KPD)

Height: 194cm, Weight: 94kg, DOB: 06/07/1994

Recruited from: West Perth

Style:

Player comparison:

Range: 45-rookie

Profile: Strongly built key defender who has impressed with his rebounding game. Defensively ok but not great struggling against the quicker forwards for pace but then also against those stronger in the air. Athletically only average. Has shown strong progress this year and his rebounding game is much improved. Strong mark down back at times and is often willing to attack the ball and go for the mark rather than just the spoil which is often a good sign in a defender. Reads it well down back and is willing to take those intercept marks. Has a long kick on him and uses it well for a key defender.

#55 Essendon- Tom Temay (VIC – Mid/Def)

Height: 179cm, Weight: 74kg, DOB: 06/02/1994

Recruited from: Sandringham Dragons

Style:

Player Comparison:

Range: 30-70

Profile: Temay is a midfielder and defender with the ability to play a variety of roles. Temay has shown throughout the u18 championships that he has the ability to cleanly use the ball out of the back half. Strong 1v1 player. Kicking skills are above average and at times set up some meaningful drive. Decision making also very good. Temay also at times has shown the ability to play some shutdown roles through the midfield or down back, most notably on Lachie Whitfield who he competed very well against. Temay through the midfield is more of an outside/linkup type but does have some ball winning ability and isn’t a soft outside player.

#56 Carlton – Zac Williams (NSW – Mid/Util)

Height: 183cm, Weight: 80kg, DOB: 20/09/1994

Recruited from: NarranderaStyle:

Player comparison:

Range: 45-rookie

Profile: Strong inside midfielder with the ability win his own ball. Really stood out through the u18 championships with his ability to win the contested footy with his clearance work also excellent. Has some versatility to his game and can also play back or forward when required. Outside game a work in progress and still needs to develop.

[Whispering_Jack 30,140]

Snoop Dog

# 46 West Coast

Tim Broomhead

Port Magpies

183cm / 73kg / ‘94

Been watching this kid since late last year and has just continued to develop really well. Was impressive at times during the champs and in Foxtel Cup but has been very good for Port Magpies where he has seen senior action and acquitted himself well late in the season being a really influential player for them. He seems to have really good endurance which enables him to spread and get on the end of the ball more often than not. Has a nice turn of speed which he uses out of the contests and is very agile whilst ball use is efficient and certainly AFL standard. The only knock on Tim is he is a tiny little fella and he really needs to add some bulk. Wouldn’t surprise if he was taken a little earlier than this though as the upside potential is rife with him but he will need time. Will be a player and probably should have higher. Local boy Lowrie is a chance here or maybe a Dean Kent to be groomed for the Priddis role in years to come.

# 47 Sydney

Kamdyn McIntosh

Peel Thunder

192cm / 78kg / ‘94

Others will have him a lot higher but having seen a fair bit of him I am still a bit unsure. Seen a few times at champs and also some of his WAFL games and he didnt scream out the Rd 1 prospect I am being told. What is clear to me he is that he is a good key defensive prospect who seems to have good agility and a good understanding of reading the game and influencing it. I think he would be a Heath Grundy type player as seems to go alright on all types. Testing results from DC were very good. Matt Wallis might be another type they would look at.

# 48 North Melb

Anthony Tipungwuti

Gippsland Power

174cm / 72kg / ‘94

One of my real favourites in this draft. Tiwi boy who plays for GP but represents NT and has come on enormously over last 12 months. Fair to say he probably had some athletic indicators that didn’t excite recruiters enough last year but has turned that around over last 12 months and has been a terrific trainer. I watched him almost exclusively for a quarter to see his defensive run and what I saw was impressive. His ability to play fwd, back or even in the middle is a real standout but the kid is electric and the ball just seems to find him. He just seems to have so much time and his vision is unreal so along with his ball use he has some amazing scope for AFL clubs. I don’t have any doubt he has the skills to compete but I think he probably has some work to do on the body but given where he has come from and the commitment he has shown then I think clubs can feel confident.

# 49 Melbourne

Laine Wilkins

Peel Thunder

183cm / 78kg / ‘94

He is an interesting prospect Laine as when I first saw him i thought he reminds me very much of Dale Thomas. He has all the tricks Dale has but just hasn’t really had that break out game in a really important match Dale had so I suspect he is one that will polarise. His fans will argue the goals vs Metro were the teaser but his detractors will say few and far between and justifiably cite his Colts form. But look this kid is quick, he is incredibly agile, magnificent leap on him and a superbly skilled player. He has enough potential to be rated from 10 owards but he just hasn’t shown it. I just wonder he might be someone who really steps into an AFL environment and is really productive.

# 50 West Bulldogs

Lachlan Hunter

Father / Son

# 51 West Bulldogs

Marvin Warrell

South Fremantle

182cm / 73kg / ‘94

A player that has grown on me over the year. Saw a bit of him very early in the year and he seemed to be (with all due respect) just one of the many small forwards from the WA production line with nothing particularly standing out. To be fair didnt watch closely but couldn’t help notice when he pushed into the middle and was a consistent winner of the ball. His agility and ability to escape the contest and then make a really good decision with the ball really stood out. Played a lot more of that role in the WAFL towards year end and has stamped himself as one to get pretty excited by because he ticks lots of boxes; pace, positional scope (fwd and middle), goal kicker, aggressive at contest, dual sided skills. He could also be a player you push behind the ball as he seems to have defensive mindset when he doesn’t have the ball and his skills coming out would be very handy. Louis Herbert might be one they would look at or may even be hoping Spencer White from their backyard drops to here.

# 52 Essendon

Michael Close

North Ballarat

196cm / 84kg / ’94

Key position type who reminds me a bit of James Craig or Leigh Brown at same age. Still a bit light but very competitive insomuch as you can see him will himself to the next contest. Could be developed as a tall fwd or back. Polarises people because the difference between best and worst has been big at times but you often get that with bigger kids at this level. I saw him in one game and was just not a buyer and thought he might be a rookie but then saw him the next week and was making a case for him in the 2nd round. Not sure where he will start because think he is quite adaptable but suspect will probably start at the back end and then develop up the field. Has a 15+ beep, good strong mark and is a pretty good user of it but he just needs to be much more consistent. Just hard to peg these guys as still unsure of a position for him but he is a real ‘goer’. Corr, Smith, Siggins, Walshe are all others they might look at but I would think Close would be a steal here.

# 53 Melbourne

Shane Nelson

West Perth

180cm / 82kg / ‘93

Silly he wasnt taken last year (I had him circa #45 so I need to say that) and the reasons he wasnt aren’t all that clear apparently illness, lack of game speed, x factor etc. Given some of the muppets we have had on our rookie list its unclear to me why he missed in deference to those. Anyway has stuck it up the recruiters noses and gone back to WAFL seniors and averaged over 25 touches per game with plenty of them being contested. Then checked into Screen testing and slotted a 2.8 (20m), a whopping 7.8 (agility) and also showed healthy beep and repeat sprint #’s to back up last years good testing results. We also know that last year he landed in the elite camp for kicking......His ability to get around the park and play a little like a Gaff style of game is the best comparison. Has a motor, bit of speed, can win own pill, ball use is good and I just cant see why the kid wouldn’t be given a chance. He would also walk into their midfield rotation I would have thought.

# 54 Adelaide

Pass

Depends on what happened at #20. If they have gone tall then could go another and someone like Corr, Close, McINtosh could all be here and would make good sense. If they look to grab a few mature agers then taking Joel Tippett as a tall would make sense but its hard to know where he is at or a Jack Frost as a ready to go key defenders would make sense. If a runner then Ben Ross and you cant go wrong.

# 55 Essendon

Louis Herbert

North Ballarat

186cm / 70kg / ‘94

Medium forward type who can really hurt opposition sides on the scoreboard. Has had regular hauls at TAC level and is just a really smart fwd type. Still only light but has real pace, good hands and would think you could bracket him as an elite kick. I saw some vision of his 8 goal haul earlier in the year and you cant not be impressed with this kid. Suspect he will land a little higher than people think as has that x factor, coupled with pace and elite ball use. When the body fills out could be a weapon. Bit of the Nat Fyfes for mine but suspect have a touch more speed. Again thought about Nelson here.

# 56 Carlton

Sean Lynch

South Fremantle

184cm / 76kg / ‘94

Another kid who i saw a bit of last year and thought was promising and was interested to see how he would come along this year. Saw him in a couple of the early games at Champs and was super impressed. His run and carry was terrific and he was able to accumulate some big numbers against a couple of the weaker sides. He didnt do as well against the better sides but he looks a player who is going to be a solid HB / BP type and reminds a bit of a player like Mic Osborne.

[Whispering_Jack 30,140]

Chris25

46. West Coast - Kamdyn McIntosh (192cm defender - Peel Thunder)

McIntosh was one of the key defenders that I rated very highly coming into the season, I think he rounded off my top 5. But I must admit, I haven't particularly liked his season this year and I have gone off of him slightly. He played in four of WA's games in the U18 Championships as the third tall defender behind Rodda and Howson, and he didn't really stand out for me - defensively or offensively. But, he made his league debut in the WAFL late this season and I think they were his best games all year. He worked hard offensively and won his fair share of the ball, and his marking was particularly good even against bigger bodies - which isn't hard, given he is only pushing 80kg on a good day. But that suggests he still has a lot of development to come, and the fact that he stepped up his game at a higher level is always a good sign. So I still have high hopes for McIntosh, and I think he could develop like Alex Johnson at the Swans. Plus he has good speed and endurance, which has so far allowed him to play as that rebounding third tall defender. AFL Comparison: Alex Johnson.

47. Sydney - Rory Atkins (183cm midfielder - Calder)

Every year there is someone who was highly regarded at the start of the season, who just drops away. I think Atkins could be that guy this year. While I don't think he will miss completely, he might prove to be more of a mid-round draft pick than an early second rounder as some have him. I've compared him to Rory Sloane in the past, so a pick around the 50 mark might actually be about right all things considered. In the Championships, he struggled to get involved and just wasn't able to win enough of the ball. But since the Championships ended, he has been back to his ball winning best in the TAC Cup. At his best, he is a strong inside midfielder with a knack for finding the ball and is strong enough athletically. The problem that I've had is that he has been playing largely as a half forward and using his run to link up on the outside - which normally I don't have a problem with. But I question whether his speed and skills are good enough for that role at AFL level. I think it'd be a good idea to focus on being a hard running, inside player instead. He just needs to improve his defensive workrate. I could still see him slipping though, as he just doesn't look to have the explosiveness to impact games as much as some other players. AFL Comparison: Rory Sloane.

48. North Melbourne - Marco Paparone (193cm forward - East Fremantle)

Paparone was the flavour of the month there for a bit, with some having in the top 10 after the Championships. But the talk has died off and he has since dropped back down the order, to a more realistic spot in my opinion. After being steady as a 17 year old, he stepped up this year at Colts level to really start impacting games. And it saw him become a regular in the WA team during the U18 Championships. And he was one of their more consistent performers across half forward and up on a wing as he consistently got 20+ possessions. At AFL level, I think Paparone will be developed into that modern running CHF role, and full credit to him his engine is as good as anyone's. I'm sure he'll get compared to Riewoldt due to the similar positions they play, but he is obviously nowhere near that level. He is a good mark on the lead, but not as strong in terms of contested marking. While his kicking style is ungainly and can lead to missed kicks. He also isn't really going to crash many packs as a CHF. I think he'll be a good player, but not one you could build a forward line around. And I can't shake that thought that he is more a midfielder stuck in a forward's body. AFL Comparison: Jack Watts.

49. Melbourne - Adam Carter (179cm midfielder - South Fremantle)

Carter is yet another one of those multi-talented athletes who turned his back on a cricket career in favour of the AFL, and it's looking like a pretty good move at the moment. What with being named in the WA squad for the U18 Championships and making his WAFL league debut this year too. Carter has played largely as a small defender so far in his career, and while he might start his career there, I think he'll eventually become part of the midfield rotations for whichever side picks him up. He has been overshadowed a bit by the bigger and flashier WA players so far this year, but he is a big time ball winner and a little tough nut. And not only is a tough, but he is a very smart and skilled player - his kicking in particular seems quite underappreciated. I expect he'll go earlier than this as he is just a really clean player and versatile enough to make the 22 in a number of positions. AFL Comparison: Rhyce Shaw.

50. Western Bulldogs - F/S Lachie Hunter (181cm midfielder - Western Jets)

I wasn't really sure where to place Lachie Hunter prior to the F/S bidding, he does impress me every time I see him play. But I can't shake a gut feeling that he'll slide. In the end, I decided that I would probably bid a third round draft pick on him. Hunter is a genuine midfielder, can win lots of the ball but also impact a game with just a few disposals. I think this is about where he should have been taken in an open draft, so it's a good pick up for the Bulldogs. And I think he'll be a solid player. AFL Comparison: David Mackay.

51. Western Bulldogs - Nick Rodda (194cm defender - West Perth)

Rodda certainly is an interesting prospect. He is physically already quite developed, and is a perfect size for a KPD at around 194cm and an impressive 98kg. In terms of size, he'd be one of the most immediate KPP options in the draft. And also he is also surprisingly mobile for someone his size, he has both impressive speed and agility. Last year in the WAFL he was solid across full back, but offered little to nothing on the rebound. This year however he has taken his game to another level, and in the Colts he has gone from averaging 7 disposals a game to 16. Showing once and for all that he is more than just a wall across full back. And he continued on with that form in the U18 Championships, holding his own against the 'big name' opposition forwards and becoming involved in the rebounding game too. One other thing he did for WA in the U18 Championships was to kick in after the opposition scored a behind, it's not often a full back does that but that highlights how clean his foot skills are. Yet despite being a strong and athletic KPD, he still seems to be somewhat underrated in my opinion. AFL Comparison: Ben Rutten.

52. Essendon - Jacob Ballard (186cm midfielder - Northern Knights)

I know I keep calling players underrated, but Ballard is. He had a super consistent season for the Knights in the TAC Cup and was named in the bests in all but two of his 13 games this year. And he continued on with that form in the U18 Championships, and while he wasn't a standout he won plenty of ball and used it very well off of half back. One thing he showed for Vic Metro was that he doesn't need a lot of game time to win the ball. And even with his Draft Combine invite, it still seems as though people aren't really talking about him all that much. He is 186cm and has a mature body, he'll be pushing for selection in his debut season. He can run all day as he proved with a top 10 beep test result, and he uses the ball very well by foot. With his size, skills and athletic ability, he looks to be a perfect fit for the modern game, and I think he could easily push into the second round. What will dictate where he gets picked is whether teams think he will become that big bodied midfielder or if a career at half back is more likely. Either way, I think he could be a good player. AFL Comparison: Jordan Russell.

53. Melbourne - Michael McMahon (186cm forward - North Adelaide)

Coming into the season, one of my favourite draft prospects from South Australia was Michael McMahon. In fact, at the start of the year I had him ranked inside my top 50 and I was really looking forward to seeing what he would do. He performed well for SA in the U16 Championships a couple of years ago, and last year won the SANFL U18 goal kicking with an impressive 69 goals in 22 games. And he started this season off right where he left off - with 16 goals in his first five games. In those games, he was also getting a bit further up the ground and not only was he kicking goals himself, but he was delivering the ball inside 50 too. Unfortunately, he would not play another game this season as he suffered a season ending groin injury. Which is a real shame, as he looked set for a big year. Chances are the injury will see him overlooked completely this year, however I think what he has shown over the last two years would be enough to earn himself a late speculative pick. AFL Comparison: Jeremy Howe.

54. Adelaide - Steven Baldasso (183cm midfielder - Norwood)

So I think everyone knows that I like my South Australians by now, and it may well be my bias which is why I have Baldasso so high. He isn't really a big name around these parts (except on the Richmond board) and he didn't feature for SA in the U18 Championships - so many interstate draft watchers may not have seen him play. But he is a really nice midfielder, and one I think just might surprise a few in the next month. Baldasso can play either inside or outside, he has really clean hands and can also run hard. Disposal is a strength of his, he just looks to be a good all round midfielder. He reminds me a bit of the Collingwood midfielders, particularly Fasolo and Beams. I do have some concerns in regards to his speed. He didn't test particularly well at the Combine, and I think the reason he has had success in the SANFL is because he reads the play well and seems a step ahead of the opposition - which gives him more space and gives the impression of more speed than what he may actually have. But if he still has that time at AFL level, then it wont matter. AFL Comparison: Alex Fasolo.

55. Essendon - Tullio DeMatteis (184cm midfielder - Norwood)

I've been quietly talking up Tullio all year as a mid-draft option, and I still really like what he offers. Interestingly, DeMatteis hasn't played a lot of games for Norwood over the last three seasons - in fact, he has only played 22 SANFL games spread out between U18s and Reserves. But that's because he has been playing school football, as well as representing South Australia in two games during the Championships this year. From the fairly limited viewing sample, he has done some very nice things and did enough to earn a Draft Combine invite. He is a really quick outside midfielder or half forward, he didn't test quite as well as I expected in the sprints but I think if the testing was over 100m the results would be very different - he has more than proved that with his competitive sprinting here in Adelaide. While he can play across half forward, I like him further up the ground on a wing - where I don't think he is too different to Jackson Macrae. He has that ability to get around his opponent with relative ease, and he has proved in the SANFL that he is a creative player and a very clean one too. In the U18s he showed that he can win the ball, but in the Reserves he also showed he could impact a game with just a handful of touches. AFL Comparison: Sharrod Wellingham.

56. Carlton - Matt Wallis (194cm defender - Norwood)

Last year, Wallis played only a couple of games in the SANFL but Norwood had high hopes for him. And he started the season well, being named in the South Australian U18 squad. Coming into the U18 Championships, I had Tim O'Brien at full back and Matt Wallis at full forward. Yet they were flipped around, and it looks like it was the best outcome for both parties. I thought Wallis stood up really well at full back, and just went about his business in an unassuming way. Whenever a full back doesn't get mentioned, it's typically been a good day. And that was the case for Wallis. His one on one work has been strong, and he has been equally adept against smaller forwards too. He might not be the highest rated defender available here by many, but I really like what he does. What may help is some strong showings at full forward lately in the SANFL where he has marked strongly and kicked a few goals, versatility is never a bad thing for a KPP. AFL Comparison: Tom Lonergan.

[Whispering_Jack 30,140]

That's a fair smorgasbord of players there and, of course, they never quite fall the way anyone expects but I would be happy to get Snoop Dog's two picks.

There's also a bit of mail from out west that we're interested in a strong young onballer Dean Kent who missed the Under 18 championships due to illness. The FD seem to be showing a lot of intrsrest in the tough, hard midfield types. He features in both Knightmare and Snoop Dog's mocks but a little below our 49-53 range.

[olisik 4,060]

Would love Towers, doubt he ll last though.

[red and blue forever 1,030]

three players I am looking into at the moment

Tom Gribble Geelong Falcons won b/f 18 year old 182cm 75kg.

Nick Rippon Ballarat Rebels won b/f 176cm 80kg - ran a 14.2 beep test.

Josh Saunders Geelong Falcons 184cm 88kg.

All should get close to falling to 49-53 and look like they have some attributes we would desire (all midfielders.)

If anyone can provide some more info it would be appreciated.

[Mad_Melbourne 877]

Michael McMahon sounds an interesting prospect, I think one of the key attributes we will be looking at is foot speed and goal sense, so could be worth a dip

[Curry & Beer 5,444]

anything's possible

2008 51 Neville Jetta

2006 46 Colin Garland

1999 50 Matthew Whelan

2005 60 Clint Bartram

[Lord Travis 10,730]

Snoop Dog

# 49 Melbourne

Laine Wilkins

Peel Thunder

183cm / 78kg / ‘94

He is an interesting prospect Laine as when I first saw him i thought he reminds me very much of Dale Thomas. He has all the tricks Dale has but just hasn’t really had that break out game in a really important match Dale had so I suspect he is one that will polarise. His fans will argue the goals vs Metro were the teaser but his detractors will say few and far between and justifiably cite his Colts form. But look this kid is quick, he is incredibly agile, magnificent leap on him and a superbly skilled player. He has enough potential to be rated from 10 owards but he just hasn’t shown it. I just wonder he might be someone who really steps into an AFL environment and is really productive.

This sounds good to me. We should take some speedy and/or skilled players here, and this guy sounds like he fits that mould.

[Johnny Jimbo 26]

You'd have to take Broomhead if he's available regardless of his football ability

[angrydee 842]

I like the sound of Brian Coleman-Broome: 9/4/94, 181/79, Morningside (Qld)

'Very skilful small forward/defender whose skills below his knees are his main strength. He never fumbles and at times it appears that he has velcro on his hands. He is very quick over the first 10 metres and is an exciting young prospect. He is very much in the mould of Jeff Garlett in the way that he plays' Bob Batty, Qld talent manager

[Pink Freud 365]

Amazing.

These people who compose mock drafts

What do they do the rest of the time?

[rjay 24,928]

#46 West Coast (Via St Kilda and GWS) -Marvin Warrell (WA – Fwd/Mid)

Height: 182cm, Weight: 70kg, DOB: 19/09/1994

Recruited from: South Fremantle

Style:

Player Comparison:

Range: 45-rookie

Profile: Very quick forward with great pace and tackling ability. Would be among the very elite of this draft for pace. Just so aggressive with his tackling and really goes hard at the man for someone with such a light frame. Lacks consistency with his play which is to be expected with a small forward but on a good day Warrell can do some serious damage.

# 51 West Bulldogs

Marvin Warrell

South Fremantle

182cm / 73kg / ‘94

A player that has grown on me over the year. Saw a bit of him very early in the year and he seemed to be (with all due respect) just one of the many small forwards from the WA production line with nothing particularly standing out. To be fair didnt watch closely but couldn’t help notice when he pushed into the middle and was a consistent winner of the ball. His agility and ability to escape the contest and then make a really good decision with the ball really stood out. Played a lot more of that role in the WAFL towards year end and has stamped himself as one to get pretty excited by because he ticks lots of boxes; pace, positional scope (fwd and middle), goal kicker, aggressive at contest, dual sided skills. He could also be a player you push behind the ball as he seems to have defensive mindset when he doesn’t have the ball and his skills coming out would be very handy. Louis Herbert might be one they would look at or may even be hoping Spencer White from their backyard drops to here.

Looks good to me; seems there is still a bit of talent around for our later picks so we might snag another Tommy Mc.

[MadAsHell 4,212]

Would love either of Wilkins or Towers who were both mentioned in two of those drafts. However I don't expect them to last that long.

Here's my picks 46-56 that I posted in my Mock Draft early, although I don't claim to be as much of an expert as the above.

46.West Coast

Player: Brant Colledge

Height: 192cm

Weight: 87kg

Club: Perth

Description: Due to injuries Colledge has gone under the radar so far, but he is one of the KPFs that I would seriously be considering. In the final match of the Championships, I thought he was the most impressive of the WA talls. Colledge is a strong mark above his head, and while he wont ever be a 50+ a season goalkicker, he is good at bringing other players into the game. While he can play in the backline, I like him as a CHF leading up the ground. He plays a very high marking and disposal game in the WAFL Colts, and I think he could translate that across to the AFL.

47.Sydney

Player: Emmanuel Irra

Height: 179cm

Weight: 80kg

Club:South Adelaide

Description: Irra is a Ugandan refugee who played as an outside mid for South Adelaide. Is a kid who has already made his league debut and for a kid who hasn't been playing all his life is a beautiful kick off both sides of his body. Once he gets the ball he has elite speed and is very difficult to catch. At times though he can really struggle to get involved in the game and therefore needs to improve his work rate if he wants to make it at the next level.

48. North Melbourne

Player: Tim O'Brien

Height: 194cm

Weight: 81kg

Club: Glenelg

Description: Not a huge guy for someone who plays in the ruck a bit at under 18 level but he has an amazing leap on him. I'm excited to see what he can do with his vertical leap. Played predominantly as a KPF for SA whilst giving the occasional chop out to Grundy in the ruck. Had quite a successful championships kicking 6.0 in the opening game against Tasmania. Still a pretty raw prospect but plenty to work with.

49.Melbourne

Player:Mason Wood

Height: 190cm

Weight:78kg

Club: Geelong Falcons

Description: Tall, skilful midfielder from the Geelong Falcons. Can push forward from the wing and kick goals. Has a really nice left-foot on him but like a lot of left-footers is very one-sided and can get him into a bit of trouble at times.

50.Western Bulldogs

Player: Lachlan Hunter

Height: 181cm

Weight: 78kg

Club: Western Jets

Description: Lachlan Hunter, son of former 130-game Bulldog defender Mark was nominated by the Club before the father son deadline. Hunter is a left-footed midfielder/forward that represented Vic Metro at the AFL Under-18 national championships, and earned 2012 TAC Cup Team of the Year honours for his recent season with the Western Jets.

51.Western Bulldogs

Player: Nathan Hrovat

Height: 174cm

Weight: 78kg

Club: Northern Knights

Description: Hrovat was probably the most productive player of the Champs. He just continually racked up big numbers. He is a very small midfielder who has a huge work rate. Very solid size for a little bloke so is able to win a lot of his own ball. His skills are elite and he is very much a dual-sided player, which is a credit to his hard work and discipline. He shows some real leadership in the way he's always the first to get over to encourage his teammates. He will be a guy who you can put straight into the team from round 1 next year and he will have an impact.

52.Essendon

Player: Adam Saad

Height: 177cm

Weight: 73kg

Club: Calder Cannons

Description: Small defender/forward with excellent disposal and penetration on his prefered left foot. Reads the play very well, is agile and a fantastic overhaed mark. Sets up counter attacks from half back regularly and is averaging 16 disposals this season at TAC Cup level. In 2011 played for the World team in NAB AFL Under 16 Championships and won the Most Valuable Player award.

53.Melbourne

Player:Leigh Osborne

Height: 186cm

Weight:84kg

Club: Frankston Dolphins

Description: Rebounding medium defender who can also play through the midfield. Possesses a very good burst of speed and is an excellent kick on his preferred left foot. Played with the Eastern Ranges at TAC Cup level before a stint with local club East Ringwood. In 2012 he crossed to Frankston in the VFL and has become a shining light in defence averaging 17.4 disposals. Loves to run and carry the ball, can be a dangerous player when delivering inside forward 50. Accumulated a season best 28 disposals against Williamstown in Round 12.

54. Adelaide

Player: Daniel Williamson

Height: 179cm

Weight:?

Club: Norwood

Description: I don't know a lot on Williamson. From what I hear he's not a game changer, but not unlike a Toby Greene or Clay Smith either.

55.Essendon

Player: Matthew McDonough

Height: 180cm

Weight: 85kg

Club: Woodville West Torrens

Description: Nuggety small forward in the Porplyzia mould. Very strong kid for someone of his height and proved to be a very difficult match up at the champs kicking two bags of 6 goals and 3 in the final game. Not convinced his type will be the most highly sought after but I think he can continue to be a difficult match up at AFL level. Would like to see him play more midfield as everyone knows he is a more than capable forward and some versatility wouldn't go astray.

56.Carlton

Player: Jacob Ballard

Height: 186cm

Weight: 82kg

Club: Northern Knights

Description: I have to say that Ballard is underrated. I don't know why more people aren't talking about him. He is 186cm and a strong body, he'd be pushing selection in his debut season. He can run all day, and uses the ball quite well too - plays off of half back and through the middle. He was super impressive for Vic Metro, and one thing he showed was that he doesn't need a lot of game time to win the ball. He looks to be a perfect fit for the modern game, and I think he could go earlier then this.

[Ron Burgundy 8,584]

Amazing.

These people who compose mock drafts

What do they do the rest of the time?

Exactly what I was thinking when reading their detailed analysis of these kids from all over the country that most of us will never watch play any game of football - at all.

Glad they do it though - makes an interesting read.

[mfcrox 143]

One bloke I would love us to have a punt on is Anthony Bonnadio from Northern Knights U18s. He has sort of dropped down the pecking order in recent seasons as he hasn't really shot up in size. He is small (approx. 175cm, 78kg) but is seriously skilled and should be available at these picks or possibly the rookie draft... not due to skill, more due to height.

Has a good engine (good enough to play midfield) and a good burst of speed. I'd see him becoming more like a Steve Milne forward pocket-type because he has really really good goal sense, and great defensive pressure. We could definitely do a lot worse at these picks, and I'd love to have him picking crumbs under the feet of Clark, Dawes, Hogan, Pederson, etc.

2012 Statistics

16 games

22 goals

Ave. 20 possessions

Ave. 5 tackles

Edited November 14, 2012 by mfcrox

[TRIGON 4,783]

How about Cameron Banfield?

Some of the mock drafts are placing him around the mid-30's, however he could slide down to our 3rd rounders.

What does he offer?

• Good tackler
  
• Good foot skills
  
• Pace
  

Could be a good addition to the list as a small defender, especially after the sad news of Clint's retirement.

And yes...he's a Dee's supporter!

[Roger Mellie 4,025]

I'd be pretty happy with Warrell and Carter.

[IvanBartul13 2,564]

Matthew Dick will be a big chance if he is still available

[tappysquads 618]

One bloke I would love us to have a punt on is Anthony Bonnadio from Northern Knights U18s. He has sort of dropped down the pecking order in recent seasons as he hasn't really shot up in size. He is small (approx. 175cm, 78kg) but is seriously skilled and should be available at these picks or possibly the rookie draft... not due to skill, more due to height.

Has a good engine (good enough to play midfield) and a good burst of speed. I'd see him becoming more like a Steve Milne forward pocket-type because he has really really good goal sense, and great defensive pressure. We could definitely do a lot worse at these picks, and I'd love to have him picking crumbs under the feet of Clark, Dawes, Hogan, Pederson, etc.

2012 Statistics

16 games

22 goals

Ave. 20 possessions

Ave. 5 tackles

I think that is the most impressive highlight vid

I've seen so far. Looks like a slick speedy forward who takes grabs

And genuinely wants the ball in his hands. Surely can't make

It that far down the draft.

What about Dil Roberton if he enters the draft? Showed a lot at freo and they wanted to keep

Him but a having a kid has led him to come home to vicco.

[Theo 272]

McDonough smashed it in the Championships. Reminded me of a young Jason Dunstall. A footballers footballer this kid. Always gets involved, hard to match up on and a beautiful kick for goal.

I mentioned him and Sam Colqhoun to Mark Neeld at one of the coached forums. They were real standouts or SA in the Championships.

Of course we need some real pace to compliment what we have. Tipungwuti, Wilkins, Nelson and Ballard seem to meet this criteria but I'd hate to pass on McDonough as he has the attributes to turn a game.

Also reminds me a bit of Tom Rockliff. Not the perfect body shape before draft time (and when he trained with us in 2008) but you knew he could really play.

[Deeoldfart 8,033]

I think that is the most impressive highlight vid

I've seen so far. Looks like a slick speedy forward who takes grabs

And genuinely wants the ball in his hands. Surely can't make

It that far down the draft.

Agree, it's an impressive highlights package. Bonaddio seems to have pace and exceptional foot skills, something that we need in spades.

[stranga 328]

Josh Saunders isnt even mentioned in Knightmares draft but looks to have some real toughness and line breaking pace.

Matthew Dick (nickname heaven) also looks like a smart and quick outside player.

[Mad_Melbourne 877]

One bloke I would love us to have a punt on is Anthony Bonnadio from Northern Knights U18s. He has sort of dropped down the pecking order in recent seasons as he hasn't really shot up in size. He is small (approx. 175cm, 78kg) but is seriously skilled and should be available at these picks or possibly the rookie draft... not due to skill, more due to height.

Has a good engine (good enough to play midfield) and a good burst of speed. I'd see him becoming more like a Steve Milne forward pocket-type because he has really really good goal sense, and great defensive pressure. We could definitely do a lot worse at these picks, and I'd love to have him picking crumbs under the feet of Clark, Dawes, Hogan, Pederson, etc.

2012 Statistics

16 games

22 goals

Ave. 20 possessions

Ave. 5 tackles

Tackles 5 a game is very good, shows intent, although pushing him up to afl and even vfl he would likely be ragdolled

Looks good, just could go the way of fortunato Caruso, won the morrish medal 2 years in a row, but never got given a proper shot due to his height!