AFL NATIONAL DRAFT - Pick 9

[hardtack 10,422]

Christian Salem looks great on the AFL draft prospects today. He is a left footer so I think that Roos will consider him at Pick 9. He also seems a mature young man who would put the team first.

Yeah, I started a thread on Salem and Freeman a while back now (think it's on about page 5 now)... he is apparently good overhead and good for a few goals. Was played most of this season off half back, but they say he's at his best in the midfield.

[CHF 2,696]

9 is an interesting position to be in for the draft this year as it seems there is a lot of players that could fit the bill between selections 5 and 17.

I expect the 1-4 will be Boyd, Kelly, Aish and Scharenberg with only Boyd locked in at No1. I get the feeling that if GWS were to select Scharenberg with 2, as I think they might, then it will have a dramatic effect on the order of the next 10 or so selections with teams scrambling to get a player that best suits their lists and playing style. if Scharenberg goes 2 I think Aish will slip a couple of spots with St Kilda having a crack at Kelly and Bullies going with either Billings or Bontempelli before Asih. Suns to take Suns to take one of those three with their selection. Collingwood will then have either Bontempelli or Freeman or Aish if he slips. Lions I get the feeling will go for Lennon. Demons will take Freeman if he is there. If not maybe Dunstan

My prediction:

1. Boyd

2. Scharenberg

3. Kelly

4. Billings

5. Bontempelli

6. Asih

7. Lennon

8. McDonald

9. Freeman

That still leaves a lot of pretty even talent with the likes of Crouch, Sheed, Dunstan, Acres, Taylor, Salem

Kolo and to be honest, I would not be upset at getting any of them. Given our recent record, it is more important what happens after we have selected them.

P.S. - I would hate to see Collingwood get Aish.

[Adam The God 29,417]

My completely uneducated leap to rash conclusions based on some sound analysis from good judges: 5. Gold Coast: KK - Scott Clayton special and they need someone like him off HB.6. Collingwood: Freeman - to replace Swan and fair chance they'll get Bontempelli at 10 too, only Brisbane and us between them. On that basis only 3 of your 4 - Aish, Scharenberg, Kelly and Billings - fit in picks 2-4, one of them at 7 to Brisbane? Might have another look at that Lennon footage ...

I reckon the Pies will go for a slider at 6 and we'll have a decision to make. Freeman, Lennon or Crouch. I hope we pick Freeman. We need those sorts of line breakers. Lennon doesn't seem to have that ability.

[Thehardtackler 785]

Salem looks far more exciting than Bontempelli. Salem is a class player for our midfield and that is what we need, we have enough insiders from our trading.

[pilgrim 120]

Has anyone else had the audio issues with the draft highlights on the AFL website? The audio seems to go out of sync and then stop all together about halfway through. Really frustrating!

[Machsy 2,858]

Yeah, thought that too.

The videos have just been edited terribly, although it kinda helps in knowing who you're looking for if you don't already recognise them.

[mdemonski2 403]

Just saw the Dom sheed feature on afl website.

Fierce competitor, loves hunting the ball and a lovely left foot.

Captain of wa, he leads by example.

Would love him at 9 to the dees and beat west coast to the punch.

Will slot in beautifully next to jines, Viney and our new boys from round 1 2014.

[Dee Fan 3,247]

Has anyone else had the audio issues with the draft highlights on the AFL website? The audio seems to go out of sync and then stop all together about halfway through. Really frustrating!

I found it better to turn the sound off.

[Spin-it-to-Goodwin-it 579]

Having watched Freeman's highlights for the 2nd time, his talents are now significantly growing on me.

The first time I watched him I wasn't overly impressed with what I saw as him being a tad out of control, but now I just see it that he is just ridiculously quick and that it looks kind of strange because no-one can catch him. I also think it is a lot harder for the quicker guys to control their kicking when going at full tilt, and that he needs to get a little better at composing his kicking a top speed - but that's not a bad problem to have so long a you can kick well and I think he can when composed.

I see Freeman as a quicker version of Ollie Wines and a force to be reckoned with as early as next year, and would be very happy to see him land at the Dees at pick 9.

[Thehardtackler 785]

Much prefer Salem to Sheed. Both left footers but Salem has more speed and slightly better skills. Sheed would be able to do more inside work though.

[dee-luded 2,959]

Having watched Freeman's highlights for the 2nd time, his talents are now significantly growing on me.

The first time I watched him I wasn't overly impressed with what I saw as him being a tad out of control, but now I just see it that he is just ridiculously quick and that it looks kind of strange because no-one can catch him. I also think it is a lot harder for the quicker guys to control their kicking when going at full tilt, and that he needs to get a little better at composing his kicking a top speed - but that's not a bad problem to have so long a you can kick well and I think he can when composed.

I see Freeman as a quicker version of Ollie Wines and a force to be reckoned with as early as next year, and would be very happy to see him land at the Dees at pick 9.

RB, do you possibly have a link to that AFL site page where all the mids videos were listed on the one page? Its disappeared from the afl home page & I didn't save it.

[Hannibal 5,814]

RB, do you possibly have a link to that AFL site page where all the mids videos were listed on the one page? Its disappeared from the afl home page & I didn't save it.

http://www.afl.com.au/2013-draft/draftees/midfielders/

[Moonshadow 17,554]

http://www.afl.com.au/2013-draft/draftees/midfielders/

Geez, watching through some of those videos there looks to be quite a few good choices around the pick 9 mark. Haven't seen any of them live, but it makes the decision to trade pick 2+20 for Tyson+9 look like a winner. Many in the media and on here have said that the draft thins out after about 14. Nice work Dees.

[Spin-it-to-Goodwin-it 579]

A question for all you guys...

Now that we have recruited Dom Tyson, does that rule out us taking Sheed or Salem with pick 9 given they are similar players to Tyson?

[dazzledavey36 52,884]

Hey guys, a guy that is a chief staff for Bound for Glory and watches a lot of TAC cup and writes about did a phantom draft and he had this to say about pick 9:

9. Melb - Christian Salem (VIC - Mid)
Sandringham Dragons
182 cm 83 kgs
Player Comparison: Scott Pendlebury
Looks like a human wrecking ball but is far from it. Whilst Salem can win the inside ball with his tenacity and strength, but the real highlight of his game is his rare ability to find time and space when it shouldn’t be there. In his first TAC Cup game this season, Salem dominated the first half to the point where I literally couldn’t take notes on any other player because he was the only one catching my eye. In heavy traffic, he manages to evade a tackle and spot up a player perfectly, even with immense pressure around him. Salem can hit the scoreboard too, although his game isn’t suited to the forward line. His outside skills are fantastic and he is a fantastic tackler. To be quite honest, I think he is a better player than Josh Kelly, but Kelly is a superior athlete. Against New South Wales/ACT, Salem was played in the forward pocket and kicked 3 goals. Yet when he moved up the field, he just played with such composure and measured his kicks so well. He’s also quite quick and can act as a ball carrier. Also got a great head on his shoulders, chatted to him several times through the year and he gives off the sense of professionalism and high level football doesn’t seem to faze him.

Edited October 27, 2013 by dazzledavey36

[Moonshadow 17,554]

A question for all you guys...

Now that we have recruited Dom Tyson, does that rule out us taking Sheed or Salem with pick 9 given they are similar players to Tyson?

Not sure. I would have thought that Roos wants the best available mid at 9 that has a decent sized body (unless Aish or Kelly slip to 9, which is highly unlikely). If that is Salem or Sheed, then I don't think we can have enough mids of that ilk.

[Hannibal 5,814]

Geez, watching through some of those videos there looks to be quite a few good choices around the pick 9 mark. Haven't seen any of them live, but it makes the decision to trade pick 2+20 for Tyson+9 look like a winner. Many in the media and on here have said that the draft thins out after about 14. Nice work Dees.

I agree.

I only just watched the Salem one and he looks fantastic. I also like Lewis Taylor. I know he's not big, but he's class and very clever.

Salem, Freeman, Sheed, Lennon, Taylor, Bontempelli all look very good. Whomever we pick I doubt it will be long before they're entrenched in our best 22.

[Slartibartfast 16,900]

I only just watched the Salem one and he looks fantastic.

You can't tell unless you've seen them live.

[dazzledavey36 52,884]

Just watched the footage of Salem but does anyone reckon he has that bit of Adam Yze class and skill about him?

[Hannibal 5,814]

You can't tell unless you've seen them live.

You certainly don't recruit based on video footage alone, but you obviously get an idea of a player's style and strengths. Which, of course, is why recruiters spend hundreds of hours looking at said footage. No-one is being definitive here, just sharing random thoughts on the players available. I wouldn't commit to one player or another on such limited information, but there appears to be good options.

Seeing as you're so interested in my views I'm thinking about having your "Thanks Bazz" as my new signature. Let me know what you think.

[Hannibal 5,814]

Just watched the footage of Salem but does anyone reckon he has that bit of Adam Yze class and skill about him?

Yes, I thought of Yze, although Salem has a much tougher edge.

[Spin-it-to-Goodwin-it 579]

Just watched the footage of Salem but does anyone reckon he has that bit of Adam Yze class and skill about him?

Definitely, a meatier & less bouncy version.

Salem better in and under & without the aerial prowess of Yze

[Dee Fan 3,247]

Hey guys, a guy that is a chief staff for Bound for Glory and watches a lot of TAC cup and writes about did a phantom draft and he had this to say about pick 9:

9. Melb - Christian Salem (VIC - Mid)

Sandringham Dragons

182 cm 83 kgs

Player Comparison: Scott Pendlebury

Looks like a human wrecking ball but is far from it. Whilst Salem can win the inside ball with his tenacity and strength, but the real highlight of his game is his rare ability to find time and space when it shouldn’t be there. In his first TAC Cup game this season, Salem dominated the first half to the point where I literally couldn’t take notes on any other player because he was the only one catching my eye. In heavy traffic, he manages to evade a tackle and spot up a player perfectly, even with immense pressure around him. Salem can hit the scoreboard too, although his game isn’t suited to the forward line. His outside skills are fantastic and he is a fantastic tackler. To be quite honest, I think he is a better player than Josh Kelly, but Kelly is a superior athlete. Against New South Wales/ACT, Salem was played in the forward pocket and kicked 3 goals. Yet when he moved up the field, he just played with such composure and measured his kicks so well. He’s also quite quick and can act as a ball carrier. Also got a great head on his shoulders, chatted to him several times through the year and he gives off the sense of professionalism and high level football doesn’t seem to faze him.

He looks ok doesn't he, wouldn't be unhappy with him and can understand why we didn't mind losing pick 2.

Freeman, Salem, Lennon, Sheed,whatever happens we will get a good one.

[The team we love 416]

After watching the prospects on the AFL website, Salem looks to have the class, composure and ability to hit a target on will. Outside the top 5 he fits our needs best and has the skills to play off half back while he develops as an AFL midfielder.

[ChaserJ 4,712]

I agree.

I only just watched the Salem one and he looks fantastic. I also like Lewis Taylor. I know he's not big, but he's class and very clever.

Salem, Freeman, Sheed, Lennon, Taylor, Bontempelli all look very good. Whomever we pick I doubt it will be long before they're entrenched in our best 22.

Love Lewis Taylor. Has been very good every time I've watched him. Combination of Brent Harvey & Sam Mitchell. Very creative, very skilful and doesn't waste possession. If he were 5cm taller, am convinced he would sit in the top 5. As it is, he's in the 12-16 range. I think his height has recruiters questioning his ability to play in the guts at the AFL level. I'd personally rank him at around 7.

Think Freeman is the one we're after, with Salem or Lennon the next cabs off the rank if Freeman is gone by 9. Brisbane might nab him, though I'd say they're a good chance to get Lennon. Sheed's lack of pace will count against him given the lack of pace we already have in midfield. None of Trengove, Jones or Tyson are overly quick. Salem's not super quick but is above average and has versatility to go with that very good left foot. Excellent tackler too.