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

Thanks for the info dazzle.

One thing that seems to pop up every year though is at least one player who gets the "Scott Pendlebury" comparison.

Not sure if this has been posted yet, but Callum Twomey posted today who he thinks each club will take with their picks.

It seems pretty straight forward, but you'll notice he says "Around the mark: Matt Scharenberg".

I assumed he'd be long gone by pick 9 based on most people's rankings (including Twomey's). If he were there, I'd assume we'd take him. What do you guys think?

"Melbourne
Pick 9: The Demons signalled their intention to add midfielders to their list as soon as Paul Roos arrived at the club. Through Dom Tyson and Bernie Vince, they have two quality players. But they might still look for some pace, and the only midfielder in the top bracket with real leg speed is Nathan Freeman.
Around the mark: Matt Scharenberg, Ben Lennon, Christian Salem"

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-10-26/your-clubs-top-draft-priority

Edited October 27, 201312 yr by pilgrim

Not sure if this has been posted yet, but Callum Twomey posted today who he thinks each club will take with their picks.

It seems pretty straight forward, but you'll notice he says "Around the mark: Matt Scharenberg".

I assumed he'd be long gone by pick 9 based on most people's rankings (including Twomey's). If he were there, I'd assume we'd take him. What do you guys think?

"Melbourne

Pick 9: The Demons signalled their intention to add midfielders to their list as soon as Paul Roos arrived at the club. Through Dom Tyson and Bernie Vince, they have two quality players. But they might still look for some pace, and the only midfielder in the top bracket with real leg speed is Nathan Freeman.

Around the mark: Matt Scharenberg, Ben Lennon, Christian Salem"

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-10-26/your-clubs-top-draft-priority

Scharenberg's become increasingly harder to place, and I think Kolodjashnij's rise into top 5 contention is the catalyst. I think the Doggie's have a tough decision to make between him and Aish, and one of those two may slide a bit.

I feel Scharenberg spent the second half of the season on ice, so slipped out of conciousness.

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

thanks B-H, sensational. I'll bookmark it.

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.

we certainly have to concentrate on natural footballers first, & then compare their athletic abilities after that, before selecting.

we've taken so many boys who just were never near good enough over the years its demoralising. I would have had more success with my first 2 rounds picks, than our recruiters have over the 2005 - 2011 draft years. that is just poor.

I'm really glad to get the Roos team in, & I feel trust in them to do a strong job with our list.

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

I think he's simply commenting on his preferences from the videos he's watched fan bob, which is what footy forums are for.

& I reckon there's a pretty good shot that he recognises he's not going to be the one calling out the number & name of our Pick 9.

carry on

Thanks for the info dazzle.

One thing that seems to pop up every year though is at least one player who gets the "Scott Pendlebury" comparison.

Or Luke Hodge (Salem) or Jonno Brown (Hogan) or Stevie Johnson (Lennon) or Simon Black (Sheed). We seem to be prematurely hopeful (if that make sense) of what the current draftees will become. Makes it hard for them to live up to the hype.

I like Salem, Lennon or KK in that order. Would be happy with Freeman because we need speed, his kicking looks a bit average from the footage, reminds me of a young Matt White.

We need ball getters, but equally we need good to great kicks. Good kicks are my priority now we've acquired some ball getters. Salem looks quick enough, with a beautiful kick. Lennon looks a beautiful kick too, and nice in the air.

All the players around the mark look really good prospects, surely we won't [censored] this one up.

I don't mind Freeman, has tidy skills, however the one thing that bothers me is that he is so short. I normally don't have a problem with it but in the position we are in at the moment we can't really afford to carry a very small midfielder who has to put on a bit more muscle to compete. Remembering AFL is a big step up from the under 18s

we certainly have to concentrate on natural footballers first, & then compare their athletic abilities after that, before selecting.

we've taken so many boys who just were never near good enough over the years its demoralising. I would have had more success with my first 2 rounds picks, than our recruiters have over the 2005 - 2011 draft years. that is just poor.

I'm really glad to get the Roos team in, & I feel trust in them to do a strong job with our list.

Luke Dunstan is your man.

I don't mind Freeman, has tidy skills, however the one thing that bothers me is that he is so short. I normally don't have a problem with it but in the position we are in at the moment we can't really afford to carry a very small midfielder who has to put on a bit more muscle to compete. Remembering AFL is a big step up from the under 18s

Depending on which profile you read, Freeman's somewhere between 181 and 185 cm. Think he's grown a little from the 181cm measuring, so he's at least 6 foot, which makes him one of the taller mids in the top part of the talent pool. He's also got a fair bit of muscle on him too.

Edited October 27, 201312 yr by ChaserJ

Gotta say, just based on the video, Freeman's speed doesn't look that great, certainly not Judd-like which is what i was expecting, given the hype about it. Looked like he had just enough to stay ahead. Skills looked pretty average too.

If there's a player comparison for Freeman it's Shuey. Minus a skills edge on class but with a speed edge. If the fitness base is there Roos will attempt to turn him in to a Kieran Jack.

The way for him to play is to burst away from the clearance or half back and kick long to space or big forwards. Accurate kicking not so relevant

Herald Sun have posted their phantom draft:

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/draft-experts-jay-clark-and-sam-landsberger-gives-their-predictions-ahead-of-the-afl-national-draft/story-fni5f22o-1226747756197

I like Salem, Lennon or KK in that order. Would be happy with Freeman because we need speed, his kicking looks a bit average from the footage, reminds me of a young Matt White.

We need ball getters, but equally we need good to great kicks. Good kicks are my priority now we've acquired some ball getters. Salem looks quick enough, with a beautiful kick. Lennon looks a beautiful kick too, and nice in the air.

All the players around the mark look really good prospects, surely we won't [censored] this one up.

agree with the White comparison of Freeman, and hence a reservation. i also really like Salem but i'm not seeing the Pendlebury comparison thats has been mentioned, Dom Tyson fills that much better.

Gotta say, just based on the video, Freeman's speed doesn't look that great, certainly not Judd-like which is what i was expecting, given the hype about it. Looked like he had just enough to stay ahead. Skills looked pretty average too.

Looks like a lot of the footage is taken from the Champs (he missed games through injury), and TAC Cup (mainly played APS footy), so the sample size for the clips weren't all that large. Don't worry, the lad's got wheels.

Skills ok, without being absolutely top notch, and from what I've seen, his set shot kicking may need work. Around the ground he's generally neat with his disposal, and can get his kicks away ok even when moving at speed. His endurance is pretty good for a fast twitch athlete, he managed to go on some exciting long distance runs when playing for Sandy toward the back end of the season.

Herald Sun have posted their phantom draft:

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/draft-experts-jay-clark-and-sam-landsberger-gives-their-predictions-ahead-of-the-afl-national-draft/story-fni5f22o-1226747756197

I would be very surprised if Scharenberg is not picked up by GWS at 2 and if he slips he won't get to Brisbane, the Pies will take him before that.

i also really like Salem but i'm not seeing the Pendlebury comparison thats has been mentioned, Dom Tyson fills that much better.

Agree. Salem's modelled his game on Hodge, so that's a good comparison, but doesn't have the same mongrel that Hodgey had at the same age.

Aish the closest to Pendlebury-type in this draft, but doesn't have the same size or inside game. The awareness and class is there though. Agree that Tyson is similar in style, not in the same athletic class though. Bontempelli scoring Pendles comparisons as well.

Edited October 27, 201312 yr by ChaserJ

The more I hear and see about Freeman, the more he grows on me. The pace factor, for an inside midfielder, is precisely why he is our guy. Hoping he falls to us at 9.

Gotta say, just based on the video, Freeman's speed doesn't look that great, certainly not Judd-like which is what i was expecting, given the hype about it. Looked like he had just enough to stay ahead. Skills looked pretty average too.

He ran away from everyone carrying and bouncing. Good agility too. Quick disposal. Would only be caught with the ball if he tried to do too much.

Just had another look at the midfield prospects.

Salem is not a first round pick.

Im not sold on Bontempelli

Freeman and crouch are 200 gamers.

Sheed really looks like he has all the tricks. Leader written all over him. WCE will be in his ear BIGTIME!

If Cavarra slips to the 20's, whoever picks him up would be laughing. Probably the bloody hawks.

Or Luke Hodge (Salem) or Jonno Brown (Hogan) or Stevie Johnson (Lennon) or Simon Black (Sheed). We seem to be prematurely hopeful (if that make sense) of what the current draftees will become. Makes it hard for them to live up to the hype.

Precisely. In reality most of these kids will become good AFL footballers and some very good but Pendlebury, Black, SJ and Hodge are bonafide champions of the game. It's highly unlikely more than 1 or 2 of these kids will reach that level.

Hogan I do have a strong belief could reach the level of a Brown, but then, it's October optimism time and I'm biased like the rest of us.

Herald Sun have posted their phantom draft:

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/draft-experts-jay-clark-and-sam-landsberger-gives-their-predictions-ahead-of-the-afl-national-draft/story-fni5f22o-1226747756197

Zac Jones at 16. Either he's shot up in the rankings or as Denis Cometti would say, ambitious.

Everyone go back and have a look at luke shueys under 18s tape and its pretty avarage.. just saying.

Point is Freeman under a Paul Roos could be a seriously explosive player. Even Patrick Dangerfield was a junior wasnt this explosive.

Will probably grow to 183 which is decent hight for a midfielder and his kicking is even that bad as people make out to it.

Infact James Aish highlights is pretty average, shanks an absolute howler of a kick and sprays a couple in the footage i saw.

1-gws boyd

2-gws kelly

3-stk aish

4-dogs scharenberg

5-suns kolodjadnji

6-pies bomtempelli

7-lions billings

8-roos McDonald f/son

9- dees freeman

10-pies lennon

11- eagles sheed

12-tigers crouch

13-carl salem

14- gws dunstan

15-swans hartung

16-cats taylor

17- freo acres

18- stk dumont

19- stk (zak) jones