Name your rookie prospect

[old55 23,705]

Dane Swan barely breaks a sweat at training.

One of the hardest trainers in the AFL, particularly pre-season, he doesn't run like that by accident

[angrydee 842]

It's obvious the guy can play but the question is can he translate it to AFL. He's certainly not big enough to be the second ruck/forward and he'll routinely come up against defenders who have a few centrimeters on him at least like Tom McDonald at 195cm and sometimes even come up against guys like Jake Carlisle who's around 200cm. If he can't beat them for speed then he's hard pressed to out reach them.So then you wonder if he'll play up the ground and have elite fitness and work rate to be in the CHF spot. Looking at his build I wonder about that as well.

He's very good on the lead now and is carrying a fair bit of puppy fat ATM. He's not a real KPP, but more a third forward type. Needs to work on his engine, but if he can do that he would play the Darling type role. He has a rare tenacity at the contest, and as football becomes ever more combative he will, IMO, be a very valuable player at keeping the ball locked in the forward zone.

[DeeSpencer 26,083]

He's very good on the lead now and is carrying a fair bit of puppy fat ATM. He's not a real KPP, but more a third forward type. Needs to work on his engine, but if he can do that he would play the Darling type role. He has a rare tenacity at the contest, and as football becomes ever more combative he will, IMO, be a very valuable player at keeping the ball locked in the forward zone.

My concern is that third tall types are going to have to play midfield to succeed like Gunston. And that he might have the right attitude for forward pressure but without the endurance and speed it might not matter. Different type of player but Tapscott could never cover the ground as a defensive forward (so far) despite having the right attitude and tackling skills.

[Moonshadow 17,677]

Can't get my head around picking a guy by the name of Sully. Too close to Scully for my liking.

[Deecisive 1,709]

We need more players able to help rebound from the half back line, our midfield is not going to be dominate so the half back line needs to be our first line of attack.

[stuie 7,374]

One of the hardest trainers in the AFL, particularly pre-season, he doesn't run like that by accident

Hahahaha... You're kidding right? Go to their training sessions one day, or even just google it..

Far out.

[Young Dee 1,303]

Thanks Tall Defence (your names quite relevant)

I quite liked the sound of these four:

Fraser Fort (VIC – KPD)

Height: 196cm, Weight: 84kg, DOB: 04/10/1995

Range: 30-rookie

Darcy Cameron (WA – Ruck/KPF)

Height: 203cm, Weight: 98kg, DOB: 18/07/1995

Range: 30-rookie

Alex Spencer (VIC – KPD)

Height: 193cm, Weight: 83kg, DOB: 19/04/1995

Range: 30 - undrafted

Thomas Shanahan (WA – Mid)

Height: 183cm, Weight: 75kg, DOB: 28/04/1995

Range: 25-undrafted

Not a huge fan of drafting mature aged players as I rather take a punt on speculative players or players with unharnessed potential. Mature aged players too predictable (you know what your getting). I guess players like Gilles, Pedo, Nicho and Byrnes have put me off. For some reason I am very skeptical of mature aged players - last year I thought Terlich and Jones where wasted picks - a temporary solution. You know what you are going to get from them and I know it harsh but I sometimes hope that they wont be part of our future meaning that our youngsters will pass them. Putting my ageist thoughts aside.

If Fort appears to be the best KPD then I would go with him first. We also really need a ruckman - I see Gawn as our only true ruckman going forward (Jamar's about to kick the bucket, Fitzy isnt a true ruckman and I don't see Spencer as ever being a good AFL ruckman). Darcey Cameron seems like a good weight and height - a good long term project. I think its a good idea getting 1-2 ruckman through the rookie draft as they can take a while to develop and are usually pretty unpredictable - have to think ahead (If Gawn goes down long term we are stuffed).

I think we should go 2 KPD's, 1-2 Ruckmen depending on quality and then see whats left (could then go for a small forward if there is one - or l would like to pick up Taggert if we can).

What are our chances of getting 2-3 of those players? I know most clubs don't have 4 rookie picks - does anyone have the draft order?

Are the best players going to get taking in the PSD? If yes then I would be all for freeing up a spot in the PSD (even if that means paying out Byrnes/Nicho).

Edited November 24, 2013 by Young Dee

[Crystal Dees 372]

This is from Quigley's Phantom Draft, he sounds like a decent prospect to me as either PSD, if we have one, or Rookie.

Darcy Hourigan

DOB 18/9/95 Ht 192 Wt 96

Hourigan measured in at 192 at Combine and I think he might be one of those who measured a bit tall given he is commonly listed at 190. Still with a September birthday it is possible the he has grown a bit over the year. I have to admit that he does play tall and actually looks taller than the listed 190cm. Height remains the biggest issue for Hourigan as he plays the game as a leading key position. Tim Membrey had the same issue last year and despite having a good Champs he fell all the way to 46. I rate Hourigan as a better prospect than Membrey but expect him to go lower than this on the day as teams just don't want to pay for short key position players and that is what Hourigan is.

Personally if I was going to compare him to anyone as far as playing style goes it would be to Fevola. Fev was about the same height but had a package of attributes that allowed him to become one of the best key position forwards in the game. Hourigan leads a lot like Fevola. He works his man over with strength moves and dummy leads until he commits and once he goes he goes hard. He seemed to get separation easily at under 18 level and he took a lot of comfortable marks at the Champs. He has really nice marking technique out in front of his eyes and he is a strong body that is hard to get around and move off its line. With a defender coming over the top he has good strong hands but he is not truly top notch above his head and he will spill his fair share.

He is a good judge of the ball in the air and he times his arrival at the ball nicely, taking the ball where it gives him the best chance to mark and makes it most difficult for the defender. When the ball hits the ground he reacts quickly but he is inconsistent with his cleanliness. Sometimes he looks good and collects it really nicely for a big guy and at others he does not get low enough and he fumbles.

Hourigan played as a leading CHF at the Champs and did a lot of work inside 50 but he also got up onto the wing a fair bit and presented as a nice marking option for his mids to use. One area where I consider him to be elite is his delivery into 50. For a junior key position player he is excellent and he picks his targets and delivers to the right spot exceptionally well. He is a left footer who seems to have really nice feel on his kicks. His handballing is also pretty good when he is called on to use it and, for a big guy,he has pretty quick hands.

Around goals he has range out to 50, maybe a touch more. He has good goal sense and when he gets the ball in open play he balances, orients and finishes quickly and well. His set shot technique is a little unusual with a high hold but he is pretty well balanced all things considered. He looks to be a pretty good shot for goal and is capable of putting through from difficult angles but as demonstrated at the Champs he is just as capable of missing shots he really should put through. He got a lot of chances at the Champs and did not always take full toll. Still he ended up leading the Champs with 16 goals across his 5 games and really stood up in the games that counted.

Hourigan is a powerful unit who had a strength advantage over the defenders he faced at the Champs and he used that very well. He is solid all over and even walks like a body builder. He is carrying a bit of condition around the stomach which will be gotten rid of over his first offseason at AFL level. He will not have such an advantage at AFL level but I do think he will still have an advantage over a lot of his match ups especially if he is played as a third tall. Hourigan though does not just rely on his strength to be effective.

He has pretty good speed for a KPF and once he gets a step his opponents do not seem to able to close the space very easily. His endurance is not bad but I don't think it is much more than that and with the defensive effort that will be expected of him at the next level he will need to improve. He is not a stand out athletically but when you combine all his attributes he is difficult to handle. As he gets fitter and stronger he will become more difficult to handle but I do expect him to struggle for a year or two to adapt to the bigger and quicker bodies.

Hourigan has played a fair bit of time as a defender and despite not having seen him operate myself he is by all accounts a pretty decent prospect in that regard as well. He debuted as a defender in the SANFL at 15 as South Adelaide's youngest ever player. Despite debuting as a 15 year old he has not been a feature in the SANFL seniors since and I think he only played one game there this year.

Hourigan is likely to be a second rounder and in a weak draft year I think he is well worth taking a punt on. The odds would probably be against him being another Fev but if he can up his endurance you never know. Darling took the next step by taking his running power up about three levels over one preseason. If Hourigan could do something similar he could be similarly effective.

So to put more detail into the players I think we should look at.

Pick 2 being a KPD. Our best options are:

Pick 20, a ruckman:

Darcy Cameron (WA – Ruck/KPF)

Height: 203cm, Weight: 98kg, DOB: 18/07/1995

Recruited from: Claremont

Style: Dean Cox

Player comparison:

Range: 30-rookie

Profile: Cameron is one of the better ruckmen this year because he is not only an effective tap ruckman but because he can present as a target up forward and influence games in the front half with his clean hands overhead and ability to take marks, mark on the lead as well as convert from those opportunities. Cameron reads it well in the air and can also push back and take an intercept mark. He has some size on his frame already which is encouraging and he covers the ground reasonably well for a young tall.

Darcy Fort (VIC – Ruck)

Height: 203cm, Weight: 90kg, DOB: 06/08/1993

Recruited from: Werribee

Style:

Player comparison:

Range: Rookie - undrafted

Profile: Mature ruckman overlooked last year. Has shown promise this year through the VFL. Still as with all young ruckman a work in progress.

Is Darcy the new "Jack"?

[MadAsHell 4,215]

So to put more detail into the players I think we should look at.

Pick 2 being a KPD. Our best options are:

Matthew Sully (VIC – KPD)

Height: 195cm, Weight: 89kg, DOB: 15/10/1992

Recruited from: Geelong (VFL)

Style:

Player comparison: Kyle Hartigan

Range: 35-rookie

Profile: Good 1v1 defender who plays a strong shutdown role in the back half. He will consistently win his contests getting in the spoil every time or take the mark and has some real body on body strength. He’ll get the job done every week and he has stepped his game up again this year and is ready to take the next step. AFL ready despite his still relatively young age and can step in for a team immediately as a stopper down back.

Fraser Fort (VIC – KPD)

Height: 196cm, Weight: 84kg, DOB: 04/10/1995

Recruited from: Geelong Falcons

Style:

Player comparison:

Range: 30-rookie

Profile: Fort is one of the better key defenders in the TAC. He’s more your shutdown defender with some real athleticism with his pace and leap both above average. He has in the past also shown that he can play forward to a solid standard and present as a marking target but in a star studded Geelong Falcons team with McCartin and Goddard who both look like top 5 selections next year both as key forwards there is a pretty good reason why he hasn’t played forward as much this season. I see Fort settling as more of a defender with others more talented as forwards but he’ll need to continue to expand his game. He’s generally strong overhead and plays well down both ends of the field.

or

Alex Spencer (VIC – KPD)

Height: 193cm, Weight: 83kg, DOB: 19/04/1995

Recruited from: Sandringham Dragons

Style:

Player comparison:

Range: 30 - undrafted

Profile: Spencer is an athletic key defender with some versatility to his game. He has a strong 1v1 game and is a strong contested mark. Behind the play he reads the ball well and has a natural feel for when he can go and take an intercept mark. He also has the ability to play either a shutdown or rebounding role as required. He also isn’t afraid to take the game on with his run and carry or use it by foot as one of the better kicks at his size. He just doesn’t come with any flash to his game as a relatively unexciting key defender.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z004xm4hoYQ

Pick 20, a ruckman:

Darcy Cameron (WA – Ruck/KPF)

Height: 203cm, Weight: 98kg, DOB: 18/07/1995

Recruited from: Claremont

Style: Dean Cox

Player comparison:

Range: 30-rookie

Profile: Cameron is one of the better ruckmen this year because he is not only an effective tap ruckman but because he can present as a target up forward and influence games in the front half with his clean hands overhead and ability to take marks, mark on the lead as well as convert from those opportunities. Cameron reads it well in the air and can also push back and take an intercept mark. He has some size on his frame already which is encouraging and he covers the ground reasonably well for a young tall.

Josh Miller (SA – Ruck)

Height: 204cm, Weight: 94kg, DOB: 07/01/1995

Recruited from: Glenelg

Style:

Player comparison:

Range: Rookie - undrafted

Profile: Miller is a tall ruckman who has shown some signs. His taps well directed. Good mover for his size. Relatively skilled for a tall ruckman. Just needs to become more dominant and add some more weapons to his game.

Ben Mabon (VIC – Ruck)

Height: 200cm, Weight: 89kg, DOB: 14/06/1992

Recruited from: North Melbourne Kangaroos

Style:

Player comparison:

Range: Rookie - undrafted

Profile: From North Ballarat, Ben Mabon is an athletic, running ruckman. With excellent work ethic and technique at stoppages, Mabon is always improving and frequently impressing at VFL level with the Roosters.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1UGGokC3ew

Darcy Fort (VIC – Ruck)

Height: 203cm, Weight: 90kg, DOB: 06/08/1993

Recruited from: Werribee

Style:

Player comparison:

Range: Rookie - undrafted

Profile: Mature ruckman overlooked last year. Has shown promise this year through the VFL. Still as with all young ruckman a work in progress.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7ITQafsips

or

Fraser Thurlow (QLD – Ruck/KPF)

Height: 199cm, Weight: 100kg, DOB: 06/01/1993

Recruited from: Labrador

Style:

Player comparison:

Range: Rookie - undrafted

Profile: Thurlow is a tall who can play forward or ruck. He’s a couple of years older and his body has matured well. Very strong mark overhead. Competitive in the ruck. Finds plenty of it around the ground.

Pick 38, a midfielder who can push forward:

James Harmes (VIC – Mid)

Height: 184cm, Weight: 78kg, DOB: 05/10/1995

Recruited from: Dandenong Stingrays

Style:

Player comparison:

Range: Late - undrafted

Profile: Harmes is an aggressive midfielder who inside the contest really attacks the ball hard on the inside and will go in for it. He’s got above average pace and can also at times push forward and take a mark.

http://bigpondvideo.com/AFL/591918/draft-prospect-james-harmes/

William Maginness (VIC – Mid/Fwd)Height: 182cm, Weight: 73kg, DOB: 13/01/1995

Recruited from: Oakleigh Chargers

Style:

Player comparison:

Range: 40 - undrafted

Profile: Highly productive midfielder and a much improved player over this past year. Plays a good two way game and has a nice combination of ability inside and outside the contest. Maginness can win his own footy inside the contest, win the clearances and has some evasiveness and slipperiness to him inside the contest as a really smooth mover. But then outside the contest runs and spreads well. He has a light body but just about everything else.

Ben Sokol (WA – Mid/Fwd)

Height: 183cm, Weight: 87kg, DOB: 28/10/1995

Recruited from: South Fremantle

Style: Dane Swan (early career)

Player comparison:

Range: 45-rookie

Profile: Sokol is a strong marking forward who can really put his stamp on games. Sokol’s point of difference is his ability marking ability 1v1 up forward for a midfielder. He has Dane Swan type strength 1v1 where no guy can go with him as his strength is just so strong but then also has those strong hands to really take those grabs. He his age he has incredible size and strength. He’s also a very effective leadup marking target. Sokol’s endurance is also excellent for someone with such a strong body making him a hard player to go with and just seems to be one of those players who just knows how to find the footy easier than the next guy. He’s also an excellent finisher around goal. He seems to improve with every game and is a player as a midfield rotation type who can play up forward could be better than most think.

http://bigpondvideo.com/AFL/592066/draft-prospect-ben-sokol/

Thomas Shanahan (WA – Mid)

Height: 183cm, Weight: 75kg, DOB: 28/04/1995

Recruited from: East Perth

Style:

Player comparison:

Range: 25-undrafted

Profile: Shanahan is someone who has really made a case for selection with some incredibly impressive production. He’s winning his own footy inside the contest but also finding plenty of it outside and linking up well. He’s a strong tackler and plays a solid two way game. He’s got excellent endurance and runs all day. He tested well. He’s just not the most damaging user of the footy.

http://bigpondvideo.com/AFL/594386/draft-prospect-thomas-shanahan/

Jake Best (VIC – Mid/Fwd)

Height: 182cm, Weight: 84kg, DOB: 20/10/89

Recruited from: Casey Scorpions

Style:

Player comparison:

Range: Rookie - undrafted

Profile: Best is a mature ager who has changed his focus from cricket to footy. He’s a strong marking medium midfielder/forward who can take it on the lead and in the air.

or

Chris Cain (VIC – Mid/Fwd)

Height: 181cm, Weight: 83kg, DOB: 14/07/1987

Recruited from: Port Melbourne

Style:

Player comparison: Sam Dywer

Range: late/rookie

Profile: Cain has been one of the better performed players in the VFL these past few seasons and seems finally hot on the radar of clubs this season. Cain is a midfielder with a nice skill set but also strong hands overhead allowing him to be a marking threat when he pushes forward. Athletically he’s above average with a nice combination of pace and endurance at his disposal.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sH6qP-x7l84

Pick 56, a mature age KPF:

Mitch Thorp (TAS – Fwd/KPF)

Height: 194cm, Weight: 89kg, DOB: 25/12/1988

Recruited from: South Launceston

Style: Jarrad Grant

Player comparison:

Range: 30-rookie

Profile: Thorp is someone who has taken longer than first hoped to develop and mature but he has finally matured this season back home in Tasmania as captain and coach of his club. He’s helped the youth at his club develop and he helped his team to a premiership so he’s the type of person that you want to bring into your club. Thorp is not the key forward he is being advertised as but plays more as a tall half forward with a strong running game and above average marking ability by position. In saying that he’s finding plenty of the footy, taking plenty of marks and hitting the scoreboard as his 78 goals from 20 games suggests. You don’t want him to be the primary target in your front half but he’s someone who could play a part as a 2nd or 3rd target in a forward half.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnEO77lReBg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWl_n6BcyPs

Khan Haretuku (VIC – KPF/KPD)

Height: 198cm, Weight: 98kg, DOB: 19/10/1989

Recruited from: Frankston Dolphins

Style:

Player comparison:

Range: 30-rookie

Profile: ONCE on St Kilda’s rookie list, Haretuku has since made it his own pledge to prove his former club wrong. His former coach Ross Lyon sat him down in his office and told him that he was not good enough for AFL level. It hurt him deeply but soon got back on the track at the Dolphins and has added new strings to his bow under coach Simon Goosey. Not only does he play deep in attack, he has found confidence around centre half forward and further up the ground. Haretuku has the makings of an AFL career and Goosey knows it. He has spruiked his talent to most clubs and knows that one club will get him during the rookie draft.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNKH4yoQpp8

Andrew Ainger (SA – KPF)

Height: 197cm, Weight: 96kg, DOB: ? (25 years old)

Recruited from: Woodville West Torrens Eagles

Style:

Player comparison:

Range: rookie

Profile: Key position big bodied forward who had a breakout year in the SANFL in 2013, kicking more then 50 goals.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpGMqud1wBA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayBgXb3f1Jw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9z7u9vtEoU

Aaron Cornelius (Tas via Qld – KPF)

Height: 192cm, Weight: 88kg, DOB: 29/05/1990

Recruited from: Brisbane Lions

Style:

Range: rookie

Profile: Aaron Cornelius was recruited from Tasmania as a promising forward who is strong on the lead and has very clean hands. He reads the play very well and has the tools to be an exciting key forward prospect for any club willing to give him a second chance. Kicked 35 goals in 25 games for the Lions.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c37Ki9eDZdU

Edit: Added footage.

I've added footage/highlights for the players I was able to find some of.

Spencer looked good for a KPD and I liked the look of Sokol as a mid/fwd option.

Ainger looks a good prospect also despite already being 25.

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,909]

I've never seen Taggert train or play at any level. For those who have, do you think he's a better prospect to rookie than Neville Jetta?

[Demon_Tingles 211]

I've always been a fan of Thorpy and this year he really has turned the corner. Can play HFF or even cover down back and if you look at his video his chasing and second efforts have improved out of sight. Watch his video especially at 2:30 and look what I'm talking about. Has very good skills too and can run all day.

[Dr. Mubutu 866]

Is Darcy the new "Jack"?

The BBC did "Pride and Prejudice" with Colin Firth around 1995.

[Redleg 41,483]

I've never seen Taggert train or play at any level. For those who have, do you think he's a better prospect to rookie than Neville Jetta?

On an upside basis, absolutely.

[HoganHero94 1]

May have been brought up already but a small forward from over here in WA by the name of Charlie Cameron wouldn't be a horrible choice. Light on but he's lightning quick and kicked 20+ goals in the WAFL this year from a dozen odd games. Tested well at the state screening session and the eagles and the crows were looking very closely according to what I've heard.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-10-20/charlie-cameron

[jabberwocky 2,301]

The three I would consider would be

James Harmes

Maxxx King

Alexis Georgio

and rookie list Jetta.

Yeah that should do.

Edited November 30, 2013 by jabberwocky

[Coup Cooper 610]

I've never seen Taggert train or play at any level. For those who have, do you think he's a better prospect to rookie than Neville Jetta?

I've had a mate watch a fair bit of both of them.. Neither are good enough to play afl. Neville isn't a smart enough footballer and couch can't use the ball and is one paced..

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,909]

I've had a mate watch a fair bit of both of them.. Neither are good enough to play afl. Neville isn't a smart enough footballer and couch can't use the ball and is one paced..

Taggert or Couch? I was interested in Taggert v Jetta.

[Coup Cooper 610]

Taggert or Couch? I was interested in Taggert v Jetta.

Sorry my bad, I watched Taggert in the first vfl final v Geelong.. He was next to unsighted..

[spirit of norm smith 16,589]

I would like to see us give Matt Sully or Joel Tippett a rookie opportunity. We need another KPD in the event of injury or poor form.

[Lord Travis 10,763]

Eli Templeton not on the cards? I can't see him being talked about here.
He is straight up a better footballer than anyone else mentioned here and was rated as Top 30 by afl.com and pretty much all journos. I'm wondering why he wasn't drafted? Does he have a bad attitude? He is quick, skillful, wins his own ball and brings his teammates into the game. I'd love to see him in red n blue.

[hamishm13 0]

pick 2- best available (battersby, Templeton, Tsitas, spencer, webster, gibbons, banfield, hourigan)

pick 20- key defender (spencer, tippett, sully, fort)

pick 38- mature mid/fwd (cain, hampson, nelson, lambert, ross, banfield, daziell)

pick 56- ruckman (cameron, miller, thurlow)

[daisycutter 29,743]

Eli Templeton not on the cards? I can't see him being talked about here.

He is straight up a better footballer than anyone else mentioned here and was rated as Top 30 by afl.com and pretty much all journos. I'm wondering why he wasn't drafted? Does he have a bad attitude? He is quick, skillful, wins his own ball and brings his teammates into the game. I'd love to see him in red n blue.

afl.com said third round which is not top 30

[DeeZee 7,445]

Tippett, Tuck, Taggert and Jetta

I was going to type in morton and gysberts, but couldnt bear myself to....lol

[dazzledavey36 55,361]

Tippett, Tuck, Taggert and Jetta

I was going to type in morton and gysberts, but couldnt bear myself to....lol

Why Taggert? There was a reason why he was cut and that was because he was no good.

Simple.

[BAMF 4,387]

Eli Templeton not on the cards? I can't see him being talked about here.

He is straight up a better footballer than anyone else mentioned here and was rated as Top 30 by afl.com and pretty much all journos. I'm wondering why he wasn't drafted? Does he have a bad attitude? He is quick, skillful, wins his own ball and brings his teammates into the game. I'd love to see him in red n blue.

I'm guessing it was due to his slight frame. A couple of other smaller mids didn't get picked up either.