Draft: the next batch

Ben Ainsworth

178cm/73kg

DOB: 10/2/98

Gippsland Power/Vic Country

Small forward

Ainsworth would have been a very early selection at this year's draft had he been eligible. His form this season was terrific as a small forward for Gippsland Power and he booted 15 goals for Vic Country to win All Australian selection. The teenager is brilliant and smart in the air, an accurate kick and has a nice dose of flair around goal. He looks set to be one of the most exciting prospects of next season.

Jarrod Berry

191cm/80kg

DOB: 5/2/98

North Ballarat Rebels/Vic Country

Tall defender

With great dash and physicality, Berry has some special skills as a running tall defender. Because of his range of traits, he can be played on the wing and across half-forward as well, and spent stages of this season in different spots. Berry is tough and hard at the ball, and showed that across Vic Country's carnival as a bottom-ager, when he was awarded All Australian honours. His season was cut short by shoulder surgery.

Jack Bowes

187cm/76kg

DOB: 26/1/98

Surfers Paradise/Queensland

Midfielder

Bowes has the size and temperament to play in a number of spots. The rangey midfielder can be used in an inside role, but also on the wing or across half-forward, where his overhead marking comes to the fore. Bowes has great evasive skills in traffic and although not being exceptionally quick, he finds a way out of trouble whenever he's in it. Bowes is a member of the Gold Coast academy and looks likely to be the Suns' first top-line academy product.

Will Brodie

187cm/80kg

DOB: 23/8/98

Murray Bushrangers/Vic Country

Midfielder

Brodie was a consistent member of Vic Country's title-winning midfield at the championships this year and will be a prospect who will keep improving his game next season. The hard and tough midfielder is great at the stoppages, works his way into the contest through sheer running power, and has the height to outbody opponents around the ball.

Harrison Macreadie

195cm/82kg

DOB: 11/4/98

Henty/NSW-ACT

Tall defender

Macreadie looks to be one of the best tall prospects in next year's group. He has the size to hold down centre-half back and the athleticism to play on the wing. Macreadie uses the ball cleanly, can take marks overhead and isn't afraid to tuck the ball under his arm and go for it. He is a member of the Greater Western Sydney academy zone. Get ready for the debate to rage again about the Giants' access to the Riverina region.

Brandon Parfitt

177cm/72kg

DOB: 27/8/98

Nightcliff/North Adelaide/NT

Midfielder

A courageous and tough small midfielder who attacks the ball ferociously. Parfitt is precise by hand and foot, and clever around goal as well. He showed those traits for the Northern Territory at this year's division two championships. He was named his team's MVP for the carnival and was also selected in the All Australian team on the interchange. Has been playing in South Australia this year after relocating from the NT.

Sam Petrevski-Seton

179cm/70kg

DOB: 19/2/98

Claremont/WA

Midfielder

There won't be many players with more class in the 2016 draft crop than Petrevski-Seton. The smooth-moving West Australian is crisp and deft on both feet, and smart with his hands as well. He is an early candidate as one of the first couple of players picked next season due to his speed, finishing skills and game sense. He mixes his skill with a hard attack on the ball and some flashiness in the air, and was named an All Australian this year.

Jonty Scharenberg

185cm/77kg

DOB: 28/8/98

Glenelg/South Australia

Midfielder

The younger brother of Collingwood defender Matt Scharenberg, the South Australian midfielder is classy with the ball and impressed this year at senior level in the SANFL. He's shorter than his brother and plays in a different way, but is strong over the contest and wins plenty of his own touches. He's able to combine that with good ball use and he also likes to float forward and hit the scoreboard when he can.

Jy Simpkin

181cm/73kg

DOB: 5/3/98

Murray Bushrangers/Vic Country

Small forward

Simpkin had some electric moments for Vic Country at under-18 level this year and will be expecting to have even more in 2016. The half-forward has pace and smarts, and is deadly around goal, snapping some brilliant shots throughout the year. He will be aiming to push up the ground a little more next year but is always dangerous when in possession and is damaging by foot.

Alex Witherden

185cm/77kg

DOB: 10/9/98

Geelong Falcons

Half-back

A composed and attacking half-back, Witherden's draft hopes grew towards the end of this season as he started to control games for the Geelong Falcons. His class and penetrating kicking was valuable at TAC Cup level, and he won selection in the NAB AFL Academy level two squad. Witherden has a good mix of toughness and skill, and will be a player to watch develop throughout 2016.

We won't have a first round pick, so better hope someone slides.

And awaaaay we go ...

Geelong Falcon Alex Witherden shapes as future first-round draft selection

Can't wait for the first phantom draft

I would actually pick Sam Powell-Pepper as the best from WA over Petrevski-Seton, both should go first round and whilst Petrevski Seton has a better highlights package I think Powell-Pepper has the better all round game.

Powell-Pepper has the better size for the next level although season 2016 should see Petrevski-Seton getting greater exposure at senior level after the U/18 championships. Petrevski-Seton is a Claremont player and was given a few games this season and performed well. Powell-Pepper unfortunately is in the East Perth zone so due to alignment will play second fiddle to the Meth Coast players.

A couple of other WA bys who I like for next years draft are Josh Rotham really good young defender with some good positional sense and a good attack on the ball. Is a key position defender but at the next level may be a third tall defensive option. Jeremy Goddard is another from the Claremont zone and another Marist boy like our own Hulk. Goddard is a ruckman who will need to work on his influence away from the centre bounces and that will keep me interested in his performance throughout next season

 

 

 

On 28/11/2015 at 1:41 AM, RalphiusMaximus said:

 

On 29/11/2015, 1:41:02, RalphiusMaximus said:

We won't have a first round pick, so better hope someone slides. 

 

 

 

 

 

Pretty sure we'll trade our 2017 pick (and maybe something extra) for a first round pick next year.

Either that or for a player.

Well go in pretty hard for a free agent over the next 24 months as well.

List. Complete.

We dont have a 1st rounder and even if we did stuff thinking about the draft til after September 2016, we are playing finals next year

Im sick of the draft and sick of having high picks

we don't have a first rounder but could trade into a better draft position like we did this year.

But as PA/HH said above, i am also sick of high draft picks. Time to start not expecting "hand outs" and building with what we have.

?............

Powell-Pepper has the better size for the next level although season 2016 should see Petrevski-Seton getting greater exposure at senior level after the U/18 championships........

Apparently our C.E.O. is all over these two and Brandon Parfitt form the NT but knows we are unlikely to be able to trade up to more than one first round selection which begs the question

If Peter picks Petrevski-Seton

Has he pickled that pick for Powell-Pepper and Parfitt?

I would actually pick Sam Powell-Pepper as the best from WA over Petrevski-Seton, both should go first round and whilst Petrevski Seton has a better highlights package I think Powell-Pepper has the better all round game.

Powell-Pepper has the better size for the next level although season 2016 should see Petrevski-Seton getting greater exposure at senior level after the U/18 championships. Petrevski-Seton is a Claremont player and was given a few games this season and performed well. Powell-Pepper unfortunately is in the East Perth zone so due to alignment will play second fiddle to the Meth Coast players.

A couple of other WA bys who I like for next years draft are Josh Rotham really good young defender with some good positional sense and a good attack on the ball. Is a key position defender but at the next level may be a third tall defensive option. Jeremy Goddard is another from the Claremont zone and another Marist boy like our own Hulk. Goddard is a ruckman who will need to work on his influence away from the centre bounces and that will keep me interested in his performance throughout next season

Thanks 'Pennant', I was trying to remember this kid's name.

He was very impressive in the game I watched, both were..

Apparently our C.E.O. is all over these two and Brandon Parfitt form the NT but knows we are unlikely to be able to trade up to more than one first round selection which begs the question

If Peter picks Petrevski-Seton

Has he pickled that pick for Powell-Pepper and Parfitt?

Or is our pheasant plucked?

On 29 November 2015 at 7:25:57 PM, fndee said:

Apparently our C.E.O. is all over these two and Brandon Parfitt form the NT but knows we are unlikely to be able to trade up to more than one first round selection which begs the question

If Peter picks Petrevski-Seton

Has he pickled that pick for Powell-Pepper and Parfitt?

Presumably.

Ainsworth and Simpkin are the AIS/AFL Academy members training with Melbourne this week.

Academy talent pool out to impress at AFL clubs

55 minutes ago, Whispering_Jack said:

Ainsworth and Simpkin are the AIS/AFL Academy members training with Melbourne this week.

Academy talent pool out to impress at AFL clubs

Can we take Ainsworth now 'Jack'...now that would complete the forward line beautifully.

7 hours ago, rjay said:

Can we take Ainsworth now 'Jack'...now that would complete the forward line beautifully.

It won't be easy without a first round draft pick.

This is the NAB AFL Academy for this year. Most of its players will be in first round draft contention at the end of the year:-

NSW-ACT: Harrison Macreadie Kobe Mutch Will Setterfield Zac Sproule
NT: Brandon Parfitt
Queensland: Jacob Allison Jack Bowes Jack Rolls Brad Scheer
SA: Jack Graham Peter Ladhams Jonty Scharenberg Steven Slimming Jordon Sweet
Tasmania: Ben McGuiness
Vic Country: Ben Ainsworth Josh Battle Jarrod Berry Will Brodie Jarrod Korewha Hugh Mccluggage Myles Poholke Jy Simpkin Alex Witherden
Vic Metro: Jordan Gallucci Jack Scrimshaw
WA: Jeremy Goddard Noah Hura Josh Rotham Sam Petrevski-Seton Sam Powell-Pepper Luke Strnadica, Jake Waterman

I believe they are currently traveling through the USA and of course, Emma Quayle of the Age is with them.

Queensland and NSW kids are already tied to Suns, Lions & Giants academies !!! Even playing field ... no way.

On 28 November 2015 at 9:15 AM, Whispering_Jack said:

And awaaaay we go ...

Geelong Falcon Alex Witherden shapes as future first-round draft selection

Can't wait for the first phantom draft

Well, I've studied the field (mainly from reading up but some of these played in last year's championships) and here's my first for the year:-

1. Sam Petrevski-Seton (Claremont WA) 181cm 72kg D.O.B: 19/2/98 Midfield/Forward
2. Jacob Allison (Brisbane Academy) 193 cm 73 kg D.O.B: 16/4/98 Tall Midfielder
3. Ben Ainsworth (Gippsland Power) 177cm 73kg D.O.B: 10/2/98 Small Midfielder
4. Jarrod Berry (North Ballarat Rebels) 190 cm 80 kg D.O.B: 5/2/98 Defender
5. Sam Powell-Pepper (East Perth WA) 188 cm 83 kg D.O.B: 8/1/98 Tall Midfielder
6. Jordan Gallucci (Eastern Ranges) 182 cm 73 kg D.O.B: 4/5/98 Midfielder
7. Jonty Scharenberg (Glenelg SA) 185 cm 77 kg D.O.B: 28/8/98 Midfielder
8. Harrison Macreadie (GWS Academy) 195 cm 82 kg D.O.B: 11/4/98 Tall defender
9. Josh Battle (Dandenong Stingrays) 194 cm 89 kg D.O.B: 1/9/98 Tall forward
10. Jack Bowes (Gold Coast Academy) 187 cm 76 kg D.O.B: 26/1/98 Midfielder/forward
11. Will Brodie (Murray Bushrangers) 187 cm Weight: 80 kg D.O.B: 23/8/98 Midfielder
12. Jy Simpkin (Murray Bushrangers) 181 cm 71 kg D.O.B: 5/3/98 Midfielder

I have three northern states Academy players in the top 10 which makes the bidding system important again. This means that although we've traded out our first round pick for 2016, we might still trade back in - one simply can't tell at this stage.

Also, it's been reported that Ben Ainsworth who trained with us late last year is injured and at this stage will miss most of the preseason.

 

Like the look of Josh Rotham as a second/third round defender.  See him as third tall defender and someone who could take over from Dunn in a couple of years.  Doesn't have the brain fades and ill discipline and reads the play very well.  Powell-Pepper having a few issues and may slide, nothing over the top but not as focused as he has been previously.

Ainsworth was impressive last season as an underage player so expect him to be right up there this season.  No doubt the two kids out there who shoot up the rankings from nowhere this season.

Kid 1: is that kid out there who has grown over the summer and will start to dominate and show enough promise for someone to take the punt

Kid 2: the Petracca/Dunstan type who just has that desire to succeed.  They will do extra training drop weight and give their all to get the best out of themselves, once these kids hit 18 the attitude starts to show and they become standouts to recruiters.   

Keep a look out for Will Brodie from the bushies. An absolute gun junior who has dominated every level he has played at. Tall midfielder who i expect to dominate again this year.

AFL Academy US tour wrap

AFL: Generation next travelling well

It won't be long before some of the participants become household names.

Hugh McCluggage is already a favourite of mine.

Probably will spend the majority of his career suspended; I hear he has a propensity to beat the living suitcase out of his opponents.

And... I'm done.

On 30/01/2016 at 9:44 AM, Whispering_Jack said:

AFL: Generation next travelling well

It won't be long before some of the participants become household names.

Hugh McCluggage is already a favourite of mine.

Hugh McCluggage. Top name. I lol'd.