AFL Draft Central’s 2020 AFL Draft Preview: Melbourne Demons.

An interesting look at the forthcoming draft from Melbourne’s perspective. I think many of us have reached conclusions as to the road our recruiters take. As spirit of Norm says, “time will tell”.

 

Looks like Ess are hoping this kid (Josh Eyre) has gone under the radar to get him on the cheap. bombers-coy-on-daniher-s-eyre-apparent

This shows how absurd the NGA system qualifying system is:  "... in November (2019), the Calder Cannons found out that the young tall forward's great-grandmother was Indigenous. The news was soon passed onto Essendon, who gladly accepted the Kilmore product as a member of the club's next generation academy".

What this example shows is the rules as to who qualifies needs to be changed.  Ess appear to not have invested in this kid yet can claim him as an NGA.

Thankfully the NGA draft rules are changing next year.  While kids like Eyre will still qualify as NGA they can't be taken as priority in the first round.

 

Hawks seem to have some interest - hope they stop Ess getting him cheaply.  197cm fwds don't grow on trees.

Edited November 30, 20204 yr by Lucifer's Hero

1 hour ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

Looks like Ess are hoping this kid (Josh Eyre) has gone under the radar to get him on the cheap. bombers-coy-on-daniher-s-eyre-apparent

This shows how absurd the NGA system qualifying system is:  "... in November (2019), the Calder Cannons found out that the young tall forward's great-grandmother was Indigenous. The news was soon passed onto Essendon, who gladly accepted the Kilmore product as a member of the club's next generation academy".

What this example shows is the rules as to who qualifies needs to be changed.  Ess appear to not have invested in this kid yet can claim him as an NGA.

Thankfully the NGA draft rules are changing next year.  While kids like Eyre will still qualify as NGA they can't be taken as priority in the first round.

 

Hawks seem to have some interest - hope they stop Ess getting him cheaply.  197cm fwds don't grow on trees.

Tall fwds  don’t grow on trees, although, I’ve gotta say there is a high proportion of key position talent this year. 

Every year the draft gives you a bit more of particular player type than usual, last year it was half back playmakers, this year it’s talls. Recruiters tend to go nuts when a draft skews toward quality midfielders.

I’m always happy to grab at least one of what a draft has in abundance, would be keen for us to grab one with our third pick. Baldwin, Rosman, Lord and Allison all appeal and have good athletic traits with versatility. Rosman probably the most impressive athlete.

Edited November 30, 20204 yr by ChaserJ

Draft Central have put together a very comprehensive list of prospects in the pool with quite detailed player profiles.  Reminds me a bit of the old Inside Footy draft specials (I miss Brett Anderson's draft coverage).

Also has a section on next years draft prospects, worth a look (guide is in .pdf, a free download):

https://afl.draftcentral.com.au/2020-afl-draft-guide/?fbclid=IwAR0_gA9eRDNPlvYUfAhgSbLkqHEw-feIc0Pop4Iw72lISajA0J_nBshMCBI 

Fox Sports AFL also have a bit more on some of the potential steals in the draft (many of whom have been discussed at length on threads on Land):

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-draft-2020-draft-prospects-bargains-sliders-bolters-steals-afl-draft-order/news-story/54b9e4f23bc30181bef3abea090ffcae

Edited November 30, 20204 yr by ChaserJ

Yes AFL Draft Central was interesting reading and very comprehensive.  Amazing coverage !

The Fox Sports “bargains and steals” highlighted a few youngsters highlighted through our DL posts.  Isiah Winder and Zavier Maher are two youngsters who fit into our needs. Winder has impressed in 2020 and has that Tim Kelly ability to evade players and move at pace constantly.  Maher is like a Luke Shuey type. Good inside but damaging with pace and disposal.  The 2019 Futures mcg game last year showed he is as good as any and disappointing that he missed 2020. Might be a good pick for us if available.  

Edited December 1, 20204 yr by spirit of norm smith
M

9 minutes ago, spirit of norm smith said:

Yes AFL Draft Central was interesting reading and very comprehensive.  Amazing coverage !

The Fox Sports “bargains and steals” highlighted a few youngsters highlighted through our DL posts.  Isiah Winder and Zavier Maher are two youngsters who fit into our needs. Winder has impressed in 2020 and has that Tim Kelly ability to evade players and move at pace constantly.  Maher is like a Luke Shuey type. Good inside but damaging with pace and disposal.  The 2019 Futures mcg game last year showed he is as good as any and disappointing that he missed 2020. Might be a good pick for us if available.  

Agree that Maher would bring something different to our midfield and that Shuey is a great comparison but the problem with Maher is that he can only play as an inside midfielder and like Sparrow will be stuck behind guys like Oliver, Trac, Viney, Brayshaw, Harmes. 

Winder would be a very shrewd pickup with our second or third round pick.

Personally with our top 2 picks, I'd be going outside mid with one and small forward at the other. For the outside mid if Carroll is there take him, if not take Poulter, one of them will be there and both great kicks and very athletic, for the small forward bid on Coleman, if not matched take Laurie, he should be there. Bowey fits the bill for both positions as well, hopefully he gets through to our second rounder, if not I'd take Winder, he will be there. 

Edited December 1, 20204 yr by Gawndog98

9 minutes ago, Gawndog98 said:

Agree that Maher would bring something different to our midfield and that Shuey is a great comparison but the problem with Maher is that he can only play as an inside midfielder and like Sparrow will be stuck behind guys like Oliver, Trac, Viney, Brayshaw, Harmes. 

Winder would be a very shrewd pickup with our second or third round pick.

Personally with our top 2 picks, I'd be going outside mid with one and small forward at the other. For the outside mid if Carroll is there take him, if not take Poulter, one of them will be there and both great kicks and very athletic, for the small forward bid on Coleman, if not matched take Laurie, he should be there. Bowey fits the bill for both positions as well, hopefully he gets through to our second rounder, if not I'd take Winder, he will be there. 

Agree wholeheartedly. 

Have worked and seen Maher come up through the bushies ranks from under 16s onwards. A great Shepparton United lad who comes from a great family.

Whilst I think he'll go on to hopefully become a great player, he's definitely not what we need at all.

Edited December 1, 20204 yr by dazzledavey36

34 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Agree wholeheartedly. 

Have worked and seen Maher come up through the bushies ranks from under 16s onwards. A great Shepparton United lad who comes from a great family.

Whilst I think he'll go on to hopefully become a great player, he's definitely not what we need at all.

To be honest I was underwhelmed by the few Bushies game tapes I watched with him involved last year.  They seemed to use him off half-back a lot, and I don't think it really suited him and when around the ball,  he often took bad angles and the play went past him.  His tackle pursuit was great and he has good size/power combination but I worry about him as an outside player not being skilled enough for what we need and him being a bit of a project player as an inside mid.  His elimination final game v the Singrays was particularly worrisome, with some bad moments.   That said he could have become a physical bull now and had a very good combine going by the numbers.

Guys like Macrae and Carroll run better patterns and use it better.

Edited December 1, 20204 yr by goodoil

I think after the combine, it’s always interesting to understand the difference between footballers and athletes.  You cannot separate the two, but understand that players need to have footy IQ and the ability to get the footy. Lachie Neale would probably have been a very average draft combine performer.  Not sure how Dusty went. Sure you need 20m speed and endurance but it’s not everything.  Decision making and footy skills are equally crucial if not mandatory.  
 

Can you teach an athlete to play footy? Yes perhaps some good examples but many of no cases as well. Can footy players become better athletes? Yes but they need to right mindset and mental strength. 

This is the skill of JT and his team. Perhaps it’s character, maturity and internal desire that is the key.  Get the kid who has talent who is willing to run through the “wall” (physical or mental) to get their AFL dream. 

Gary Buckenara’s top 50 prospects ~

Recruiter Gary Buckenara names his top 50 prospects for the 2020 AFL draft

Knightmare’s final power rankings before the draft ~

AFL Draft tier list and top-50 (really top-75) power rankings 2020

 

2 hours ago, Whispering_Jack said:

Gary Buckenara’s top 50 prospects ~

Recruiter Gary Buckenara names his top 50 prospects for the 2020 AFL draft

Paywall.

8 minutes ago, ben russell said:

Paywall.

Noteables include

Macrae #15
Caroll #25
Laurie #45 from what I recall seeing posted elsewhere

Just watched highlights of Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and it made me hate Gillon McLachlan and the AFL even more.

It is appalling that the Bulldogs have a free shot at this kid.   

Edited December 6, 20204 yr by Pickett2Jackson

41 minutes ago, Pickett2Jackson said:

Just watched highlights of Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and it made me hate Gillon McLachlan and the AFL even more.

It is appalling that the Bulldogs have a free shot at this kid.   

Could have been worse, about 40km or so to the East and he'd be in the Cats Zone. 

Jackson Callow hasn't got a mention. Undervalued talent 

5 minutes ago, Ugottobekidding said:

Jackson Callow hasn't got a mention. Undervalued talent 

He's good. Been mentioned in most top 50 lists.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/525574/update-locked-and-loaded-what-your-club-s-2021-list-will-look-like

Collingwood have to take 6 ND selections.  Gold Coast can only take one.

35 minutes ago, Pollyanna said:

https://www.afl.com.au/news/525574/update-locked-and-loaded-what-your-club-s-2021-list-will-look-like

Collingwood have to take 6 ND selections.  Gold Coast can only take one.

Good luck to Collingwood compiling a decent list with just these picks:  14, 16, 65, 66, 68, 75, 91, 105, 116, 122, especially if Reef McInnes is taken before 16 or they consolidate some picks to go up the order to get a top player before someone bids for him.  Either way they will be drafting players with picks > 60 (which will all become 50ish).  Of course they may 'Live-Trade' their 2021 first pick for two good 2nd round picks (after McInnes is taken) to give them more picks in the first or second round.  Even then they will still be taking players at low picks.

Their list management looks a right old mess, not that that is a bad thing for the rest of the comp.

Edited December 7, 20204 yr by Lucifer's Hero

GWS have done the comp a huge favour this off season.  Firstly, Geelong's offer to Cameron designed to put GWS out of the running takes up a huge chunk of their sal cap.  Secondly, they surprised Geelong by matching the bid.  Thirdly, Geelong gave up 3 first round picks in a trade.

Geelong would have expected to have the draft currency to take both Falcon players (Bruhn and Henry) touted for the first round with the picks they started with.  Little chance of getting either now, even if they put up their 2021 1st pick.

Geelong, being Geelong will still stay at the top but GWS have helped weaken their list management somewhat.

 

3 hours ago, Ugottobekidding said:

Jackson Callow hasn't got a mention. Undervalued talent 

I agree.  Jackson Callow has showed enough to warrant a top 20-30 pick and has the versatility missing from other key forwards. Interesting to see where he goes.
Probably not to the Dees but you never know in this years draft.  

42 minutes ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

Of course they may 'Live-Trade' their 2021 first pick for two good 2nd round picks (after McInnes is taken) to give them more picks in the first or second round.

Draft permutations and possibilities are not my forte whereas you seem to have a pretty good aptitude for it.

Can you conceive of any scenarios where we could trade with the pies for their first round pick? The pies are a good chance to go backwards next year so there’s a reasonable chance it will be a high pick. Morale will be low post trade period, De Goey court case and the Lumumba investigation could really derail their season. Plus the pies seem to have an inflated sense of where they are at so may well under-value it when negotiating.

And apart from the inherent value of the pick I think it would be great fun death riding that pick during season 2021.

8 minutes ago, Better days ahead said:

Draft permutations and possibilities are not my forte whereas you seem to have a pretty good aptitude for it.

Can you conceive of any scenarios where we could trade with the pies for their first round pick? The pies are a good chance to go backwards next year so there’s a reasonable chance it will be a high pick. Morale will be low post trade period, De Goey court case and the Lumumba investigation could really derail their season. Plus the pies seem to have an inflated sense of where they are at so may well under-value it when negotiating.

And apart from the inherent value of the pick I think it would be great fun death riding that pick during season 2021.

Thank you for the compliment.  Its fun to throw up theories so its good that a few posters indulge the sport and that others are interested.

I agree that Coll will slide down the ladder next year.  I find it hard to see how we can get their 2021 first pick.  It will probably be in the 8 - 12 range as next year's draft is not compromised with Academy and F/S picks.  They would probably want this years 18 and 19 as they will slide to the mid 20's after the Academy and F/S picks.  I doubt we would do that trade.  And I suspect other clubs will make better offers to them.

Edited December 7, 20204 yr by Lucifer's Hero

2 hours ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

Good luck to Collingwood compiling a decent list with just these picks:  14, 16, 65, 66, 68, 75, 91, 105, 116, 122, especially if Reef McInnes is taken before 16 or they consolidate some picks to go up the order to get a top player before someone bids for him.  Either way they will be drafting players with picks > 60 (which will all become 50ish).  Of course they may 'Live-Trade' their 2021 first pick for two good 2nd round picks (after McInnes is taken) to give them more picks in the first or second round.  Even then they will still be taking players at low picks.

Their list management looks a right old mess, not that that is a bad thing for the rest of the comp.

Could we trade 18, 19 and 28 for 14 and 16?  Is that a win win given how many players the pies have to take - we might be able to get the two that we have our eye on most.

Given the effort the AFL put it to making the draft a constant part of the news feed the lack of player highlights this year is particularly poor. Budget cuts I guess.

Looks like we will have to wait for the players to be called out on draft night to see some vision as this will be released by the clubs.