2021 AFL National Draft prospects: The next batch

[drdrake 3,124]

1 hour ago, Colm said:

I’m sure if we are very keen on a player in the 20-30 pick range we could move up if we wanted too. We would prob have to lose a bit on draft point but I’m sure it could be done. Pies, Dogs, Suns and Richmond would be open to swaps for different reasons I think. 
If nothing else I’d like to get in front of the cats as they seem to target players that we are interested in. 

Agree with this, with the knowledge we will most likely get Woey Jnr in the back end of the draft and we could elevate a player like D Smith from our rookie list if needed we could give up our first 2 picks and do some future pick swapping.  Brisbane will have a few R1 picks we might offer them future R1 pick for the pick we traded them last year. 

[Redleg 40,228]

First thing that would be nice is to hear 20 names called that aren’t Mac Andrew. Then if we get one name player like Cerra, we can actually look for a hidden gem late in the draft, with the rest of our picks. 
We have a good list now, with younger players still to be proven and we can basically cherry pick one good trade and then rely on the later picks in the draft, for hopefully another JT special. 
Personally I am not fussed if we don’t land Cerra, as I think JJ will improve significantly and Sparrow if he stays, appears to have turned the corner. 
Incidentally, Sparrow would lay more tackles in a game than Cerra has in a season. Sparrow is also a strong contested mark and can snag a goal. 

[whatwhat say what 22,218]

1 minute ago, Redleg said:

First thing that would be nice is to hear 20 names called that aren’t Mac Andrew.

it would seem that he's a lock to go top 10

[dazzledavey36 52,908]

6 minutes ago, Redleg said:

First thing that would be nice is to hear 20 names called that aren’t Mac Andrew. Then if we get one name player like Cerra, we can actually look for a hidden gem late in the draft, with the rest of our picks. 
We have a good list now, with younger players still to be proven and we can basically cherry pick one good trade and then rely on the later picks in the draft, for hopefully another JT special. 
Personally I am not fussed if we don’t land Cerra, as I think JJ will improve significantly and Sparrow if he stays, appears to have turned the corner. 
Incidentally, Sparrow would lay more tackles in a game than Cerra has in a season. Sparrow is also a strong contested mark and can snag a goal. 

In fairness Red, if I'm choosing between Cerra and Sparrow, it's Cerra for me.. by an absolute mile.

Cerra has the potential to be in the Petracca class in a few years time, he's that good. 

He's starting mid alongside Oliver and Petracca, but he also has a good blend of playing on the outside with his high quality foot skills. 

He'd add a whole new element to our midfield mix.

Edited September 7, 2021 by dazzledavey36

[Redleg 40,228]

11 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

In fairness Red, if I'm choosing between Cerra and Sparrow, it's Cerra for me.. by an absolute mile.

Cerra has the potential to be in the Petracca class in a few years time, he's that good. 

He's starting mid alongside Oliver and Petracca, but he also has a good blend of playing on the outside with his high quality foot skills. 

He'd add a whole new element to our midfield mix.

I accept that.

[Redleg 40,228]

16 minutes ago, whatwhat say what said:

it would seem that he's a lock to go top 10

I’m hoping there is a bit of misinformation going around and that Recruiters aren’t happy to wait a few years on a top 20 pick.

[Elwood 3184 1,294]

5 hours ago, buck_nekkid said:

Thanks WJ.  I find the ‘weaknesses’ list interesting.  Given we will want whomever we get to have footy smarts, a strong defensive work rate and quality delivery, it rules many out.  Mac Andrew will not get the luxury of jumping by himself in AFL too often so his weakness of not coping when man on man is a concern.  Much longer term prospect perhaps.

I think we may not trouble the top end of the draft pool this year.  

at the moment I can’t really focus beyond the game(s) ahead, good thing TL and JT are on the case.

The Mac Andrew controversy is going to continue right through to the night of the national draft. The club has no control over where he gets picked so why fret over it?

[buck_nekkid 5,819]

15 minutes ago, Elwood 3184 said:

The Mac Andrew controversy is going to continue right through to the night of the national draft. The club has no control over where he gets picked so why fret over it?

Not fretting, Elwood, just looking at it through a different lens.  With those ‘weaknesses’ does he even fit into what we would want, regardless of how high up he goes? 

[Whispering_Jack 29,246]

1 hour ago, buck_nekkid said:

Not fretting, Elwood, just looking at it through a different lens.  With those ‘weaknesses’ does he even fit into what we would want, regardless of how high up he goes? 

There used to be a time when it was de rigeur to say that at the pointy end of the draft you went for the best player available. I’m sensing that in the first instance, that might not be the case with some pundits who are thinking in terms of the prototypical best player at some stage in the future. That’s where some people are at before the best fit consideration kicks in. 

Perhaps this discussion should continue in The Mac Andrew Thread which we’ve designated for the purpose of looking into your question? The thread should have links to the full vision of the games that turned a young unassuming Sudanese kid into the overnight sensation that commands potential top ten status. You can decide all on your own as to whether or not the hype is justified.

 

[Fritta and Turner 4,185]

Can I be the first to say We Wus Robbed?

[BAMF 4,119]

On 9/2/2021 at 8:17 AM, dazzledavey36 said:

Well Mac Andrew has been in our NGA system since he was 14 years of age. That's according to Jason Taylor. But clubs are generally pretty good integrating each year into their development. When they're about 16-17 years of age, club will usually invite them down during the pre season for a week or two and train with the footy club. They also might do some work experience as well during the year. Mostly it's all about building them up into that professional environment so that they're ready from day dot.

My take is that the AFL overreacted last year because club recruiters whinged about the whole JUH situation. Jason Taylor is right, there should have been some minor changes and a bit more charity instead of just jumping the gun so suddenly. But, unfortunately it is what it is.

 

That isn't that much in my opinion. 

The Northern academy's put a heap of money into their academy's.

Once the full changes occur next year there will be no point the club putting any time or development into these kids at all. It really is short sighted by the afl. Rather than change it to force clubs to invest as intended they have done the opposite.

NGA kids will now be such low percentage picks that they simply won't be worth talking about

[Whispering_Jack 29,246]

There’s a two page spread in today’s Herald Sun entitled “Who your club will target with its top pick at this year’s AFL national draft — FIRST QUENCHER” (unfortunately, I can’t provide a link that’s not behind their firewall but it’s on p66-67 for those who get the paper or have a subscription). 

This is what they say about us — 

“MELBOURNE 

INDICATIVE DRAFT PICKS: 

33, 42, 52, 91 

WHAT DID THEY DO IN THE FIRST AND SECOND ROUNDS OF THE DRAFT LAST YEAR?

The Demons ended up with a pair of first-round picks last year in classy 176cm defender Jake Bowey (pick 21) and 181cm midfielder-forward Bailey Laurie (pick 22).

They also snapped up 194cm midfielder-forward Fraser Rosman in the second round with pick 34.

WHO’S IN THE MIX? 

CHANGES to Next Generation Academy rules this year have worked against the Demons, who are unlikely to be able to get their hands on an exciting player who they have put some work into in 200cm ruckman-forward Mac Andrew. 

The Dandenong Stingrays prospect has been part of Melbourne’s NGA program since 2018 but is expected to be selected in the top 20 picks. 

Under new rules this year, clubs are unable to match bids on their NGA talent within the first 20 selections. 

There are no major list holes, but another key forward could be on the shopping list if there are any suitable prospects left on the table in the 30s or 40s or if the Demons package up picks and trade up the order”.

That’s all there is.

[Fritta and Turner 4,185]

Great summary by the HUN; we are targetting no one....

[SidVicious 130]

On 9/9/2021 at 8:24 AM, Whispering_Jack said:

There’s a two page spread in today’s Herald Sun entitled “Who your club will target with its top pick at this year’s AFL national draft — FIRST QUENCHER” (unfortunately, I can’t provide a link that’s not behind their firewall but it’s on p66-67 for those who get the paper or have a subscription). 

This is what they say about us — 

“MELBOURNE 

INDICATIVE DRAFT PICKS: 

33, 42, 52, 91 

WHAT DID THEY DO IN THE FIRST AND SECOND ROUNDS OF THE DRAFT LAST YEAR?

The Demons ended up with a pair of first-round picks last year in classy 176cm defender Jake Bowey (pick 21) and 181cm midfielder-forward Bailey Laurie (pick 22).

They also snapped up 194cm midfielder-forward Fraser Rosman in the second round with pick 34.

WHO’S IN THE MIX? 

CHANGES to Next Generation Academy rules this year have worked against the Demons, who are unlikely to be able to get their hands on an exciting player who they have put some work into in 200cm ruckman-forward Mac Andrew. 

The Dandenong Stingrays prospect has been part of Melbourne’s NGA program since 2018 but is expected to be selected in the top 20 picks. 

Under new rules this year, clubs are unable to match bids on their NGA talent within the first 20 selections. 

There are no major list holes, but another key forward could be on the shopping list if there are any suitable prospects left on the table in the 30s or 40s or if the Demons package up picks and trade up the order”.

That’s all there is.

What an extraordinarily poor attempt to cover the question of who Melbourne “will target with its first pick”? Three out of four paragraphs wasted on an NGA prospect who the authors don’t expect to be available at our first pick anyway and a vague guess that we might shop for another key forward if any are left in the 30s or 40s. A lot of thought went into this. Not.

[Mt. Dee-Maaan 586]

4 hours ago, SidVicious said:

What an extraordinarily poor attempt to cover the question of who Melbourne “will target with its first pick”? Three out of four paragraphs wasted on an NGA prospect who the authors don’t expect to be available at our first pick anyway and a vague guess that we might shop for another key forward if any are left in the 30s or 40s. A lot of thought went into this. Not.

I wonder if this will change should a certain event occur in a few weeks? Just constantly ignored or not bothered with aren't we.. Sheesh!

[Demon Disciple 11,733]

if we were to go all the way in 2 weeks, the 2021 draft would be the biggest free hit any recruiter would ever have had.

Such would our delirium be, i dont think any supporters would have recovered, let alone care who we drafted come the end of November. 

[Whispering_Jack 29,246]

46 minutes ago, Demon Disciple said:

if we were to go all the way in 2 weeks, the 2021 draft would be the biggest free hit any recruiter would ever have had.

Such would our delirium be, i dont think any supporters would have recovered, let alone care who we drafted come the end of November. 

Well, whatever the case, the drafting will be overseen again by Jason Taylor who has signed a new long-term deal to stay at the Demons.

[Demonland 70,326]

 

[Demonland 70,326]

 

[Whispering_Jack 29,246]

On Fox Footy’s AFL Tonight, reporter Ben Waterworth covered the draft news with some vision of Mac Andrew who he said was quickly rising up draft boards. He placed Mac at #8. His top 10 -

1. Nick Daicos (Oakleigh Chargers) 
2. Jason Horne-Francis (South Adelaide) 
3. Sam Darcy (Oakleigh Chargers) 
4. Finn Callaghan (Sandringham Dragons) 
5. Ben Hobbs (GWV Rebels)  
6. Josh Ward (Northern Knights) 
7. Josh Gibcus (GWV Rebels)  
8. Mac Andrew (Dandenong Stingrays) 
9. Josh Rochele (Murray Bushrangers) 
10. Jye Amiss (East Perth) 

[Whispering_Jack 29,246]

Meanwhile, SEN’s website looks at the type of player each club should prioritise during the trade period. 

Here is what they came up with for Melbourne:- 

Melbourne’s rapid rise has been largely on the back of smart trading and shrewd recruitment, so don’t expect Simon Goodwin’s side to be resting on their laurels despite their Grand Final appearance.

It’s hard to pinpoint exactly where they need to strengthen so perhaps more midfield depth through the draft is where they’ll look to bolster their stocks. They have also been linked with Fremantle’s Adam Cerra. 

Sam Weideman is widely tipped to depart, so the Dees could have some additional draft capital. They currently do not have a first-round pick, which will make it harder for them to get deals done in the trade period.

[Elwood 3184 1,294]

17 minutes ago, Whispering_Jack said:

On Fox Footy’s AFL Tonight, reporter Ben Waterworth covered the draft news with some vision of Mac Andrew who he said was quickly rising up draft boards. He placed Mac at #8. His top 10 -

1. Nick Daicos (Oakleigh Chargers) 
2. Jason Horne-Francis (South Adelaide) 
3. Sam Darcy (Oakleigh Chargers) 
4. Finn Callaghan (Sandringham Dragons) 
5. Ben Hobbs (GWV Rebels)  
6. Josh Ward (Northern Knights) 
7. Josh Gibcus (GWV Rebels)  
8. Mac Andrew (Dandenong Stingrays) 
9. Josh Rochele (Murray Bushrangers) 
10. Jye Amiss (East Perth) 

This one is actually from Michael Alvaro of AFL Draft Central and promoted by Channel 7.

[Whispering_Jack 29,246]

24 minutes ago, Elwood 3184 said:

This one is actually from Michael Alvaro of AFL Draft Central and promoted by Channel 7.

Seven has formed a partnership with AFL Draft Central for the draft period. Michael Alvaro is a bit of a Mac Andrew groupie so you can expect him to continue featuring high on his draft boards. 

[Gawndy the Great 9,009]

On Mac, I think Richmond will probably take him with their 2nd pick @ 15ish. Can’t see any other team in that range taking the risk as they will have more pressing needs to fill. 
 

There is still a chance he comes through to us. We need about 878 points to bid after pick 20  which we don’t have without using our 2nd rounder. i suspect we would have to move a few players to get all of Cerra, Mac and Taj. It would be quite a steal if the team could pull that off.

[Turner 1,489]

9 minutes ago, CYB said:

On Mac, I think Richmond will probably take him with their 2nd pick @ 15ish. Can’t see any other team in that range taking the risk as they will have more pressing needs to fill. 
 

There is still a chance he comes through to us. We need about 878 points to bid after pick 20  which we don’t have without using our 2nd rounder. i suspect we would have to move a few players to get all of Cerra, Mac and Taj. It would be quite a steal if the team could pull that off.

i had this exact thought today too, losing CCJ and chol hurts them for the future but i think they'll really load up for the now and risk dropping off in 2years time. pick 20 of NM is being speculated and the tiges might pounce then if mac is still on the board as its the last NGA free pick