The 2021 AFL National Draft had something for everyone and predictably on the morning after, the media is talking about how each of the 18 clubs nailed it. Plenty of hidden gems picked up with late picks and lots of bargain basement acquisitions and steals that render their recruiters in the genius class.  

I liked the fact that after the predictability of the top 10 selections, the rest of the draft veered away into unexpected regions, a factor that added interest to an event that often drifts into boredom. 

The event was also spiced up with an array of side issues such as controversy about trading of draft picks present and future, some Covid19 diagnoses and even the news of one “draft hopeful” (who nobody seems to have heard of previously) allegedly getting busted for using a banned stimulant and thereby putting his playing future in doubt. 

The one thing for sure about any recruiting process is that despite all of the hype and sometimes misinformation, the fact that a player has been drafted is merely the start.  Whether you’re Jason Horne-Francis, the first player selected on night one, or Taj Woewodin, the last name called out last night, you begin your AFL career on level pegging. It was noted earlier in the week that the average a drafted player lasts on an AFL list is three years. To gain credibility they have to work hard and gain credibility - usually after the first fifty games. The same can be said about players chosen with today’s third crack including the Preseason and Rookie Drafts. 

Actually, it’s a busy day today with an array of activities listed on the AFL’s calendar (see below).

I will leave the evaluation to another time but the result to date of Melbourne’s post 2021 premiership recruiting (and doesn’t that sound great?) is the addition of Luke Dunstan, Jacob Van Rooyen, Blake Howes and Taj Woewodin.

At around lunchtime today, we can expect to welcome another selection - Northern Territory NGA Andy Moniz-Wakefield as a Category B Rookie. After that, kick your heels up or relax because it’s almost over for another year. The club may or may not pick a rookie in mid afternoon or … it might wait until the Pre-Season Supplemental Selection Period in March next year. 

Today’s Calendar 

• 10.00am – AFL Club List Lodgement (3)

• 12.00-12:30pm – Pre-Selected Rookies; NSW and Queensland Eligible Pre-Selected Rookie Player Nominations Lodged; Father-Son Pre-Selected Rookie Player Nominations Lodged; Academy Pre-Selected Rookie Player Nominations Lodged; NGA Pre-Selected Rookie Player Nominations Lodged (Note: These nominations remain confidential until announced between NAB AFL Pre-Season/Rookie Draft)

• 3.00pm – NAB AFL Pre-Season Draft Selection Meeting

• 3.15pm – Notification of Pre-Selected Rookies Nominated on Friday 26 November by 12.30pm if not selected in the NAB AFL Pre-Season Draft

• 3.20pm – NAB AFL Rookie Draft Selection Meeting

Are we able to take a regular Rookie selection this year? Or is the list/cap full? Or are we just saving a spot for mid season?

Who are the best players left undrafted?

We have one rookie list spot available I believe and can then also take Moniz-Wakefield as a Category B rookie.

Hoping we can snare Casey Voss or Blayne O'Loughlin in the rookie draft. Both half back/small defenders. Voss more of a tough uncompromising one (no shock) and O'Loughlin more run and carry.

200cm+ ruck please!

10 minutes ago, Fat Tony said:

Are we able to take a regular Rookie selection this year? Or is the list/cap full? Or are we just saving a spot for mid season?

By my count, the club has one vacancy on its Category A Rookie List but whether it decides to make another selection is unknown. I believe clubs can take three Category B rookies - we don’t have any at present. 

10 minutes ago, Fat Tony said:

Who are the best players left undrafted?

Williamstown key defender Charlie Dean (195cm, 89kg) who won the Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal as the VFL's most promising young talent was unlucky not to be drafted. Probably not for us but I can see Carlton taking him.

Ned Long was an early stand out in the NAB League. What happened to him?

6 minutes ago, Blistering said:

Ned Long was an early stand out in the NAB League. What happened to him?

Started the season really well but had an ankle injury. Northern Knights player from the same club as Josh Ward who went to Hawthorn.

So we can pick a category A rookie AND a category B rookie?

2 hours ago, BAMF said:

200cm+ ruck please!

Did the brother of Paddy Cripps go undrafted? He's a 200+ ruck

If we use rookie pick today its a ruck for mine. It's always a gamble to pick a ruck at 18 or19 given most need to time to mature physically and master ruck craft and general footy skills but rookie selection is low cost.

Bullies would have to go for a key defender you'd think.

2 hours ago, MadAsHell said:

Casey Voss or Blayne O'Loughlin

Either are suitable as we have never had a Blayne or a (male) Casey play for the Dees

I think we might target a defender today. Having delisted Jetta, Lockhart and Hore. It's been mentioned on various media outlets that we are interested in Lewis Rayson a 183cm 70kg rebounding defender. 

It would be great if we could get Charlie Dean, but I don't think he will last to our pick.

Edited November 25, 20213 yr by Caligula's cohort

3 minutes ago, Caligula's cohort said:

I think we might target a defender today. Having delisted Jetta, Lockhart and Hore. It's been mentioned on various media outlets that we are interested in Lewis Rayson a 183cm 70kg rebounding defender. 

It would be great if we could get Charlie Dean, but I don't think he will last to our pick.

If that's the case, why move Lockhart or Hore on?  Both shown enough at the highest level imo (although seemingly Lockhart fell out of favour in late 2020 - I thought they wanted more height).

i'd like to see us take another project player one of Camaniti or Rentsch who can develop for a couple years at casey given the age of Gawn, BBrown, MBrown, TMac, Daw and with Bradtke's delisting it would round off our list nicely.

Also was surprised Blayne O'Laughlin didnt get picked up however i do think he looked more impressive than he actually was as he was taking kickouts for SA so got most of his touches as freebies

4 minutes ago, deelusions from afar said:

If that's the case, why move Lockhart or Hore on?  Both shown enough at the highest level imo (although seemingly Lockhart fell out of favour in late 2020 - I thought they wanted more height).

Because Jetta was too old and slow, Lockhart fell out of favour and Hore had constant injuries over the past 2 years and they obviously thought Daniel Turner would be a better option. It's pretty simple really, when you lose 3 defenders, you need to draft another one which we currently haven't done yet in this draft. Hence why I said we may target a defender. 

3 hours ago, BAMF said:

200cm+ ruck please!

Riley Sprigg

12 minutes ago, Pennant St Dee said:

Riley Sprigg

Looked at his WAFL profile and saw he's listed at 195cm tall. bit short for a ruck?

Off the Primary list  = 5. Hore, Jetta, Jones, VB and Lockhart.  Jordan added from Rookie List.

Rookies of the list =net 2. De Classe and Nietscke (Jordan added to main list)

CatB Bradke delisted

Added to Main list via Draft = 3 van Rooyen, Howes and Woey. So including Jordan NET 1 down on main list we can fill.

So far it looks like we can fill 1 position on the main list and 3 on rookie list. Also can recruit a CatB if we want to bring it back to the same numbers and set up as last year.

Summery : Net 4 to add plus option of Cat B

My guess only.

Hoping for a ruck: Josh Cripps?? Could be an interesting afternoon.

 

We may?? get a fairly early rookie pick if clubs pick up their committed picks with their first picks.

We are one of the few clubs that did not move players off the main list with a promise to rookie them.

The may pick them up with their last picks though?????? Not sure.

53 minutes ago, manny100 said:

We may?? get a fairly early rookie pick if clubs pick up their committed picks with their first picks.

We are one of the few clubs that did not move players off the main list with a promise to rookie them.

The may pick them up with their last picks though?????? Not sure.

I'm sure the clubs would use their last picks to do this not their first.

1 hour ago, manny100 said:

So far it looks like we can fill 1 position on the main lis

Don’t think any spots left to fill on main list because of FA Luke Dunstan

1 hour ago, reynolds46 said:

Don’t think any spots left to fill on main list because of FA Luke Dunstan

Am i right to believe that we still have 1 free rookie spot available?

38 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Am i right to believe that we still have 1 free rookie spot available?

We have 1 rookie spot available. We are pick 18. We might pass on the selection to use at a later date. That being a train on player over the summer before committing.

I'm not 100% sure but based off what others have worked out.

Edited November 26, 20213 yr by BAMF

Its a little confusing. 3 rookies were delisted and i rookie Jordan upgraded to the primary list. Does that mean 4 rookie s[pots available???

5 players off the Primary list and 3 drafted on, Jordan upgraded and Dunstan recruited.

Bradke delisted as Cat B.