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2023 AFL National Draft prospects: The next batch

Whispering_Jack
in Melbourne Demons

Featured Replies

3 minutes ago, fr_ap said:

Fair enough, appreciate the long explanation. I can see the scope and I mentioned he has timing and poise, but I think by comparing to Fyfe / Bont etc you're affirming your own preconceptions of an absolute optimum scenario for his body type. If Cale Morton was getting drafted this year, I've no doubt he would be getting Bont comparisons as well. 

I try to watch draftee vids with no archetypes in mind as pretty simply, what makes champions champions is more often between the ears, and from afar I don't have the means to assess that. In this area, Duursma could be streets ahead of Reid...but that's not for me to judge. What I can judge from footage is what, should their mentality be high level, a potential ceiling on their play could look like given a certain physical profile and playstyle. From what I see Reid's physicality and authority could provide a higher ceiling. 

But of course no guarantees either way....Zane could develop such authority (as Fyfe and Bont did) & Reid could flounder against bigger bodies!

We all have our bias and of course there are no guarantees. 

Funnily enough, I hate those comparisons also but I think the difference in this case is the head on his shoulders, (as you alluded to). Listening to him, he understands himself, where he wants to get to and he's super driven. That's more than half the battle with uber talented players. 

As for Cale Morton, I was never impressed by his under 18's year and he simply wasn't involved in the contest during those games like Duursma was. (or even Bont in his metro days). Cale was always wining ball in space and he came flying in to contention during the under 18 champs because of his numbers. Didn't have the same body of work and was a completely different player. 

Exciting to see how it unfolds in any case, but there's something about Zane that is just different. And it's not only his onfield performance. 

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    12 hours ago, layzie said:

    Is the cameo in the VFL thing a new thing in recent years?

    Earliest I can remember was 2012, when Stringer played a couple of games to show his wares after missing a lot of his top age season due to his broken leg. Remember Jack  Viney playing a game or two for Casey that year as well. Oliver played pretty darned well in 1 of 2 games for Richmond’s VFL team a few years later.

    I think it used to be tightly controlled and was rare for the best prospects to be feature. I think the closer ties between AFL clubs (specifically their VFL affiliates) & the Coates League teams in their zones has helped make it a more frequent occurrence.

    As BBB said, there’s also a nod to the advantages that interstate kids may have in potentially playing senior state league footy in their draft year.

     

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    2 hours ago, ChaserJ said:

    Foxsports with an early rundown of this years draft crop:

    Why Harley Reid is the clear No. 1 of 2023, Suns and Tassie conundrums and mid-season whispers: AFL Draft Watch

    Interesting to learn that Gold Coast have 3 potential first round kids coming through.

    If Jed Walter still tracks as a top 5 pick then they will surely move on their first pick and we will be right in the hunt for that.

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    10 hours ago, Nascent said:

    Interesting to learn that Gold Coast have 3 potential first round kids coming through.

    If Jed Walter still tracks as a top 5 pick then they will surely move on their first pick and we will be right in the hunt for that.

    Using Freeo’s second round pick (along with other picks) to move into another 10 pick would be icing on the cake with the LJ trade. 

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    Claremont vs East Perth Colts on 6 May 2023

    Claremont 

    Daniel Curtin played through the midfield by Claremont ends with most disposals and BOG with significant impact. 26 possessions, 18 contested, 12 clearances and 10 tackles. I keep saying it this kid is a gun with so many strings to the bow

    SVR - not a great day for key talls with wet weather but continued to present and contest at ground level, kicked 1 and probably should have got at least 1 more

    Cody Angove - 2024 draft eligible played as the high half forward and created headaches for East Perth, really clean at ground level, numerous involvements in score assists and won plenty of contested footy. Small frame and size but really smart football brain

    East Perth

    Darcy Craven - just accumulated to get East Perth back into the game after quarter time and smart user of the footy got plenty of footy on the inside and fed it to the outside runners but also found himself involved on the outside 

    Will Cassidy - like Craven got his hands dirty as the inside mid and got them back into the contest. Really good tank and can play inside or outside in the midfield but strength is more towards the inside game

    Alexio Yiannikis - small Charlie Spargo type forward who presents up the ground and makes smart decisions going inside 50. Has a knack of finding space and making decisions before getting closed down, kicked a gem from the boundary in tight space when it looked like the defender had done everything to force him wide and create a stoppage 

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    1 hour ago, Pennant St Dee said:

    Claremont vs East Perth Colts on 6 May 2023

    Claremont 

    Daniel Curtin played through the midfield by Claremont ends with most disposals and BOG with significant impact. 26 possessions, 18 contested, 12 clearances and 10 tackles. I keep saying it this kid is a gun with so many strings to the bow

    Oh, please let it happen. The ultimate, ultimate trolling of Fremantle and the perfect fit for us.

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    1 hour ago, Pennant St Dee said:

    Claremont vs East Perth Colts on 6 May 2023

    Claremont 

    Daniel Curtin played through the midfield by Claremont ends with most disposals and BOG with significant impact. 26 possessions, 18 contested, 12 clearances and 10 tackles. I keep saying it this kid is a gun with so many strings to the bow

    SVR - not a great day for key talls with wet weather but continued to present and contest at ground level, kicked 1 and probably should have got at least 1 more

    Cody Angove - 2024 draft eligible played as the high half forward and created headaches for East Perth, really clean at ground level, numerous involvements in score assists and won plenty of contested footy. Small frame and size but really smart football brain

    East Perth

    Darcy Craven - just accumulated to get East Perth back into the game after quarter time and smart user of the footy got plenty of footy on the inside and fed it to the outside runners but also found himself involved on the outside 

    Will Cassidy - like Craven got his hands dirty as the inside mid and got them back into the contest. Really good tank and can play inside or outside in the midfield but strength is more towards the inside game

    Alexio Yiannikis - small Charlie Spargo type forward who presents up the ground and makes smart decisions going inside 50. Has a knack of finding space and making decisions before getting closed down, kicked a gem from the boundary in tight space when it looked like the defender had done everything to force him wide and create a stoppage 

    Curtain through the middle as well? Already touted as a great CHF or CHB. Possibly a Pavlich type?

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    Claremont 

    Daniel Curtin played through the midfield by Claremont ends with most disposals and BOG with significant impact. 26 possessions, 18 contested, 12 clearances and 10 tackles. I keep saying it this kid is a gun with so many strings to the bow
     

    agree @Pennant St Dee he’s a future star. Would laugh at Freo if we grabbed him. Eagles surely will finish last and look to grab Reid. 

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    13 hours ago, Nascent said:

    Looks like kynan brown played over the weekend, anyone know how he went?

    According to Chris Cavanagh in an online Herald Sun article, Brown had a good game ranking fourth in KFC Supercoach points.

    ”Melbourne father-son prospect Kynan Brown (20 disposals) was another who was part of the same backline and showed some good signs.

    “Brown is the son of former Demon Nathan Brown, who featured in 146 games in the red and blue.”

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    10 minutes ago, Whispering_Jack said:

    … and the probable number 2 is …

    IMG_3294.thumb.jpeg.77ffadf4f0a9ce79033381754312052e.jpeg

    Probably headed to WC...

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    Yeah, surely Curtin goes straight to West Coast. If the Eagles finish on the bottom, he'll be the number one pick.

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    Pick 1. Hawks - H. Reid

    Pick 2. Eagles - Curtain

    Pick 3. North - one of Duursma, Watson, Moir, A. Reid

    Pick 4. Melbourne- TBD

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    I'd love pick 4, but reckon it's more likely to land at pick 5-7. We'll see, I guess.

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    1 minute ago, A F said:

    I'd love pick 4, but reckon it's more likely to land at pick 5-7. We'll see, I guess.

    Indeed. All wishful thinking at this stage. For all we know they may get on a roll and we end up with pick 10.

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    1 hour ago, ChaserJ said:

    190+cm, good overhead, can play in all zones, wins clearances in midfield and has a classy left boot.

    Pretty sure I've seen this story before (2013 to be exact).

    https://central.rookieme.com/afl/2023/05/09/wafl-player-focus-daniel-curtin-claremont/

    We talking Bont? Or have I missed something...

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    10 hours ago, Nascent said:

    Indeed. All wishful thinking at this stage. For all we know they may get on a roll and we end up with pick 10.

    That's right. It's a long season, they have talent in there to win some games. 

    I'm happy as long as they're about bottom 6. 

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    10 hours ago, A F said:

    We talking Bont? Or have I missed something...

    Curtin is 196cm, 

    He is playing for the AIS this weekend against Carlton’s VFL side - well worth a look

    I have seen both Ginbey and Curtin up close and in their preparation and training.

    Love everything Ginbey brings, however Curtin has far greater scope to reach elite level as KPP or even as a big mid

    Edited by Pennant St Dee

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    18 hours ago, A F said:

    We talking Bont? Or have I missed something...

    Yeah, I was admittedly being a bit cheeky in the comparison, but if you start building a profile, you could draw some similarities. I think the broader view on how good Curtin could be is only going to build from here. 

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