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2024 AFL National Draft prospects: The next batch

Whispering_Jack
Whispering_Jack
in Melbourne Demons

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if we rate kako as the best player at pick #6, then might as well nominate him and force the peptides to pay, as their good fortune in the change to the nga academy came conveniently when they stood to benefit

this would mean we'd take finn o'sullivan if that pick thus pushes back one spot

there really doesn't appear to be any consensus on the first round this year, whereas in other years it's all been more firm - and all the afl media scribes have wildly fluctuating predictions on who might go where

almost like they (shock! horror!!) don't know the inner workings of 18 professional football clubs

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    It would be quite fascinating to be there while Jason Taylor and the rest of the recruitment staff discuss all these hypotheticals about who they think will be drafted where and what their strategies would be.

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    Interesting article from today’s Melbourne Age with the players nominating their expected number 1.  

    “The players' pick

    We asked 10 of the best junior players in Australia who they thought (not including themselves) would be taken at No.1 in this year's AFL national draft. Here's what they said.

    Jagga Smith Nominated: Josh Smillie

    “When he’s at his best, I think Josh Smillie is the best player in the draft. It’s his ceiling, and what he could be. But if you want a sure player, I think you can go Levi Ashcroft – he’s as good as anyone.”

    Isaac Kako Nominated: Jagga Smith

    “He’s really consistent. Someone’s got to do it, and it’s always him. I love watching him play and love playing with him – great player.”

    Harry Armstrong Nominated: Jagga Smith

    “I think he’s got the work-rate and attitude, and it comes off in games.”

    Alex Dodson Nominated: Sid Draper

    “He’s an extremely hard worker, a great leader, and I think he’s going to forge a really good AFL career.”

    Josh Smillie Nominated: Jagga Smith

    “Just his professionalism and the way he goes about it. He’s everything you want in a player as well. You could just see him being the perfect AFL player.”

    Jack Whitlock Nominated: Finn O’Sullivan

    “Country boy, he’s just got that resilience about him. He hasn’t had the best year this year with injury, but his talent is through the roof. That was shown through his unreal bottom-age year, and even his 16th year, when he took out the medal as the best player of the championships.”

    Matt Whitlock Nominated: Finn O’Sullivan

    “I think it’s going to be hard to pass on him, even though he hasn’t had the best year with injury. I feel like he’s such a special player, and he’s definitely someone who’s going to be a premiership player [in the AFL].”

    Sam Lalor Nominated: Finn O’Sullivan

    “I reckon he’s got the highest ceiling. He hasn’t been at his best this year [because of injuries], but when he’s on, he’s the best player.”

    Harvey Langford  Nominated: Finn O’Sullivan

    “I think he’ll suit a club really well, just with how he’s able to interact with the other boys and get around everyone. He’s a great leader, and an amazing player.”

    Finn O'Sullivan Nominated: Sam Lalor

    “I think he should be one. He’d be an awesome fit for Richmond. He’s got a great mindset, and is a really powerful and explosive player. His footy talks for itself, and he’s also a really social person, so he will form some good relationships with coaches and players.”

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    7 hours ago, spirit of norm smith said:

    Interesting article from today’s Melbourne Age with the players nominating their expected number 1.  

    “The players' pick

    We asked 10 of the best junior players in Australia who they thought (not including themselves) would be taken at No.1 in this year's AFL national draft. Here's what they said.

    Jagga Smith Nominated: Josh Smillie

    “When he’s at his best, I think Josh Smillie is the best player in the draft. It’s his ceiling, and what he could be. But if you want a sure player, I think you can go Levi Ashcroft – he’s as good as anyone.”

    Isaac Kako Nominated: Jagga Smith

    “He’s really consistent. Someone’s got to do it, and it’s always him. I love watching him play and love playing with him – great player.”

    Harry Armstrong Nominated: Jagga Smith

    “I think he’s got the work-rate and attitude, and it comes off in games.”

    Alex Dodson Nominated: Sid Draper

    “He’s an extremely hard worker, a great leader, and I think he’s going to forge a really good AFL career.”

    Josh Smillie Nominated: Jagga Smith

    “Just his professionalism and the way he goes about it. He’s everything you want in a player as well. You could just see him being the perfect AFL player.”

    Jack Whitlock Nominated: Finn O’Sullivan

    “Country boy, he’s just got that resilience about him. He hasn’t had the best year this year with injury, but his talent is through the roof. That was shown through his unreal bottom-age year, and even his 16th year, when he took out the medal as the best player of the championships.”

    Matt Whitlock Nominated: Finn O’Sullivan

    “I think it’s going to be hard to pass on him, even though he hasn’t had the best year with injury. I feel like he’s such a special player, and he’s definitely someone who’s going to be a premiership player [in the AFL].”

    Sam Lalor Nominated: Finn O’Sullivan

    “I reckon he’s got the highest ceiling. He hasn’t been at his best this year [because of injuries], but when he’s on, he’s the best player.”

    Harvey Langford  Nominated: Finn O’Sullivan

    “I think he’ll suit a club really well, just with how he’s able to interact with the other boys and get around everyone. He’s a great leader, and an amazing player.”

    Finn O'Sullivan Nominated: Sam Lalor

    “I think he should be one. He’d be an awesome fit for Richmond. He’s got a great mindset, and is a really powerful and explosive player. His footy talks for itself, and he’s also a really social person, so he will form some good relationships with coaches and players.”

    Something a little unsettling about this article.  

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    24 minutes ago, Nascent said:

    @Pennant St Dee

    Highlights of Cody Angove, believe you said we may have shown some interest in him earlier in the year?

     

     

    Yes we interviewed him earlier in the year and not sure if we did again during the combine. Angove didn’t have as good a season this year as his underage year. Injured in preseason which caused some interruption.

    He has very good lateral movement, acceleration, vision and can impact the scoreboard.

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    1 hour ago, Nascent said:

    @Pennant St Dee

    Highlights of Cody Angove, believe you said we may have shown some interest in him earlier in the year?

     

     

    Agreed. @Nascent @Pennant St Dee like Judd McVee a few years ago, Cody could be late pick that really develops.  He’s got the pace, skills and smarts. I think he’s probably 4th round or a rookie pick.  I had him at 68 in my phantom draft (Sept 19th). Hope he gets a spot on a list.  

    Edited by spirit of norm smith
    I

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    15 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

     

    Is anyone actually spending a single cent on having access to the frauds creating content at the Herald Sun?

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    40 minutes ago, layzie said:

    Kako has been a massive bolter, even before the combine. Why?

    Because internet experts are not real experts. 

    Every year there are players that jump up the order and everyone is surprised. Usually these are players that have low stats but show traits that will translate well into AFL. Windsor was one of those. Tholstrup was one of those. Tauru is another that has popped up late this year. There are a few players that I think will do the same this year that people are barely speaking about. It happens every single year that internet experts overrate players that get a lot of the ball over players that exhibit AFL level traits at lower volume. But internet experts are not real experts.

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    5 minutes ago, Axis of Bob said:

    Because internet experts are not real experts. 

    Every year there are players that jump up the order and everyone is surprised. Usually these are players that have low stats but show traits that will translate well into AFL. Windsor was one of those. Tholstrup was one of those. Tauru is another that has popped up late this year. There are a few players that I think will do the same this year that people are barely speaking about. It happens every single year that internet experts overrate players that get a lot of the ball over players that exhibit AFL level traits at lower volume. But internet experts are not real experts.

    Appreciate the explanation Axis, didn't mean for it to sound jarring just curious. 

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    21 minutes ago, layzie said:

    Appreciate the explanation Axis, didn't mean for it to sound jarring just curious. 

    It didn't sound jarring at all. It's a perfectly reasonable question, and that's just my own explanation for it rather than the gold standard answer.

    I think there are some players that are being highly underrated because they haven't been playing in the midfield or have been absent. Players like Travaglia and Hotton, the former because he played a lot as a half back and the latter because he was injured. Even a player like Finn O'Sullivan, who has struggled with injury all year, has been seen by some on the internet to slip down to the latter half of the top 10 and ranked behind some fairly middling talents due to lower possession numbers, despite probably being the best player in the pool. 

    But recruiting is difficult and I'm certainly no expert to listen to. I've just seen the same trends every year on the internet whilst following it for the past 20 or so years. 

    Edited by Axis of Bob

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    i imagine kako has shot up the draft reckoning because the value of 'speed and pressure' forwards has gone up more and more in the last few years and he appears to be the top player of that type available in this draft cohort

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    20 minutes ago, whatwhat say what said:

    i imagine kako has shot up the draft reckoning because the value of 'speed and pressure' forwards has gone up more and more in the last few years and he appears to be the top player of that type available in this draft cohort


    I’ll say. Imagine the stress on opponents trying to clear a ground ball from defense with Kossie & Kako buzzing around.

    Also don’t forget we were very keen to trade up for Watson last year.

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    Does anyone know much about Gabriel Stumpf?   Is he worth a late pick?  Tall and tested well at combine.

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    Keep an eye out for the name Tye Hourigan from Traralgon Football Club

    23 year old smokey defender in the same mould as Tom Stewart and we have strong interest in him.

    One to watch.

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    5 hours ago, Supreme_Demon said:

    Here's another article showing the latest AFL draft rankings: https://www.espn.com.au/afl/story/_/id/41685320/afl-draft-power-rankings-october-2024-jagga-smith-levi-ashcroft-sid-draper-sam-lalor

    Good write up. I found some of the “best traits similar to” part quite interesting.  Some I agree. Others not so.  Murphy Reid … similar to Gryan Miers.  No. That’s not correct in my view.  Miers is a small forward scrubber who specializes in goal assists.  Murphy Reid is an accumulation mid with quick hands and smart decisions.  If he builds up, he could be more the Lachie Neale type who seemingly is creative and before you know it he has 20 possessions.  
    Thanks @Supreme_Demon

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    Alix Tauru’s highlights look as good as any prospect in the draft. If recruiters think he will develop into a midfielder, he looks to be the full package.

    Tauru and Smith might be the players with the fewest weaknesses. 

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    20 minutes ago, Fat Tony said:

    Alix Tauru’s highlights look as good as any prospect in the draft. If recruiters think he will develop into a midfielder, he looks to be the full package.

    Tauru and Smith might be the players with the fewest weaknesses. 

    Agree, the more I see the more I like Tauru - love to get him into our list 

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    36 minutes ago, fr_ap said:

    Lalor clearly the best player in the draft. Clearly. 

    The huge upside with him is that he's never really completed a pre season which why clubs have him really high up in the draft.

    The scope around his potential is incredibly high.

    There's a bit of Clayton Oliver 2017 element in terms of the upside with his conditioning and stripping down weight to an elite athlete type body to play more midfield minutes. 

    I would be stoked if he fell through to our pick.

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    Not sure why there isn't more talk of Josh Smillie at 5, he looks a bit of a unicorn no? Interviewed on SEN and said he models his game on Cripps - the similarities are uncanny.

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