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2024 AFL National Draft prospects: The next batch

Whispering_Jack
Whispering_Jack
in Melbourne Demons

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1 minute ago, Axis of Bob said:

As a casual observer (who isn’t an expert), I’m wary of Smilie. The game he’ll need to play at AFL level is different to the one he plays now, so there’s a lot of risk.

He’s currently an outside midfielder trapped in a tall’s body being asked to play as an inside midfielder. He’s not a great stoppage player and he struggles to release the ball in traffic, instead trying to bust out of tackles with his arms down. He wants to receive the ball out in space to use his good kicking but he doesn’t run well enough to do that at an AFL level.

He has a bunch of really great traits that read incredibly well for a recruit. But his work rate and ‘football’ ability mean that a lot of these skills are mismatched and there’s a lot of risk that he’ll be a constant ‘almost’ player. If the inside work clicks and he discovers AFL work rate then he’ll be a gun. Personally, I’d take that risk at 9 but I’d be very nervous at 5.

Draft central rates his stoppage work as elite

At the core of Smillie's game is his stoppage nous. He has had the pleasure of spending time with Carlton captain Patrick Cripps and projects as a player with similarly high footy IQ and craft. While his numbers at the National Championships were overall down, his clearance figures remained strong; averaging around 19 disposals, 10 contested possessions, and six clearances per game for the Big V.

It's a facet of the game which also allows him to hit the scoreboard. Difficult to tie down or manoeuvre off the line of the ball, Smillie can camp himself under the rucks or get on the move to shark and score from forward 50 stoppages. One of the prime examples of that came in Round 1 of the Coates Talent League, where he roved the ball at speed and improvised a slick checkside finish.

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    2 minutes ago, adonski said:

    Draft central rates his stoppage work as elite

    And they likely know a lot more than me.

    I think he plays like a half back flanker who woke up one day in the body of Tom Green and he’s still trying to figure out what he’s doing.

    If he was a great stoppage midfielder then, at his size and with his skills, why would he not be pick 1?

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    1 hour ago, Ted Lasso said:

    I probably still take Langford over Smillie, but i definitely see the appeal. He's definitely one that makes us better in 2025 and would have to be a favourite for the rising star next year given how ready to go he is.

    I still have Langford ahead as well. His ability to be a dangerous marking forward is pretty appealing. 

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    Smilie the next FIGJAM?1

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    2 minutes ago, Davos said:

    I wasn't before, but I am now so in.

    Love it Bring him in

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    48 minutes ago, adonski said:

     

    I wonder what this will do for Brand Smillie

    Edited by demoncat

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    I'm warming to the possibility of Jagga Smith making it to our first pick.

    I think there's a certain joy for mature mids like Petracca, Viney and Oliver to have a noticeably dynamic kid running through the chaos.

    "Look at the little bugger go!"

    I'm less worried than some about his relatively small size because he has that sinewy toughness as well as peripheral awareness that will let him ride the collisions efficiently. Plus, he seems to be having fun in there.

    I can picture him playing round 1 with some small forward time until Pickett returns, to get a taste, with permission to be chaotic, and see how he goes.

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    43 minutes ago, Little Goffy said:

    I'm warming to the possibility of Jagga Smith

    If we draft Jagga, lure Keath out of retirement and employ Jones and Watts as assistant coaches, we'd almost have the original  band back together.    

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    49 minutes ago, Little Goffy said:

    I'm warming to the possibility of Jagga Smith making it to our first pick.

    I think there's a certain joy for mature mids like Petracca, Viney and Oliver to have a noticeably dynamic kid running through the chaos.

    "Look at the little bugger go!"

    I'm less worried than some about his relatively small size because he has that sinewy toughness as well as peripheral awareness that will let him ride the collisions efficiently. Plus, he seems to be having fun in there.

    I can picture him playing round 1 with some small forward time until Pickett returns, to get a taste, with permission to be chaotic, and see how he goes.

    Absolutely, eventually we will need to draft some replacement big body mids, but right now we need a Zak Butters type to compliment our current crop. 

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    1 hour ago, Little Goffy said:

    I'm warming to the possibility of Jagga Smith making it to our first pick.

    I think there's a certain joy for mature mids like Petracca, Viney and Oliver to have a noticeably dynamic kid running through the chaos.

    "Look at the little bugger go!"

    I'm less worried than some about his relatively small size because he has that sinewy toughness as well as peripheral awareness that will let him ride the collisions efficiently. Plus, he seems to be having fun in there.

    I can picture him playing round 1 with some small forward time until Pickett returns, to get a taste, with permission to be chaotic, and see how he goes.

    I could see him coming in and having a Daicos, Sheezel or Ashcroft type effect on our midfield 

    Not necessarily saying that he’ll be at their level, but each of them has been able to come in and immediately compliment their teams more experienced players

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    14 minutes ago, Demonstone said:

    If we draft Jagga, lure Keath out of retirement and employ Jones and Watts as assistant coaches, we'd almost have the original  band back together.    

    We'd probably need to get Easton Wood out of retirement at some point..

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    57 minutes ago, MrFreeze said:

    Absolutely, eventually we will need to draft some replacement big body mids, but right now we need a Zak Butters type to compliment our current crop. 

    Well we should probably draft someone with aggression, pace and kicking skills rather than out the Backa Jagga.

    Every comparison to Butters hurts my brain.

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    38 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

    Well we should probably draft someone with aggression, pace and kicking skills rather than out the Backa Jagga.

    Every comparison to Butters hurts my brain.

    FOS is clearly the only appropriate Butters comp in this draft. 

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    1 hour ago, Davos said:

    FOS is clearly the only appropriate Butters comp in this draft. 

    Sid Draper is very much in the Zak Butters style as well in my opinion 

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    56 minutes ago, Ted Lasso said:

    Sid Draper is very much in the Zak Butters style as well in my opinion 

    Not for me. Upside is Warner, downside is Shiel/Freeman. Different kind of player to Butters. 

    To be fair, Butters is a very unique. FOS has a similar athletic profile, can swing forward and is a high damage per possession kind of player. Also worth remembering that Butters wasn't a big accumulator as a junior, much like FOS.

     

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    17 minutes ago, Davos said:

    To be fair, Butters is a very unique. 

    Most comparisons to Butters are pretty funny, TBH. The reason he's as good as he is relates less to his ability to win the ball and much more to his ability to use it. His weapon is his very creative vision and his ability to routinely take on and hit kicks at strange angles that other players just can't do. There aren't any players in the top part of this pool that can do that at this stage. Just because a player is small and a decent ball user doesn't make him Butters. Even O'Sullivan, who is a very good ball user, kicks in straight lines to more obvious targets (more like a Cotchin would).

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    10 minutes ago, Axis of Bob said:

    Most comparisons to Butters are pretty funny, TBH. The reason he's as good as he is relates less to his ability to win the ball and much more to his ability to use it. His weapon is his very creative vision and his ability to routinely take on and hit kicks at strange angles that other players just can't do. There aren't any players in the top part of this pool that can do that at this stage. Just because a player is small and a decent ball user doesn't make him Butters. Even O'Sullivan, who is a very good ball user, kicks in straight lines to more obvious targets (more like a Cotchin would).

    Agree - he's such a weird footballer. Great to watch!

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    13 minutes ago, Axis of Bob said:

    Most comparisons to Butters are pretty funny, TBH. The reason he's as good as he is relates less to his ability to win the ball and much more to his ability to use it. His weapon is his very creative vision and his ability to routinely take on and hit kicks at strange angles that other players just can't do. There aren't any players in the top part of this pool that can do that at this stage. Just because a player is small and a decent ball user doesn't make him Butters. Even O'Sullivan, who is a very good ball user, kicks in straight lines to more obvious targets (more like a Cotchin would).

    Butters also has a manic and, at times, reckless attack on the footy without thought of safety for himself or others. I don't see that in Jagga.

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    On 11/10/2024 at 17:09, spirit of norm smith said:

    I think Dees are really hoping Adams develops more but he’s going to take time and is still a 50:50 bet right now.  In this years draft crop , another young WA boy, Clancy Dennis was CHB in the All Australian under 18s.  He reminds of Sam Taylor from GWS (in playing style, not looks). Dennis is a good mark, spoils well and is mobile.  At 195cms, his competitive nature allows him to compete against bigger forwards.  Again he’s needing two years of development before assuming any key defender role.  He’s probably around pick 50 in my rankings.  

    I'm hoping we can pick up Clancy with our third pick, if we do end up taking one. He is rated around the top 50 mark in the HS. But I feel he could be a really good player in time and with a couple of years of development he could be ready to take over May's position. An All Australian CHB in the under 18's, he would be a steal at pick 50+. 

    Here's what the HS said about him:

    50
    Clancy Dennis
     
    Clancy Dennis
    DEFENDER
    The All-Australian centre-half-back from the national championships can get the job done down back in multiple ways.

    Club Claremont/Mosman Park

    State WA

    Height 195cm

    DOB 28/12/2006

    1 on 1 Defending
    Intercepting
    Overhead Marking
    Mobility
     

    A promising tall defender who can contain dangerous key forwards, Dennis was named at centre-half back in the All-Australian team after a strong under-18 national championships campaign for Western Australia in the middle of the year. He finished as the tournament’s No.1 player for intercept marks, averaging 2.3 a game along with 11.3 disposals and 2.3 spoils. Dennis was his state’s best player in its final match against Vic Country, recording 14 disposals, five marks (four intercepts) and two spoils that day. He is an ultra-competitive type who is rarely beaten one-on-one and has good composure with ball in hand. Dennis played a key role in helping Claremont’s Colts side secure the premiership in the WAFL in September, logging 14 disposals, 10 intercept possessions and five spoils in the Grand Final victory over Swan Districts. However, he sat out testing at the draft combine in October due to a sore foot which he sustained during that Grand Final. 

    2024 WAFL Colts83 ranking points, 15.9 disposals, 6.2 marks, 1.4 intercept marks, 4.4 rebound 50s, 3.4 spoils, 1.0 tackles (10 games) 2024 National Champs68 ranking points, 11.3 disposals, 5.3 marks, 2.3 intercept marks, 3.5 rebound 50s, 2.3 spoils, 1.5 tackles (4 games)

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    8 minutes ago, Where Demons Dare said:

    I'm hoping we can pick up Clancy with our third pick, if we do end up taking one. He is rated around the top 50 mark in the HS. But I feel he could be a really good player in time and with a couple of years of development he could be ready to take over May's position. An All Australian CHB in the under 18's, he would be a steal at pick 50+. 

    Here's what the HS said about him:

     

    50
    Clancy Dennis
     
    Clancy Dennis
    DEFENDER
    The All-Australian centre-half-back from the national championships can get the job done down back in multiple ways.

    Club Claremont/Mosman Park

    State WA

    Height 195cm

    DOB 28/12/2006

     
    1 on 1 Defending
     
    Intercepting
     
    Overhead Marking
     
    Mobility
     

    A promising tall defender who can contain dangerous key forwards, Dennis was named at centre-half back in the All-Australian team after a strong under-18 national championships campaign for Western Australia in the middle of the year. He finished as the tournament’s No.1 player for intercept marks, averaging 2.3 a game along with 11.3 disposals and 2.3 spoils. Dennis was his state’s best player in its final match against Vic Country, recording 14 disposals, five marks (four intercepts) and two spoils that day. He is an ultra-competitive type who is rarely beaten one-on-one and has good composure with ball in hand. Dennis played a key role in helping Claremont’s Colts side secure the premiership in the WAFL in September, logging 14 disposals, 10 intercept possessions and five spoils in the Grand Final victory over Swan Districts. However, he sat out testing at the draft combine in October due to a sore foot which he sustained during that Grand Final. 

    2024 WAFL Colts83 ranking points, 15.9 disposals, 6.2 marks, 1.4 intercept marks, 4.4 rebound 50s, 3.4 spoils, 1.0 tackles (10 games) 2024 National Champs68 ranking points, 11.3 disposals, 5.3 marks, 2.3 intercept marks, 3.5 rebound 50s, 2.3 spoils, 1.5 tackles (4 games)

    There is no way this kid is born in 2006....

    [censored] looks 35!

    Edited by dazzledavey36

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