https://www.afl.com.au/news/1250598

good story about Harrison (Harry) Oliver on the AFL website.  He’s a Dees supporter and had an excellent year both personally as a skilled & tough half back, but also with 3 Premierships (Vic metro, Brighton Grammar and Sandringham Dragons). He showed his ability and toughness, especially in the APS game v Haileybury where his marking and defensive spoils in tough conditions were critical to the BGS win.  

It shows the strength of this years draft that he is ranked about 25-28 in most draft predictions.  He’s a ready to go type. Great left foot disposal will be an asset wherever he goes.  Plays like … yes Luke Hodge is a fair comparison.  No backwards steps.  

 

From the review.

• Sam Radford will work alongside Nathan as midfield coach. Together, they aim to maximise our current midfield group’s strengths while integrating new talent in the midfield mix.

Mids with our first two picks?

48 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

From the review.

• Sam Radford will work alongside Nathan as midfield coach. Together, they aim to maximise our current midfield group’s strengths while integrating new talent in the midfield mix.

Mids with our first two picks?

Maybe, probably referring to a Rivers, Tholstrup maybe even a McVee with more midfield mins too

20 minutes ago, adonski said:

Maybe, probably referring to a Rivers, Tholstrup maybe even a McVee with more midfield mins too

Rivers, Windsor and Kolt.

I reckon McVee will stay at high half back. He might play off the back of the stoppage, but reckon he's better with the play in front of him and is so brilliant 1v1 that we'd lose more from our defensive set up than we'd gain from our midfield.

Particularly agility, speed and ball use is what we'd want from him in midfield. Windsor can bring that. And Kolt can bring the power, again, probably as a high half forward that becomes an inside slider.

I think it also speaks to the draft as well. I'm really hoping we go mids with both, but I'd be staggered if at least one of our picks wasn't a mid.

32 minutes ago, Adam The God said:

Rivers, Windsor and Kolt.

I reckon McVee will stay at high half back. He might play off the back of the stoppage, but reckon he's better with the play in front of him and is so brilliant 1v1 that we'd lose more from our defensive set up than we'd gain from our midfield.

Particularly agility, speed and ball use is what we'd want from him in midfield. Windsor can bring that. And Kolt can bring the power, again, probably as a high half forward that becomes an inside slider.

I think it also speaks to the draft as well. I'm really hoping we go mids with both, but I'd be staggered if at least one of our picks wasn't a mid.

You could knock me down with a feather if we don't pick a midfielder at 5

I'm a bit more open minded to pick 9. I can understand the logic of Armstrong, or even a flanker like Travalgia or Lindsay who we may project becomes a midfielder in time.

2 hours ago, adonski said:

You could knock me down with a feather if we don't pick a midfielder at 5

I'm a bit more open minded to pick 9. I can understand the logic of Armstrong, or even a flanker like Travalgia or Lindsay who we may project becomes a midfielder in time.

Last week Cal T. said we would take whatever mid gets through, at 5.

2 hours ago, Adam The God said:

Rivers, Windsor and Kolt.

Just on these guys. Add Smith or Langford to that group, on top of Smilie or Hynes, and that's the next generation of midfield set for the next 12 years.

This draft could be a game changer for us with Tassie on the horizon.

Davo27 on bigfooty recently rated prospective draftees by position. I’ve rolled his ratings into this post.

MIDFIELDERS - Tier 1

F. O'Sullivan. L. Ashcroft, L. Lombard, S. Draper, J. Smith, T. Hotton, S. Lalor, H. Langford

MIDFIELDERS - Tier 2

J. Smillie, M. Reid, C. Moraes, C. Hynes, J. Ough, S. Marshall, B. Allan, T. Gross, H. Boxshall

MIDFIELDERS - Tier 3

B. Camporeale L.Urquhart, X. Ivisic, O. Warburton, O. Depgoli-Kubank, Z. Cochrane, C. Anderson, P.  Hargrave, L. Mclnerney, D. Kerr, Z. Johnson, J. Dolan, H. Charleson

MIDFIELDERS - Tier 4

C. Paul, K.Matofai-Forbes, O. Harvey, J. Nguyen, F. McFadyen, R. Stevens, L. Grego, N. Sulzberger, D. Hollow, N. King, J. Harrison

RUCKMEN - Tier 1

K. Gerreyn, A. Dodson

RUCKMEN - Tier 2

L. Smith, J. Doherty, J. Pike, F. Penry

SMALL/MEDIUM DEFENDERS - Tier 1

A. Tauru, T. Travaglia,  X.Lindsay

SMALL/MEDIUM DEFENDERS - Tier 2

H. Oliver, L. Camporeale, L. Jaques, L. Hofmann

SMALL/MEDIUM DEFENDERS - Tier 3

P. Retschko, A. Clarke, C. Burke, J. Artemis, W. Hayes

SMALL/MEDIUM DEFENDERS - Tier 4 

L. Quaynor, K. Herbert, T. Wenzel

KEY POSITION DEFENDERS - Tier 1

L. Trainor, H. O'Farrell

KEY POSITION DEFENDERS - Tier 2

M. Whitlock, A. Cole, N. Mraz, Z. Lockwood, J. Barrat

KEY POSITION DEFENDERS - Tier 3

J. Cochran, C. Dennis

SMALL/MEDIUM FORWARDS - Tier 1

J. Berry, I. Kako

SMALL/MEDIUM FORWARDS - Tier 2

M. Champion, J. Murphy, J. Alger, E. Bradley, H. Davis, J. Dattoli (mid), O. Hannaford, R. Unwin (mid)

SMALL/MEDIUM FORWARDS - Tier 3

B.Barrett, A. Day-Wicks, J.Delana, C. Angove, J. Newton, J. Ryan, B. McKenzie, L. Douglas

KEY POSITION FORWARDS - Tier 1

H.Armstrong, J. Shanahan, J. Faull, 

KEY POSITION FORWARDS - Tier 2

T. Sims, G. Stumpf, T. Welsh, J. Whitlock, F. Burmeister

KEY POSITION FORWARDS - Tier 3

C. Nicholls, C. West, M. Rohr

Interesting @Whispering_Jack. If we can split 9 for 15 and 16 and land Hotton and Hynes, on top of Smith or Langford at 5, that would be 😍

I really like the way Hotton plays,  never seems to fumble, knows where the goals are, good overhead, creative, finds the footy, very evasive, quick and agile. Would love to see him in the red and blue along side kossie .

Only concerns is he looks very slight and is returning from an acl .

Add him to kossie, chandler and Windsor and suddenly we will look a lot quicker 

Edited November 4, 2024Nov 4 by zoe1617

We don't have a FOS thread! (☢️)

 

AFL Draft Analysis: Melbourne Demons

Potential Targets

Pick 5

Harvey Langford: A midfielder who uses his size and strength to his advantage in the middle, Langford is an attacking-minded midfielder who can have a significant impact on the scoreboard. Likened to Western Bulldogs skipper Marcus Bontempelli given his craft as a ball-winner that is equally damaging over his head, Langford might be available at Pick 5 but is unlikely to slide to Pick 9. He'll be one of a few top midfielders likely up for grabs for the Demons, who will weigh up what kind of ball winner will be suit their current midfield setup.

Pick 9

Harry Armstrong: Viewed by many as the leading key forward in this year's draft, Armstrong had a sensational year with the Sandringham Dragons and Vic Metro, finding success at both levels. He would kick 27 goals from 10 Talent League games and a further nine goals from a trio of appearances at the National Championships to earn Team of the Year at each. His high-leaping and sharp kicking would be a nice addition to the Demons, who might be able to have Armstrong develop his craft for 12 months before launching at the top level, much like Jacob van Rooyen's development.

The Ormond junior could go at either Pick 5 and 9, while the Saints will be keen on Armstrong too, potentially causing the Demons some headaches.

Luke Trainor: A different option for Melbourne to consider, with Trainor one of the best defenders on offer at 194cm. A clean user of the ball who is a strong interceptor, Trainor is a suitable option at Pick 9 for the Demons to weigh up. He can push further up the field to be a more attacking asset, utilising his ball skills and footy IQ. Trainor looked comfortable against VFL opposition this year for the AFL Academy, proving to be a teenager who could make the leap to AFL football almost immediately.

AFL draft top 30: Ranking the best prospects from Levi Ashcroft and Finn O'Sullivan to Jagga Smith and Alix Tauru

https://www.zerohanger.com/afl-draft-the-leading-father-son-nga-and-northern-academy-prospects-for-2024-156624/amp/
 

Empty cupboard for MFC ?!?!?!?! 

24 minutes ago, spirit of norm smith said:

https://www.zerohanger.com/afl-draft-the-leading-father-son-nga-and-northern-academy-prospects-for-2024-156624/amp/
 

Empty cupboard for MFC ?!?!?!?! 

Thanks for posting. Interesting read. A couple of Anglo Saxon sounding names in the Hawthorn and St.Kilda Next Gen Academy, yet we are ineligible to take Tairon Ah- mu as an academy prospect. Hope we challenge it. 

34 minutes ago, Dee Viney Intervention said:

Thanks for posting. Interesting read. A couple of Anglo Saxon sounding names in the Hawthorn and St.Kilda Next Gen Academy, yet we are ineligible to take Tairon Ah- mu as an academy prospect. Hope we challenge it. 

NGA Academy is for players from multicultural and Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander backgrounds opportunities to progress their individual development and footballing ability. 
 

Saints NGA Lennox Hoffman was born in Switzerland and moved to Australia after 6 months (grew up for the past 17 1/2 years in Australia). 
Bombers NGA Isaac Kako. His parents, Laith and Samiya who were both born in Iraq … young Isaac was born in Australia and is a born & bred fair dinkum Aussie youngster.  

So what’s the [censored] ambiguous rule? 

AFL … how many Polynesian youngsters are in the AFL? Nil.  How many Polynesian youngsters are in the NRL … 132 !!! Pathways for young Polynesian origin boys to the AFL. Nil according to current rules.  

Edited November 7, 2024Nov 7 by spirit of norm smith
AFLareClowns

 

Small miracle required for him to slide through to us.

Impressive. Only thing stopping him from becoming a star will potentially be his body

32 minutes ago, Nascent said:

 

Small miracle required for him to slide through to us.

As pure a footballer as you'll see. A lot of Dusty and he's a long way ahead of where Dusty was at the same age. 

59 minutes ago, Nascent said:

 

Small miracle required for him to slide through to us.

he looks like the prototype modern #1 pick

 

12 minutes ago, adonski said:

 

Class, class, class. Lack of size and athleticism scares the hell out of me, but I still won't be surprised if he winds up playing 250+ games and retires with an AA blazer when it's all said and done. 

18 hours ago, fr_ap said:

As pure a footballer as you'll see. A lot of Dusty and he's a long way ahead of where Dusty was at the same age. 

In what sense?

Dusty was an under 18 All Aus in the centre and TAC team of the year averaging 24 disposals and a goal.

Lalor jogged around the forward pocket in the carnival and only played 4 Coates league games this year.

There’s a lot to work with, I don’t think any of the other prototypes in the Tracc, De Goey mold have the clean skills Lalor does. Heck even Dusty burnt the footy a fair bit. But those other guys all had dominant midfield games as juniors.

Id be making the same pick but it’s a brave choice and the Dusty comparisons will be a lot to carry. 

we would love Lalor to fall to “5”… but it’s unlikely   
 

He has all the skills and strength and smarts to go pick 1 … it’s just his injury history that will be in the minds of the Tigers recruiting team 

19 hours ago, Nascent said:

 

Small miracle required for him to slide through to us.

54 minutes ago, adonski said:

 

Were we linked to Reid at some stage? Imagine drafting Langford and Reid, all of a sudden our skill level goes up immeasurably 

Edited November 12, 2024Nov 12 by Mouseymoo