2024 Phantom Drafts

[Mouseymoo 227]

I planted a rumour on bigfooty yesterday that would serve a purpose for us having more choice of midfielder at pick 5.

I know this will have absolutely ZERO effect on absolutely anything and is laughable to think otherwise, but I did my part 😂

[The Taciturn Demon 463]

5 minutes ago, Mouseymoo said:

I planted a rumour on bigfooty yesterday that would serve a purpose for us having more choice of midfielder at pick 5.

I know this will have absolutely ZERO effect on absolutely anything and is laughable to think otherwise, but I did my part 😂

Please don't be self-deprecating. Your butterfly wing flap may have contributed to our next Flag. 

[Roddog 39]

2 hours ago, Axis of Bob said:

My amateur feel is that there’s a strong likelihood that Draper gets to St Kilda’s pick. Everyone assumes that Adelaide takes him but I get the feel that everyone is just matching his value to whatever pick Adelaide has. I wonder if anyone has considered how Adelaide feels about it.

I think we all want things to fit into neat boxes but each of these clubs is selecting the player they want the most rather than making phantom drafts look neat. I still remember everyone losing their minds when Adelaide picked Dangerfield over Ebert.

I mean, if smith’s off the board and Draper is available at our first pick, I wouldn’t hate picking him up 🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️

[DeeSpencer 25,453]

1 hour ago, Axis of Bob said:

My amateur feel is that there’s a strong likelihood that Draper gets to St Kilda’s pick. Everyone assumes that Adelaide takes him but I get the feel that everyone is just matching his value to whatever pick Adelaide has. I wonder if anyone has considered how Adelaide feels about it.

I think we all want things to fit into neat boxes but each of these clubs is selecting the player they want the most rather than making phantom drafts look neat. I still remember everyone losing their minds when Adelaide picked Dangerfield over Ebert.

Absolutely agree.

It could well be Draper the Crows want and that’s the link to move ahead of Carlton. But just as easily it could be Langford or FOS. In fact I suspect it is one of those 2.

I’m not sure the Crows offer a f1 (even with a North f2 coming back) and I doubt North bother moving for a pair of F3’s even if it almost certainly costs them nothing. 

[DeeZone 9,660]

On 02/11/2024 at 15:30, Bendigo_Demon said:

If the draft is as deep as people are saying, are we in a position to obtain a second round pick for a future pick? Might be worth it. 

Sorry BD we already did that to get Pick 9 from Bummers.

[Ted Lasso 19,285]

I would be amazed if the Blues don't seriously consider Langford, he's the big body midfield support Cripps has been screaming out for, he's ready to go and he's a beautiful kick which the big forwards would love. 

[Nascent 9,107]

Hoping we'll hear more solid rumours next week. Wonder if there is a surprise in store similar to Windsor last year?

Could Reid get selected earlier than currently expected?

Still hoping Lalor somehow slides through but that looks like the least likely outcome.

Can see different scenarios where any one of Langford, Smith, Draper and O'Sullivan get through to our pick.

Edited November 9 by Nascent

[Roddog 39]

Just re Tauru, when was the last KP draft bolter that ended up being a game changer? I’m sure there would’ve been some but I can’t list any off the top of my head. I’m skeptical by nature, but fairly glad the rumours suggest we’re cooking on him 

[DubDee 25,648]

I might not know much but my experience of watching kids come into the AFL tells me that slight bodied 18yos are less likely to dominate than equally talented bigger boys. Unless you are Daicos or Butters good. 

For this reason, I see Smith sliding and hopefully past our pick. AFL is a brutal sport and it is very difficult to dominate the midfield. Maybe this is why he is already potentially being passed on by 4 clubs

He could be the best in the draft but for me it’s a risky pick. 

[DeeSpencer 25,453]

2 hours ago, Ted Lasso said:

I would be amazed if the Blues don't seriously consider Langford, he's the big body midfield support Cripps has been screaming out for, he's ready to go and he's a beautiful kick which the big forwards would love. 

The thinking seems to be that Cerra and Walsh are both strong boys and what they really need is some speed to play off those guys and Cripps.

But I agree whilst he doesn’t help their speed issue Langford has nice outside run and a left foot. Plus he can rest forward and switch with Cripps and take away their need for a 3rd tall forward too. Nick Austin comes from the dogs too, his time there was Weightman and Bailey Smith but you can’t have been around Bont and not want some of Langford’s Bontiness.

Who knows, it’s probably FOS or Draper, heck are we sure they don’t just take Tauru if North don’t?

[Ted Lasso 19,285]

3 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

The thinking seems to be that Cerra and Walsh are both strong boys and what they really need is some speed to play off those guys and Cripps.

But I agree whilst he doesn’t help their speed issue Langford has nice outside run and a left foot. Plus he can rest forward and switch with Cripps and take away their need for a 3rd tall forward too. Nick Austin comes from the dogs too, his time there was Weightman and Bailey Smith but you can’t have been around Bont and not want some of Langford’s Bontiness.

Who knows, it’s probably FOS or Draper, heck are we sure they don’t just take Tauru if North don’t?

Who knows, i am sure they're seriously discussing Jagga Smith as well, i am sure Josh Smillie would be in consideration, imagine 2 of Patty Cripps! 

it's such an even draft where the type of midfielder is going to be a deciding factor for a lot of teams, i think we will really value a little bit more class, where as a team like the Saints or Tigers probably do want to build from the inside and get the ball winning support. 

[Mouseymoo 227]

1 hour ago, DubDee said:

I might not know much but my experience of watching kids come into the AFL tells me that slight bodied 18yos are less likely to dominate than equally talented bigger boys. Unless you are Daicos or Butters good. 

For this reason, I see Smith sliding and hopefully past our pick. AFL is a brutal sport and it is very difficult to dominate the midfield. Maybe this is why he is already potentially being passed on by 4 clubs

He could be the best in the draft but for me it’s a risky pick. 

Smith got 30 touches in a VFL match for the tiges, he'll be fine. 

[DeeSpencer 25,453]

4 hours ago, Roddog said:

Just re Tauru, when was the last KP draft bolter that ended up being a game changer? I’m sure there would’ve been some but I can’t list any off the top of my head. I’m skeptical by nature, but fairly glad the rumours suggest we’re cooking on him 

21- 5 Mac Andrew was seen as a later first until closer to the draft?

17 - 9. Not sure Naughton was a top 10 lock until late in his draft year.

16 - 8. Griff Logue 

14- 6. Marchbank 

Tauru’s had a big rise but I think Twomey said the other day he’s a sure thing top 10 and rated by a lot of clubs. He’s not a complete bolter.

[Demon Disciple 12,064]

11 hours ago, Mouseymoo said:

I planted a rumour on bigfooty yesterday that would serve a purpose for us having more choice of midfielder at pick 5.

I know this will have absolutely ZERO effect on absolutely anything and is laughable to think otherwise, but I did my part 😂

Don’t underestimate your influence on bigfooty, YzeMagic had them all believing he got drafted at one stage

Edited Saturday at 12:00 by Demon Disciple
I believe ym to be a she

[Whispering_Jack 29,774]

Chris Cavanagh’s mock draft in today’s Herald Sun (note: he also speculates that Carlton might turn this around by picking Sid Draper ahead of Finn O’Sullivan)

1. RICHMOND - SAM LALOR
Mid/Fwd, 188cm, GWV Rebels/Bacchus Marsh

2. NORTH MELBOURNE - ALIX TAURU Def/Fwd, 193cm, Gippsland Power/Warragul Industrials

3. BRISBANE – LEVI ASHCROFT (match Blues bid) Mid, 179cm, Sandringham Dragons/Old Brighton

4. CARLTON – FINN O’SULLIVAN
Mid, 182cm, Oakleigh Chargers/Koroit

5. ADELAIDE – SID DRAPER Mid, 182cm, Sth Adelaide/Willunga

6. MELBOURNE – HARVEY LANGFORD Mid, 191cm, Dandenong Stingrays/Mount Martha

We say: If Tauru is off the board and Langford gets past the Crows, popular opinion in recruiting circles suggests that the Demons will snap up this big-bodied midfielder. Standing 191cm, he models his game on Marcus Bontempelli and is capable of having a big impact both with his work around clearances and his ability to take marks and kick goals when forward. The other player linked to this pick is Jagga Smith, who some scouts believe would suit Melbourne well given his ability to also play as a creative small forward.

7. RICHMOND – JOSH SMILLIE
Mid, 195cm, Eastern Ranges/Park Orchards

8. ST KILDA – JAGGA SMITH Mid, 182cm, Oakleigh Chargers/Richmond Juniors

9. GOLD COAST – LEO LOMBARD (after Saints bid) Mid/Fwd, 179cm, Suns Academy/Broadbeach

10. ST KILDA – TOBIE TRAVAGLIA
Def/Mid, 187cm, Bendigo Pioneers/Sandhurst

11. ESSENDON – ISAAC KAKO (after Melbourne bid) Fwd, 176cm, Calder Cannons/Northern Saints

12. MELBOURNE – HARRY ARMSTRONG Fwd, 195cm, Sandringham Dragons/Ormond

We say: The Demons have been strongly linked to Armstrong, who is the best available key forward. He is a strong-marking player who is also athletic and boasts a thumping and accurate left-foot kick. 

13. RICHMOND – BO ALLAN
Mid/Def, 191cm, Peel Thunder/Halls Head 

14. RICHMOND – JACK WHITLOCK
Fwd, 200cm, Murray Bushrangers/Shepparton

15. WEST COAST – XAVIER LINDSAY
Mid, 183cm, Gippsland Power/Leongatha

16. PORT ADELAIDE – JOBE SHANAHAN Fwd, 195cm, Bendigo Pioneers/Moama

17. FREMANTLE – JOE BERRY Fwd, 181cm, Murray Bushrangers/Wangaratta

18. GWS – TAJ HOTTON Mid/Fwd, 182cm, S’ham Dragons/Hampton Rovers

19. GWS – NOAH MRAZ Def, 198cm, Dandenong Stingrays/Narre Nth Foxes

20. W.BULLDOGS – MURPHY REID Mid, 181cm, Sandringham Dragons/South Melbourne Districts

21. RICHMOND – COOPER HYNES Mid/Fwd, 190cm, Dandenong Stingrays/Bonbeach

22. BRISBANE – SAM MARSHALL (after Swans bid) 185cm, Brisbane Lions Academy/ Sandringham Dragons/ Old Melburnians

23. SYDNEY - JESSE DATTOLI Fwd/Mid, 179cm, Northern Knights/Heidelberg

24. RICHMOND – ALEX DODSON Ruck, 201cm, Sturt/Payneham

25. GWS – JASPER ALGER Fwd, 183cm, Oakleigh Chargers/Warragul

26. SYDNEY – MATT WHITLOCK Def/Fwd, 198cm, Murray Bushrangers/Shepparton

27. RICHMOND – TOM GROSS
Mid/Fwd, 182cm, Oakleigh Chargers/Old Trinity
 

[adonski 11,809]

14 minutes ago, Whispering_Jack said:

Chris Cavanagh’s mock draft in today’s Herald Sun (note: he also speculates that Carlton might turn this around by picking Sid Draper ahead of Finn O’Sullivan)

1. RICHMOND - SAM LALOR
Mid/Fwd, 188cm, GWV Rebels/Bacchus Marsh

2. NORTH MELBOURNE - ALIX TAURU Def/Fwd, 193cm, Gippsland Power/Warragul Industrials

3. BRISBANE – LEVI ASHCROFT (match Blues bid) Mid, 179cm, Sandringham Dragons/Old Brighton

4. CARLTON – FINN O’SULLIVAN
Mid, 182cm, Oakleigh Chargers/Koroit

5. ADELAIDE – SID DRAPER Mid, 182cm, Sth Adelaide/Willunga

6. MELBOURNE – HARVEY LANGFORD Mid, 191cm, Dandenong Stingrays/Mount Martha

We say: If Tauru is off the board and Langford gets past the Crows, popular opinion in recruiting circles suggests that the Demons will snap up this big-bodied midfielder. Standing 191cm, he models his game on Marcus Bontempelli and is capable of having a big impact both with his work around clearances and his ability to take marks and kick goals when forward. The other player linked to this pick is Jagga Smith, who some scouts believe would suit Melbourne well given his ability to also play as a creative small forward.

7. RICHMOND – JOSH SMILLIE
Mid, 195cm, Eastern Ranges/Park Orchards

8. ST KILDA – JAGGA SMITH Mid, 182cm, Oakleigh Chargers/Richmond Juniors

9. GOLD COAST – LEO LOMBARD (after Saints bid) Mid/Fwd, 179cm, Suns Academy/Broadbeach

10. ST KILDA – TOBIE TRAVAGLIA
Def/Mid, 187cm, Bendigo Pioneers/Sandhurst

11. ESSENDON – ISAAC KAKO (after Melbourne bid) Fwd, 176cm, Calder Cannons/Northern Saints

12. MELBOURNE – HARRY ARMSTRONG Fwd, 195cm, Sandringham Dragons/Ormond

We say: The Demons have been strongly linked to Armstrong, who is the best available key forward. He is a strong-marking player who is also athletic and boasts a thumping and accurate left-foot kick. 

13. RICHMOND – BO ALLAN
Mid/Def, 191cm, Peel Thunder/Halls Head 

14. RICHMOND – JACK WHITLOCK
Fwd, 200cm, Murray Bushrangers/Shepparton

15. WEST COAST – XAVIER LINDSAY
Mid, 183cm, Gippsland Power/Leongatha

16. PORT ADELAIDE – JOBE SHANAHAN Fwd, 195cm, Bendigo Pioneers/Moama

17. FREMANTLE – JOE BERRY Fwd, 181cm, Murray Bushrangers/Wangaratta

18. GWS – TAJ HOTTON Mid/Fwd, 182cm, S’ham Dragons/Hampton Rovers

19. GWS – NOAH MRAZ Def, 198cm, Dandenong Stingrays/Narre Nth Foxes

20. W.BULLDOGS – MURPHY REID Mid, 181cm, Sandringham Dragons/South Melbourne Districts

21. RICHMOND – COOPER HYNES Mid/Fwd, 190cm, Dandenong Stingrays/Bonbeach

22. BRISBANE – SAM MARSHALL (after Swans bid) 185cm, Brisbane Lions Academy/ Sandringham Dragons/ Old Melburnians

23. SYDNEY - JESSE DATTOLI Fwd/Mid, 179cm, Northern Knights/Heidelberg

24. RICHMOND – ALEX DODSON Ruck, 201cm, Sturt/Payneham

25. GWS – JASPER ALGER Fwd, 183cm, Oakleigh Chargers/Warragul

26. SYDNEY – MATT WHITLOCK Def/Fwd, 198cm, Murray Bushrangers/Shepparton

27. RICHMOND – TOM GROSS
Mid/Fwd, 182cm, Oakleigh Chargers/Old Trinity
 

The links to Armstrong keep coming!

[Roger Mellie 3,974]

A big slide by Trainor!

I don't think we'll take Armstrong.

[Lucifers Hero 39,588]

Three tall fwds, 5 picks apart. 

12. MELBOURNE – HARRY ARMSTRONG Fwd, 195cm, Sandringham Dragons/Ormond

14. RICHMOND – JACK WHITLOCK Fwd, 200cm, Murray Bushrangers/Shepparton

16. PORT ADELAIDE – JOBE SHANAHAN Fwd, 195cm, Bendigo Pioneers/Moama

 

If we take a tall fwd at 9, Whitlock would give us a different look up fwd being taller than what we have.  The other two give us more of the same ...

OR, are Tigers 'reaching' to get him and is more of a needs based pick. ...

 

Edited Sunday at 20:55 by Lucifers Hero

[Mouseymoo 227]

1 hour ago, adonski said:

The links to Armstrong keep coming!

Edited Sunday at 21:59 by Mouseymoo

[demoncat 1,309]

1 hour ago, adonski said:

The links to Armstrong keep coming!

It still feels more like speculation than anything concrete 

But I won’t be sleeping easy until Cal’s Phantom Draft drops next week 

We’ll know then whether to panic or not 🙃

[adonski 11,809]

2 minutes ago, demoncat said:

It still feels more like speculation than anything concrete 

But I won’t be sleeping easy until Cal’s Phantom Draft drops next week 

We’ll know then whether to panic or not 🙃

I'm not against Armstrong or another tall at that pick, just would feel premature to write Jeffo off, especially given neither Jeffo or Armstrong look like they could move to defence

[The Taciturn Demon 463]

5 minutes ago, adonski said:

I'm not against Armstrong or another tall at that pick, just would feel premature to write Jeffo off, especially given neither Jeffo or Armstrong look like they could move to defence

I was very strongly in the two midfielders camp until I stopped and realised that the lingering idea that we have key position players coming out of our ears is no longer really true.

Brown, Schache and Tomlinson all gone. Smith played tall - also gone.

McDonald had a wonderful year but this is almost certainly his last and I'd be worried if he was crucial this year in the same way he was last. Hore seems a bit of a stop gap. 

Press conference comments alone suggest Fullarton might not make it. Kentfield seems like a throw at the stumps. 

Adams still seems some way off. Jefferson seems promising, but no certainty. 

And then there's the question of whether Petty is still interested in returning to SA. 

I have no idea if Armstrong is a good enough footballer to warrant pick 9 in this draft, but I can see the rationale behind a mid and a KPP.

[adonski 11,809]

5 minutes ago, The Taciturn Demon said:

I was very strongly in the two midfielders camp until I stopped and realised that the lingering idea that we have key position players coming out of our ears is no longer really true.

Brown, Schache and Tomlinson all gone. Smith played tall - also gone.

McDonald had a wonderful year but this is almost certainly his last and I'd be worried if he was crucial this year in the same way he was last. Hore seems a bit of a stop gap. 

Press conference comments alone suggest Fullarton might not make it. Kentfield seems like a throw at the stumps. 

Adams still seems some way off. Jefferson seems promising, but no certainty. 

And then there's the question of whether Petty is still interested in returning to SA. 

I have no idea if Armstrong is a good enough footballer to warrant pick 9 in this draft, but I can see the rationale behind a mid and a KPP.

Wonder if we'll see someone like Kentfield trialed as a key defender in the VFL if we grab Armstrong

[Mouseymoo 227]

Based on the above herald sun mock they are suggesting if North take Tauru we can end up with Langford or Smith, if North take a mid it could be Tauru or Smith (Adelaide linked with Langford/Draper)

If we take Tauru at 5 we won't take Armstrong at 9. I could deal with a Tauru & Travalia/Allen combo. 

[58er 6,388]

8 minutes ago, adonski said:

Wonder if we'll see someone like Kentfield trialed as a key defender in the VFL if we grab Armstrong

Good to see you are following Barrett and Maclure in thought process.

To say about Petty still wondering if he still is considering returning to Adelaide after he about 3/4 months ago signed an extension of I think 2/3 years is breathtaking In the extreme. 

I do though agree that we need or it is prudent  to take a good key position player along with an elite midfielder in the upcoming National draft. 

I would prefer Tauru but feel that North with pick 2 might grab him so either Armstrong or Shanahan at 9 whoever is available might be the best choice.  
Remember we do have some flexibility as Petty Turner Rooy Adams and Tmac have all played forward or back during some part of their development or career.

Let’s see who the expert JT goes for as that’s the only poll that counts on the night.