Gator

He just needs to show he's worthy of a spot on the list in 2018. He has time like all 20 year olds. If he booms it will be at the age of 25.

He's certainly a classy/smooth mover. He reminds a little of Josh Kelly and Stephen Hill in his lateral movement, albeit without the speed, although as mentioned in numerous bios, he's athletic. I have a feeling there'll be little middle ground on this one. Boom or bust.

I've found some more pre-draft info, including a summary from Quigley on BF, who;s one of the best in the business. Pick 12 (Adelaide) – Harley Balic Position: Midfielder/half-Back Size: 187cm/80kg Player Comparison: Scott Pendlebury In the Mix: Francis, H McKay Having lost Dangerfield in the trade period, Adelaide will be looking for a taller midfielder with a bit of class. Balic fits this criteria perfectly as a midfielder who can play forward or back. Balic excels in traffic thanks to his basketball and that, along with his height, has seen him compared to Pendlebury. When forward Balic leads to the right places and has a terrific overhead mark. The Crows will be hoping that Francis gets through to this pick, while Mathieson is another option. Quigley 13. Harley BalicHt – 187 Wt - 82Balic seems to be slipping down a few mocks in the media and I am not really sure why. If he goes where a few of those pundits have him going he could easily end up the steal of the draft. Up until this year Balic has been splitting time between basketball and AFL and as a result there are still some rough edges to be polished. I can see there being a fair bit of difference in the ratings for Balic between teams and it is not out of the question that a team could love him and take him much higher than most expect. He has a very high ceiling and if he developed to his best he could be an elite midfielder at the next level.Balic is at his best when he is the focus of a unit whether it is in the midfield, up forward or down back. When he is, he tends to rise to the occasion and good things happen around him. He is very good one on one and can impose himself on a game like few in this draft. He has improved quite a lot over the course of the year but there are still areas he needs to work on.One of the areas he has been working on, and one that still needs some work, is his kicking. There is quite a lot of difference between Balic’s best and worst and at the moment there is still a bit too much of the worst in his game. There is not a lot wrong with his kicking style and I expect that with some intense work he will flatten out the flight on his kicks and be more consistent about getting it where it needs to go. Up forward his set shot technique is entirely too variable. He needs to get a routine and stick to it and work on improving his balance in his approach a bit more. With all that said though there is quite a bit of class in what he does even by foot. He has brought a heads-up approach from basketball and he has excellent peripheral vision. He tends to play to the short options but he usually takes good ones and is very good delivering into the 50.Balic has played a lot more as an inside mid this year and he has shown pretty decent potential in that role. His kicking out of the clearances was a bit ordinary but by hand he is really good. His vision in the contest is excellent and is creative by hand getting it to good attacking options. As mentioned above he is very good one on one and he has good strength over the ball. He works through traffic well and is one of those guys who never looks rushed even when there are opponents all around him.Athletically Balic seems pretty good in everything but pace. He ran a 15.3 beep last year and he plays with excellent agility. He can also fly when he has to and tends to play tall. Speed wise he looks like he is cruising around at ¾ pace for most of the game. He is smooth around the park and, for those of you old enough to remember, moves a lot like Michael Long. He is quite solid but has a loose limbed, very agile style.Balic made a name for himself last year as a half forward and he is a very good mark. He can get up and he watches the ball into his hands very nicely. He also has very good body control in the air and he can keep the defender where he can’t get to the ball. He is not a good converter though and if he is going to play as a half forward at the start of his career he is going to need to improve his finishing.On the outside Balic looks calm and composed and can often create opportunities for his team. He has improved his spread this year a lot and upped his disposal count to 23 disposals a game in the TAC and went at 22 a game at the Champs. At times at the Champs he was in a mile of space with no-one in cooee indicating that he is working out how to use his running ability more effectively. Balic is a talent and I think could be an excellent player in a few years.

...

That's what eyes are for.

Some pre-draft reading for those who want to know more about Balic. You'll note that they all have him well below the pick 38 he went at due to concerns over his scaphoid injury. Snoop Dog Pick 13 Adelaide - Harley Balic (Sandringham Dragons / 186cm / 80kg) Lovely looking player who just glides around the park and looks pretty effortless. Basketball background and has that spacial awareness, time and poise kids from that background often have. Does all things pretty well but its his work rate that I like. Clean at the stoppages and very sure with his hands. Ball use is good and he is very good in the air. Has played HF and HB as well but I think he will start more as a HF type who when they body is right will push up. His ability to do special things is evident and he could be attacking near goal. Why: Be a nice addition to the Crows mids but you could realistically see so many kids in this spot. Burton could be but I think he will be there at the next. Bonner as well is a type they want but with Seedsman and Hampton they may be covered. Knightmare Pick 17. Harley Balic (VIC – MID/FWD) Height: 186cm, Weight: 80kg, DOB: 05/01/1997 Recruited from: Sandringham Dragons Reminds me of: Poor man’s Jackson Macrae Brief bio: Balic has some tricks and plays with that basketballer several other recent draftees have. Balic stands out most with his decision making ability and vision with ball in hand. He consistently chooses the right option and often finds some really damaging targets. In terms of execution while he has the vision and decision making ability by hand and foot it can be a mixed bag as sometimes he will hit his targets, and other times miss. Similarly finishing from set shots and field kicks at goal further improvement is required as he lacks consistency in front of goal. He is also more of a short-medium distance kicker as someone with only average penetration. A further strength of Balic’s is his strength of marking overhead with his leaping ability making him a threat in the air which gives him potential to play forward of centre. Athletically Balic is good overall. He is not a linebreaking threat but moves well, has strong endurance and excellent leaping ability. As a contested ball winner Balic at this stage is not a factor as someone who is a receiver at this point. Emma Quale Pick 22 (Sandringham Dragons. 187cm. 82kg) Smooth-moving midfielder who gets involved all over the ground. The rationale: The Roos have a strong crew of inside midfielders. Balic would provide a point of difference. He can move through all three parts of the ground and slides easily through traffic. Big Footy Phantom Draft Pick 8 Gold Coast At the moment Harley is a talented prospect who has a lot of upside. His performances have been good this year and he has really improved this year. You look at some of the good afl players and a lot of them have had draft years where they have really improved. I look at Harley and see a kid who has a ton of improvement left and has the potential to be a very good midfielder. His awareness is excellent, he has time with the ball, good vision and makes good decisions. He is an above average athlete yet not elite and he moves well. The upside is his disposal is improving and he is good above his head. He wins clearances yet not at a great level yet, he is not soft and is strong over the ball. He finds the ball well and his ball use improved. He is not an elite kick, they float a little and he is not proven as a mid so he is a risky pick. He does have the tools to be an A grade player. I was hoping Francis or Parish slid to this pick but alas it was not to be. Lemming Pick 8. Harley Balic - VM (186.0 cm, 80.0 kg - Midfielder) Reminds me a little of a younger Mundy. Looks like he is only going at half pace and you want him to look more active. He has grown on me as a player. (He may get adjusted down in my rankings at some point) Yabadoo Pick 18- st.kilda The saints are crying out for midfielders, and I can see Balic developing into a smooth moving classy midfielder. Will start his career as a high half forward and build up his tank. Strong overhead.

Petracca isn't the best performed (yet) of the class of 2014. But if there was an open market he'd still be the first one every other club would take.

Some here will know of Colin Wisbey who has a quality eye for footy and players. His detail is legendary, although I don't provide that here. Here's his rankings from 2014 prior to the draft: 1 Christian Petracca 2 Jake Lever 3 Caleb Marchbank 4 Jarrod Pickett 5 Angus Brayshaw 6 Jordan De Goey 7 Liam Duggan 8 Nakia Cockatoo 9 Patrick McCartin 10 Paul Ahern 11 Jayden Laverde 12 Jarrod Garlett 13 Blaine Boekhorst 14 Touk Miller 15 Billy Evans 16 Alex Neal-Bullen 17 Lachlan Weller 18 Hugh Goddard 19 Marc Pittonet 20 Daniel McKenzie 21 Connor Blakely 22 Sam Durdin 23 Brayden Maynard 24 Edward Vickers-Willis 25 Joe Maishman 26 Corey Ellis 27 Daniel Nielson 28 Peter Wright 29 Lukas Webb 30 Harrison Wigg 31 Tom Lamb 32 Daniel Butler 33 Jack Lonie

Wow. At 21 Lever is the no.1 intercept possession player in the game, just shading Rance (9.5 to 9.4), and the no. 2 intercept mark in the game, just behind McGovern (3.8 to 3.6). This isn't a 25 or 27 year old wanting to come home. We've got this guy from the age of 22. Worth every cent.

You're saying exactly what my lunatic Brother has been saying all day. I'll say to you what I said to him. I don't care. You be annoyed and I'll be happy. It's not an argument I have any interest in continuing.

I understand that. I've been arguing with my furious Brother all afternoon. The MFC thought the deal fair and obviously want to retain a good reputation. By crunching the numbers in this deal Lever is valued at pick 4. He's top 3 in the 2014 draft now. If you want to get the best young defender in the league out from a rival club you have to pay a fair ransom. This club was addicted to draft picks for years. Let's be happy we've got our best trade in 20 years and we're one of the top couple of young lists in the competition.

We may well trade back in.

After "crunching the numbers" Plough says the trade on a points system (I think it's been said by others) values Lever at pick 4. Said it's a "win/win".

Judd probably the closest. Pick 3, 20 (close to first round) and Josh Kennedy.

Apologies. I don't think there's ever been 3. Is that what you mean ?

I'm one who likes the deal, but also likes draft picks, as I recognise the value if you get them right. I just think the timing was right for this deal. We've stockpiled elite talent over the last 4-5 years and now is the time to back the list for a genuine assault up the ladder.

It's the first time 'ever' since Treloar 2 years ago.

In essence: Lever (top 3 worthy and a known quantity from 2014) + 35 For Pick 10 + a pick in the teens in 2018 (hopefully) Plus loose change where we're better off. It's a no brainer.

Hindsight: If the 2012 draft was done again Viney would be a top 5 draft pick, probably top 3. If the 2013 draft was done again and Hogan participated instead of being a 2012 mini draft pick he'd be a top 5 pick. If the 2014 draft was held again Petracca and Lever would be top 3. If the 2015 draft was done again Oliver would arguably be no.1, but certainly top 2. That's 5 elite talents from the pointy end of the draft over the last 5 drafts periods. Another club would be hard pressed to match that (other than perhaps GWS).

Yes, Frost is in. Rockliff is a good extractor, but doesn't have huge hurt factor or pace. He's not what we need.

THE AFL SHOUTER‏ @THEAFLSHOUTER 29m29 minutes ago More THE AFL SHOUTER Retweeted Jay Clark Biggest thing there is Lever is only 21. Great pick up for MEL. Worth the 2 first rounders. #THESHOUTER THE AFL SHOUTER added, Jay ClarkVerified account @ClarkyHeraldSun Intercept marks avg '17 1 JMcGovern 3.8 2 Lever 3.6 3 Howe 3.4…

No, we haven't.

Off to work on my best 22 for 2018 ? We've just added a player who will immediately be in the top 10 on our list. Nothing to sneeze at.

For every top 10 pick in Oliver there's a Grant, Vickery, Butcher, Moore, Aish, Toumpas, Morabito, Conca, Gorringe, Gumbleton, O'Rourke, Morton, Buntine, Sumner, & Freeman. These are the more recent top 10 fails (injuries included), but there are also plenty who are just solid foot soldiers. Lever is the best young defender in the game with a decade ahead of him. He's only going to get better. He fits into a perfect profile in that he's in the same age bracket as Viney, Hogan, Petracca, Salem, Oliver, Brayshaw, Hunt, Osca, ANB, Stretch, and Weideman. That's a great core who'll grow together. You've got to give to get and I'll take the certainty of Lever over the speculation of pick 10 and a future pick in the teens. As we get better we'll also have other players keen to join the club. But I ask you, how many recent top 10 draft picks have Adelaide, Sydney, and Geelong had since 2008. Adelaide's last top 10 draft pick was in 2008. They also got Brad Crouch in a mini draft. So let's say two top 10 quality players in 9 years. Since 2008 Sydney have had 2 top 10 draft picks, plus Heeney, who would have been. Three in 9 years. Since 2008 Geelong have had 1 top 10 draft pick. One in 9 years - and that was pick 10 itself. Let's throw in Hawthorn. Since 2008 Hawthorn have had zero top 10 draft picks. Zero in 9 years. Melbourne ? Ten in 9 years, including Hogan from the mini draft. You can [censored] and moan about giving up pick 10 and a future pick in the teens, but we've had our time in the draft and it's now time to get proven quality players into the club and start making an assault on the ladder and competition. It was a no brainer and I couldn't be happier.

Rapt with this. Three AA squad members now in our back 6 plus the improving Oscar, speedster Hunt and developing Frost. Some outside speed and Weideman stepping up would help complete a very talented side.