Nascent

On Cal Twomeys latest draft video he mentioned Busslinger has received an invite to draft night but Hewett at this stage had not. His comments suggested that invites were directed at top 10 hopefuls rather than for the first round in general.

Most of them would still be doing their year 12 exams until mid November.

Highlights from a player some have around our part of the draft. First minute is from his 7 goal game vs WA.

Correct, its a 2 year extension keeping him at the club for at least another 3.

I recognise it's a highly unrealistic hypothetical, particularly with the apparent discrepancy between this draft and next years, but I don't think its a horrible deal. Off the premise that an early bid comes in for Davey, their pick 22 will get swallowed regardless and they will move it on in some shape or form. Now they will probably field plenty of offers for 22 to help generate points for Davey, but currently as it sits essendon will consider whether they want to have a draft haul of... Pick 4 Davey f/s (with picks 22, 54, 62 etc all used to match). Vs Pick 4 Pick 13 Davey f/s (with 37 helping to keep their later picks intact). Now a future first is a high price to pay but, unless you're Gold Coast, trading current first round picks demands a high premium and "overs" to come from the buyer to get it done. Consider any of our future pick swaps as a good example, both when we were bottom 4 and top 4. Essentially they are just moving their first from next year into this year to get ahead of the davey bid and bring in another talent one year earlier for development. The sticking point will be their anticipated finishing position next year. Essendon may have a more realistic view of themselves now, but a hubris exists in that club and it wouldn't half surprise if they fancied themselves as a top 8 team. Another sticking point could be the bombers not rating the talent around pick 13. Further balances may need to happen to make it more palatable for the bombers, say 1 or 2 x future 2nd round picks. That gives the bombers extra currency for next year to cushion the blow of not having a future first while we will walk away with 3 x f1s.

If we can't get a player we want at 13 or are unable to trade up for said player, I have come round to the thought of trading out our first this year. I wonder if Essendon might be a willing partner. Bombers have Davey as a f/s that may receive a bid before their 2nd pick at 22. The two main options they have will be to trade up to get ahead of the bid, or down to accrue more points to match. Say we trade pick 13 and 37 to them with 37 helping them with points to match a bid for davey. In return we get pick 22, 54 (likely to come into mid 40's) and a future 1st. In summary they end up with 3 first round picks (4, 13 and Davey) this year. We move 13 to 22 and get a future 1st (likely pick 5 - 10) giving us 3 first rounders for next year. Wishful thinking? Too generous?

Or a DFA in the pre-season.

Herald Sun online has an article, which I can't access, about the Dees and Saints having interest in Isaac Keeler. It seems unlikely that he would be selected early at pick 9 or 13 which means Saints have picks 28 and 32 ahead of our 37. He needs to be selected prior to pick 40 as he is an Adelaide NGA prospect.

185cm 87kg Think @dazzledavey36, who I believe is involved with the Bushies in some capacity, has summed him up pretty well a few posts earlier. Start career forward with views to progress to the midfield.

Not sure what it is about this years AFL highlights packages, but in comparison to previous years they're noticeably less impressive across the board both from an editing perspective and what they've decided to include.

Highlights of Elijah Hewett from his game against Vic Metro for those that are interested.

Any insights into Sam Gilbey @Pennant St Dee? I've liked what I've seen with his intercepting and kicking but not sure if he can play a lockdown defender role. My viewing of WA talent has been limited outside of the champs. Very unfortunate to end his season with a broken leg.

Cal Twomey's Phantom Form Guide extra: The 10 next best - https://www.afl.com.au/news/860996

Not sure if it's that much of a stretch. We gave up a future first as well as 26 and 50 for pick 8 that eventually ended at 12. This year GWS received 15 for 21 and a future 2nd. We also used a 2nd round pick and 2 x 3rd round picks to move up 6 spots. You have to pay a bit to move up. If we don't get a future first out of it, 13 on its own should net us 20 and 26 without 37 being involved. We can then potentially flip 37 for a future 2nd or 3rd round pick next year.

We should be able to charge a fair premium for pick 13 that would see us receive a 2nd rounder this year on top of a future first. An example might be West Coast keen on adding 13 to go with 8 and 12 which might see them take 3 of Ginbey, Busslinger, Allen, Hewett if they stick with WA talent. Eagles don't usually stay down the bottom for long and having 11 home games should see them avoid bottom 4 and perhaps more willing to trade out futures. Pick 13 out for West Coast future 1st and pick 20 or 26 would be a great option if we don't have a player we are particularly keen on available at our first selection. Don't think they'll go for it though.

Cheers, no doubt I will look silly in a few weeks time when more draft knowledge comes out and clubs are more heavily linked to certain players. I feel early on should be best available if it's clear cut and later picks can be tailored towards needs. I'm with Taylor on backing our program in and taking the player we like regardless of what state the originate from.

Won't be a demon in 2023 sadly.

He is indeed but they won't have access to him unless he gets past pick 40. Good chance he does.

ROUND 2 21. GWS - Harry Barnett - Ruck - 202cm 93kg The best ruck in the pool, Barnett is an impressive athlete and strong contested grab, showing potential as a Key defender. 22. West Coast - Darcy Jones - Mid - 175cm 67kg Explosive midfeilder who, despite his size, has a strong contested game and is good in traffic. May start his career as a small forward before getting midfield time at AFL level. 23. Bulldogs - Jacob Konstanty - Small Forward - 176cm 70kg High pressure forward who applies great defensive pressure while constantly hitting the scoreboard. Should pair up well with Weightman who is more of a lead up small. 24. Essendon - Henry Hustwaite - Tall Mid - 194cm 84kf Essendon finally acquire a big bodied midfielder. While not a quick or powerful player, Hustwaite finds time and space and has great agility for a player his size and has neat disposal. 25. North - Max Gruzewski -193cm 84kg One of the big question marks of the draft for me. Shows enormous potential with amazing overhead marking ability. Has played a mix of back and forward and think the Kangaroos will need to look at a tall consider a tall here given their recent drafting. 26. Essedon - Alwyn Davey - Small Forward - 181cm 77kg - (matched f/s bid) - Essendon get a gift and happily match a bid with Davey sneaking past their first pick. 27. Hawthorn - Lachlan Cowen - Medium defender - 188cm 81kg Running half back that has a booming kick and good defensive traits. Hawks have taken multiple mid/forwards in recent draft so have gone for the defender here. 28. Collingwood - Charlie Clarke - Mid/forward - 182cm 75kg A player I wouldn't be surprised to see taken in the first round. Strong contested forward with speed. 29. West Coast - Coby Burgial - Mid/forward - 183cm 80kg Would have happily taken Burgial earlier in the draft but couldn't find a spot I was happy with. Yet another mid forward with speed. 30. Collingwood - Adam D'Aloia - Mid - 186cm 86kg Adam is as credentialed and consistent as they come as a contested inside mid with solid defensive traits. Appeared 7 times at SANFL reserves level including finals where he acquitted himself well. 31. St Kilda - Mitch Szybkowski - Mid - 186cm 86kg Contested inside mid that may help ease the load on Steele. 32. Adelaide - Max Michaelanney - 190cm 78kg - (matched f/s bid) Adelaide commited to matching a bid for the 192cm defender. 33. Carlton - James Van Es - Key Defender - 197cm 99kg Don't rate Carltons key defensive stocks outside of Weitering. Van Es provides strong intercept ability as well as stregth in the contest one on one. 34. Freemantle - Isaac Keeler - Ruck/Forward - 198cm 88kg After loosing some talls in Lobb Louge and Meek, Freemantle could opt for a a developing ruck/forward that has some of the most upside potential in the draft. Question marks over his contested ability. 35. GWS - Harry Rowston - Mid - 182cm 78kg Suspect this will be their last selection and have gone with their NGA product who can develop as another midfielder. 36. St Kilda - Cooper Vickery - Medium Defender - 181cm 72kg Has great speed and intercept ability and uses the ball well and racks up large numbers, covering the ground well with plenty of run from defense. 37. Port - Jaidon Magor - Mid/forward - 184cm 75kg Will admit I haven't seen much of this player, but have read plenty and is getting huge wraps as a powerful mid forward that hits the scoreboard. kicked 21 goals in 10 games. Power may see a spot for the local product in the forward half with Butters to spend more midfield time, Gray retiring and Dylan Williams not coming on as expected and now delisted. 38. Melbourne - Sam Gilbey - Medium Defender - 187cm 73kg What to do with the Dees last pick. I have ended up siding with the Medium defender with exceptional footskills out of WA. A broken leg has ended his season early and may impact his start to pre-season. Will add depth to the defenders department that has lost Hunt and with Hibberd in presumably his final year. Other players I considered in the mix at some point in the first 2 rounds. Blake Drury, Jakob Ryan, Hugh Bond, Toby McMullin, Phoenix Foster, Kobe Ryan, Harvey Gallagher, Luke Teal, Ted Clohesy, Jonti Schuback, Jackson Binns, Archie Lovelock, Max Knobel, Harry Lemmey

Hey all, I have put some rough thoughts into a mock draft for the first two rounds. I do not expect this to be accurate in anyway and doesn't factor in potential pick swaps between now and the draft. I have not done in depth player profile analysis/descriptions as that has been largely covered by MadAsHells previous phantom draft on page 3. Nascents 2022 Phantom Draft ROUND 1 1. Brisbane - Will Ashcroft - Mid - 182cm 76kg - (f/s matched bid) Prolific ball winner that wins ball inside and outside of the contest and knows where the goals are. The question here is if GWS will bid on Will or if they select the man they traded up for in Aaron Cadman. I think GWS will keep Brisbane honest and make them pay full price, considering they lost 3 midfielders in Hopper, Taranto and Bruhn I'm sure they would be more than happy to take Ashcroft should he have been available (sans go home concerns). 2. GWS - Aaron Cadman - Key Forward - 196cm 88kg The best KPF in the draft with impressive marking ability both on the lead and in contests situations as well as fantastic second efforts once the ball hits the ground. Strong speculation in the media that he is their man. Go home factor supposedly limited due to him being from the country . 3. North - Harry Sheezel Medium Forward/mid - 184cm 77kg There's not much North don't need but have gone for the medium mid/forward in Sheezel who brings class forward of centre as well as capacity to go through the middle. Not as explosive as some, but perhaps the player with the highest IQ and skillset and hits the scoreboard regularly. 4. North - George Wardlaw - Mid - 182cm 81kg Injury has limited his exposure but with his combination of a strong inside contested game with explosive athletic traits will see him taken high. Has drawn some comparisons to Clayton Oliver with Wardlaw showing impressive vision in-tight in the contest and able to release handballs quickly to teammates in space. Has suffered multiple hamstring injuries which may put question marks on his durability. 5. Essendon - Bailey Humphrey - Mid/forward - 185cm 86kg Strong powerful mid that hits the scoreboard regularly with 21 goals in 11 NAB league games. Gone against the grain a little here and can see the dons overlooking the outside midfielder in Tsatas. 6. Gold Coast - Reuben Ginbey - Medium defender/mid - 189cm 85kg Started off as a 3rd tall lockdown defender before transition to being an inside mid where he thrived in the contest. Ginbey has the great combination of high level endurance and speed/power. Said to not be a great flight risk which GC might factor in when considering other players. 7. Hawthorn - Elijah Tsatas - Mid - 186cm 79kg Simply too good to pass up here as a high production midfielder with a real turn of speed. Predominantly plays outside but doesn't look out of place in the middle. Could easily go higher. 8. Geelong - Jhye Clarke - Mid - 181cm 77kg The easy selection here. Strong competitive contested player that provides leadership. Appeals due to the retirement of Selwood as well as an ageing midfield in Duncan, Guthrie and lesser extent Danger (as he spends more time forward). Considered Phillapou, Busslinger and Jefferson here among others. 9. West Coast - Mattaes Phillipou - Mid/forward - 192cm 89kg A taller midfielder, has too much talent to let him slide any further for mine. Has plenty of upside with his athletic ability and is fantastic overhead making him a dangerous threat forward. Will most likely spend most of his time as an inside mid which is where I've decided to focus their rebuild around with their first early selection. 10. St Kilda - Jedd Busslinger - Key Back - 196cm 82kg Plays predominantly as an intercepting defender but does have the ability to shut down opponents as well. I simply don't rate most of St Kildas defensive unit and with Lyon now on board I can see it being an area of focus despite holes all over their list. McKenzie a possibility here being an NGA member but have overlooked for now. 11. Carlton - Oliver Hollands - Outside mid - 183cm 71kg An elite runner and outside winger, Carlton have been looking to fill this position for a while. Acres is a decent stop gap but I don't think will be their long term solution. 12. Bulldogs - Cameron McKenzie - Mid - 187kg 80kg If McKenzie gets past Saints and I don't think he slides much further than here. With the departing dunkley and ageing Liberatore, I've opted for the next best midfielder. 13. West Coast - Ed Allen - Tall Mid - 194cm 82kg At 194cm, Allen has so far played predominantly through the middle and wing where he has had an impressive finish to the season. I haven't seen a lot of him unfortunately and am being guided by others who have, is now being talked up as a bolter and I suspect if the eagles want him they'll have to take him here. 14. Melbourne - Elijah Hewett - Mid - 185cm 84kg Found it hard to select for us here. Players such as Phillipou, Hollands, Jefferson, Hotton, Busslinger and even Weddle entered my thought process. As my mock took shape I've ended up settling on Hewett who will develop as the next tier of Midfielder. Another player with that desirable speed and endurance mix, he is extremely competitive which fits the Melbourne mold. 15. Sydney - Matthew Jefferson - Key Forward - 195cm 76kg Another I had difficulty placing, at one point had him going earlier to Geelong, Saints and briefly Hawthorn with considerations for the dees, he has since slide with Sydney now a potential destination. I've placed him here due to Swans investing heavily in small/medium running types. With Franklin not having long left in the game, Logan and Amartey are left carrying the load with cameos for whichever ruckman is fit to take the field and rest forward. 16. Brisbane - Jaspa Fletcher - Mid - 184cm 73kg - (matched f/s bid) A cheeky second bid on a Brisbane player from GWS, Brisbane matches. 17. GWS - Olli Hotton - Mid/forward - 181cm 76kg A player I really like in the draft, I think he is too good a player to let go further. Quick mid/forward player who is dangerous forward where he spent most of his time earlier in the season. GWS may avoid due to potential "Vic Metro go home factor" bias 18. Collingwood - Lewis Hayes - Tall Defender - 197cm 81kg The place I see the pies most deficient in, they take the next best rated Tall Key Defender. Intercepts well and can rebound effectively. Needs to put on muscle to improve his contested game which shouldn't be a problem over time. Was outpointed in a 1v1 by 185cm 17yr old Harley Reid a couple of times highlighting this fact. 19. Sydney - Josh Weddle - Tall/medium Defender - 192cm 89kg Sits only at 192cm which some view as too short for a key Defender, Weddle plays above his height with impressive athletic abilities as shown with his combine results where he tested well for running vertical leap (2nd - 90cm) and had a 2.94sec 20metre spring and 6.03min 2km run. Can play small and tall and should compliment the McCartin brothers well as Rampe ages. 20. GWS - Brayden George - Medium Forward - 185cm 87kg Unforunatley will sit out next year with an ACL injury, however I feel is too talented a player to let slide out of the first round. With mulitple first round picks, I can see GWS taking a "risk" on the powerful bushranger forward.

Perhaps there's an ability to shift AMW from Cat-B to A which will allow us to take FEB? We have I think 3? Cat-A rookie spots to fill so could be a way around the issue.

Good very well be where he ends up. Given the lack of quality talls in this pool it wouldn't surprise to see us take safer medium/smalls in the draft and then take a punt on taller players in the Rookie draft.

I'm with you here with perhaps Ginbey in the clubs sights as well. I expect all to be gone prior to our pick with no club willing to part with an early selection that would allow us to take these players. As for next year, I think it's equally important to have strong selections not only for the draft but for trade capital as well. Haven't got across the full list of players that are OOC but 3 that will be are Georgiades, Callaghan and Serong.