Well its obvious we will have another top 3 pick, maybe even number 1.
I know its hard to get excited considering our woeful player development, but its also hard NOT to be excited considering we will have Jesse Hogan plus another elite youngster coming in.
I have been reading highly respected draft guru Knightmares phantom draft at Bifgooty. http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/threads/knightmares-2013-phantom-draft.983436/
Here are his power rankings, if all players (including mini draft picks from last year) were available -
Power Rankings for 2013:
*Potential A-graders*
1. Jesse Hogan (WA - KPF) – Melbourne via minidraft 2. Thomas Boyd (VIC - KPF) 3. Luke McDonald (VIC - UTIL – NM F/S) 4. James Aish (SA - Mid) 5. Jack Martin (WA - Util) – Gold Coast via minidraft 6.Luke Dunstan (SA –Mid/Fwd) 7.Dominic Sheed (WA – Mid) 8.Nicholas Robertson (WA – Mid) 9. Matt Crouch (VIC - Mid) 10. Jack Billings (VIC – Fwd/Mid)
Here is his top 10, i have changed the team order to something reflecting the probable end of season ladder positions
#1 GWS – James Aish (SA – Mid/Def) Height: 183cm, Weight: 72kg, DOB: 08/11/1995 Recruited from: Norwood Style: Trent Cotchin Player comparison: Range: 1-3 Profile: Aish is an elite user of the footy and just has more time and space than the next player. In space, in traffic, it doesn’t matter for Aish, he remains composed and never seems rushed. By both hand or foot he consistently uses it well and is one of the more duel sided players you’ll see at this young age. Strong mark overhead for his size and has a strong 1v1 game despite his lean build. Aish is an impressive athlete with an impressive side step and a real burst of speed on him. Still needs to get stronger but that will come. Despite his lean build he is not a soft outside player and is very willing to get his hands dirty and go hard when it’s his turn but is certainly more outside at this stage and likely starts his career on a wing or back flank. #2 Melbourne – Luke Dunstan (SA –Mid/Fwd) Height: 184cm, Weight: 82kg, DOB: 29/01/1995 Recruited from: Woodville-West Torrens Style: Dustin Martin Player comparison: Range: 1-5 Profile: Dunstan is a dominant inside midfielder with a really strong body. Really damaging player who will not only win his own footy every time he goes in for it but then will do big damage with it. Dunstan has very damaging footskills and is a really natural finisher anywhere near goal. Not only is Dunstan an exceptional inside player but he can also swing forward, take a mark and hit the scoreboard when given the opportunity and I expect he will continue to be a very damaging player at the next level. #3 Western Bulldogs – Thomas Boyd (VIC – KPF) Height: 198cm, Weight: 100kg, DOB: 22/08/1995 Recruited from: Eastern Ranges Style: Jonathan Patton Player comparison: Range: 1-5 Profile: Dominant key forward. Boyd has had a strong body from a young age. Boyd is a genuine contested marking presence and at u18 level just monsters opposition players through his sheer size advantage. He can really crash packs and do some damage. Overhead he reads it well but then also has sound marking technique taking it at the highest point. Set shot goalkicking good, rarely missing and field kicking also very impressive for a big. Boyd at his size will never be an athlete but athletically he is still reasonable with ok speed and agility considering his size and has really trimmed his body down somewhat these past two seasons after having a very big frame as a 16 year old. #4 Gold Coast – Josh Kelly (VIC – Mid) Height: 181cm, Weight: 71kg, DOB: 12/02/1995 Recruited from: Sandringham Dragons Style: Andrew Gaff Player comparison: Range: 2-10 Profile: Kelly really stands out from the crowd with his really elite outside running midfielder who will go all day and in the past has tested off the charts in the beep test, 3k time trial and repeat sprints. Not only does Kelly have that elite outside running game but his skill set is also exquisite and is just that really precise user of the footy with his footskills in particular impressive just using the ball very efficiently hitting the intended target every time. Kelly will likely always be that outside receiver, but a real substance outside type who will find plenty of the footy and use it well. #5 Brisbane – Dominic Sheed (WA – Mid) Height: 184cm, Weight: 79kg, DOB: 10/03/1995 Recruited from: Subiaco Style: Scott Pendlebury Player comparison: Range: 3-15 Profile: Really high production midfielder with some real class to him. Just uses the footy so well by hand and foot and seems to have more time to use it than the next player. Sheed is more your finesse midfielder who just plays a smart game with good positioning, runs into the right positions to receive it and reads the game really well. Sheed has a good running game and is more of an agile, high motor guy as opposed to a linebreaker. Plenty to like and probably one who should be spoken about more as a high end prospect with the way he has produced. #6 St Kilda - Cameron Conlon (VIC – KPF/Ruck) Height: 197cm, Weight: 90kg, DOB: Recruited from: Northern Knights Style: Player comparison: Nathan Vardy Range: 5-20 Profile: Real talent as a key forward and has the ability to really develop into something at the next level. Has a really nice leap on him but also some real contested marking ability. Very accurate shot on goal both from field kicks and set shot attempts. Capable through the ruck and with his leap might be a no.2 ruck type option but I see him best utilised as a key forward. #7 North Melbourne- Nicholas Robertson (WA – Mid) Height: 187cm, Weight: 79kg, DOB: 04/04/1995 Recruited from: West Perth Style: Player comparison: Steele Sidebottom (Taller) Range: 5-15 Profile: Real quality running midfielder with outstanding endurance and that ability to run all day and finds plenty of the footy. Probably more outside but has some hardness and can win his own ball. Tackling game strong and gives that effort both ways. Skill level good and an above average user of the footy by both hand and foot. As a relatively tall midfielder plenty of potential to continue to develop his game. #8 Port Adelaide – Luke McDonald (VIC – Util) F/S Height: 187cm, Weight: 77kg, DOB: 09/02/1995 Recruited from: Oakleigh Chargers Style: Brendon Goddard (Better kick) Player comparison: Trent McKenzie (Better two way game) Range: 1st round Profile: McDonald is a really elite kick of the footy and can roost it 60m easily and hit his intended target and get it there in a hurry with his low penetrating kicks. He can hit targets over any distance consistently and usually elects to go for the more damaging option which he can pull off no problem. McDonald has some real versatility to his game with the range to play down back, midfield or as a forward as required but likely starts his career out of the back half as a playmaker off a back flank. Luke is also an outstanding athlete with genuine linebreaking ability on him. Not only is McDonald gifted offensively but he has shown that he can also stay with a man showing a good 1v1 game, good ability at ground level and ability to stay with a leading player allowing him to also play a more accountable role at times as required. Inside game can improve but North Melbourne have a real weapon in McDonald and I expect he will prove a real bargain through F/S. #9 Fremantle - Jack Billings (VIC – Fwd/Mid) Height: 182cm, Weight: 73kg, DOB: 18/08/1995 Recruited from: Oakleigh Chargers Style: Nick Dal Santo (harder version) Player comparison: Range: 3-15 Profile: Billings is a very high level footballer already and I’ve been really impressed very impressed with his play at a national level, in the TAC and also in APS footy and just seems a class above at any level. Jack stands out with his elite footskills, very duel sided and can both finish around goal easily just knowing where the goals are but also has the playmaking ability to find and set up other players forward of centre and doing damage that way. Whenever he has ball in hand regardless of pressure he just uses it really well and looks really comfortable out there. The other major feature of Jack’s game is his overhead marking ability. He’s not tall but for his height his marking is a real highlight marking it at the highest point, but has those genuine sticky hands where he just takes it every time and also has strong 1v1 marking ability allowing him to be a big weapon when played forward. #10 West Coast – Matt Crouch (VIC – Mid) Height: 182cm, Weight: 75kg, DOB: 21/04/1995 Recruited from: North Ballarat Rebels Style: Brad Sewell Player comparison: Range: 5-20 Profile: Crouch is an elite inside player. Real stoppage specialist. Hard at the ball and a really natural inside extractor burrowing in, winning the ball and setting up the receivers outside of the pack by hand. He does it as well as any and just thrives on that contested ball type game as that clearance specialist. Crouch is also an exceptional tackler showing strong tackling technique and really going in hard with those tackles and it seems to be another area of the game that he just really enjoys. Athletically Matt is a not like his older brother Brad who has that explosive pace. He has good endurance and has good agility but just isn’t that same explosive athlete and will always be more that hard inside type.
Obviously a lot will change after the Under 18 carnival, but thought 'Id throw this open to discussion considering our season is shot and everyone loves the draft when you have a high pick.
