spirit of norm smith

Agreed @Ted Lasso this years top group is so strong and so even. I went Sam Lalor as number 1 in my phantom draft due to his Dustin Martin like qualities and I reckon he has so much more to excel once he concentrates purely on footy. His skills are elite and his strength will be an asset. Though many many others could be number 1. O’Sullivan, Smith, Draper or Langford would be worthy number 1 picks. Even Trainor and Smillie were once considered as the potential number 1. Murphy Reid has also been mentioned by Twomey as good enough for pick 1. Dees at 5 get to see who is available. Strangely pick 5 is nearly on par as having the 1,2,3 or 4 pick in some terms this year.

Jayden Nguyen is a pacy running half back who is under Essendon NGA. He will highly likely get a rookie list spot with the Bombers.

Going through the current list changes with traded in/out players, retirements and delisting. It looks like around 62-64 new players will be drafted in the senior list national draft this year. After the 3rd round, there might be a very sparse 4th round selection group. Then with rookie upgrades and rookie retentions (plus others promised to be redrafted as a rookie) there’s only likely to be 12-16 new players drafted in the rookie draft. Dees might be able to have JT use a 3rd pick and find an available diamond in the rough. Like Judd McVee, not all young talented players are top 25 draftees.

@Pennant St Dee Hugh Boxshall was impressive in some of grabs from WA action. He tested extremely well at the State combine. If somehow the Dees could get a 3rd pick in this draft, he’d have to be seriously looked at AFL STATE DRAFT COMBINE RESULTS BOYS 2km Time trial (min:sec) Patrick Retschko VIC M Oakleigh Chargers Caulfield Grammarians 6:07 Hugh Boxshall WA Claremont Swanbourne 6:08 Luke Kennedy VIC M Sandringham Dragons Ormond 6:08 Sam Davidson VIC M Richmond (VFL) St Kevin’s 6:12 Nathaniel Sulzberger TAS Sandringham Dragons North Hobart 6:17 20m sprint - Time (sec) Lennox Hofmann VIC M Sandringham Dragons Old Brighton Grammarians 2.861 Blake Leidler VIC M Oakleigh Chargers Surrey Park 2.887 Jayden Nguyen VIC M Calder Cannons 2.897 Benny Barrett SA South Adelaide Happy Valley 2.913 Jacob Molier SA Sturt 2.920 Agility test - Time (sec) Oliver Hannaford VIC C GWV Rebels 7.922 Lucca Grego VIC M Western Jets 7.961 Hugh Boxshall WA Claremont Swanbourne 7.980 Loch Mactaggart WA Perth Northam Saints 8.075 Jayden Nguyen VIC M Calder Cannons 8.126 Standing vertical jump - Height (cm) Josh Murphy Murray Bushrangers North Albury 74 Hugh Boxshall WA Claremont Swanbourne 73 Jayden Nguyen VIC M Calder Cannons 73 Keighton Matofai-Forbes VIC M Western Jets Keilor 70 Loch Mactaggart WA Perth Northam Saints 70 Sam Toner VIC C Dandenong Stingrays 70 Running vertical jump - Height (cm) Ajang Kuol Mun VIC C Geelong Cats (VFL) 90 Loch Mactaggart WA Perth Northam Saints 89 Luke Quaynor VIC M Oakleigh Chargers Doncaster East 89 Hugh Boxshall WA Claremont Swanbourne 86 Oliver Hannaford VIC C GWV Rebels 86 Jayden Nguyen VIC M Calder Cannons 86

I’m still in therapy after his absolute BS in these sessions.

Go with JVR and Jeffo. The midfield needs the injection of two quality youngsters. Midfield lost Brayshaw, faces potential instability with Trac and Clarry and JV7 can only battle on for so long. Need two quality young midfielders.

Given the Tigers might like to grab Jagga Smith, if he was available at our pick, it would be worth a cheeky quick call to them to ask Tigers to see if they’d be interested in a swap of MFC 5 for their 6 and 24… but if the choice was between Smith and Tauru, I’d take Smith.

Yes that would be a tough call … perhaps … Smillie 😊😊😊😊😊

Best guesses and estimates imv. I have the Dees holding at picks 5 & 9. There’s likely to be some pick swaps throughout but the first round predictions as is are: 1. Richmond. Sam Lalor. GWV 2.****Lions father son. Levi Ashcroft. Sandringham 3. North Melbourne. Alix Tauru. Gippsland 4. Carlton (via West Coast). Finn O’Sullivan . Oakleigh 5. Adelaide. Sid Draper. SA Sth Adelaide 6. Melbourne . Harvey Langford. Dandenong. 7. Richmond (via Gold Coast). Jagga Smith. Oakleigh. 8. ****Suns academy. Leonardo Lombard 9. St Kilda. Josh Smillie. Eastern 10. St Kilda (via Josh Battle compensation pick). Harry Armstrong . Sandringham 11. Melbourne (via Essendon). Xavier Lindsay. Gippsland 12. Richmond (via Fremantle) Tobie Travaglia. Bendigo 13.Richmond (via Fremantle, Collingwood) Luke Trainor. Sandringham 14. West Coast (via Carlton) Bo Allan. WA Peel. 15. **** Ess NGA. Isaac Kako. Calder 16. Port Adelaide (via Gold Coast, Western Bulldogs). Joe Berry. Murray 17. Fremantle (via Richmond, Hawthorn, Carlton). Taj Hotton. Sandringham 18. Greater Western Sydney. Jobe Shanahan. Bendigo 19. Greater Western Sydney (via Harry Perryman compensation pick). Murphy Reid. Sandringham 20. Western Bulldogs (via Geelong). Cooper Hynes . Dandenong 21. **** Lions academy. Sam Marshall 22. Richmond (via Fremantle, Port Adelaide). Jack Whitlock. Murray . 23.****Blues father son. Ben Camporeale. SA. 24. Sydney. Harrison Oliver. Sandringham 25. Richmond (via Brisbane). Alex Dodson. SA Sturt 26. Greater Western Sydney (via Isaac Cumming compensation pick). Hamish Davis. WA Claremont 27. Sydney (via North Melbourne). Matt Whitlock. Murray 28. Richmond (via Gold Coast, North Melbourne). Ollie Hannaford. GWV predicting the longest first round ever!! Some likely 2nd rounders: Tom Gross - Oakleigh. Christian Moraes - Eastern. Kayle Gerryn - WA West Perth. Thomas Sims - Northern. Jonty Faull - GWV. Jesse Dattoli - Northern. Harry O'Farrell - Calder. Lachie Jacques - Geelong. Nathaniel Sulzberger - Sandringham/ Tassie. Jack Ough - GWV. Angus Clarke - SA Glenelg. Josh Murphy - Murray. *** GWS Academy - Logan Smith Charlie Nicholls - Central District SA. *** Crows. Tyler Welsh SA WWT eagles. James Barrat - Bendigo. *** Sydney academy. Joel Cochran. Archer Day-Wicks - Bendigo. HFF. Likely 3rd rounders: Riley Bice - Werribee VFL. *** Crows father son . Luke Camporeale. Glenelg Sam Davidson. RICHMOND VFL Noah Mraz - Dandenong. Hugh Boxshall. WA Claremont Zane Cochrane - Oakleigh. Clancy Dennis - WA Claremont *** Stk NGA. Adrian Cole. Sandringham. Dom Brew. Mid. Werribee VFL Jasper Alger. Oakleigh Bailey McKenzie. Sandringham ***Port father son Louis Montgomery. SA Nth Adel. Oliver Warburton. Murray. Xavier Ivisic Geelong *** West Coast NGA Malakai Champion. WA Subiaco. Floyd Burmeister. GWV Will Hayes. WA Claremont. after this it’s seeing who might have draft picks available, or will pickup rookie opportunities or SSP train on spots. As with every year, there will be some very talented young footy players will miss out on getting on an AFL senior or rookie list. Potential for 4th round or likely rookies: Josh Dolan. Sandringham Phoenix Hargrave. SA Sth Adel Cody Anderson. Eastern. Jack Henderson. Werribee VFL. Luke Kennedy . Sandringham. Patrick Retschko. Oakleigh Oliver Depaoli-Kubank. Tassie Lucca Grego. Western. Kade Herbert. SA WWT eagles. *** Port Adel NGA. Benny Barrett.Sth Adel. SA Ned Bowman. Norwood SA Cody Angove. WA Claremont Zak Johnson. Northern. Jaxon Artemis- WA Sth Frem *** GWS academy. Cooper Bell. Nash King. Mid. Calder Aiden Riddle - WA. Claremont Riak Andrew. Dandenong. Harry Charlson. GWV Luke Urquhart. WA East Frem Damon Hollow. Calder *** Saints NGA. Lennox Hoffman. Sandringham. Rhys Unwin. GWV. Jett Hasting. SA WWT eagles. Mitch Kirkwood-Scott. Sandringham Blake Leidler. Oakleigh. Keighton Matofai-Forbes. Fwd. Western. ** Ess NGA Jayden Nguyen Calder . ** Stk father son. Elwood Peckett ** Dees Father son Noah Yze. Oakleigh. **Dees NGA Ricky Mentha Gippsland

2024 squad = 45. Minus😭ANB, BBB, 😭Gus, KFW, Schache, Tomlinson & JS29 likely to go. Plus Campbell and Sharp. So now 40 on the list. Dees likely to look at drafting 3 players in the draft and either a rookie or one spot for a SSP train in player over the summer.

Again injury cursed his year. He looked okay in the limited games through the year. He’s depth cover in the backline. He is versatile and reliable. Given we grabbed him back into the system at start of 2024, it’s fair enough that he gets another year. With Tomlinson gone and Adams being a 50/50 prospect still under development, I thought Hore would get one more year.

Would love to give JT spin the wheel for a genuine diamond in the rough!! It’s a very deep draft and there is excellent youngsters all through this years group With picks being used in all the father son and academies matched bids, we might see the last round and final picks being again around 65. That’s where I’d like to see the Dees give an opportunity to at least one more youngster (as well as to 5&9). There’s talent right through this draft. Here’s some late draft pick options Oliver Warburton. Hbf. Murray Will Hayes. Mid. WA Claremont. Gabriel Stumpf CHF . Northern Patrick Retschko. Hbf/mid. Oakleigh Oliver Depaoli-Kubank. Running mid. Tassie. Noah Mraz. CHB. Dandenong. Luke Kennedy . Mid. Sandringham Cody Angove. Running mid. WA Claremont Kade Herbert. Mid/hff. SA WWT eagles Jett Hasting. Hbf. SA WWT eagles I agree that Jack Henderson (Mid/utility. Werribee) is a likely mature aged option given his excellent 2023 and 2024. However it is more likely that the Cats use one of their 3 draft picks to grab him Henderson is a local and the Cats like getting in mature ready to go players.

Can you imagine the Viking marketing opportunities

Armstrong has impressed me and presents as a genuine top 10 draft chance. Lovely stylish left footer. But I was disappointed in his preliminary final when matched up against Riak Andrew. Andrew negated him and used his reach to spoil Armstrong’s marking. Armstrong then appeared lacklustre. Didn’t work hard enough to run his opponent up and back. Maybe because the Dragons won easily and he didn’t have to work hard to get the team result. I am looking for Dees to grab running midfielders in this draft so probably give him a pass. Neverless he will become a very good player wherever he gets to.

What’s the DL senate view on drafting Bo Allan? He looks a very strong midfielder with good strong contested footy in centre clearance and stoppages. Tackles extremely well. Good long left foot kick. Whilst didn’t always hit targets, he played above his years and under pressure. His pace is good. His body size 190cms and shape is a plug and play in today’s AFL World. Because MFCSS, only knock is the WA go home factor. I’m still perhaps scarred by Jackson. Thankful and hopeful that we can retain Kozzy, Riv, JVR, McVee & Kolt. JT shouldn’t be afraid of Allan’s WA origins.

Josh Smillie was probably in the top 3 most likely as the (available) number 1 pick for the 2024 draft … alongside Jagga Smith & Finn O’Sullivan. At 194cms and an imposing midfielder, his ability to burst clear and kick it easily 50-55 metre was very appealing. He had an excellent year at Coates League level , with 12 games showing avg disposals 27, avg tackles 4, avg marks 5 and avg goals 1.33. He’s was certainly impressive in 10 of the 12 being named either best or best 3 for Eastern. However, his star has waned as he under performed during the U18s national championships. I think his defensive game was lacking as he battled against similar star midfielders and it showed that a dominant junior who wins the footy so much, does have it adjust given the competitive scenario against other talented players. No doubt in my mind that he is top 10 and will be seriously in JTs mind on draft night Interesting article from the Code sports THE ‘BORN LEADER’ LEANING ON ADVICE FROM CRIPPS Big-bodied midfielder Josh Smillie has revealed he leant on advice from a two-time Brownlow Medal winner this year as he battled “some challenges” after entering the season as a highly-touted No. 1 draft pick contender. Smillie met with Carlton star Patrick Cripps earlier in the year and made notes from the conversation, which he continually went back and reflected on. A 195cm onballer, the 18-year-old has drawn comparisons to Cripps and Greater Western Sydney midfielder Tom Green, two players who he watches closely. “I’d want to be half the player Patrick Cripps is now,” Smillie said. “He’s the best player in the game at the moment. I really look up to those two (Cripps and Green) just because they’re big-bodied midfielders and I watch all the work that they do and try and implement it in my game.” Smillie’s form was a little up and down at times this year, not helped by some minor injuries and illness. He was required to spend significant time outside of the midfield during the under-18 national championships with Vic Metro, including roles in attack and defence. “I’m very versatile so I can play any position and I grew up playing any position,” Smillie said. “I can go forward or play across half back, but the midfield is my primarily position. “The year’s done and you reflect on your year. You take out some negatives but you also want to look at the positives. If you said last year I’d be in the position I am now, I’d be pretty proud of this year so far.” Smillie captained the Eastern Ranges in the Coates Talent League this year as well as serving as skipper of the AFL Academy team in two exhibition matches earlier this season. Alongside his power and ball-winning abilities, leadership is another key trait that he prides himself on. “I was raised from my parents being a real leader and a careful person to others,” Smillie said. “Leadership is something I take pretty seriously. I’m a very caring person that likes to put others before me and see them succeed. It’s just something I’ve grown up with and it just comes natural.”

We all laughed at the Chris Judd deal to be an ambassador to Visyboard, one of the Blues major sponsors. It was ticked off as okay but in hindsight even Judd himself laughs that his actual hours were low and his hourly rate was astronomical!!! now this … Geelong coach Chris Scott has been appointed Chief of Leadership & Performance at Morris Finance - a key Cats sponsor crazy!!!

I’m sure it would all be discussed. It was PCL (not ACL) so running within 8 weeks (from 1/9/24) . Should be into pre season by 1st week of December. Given draft is on 20 November, youngsters are on modified program until early January so unlikely to be an issue. One of the top group might slide so all academic on the night. Alternatively happy to pick Travaglia or Allan at pick 9. All the top 15-18 in this draft are very good.

So let’s see your (realistic) Dees likely picks and your top 20 (excl academy and father son) … is …

Here’s my top group 1. Richmond. Sam Lalor. **Matched bid**Lions. Levi Ashcroft. 2. North Melbourne. Alix Tauru 3. Carlton (via West Coast). Finn O’Sullivan 4. Adelaide. Sid Draper 5. Melbourne . Harvey Langford 6. Richmond (via Gold Coast). Jagga Smith **matched bid**Suns. Leonardo Lombard 7. St Kilda. Josh Smillie 8. St Kilda (via Josh Battle compensation pick). Harry Armstrong 9. Melbourne (via Essendon). Xavier Lindsay 10. Richmond (via Fremantle) Luke Trainor 11. Richmond (via Fremantle, Collingwood) Tobie Travaglia 12. West Coast (via Carlton) Bo Allan **matched bid** Ess. Isaac Kako 13. Port Adelaide (via Gold Coast, Western Bulldogs). Joe Berry 14. Fremantle (via Richmond, Hawthorn, Carlton). Taj Hotton. 15. Greater Western Sydney. Jobe Shanahan 16. Greater Western Sydney (via Harry Perryman compensation pick). Murphy Reid. 17. Western Bulldogs (via Geelong). Cooper Hynes **matched bid** Lions. Sam Marshall 18. Richmond (via Fremantle, Port Adelaide). Jack Whitlock. **matched bid** Blues. Ben Camporeale 19. Sydney. Harrison Oliver 20. Richmond (via Brisbane). Alex Dodson

I am still a big believer in holding 5 and holding 9. Don’t drift too far down by pick splitting. Don’t try to dilute picks by grabbing 2. There are an elite group in the top 10. We will grab TWO of them 👏👏

CARLTON midfielder Jack Carroll is among three players delisted by the Blues, despite playing 15 games this season. Blues being ruthless. They have cut a few and are loading up in this draft. Whilst it’s tough on these young guys, they are seen as not quite good enough. Carroll can still be a good AFL player so it’s likely he will go home to WA and would be picked up by the Eagles or Dockers.

Casey Demons need to ensure they get 2-3 more mature players to replace the departures. The sign up of Jai Culley is probably in my view the number 1 objective. Also again look to sign up some of the young non-drafted graduates from the Gippsland Power and Dandenong Stingrays. Likely players would be Charlie Orchard, Ben Hopkins and Harry Doughton from Stingrays, and Asher Eastham from the Power. Potentially young Charger listed Jasper Alger (a Warragul lad) if he’s undrafted.

He’s signed at Thomastown for 2025. Not sure he’s also going to be on Casey’s books ?!?!