spirit of norm smith

Given a good look over the 2017 draft. Not overly strong but top group is consistent so some bargains for the clubs with picks 10-15. Top 20 Group predicted: 1 Davies-Uniacke, 2 Rayner, 3 Dow, 4 Brayshaw, 5 Cerra, 6 Coffield, 7 Hayes, 8 Stephenson, 9 Brander, 10 O’Brien, 11 Constable, 12 D.Fogarty, 13 Naughton, 14 Clark, 15 Higgins, 16 Bonar, 17 Balta, 18 Ballenden, 19 Allen, 20 Naish (f/son) 21 Bulldogs N.Murphy 22 Cats Ling 23 Kangas Richards 24 Cats Worpel 25 Tigers Houlahan 26 Eagles Clavarino 27 Giants Garner 28 Giants Spargo 29 Demons Wooller 30 Blues Zac Bailey 31 Demons Gryan Miers 32 Eagles Ainsworth 33 Swans Mynott 34 Saints Petruccelle 35 Cats Dixon 36 Demons Bailey Fritsch 37 Eagles Starcevich 38 Pies T.Brown (f/son) 39 Crows McPherson 40 Lions. Tim Kelly 41 Suns. Crowden 42 Dockers Patmore 43 Lions. Farrell 44 Hawks. D Moore 45 Saints Taylor 46 Power. Liam Ryan 47 Demons Hayden McLean 48 Bombers C.Parish 49 Power. Petty 50 Suns. Crossley happy with Wooller, Miers, Fritsch & McLean. Seb Williams, Aiden Quigley and Matthew Day are my smokies for top 50. Callum Coleman-Jones could be another option.

I think Jack will either get picked up or go play for Sturt. He would walk into the SANFL as a star. I can’t talk highly enough of him. Another Demon cut down by injury.

Fritsch is overrated. He lacks a competitive edge. He is a nice guy. Good mark and kick but no tackling pressure. Not physically strong enough. Pass it on

Bolter - Bonar!! Slider - Joel Garner??

Yes happy with Wooller and Spargo at 29 & 31. If Coleman-Jones or Garner was available at 29, they would be also hard to pass on. Wooller is the real deal. Think of Jack Gunston but with more midfield aerobic potential. It is either Spargo or Dylan Moore as the small forward or midfielder. Agree Ling goes before our pick. Likely 22 to Cats in my opinion. 36 ... Zac Bailey would be good. Super fast and super classy. Or Trent Mynott as a fast running halfback. Has the AFL run and skill that translates up. 47... Hayden McLean appeals if we have not already selected a big body as he is a forward/ruck type. Seb Williams is a blue sky option. Liam Ryan or Tim Kelly are the mature age wildcards at this pick.

It’s a yes from me. Pick 36 most likely

Yes. It is his grandson. Cats might grab him at 35 ahead of Dees at 36. Probably Cats will take Balta at 22 (if available) and Ling at 24.

Petruccelle floats in and out. A spasmodic player. He is fast. Sure. BUT turns over the footy too much and misses simple options. We don’t need that. Not a smart footballer. Pass!! Prefer Matthew Ling, Lachie O’Brien or Dylan Moore if they are still available at 29.

29,31,36,47 Aim for Matt Ling, Dylan Moore, Toby Wooller and Hayden McLean

Well done Steve, and agree with all except for Petruccelle. He floats in and out and does not work hard enough to run off the ball. Petruccelles disposal is 50/50 at best. Turns it over too much even when no pressure. For a pacy midfielder, yes you are spot on with Ling as he is as quick and classy and tough. Toby Wooller as a 3rd tall forward should be the priority for us at pick 35-36. Great mark. Good kick for goal. General disposal is excellent.

BTW Nathan Murphy is in the same style as Jack Watts. Talented at all sports. Tall forward but not key position. Could play high half forward. Not the most aggressive type. Private school pedigree. Would need a year at Casey. Worthy of our pick around 25-35. James Worpel is a huge talent and super inside ball winning type like Oliver. Would be ready physically to play round 1 2018. Hard ball contested player. No frills. Can turnover footy by foot and not fast. Either would be welcome but come with compromises. But which players don’t!!!

The bottom line ... no draft lottery. We get Lever. Win for the Dees. Finals in 2018. ???

Agree Tigers 15,17 to Dees for pick 10 & 27 & 2nd round 2018 then 15&17 to Crows maybe Tigers too exhausted

If we can snag pick 18 or 19 as part of Lever & Cameron deals, love to grab Joel Garner or Matthew Ling. Need more run and both are excellent outside runners and excellent disposal.

2028 superdraft !! Sorry meant 2018

Thanks. That might take some thinking. Maybe get Crows 2018 2nd or 3rd round as a sweetener back to us

Sorry does the deal go Crows get MFC 1st pick 10 + 2028 MFC 1st pick MFC get Lever and (Lions to Crows for Cameron) pick 19 win !!

Yes reminds me of Dahlhaus.

Plays a Mitch Hannan type role. Can’t see both in our 22 or forward line. Has talent and needs a chance at AFL level.

Pick 10 should be enough. Maybe also throw in pick 45 if the Crows moan like stuck pigs

I went to the combine testing on Friday. Some really impressed but I was surprised by how many young guns did not test. Some very good talent injured or unavailable. Maybe a few sliders perhaps for the Dees. Andrew Brayshaw is top 10 material. Nathan Murphy will be top 25. Trent Mynott is a pick 50+ type that impressed. Good pace and agile smart ... potential half back wing.

Agree pick 10 & 45 for Lever

10 & 27 for Lever is overs. He is a backman who intercepts marks and punches the footy. Not a star midfielder. Not a key forward match winner. Not a commanding key back. Defender. Townsend (a dumped Giant) and him broke even on GF day.

Yes Jack Graham was strangely a slider to the 50s. Was ready to go and mature body, good decisions, smart but lacked a yard in pace. Who cares sometimes. He gets it. He knows what to do. This year Mitch Crowden is that player. Played senior footy. Solid build. Skilled with a 50-60 metre kick easily. But lacks just outright pace. Who cares. He is not slow. Think Matt Crouch just a little quicker and stockier. Could go pick 30 or 60.

Betts was only being held by one arm and 5 metres out. How could the Tiger biased umps pay that. Frees 19 to 24. And the Crows got the last 5 from 6 in the last 6 minutes when it was over