Jobs for the boys: building a club, finding a roughieEmma Quayle
November 20, 2011The AFL draft will be dominated by Greater Western Sydney, but there are plenty of opportunities for other clubs to find some talent.
ON THURSDAY night in Sydney, Greater Western Sydney will finishing piecing its first squad together and every other club will breathe a sigh of relief: they'll start getting some early draft choices back now.
Clubs have some big decisions to make this year, especially if they're looking for talls; while there are lots around, they all come with flaws to fix.
The midfielders seem a ''safer'' group, but it's the sort of year where a few early selections could vanish without trace and someone could unearth a star later on. The list that follows is not a phantom draft, but, for the fifth year, a list of my favourites. Unfortunately I couldn't squeeze in Elliott Yeo, Michael Talia, Joel Hamling, Jordan Lockyer, Alex Forster, Josh Bootsma and Henry Schade, as well as this year's smokey - crafty Oakleigh forward Damian Mascitti.
1. Jonathon Patton
(Eastern Ranges, 18, 197cm, 101kg)
It's not Patton's fault that he was too big and strong for most his opponents this year. It's to his credit that he relied on neither quality. He knows where and when to lead, gets his arms up early to meet the ball, and reacts quickly when the ball does get to ground. He's not the loudest kid, but has a quiet resolve and a way of demanding the footy.
Who will pick him? GWS. Deserves the No. 1 honour. Surely the Giants use their first draft pick on a giant?
2. Stephen Coniglio
(Swan Districts, 17, 182cm, 82kg)
Every now and then, every game hits a flat patch. There'll be a throw-up, a scramble, another throw-up, another scramble. Coniglio is the player who puts a stop to all that. Inside a second he can pick where the ball is about to drop, pick it up on the half volley, see a way out through all the arms and legs and take it, with a whoosh. He has the lot.
Who will pick him? GWS.
3. Dom Tyson
(Oakleigh Chargers, 18, 186cm, 80kg)
Tyson seemed to improve with every game this year. He does things that will be very hard for anyone to stop him doing at the next level. He can process and unravel situations, and know what to do really quickly. Last year this helped him become a really good player inside the packs; this year he worked hard to become more dangerous on the outside, using his brain to know where to run. He cares a lot about his teammates and will make his new club a better place.
Who will pick him? GWS.
4. Chad Wingard
(Sturt, 18, 182cm, 77kg)
Wingard is brave. He either has his eyes down over the ball or up high as it (and other players) are hurtling towards him, and will contort his body into any position to try and take the mark. His reflexes are among the best in the draft, which helps him whether he's inside trying to flick the ball out into space, or out in that space himself. Needs to build endurance, but his timing is often spot on.
Who will pick him? GWS likes him and is willing to pick him, but he could be the one the Giants miss out on. Doesn't seem to be in the top-five mix at this stage, and should get grabbed by Port Adelaide at six.
5. Will Hoskin-Elliott
(Western Jets, 18, 186cm, 73kg)
Early on, this draft year was crying out for someone to stick his hand up and say: ''I'm exciting''. Hoskin-Elliott did it. He's a player still in the making but you could see the realisation of how good he can be start to wash over him this year. His height and running ability make him an awkward match-up on the wing and he has a thumping right-foot kick that enables him to cover plenty of ground.
Who will pick him? In the top 10, most likely by GWS in the first five.
6. Matthew Buntine (Dandenong
Stingrays, 18, 189cm, 84kg)
Buntine spent much of this year playing in defence, which led to the inevitable question: can he become an onballer? The Stingrays are sure he can and threw him into the middle a few times, but the alternate question is: why would you want to remove him from the back line anyway? He'll win people over in a hurry because you feel like things will be OK if he's around.
Who will pick him? The Giants need him in defence, given the make-up of their first squad so he's in the mix for one of their many picks, probably one of the first five.
7. Devon Smith
(Geelong Falcons, 18, 174cm, 76kg)
Smith knows he can play, and this is a good thing. There's no mucking around with him yet he's no rusher. He punches out handballs, runs on to get the ball back and has one thing in mind: getting it forward. He kicks to the right place more often than not when he's moving forward, is constantly switched on and has pace that he uses to surge forward and chase opponents down.
Who will pick him? He's in the mix for the Lions, and Port Adelaide loves his competitive nature, but his likely new home is GWS.
8. Toby Greene
(Oakleigh Chargers, 18, 180cm, 76kg)
Greene is another who seemed to realise with each week and each opportunity what he was capable of. He's super determined and it comes through in how he plays. He reads the ball off his ruckman's hands really well and is often already on the move when it falls to him, allowing him a bit of space and a few seconds to quickly assess what's best to do. His kicking isn't perfect, but it's improving, and will get better again once he's immersed at a club.
Who will pick him? He'll appeal to Port Adelaide and the Giants, but they have a lot of mids already, which makes the Lions his likely new home.
9. Sam Docherty
(Gippsland Power, 18, 185cm, 83kg)
If you make smart decisions and can kick, you're a chance. Docherty does that, and has a bit of pace to go with it. He won't be able to get started for a while - he needs minor hip surgery - but I could see him taking kick-in duties for an AFL club next year. It took him until the middle of the year to force people to take notice of him but from there he kept nailing long targets, and was always aware of what was going on around him.
Who will pick him? The Lions met him last week, and he'll appeal to Richmond, the Western Bulldogs and particularly North Melbourne if he gets past them.
10. Adam Tomlinson
(Oakleigh Chargers, 18, 193cm, 88kg)
Tomlinson knows how to play in a key position at either end, but it will be nice to see him settled in one spot for a while, probably down forward; he played for many teams and many coaches this year, all who saw him in different roles. He's quick, strong and keeps running until he has absolutely exhausted whoever is following him around.
Who will pick him? GWS, probably at No. 7, or the Lions if the Giants let him through.
11. Elliott Kavanagh
(Western Jets, 18, 184cm, 75kg)
Kavanagh loomed as a top-five pick early doors, but missed several months with a hamstring injury and wasn't quite himself when he got back. His timing and awareness were a bit off, and just when he started to find form he injured a thigh and missed the finals. Kavanagh knows how to get the ball when things are busy, he can use it well in space and he stays involved in sections of play he helps start.
Who will pick him? I think he gets past GWS and will most likely reach Essendon's pick 19, although Fremantle and North Melbourne will take a look. The furthest he gets will be Gold Coast at pick 24.
12. Nick Haynes (Dandenong Stingrays, 19, 192cm, 78kg)
Haynes is an interesting one. He can play either forward or back, yet plays both positions like a midfielder. He throws himself around and has a habit of taking brave, contested marks, a quality that comes in handy when he's pushed up onto a wing.
Who will pick him? Probably the Giants, with one of their many early picks. He's a chance to end up at the Lions, too.
13. Liam Sumner (Sandringham
Dragons, 18, 178cm, 71kg)
Sumner has turned himself into a multi-layered player this year. He didn't want to be seen as simply a flashy outside player, so he chopped off his long hair and took himself into the centre square. He improved at it, yet he remained the player you wanted to see with the ball in hand streaming forward.
Who'll pick him? Port Adelaide will take a look at pick six, but he seems more likely to join the Giants.
14. Daniel Markworth
(Calder Cannons, 19, 191cm, 78kg)
Markworth is a hard one to slot into a positional group, but will most likely start out as a lead-up forward who could wind up in the midfield. He's very quick, has endurance and is always on his toes, bouncing around. He gets involved in such varied ways - a spin out of a pack, quick give, run-of-the-mill set shot. He's not yet consistent and can do the odd crazy thing, but has huge scope.
Who will pick him? Richmond at 15 and Freo are big chances, and every club from there would need to take a look.
15. Tom Mitchell
(Claremont, 18, 180cm, 73kg)
Having included the father-son selections each year, that continues with Mitchell, who may have even been higher if not for injury. He slotted easily into the WA state side after a long time out injured, and knows how to get the ball out, or launch it forward when he's out in space. Needs to be careful that he doesn't try and do too much.
Who will pick him? He's a done deal, father-son to Sydney at No. 21
16. Brandon Ellis
(Calder Cannons, 18, 181cm, 83kg)
Ellis brings oomph to this draft. He plays the game like he loves it more than anything in the world. He's not super quick but his endurance is excellent, and he anticipates things so well. He doesn't let too much past him at half-back and kicks it as well as anyone in the draft.
Who will pick him? The Lions have been linked to him, but he's more likely to come into the mix for Fremantle or the Western Bulldogs.
17. Billy Longer
(Northern Knights, 18, 201cm, 97kg)
Longer's the pick of the ruckmen and an athlete: he can get around the ground well now and just needs to work on getting a bit more of the ball. Longer's midfield teammates love him, and he's a player who could also go forward and take a mark. He's super smart and a natural leader.
Who will pick him? Gut feel says GWS will roll the dice, hope he gets past Port Adelaide and the Lions, and pick him with one of its final few first-round choices.
18. Hayden Crozier
(Eastern Ranges, 17, 185cm, 67kg)
If you've seen the YouTube vision of Crozier taking a mark halfway up the Subiaco goal post, you know the sort of a leap he has. He needs time to get a body but can do things you can't teach: he's balanced, doesn't need much room and is quite artistic. He was playing in bits and pieces for a while this year, but moved to the half-back flank to find some form and could use that experience to become a midfield prospect one day.
Who will pick him? The Bulldogs are fans, but GWS may well grab him first.
19. Shane Kersten
(South Fremantle, 18, 191cm, 92kg)
An elbow injury ruined much of Kersten's year, but he finished off well, kicking a few big bags. He works quite hard, likes to barge out on leads and there's a bit of ''kick it to me'' about him (I say that in a good way). He's not big, but he's powerful off the mark which should enable him to play the same way at AFL level. Loves the responsibility that comes with kicking for goal.
Who will pick him? He's in the Giants' thoughts and a chance to get to the Dockers at No. 20, but may even drop into the 20s.
20. Sam Kerridge
(Bendigo Pioneers, 18, 188cm, 86kg)
Kerridge is a ''safe'' bet to play some really solid senior footy. From there, I think his pace, and his willingness to use it, complements his appetite for contested situations, and that his ability to get his hands free and get the ball out to others means he can damage teams in multiple ways. He's nimble, and I trust his kicking.
Who will pick him? He's around the mark at Essendon for either pick 19 or pick 31, and everything in between. Adelaide at 27 is keen too. He shouldn't get out of the 30s.
21. Tom Sheridan
(Calder Cannons, 17, 185, 76kg)
Sheridan handballs so much that it makes you wonder whether he can actually kick, and opinions are split on that front. As an inside midfielder he can duck, swirl and wait for the right moment to give the ball off. He has huge endurance too, which keeps him involved.
Who will pick him? He'll come into the mix for Fremantle and for Essendon, depending on who's gone. Could slot in anywhere after that, with many clubs looking for midfielders, but shouldn't make it through the 30s.
22. Taylor Adams
(Geelong Falcons, 18, 179cm, 80kg)
Adams is a tough, stocky kid who can win the ball on his own. Clubs rave about his leadership potential and although he doesn't look particularly athletic, he ran a 15.1 beep test, which explains how he's able to rack up so many possessions. He's hard to tackle, his own tackles stick and he's able to wrench the ball away from others.
Who will pick him? He's right in the mix for GWS, and the Lions have looked at him too. He's been invited to the draft, which suggests he'll be going early.
23. Brad McKenzie
(Sturt, 18, 188cm, 76kg)
McKenzie is one of the smartest, switched-on players in this year's draft. He's also perhaps the best kick. He finds room across half-back to pick his way through traffic, and also gets forward of centre, where he'll either hit a forward on the chest or use his agility to slip by someone and kick a goal. He creeps up on you, maybe because the things he does tend to bring those around him into the play rather than demand attention.
Who will pick him? Richmond may grab him early, should other options be gone and he's right in the mix for its second pick too. North Melbourne may take a look also depending on who's gone, and the Saints will too.
24. Jordan Murdoch
(Glenelg, 191cm, 80kg)
Murdoch is a late improver, who was overlooked last year but has taken some steps this year. He's raw and you'd like him to throw himself around a bit more, but his speed off the mark is going to make him hard to match up on if he gets it all together. Moves high up the ground, is smart on the lead and able to turn quickly, play on and push off towards goal at pace.
Who will pick him: West Coast has been linked to him with one of its picks in the 20s, and the Blues have come up too.
25. Clay Smith
(Gippsland Power, 18, 180cm, 78kg)
Smith is another one who has polarised recruiters. Everyone loves his desperately competitive nature, but some wonder whether his kicking will hold him up. He's quick enough, his endurance is good and he'll give his team everything he has and will do whatever he can to improve. He does the sort of tough, inside stuff not everyone wants to do. His new teammates will love him.
Who will pick him? The Lions are interested, depending on how things pan out, with the Dockers, Bulldogs and Blues keen too.
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/jobs-for-the-boys-building-a-club-finding-a-roughie-20111119-1nojy.html#ixzz1eAnkuWdu
