Herald-Sun's top 30 mock draft

[one-eyed]

Find out who your club is predicted to take in Thursday's national AFL draft

Jay Clark, Sam Landsberger
From:Herald Sun
November 15, 2012 11:15PM


THEY are the choices which can make or break clubs.

Do they select the slick left-footed midfielder or the raw key defender?
 
Take a chance on the injured star, such as Jake Stringer and Troy Menzel, or welcome the contested ball king such as Nathan Hrovat and Nick Vlastuin.
 
CHAT LIVE WITH DRAFT EXPERT SAM LANDSBERGER FROM 12.30pm BELOW
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/afl/more-news/find-out-who-your-club-is-predicted-in-thursdays-national-afl-draft/story-e6frf9jf-1226517613127
 
This year’s draft has thrown up more curve balls than most.
 
Players’ form has been inconsistent. Injuries have hit hard.
 
The talent pool is flush for midfielders, but light on for key position talls, meaning if you want a big man, clubs will have to pull the trigger early.
 
Recruiters have analysed and agonised, poked and prodded, everything to get every piece of information on the top underage prospects from around the country.

But, will it be boom or bust?
 
Our draft experts Jay Clark and Sam Landsberger have studied the form, watched the games, and spoken to talent scouts from around the country.
 
They predict the top-30 picks in next Thursday’s national draft on the Gold Coast.


1. GWS - LACHIE WHITFIELD
HEIGHT: 184cm
CLUB: Dandenong Stingrays
Classy outside midfielder will provide the polish to the young grunt at GWS. No. 1 by a mile.

2. GWS - JIMMY TOUMPAS
HEIGHT: 183cm
CLUB: Woodville-West Torrens (SA)
Goalkicking midfielder has already impressed at senior SANFL level. Queries on his hips but outstanding leader.

3. GWS - LACHIE PLOWMAN
HEIGHT: 191cm
CLUB: Calder Cannons
Rebounding backman breaks the lines. Can play tall midfield role. Soared up order despite injury-savaged year.

4. Melbourne - OLLIE WINES
HEIGHT: 185cm
CLUB: Bendigo Pioneers
Onball beast is what Demons need. Strong-bodied and aggressive like Dustin Martin, with added leadership.

5. Western Bulldogs - JONO O'ROURKE
HEIGHT: 183cm
CLUB: Calder Cannons
Smart midfielder with devastating mix of inside work and outside burst. Adds the slickness Dogs crave.

6. Western Bulldogs - TROY MENZEL
HEIGHT: 187cm
CLUB: Central Districts (SA)
Top-two on talent but shonky knees a big risk. Agile left-footer has uncanny goal sense. Weaves around his opponents.

7. Port Adelaide - BRODIE GRUNDY
HEIGHT: 202cm
CLUB: Sturt (SA)
Combative ruckman is physically ready to go. Has basketball background and takes strong marks forward.

8. Brisbane Lions - SAM MAYES
HEIGHT: 187cm
CLUB: North Adelaide (SA)
Lions need to add to their forward line. Mayes is clean overhead, courageous and runs hard into the midfield. Link-up specialist.

9. Richmond - NICK VLASTUIN
HEIGHT: 187cm
CLUB: Northern Knights
Tigers need to look inside. Brute midfielder thrives around the stoppages and is a safe bet across half back. Offers leadership and courage.
Exclusive "Pick Me" video of Vlastuin in action

10. Essendon - JOE DANIHER (father-son)
HEIGHT: 201cm
CLUB: Calder Cannons
Mobile ruckman/forward has rare ability to mark at highest point and kicks goals. Good luck stopping him in years to come.

11. Carlton - JACKSON MACRAE
HEIGHT: 188cm
CLUB: Oakleigh Chargers
Blues must add midfield depth and Macrae has lots of tricks. Evasive outside runner has excellent vision and goal nous.

12. Greater Western Sydney - KRISTIAN JAKSCH
HEIGHT: 194cm
CLUB: Oakleigh Chargers
Gun tall looks a bargain here after excelling at both ends. Contested marking and beautiful kicking complete the package.

13. Gold Coast  - JOSH SIMPSON
HEIGHT: 183cm
CLUB: East Fremantle (WA)
Excitement machine can ignite games from a wing. Still light but will be devastating next to Harley Bennell.

14. GWS - TAYLOR GARNER
HEIGHT: 186cm
CLUB: Dandenong Stingrays
Rocketed up the order blitzing for Vic Country with dislocated shoulder. Creative half forward gives Giants a mobile, mid-sized marking option in attack.

15. North Melbourne - NATHAN HROVAT
HEIGHT: 174cm
CLUB: Northern Knights
Inside midfielder is a clearance specialist, like Sam Mitchell. Tackle machine has already worked with Brent Harvey and would play forward early for Roos.

16. Geelong - JAKE STRINGER
HEIGHT: 191cm
CLUB: Bendigo Pioneers
Enormous upside if he can overcome broken leg. The powerhouse kicks goals from midfield or key forward spot. Cats will be patient and back in program.

17. Fremantle - TIM MEMBREY
HEIGHT: 189cm
CLUB: Gippsland Power
Aggressive medium forward in Jack Darling mould. Clean marking and golden boot could boost Freo’s forward potency immediately.

18. Collingwood - TIM O'BRIEN
HEIGHT: 193cm
CLUB: Glenelg
Quick tall forward has drawn comparisons to Adam Goodes. Has loads of x-factor and athleticism but is still raw in his development.

19. Collingwood - DAYLE GARLETT
HEIGHT: 180cm
CLUB: Claremont (WA)
Would be a massive steal for Pies if Garlett gets things right off-field. Smooth-moving midfielder finds space in congestion and hits the scoreboard.

20. Adelaide* - TOM CLUREY
HEIGHT: 193cm
CLUB: Murray Bushrangers
Crows need size. Clurey is an endurance machine who shone as a key defender and showed late glimpses in attack.

21. Collingwood - JESSE LONERGAN
HEIGHT: 183cm
CLUB: Launceston (Tas)
Powerful inside midfielder has strong defensive side, which Pies love. Tested brilliantly at draft combine.

22. Western Bulldogs - SAM COLQUHOUN
HEIGHT: 179cm
CLUB: Central Districts (SA)
Prolific ball-winner is a running machine from half-back. Dogs like his accurate link-up game to help replace Lindsay Gilbee.

23. Sydney Swans - AIDAN CORR
HEIGHT: 194cm
CLUB: Northern Knights
Swans need a big man. Strong-marking Corr can play at either end and has nice speed and agility for a tall.

24. Brisbane Lions - MASON WOOD
HEIGHT: 192cm
CLUB: Geelong Falcons
Agile key forward has come from the clouds this year, leading the Falcons goalkicking. Needs to put on size but has a huge tank.

25. St Kilda - TANNER SMITH
HEIGHT: 194cm
CLUB: North Ballarat Rebels
The key defender the Saints are craving. Great closing speed and aerial judgement.

26. St Kilda - BEN JACOBS
HEIGHT: 185cm
CLUB: Port Adelaide
Saints could spoil the Roos party with move for rebounding defender Jacobs. Salary cap squeeze could be only problem.

27. Melbourne - JACK VINEY
HEIGHT: 178cm
CLUB: Casey Scorpions
Father-son midfielder looks like the biggest steal of the draft. Imposing hard-nut will crash packs. Could be captain down the track.

28. GWS - NICK GRAHAM
HEIGHT: 183cm
CLUB: Gippsland Power
Skilful ball-winner adds depth to the Giants band of midfielders. Won the TAC CUP league medal averaging 25 touches a game.

29. Hawthorn - NATHAN WRIGHT
HEIGHT: 185cm
CLUB: Dandenong Stingrays
Medium defender uses the ball superbly by foot, which Hawks love. Big leap helps him intercept mark.

30. Port Adelaide - BEN KENNEDY
HEIGHT: 175cm
CLUB: Glenelg
Left-footed midfielder has breakaway speed. Dual All-Australian excels around stoppages and delivers ball beautifully inside 50m.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/afl/more-news/find-out-who-your-club-is-predicted-in-thursdays-national-afl-draft/story-e6frf9jf-1226517613127

[wayne]

I'll be honest, I hadn't watched any of Vlastuin's highlights until now, but after seeing the HUN video, I'd be very happy with him at #9.

I think he would be the type that would thrive playing alongside Cotchin.

[tigs2011]

I'll be honest, I hadn't watched any of Vlastuin's highlights until now, but after seeing the HUN video, I'd be very happy with him at #9.

I think he would be the type that would thrive playing alongside Cotchin.

He's a jet. I know people say you can get those inside mids late but you don't get classy ones later on. I suck at coming up with player comparisons of my own but the best one I've seen is Voss. Tough, skilled, leadership and a ranga. 

[Penelope]

what is there not to like about inside mid that uses the ball well, averages 20 disposals, and 6 tackles ( who actually enjoys tackling - perhaps dusty may learn something) and is touted as captain material?

[Penelope]

...and he supposedly has an attack on the ball like morris

[tigs2011]

...and he supposedly has an attack on the ball like morris

He's brutal.

[WA Tiger]

With him in the midfield it is starting to remind me of the WC midfield when Cousins, Kerr and Judd were there. Players protected Judd, Kerr and Cousins thats why they won so much of the ball out of the centre....

We are heading that way with Dusty, Conca and now if we pick up Vlastuin.

[tiga]

Whilst there is no doubt he is hard at it, He doesn't appear to be a very creative or evasive player. If he can't bust through traffic he just disposes. I would like to see what his efficiency is like.
He is definitely Tucky Mk II which is not a bad thing considering we already have Cotch, Lids and Edwards in the middle who are creative and have good evasive skills. 

[Phil Mrakov]

We usually never get anyone that they (HUN) associate us with

[Stripes]

Hard not to like this kid. It's difficult to teach a player to be fearless and it is very tough to stop a player who loves the physical side of the game. See ball get ball. Just the sort of player we need to compliment Cotch and feed the ball out to Lids and Grigg.

[tigs2011]

Asked a billion times who we are looking at in the second round. But continual questions about the Pies first 3 picks and Mason Shaw where will he go keep getting answered. FFS they did a mock draft read it if you want to know who he think the Pies will take with those 3. 

[Phil Mrakov]

Asked a billion times who we are looking at in the second round. But continual questions about the Pies first 3 picks and Mason Shaw where will he go keep getting answered. FFS they did a mock draft read it if you want to know who he think the Pies will take with those 3. 

Thanks Melbum

[one-eyed]

From the Live Chat on the Herald-Sun website today ....

Comment From Steve
Like the draft, tigers look like they get a gun
   
Sam Landsberger:
Yep - Vlastuin would be a ripper at 9. Tough, big and ready to rock.


Sam Landsberger:
Garner not sliding, he's firming! Tiges could pounce at 9 but we think GWS at 14 the likely outcome.

Comment From Dave
Like the look of Vlastuin but Tigers have a pretty handy half-back line. Any exciting mids/forwards they might be looking at?

Sam Landsberger:
Vlastuin or Garner our mail, Dave. Vlastuin with an eye to helping Dusty win contested footy post-Foley and Tuck.

Comment From David
Vlastuin seems like a reach to me at 9. Not enough pace or class. Anyone else we might take at 9 instead?
   
Sam Landsberger:
See above, David!

Comment From JohnH
Have always thought Tigers would be looking at post-Tuck for a big inside mid. Surprised my relative Mr Stringer might slip through to 16. I would have thought he could play as a goal-kicking midfield and be handy for Tiges. Have they no interest in him.
   
Sam Landsberger:
Not big interest. You're on the money with what they need - that's why we reckon Vlastuin.

Comment From Woggle
Hi Sam, Who do you think the top 3 "Ready made" players are that should play round 1?

Sam Landsberger:
There's quite a few! Viney, Wines, Membrey, Stringer, Vlastuin will all play Round 1.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/afl/more-news/find-out-who-your-club-is-predicted-in-thursdays-national-afl-draft/story-e6frf9jf-1226517613127

[Stripes]

The more I read from around the traps the more certain I am that Vlastuin is a given at Pick 9.

[Penelope]

he does seem to tick a lot of boxes