Matt Burgan's 2005 phantom draft

[one-eyed]

Selections he has for Richmond

1 - CARLTON - Marc Murphy
2 - COLLINGWOOD - Xavier Ellis
3 - HAWTHORN - Josh Kennedy
4 - CARLTON - Patrick Ryder
5 - COLLINGWOOD - Dale Thomas
6 - HAWTHORN - Shaun Higgins
7 - ESSENDON - Mitchell Clark

8 - RICHMOND - Beau Dowler
(Oakleigh Chargers), 16 December 1987, 194.6cm, 84kg

One of the most sought after talls in this draft, Dowler is also one of several highly-rated players to be struck down with injury or illness in the lead-up to this meeting. The key forward suffered a fractured pelvis in a car accident last month, but he still firmly remains a top-10 draftee. Richmond is set to pounce at No.8, although Carlton and Hawthorn are not out of the equation in the top six. The Tigers are prepared to think long-term rather just his immediate future, in relation to his injury. He is still on crutches, although he is hoping to be walking without them by Christmas. A strong lead and accurate kick at goal, Dowler also possesses good speed for his size. He had a terrific season, representing Vic Metro at under-18 level this year, while he was rewarded with All-Australian status and was named in the TAC Cup team of the year. Dowler was also an AIS/AFL Academy member. Other players in the mix for Richmond are Clark, Drum, Muston and Central District's Shannon Hurn.

9 - BRISBANE LIONS - Grant Birchall
10 - FREMANTLE - Marcus Drum
11 - WESTERN BULLDOGS - Courtney Dempsey
12 - MELBOURNE - Nathan Jones
13 - WEST COAST - Scott Pendlebury
14 - HAWTHORN - Beau Muston
15 - GEELONG - Daniel Stanley
16 - ADELAIDE - Shannon Hurn
17 - ADELAIDE - Darren Pfeiffer
18 - HAWTHORN - Ben McEntee
19 - ESSENDON - Jarred Oakley-Nicholls
20 - CARLTON - Cleve Hughes
21 - COLLINGWOOD - Travis Varcoe
22 - HAWTHORN - Ben McKinley
23 - COLLINGWOOD - Sam Gilbert

24 - RICHMOND - Richard Douglas
(Calder Cannons), 6 February 1987, 180cm, 68.1kg

Linked with Essendon (No.19) and Collingwood (No.21 and No.23), Douglas is also right in the mix for Richmond, as the Tigers look for a small to medium-sized running defender. Douglas has a great work-ethic and possesses football smarts. A member of the Vic Metro side in the under 18 championships, Douglas was also named in the TAC Cup Team of the Year, while he was also won the TAC Cup Coaches Award in 2005. Capping off a great season, he was rewarded with the Calder Cannons best-and-fairest award. And recently he shone at the Draft Camp, with his speed, agility and endurance. Swallow is another the Tigers will monitor.

25 - BRISBANE LIONS - Kasey Green
26 - FREMANTLE - Andrew Swallow
27 - WESTERN BULLDOGS - Alan Toovey
28 - KANGAROOS - Tim Looby
29 - WEST COAST - Paul Bower
30 - PORT ADELAIDE - Tom Rischbieth
31 - GEELONG - Austin Lucy
32 - ADELAIDE - Ryan Gamble
33 - ST KILDA - Wayde Mills
34 - WEST COAST - Kristin Thornton
35 - GEELONG - Ryan Jackson
36 - CARLTON - Jake Edwards
37 - COLLINGWOOD - Max Bailey
38 - HAWTHORN - Travis Tuck (father/son)
39 - ESSENDON - Jay Neagle (father-/son)

40 - RICHMOND - Michael Stevens
(Kangaroos), 7 November 1980, 179cm, 80kg

Despite playing 20 matches for the Kangaroos in 2005, Stevens parted company with the Roos. He now has 61 AFL appearances to his name, having also played 17 matches with Port Adelaide from 1999-02. The midfielder was expected to nominate for the Pre-Season Draft only, but he is now in the mix to be taken. It is believed Richmond has shown some interest and was thought to be pursuing him for December's draft. But if the Tigers want him, they will have to take him in this meeting and he is likely to be on the radar for several AFL clubs. It is also not out of the question that the Kangaroos could redraft him.

.....

67 - RICHMOND - Angus Graham
(Calder Cannons), 16 April 1987, 200.3cm, 92.6kg

Graham is another ruckman that could go late in the pecking order, with Richmond and Essendon right in the mix. The Tigers will be looking for an emerging tall, with Graham a genuine possibility. Originally from King Island, Graham represented Tasmania at under-18 level this year, although he played football for Calder and Assumption College. He is a strong mark and quick off the mark for his size. He achieved level 13.3 in the beep test at the Draft Camp.

http://richmondfc.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=238126

[Razorblade]

Burgan has seriously tried WAY too hard with this draft!

Hurn at 16?

McEntree at 18?

Green at 26?

Bailey at 37?

Stevens at 40?

Graham at 67?

[mightytiges]

Apart from Dowler, why are we always linked to tiny blokes that are 68kgs in these things ???. Taking Stevens at only pick 40 is ridiculous. 

I can't see Hurn lasting to 16.

[PuntRdRoar]

well its less than 1 1/2 days away. We will all know by 12 on Saturday

[WilliamPowell]

Apart from Dowler, why are we always linked to tiny blokes that are 68kgs in these things ???. Taking Stevens at only pick 40 is ridiculous. 

I was thinking the same thing. Enough with the human linen brigade

What we need firstly is height Dowler if he lasts to 8 would fit that criteria but gee at 84kgs it's going to take 2-3 season in the gym to get him around the 90-95kgs mark.

We've already said we're going to use our 3 National draft picks on kids so I'd be surprised if we went for Stevens at 40.

And I see this phantom draft Woe-woeful-din gets selected at 69 by North -   

[PuntRdRoar]

Travis Casserley from WA has afew friends at Punt Road ... wouldnt surprise at 40 now

[mightytiges]

Matt Burgan was on SEN from 7 to 8.30 tonight talking about his phantom draft. I missed his top 10 summary but with Michael Stevens he seemed to just chuck his name in with us at #40 because he expects us to take a mature player in the draft somewhere and thinks we won't wait till #67. He even thought there was a chance we may use pick 24 on Kasey Green to nip him in front of Brisbane ???. If we decide to do something stupid like that then we might as well not turn up on Saturday . As WP pointed out the club has already said our first 3 picks will be used on kids so I think Burgan is off with the pixies in regards to our picks after the first round.

[Razorblade]

Like i said Burgo has tried too hard and has simply guessed with the mature aged players.

Hurn @ 16 is just laughable, Ellis is more likely to fall then him.

[mightytiges]

Agree Razor. Hurn is ready to play senior footy straight away while Ellis is only light at 73kg for a 187cm kid.

Our past of topping up with mature aged players still probably sticks in journalists' minds. It seems whenever they don't know, they lob them in our direction  .

[Razorblade]

Burgans 2003 draft is a clear example of that, he had us taking Morrison, Seymour, Motlop and Betheras!

If Hurn was available at 8 i'd take him, but i doubt Richmond would.

[mightytiges]

Burgans 2003 draft is a clear example of that, he had us taking Morrison, Seymour, Motlop and Betheras!

He may have been right if Miller wasn't around and it was left up to Spud, Brittain and Beck  

If Hurn was available at 8 i'd take him, but i doubt Richmond would.

If the four main talls are gone then we'd be stupid not too take him.

[PuntRdRoar]

People downgrade Hurn coz hes 92kgs....one preseason could get him down to 88kgs...Hed be a terrific player either as a midfielder or of half back. If he is the best player available at 8...I wouldnt be against it.

[Razorblade]

MT, if the 4 talls are gone and Hunr is available i can see Richmond going for one of the athletes in Oakley-Nicholls, Swallow, Varcoe etc etc instead of Hurn.

Hurn reminds me a bit of Hodge!

[bluey_21]

The vast majority of mock drafts and experts had Dowler coming to Punt Road at pick 8 (which was realistic), but unfortunately it didn't happen

[Razorblade]

I'd probably prefer JON & Hughes to Dowler and Casserley (who we were going to take at 24 before Hughes fell),

Don't get me wrong im one of Dowlers biggest fans, but considering how the draft turned out i wouldn't go back and change any of our selections!