Gary Buckenara’s top 50 players for the AFL draft 2016: Part one, 50-26GARY BUCKENARA,
Herald Sun
November 22, 2016THIS year’s draft is a deep one in terms of talent but it’s very even talent and anything could happen on the night.
It is full of midfielders and forwards and there are also some good rebound defender types but key position players are going to be a bit hard to come by in this year’s crop.
There aren’t a lot of ruckmen in the field either — there are a couple of developing types and a few who have played at state-league level but there isn’t a lot. So those clubs searching for either a developing or back-up ruckman might find it a little bit difficult.
It wouldn’t surprise me if my rankings are off in areas, even by about 20, that’s what I mean by how even this year’s draft is. It’s just one of those years where beauty might be in the eye of the beholder.
Josh Daicos is available to Collingwood as a father-son selection. Picture: Steve Tanner
If you approached clubs and asked the recruiters to write down their top 50 players, I suspect they will all be in different orders, particularly after pick No.20 and even potentially after pick No.15.
They might rate a player really highly but another club has him rated between pick Nos.40-50. It’s going to be really interesting.
Potentially this is a draft where all 18 clubs, except Hawthorn who don’t pick until No.81 (as per the league’s final draft order), will go for best available at their first selection and even their second rather than possibly taking a player based on needs.
I have compiled a list of the players I rate as the best 50 in this year’s draft, in order. Below is the list from 26-50 — stayed tuned for 1-25 on Wednesday.
DRAFT TOP 50 PART ONE: 26-50
50. BEN JARMAN
Small midfielder/forward, 175cm, 68kg, North Adelaide/Koonibba
Buckenara says: Both Adelaide and Hawthorn have opted not to nominate Jarman as a father-son so he’s available in the open draft and I think this is about where he sits. He’s a clever player who can make things happen. I wouldn’t say he’s in his dad’s mould, he’s got a lot of development to get to that level but he’s a footballer that knows what’s going on — he’s smart, makes good decisions but is a little bit inconsistent at the moment as he drifts in-and-out of games. In a full-time environment he should thrive.
49. ESAVA RATUGOLEATall forward/ruckman, 194cm, 95kg, Murray Bushrangers
Buckenara says: The big smoky in the draft, a club may take a punt on him early. He’s a Fijian with great power and athleticism and has only been playing footy for a little while but his improvement this year was dramatic. He only played a couple of games in 2015 but this year did all the pre-season and early in the year kicked a bag of four and a bag of eight at TAC Cup level. There is a lot to like about him, he’s very athletic and there’ll be some interest in him it just remains to be seen whether it’s early, late or as a rookie.
48. BEN CAVARRASmall forward/midfielder, 175cm, 72kg, Frankston VFL
Buckenara says: A former Eastern Ranges player, Cavarra has been at Frankston for a couple of years and I thought he was a bit unlucky in his draft year not to get an opportunity, at least as a rookie. He’s a clever little player who’s lightly framed and can fill a small forward role but is probably more suited to being a forward/midfielder where he can go into the middle and win his own footy. He’s also good on the outside and kicks the ball with some penetration. There’s a lot to like about Ben but he can be a little bit left-sided. Won Frankston’s best-and-fairest last year.
47. DARCY CAMERONRuckman, 204cm, 101kg, Claremont
Buckenara says: Cameron has been the No.1 ruckman for Claremont in the WAFL for a couple of years after coming through the under-18s system. He’s a big boy, has good skills and his ruck work has really improved. I think for a club looking for a back-up ruckman, which a lot are, he’d be a good fit.
46. ROWAN MARSHALLRuckman, 201cm, 97kg, North Ballarat VFL
Buckenara says: Marshall will turn 21 the day before the draft and would arrive as a ready-made back-up ruckman because he has the body already. He’s flexible in that he can play up forward and at centre half-back as well because he’s quite athletic for his size. He had a breakout year this year in the VFL and can take a mark and kick a goal because he has nice kicking skills for a big man but needs to improve his agility. I think he deserves an opportunity.
45. HARRY MORRISONDefender, 182cm, 73kg, Murray Bushrangers/Benalla
Buckenara says: A bit of a smoky, Morrison can play as an inside midfielder who has some football talent but he’s a bit slow across the ground. He’ll either get drafted or rookie-listed. Has recovered from an ACL injury last year and back issues this year.
44. JOSH BATTLETall forward, 192cm, 90kg, Dandenong Stingrays/Doveton/Haileybury
Buckenara says: Battle has a strong body already for a tall forward, he wins the footy against his own age group but the question will be whether he’s got the athletic tricks for the next level. His marking overhead and on the lead plus his work ethic are his biggest strengths and he certainly has performed well at TAC Cup level and been a good player for Dandenong. A club will have a look at him because of his size but he needs to continue to work on his fitness. He also needs to work on his agility below his knees because at times he looks like he doesn’t bend down and grab the footy and can look a bit slow as he has a wide turning arc.
43. SAM McLARTYDefender, 193cm, 93kg, Oakleigh Chargers/Beverly Hills JFC/ Yarra Valley GS
Buckenara says: McLarty had a bit of an interrupted season this year and missed a fair bit of footy. He can play as a tall defender or tall forward and already has a big body but I think the jury is out. Because there aren’t too many talls in this draft a club might have a look at him. His marking and agility are strengths.
42. JONTY SCHARENBERGMidfielder, 186cm, 80kg, Glenelg/PHOS Camden
Buckenara says: The brother of Magpie Matt Scharenberg, Jonty is a nice size for an inside midfielder, is good mover and one-on-one player. There are some question marks on his pace and agility but comes from a good pedigree and has reasonable footy skills it’s just a matter of whether he’s going to have that improvement in him that will make him a good AFL player.
41. JAKE WATERMANTall forward, 191cm, 82kg, Claremont/Aquinas College
Buckenara says: Nominated as a father-son by West Coast, Waterman is a tall forward who’s had a really good year. He’s got a pretty solid body, is athletic and has some genuine talent. I think a club will bid on him around this part of the draft and see if West Coast is keen.
40. DYLAN CLARKEMidfielder, 187cm, 85kg, Eastern Ranges/Knox/Melbourne GS
Buckenara says: For his size Clarke is very competitive and actually plays a bit taller than his height suggests and really throws his body around. He’s a smart kid and has the athleticism and traits clubs like as an inside midfielder who wins his own footy and plays with desperation. It wouldn’t surprise me if he ends up being a tagging-type player because he’s so disciplined. He needs to, however, address his kicking. Brother of Kangaroo Ryan Clarke.
39. JOE ATLEYMidfielder, 186cm, 84kg, Bendigo Pioneers/Rochester
Buckenara says: Brother of North Melbourne’s Shaun Atley, Joe is a midfielder who’s already a nice size at 186cm and 84kg. He’s a really hard-at-it contested ball winner, he’s unselfish and a real team player but sometimes he can make zany decisions on the field because he rushes a bit, which comes from the fact he’s so fanatical. I’d like to see him improve his kicking — his kick is a bit slow, it doesn’t get to its target quickly, which leaves it open to being cut off by the opposition and also lacks penetration. Aside from that he’s a nice player.
38. HARRISON MACREADIEDefender, 196cm, 89kg, Henty/GWS Academy
Buckenara says: A tall key defender, Macreadie is available to the Giants as an academy selection. He’s a good size, reads the play well and is versatile so he has some talent and I think he’ll develop well in a full-time environment. The query on him is his pace and at times lacks a bit of urgency out on the field but often that can be an issue with the NSW and Queensland academy players because they’re usually much better than the guys they’re playing against. Given there aren’t many key position types in this draft crop, he’ll be of interest to GWS and potentially other clubs as well.
37. PATRICK KERRTall forward, 194cm, 93kg, Oakleigh Chargers/Glen Iris/St Kevin’s
Buckenara says: Kerr has a strong body and plays as a tall forward who could also be groomed as a defender. He’s a nice player, I don’t think he’ll end up being a star but I think he’s got the ability to develop into a consistent AFL player. Is a good mark and accurate shot for goal.
36. CAM POLSONSmall forward, 177cm, 76kg, Sandringham Dragons/Haileybury Grammar
Buckenara says: Polson is a pretty clever player who has some traits that will be of interest to clubs but needs to be a bit more consistent in his efforts. Is another one of those lightly-built small forwards.
35. WILLEM DREWMidfielder, 188cm, 78kg, North Ballarat Rebels/Koroit
Buckenara says: A nice, smooth-mover and a player who makes good decisions, Drew uses the ball well. He has no trouble finding the footy, has good endurance and is very competitive. I think he’ll definitely be drafted.
34. JOSH DAICOS
Small midfielder/forward, 178cm, 69kg, Oakleigh Chargers/Bulleen Templestowe/Camberwell Grammar
Buckenara says: A father-son for Collingwood, I’d say Daicos will cost them more in terms of draft points than Callum Brown. He possesses a lot of traits similar to his father, Peter. He’s a bit inconsistent at the moment and his form dropped off towards the end of the year but he showed early he does have some tricks and traits clubs are looking for. He can kick a goal, is smart, has clean hands and has good skills. He’s a small forward who’ll take time to develop and I think the Pies will be patient and take their time with him. He will need to get into the gym and build his strength.
33. MYLES POHOLKEMidfielder, 184cm, 84kg, Dandenong Stingrays/Sorrento
Buckenara says: Another mid-sized strong bodied midfielder, I think he’ll be in the mix but it wouldn’t surprise me if he went at pick No.30 or pick No.60. Can play both inside and outside.
32. CEDRIC COXHalf-back, 184cm, 70kg, North Ballarat Rebels, Camperdown/Halls Creek
Buckenara says: Cox played senior footy down at Camperdown and came down to the Rebels program during the year and also played a couple of games with the North Ballarat Roosters in the VFL. He’s a quiet young man but a very determined young guy who is a beautiful kick on both sides of his body. He does have a lot to learn still in terms of footy but he can stop on a dime, he can do things not many others can and I think he’ll excite and be a player who will definitely be drafted.
31. WILL HAYWARDForward, 186cm, 76kg, North Adelaide/Walkerville
Buckenara says: A South Australian, Hayward has uncanny skills but isn’t the greatest kick. He’s a player who has got that athleticism clubs like — he’s a 2.94 second 20m sprinter and his vertical leap is very good, ranking third at the combine. His kicking and his physical strength isn’t where it needs to be but he does have some traits. I’d like to see him concentrate on his ball use a bit more because he can do some clever things.
30. LUKE RYANMidfielder, 185cm, 87kg, Coburg VFL
Buckenara says: The 20-year-old impressed with Coburg in the VFL this year as a big-bodied rebound defender/midfielder who uses the ball well. Ryan has good athleticism, is aware of what’s going on around him and has good instincts — he knows what to do when he’s out on the footy field.
29. TODD MARSHALLTall forward, 198cm, 87kg, Murray Bushrangers/Deniliquin
Buckenara says: Marshall is one of these kids who is a natural talent at most sports and played cricket in England last year before returning to focus on his footy. He’s a potential key forward but is still pretty raw in understanding his talent and the work ethic required to make it in the AFL but I think there’s enough there, because there is such a lack of good key tall talent this year, that someone will take him reasonably early. He’s agile, can take a big mark and his goal sense is pretty good.
28. SAM POWELL-PEPPERMidfielder, 186cm, 83kg, East Perth/Wesley College
Buckenara says: Powell-Pepper is a very powerful player with a great burst of speed and already has a strongly built body at 83kg. He’s a midfielder who can also play across half forward. He’ll need to work a bit more on his endurance and his kick because he doesn’t steady enough when he’s got the ball. In terms of having a big body and powerful turn of speed off the mark, he’s got some traits. I’m sure there will be a lot of interest in him.
27. JACOB ALLISONMidfielder, 194cm, 79kg, Aspley/Brisbane Lions Academy
Buckenara says: A member of Brisbane’s academy, at 194cm Allison is a tall midfielder with the height of a potential key position player — a forward — who is very lightly built so will need a lot of work in the gym to build up his body. There’s a lot of upside in him and I think there is some real potential there and a club might place a bid on him to keep the Lions honest.
26. ALEX WITHERDENHalf-back, 184cm, 78kg, Geelong Falcons/St Josephs
Buckenara says: A mid-sized player, Witherden is a rebound defender who makes good decisions and is composed both when he’s around the footy and when he’s got it. He just doesn’t panic under pressure and as a rebound defender Witherden has all the traits you look for — composure, good decision-maker, good kicking skills, clean hands and pace. Broke his leg this year and missed a lot of footy and whether there are any concerns over that remains to be seen.
BUCKY’S SMOKYS
Lloyd MeekTall forward/ruckman, 201cm, 102kg, North Ballarat/North Ballarat Rebels
Buckenara says: A very big lad who runs well and with a lack of talls in this draft, could definitely be drafted or rookie-listed.
Hisham KerbatiehSmall forward, 177cm 81kg, Northern Blues
Buckenara says: Played VFL all year after missing out on being drafted in 2015 and kicked goals. Is smart and competitive but needs to improve his endurance.
Callan WellingsDefender, 180cm, 72kg, North Ballarat Rebels/Trentham
Buckenara says: Missed early games 2016 but finished the year really well. Is disciplined, professional and has a great work ethic.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/gary-buckenaras-top-50-players-for-the-afl-draft-2016-part-one-5026/news-story/9d4d166d3f5767d1b146ffe9f29eed6a
