2017 AFL Draft thread

[one-eyed]

Inside Football's massive draft guide edition is out today.



What is featured this month…

17-Page Draft Guide
We profile over 200 prospects who took part in the AFL draft combines – and throw in the odd ‘smokey’ from the state leagues whose names could be called out on draft night, November 24.

Twenty Good Men
Led by former Port Adelaide, Hawthorn and St Kilda recruiter and list manager Chris Pelchen, Pro Scout International has been tracking and ranking this year’s youngsters ahead of the AFL National Draft. It reveals the predicted top 20.

A question of character
When it comes to successful recruiting, talent spotting is only half of the job. Recruiters increasingly want to select players they consider to be made of the right stuff – to have leadership qualities and resilience. An interview with the family is not necessarily to discover more about the son, but to assess the family dynamics. As Nathan Burke explains, this has become a crucial aspect of the decision-making of AFL clubs.

What price a top 10 pick?
Recruitment, it’s often been said, is an inexact science, and even in the age of media saturation and instant communication this holds true. Despite the resources poured into talent and identification programs, recruiting comes with no guarantees.

Drafting ruckmen? That’s a stretch!
Despite dire predictions, the game has always found a place for its tallest citizens, albeit with growing requirements on fitness and general skills. But recent trends have consequences for recruiters and young ruckmen in the national draft like Sam Hayes.

WAFL | Best of the west
The three mature-aged recruits who can step straight into AFL senior teams.

SANFL | Slim pickings in South
Glenelg youngster the standout in a shallow pool of SA draft prospects.

NEAFL | Northern exposure
The NEAFL is poised to provide a number of mature-aged and academy prospects to the AFL drafts.


All this and more in the November issue of Inside Football magazine.

ON SALE 6 NOVEMBER at your local newsagent, Woolworths, Coles, 7-Eleven, Caltex and Coles Express for just $6.95.

https://www.sen.com.au/inside-football/

[one-eyed]

clubs reluctant to use early picks on ruckmen.

...and rightly so....

Richmond could look at Hayes with one of its first three picks – No.17, 20 and 25 –

SEN says Freo are keen on Hayes.

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2017/11/05/top-five-prospect-not-fazed-by-possible-move-west

[one-eyed]

Chris Pelchen, in the latest Inside Football draft guide, has us taking Hayes and Balta with picks 17 & 20. I'm presuming he thinks Naish will last to pick 25.

1. Bris - Luke Davies-Uniacke
2. Freo - Paddy Dow
3. Carl - Cameron Rayner
4. North - Jaidyn Stephenson
5. Freo - Adam Cerra
6. Coll - Aaron Naughton
7. St.K - Andrew Brayshaw
8. St.K - Aiden Bonar
9. Dogs - Nick Coffield
10. Carl - Darcy Fogarty
11. GWS - Jarrod Brander
12. Adel - Hunter Clark
13. WCE - Oscar Allen
14. Syd - Nathan Murphy
15. Bris - Charlie Constable
16. Dogs - Jack Higgins

17. Richmond - Sam Hayes
A dual Under 18 All-Australian, Hayes is more of a marking forward than a ruckman at this stage. His imposing size and desire for the front position makes him a hard match-up; he is a "one-grab" mark and reliable set-shot-kick. Hayes is still learning the ruck craft in terms of his positioning, changing the angles and follow-up and needs to build core strength. This will come, as will the ruck nuances, because he has the tools and is a smart footballer. His ability to cover the ground commands attention. His Nationals GPS data was below standard, while his 2km time trial of 8.20 minutes at the Draft Combine has done him no favours. However, the bottom line is that Hayes has enormous upside. The club that drafts him will simply need patience.

18. Bris - Lochie O'Brien
19. GC - Sam Taylor

20. Richmond - Noah Balta
Balta divides the recruiting fraternity. His athleticism and explosiveness is rare for a player of his size and he has the physique to play Round 1 next year. Conversely, his lack of game sense means that the difference between his best and worst is considerable. Balta's ability to perform the freakish is uncanny, whether it be taking a screamer in the goalsquare, displaying cat-like agility to pounce on the loose ball or bursting away from opponents. Due to his inconsistency, Balta's coaches would often rotate him through a number of positions in an attempt to get more involved. During the Nationals he played mostly as a lockdown key defender. In this respect some parallels can be drawn between himself and a young and raw Alex Rance, who took time to find his feet.     

[Diocletian]

Let's hope he's only half right....

[tony_montana]

No thanks on Hayes, really hope we don’t draft him

[Diocletian]

Apparently the word is that Matthew Clarke loves him.....

[Dougeytherichmondfan]

8.20 for 2k is a disgrace. Average blokes run faster km's over marathons.

[tigercast]

On Monday night i had a podcast with 2 of the guys from AFL Draft Central to talk about the upcoming draft.

they gave their top 20 players rankings, an in depth review on 10 players (5 each) and finished off with a mock draft of the 1st round and some Patrick Naish talk at the end.

you can check it out here:

https://www.spreaker.com/user/bigfooty.com

[tony_montana]

8.20 for 2k is a disgrace. Average blokes run faster km's over marathons.

wow thats terrible. Have heard that his aerobic capacity is so far off and is what has put a lot of clubs off - that confirms it. stuff that we had to put up with Vickery for how many years, do not want another turd sitting in the pocket calling for the 60 metre bomb over the top

[WilliamPowell]

Hayes was interviewed on the SEN breakfast show either last Friday or Monday this week

Can't remember the day 

Anyways....FWIW

He admitted his combine trials results and his overall season stats weren't great and they were things he needed to work on. Said being in a AFL system is what he needs to improve these things

Also mentioned something about not taking up footy as his main sporting focus until his mid teens.

The main area he is supposed to good at for a big bloke is "below the knees"

[YellowandBlackBlood]

The main area he is supposed to good at for a big bloke is "below the knees"

So is Joel Garner..... 

[Diocletian]

Calling Hayes another Vickery is kind....looks more like another Hamspud....

[Hard Roar Tiger]

The main area he is supposed to good at for a big bloke is "below the knees"

So is Joel Garner..... 

That's because his balls drop below his knees 

[tdy]

Are we interested in any delisted players does anyone know?
In the other drafts I mean rookie etc

[one-eyed]

Twomey on the AFL website only sees us considering Hayes at pick 25. Brander would need to be taken at 17 if we wanted him.

http://www.afl.com.au/draft/road-to-the-draft