2020 AFL Draft

[one-eyed]

Have a look at Liam Kolar and let me know your thoughts ( late round)

Liam Kolar


Image Credit: Andy Brownbill/News Corp

Height:            195cm
Weight:             82kg
Current Team:   Northern Knights
Birthday:          April 23, 2002

POSITION: Key Forward/Wing

DRAFT ANALYSIS: “A raw multi-sport athlete with high scope for improvement, Kolar looms as a prospective bolter in this year’s draft pool.” – Michael Alvaro

Having transitioned to football from a soccer and athletics background, Northern Knights prospect Liam Kolar has enjoyed a steep rise in his short career. The 195cm athlete made the most of a late call-up on NAB League debut last year, showing glimpses of his potential up forward and even rotating through the ruck. His form was enough to warrant playing out the remaining two games with Northern, but a couple of strong preseason outings in 2020 truly cemented Kolar’s spot on the AFL Draft radar. The 18-year-old’s testing data would have turned heads, and makes for a solid base for him to improve his football upon. Though unable to show his wares on-field as a top-ager, Kolar earned a National Combine invite and is a talent to keep an eye on.

STRENGTHS:

Vertical leap
Athleticism
Endurance
Versatility
Scope

IMPROVEMENTS:

Raw/strength
Football craft

Despite the small sample size provided, it is clear that Kolar boasts all the athletic attributes which recruiters value. He ticks every box; as a lead-up key forward he is quick off the mark and has a sizeable vertical leap, while also proving agile enough to operate further afield and impact at ground level. His endurance base, highlighted by preseason results of 6:09 across 2km and 21.7 in the yo-yo test, also suits the modern game in a range of roles. It ultimately plays into Kolar’s versatility, with the potential to utilise that running capacity and speed up on a wing once his game sense improves. His effort to come into Northern’s side so late last season, adjust to the rigours, and compete against players who had been out there consistently is also testament to his elite athletic attributes – not to mention a high rate of improvement.

Outgoing Knights talent manager Rhy Gieschen identified Kolar as one to watch during preseason, noting his unique all-round athleticism and raw potential. One particular moment in preseason stood out, playing against reigning the NAB League premier, Oakleigh. In a Northern win, Kolar dashed forward with multiple running bounces, burned an opponent and thumped home one of his two goals from 50 metres out. Having returned a relatively low output in his initial Under 18s stint, such eye-catching plays are what make those at the top level take notice.

While he would prove somewhat of a speculative choice come draft time, Kolar could really be anything if provided the right support. The next and most significant step in his development will be to hone his football knowledge and craft, things which typically come with experience. After all, it is all well and good being able to run, jump, and weave, but you must be able to play the game above all else. Kolar has adjusted well to the elite Under 18s pathway, so should have confidence in his ability to maintain that trend as he climbs the ranks. Whether Kolar develops into a modern day centre half-forward, wingman, or mobile utility, there is plenty for AFL clubs to work with.

There are still a few things Kolar may look to enhance as he improves his overall craft. Somewhat rangy and lightly built, his one-on-one positioning and strength will be important for key position roles, while also allowing him to utilise his athleticism more effectively. His speed off the mark and vertical leap would be an unstoppable combination when presenting at the ball, but Kolar is sometimes caught behind or in a spot where he is unable to leap at the ball. These are things a few preseasons and experience at the top level will easily fix. Understanding the right leading patterns and when to take the game on from further afield will also come more naturally to him over time, hopefully aiding his overall output and consistency in the process.

DRAFT PROJECTION: Late-Rookie

It would take a brave club to back in the Northern Knights product with just three games of NAB League football under his belt, though Kolar’s elite athletic base across each department has many high on his potential. Having earned a National Combine invite, Kolar is clearly in the frame as a draft chance and has piqued the interest of recruiters. His lack of runs on the board has him pitted as a very late or rookie possibility at this point, and he would be a long-term choice made on upside. Given the NAB League’s extension to an Under-19 competition, Kolar could also be one to set the Victorian ranks alight should he miss out in 2020.

HIGHLIGHTED TESTING RESULTS:

Preseason:
Running Vertical Jump (R/L) – 83cm/82cm
Speed (20m) – 3.04 seconds
Endurance (yo-yo) – 21.7

NAB League Boys
Season   Team   K   HB   D   M   CP   UP   T   HO   CLR   I50   R50   GL   GM   K   H   D   M   HO   T   G   DC
2019   Northern Knights   10   6   16   8   3   12   4   1   0   5   0   1   3   3.3   2.0   5.3   2.7   0.3   1.3   0.3   28

https://afl.draftcentral.com.au/player/liam-kolar/

[one-eyed]

AFL to have one mid-season rookie draft in 2021

Peter Ryan
The Age
December 1, 2020 — 1.55pm

The mid-season rookie draft will remain in similar format to 2019 after the AFL consulted clubs and the AFL Players Association about the feasibility of running three in 2021.

The decision means clubs will still have next week's national draft, the pre-season and rookie drafts, the pre-season supplemental selection period and the mid-season rookie draft available as opportunities to add players to their lists between now and the middle of the season.

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/the-afl-to-have-one-mid-season-rookie-draft-in-2021-20201201-p56jjx.html

[one-eyed]

Draft Central twitter
@DraftCentralAus

DRAFT GUIDE | The wait is over! Draft Central’s 2020 AFL Draft Guide is now out and able to be downloaded. With 140+ pages, get to know this year’s #AFLDraft crop ahead of next week’s draft.

Check it out 👀⬇️



https://afl.draftcentral.com.au/2020-afl-draft-guide/

[one-eyed]

Cal Twomey's Top 30 phantom draft guide - December update

afl.com.au
2 December 2020

1. Jamarra Ugle-Hagan .... 194cm/84kg   4/4/02   Key forward   Oakleigh Chargers/Vic Metro (NGA Bulldogs)
2. Logan McDonald .......... 196cm/85kg   4/4/02   Tall forward  Perth/Western Australia
3. Elijah Hollands ...……….. 188cm/85kg  25/4/02   Mid/forward   Murray Bushrangers/Vic Country
4. Riley Thilthorpe ...……... 200cm/99kg   7/7/02   Key forward   West Adelaide/South Australia
5. Denver Grainger-Barras  195cm/78kg  17/4/02   Key defender  Swan Districts/Western Australia
6. Will Phillips ......…………... 180cm/79kg  22/5/02   Midfielder    Oakleigh Chargers/Vic Metro
7. Archie Perkins ...……..... 186cm/77kg  26/3/02   Mid/forward   Sandringham Dragons/Vic Metro (+3)
8. Braeden Campbell …...... 180cm/73kg   4/2/02   Midfielder    Swans Academy/Allies   
9. Lachie Jones ......…….... 185cm/88kg   9/4/02   Defender/mid  Woodville-WT/South Australia (NGA Port)
10. Tanner Bruhn .........…... 182cm/73kg  27/5/02   Midfielder    Geelong Falcons/Vic Country (-3)
11. Zach Reid ...………......... 202cm/82kg   2/3/02   Key defender  Gippsland Power/Vic Country
12. Nik Cox .........………..... 199cm/82kg  15/1/02   Key fwd/def   Northern Knights/Vic Metro (+4)
13. Oliver Henry ......………... 188cm/76kg  29/7/02   Forward       Geelong Falcons/Vic Country (-1)
14. Heath Chapman .......... 193cm/81kg  31/1/02   Key defender  West Perth/Western Australia (-1)
15. Finlay Macrae ...……...... 184cm/75kg  13/3/02   Midfielder    Oakleigh Chargers/Vic Metro
16. Alex Davies ......………... 191cm/85kg  18/3/02   Midfielder    Gold Coast Academy/Allies (-2)
17. Tom Powell ................ 183cm/74kg  02/03/02  Midfielder       Sturt/South Australia
18. Brayden Cook ……........ 188cm/74kg  18/7/02   Forward/mid   South Adelaide/South Australia (+1)
19. Reef McInnes ...……...... 192cm/84kg  12/12/02  Mid/forward   Oakleigh Chargers/Vic Metro (NGA Collingwood) (+1)
20. Joel Jeffrey ......………... 192cm/78kg  12/3/02   Fwd/defender  NT Thunder/Allies (Suns Academy) (-2)
21. Jack Carroll ...………...... 188cm/79kg  20/12/02  Midfielder    East Fremantle/Western Australia
22. Connor Downie ...…..... 185cm/83kg  31/5/02   Midfielder    Eastern Ranges/Vic Metro (NGA Hawthorn) (+1)
23. Bailey Laurie ...……….... 178cm/76kg  24/3/02   Forward/mid   Oakleigh Chargers/Vic Metro (back into top 25)
24. Errol Gulden ...………..... 171cm/71kg  18/7/02   Mid/forward   Sydney Academy/Allies (-2)
25. Nathan O'Driscoll ……... 187cm/76kg  17/5/02   Midfielder    Perth/Western Australia (back into top 25)
26. Connor Stone ............. 189cm/83kg  22/4/02   Forward      Oakleigh Chargers/Vic Metro (new)
27. Caleb Poulter .............. 192cm/79kg  12/10/02  Midfielder   Woodville West Torrens/South Australia (new)
28. Blake Coleman ............ 180cm/79kg   6/8/02    Forward      Brisbane Academy/Morningside
29. Zavier Maher .............. 185cm/82kg    5/5/02   Midfielder     Murray Bushrangers/Vic Country (-4)
30. Zane Trew ......……....... 187cm/78kg  26/4/02   Midfielder    Swan Districts/Western Australia (-6)

https://www.afl.com.au/news/526016/cal-twomey-s-phantom-form-guide-december-update

[one-eyed]

Every pick your club has and who they should draft with them

Paywall: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/afl-draft-2020-every-pick-your-club-has-and-who-they-should-draft-with-them/news-story/8f3119b89b78401a4e25eb85581feb1b


ps. If someone can post the Richmond part it would be much appreciated .

[Diocletian]

Here ya go:

RICHMOND

DRAFT PICKS: 17, 36, 61, 79, 97

Imagine being the back-to-back reigning premiers and getting the opportunity to have Maurice Rioli Jr walk through the doors. Is it any wonder Richmond fans are buoyed by the club’s chances of a hat-trick next year? Rioli had the choice of three clubs – the Tigers and Fremantle under the father-son rule and Essendon via its Next Generation Academy. But the lure to play alongside his cousin Daniel has always been strong. Clubs can still bid on Rioli Jnr at the draft but Richmond has the option to match those bids. The Tigers could also look to speculative picks in order to seek long-range replacements for Bachar Houli and Jack Riewoldt in years to come.

– Glenn McFarlane

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/afl/afl-draft-2020-every-pick-your-club-has-and-who-they-should-draft-with-them/news-story/8f3119b89b78401a4e25eb85581feb1b

PRO TIP : For some reason it's a lot easier to find programs that get around the Daily Telegraph's paywall than it is the HUN's...

[one-eyed]

Cheers for that, Dio  .

------------------------------------------

Foxfooty.com.au has found there will be approximately 53 selections taken on draft night, with 12 of them likely to be bids on players already tied to AFL teams.

Richmond: 17, 36, 61, 79, 97 (likely to use two or three picks)

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-draft-2020-afl-draft-order-draft-picks-afl-draft-prospects-best-players-pick-1-contenders-list-of-academy-and-father-son-picks/news-story/5c39f40820b2f54c591b471c957d3a74

[one-eyed]

Pics of today's training session for Victorian draftees in front of AFL club recruiters:

https://www.aflphotos.com.au/galleries/results/?q=collection:AFL%202020%20Media%20-%20NAB%20AFL%20Draft%20Victoria%20Training%20Day

No MRJ from the photos.

[one-eyed]

Callum Twomey in his draft live chat today reckons we'll only use two picks (including MRJ). So that's just one live pick.

He also thinks we may be one of the clubs on draft night looking to do a live swap of pick(s) for a future (2021) pick.

--------------------------------

Q. Cal, I believe it's great karma for my beloved Tigers to snare another big kid from Tassie, what are your thoughts re: Jackson Callow?

Twomey: Tigers might only take two picks, and one of those might be Maurice Rioli Jr, so I can't see Callow being an early option.

---------------------------

Twomey: Would be smart for Hawks to try to push up but the issue is clubs have gone cold on going back down the order. Most are actually looking to swap picks into the future - the Crows and Melbourne are a couple who could look at that, as may Richmond. But that takes a buyer who wants to trade a future pick, and at the moment Collingwood is the only one.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/527152

[pmac21]

Unless they think a bid will come early for MRJ I would be disappointed if we traded out of this draft.  There looks to be some good mids available at 17 based on the phantoms.
I do think pick 17 plus MRJ would do though.  Keep a spot open or go in with the minimum list.

[one-eyed]

Scouting notes: Who impressed at Vic draft trial?

More than 50 of Victoria’s best draft hopefuls were put through their paces in front of a crowd of AFL recruiters. Who were the standouts?

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/afl-draft-2020-player-manager-colin-youngs-nervous-wait-as-son-logan-becomes-a-contender/news-story/88d76abaa7586821d9c50ce2db303f1f

[one-eyed]

Revealed: Every player in 2020 AFL national draft

More than 1000 players have put their names forward for this year’s AFL national draft.

Search our database for every single one of them.

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/localfooty/more-than-1000-players-nominate-for-2020-afl-national-draft/news-story/120858c6a791bd97d70db0a2c058506f

[Diocletian]

Poster on BF reckons Ethan Baxter has chosen cricket over footy...

BF poster was apparently wrong...has nominated for the draft...good chance we'll take him as a Cat B rookie...

[Knighter]

Poster on BF reckons Ethan Baxter has chosen cricket over footy...

BF poster was apparently wrong...has nominated for the draft...good chance we'll take him as a Cat B rookie...

Sounds like a game of cat and mouse going on

[one-eyed]

The glaring need every AFL club simply must fill at the Draft

December 5, 2020
by David Zita
FOX SPORTS

As the draft draws closer, each club will be most likely be looking to address one or more glaring weaknesses and future-proof itself as veteran stars depart.

Despite the success of some clubs, there’s always room to improve and always a diamond in the rough waiting to be found.

Foxfooty.com.au has assessed every club’s need in the upcoming draft, with the help of Champion Data.

RICHMOND

Not too much ... life after Jack

Ranked 15th for points from stoppages and 17th for clearance differential. With a club that’s won three of the last four premierships, though, it’s not exactly a glaring need to address these issues, particularly when the Tigers have shown the ability to alter their output as needed. It’s not a pressing issue yet, but getting another tall forward prospect in for life after Jack Riewoldt could be good recruiting, with Matt Allison one that could tempt the Tigers.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-draft-2020-what-every-club-needs-in-the-draft-draft-order-club-by-club-predictions-analysis-lists/news-story/336c96c6a3faca69c470b4d86f574561