Twomey has us getting Macrae at our first pick.
Callum Twomey's 2020 Phantom draft: Top 30By Callum Twomey
afl.com.au
8 December 2020THERE are a number of reasons that makes this perhaps the most uncertain NAB AFL Draft ever.
With a lack of football due to COVID-19, combined with the most compromised pool in history, recruiters who have watched games from afar and no NAB AFL Under-18 Championships, there are many varied views on players.
Add to that the presence of Jamarra Ugle-Hagan at the top end of the pool as a Next Generation Academy pick, injury concerns over other No.1 pick contenders, six clubs having multiple first-round selections and plenty of potential pick swaps lined up, and clubs will go into Wednesday night's draft with little clarity how it will unfold.
Here is our Phantom Draft top 30, as we predict where players will go, who will make bids on Academy prospects and how the top group will shape up. Note the draft order has changed in line with predictions on clubs moving up the order to match bids.
Below the top 30, AFL.com.au has also listed club-by-club whispers on who each team could target in the back half of the draft.
1. W.Bulldogs Jamarra UGLE-HAGAN
2. Adelaide Riley THILTHORPE
3. North Melb. Elijah HOLLANDS
4. Sydney Denver GRAINGER-BARRAS
5. Hawthorn Logan MCDONALD
6. Gold Coast Will PHILLIPS
7. Essendon Tanner BRUHN
8. Essendon Zach REID
9. Sydney Braeden CAMPBELL .... (matching Ess bid)
10. Essendon Oliver HENRY
11. Adelaide Reef MCINNES .... (Coll doesn't match Adel bid)
12. GWS Giants Nik COX
13. North Melb. Tom POWELL
14. Fremantle Brayden COOK
15. GWS Gaints Heath CHAPMAN
16. Collingwood Archie PERKINS
17. Port Adelaide Lachie JONES .... (matching GWS bid)
18. GWS Giants Bailey LAURIE
19. Collingwood Conor STONE
20. Richmond Finlay MACRAE
POS: Midfielder
Ht 186cm, Wt 78kg, DOB 13/3/02
From Oakleigh Chargers/Vic Metro
Macrae averaged 17 disposals a game in the NAB League last year playing mainly off a half-forward flank, and was due for far more time in the midfield in 2020. Everything Macrae does has polish: he can use the ball well on both feet and is also handy when he shifts forward. The younger brother of Western Bulldogs star Jack, Macrae is a very good size for a midfielder and impacts games with his touches. Ran 6:17 minutes in the 2km time trial. The rich would get richer if this one comes off.
If not him? The Tigers can sit pretty and see if Macrae is available. They have been linked as possible bidders on Swans Academy prospect Errol Gulden, while Conor Stone is another who looms as a chance. Max Holmes is a tiny chance if things fall a certain way. 22. Melbourne Jack CARROLL
22. Sydney Errol GULDEN .... (matching Melb bid)
23. Melbourne Max HOLMES
24. GWS Giants Luke PEDLAR
25. Hawthorn Connor DOWNIE .... (matching StK bid)
26. St Kilda Nathan O'DRISCOLL
27. Adelaide Caleb POULTER
28. Adelaide Liam KOLAR
29. Brisbane Jake BOWEY
30. GWS Giants Shannon NEALE
https://www.afl.com.au/news/527263/cal-twomey-s-2020-phantom-draft-top-30-late-picks-your-club-s-whispers