2021 Draft thread

[one-eyed]

Ben Hobbs (GWV Rebels)
Height: 183cm
Weight: 80kg

Had a stellar 2021 campaign despite the early finish, proving to be one of the top midfielders in the draft and a potential top-five selection.

A Horsham product, Hobbs was named in the midfield in the 2021 Nab League team of the Year following his impressive campaign with the Rebels and showing for Vic Country.

The Tigers are understood to be keeping an eye on the inside midfielder, touted as a comparable prospect to Trent Cotchin.

https://www.zerohanger.com/the-top-vic-country-prospects-for-the-2021-afl-draft-93186/

[one-eyed]

HeraldSun: Jay Clark's Top 10:

1. North - Jason Horne-Francis
2. WB - Sam Darcy (matched bid)
3. Coll - Nick Daicos (matched bid)
4. GWS - Finn Callaghan
5. GC - Josh Gibcus
6. Adel - Ben Hobbs
7. Haw - Josh Ward
8. Freo - Jay Amiss
9. Rich - Josh Rachele
10. Freo - Mac Andrew

https://www.bing.com/images/blob?bcid=S6F7lRt322EDhURAd9mbkXzBQdNI.....xk

[Rampsation]

If ward and hobbs are gone id go johnson not rachele

[Diocletian]

Yeah I'd much rather go for the potential Toby Greene than the potential Aaron Fiora myself but hey that's just me...

[one-eyed]

Ultimate guide: Who’s in the draft mix at every club

What draft picks does your club have? And, more importantly, what will it do with them? We look at every team’s picks, list needs and targets.

Paywall: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/draft/afl-draft-2021-ultimate-guide-every-clubs-picks-list-needs-and-targets/news-story/5b9dd13a585b04bd10493a09f8e8794f

[one-eyed]

How will Tigers play powerful draft hand?

Richmond is set to have its first top 10 pick since 2012. And the Tigers have a total of five selections inside the top 30. How will they use them?

Paywall: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/damien-hardwick-dustin-martin-and-a-string-of-young-stars-can-reignite-the-richmonds-premiership-dreams/news-story/72a755a0a8ef6ff7451df1946988789d

[pmac21]

Josh Sinns highlights looks good.  Wouldn't surprise us looking at him at 9

[Diocletian]

Should target Saints pick 9(11) with two of the second rounders & a future pick if need be then go:

7(9) -Rachelle

9(11) Goater

15 (17) NWM/Van Rooyen

Remaining second rounder - Williams/Butler/Chesser/Taylor/Bazzo

Freeman or a some hidden gem at 83 or upgrade Stack then rookie Freeman

Schlensog DFA

Easy Peasy Cheesy Peas....

[Diocletian]

Next year is a super draft for talls apparently:


https://twitter.com/EdPascoe_eDPS/status/1448408932678987776

Word is even the highest ranked talls in this draft would barely be second rounders in next year's...so wouldn't be all that fussed if we overlooked the talls this year and just loaded up on mids & mid-fwds (would still at least grab Schlensog though) 


Edit: Fixed link

[one-eyed]

Ultimate guide: Who’s in the draft mix at every club

What draft picks does your club have? And, more importantly, what will it do with them? We look at every team’s picks, list needs and targets.

Paywall: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/draft/afl-draft-2021-ultimate-guide-every-clubs-picks-list-needs-and-targets/news-story/5b9dd13a585b04bd10493a09f8e8794f

Here's what they say about Richmond:


Richmond

Draft picks: 7, 15, 26, 27, 28, 83

List needs: Inside midfielders, key forwards, outside speed, key defensive depth

Who could be available at first pick: Josh Rachele, Josh Ward, Ben Hobbs, Jye Amiss

Could be in the mix after that: Josh Goater, Josh Sinn, Zac Taylor, Angus Sheldrick, Jack Williams, Blake Howes, Greg Clark

Richmond is crying out for inside midfielders after being smashed in the clinches last season, ranking dead last for stoppage-clearance differential and 16th for contested-possession differential. Ball-winning machine Hobbs would suit the Tigers’ needs perfectly, but will he still be on the board at seven (nine after bids)? Ward, an ultra-consistent midfielder likened to Zach Merrett, could also impact right away and may be on offer, while Rachele has the match-winning traits as a forward-mid to be a superb option for the Tigers. Amiss is worth considering after the loss of Callum Coleman-Jones and Mabior Chol during the trade and free agency period. With five picks inside the top 30, Richmond could look to package selections to move up the board, but expect them to be sitting pretty either way with their strong hand. Line-breaking options Goater or Sinn may be available at the Tigers’ second pick, while draft bolter Sheldrick, a tough-as-nails 179cm midfielder, classy ball-user Taylor, roaming key forward Williams and wingman Howes look to be around the mark for their three picks in the 20s.

With 2022 looming as this group’s last shot at a premiership, could the Tigers take a punt on a mature-age midfielder? Former top-10 pick Nathan Freeman – who they showed interest in ahead of this year’s mid-season draft – or the 191cm Clark, the winner of the best-on-ground medal in Subiaco’s WAFL grand final, present as plug-in-and-play options.

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/draft/afl-draft-2021-ultimate-guide-every-clubs-picks-list-needs-and-targets/news-story/5b9dd13a585b04bd10493a09f8e8794f

[one-eyed]

Greg Clark:



As Subiaco celebrated its third premiership in four seasons, there was no doubt which player would be named Simpson Medalist for best afield for the grand final.

Number 12 Greg Clark, standing at 193 cm and 94 kg, walked away with 26 disposals, six marks, 14 tackles and two goals, but that’s par for the course for the three-time premiership player.

Wind the clock back to 2015 and Clark had captained the Western Australia U18 side in the National Championships, going into the draft as one of the well-written-about prospects, one the new breed of oversized midfielders.

Even after passing out of the national draft without being selected, he was still being touted alongside Will Snelling and Adam Marcon as morals for the rookie draft, but after 137 names were read out, his went uncalled.

Hindsight is 20/20, but for a draft with so many players that have washed out of the AFL, it just seems perverse that 18 teams could continually overlook his obvious attributes and achievements.

Read more: https://www.theroar.com.au/2021/10/17/greg-clark-the-mature-age-wafl-sensation-your-club-needs/

[one-eyed]

Why Dockers or Eagles might pull the trigger on a Calder Cannon gun Josh Goater.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/685521/why-dockers-or-eagles-might-pull-the-trigger-on-a-calder-cannon-gun

[Andyy]

Sounds like a gun (Clark) but does it translate to AFL. I'd be happy for the club to take a punt. Broady was a bit older when we took him.

[one-eyed]

South Australian draft prospect Matthew Roberts says he’s spoken to 16 AFL clubs ahead of November’s National Draft.

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2021/10/25/sa-draft-prospect-has-spoken-to-16-afl-clubs/

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Mac Andrew could be drafted as high as the top two.

Callum Twomey likened Andrew to Dees premiership player Luke Jackson.

“There are some similarities,” he acknowledged.

“Just in terms of what they’re able to do athletically… (but) he’s a really lean prospect at the moment, he’ll take time to get used to the cut and thrust of it all.

“There’s a lot of clubs with top ten picks who are looking at Mac Andrew, including the Giants at pick two.”

Paul Hasleby says the Dockers, equipped with picks 6 and 8 in the national draft, have their sights set on the 18-year-old.

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2021/10/25/the-two-clubs-circling-a-draft-prospect-likened-to-luke-jackson/

[one-eyed]

THE SA DRAFT PROSPECT WITH “MERCURIAL-TYPE ABILITY”

Arlo Draper is another South Adelaide product looking to realise his AFL dream in November’s National Draft.

The 18-year-old, who has been rated as a potential top 20 pick, suffered an AC joint injury in an Under-19 curtain raiser against Western Australia on Grand Final day, meaning he faces an interrupted first AFL pre-season.

Draper played two games for the Panthers at SANFL level and represented the club at reserves and Under-18 level, averaging 24.4 disposals and 6.6 clearances in the latter.

AFL Talent Ambassador Kevin Sheehan says the 185cm midfielder has some “exciting attributes” and “mercurial-type ability”.

“Arlo Draper’s an interesting one,” Sheehan told SEN SA’s Kymbo and The Rooch.

“He was a boy I first saw in the Under-16s over in Perth in 2019. He was playing on a back flank and Jason Horne-Francis was clearly the best player for SA that day, and Draper was the second best.

“But then he was injured and didn’t play the other couple of games as I recall. We’ve seen him play some good senior footy as a forward.

“He’s got some exciting attributes and mercurial type of ability, no doubt.”

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SA talent Matthew Roberts has also been touted as a top 20 draft prospect having impressed for the Panthers in the SANFL in the latter part of the season.

“I think he (Roberts) was their (SA’s) best player in the representative matches they played this year,” Sheehan said.

“He’s your safe bet. He’s a bit like Luke Dunstan, another boy from SA who has just been traded from St Kilda to Melbourne, a left footer who is a strongly built contested ball winner.

“Young Matty can get forward as he did in that Prelim Final where Jason Horne-Francis played so well, kicked a couple of goals in that game.

“He rises to every challenge. He’s a draftable player I think in the top 25.”

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2021/10/26/the-sa-draft-prospect-with-mercurial-type-ability/