2021 Draft thread

[georgies31]

Charlie Dean be a good pick-up for us from Williamstown KP.

[Diocletian]

No to 7 + future 1st
Two for one is not ideal

Reasonable to be sceptical about trading away future picks but people forget that we can still get back into the draft during next year's trade & draft period and would probably have plans in place to do so...

[one-eyed]

The success rate of each top 10 pick.

https://www.zerohanger.com/the-success-rate-of-top-10-draft-picks-92075/

No. 9 Pick

Picks: Kayne Pettifer, Luke Molan, Hamish Mcintosh, David Trotter, Jordan Russell, Mitch Clark, David Armitage, Ben McEvoy, Jack Ziebell, Andrew Moore, Dion Prestia, Adam Tomlinson, Nick Vlaustin, Christian Salem, Darcy Moore, Sam Weideman

Average games played: 120
Average Brownlow votes: 13
Combined All-Australian selections: 1
Combined club best and fairest awards: 1

Overall, this spot inside the top 10 has delivered some very good team players which may lack the accolades of other spots. The lone All-Australian selection belongs to Darcy Moore, while the one club best and fairest belongs to Dion Prestia in Richmond's 2019 premiership year.

David Armitage, Ben McEvoy, Jack Zieball, Adam Tomlinson and Nick Vlaustin have all gone on to become vital players at their respective clubs, while Christian Salem seems to be entering his prime.

Key-forward Sam Weideman has looked to break onto the scene on multiple occasions but has battled with consistency. Still young, Weideman possesses real key position talent and could mould into a quality forward for the Demons.

[one-eyed]

Draft profile: Ben Hobbs

The bullish Rebels onballer is touted as the best inside midfielder in his class.

Mitch Keating
zerohanger.com
October 29, 2021
 
A ready-made midfielder more than capable of winning his own ball, Vic Country's Ben Hobbs firms as an early selection come draft night as he is seen as arguably the best inside midfielder on offer.

With the likes of Jason Horne-Francis and Nick Daicos looking already assigned to AFL clubs before next month's National Draft, Hobbs joins Sandringham Dragons best and fairest Finn Callaghan as the next names in the queue in what is a midfield-dominated class.

Hailing from the regional town of Horsham, Hobbs has been a constant force in the middle of a football field for years, having featured in his local team's senior premiership at the age of 15, almost claiming best afield honours.

A proven ball-magnet in the Nab League with the Rebels, Hobbs was able to take advantage of the short exposure pool this year in averaging 25 possessions per game and even claiming a place in the midfield of the 2021 Team of the Year.

Team: Greater Western Victoria Rebels
Position: Midfielder
Height: 183cm
Weight: 80kg

Strengths
Ball-winning ability
Power
Clearances
Leadership
Vision
Tackling
Ready-made

Weaknesses
Moving the ball by foot
Speed

Draft Range
5-10

Potential Landing Spots
Hawthorn (Pick 5), Richmond (Pick 7), St Kilda (Pick 9)

AFL Comparisons
Ben Keays
Jacob Hopper
Trent Cotchin

Expert Comments
"In a draft full of players dividing opinion among club recruiters, the majority are sold when it comes to Hobbs. A growing list of them rate the brave accumulator as the best pure inside midfielder in the pool." - Callum Twomey


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

Winning tough, contested footy is the key to Ben Hobbs game. Getting his name called on draft night will make all the sacrifices worth it. @GWVRebels
Watch: https://twitter.com/NABLeague/status/1417747368921890818

Next Generation Highlights:
Watch:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sR01R69wTog

https://www.zerohanger.com/draft-profile-ben-hobbs-93345/

[one-eyed]

Off the charts: The well-travelled draft prospect Josh Gibcus with a monster vertical leap.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/686164/off-the-charts-the-well-travelled-draft-prospect-with-a-monster-vertical-leap

[one-eyed]

Another phantom draft from one of BF's draft watchers (Chris25):

1. North Melbourne - Jason Horne-Francis
2. Western Bulldogs - Sam Darcy
3. Collingwood - Nick Daicos
4. Adelaide (trade up) - Finn Callaghan

No surprises yet. GWS do the 'right' thing and bid on Darcy and Daicos, then put their selection up for trade. Hawthorn, Richmond and Fremantle come calling for Finn Callaghan but Adelaide wins out with a future pick involved for the Giants to drop two spots.

5. Gold Coast - Josh Gibcus
6. Richmond (trade up) - Ben Hobbs

And GWS keep on trading down, willing to risk their player still being available while Richmond want to get ahead of Hawthorn to get whoever they prefer of Hobbs and Ward. What have they traded? Well I didn't think that far ahead. Probably either one of their seconds this year or a future pick.

7. Hawthorn - Josh Ward
8. Fremantle - Josh Rachele
9. GWS (trade down) - Mac Andrew

GWS want Mac Andrew, and they get him after trading down twice. The risk is Fremantle picking at 8, but I think they'll have Rachele and Amiss pencilled in.

10. Fremantle - Jye Amiss
11. St Kilda - Neil Erasmus
12. West Coast - Matthew Johnson
13. Essendon - Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera
14. Port Adelaide - Josh Goater

Still nothing overly different, Port Adelaide is perhaps the first real interesting pick. They could go local with Draper, which would allow Rozee and Butters to get more midfield time. Mitch Knevitt is being talked about a bit as well, but while I have them sticking with a tall midfielder I'll go with the extra speed and run of Goater.

15. GWS - Arlo Draper
16. Brisbane - Josh Sinn
17. Richmond - Tyler Sonsie
18. Sydney - Tom Brown
19. Melbourne - Mitch Owens
20. Brisbane - Zac Taylor

I'll lump these picks together because it's where the draft could go any number of ways. And the lack of any KPPs is probably the glaring omission. But I think Richmond and Sydney are both in prime positions to target the second round - both will no doubt come calling for Fremantle's #21. So instead they'll go for players they have rated higher in the first round and then see how things fall. Brisbane's #20 will also be a hotly contested trade piece, I think it's more likely they trade than pick but we'll see.

https://www.bigfooty.com/forum/threads/chris25s-2021-young-talent-time.1287669/post-72758760

[camboon]

That won’t happen, Hobbs might be first option but the other 5 players that Richmond could take are very close.
If we did this trade we wouldn’t gain much and miss out on someone like JVR , no thanks

[Diocletian]

- Trade the second rounders to 'aints for pick 9 & a future pick

- 7(9),9(11),15(17) 3 of Erasmus/Ward/Hobbs/Rachelle/NWM/Van Rooyan/Sonsie/Goater and er...Johnson.... I guess...


 - Choose two SSP's from Schlensog, Freeman,a kid or two that missed out and/or another highly rated state leaguer....leave a spot free for next year's MSD....

 

[Rampsation]

Dio and me disagree on Johnson. Based on the limited footage he looks ok. His a big mid. Dio can you explain why you dont rate him.

[Rampsation]

Itll be interesting for us at pick 15 (17) what we do with Fahey and if Zac Taylor is around at 26 what we do with him. With a bit of luck we could fix our midfield for the next 10 years. Im also hoping we take Bazzo with one of our picks in the 20s. Id rather use a future pick and say pick 28 this yearto try and get saints 9. Take 7 9 15 26 27 to the draft table.

[Diocletian]

Dio and me disagree on Johnson. Based on the limited footage he looks ok. His a big mid. Dio can you explain why you dont rate him.

As I said ..strong Fiora vibes for me...could be wrong and probably am, we'll see...

[one-eyed]

Zac Taylor article:

Why Cannons' B&F winner with high footy IQ is Taylor-made for AFL

https://www.afl.com.au/news/686220/why-cannons-b-f-winner-with-high-footy-iq-is-taylor-made-for-afl

[one-eyed]

Phillips said the salaries they receive are “awesome” and many draftees have very few expenses, due to the levels clubs go to look after them.

“Picks 1-20 you’re on a base salary of $105,000 a year, 21-40 you’re on $95,000 and 41 and up you then go onto $90,000 a year, and rookies are rookie listed at 85,000 a year,” he said.

“They get a bonus on top of that in terms of $4,000 per game bonus … if you’re a top 20 draft pick, you might average 10 games in your first season, so you’re looking at probably taking home $145,000 in your first year of football straight out of school, which is a fair wage.

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2021/11/01/the-huge-financial-sacrifice-afl-clubs-make-to-draft-a-player/

[one-eyed]

Even ‘Big Mac’ is surprised by his own meteoric rise

If you’d told Mac Andrew 12 months ago he’d be a potential top-10 pick in the 2021 draft, he “probably would have laughed” at you. Here’s the story behind his incredible rise.

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/draft/mac-andrew-opens-up-on-his-meteoric-rise-as-his-afl-draft-stocks-soar/news-story/9abf2f091c60a268079d2deb1a185b82

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Butler emerging from bro's shadow after hit that smashed him 'in half'

Sam Butler remembers the moment his big brother Dan won his first premiership.

He also remembers the scenes just after the Richmond's 2017 Grand Final victory, when Sam himself – then just 14 years of age – got his own piece of priceless premiership memorabilia.

"You know that photo with Dusty and Dane Swan in the rooms? I'm in the background. I was pretty happy about that one," Sam laughed.

Four years on, Sam has developed into a tough 184cm mid-forward and is on the cusp of making more of his own memories at this month's NAB AFL Draft after an impressive season with the Greater Western Victoria Rebels.

While the two brothers are vastly different players – Sam has grabbed the attention of AFL recruiters as a clean, courageous and no-fuss midfielder who can shift into attack, while Dan is a potent and unrelenting pressure forward – they lean on each other for everything.

"I had previously gone to Richmond during Year 10 for work experience as well. When I was there, I pretty much did what I was doing at St Kilda but I washed a few towels and that as well."

Sam has fans in the top-20 of the draft, while a host of clubs with picks in the early stages of the second round would also be eager for the youngster to slide through the first night on November 24.

The interest comes after a campaign where Champion Data notes that Sam ranked No.1 in the NAB League for contested possessions (9.2 per game), tackles (4.8 ) and goals (0.8 ) among all mid-forwards.

Clean on ground level and effective when he pushes forward, Sam's toughness and bravery was epitomised by a courageous contest back in April against the Murray Bushrangers that left him with a cracked sternum.

Full article: https://www.afl.com.au/news/686252/butler-emerging-from-bro-s-shadow-after-hit-that-smashed-him-in-half-

[one-eyed]

Draft Profile: Josh Gibcus

Get to know the best key-defender in this year’s draft class 👇

Mitch Keating
zerohanger.com
November 1, 2021

Greater Western Victoria's Josh Gibcus is a bonafide top 10 talent for the 2021 National Draft, firming as the leading key-defender in his class.

Given the smaller sample of tall full-time backmen elsewhere in the draft, Gibcus' value to AFL clubs is sure to be magnified as the count draws closer.

A threat in defence given his ability in the air to lock-down opposition forwards, gather the ball at ground level and negate and impact opposition forward entries for his team's benefit.

Was one of four GWV Rebels players to earn a spot in the NAB League Boys Team of the Year, taking the role of centre half-back.

Having shown plenty of composure on some difficult tasks throughout his career heading toward the AFL Draft, Gibcus looks to be a ready-made asset that can plug a hole in defence from next year, before blossoming into a substantial threat for any side down the road.

While his role when attacking may be an area for improvement, there is no questioning Gibcus' ability to hinder any oncoming onslaught and give his side the best chance of keeping opponent scores to a minimum.

Team: Greater Western Victoria Rebels
Position: Defender
Height: 195cm
Weight: 84kg

Strengths
Vertical
Lockdown defence
Intercept
Ability to impact attacking entries
Pressure

Weaknesses
Kicking
Transitioning into attack

Draft Range
2-8

Potential Landing Spots
Greater Western Sydney (Pick 2), Gold Coast (Pick 3), Hawthorn (Pick 5)

AFL Comparisons
Jordan Ridley
Sam Taylor
Tom Doedee

Expert Comments
"Clubs place a premium on intercept defenders and Gibcus' talents in the backline are obvious to all. The Rebels prospect models his game on Brisbane's Harris Andrews and Melbourne's Jake Lever, and there are similarities in their style with the leap and reading of the play." - Callum Twomey

https://www.zerohanger.com/draft-profile-josh-gibcus-93590/