Trade winds to affect draft
Emma Quayle | October 7, 2007
AFTER three days of running, jumping and selling themselves to AFL clubs, this year's best young footballers have started to fall into order. But for the first time in five years, next week's trade period will have a big say in where they launch their AFL careers.
If Carlton hangs tough, and holds on to its No. 1 pick, Matthew Kreuzer will become a Blue within the first few seconds of draft day. But if the Blues relinquish it to the Eagles, another player, such as onballer Trent Cotchin, could be the first name called.
If the Eagles settle for pick three, and Cotchin has been chosen by Richmond at No. 2, a West Australian onballer, Chris Masten, may be ushered right up the order. And then there is Cale Morton.
All year, Morton has been ranked a top-three pick, and he will be snapped up quickly on draft day. Rumours say the Tigers are keen on securing his older brother, West Coast player Mitch, during trade week. That, in turn, has created speculation they'll grab Morton at pick two, allowing Cotchin to slide to pick three and (depending on what Chris Judd gets West Coast) end up in Perth.
Until November 24, it is all speculation, though the draft camp last week made some things clear. Cotchin was unable to do anything but talk to clubs, having fractured a foot at the end of a dynamic finals series, when things came together for him. At his best, the 17-year-old slips through packs with clean hands, most times finding a teammate with either his right or left boot.
"He's an elite kick both feet," said AFL talent manager Kevin Sheehan. "Rare, you'd say. You rarely see a kid hit so many targets. He's got that little weave through the pack, he doesn't fall over and see can see things other people can't. He's been a key player wherever he's played."
Kreuzer took part, and was what he is. This is a good year for ruckmen who can run — together, the 10 rucks at the camp provided the best speed/endurance results in the camp's history — and the desperately competitive Northern Knight is right up front. Kreuzer is 199 centimetres, but ran the ninth-best three-kilometre time out of the 64 injury-free players, and the 10th best beep test (reaching level 14.2). It will be interesting to see whether he plays as a ruckman, whether he can play as a standard onballer and if he does find a genuine full-time spot.
Morton's 10.32 time trial, and 15.2, confirmed him as a tall, athletic runner. "He didn't have a great finals series and there are still areas of his game that can be improved upon," Sheehan said. "But he's a lovely size, a great athlete, and what we've seen with his footy through the year has been great."
Masten, a midfield accumulator, couldn't do any physical testing because of osteitis pubis. Brad Ebert, another solid onball prospect, had osteitis pubis, too, but is rated a first-round chance and could end up at Adelaide in some sort of square-up for the Cornes boys.
Palmer, who finished Masten's work so often during the under-18 championships this year, showed his endurance with a 10.25 time trial and a level 14.2 beep test. He's a little quicker than Masten, his East Fremantle teammate, but Masten gets more of the ball, and is thought by some to run harder defensively.
Lachie Henderson and Jarrad Grant are top-five chances, and interesting for different reasons. Henderson has had a broken leg this year, as well as other injury niggles; in his under-16 year, last season, he played in the forward line and would constantly present, then present again.
Grant seems to divide clubs; some would like him to be steadier, but he has pure talent, is quick (at 191 centimetres, he was the speediest over five metres at the camp) and plays with quick, clean hands. Ben McEvoy has more height, has evolved from a ruckman into a marking forward this year, and will be picked early after a great last half of the season. He's not quick, but he has good endurance, too, and the ball tends to stick in his hands.
