2018 Draft | PUNT ROAD END | Richmond Tigers Forum
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2018 Draft

tigerman

It's Tiger Time
Mar 17, 2003
24,345
19,913
It's never too early, might as well get the discussion going now.


This is Knightmare from Espn Top 20 AFL draft prospects for the 2018 draft.

http://www.espn.com.au/afl/story/_/id/21565075/knightmare-top-20-afl-draft-prospects-2018


Zane Barzen
Athletic medium forward with agility and a good leap. Reads the ball in flight effectively and possesses very sticky hands overhead. He is a very dangerous target inside 50m and is also able to push back and intercept

Thomas Berry
Younger brother of Brisbane's Jarrod. Strong contested ball-winner with impressive pace and agility. Dodges and weaves through traffic easily like it is second nature. Among Greater Western Victoria's best players in eight of his 11 games.

Nick Blakey
Son of John Blakey. Eligible to be selected by North Melbourne or Brisbane as a father-son selection or Sydney as an Academy selection. Blakey is a tall, athletic utility at 194cm who likely develops into a key forward. Starred for Sydney during division two of the Under-18 Championships.

Jack Bytel
Arguably the most advanced stoppage player in the 2018 draft crop. Bytel averaged an impressive 28 disposals, 14 contested possessions, seven clearances and six tackles per game. He is also capable forward of centre, using his body effectively in the contest and also averaging close to one goal per game.

Jye Caldwell
A skilful midfielder who uses the ball effectively on both sides. Highly productive through the midfield and effective at stoppages. Also able to push forward and hit the scoreboard. Caldwell was named Victoria Country's Under-16 MVP.

Jackson Hately
Productive midfielder who averaged 19.5 disposals for South Australia during the Under-18 Championships. Has the versatility to also play forward or back. He is a strong overhead mark and possesses clean skills, vision and is a sound decision maker under pressure.

Ian Hill
Starred for Western Australia during the Under-18 Championships with his acceleration, agility, evasiveness, one-touch ground-ball winning and skills humbling opponents. He finds plenty of the football averaging 23 disposals in the WAFL Colts and is a high-impact-per-possession player.

Tom Joyce
High production midfielder who is an effective contested ball-winner despite a light frame. Was a driving force for Western Australia during the Under-18 Championships averaging 21 disposals per match.

Ben King
Key defender standing at 201cm. Strong contested mark, averaging one per game in the TAC Cup. Stood tall in final against Oakleigh with 10 marks (four contested). Also has the capacity to play forward.

Max King
Imposing key forward at 201cm. Very difficult at his height to defend with his long arms. He takes front position in marking contests and often draws free kicks. He's a strong overhead mark, regularly taking it at the highest point. His leap, leading patterns and mobility also are impressive. Four goals against Oakleigh including six marks (four contested) an early season highlight.

Jack Lukosius
The most exciting key forward in recent memory. Lukosius is a Nick Riewoldt clone who simply cannot be defended. If you stay back and don't chase him up the field, he will endlessly take marks up the field. If you chase him up the field, he will push forward and punish you. A simply special player who will be in the pick one conversation in 2018. Four goals on SANFL League debut in a final a sign of things to come.

Dillon O'Reilly
Key forward who kicked 46 goals from 17 WAFL Colts games and also received a couple of WAFL League opportunities at season's end. A damaging forward who is effective both on the lead and as a contested marking target forward of centre. Had an impressive season coming off limited preparation and is expected to take the next step in 2018.

Izak Rankine
Avoids and manoeuvres around players smoothly with rare evasiveness, agility, acceleration, change of direction and anticipation. He is freakish with his ground ball pickups, possesses reliable skills under pressure and also hits the scoreboard in bunches. His production is strong and he is a proven contested ball winner. Complete package and the early front-runner for the No. 1 selection in 2018 after 10 exciting SANFL League matches.

Connor Rozee
Highly skilled forward and midfielder who executes effectively by foot, has the vision to spot up targets inside 50m and finishes effectively around goal. Strong mark overhead with sticky hands. Freakish at ground level with his pickups, acceleration and change of direction. His commitment to pressuring the ball carrier and laying tackles in the front half is also first rate.

Bailey Scott
Son of Robert Scott and eligible as a father-son selection for Geelong and North Melbourne. Also eligible as an academy prospect for Gold Coast. Utility who can win the ball through the midfield, provide a target up front and hit the scoreboard or provide drive off half-back.

Curtis Taylor
Classy midfielder/forward who lowers his eyes and brings teammates into the game. Possesses hurt factor with ball in hand with his agility and movement through traffic a highlight. He's also a strong mark overhead, averaging one goal per game.

Tarryn Thomas
Highly touted Tasmanian who is part of the North Melbourne Next Generation Academy. Lightly bodied but explosive line-breaker who takes on the game at every opportunity. Shows a strong commitment to pressuring the ball carrier and laying tackles

Sam Walsh
Averaging 29 disposals for Geelong Falcons in the TAC Cup and 20.5 for Victoria Country through the Under-18 Championships, Walsh is arguably the most prolific midfielder in the 2018 draft class. Able to play inside or outside, he has strong contested ball-winning capabilities and also breaks the lines on the outside.

Rhylee West
Son of Scott, eligible as a Western Bulldogs father-son prospect. Possesses a strong body already and is a good contested ball-winner through the midfield. A reliable ball user and also able to push forward.

Bailey Williams
High-leaping ruckman who elevates so high at each ruck contest that you think he is taking a specie. Also a dangerous marking target up forward with the way he attacks the ball in flight. Williams kicked 15 goals from 17 TAC Cup games.
 

tigertim

something funny is written here
Mar 6, 2004
30,108
12,526
Be interesting how these kids fare in November’s draft.
 

tigerman

It's Tiger Time
Mar 17, 2003
24,345
19,913
bullus_hit said:
Looks like Barzen, plays like Zane.

Quite a few likely types, Hill, Bytel, Walsh, Hately, Joyce, Lukosius, Rozee and Taylor to name a few. I'll be following the dual sided Caldwell with interest as he comes from the dual sided Dusty and Diesel Williams territory.
 

bullus_hit

Whatchu talkin about Jack?
Apr 3, 2006
15,227
5,668
tigerman said:
Quite a few likely types, Hill, Bytel, Walsh, Hately, Joyce, Lukosius, Rozee and Taylor to name a few. I'll be following the dual sided Caldwell with interest as he comes from the dual sided Dusty and Diesel Williams territory.

Rankine & Lukosius the standouts, love to get my mitts on the number 1, nothing more certain than a fresh round of tanking this year. The King twins will also attract plenty of interest.
 

footballmonk

Tiger Matchwinner
Oct 7, 2008
668
347
Looks like there are going to be a lot more f/s and academy players at the top end than there were last year. For us this could be our last ‘open’ draft for a while with potentially Xavier Naish in 2019 and Maurice Jr in 2020.
 

tigerman

It's Tiger Time
Mar 17, 2003
24,345
19,913
footballmonk said:
Looks like there are going to be a lot more f/s and academy players at the top end than there were last year. For us this could be our last ‘open’ draft for a while with potentially Xavier Naish in 2019 and Maurice Jr in 2020.

Geelong almost had another father son in Dillon O'Reilly, his father Stephen played 98 games for them, he's a promising type too.
 

footballmonk

Tiger Matchwinner
Oct 7, 2008
668
347
The U18 State Championship fixtures are out. I don’t think I’m allowed to post the link as it’s from the AFL site, but it’s easily google-able. Notable fixtures are Vic Metro v Vic Country at the MCG on Saturday June 24th (when Richmond have a bye) and a double header at Etihad on Wed July 4th. Not sure why they’re playing the former at the G as it was great fun at Punt Road last year, but will probably now be completely atmosphere-less.
 

Scoop

Tiger Legend
Dec 8, 2004
25,008
14,267
Think Spook said it last year and he is bang on.

We went tall in 2017 with the picks we had and there was great value. This year the first two rounds will be littered with quality talls. As always there will be some quality mids and this may be a year that a few quality mids get shuffled back latter than normal. And we pounce maximising our picks.
 

bullus_hit

Whatchu talkin about Jack?
Apr 3, 2006
15,227
5,668
That's why I was so keen on Sam Taylor, wanted a tall defender in the system as early as possible. Still not entirely convinced Miller will be that man even though he was the right pick at that stage in the draft. In any case I think there will be some good players around our pick, more than likely talented mids.
 

Blind Turn

Tiger Superstar
Mar 19, 2014
1,158
0
bullus_hit said:
That's why I was so keen on Sam Taylor, wanted a tall defender in the system as early as possible. Still not entirely convinced Miller will be that man even though he was the right pick at that stage in the draft. In any case I think there will be some good players around our pick, more than likely talented mids.

I know you liked Naughton Bully. You were dead on.
He looks like an absolute beauty. Took a sensational mark 4 deep today against Colonwood.
 

Tony Braxton-Hicks

There are no stupid ideas, just stupid people
Aug 10, 2004
12,196
7,937
The Playboy Mansion
SCOOP said:
Think Spook said it last year and he is bang on.

We went tall in 2017 with the picks we had and there was great value. This year the first two rounds will be littered with quality talls. As always there will be some quality mids and this may be a year that a few quality mids get shuffled back latter than normal. And we pounce maximising our picks.

Who are some of the talls, Scoop?
 

bullus_hit

Whatchu talkin about Jack?
Apr 3, 2006
15,227
5,668
Blind Turn said:
I know you liked Naughton Bully. You were dead on.
He looks like an absolute beauty. Took a sensational mark 4 deep today against Colonwood.

I rated Naughton at 23 which is a little lower than his eventual draft position.

1. Luke Davies-Uniacke (4)
2. Jaidyn Stephenson (6)
3. Andrew Brayshaw (2)
4. Adam Cerra (5)
5. Cam Rayner (1)
6. Darcy Fogarty (12)
7. Paddy Dow (3)
8. Aiden Bonar (11)
9. Jack Higgins (17)
10. Nicholas Coffield (8)
11. Noah Balta (25)
12. Oscar Allen (21)
13. Hunter Clark (7)
14. Lochie O'Brien (10)
15. Jarrod Brander (13)
16. Connor Ballenden (43)
17. Lachlan Fogarty (22)
18. Zac Bailey (15)
19. James Worpel (45)
20. Joel Garner (60)
21. Sam Taylor (28)
22. Patrick Naish (34)
23. Aaron Naughton (9)
24. Jack Petruccelle (38)
25. Kyron Hayden (62)
26. Jordan Houlahan (49)
27. Tim Kelly (24)
28. Nathan Murphy (39)
29. Ed Richards (16)
30. Matthew Ling (14)
31. Hugh Dixon (44)
32. Andrew McPherson (40)
33. Oscar Clavarino (35)
34. Jake Patmore (58)
35. Charlie Constable (36)
36. Harrison Petty (37)
37. Brent Daniels (27)
38. Ryley Stoddart (53)
39. Gryan Miers (57)
40. Charlie Ballard (42)
41. Brayden Ainsworth (32)
42. Sam Hayes (47)
43. Mitch Crowden (59)
44. Charlie Spargo (29)
45. Ben Paton (46)
46. Nick Shipley (64)
47. Tom McCartin (33)
48. Will Walker (23)
49. Brayden Crossley (52)
50. Ben Miller (63)


No doubting his athleticism and contested marking, he looks AFL ready and should have a long career. My big query is his kicking technique, too much hang time which means his long kicks can often turn into helicopters. Will be watching this over his career because it's not always easy to fix. In saying that if he does make the necessary modifications then he could be a genuine A grader. Watched him yesterday and Mason Cox gave him a lesson but he did show some good signs.