Let's assume that all clubs picked best available. All clubs at every single pick. Then we don't get sidetracked into tales of the paranormal.
And let's suppose that Cal Twomey is guessing based on feedback (doctored, for sure) from young prospects and managers. And that nobody on the internets who purports to be a good judge is on a club payroll.
Thilthorpe. Went at 2. Where did you think he'd go?
Interesting player. As a 17yo he played six senior SANFL games in late 2019. Then after the seniors bowed out he went back to U18 finals and dominated a PF. As a bottom ager.
As an 18yo he played 9 senior SANFL games in 2020. Then copped an injury. So he has a formguide. That's a big advantage in 2020. 68% of the pool does not. And the formguide says good things about Thilthorpe. (By the way the kid looks 15yo.)
SANFL numbers (Formguide) NB his senior side gets flogged so they have to use their starving U18 forward in the guts.
I've only seen highlights of him, and the Futures game from last year. And read the numbers. So I couldn't predict where he'd go. But I can understand why he's chosen. Youngsters with Thilthorpe's profile and numbers who are forward rucks go very early.
Is he an Ottens? Maybe not as classy but busier? Not as good overhead but hits up? An inside ruck as a junior. Rare beasts.
You can see in the
highlights the bloke is blue-collar. He rucks and distributes. Ballwinner. BWA from a tall. Gold. Has ground game. Great values. Watch him make good decisions. Do notice the smart hands. His numbers show you he stays engaged. Getting talls engaged is the hardest part.
The formguide reads really well for this bloke. In a year largely without any form.
BTW if Footscray had pick #1 in this draft I guess they'd have taken him. Just ahead of Phillips. Those with skin in the game have said so.
You only have to scratch the surface to see that Riley Thilthorpe has some serious credentials. Think Ottens. Kreuzer. Inside rucks. Thilthorpe kicks goals. Paul Salmon? A less aerial Tomahawk? By any measure not a prospect to be dismissed.
One more thing on Thilthorpe. I think his nickname should be Thilth Thilth. Or Thilth McThilth. Or Thilth Isthmus-Thilth, pronounced with a Catalonian lithp.