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PRE 2018 Phantom Draft
- Thread starter bullus_hit
- Start date
Cheers guys, will put out my top 50 once the medicals & final testing has been completed. Fair bit of depth this year, particularly with the midfielders. I'm pretty confident we'll get two good players with our first couple of selections.
Smoking Aces said:
Should be done by the end of the week, maybe slightly different times based on state.
bullus_hit said:
Think it's next Wednesday for the Vic based boys, done at marvel stadium.
Caldwell is one of nine players who will undergo further medical tests at AFL House, along with Bailey Smith (Achilles), Thomas Berry (knee), Liam Stocker (shoulder), Zak Butters (shoulder), Jack Bytel (back), Max King (knee), Connor McFadyen (foot) and Will Kelly (ankle), all of whom were unable to test at the Combine due to their injuries.
Smith, Caldwell, Berry, Stocker and Butters will also compete in a 2km time trial in front of recruiters at Collingwood's Holden Centre headquarters, with another three players – James Rowbottom, Angus Hanrahan and Jai Nanscawen – taking part.
Valente doing a 2km in South Australia the same day. If Stocker runs an ok time, I'm all in.
SCOOP said:
My boy played his whole junior footy with Bailey Smith. Watched him since U/9s. Rare combination of power, speed and endurance.
From the same club as Higlet, it will be interesting to watch their careers unfold. Smith the more decorated junior until U/18s although injury has played a part in his progress.
There's another absolute beauty coming through next year too. He debuted for Vic Metro wearing number 1 in the last game of the Championships and immediately looked at home
Dont Argue said:
Has gone from promising back flanker to bonafide gun mid, his learning curve is another big tick. Have mentioned before but he could emerge is the midfielder of the draft.
Talking about teammates, Balta & Williams played together and had a fair bit of onfield chemistry, particularly when alternating in the ruck. These are small things that can make a difference.
bullus_hit said:
Interesting that you say H.B.F Bully which is fair enough as many juniors get pegged for the position they played from U/18's onwards, but it is important to mention that Smith won SMJFL competition B&F's and club B&F's his entire junior career ( year after year ) playing midfield and nothing but.
Dont Argue said:
They do get thrown around the park a bit, this is where it pays to know their background. Balta for example had never played in defence until he played for Vic Metro, it's one key reason he slipped down the order. Sometimes you can get a bargain if you suspect a bit of errant coaching. I remember watching Tadgh Kennelly throwing his players all over the park for the Allies & the All-Stars a couple of years ago, from a draft perspective it was poison given this was meant to showcase the players best abilities. Parfitt was one player who suffered a fair bit.
This year Bailey Williams has been thrown around so he lacks a bit of continuity, that's in part why I'm not marking him down too much. From my perspective he's still in the top dozen prospects.
Jonesracing82 said:
Yep, there's some on the list who could be bargains. Just have to wait and see what opposition clubs do. I'd even be tempted to start dipping into the state league stocks around the 60 mark, that would give us pole position in grabbing the pick of the litter.
Just looked at Balmer's Phantom and all the guys I like are off the board, Williams one spot earlier to Adelaide, Valente gone too, Jones in the top 10. He has us taking Stocker which could be the best available, Hill also worthy of consideration at that point.
BrisTiger24 said:
Really good question, I have Stocker ranked at 18, Duursma 19 & Hill 20. Really tough call, will probably need to wait on Stocker's testing but that being said I think Duursma has some good qualities. Looking at this logically, even if Duursma doesn't quite cut it as a mid he's a good show to fill the void left by Houli. His outside game is also far superior to Stocker so more chance he becomes that genuine A grader.
The real risky but some what defensible move would be taking Xavier O. With his athletic profile, I could see him turning into an incredible weapon of half back like Dursma but a slightly different type at the same time.
And Bully, I'm not having a crack at you with the Williams idea, I see it to a point, it's a wide open draft and there are at least 8-10 semi defensible picks that we could make. It's bloody tough. The debate is always good.
And Bully, I'm not having a crack at you with the Williams idea, I see it to a point, it's a wide open draft and there are at least 8-10 semi defensible picks that we could make. It's bloody tough. The debate is always good.
SCOOP said:
No probs, I always enjoy the debates, gets me working a little harder with the research. Just on Williams, Balmer reckons he has some inside intelligence & he's pretty adament Adelaide will go tall.
Stocker vs Duursma vs Hill is a decision I'll need some time to mull over, there's plenty of justification for each one. As for O'Halloran, certainly in the frame although slightly below the other 3, I have him ranked at 27. The big concern being the lowly possession tallies.
daniel30 said:
Second round would be my strategy & I agree, this is the value selection in the 40-50 range. Lentini is very inside at the moment but has shown some ability to break the lines, that's something that should spark some interest. Still not the complete mid but signs pointing in the right direction.
bullus_hit said:
Spent a bit of time with Duursma's parents recently and they don't think he is a midfielder. More flank / wing. In short pure outside.
Ghost of 29 said:
That's always been my query, could still be damaging but I think one needs to go with the guy who will play in the middle. So at this stage I'm probably leaning towards Stocker, just need to wait on his 2km run time to filter through.
Knowing what we now know, how do we think Jack Graham would rate in this draft as a midfield talent?
Is he better than Stocker, Valente or Ely Smith? Try putting his G.F heroics aside for a minute
Is he better than Stocker, Valente or Ely Smith? Try putting his G.F heroics aside for a minute
