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mjp
14-09-2008, 04:01 PM
My notes only. I have tried to do it in the order I currently have them rated, but there are a few line balls and a few where it depends on what you want.

1/.Daniel Rich - Midfielded - Subiaco

Really classy inside-outside midfielder. Not super quick but certainly quick enough, Rich is a very good decision maker and excellent by foot. Has been criticised for his performances in the carnival - fair enough. But that was not a real representation of where he is at/what he is capable of. Holding down a spot in Subi's senior side - a very strong unit - and playing midfield/half-forward he has shown the ability to play senior footy and continue to make good decisions/hit targets under the extreme pressure of senior finals.

2/.Stephen Hill - Midfield - West Perth

To me he is that Del Santo type player. Elite kicking skills, good speed...but always has time with the ball. Another who has spent a lot of time playing in the 1's post-carnival, he probably hasn't had the impact his coach was looking for but certainly flashed a lot of ability. Left footer as well.

3/.Nic Natanui - Anywhere/nowhere - Swans

The enigma of the draft. Some say superstar, some say will never make it...I have two main concerns.
- His kicking is very up and under (often made worse as he makes some average decisions).
- He runs to some horrible spots...has a long way to go if he is going to play key position.

That said, there is a bit of 'see ball, get ball' about him when it is in his area - he will aggressively get after the footy - or the man with the footy (1%'er efforts are a highlight) -and is prepared to run and carry through traffic. Who is going to risk it all for this kid?

4/.Jarrad Blight - Mid/HB - Swans

Run and carry specialist. Cut his teeth at half back then moved into the midfield - elite speed and kicking skills. I think he could be absolutely anything...Judd is a bad comparison for anyone, but that is kind of how he plays (a bit more outside though) - grabs the ball, accelerates hard and hits targets.

5/.Chris Yarran - Forward - Swams

Funny thing. Yarran could probably play round one next year...but I am not sure you would want that. He is laconic to the point that you need to check his eyes are open at times, but he can (and does) kick goals on a very regular basis, and his kicking skills are superb. I dont see him as a midfielder though - more a Medhurst/Daniel Motlop type forward who needs the ball kicked too him one on one to be at his most effective.

6/.Michael Walters - Small forward/mid - Swans

Honest to goodness rover - and there are not a lot around. Good front and centre player, hard running, good foot skills...I worry about him being left in a pocket for extended periods - he is a very different player to Yarran - but will win the ball and provide good link up around the ground.

7/.Hayden Ballantyne - Small forward - Peel

Small (175'ish) small forward who has just turned 20, Ballantyne is QUICK. If the ball hits the ground after a marking contest, he will get it - he simply will. Can play through the midfield as well, but 75 goals as a small forward in a senior comp? Would you really want him too. Does like to lead for the footy though Phil Matera style which will drive supporters dead-set insane.

8/.Clancee Pearce - Half-back/Mid - Swans

Has been captain of every side he has ever played in I think - good runner, committed footballer, good kick. I guess he makes me think a little bit of a young Ryan Griffen though without that confidence in himself that made/makes Griffen such a talent. Would be a good selection and seems to me a candidate for a 200 game career...I guess a bit like the kid from Northern who got drafted last year (and whose name escapes me).

9/.Neville Jetta - Mid/Forward - Swans

Midfielder who seems to excel when able to play as a link-up player. Will work hard to receive the footy, and equally hard back to defend - but seems to prefer guarding space to playing ON anyone. Will stick his head over it, hits targets, run and carry...going to be a good player.

10/.Kane Lucas - Mid/Half-back - East Fremantle

Another from the factory at Moss St. Tall'ish, prototypical mid from East Fremantle who really stood up for WA in the Vic Country disaster. Strong over the ball and in the contest, flashes a heap of potential and seems to me destined for an AFL club's leadership group with 5 years. Good skills, hard worker...

11/.Todd Bandield - Mid - Swans

Adam Cooney look-alike. Very quick and not scared, has contributed well at senior level for Swans this year. I have seen him fumble below his knees a bit which is a bit of a worry, but good pace, good kick...

12/.Alroy Gilligan - Mid/forward - Claremont

Missed out on the numbers game that was the WA u18's, and reacted as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. Moved from half-forward ==> midfield, upped his work rate and simply exploded....run and carry, chase down tackles...seemed to be doing it all. Can he when the pressure is on though?

13/.Dylan Ross - Key Position - Claremont

Funny type of player at times. I guess I always expect him to do just that little bit more-and I never though is that is because of the ability he flashes or simply his size? No matter, big kids are rarely at their best at 17 and I doubt this kid will be...

14/.Derek Murray - Ruck - East Perth

The 'other' ruckman in the WA 18's who *should* have played there more. Very skilful and talented, big worry is whether or not it means that much too him, questioning commitment etc. Good grab and an aggressive player, I like to think he could develop into a Hudson type, super hard, super competitive ruckman but with the bonus he would be a marking threat resting forward.

15/.Keiran King - Mid - East Fremantle

Elite runner, but can he play? I think someone will pick this kid, simply because he has speed like no-one else in the draft. His skills are pretty good as well, but his game sense/game impact is often poor. If a side was prepared to stick him on a half back flank in the seconds for two years and teach the kid how to play, then - then you might really have something.

There are quite a few other names on my list, but that is where I am at for now.

Scorlibo
14-09-2008, 04:28 PM
Top job mjp.

I watched the last round of the Under 18 Championships and was very impressed with Rich and Pearce. I wasn't sold on Naitanui or Hill.
Naitanui just looked incredibly raw, he did some nice things and his jump was impressive but I can't see him ever dominating in the AFL and would be a big risk imo. Hill looked a little clumsy and hit + miss with his kicking to be honest, I wouldn't be comparing him to Dal, more McMahon. One game is probably a silly basis to form an opinion on but those were my thoughts from that game.

dog town
14-09-2008, 04:39 PM
Hill and Walters impressed me alot during the champs. Cant remember which one it was but the left foot on one of them was magnificent. Both very smooth movers.

Natanui is going to be the interesting one. Its a big risk either way. If you dont take him and he is able to beat his flaws and become the star the media paints him as then you will be remembered for that forever. If you do take him then the chance is that you end up with a 200cm high jumper who cannot sniff the footy. His assets are amazing but he is just so raw. Had no idea where to go when I watched him. I wouldn't take him with a top 3 pick but I said the same of Franklin.

Great draft this year. Alot of quality in the top 30 or so.

mighty_west
14-09-2008, 06:16 PM
Great write up mjp.

I also watched the u/18 games, and whilst Nic Nat moves like a midfielder, has a good leap, his skills are a bit dodgy.

However, had we had pick one this year, Scotty Clayton was asked the question, and said without any hesitation Natanui.

I like Rich, reminds me of Hodge, would be ready to play next season, has the body, just a natural footballer, has leader written all over him.

bulldogtragic
14-09-2008, 06:24 PM
Great write up mjp.

I also watched the u/18 games, and whilst Nic Nat moves like a midfielder, has a good leap, his skills are a bit dodgy.

However, had we had pick one this year, Scotty Clayton was asked the question, and said without any hesitation Natanui.

I like Rich, reminds me of Hodge, would be ready to play next season, has the body, just a natural footballer, has leader written all over him.
Mike assuming (god willing) no one nominates Ayce for a first rounder.

Who would slip to arond our first pick?

mjp
14-09-2008, 06:30 PM
Sorry - I just haven't seen enough of the Vic kids to comment. I think somewhere around the 15 mark will be drafted from WA...and probably 6-8 from SA and 40+ from Vic this year...

From my list, only Rich, Hill and Natanui are first round (first 16 picks) I would think.

bulldogtragic
14-09-2008, 07:15 PM
Sorry - I just haven't seen enough of the Vic kids to comment. I think somewhere around the 15 mark will be drafted from WA...and probably 6-8 from SA and 40+ from Vic this year...

From my list, only Rich, Hill and Natanui are first round (first 16 picks) I would think.
Another question without notice Mike.

Say we move 6 from the list. Who from your list would you take around the 30, 46, 62 and 78 mark?

LostDoggy
14-09-2008, 08:04 PM
MJP, just curious about your write up of Blight. If he is so quick, evasive and excellent kick why wouldn't he go first round?? What is holding him back?

mjp
14-09-2008, 08:19 PM
No idea really. All I know is what I see - have seen 6 colts games when he played this year, and has performed strongly each time, in team of the year, going to draft camp so a few clubs are looking at him...maybe he will go first round??? I just rate him as a player but am not a recruiter so really dont know where he will get picked.

That said, to answer the previous question:

30 - Blight/Yarran/Walters
46 - Walters/Ballantyne/Pearce
62 - Jetta/Banfield
78 - Goodness knows.

This is just what 'people' are projecting though...I really have no idea when or if they will get picked.

GVGjr
14-09-2008, 08:26 PM
MJP,

Just on Blight, he didn't get picked for WA in the National Championships did he but has been excellent for SD all season? From memory he is quite a tall lad with an excellent spring. I'm of the impression that he will go very well at the draft camp with his vertical leap.

mjp
14-09-2008, 09:17 PM
WA 18's side was funny though. No Blight, no Gilligan, no Palumbo...it really was hard to make sense of it. Plus, they picked really no specialist backs, which was strange after loading up across half-back (Myers, Morton) and playing Rance at full-back last year...that said, this years group weren't as good. I know some clubs were pretty disappointed with the way the selection process went, but I am glad it wasn't me trying to do it.

Back to Blight, I think he will test pretty well across the board - but things like the 3km and beep come down as much to 'want' as athletic ability, and whilst the kid runs hard on game-day I dont know him at all and have no idea what he will do or, more importantly, how he will interview.

Mofra
15-09-2008, 11:46 AM
Fantastic summary mjp, interesting hearing thoughts from someone who has actually seen the kids play a number of times.