As the Gold Coast prepares to host another AFL Draft night, writers will start trying to pick what’s going through the recruiters’ minds and predicting which picks will be talked about in five years’ time.
Over next few weeks I will be releasing my draft picks. All the way up until the November 27, when the boys become footballers.
1. St Kilda – Christian Petracca
Petracca is the new type of midfielder, tall and strong. Averaging 25 disposals in the AFL Under-18 Championships shows how much class he has.
If everything goes to plan in the off-season he should be playing in the AFL. His size won’t be a concern as he would be able to adjust to the physical game. The St Kilda midfielder looks quite nice with young guns such as Luke Dustan, Jack Billings, Eli Templeton, Blake Acres, Jack Steven and Maverick Weller. Saints fans will be pleased with how the future is looking.
2. Melbourne – Angus Brayshaw
Brayshaw is a player who Paul Roos loves – a hard runner who average four tackles per game in the Championships. However, if Petracca’s move to St Kilda falls through they will be quite happy to take him. With Ben Newton being transferred it also takes pressure off Brayshaw to make an immediate impact next year.
3. Melbourne – Paddy McCartin
The reason why Melbourne will pick him over Peter Wright is because he is a specialist forward instead of a ruck-forward, which the Dees don’t need. The third tall option will stretch other teams’ defences. With Paddy at 193 centimetres and 84 kilograms, he might even start in Round 1.
4. Greater Western Sydney – Sam Durdin
The giant defender will go to the Giants with their arms wide open as they need to add depth to their defence line. When Phil Davis went down they looked really shaky. At 197 centimetres and 86 kilograms, he will be a good defender and can hit hard in the ruck, which will help Jon Patton out when he comes back from twelve months out.
5. Collingwood – Jayden Laverde
Jayden would be a perfect pick-up for Collingwood as they need a replacement for the retirement of Nick Maxwell, while Nathan Brown is ageing. I wouldn’t be surprise if Hugh Goddard was selected here, it’s a flip of a coin between these two. Jayden average 17 disposals at 74 per cent efficiency during the Under-18 Championships.
6. Greater Western Sydney – Jarrod Pickett
The small forward-midfielder is what the Giants need, as their forward line doesn’t have speed and is very top heavy. The line-breaking speed from Pickett left his opponents behind and with his neat disposals, he’s a top prospect.
7. Greater Western Sydney – Liam Duggan
Liam played as a medium defender, however he can push in the midfield and be very effective there. The Giants need a player that can take over that Nick Malceski role, running off the halfback line and creating the play, especially with Josh Hunt leaving. Liam averaged 15.2 disposals at 74 per cent efficiency at the Championships earlier this year.
8. Gold Coast Suns – Lachlan Weller
The classy midfielder will add much needed depth to midfield, which was clearly exposed when Gary Ablett went down last year. With pace and poise, Lachlan will fit neatly into the midfield, and with Jaeger O’Meara having knee surgery he might even start in Round 1. Being a local kid he can get good coverage and exposure for the Suns.
9. Collingwood – Darcy Moore
As a father-son selection, this is a great pick-up from Collingwood as Moore can play both ends of the ground, just like Ben Reid, who he can learn from. Collingwood need help with players like Travis Cloke and Nathan Brown getting older.
10. Geelong – Hugh Goddard
With the likes of Corey Enright, Andrew Mackie, Jarred Rivers and Tom Longergan are all coming towards the end of their careers, the Cats need to start rebuilding their defence. Hugh is standing at 194 centimetres and 94 kilograms and can hold his own as a third defender next year. He will only get stronger as the years go on.
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