The 2014 AFL draft is finally here and The Roar is going across the possible prospects in a three-part series looking at the AFL’s next generation.
In the first instalment we looked at the top ten prospects. Now we look at the best of the rest, numbers 11 to 20.
Pick 11: West Coast – Nakia Cockatoo
Height: 188 cm, Weight: 84 kg
Cockatoo wasn’t even on my radar two months ago, but after his superb performance in the game on grand final day for the Allies, Cockatoo has shot up in everyone’s draft orders. Cockatoo was best on ground and kicked two fantastic goals.
Cockatoo has a very good kick on both feet. He has a good game sense, with his ability to push off opponents and step past them. After a brilliant grand final day performance, Cockatoo put past any doubts that his injury might still affect them, he came first for the kicking test with 29/30. He also came fourth in the 20m sprint, first in the repeat sprints as well as finishing in the top 10 for both vertical jumps.
Cockatoo has that X-Factor and speed that many other players don’t. West Coast will be hoping that Cockatoo gets to them with Pick 11, but they might look for Weller or Ahern and their more consistent seasons rather than Cockatoo’s one starred performance if they see fit.
Whispers: Pace of Weller or Ahern may be chosen ahead of Cockatoo.
Pick 12: Richmond – Lachie Weller
Height: 181 cm, Weight: 71 kg
Lachie Weller has had a fantastic season for Queensland in Div II of the National Carnival. Averaging 20 disposals in Div II, he was a standard in the weekend’s game versus Northern Territory kicking two goals in a best on ground performance at Windy Hill.
Weller is the brother of St Kilda player Mav and is destructive forward of centre with his blistering pace and damaging foot.
Weller is a small midfielder that can play inside and out and will add another dimension to Richmond’s midfield depth. Weller is a Richmond fan and is rumoured to want to come back to Melbourne with his brother Mav.
Gold Coast will let Weller get past Pick 8, and will probably pull the pin on him if he is available at Pick 15. However Richmond will likely want Weller after missing out on Duggan, where Weller will be able to fit in alongside Ellis, Conca and Vlastuin in the Richmond midfield.
Whispers: Keen on Duggan if he slides, Ellis a chance
Pick 13: Fremantle- Sam Durdin
Height: 197 cm, Weight: 89 kg
Sam Durdin has slid from a Top 5 prospect to Pick 13. If Durdin is available it’s very unlikely he will get past Fremantle with their needs basis of a key tall.
The only question on Durdin is where to play him? Durdin has the ability to play at both ends of the ground, as well as pinch hitting in the ruck. Fremantle need another tall defender to replace McPharlin and Durdin is the man that they need.
Although he had an interruption earlier in the season with a ruptured tendon in his thumb, his matches for SA and West Adelaide have showed that Durdin has the class and skill to become a 200 game player for the Dockers.
Durdin has elite kicking however suited to the CHB position with the ability to play on some of the best CHF that play up the ground, and uses his kicking to perfection when he gets ball in hand.
Whispers: Looking for a tall, Wright or Marchbank are two other options
Pick 14: Adelaide – Peter Wright
Height: 203 cm, Weight: 102 kg
Nicknamed ‘two metre Peter’, Wright is one of the tallest players likely to be drafted in 2014 standing at 203cm. Wright has the ability to play ruck or key forward and with Sam Jacobs rucking a full game by himself, expect Wright to be able to help him out as well as being able to be a tough match up in the forward line.
Wright’s ruckwork has been fantastic this year, allowing his midfielders in his side to get first use of the ball and his athleticism allows for his work around the ground to really stand out against other ruckman.
Wright has a great foot on him, and isn’t afraid to have a shot from 50-metres out, where he slotted four goals from outside 50 in the game versus the Geelong Falcons.
Wright has good speed allowing him to gain extra metres between himself and his opponent to go with his superior height and strong marking capability.
Whispers: Will take a slider, but could Brayden Maynard be a chance?
Pick 15: Gold Coast – Kyle Langford
Height: 190 cm, Weight: 73 kg
Like Duggan, Langford is a December-born player who is yet to turn 18. Langford has been a big bolter in this draft late, and is a chance to be in the top 10. Langford played back in the U18 champs, however at Northern Knights he played forward and midfield, including two bags of five goals early in the season.
Langford has the ability to become a designated third tall in defence, however he may become a wingman with his outside pace and great agility (recorded 8.36 seconds at the Combine agility test) indicating his ability to change directions and get out of trouble. Langford’s overhead skills and growing height will make him an option around the ground and a target of players streaming out of defence.
With Gold Coast pressing for a finals spot next year, it’s likely that Langford will be able to fill any gaps that Rodney Eade needs to fill.
Whispers: Weller is likely if he slides, could Gold Coast throw a curveball though? Maynard or Ahern may be considered.
Pick 16: North Melbourne- Paul Ahern
Height: 181 cm, Weight: 77 kg
Who knows where Ahern will end up on draft night. GWS have interviewed Ahern and were very happy with how he presented himself, however with other players in front of him to fill needs of clubs, it’s likely he will slip into the teens and North won’t let him get past them at Pick 16.
According to Calder talent manager Ian Kyte, Ahern has the ability to turn a game in 5-10 minutes. His 5-10 minutes of brilliance came in the second half of the TAC Cup grand final finishing the game with 25 possessions after a slow first half.
Ahern has elite speed and great agility for an outside midfielder as shown from his performances at U18 champs.
A knock of Ahern however is his inconsistent performances, but that is nothing that Ahern can’t work on at VFL level before a transition to AFL level.
As a goal kicking midfielder, Ahern likes to hit the scoreboard putting pressure on his opponents getting goal side, otherwise he will frustrate opponents from his class from his best footy performances.
Whispers: Interested in Cockatoo or Duggan if they reach Pick 16, Ellis might be another option.
Pick 17: Essendon – Corey Ellis
Height: 185 cm, Weight: 76 kg
Ellis has a neat left foot and a nice kick with the ball, although it can be portrayed that Ellis attempts to do too much with the ball. Ellis is a fantastic decision maker and accumulates a large amount of inside 50s with his good ball use.
Ellis has the ability to play inside and outside and will cause some recruiters headaches with him banging down the door to get inside the Top 10. Under pressure Ellis is very good and executes his skills very well when used off Half Back.
At this point in time Ellis is likely to only feature in midfield or off half-back, however if he becomes dominant after U18 champs and puts some scoreboard pressure on himself as a midfielder that can push forward.
Whispers: Will pick on the basis of what Carlton want. Don’t count out Jarrod Garlett.
Pick 18: Sydney Swans – Isaac Heeney (F/S)
Height: 186 cm, Weight: 82 kg
Sydney will get the biggest steal in this year’s draft! Isaac Heeney is a superstar and would be my number one pick for sure if he wasn’t a part of Sydney’s academy. Heeney averages 31 disposals at TAC Cup level for NSW/ACT and finds a lot of the football.
Heeney is excellent by hand and his blistering pace allow for him to reach many contests allowing for him to collect the ball and use his destructive foot to hit up a target forward.
Although Heeney isn’t punishing in the forward line, he has the ability to play off half-back due to his good ability to read the play and with a good solid base his strength and endurance make him one of the most talent midfielders in the draft.
Heeney’s tackling is another aspect that separates him from others, collecting 16 tackles versus Murray Bushrangers showing his hungriness for the footy.
Eddie McGuire is upset at all these academies. In five years time when Heeney is a superstar, he won’t be the only person complaining.
Whispers: None, the best player in the draft in my opinion.
Pick 19: Carlton – Caleb Marchbank
Height: 193 cm, Weight: 85 kg
Marchbank reads the ball exceptionally well in defence and is suited to a key position role. Marchbank has racked up numerous rebound 50s this season with the Bushrangers and is eager to set the team up going forward aggressively.
Marchbank is very strong one-on-one and is one of the best shutdown defenders in the draft. Marchbank is an effective user of the footy from defence with his agility and movement giving him the option of becoming a swingman should Carlton see fit that his role could be used up forward.
Many have touted him as the best intercept mark at TAC Cup level and has taken his skills to the U18 games this season creating many opportunities when created with the task playing CHB. It’s a no brainer for Carlton to draft Caleb Marchbank, they just need to hope he’s still around by the time it’s their pick.
Whispers: Tom Lamb might be considered, Connor Menadue also a chance.
Pick 20: Essendon – Tom Lamb
Height: 192 cm, Weight: 83 kg
Tom Lamb is an interesting player at AFL level. With hair not too similar to Dyson Heppell, Tom Lamb standing at 192cm can play forward or midfield.
Up forward his marking ability is second to none, having the ability to win games off his boot with his craft playing as a third tall, or in the midfield his exceptional pace and agility make him chase down opponents and tackle hard with his mind on winning games of footy.
However sometimes his frustration can get in his way with some issues over his discipline (giving away free kicks), which should be able to be ironed out once he steps into AFL life.
Lamb was one of the best players in the AIS tour to Europe earlier this year. He is no stranger to kicking goals, putting 10 goals through the big sticks as a bottom ager for Dandenong Stingrays in 2013.
Lamb’s versatility allows him to play in multiple positions. Wing, full forward and rover are just some of the positions Lamb has played this year, and his height and sheer pace in the midfield make him such a tough opponent to man up on.
Lamb has taken big steps in his development mental and physically and with suspensions looming over Essendon, Lamb is the perfect player for the Bombers to take.
Whispers: The slider from the first round will be taken with Pick 20.
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