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Josh Elliott's 2014 first round phantom draft

Expert
26th November, 2014
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It's time for Tom Boyd 's potential to pay off. (Photo:Michael Willson)
Expert
26th November, 2014
5

It’s the morning of the AFL Draft. If you ask me, it’s just about the best day of the year.

The AFL has plenty of big occasions on the calendar. The opening weekend, the trade period, Anzac Day – and this little thing they do called a ‘Grand Final’ on the last Saturday of September.

However, there’s nothing quite like the draft. For those of us fascinated with list management – the art of creating a successful team, through trading, signing, and most importantly drafting players – this is as good as it gets.

In the space of two hours, dozens of unknown youngsters become the next crop of AFL stars, sporting their new colours for the first time.

No one knows how it will all play out just yet, but that doesn’t stop us from guessing. So without further ado, here’s my 2014 first round phantom draft – the first 21 picks at the draft, and who I think clubs will select with them.

Pick #1 – St Kilda
Patrick McCartin
194cm/96kg
Who: The best performed key-forward of this year’s crop, McCartin faced a number of injury niggles during the year but his form when fit was outstanding. He can mark exceptionally well on a lead or in a contest and is a reliable set shot.

Why: McCartin has spent most of the year battling it out with midfielder Christian Petracca for the no. 1 spot, and while Petracca has been the favourite to go no. 1 for a few months now, it appears the Saints have decided on McCartin. A gun key forward is a vital ingredient in any successful team, and the Saints are making a wise decision by picking one up now when they have the chance.

Pick #2 – Melbourne
Christian Petracca
186cm/95kg
Who: Petracca is the kind of big-bodied midfielder who clubs are increasingly seeking to build their midfields around. He’s ready to have an immediate impact in 2015 as a strong ball-winner who can also have an impact playing at half-forward.

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Why: Melbourne need midfielders, badly, and will be over the moon to see Petracca available at their pick. He should add an immediate boost to their on-ball brigade.

Pick #3 – Melbourne
Angus Brayshaw
187cm/91kg
Who: An elite clearance-winning inside midfielder who also has the ability to deliver the ball well on the outside, Brayshaw has been compared to a number of respected AFL footballers including Ollie Wines, Andrew Swallow and Joel Selwood. He loves to tackle.

Why: The Demons are prioritising their midfield, and adding Petracca and Brayshaw in the same draft is a dream come true for them. Brayshaw could be a future captain for the Dees.

Pick #4 – Greater Western Sydney
Jarrod Pickett
177cm/75kg
Who: A speedy midfielder/small forward with great endurance, Pickett has a great ability to set up the play and change a game in a matter of seconds. Although he’s not especially large, Pickett has the ability to win his own ball when needed, and can use his elite agility to his advantage.

Why: The Giants have a wealth of talent in every area of their list so this pick is really about picking up a ‘point of difference’ player for them. Pickett’s speed adds another weapon to what is shaping as a formidable young midfield.

Pick #5 – Collingwood
Jordan De Goey
188cm/85kg
Who: A contested-ball winner who has a great marking ability, De Goey plays on ball but also has an excellent ability to swing forward and have a quick impact in the forward line, not unlike North Melbourne’s Jack Ziebell.

Why: The Magpies seem keen on selecting a tall midfielder and that likely means a choice between De Goey and Jayden Laverde. They’ve been linked to both and it’s likely going to be a close call which name they read out on Thursday night.

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Pick #6 – Greater Western Sydney
Hugh Goddard
196cm/94kg
Who: A key defender who struggled for form at times this year but finished the season strongly, Goddard also has the ability to swing forward and have an impact there. He’s an excellent athlete and with some further development could become a genuine star in the back half.

Why: The Giants lost a number of key position players to homesickness in the trade period and topping up their key defensive stocks seems like a wise decision. They are rumoured to be very much enamoured with Goddard.

Pick #7 – Greater Western Sydney
Paul Ahern
181cm/82kg
Who: Ahern is a talented midfielder who has a number of highly-valued traits. He can play well as a ball-winning player on the inside but also has a great burst of speed and the ability to set up the play with an elite kick on the outside. Very handy around the goals.

Why: The Giants really are spoilt for choice as they have their list management more or less sewn up and can take whichever player they like best at this pick. That player may well be Ahern.

Pick #8 – Gold Coast
Liam Duggan
184cm/75kg
Who: An attacking defender/midfielder, Duggan spent most of the season playing half-back but also showed later in the year that he is capable of playing a role as a ball-winning midfielder. He doesn’t have a great deal of speed, but he has an excellent kick and shows a dedication and maturity beyond his years.

Why: Much like the Giants, the Suns are well-stocked with young talent in every area of the ground and can afford to make a best available pick here. They’re rumoured to be very keen on Duggan.

Pick #9 – Collingwood
Darcy Moore
199cm/91kg
Who: Son of two-time Brownlow Medallist Peter Moore, Darcy is a key position player who can play at both ends of the ground but looks most likely to make his living as a tall forward. At 199cm he is one of the taller KPP’s available in the draft, and has also shown a great deal of leadership potential, captaining the Oakleigh Chargers to the TAC Cup premiership this year.

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Why: The Magpies are very happy to have Moore locked in as a Father-Son pick, he will figure heavily in the future plans. He would likely have gone in the top five of the draft if available on the open market.

Pick #10 – Geelong
Peter Wright
203cm/100kg
Who: A promising big man who can play well as a leading forward or through the ruck. Clubs aren’t quite sure just where he will play his best football, but Wright sees himself as a tall forward capable of pinch-hitting in the ruck, rather than the other way around. His contested marking isn’t all it could be.

Why: Some experts consider Wright the most talented player in the draft but concern over whether he can develop into a genuine key forward or is more likely to become a ruckman has seen him slip down the order.

The Cats, who could use either, will find it hard to resist if he’s still available at this pick.

Pick #11 – West Coast
Jayden Laverde
189cm/80kg
Who: A tall midfielder who spends most of his time playing off a wing, Laverde has a decent burst of speed and an accurate kick, and the ability to weave through his opponents with ease.

He can also play on-ball in the centre square, or at half-forward, and knows how to finds the goals.

Why: Laverde is in strong contention for the Magpies pick at no. 5, but if they decide to overlook him in favour of De Goey, there’s every chance he could fall as late as this pick, where the Eagles would be almost certain to take him if still available.

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Pick #12 – Richmond
Corey Ellis
184cm/74kg
Who: A midfielder also capable of playing off half-back, Ellis is low on flash but high on production. He’s capable of winning his own ball on the inside but does his best work playing as an outside midfielder and setting up the play with either foot.

Why: The Tigers are definitely in need of more players who can have an impact in their midfield and there are a lot of good choices in that mould at this point in the draft. Ellis is one they’ve been keen on for a while.

Pick #13 – Fremantle
Sam Durdin
198cm/88kg
Who: A versatile tall, Durdin can play in the ruck, up forward, or even off a wing, but his preferred position is in defence. He’s a bit like Justin Westhoff in terms of his ability to have an impact in all different areas of the ground.

Why: The Dockers have an ageing backline with the likes of Luke McPharlin and Michael Johnson both past 30, and Zac Dawson not far behind. Durdin would be an excellent addition to their stock of young talls.

Pick #14 – Adelaide
Jake Lever
193cm/84kg
Who: Arguably the most talented key defender of the draft, Lever suffered an ACL injury in late 2013 and missed the entire year because of it.

However, his professionalism in terms of his recovery, and his impressive junior form to date, has him remaining a highly-rated prospect regardless.

Why: Lever could easily go much higher than this, with the Demons considering him as high as pick no. 3.

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The Crows are rumoured to be very keen on midfielder Brayden Maynard at this pick but if the Lever is available it’s hard to imagine them passing him up.

Pick #15 – Gold Coast
Lachie Weller
182cm/77kg
Who: The brother of St Kilda’s Maverick Weller, Lachie is a talented outside midfielder who has a great deal of speed and is a prodigious kick. He has stated a willingness to work on his ball-winning if needed but really it’s his work as an outside midfielder that will get him drafted.

Why: The Suns may seriously consider taking a tall player at this pick, but it’s hard to see them passing up on a local boy with as much talent as Weller if he’s still available here.

He would make yet another valuable addition to their already star-studded young midfield.

Pick #16 – North Melbourne
Nakia Cockatoo
186cm/86kg
Who: A talented midfielder who missed most of the year with a foot injury, Cockatoo managed to make it back in time for the grand final curtain raiser and turned heads with a best on ground display in that game.

He has an explosive run and is a great kick, and while he’s more of an outside player he’s a got a big frame and can win the contested ball.

Why: North’s best outside players, Brent Harvey, Nick Dal Santo and Daniel Wells are all in the older bracket, so adding some young outside midfielders is a high priority for them. Despite a lack of exposed form, Cockatoo looks like a perfect fit.

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Pick #17 – Essendon
Kyle Langford
190cm/76kg
Who: A tall and versatile player most commonly seen at half-forward, Langford is a reliable goal-kicker who can also push up the wings in short bursts, or even play in defence. He’s not much of a ball-winner but he can lay a tackle and is a good mark.

Why: Langford could easily go much earlier than this with a number of clubs interested earlier on, if he drifts this late the Bombers would have to seriously consider him. They could use some more forward line potency, and he offers exactly that.

Pick #18 – Sydney
Isaac Heeney
186cm/84kg
Who: Considered by some to be the best player in the draft, Heeney is very much the complete midfielder. He’s an excellent ball-winner but also has the speed, smarts and quality kick to break the lines and set up a play.

Why: Heeney is locked in for the Swans as an Academy selection, but Melbourne were willing to bid the no. 2 pick in the draft to get him, which should give you an idea of just how highly he is rated.

Pick #19 – Carlton
Caleb Marchbank
192cm/89kg
Who: A key position defender with great contested marking ability who can also swing forward in a pinch if needed. An expert at shutting down opposition forwards but also able to have an impact on the game through some attacking play.

Why: Tall players are definitely high on the Blues’ wishlist, and Marchbank would be a great get for them if he slides this late.

Pick #20 – Essendon
Jarrod Garlett
180cm/69kg
Who: An undersized midfielder/forward, Garlett is a hard runner who shares some traits with Hawthorn’s Brad Hill. He has a great burst of speed, an excellent kick, and is very capable around goal. His work ethic has been highly praised.

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Why: A great get for the Bombers if he slides this late, Garlett could have an instant impact for Essendon as a small forward and eventually develop into a winger or half-forward.

Pick #21 – St Kilda
Tom Lamb
193cm/84kg
Who: Arguably a top 10 player on talent alone, Lamb is tall enough to play as a key position forward if needed but also has the ability to play off the wing as a tall midfielder.

He has shown some of his immense talent in flashes, but when off his game he can get easily frustrated and put in a very poor effort. Highly talented but many clubs are wary of spending an early pick on him given his inconsistency.

Why: Lamb might go a little before this, or could even go much, much later, as recruiters play chicken with whether or not to take a punt on him. With two picks in a row, the Saints might be willing to give him his chance.

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