Now with the trade period behind us, we can look forward to an eventful occasion which takes place on the 24th of November – the all exciting draft.
This is where clubs fail or frolic. Some clubs get it wrong, and some get it right. Is it good scouting or is it just a massive lottery?
We are told that this year’s draft may be shallow, but this is where your club can find its future stars. We all know that if you look hard enough there is some ‘hidden gems’ in the draft, and that is no different this year.
So who are the draft prospects for 2015? Every second day I will be bringing you three prospects and which club looks set to snatch them up.
Jacob Weitering – Dandenong Stingrays/Vic Country (Key Defender 195cm/93kgs), Expected to go to Carlton – Pick 1
You just can’t see a better player this year. Key defender Weitering has dominated the TAC Cup and is almost undoubtedly the best player in the draft.
Weitering has sublime skills by foot and hand as he rarely wastes it. Carlton look set to pick up the gun defender and this guy could fit in perfectly and almost immediately jump Sam Rowe as the clubs main defender.
He is not your usual key defender with a knack of leaving his man to float across packs in defence, take big grabs and then set up the play with his damaging right-foot kicking. At last week’s combine, Weitering ran a 15.1 beep test – an elite level for any prospect.
Josh Schache – Murray Bushrangers/Vic Country (Key Forward 199cm/100kgs), Expected to go to Brisbane – Pick 2
This guy is an absolute jet. The U18 Championships appeared to be a walk in the park for the young Schache, dominating almost every opponent he faced. An All-Australian selection at full forward while also receiving the Larke medal for the best player in the U18 Championships.
He has such a relaxed and beautiful style when he kicks for goal and has kicked 34 goals in 10 games for the Bushrangers while also setting a new record for the most goals kicked in the U18 champs with 24. Has elite fitness as he is able to run his opponents off their feet and his presence in the forward line is imposing.
Darcy Parish – Geelong Falcons/Vic Country (Midfielder 181cm/74kgs), Expected to go to Melbourne – Pick 3
The third pick in this year’s draft was traded away from the Suns in an exchange of picks with Melbourne, and the reason for that was because of Geelong Falcons midfielder – Darcy Parish.
The Demons look set to pick up Parish after he secured a second consecutive All Australian selection as he put on another spectacle in this year’s championships.
Parish can play inside or outside, is tough and a quick thinker while also displaying brilliant awareness and willingness to take the game on.
He is labelled as the most natural footballer in this year’s draft and the best midfielder by miles. It was in the qualifying final against North Ballarat when all of Parish’s game-changing qualities were on show. He collected 27 disposals, had seven tackles, five clearances and eight inside-50s.
Stevo
Guest
I still think Carlton should take a midfield player with one of their picks. We already have one KPD in Plowman from GWS, Weitering will make that two KPD's. Silvagni will be one of the KPF's you're talking about, we also still have Casboult. With three picks still, even if we take one more KPD and KPF surely we can use one to also pick up a midfielder, there are some really good midfielder's available in this draft, Mathieson, Gresham, Cole etc. Whoever we take, they need to be AFL ready for round 1.
Edgar Slosh
Roar Guru
yeah sorry, been busy, knew what I meant. Trade period and draft has been a brutal time.
Tom Baulch
Roar Guru
Carlton don't need Mathieson, they need key position players like Curnow who can play midfield as well. And why wouldn't why ESSENDON get 2 KPFs? Francis can play midfield, back and forward. 9 is too late for Francis he will be picked up way before then. Carlton don't need midfielders they need KPP.
Tom Baulch
Roar Guru
Laurence is his father Edgar. Get your facts right please.
sticks
Roar Rookie
No he isn't. The spelling is different, his dad is now passed away, Neil is no relation. http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/possible-no-1-draft-pick-josh-schache-following-in-the-footsteps-of-his-late-dad-laurence/story-fnii0294-1227436898296?sv=b1d2eb21268c11902b37e285ed737500
Edgar Slosh
Roar Guru
Neil is his father
Pope Paul vii
Guest
Is Josh Schache related to Neil Schache?
Stevo
Guest
If Rhys Mathieson is still there at 11, Carlton have to take him IMO. Be crazy not to I reckon. One of the best midfielder's in this draft. Coaches love his type of player. You reckon Essendon are gonna go with two KPF's with pick's 4 and 5? And do you reckon Aaron Francis has his fingers crossed he will fall to 9 when Adelaide can get him so he doesn't have to move interstate?
Tom Baulch
Roar Guru
That will almost definitely happen.
Tom Baulch
Roar Guru
Pick 1 Carlton – Jacob Weitering Pick 2 Brisbane – Josh Schache Pick 3 Melbourne – Darcy Parish Pick 4 Essendon – Aaron Francis Pick 5 Essendon – Sam Weideman Pick 6 Gold Coast - Harry McKay Pick 7 Melbourne – Bid on Matthew Kennedy (GWS give them picks 34, 43, 53, 55, 58, 63, 70). Pick 8 Carlton – Charlie Curnow Pick 9 Adelaide - Harley Balic Pick 10 GWS – Jacob Hopper Pick 11 Carlton - Wayne Milera
Stevo
Guest
Trying to figure out who is going to fall where in the first round, pick's 1 , 2 and 3 are almost assured of being Weitering, Schache and Parish. , Essendon defender, forward, not sure about GC, probably a forward to replace Dixon, Melbourne probably a forward before Carlton get to 8. Not sure what Adelaide will do. If Aaron Francis is still there at 9, Adelaide will take him I assume. GWS will take Jacob Hopper with pick 10 I would imagine, him or Kennedy. Then Carlton's third pick at 11.
Tom Baulch
Roar Guru
Yeah I like the look of the draft this year as well. Hawthorn have really expressed their interest in Collins but their highest pick is 15 so Carlton will get him for sure at pick 11 I think.
Stevo
Guest
If Collins doesn't fall inside top 10 I will be surprised, there are a number of teams interested from what I understand. I went for Gresham because like Collins, I think Mathieson may go before we can get him. Weideman, Francis and Curnow. I think they will be spread out between, Melbourne, Essendon and Carlton. Its just a matter of which one Melbourne and Essendon pick up before we can. There are probably 6,7 or 8 players I really like in this draft, though some of them will be gone before Carlton get to pick 11, let alone 19.
Tom Baulch
Roar Guru
Stevo, teams dont generally pick up key backmen early in the draft - Weitering is an exception of course. But Collins will be available for pick 19 for sure - picking him up around that time would be excellent for them. Picks 8 and 11 - Carlton need another forward and a mid. This draft is where to get them. Pick 8 - they pick up Sam Weideman, I can almost definitely see this happen, picking up the Vic Metro key forward would be a bargain as he was expected to go top 3 last year before being struck with the injury cloud this year which has restricted his game time. 196cm, 94kg - If he gets out of his injury run then he could be a serious force for the Blues. Pick 11 - You said Gresham with pick 19, but you could do better with this pick. He could be an awesome pick up and would slot into the team nicely - but a better player for the Blues would be young gun Rhys Mathieson. The Vic Country lad dominated things at the championships, hes seen as a footballer more than an athlete (which I love) and he hunts the ball and is just a sharp player. Pick him up instead of Gresham, but either will be fantastic players.
Stevo
Guest
I'm wondering if Carlton can land both Weitering and Kieran Collins. These two along with Plowman who came in from GWS and Jaksch, can set Carlton up defensively for the next 8 - 10 years. Locking in some key position defenders in this draft, Carlton in next tears trade period can look to offload White and Jameson. I think Carlton should take Weitering and Collins with picks 1 and 8, assuming Collins is still available then, pick up a KPF with pick 11, I really like Charlie Curnow and pick up a midfielder with 19, I like Gresham myself. Silvagni under father/son and Carlton should pick up two KPD's, Two KPF's and a really good midfielder.
Tom Baulch
Roar Guru
Yes Stevo, That's true - They played two games against each other (Stingrays and Busharangers) - Weitering and Collins play for the same team in the TAC cup and in the first game Collins played on Schache and kept him goalless and Weitering played on him in the second game and also kept him goalless. Collins is a fantastic backman - the best in the draft second to Weitering obviously. The pair dominated the championships and have very different playing styles. Weitering likes to set up from the back, with strong hands and a knack of floating around taking pack marks and intercepting the opponents kicks. Collins is more of a one on one strong marker shutdown defender - some of a comparison to a Zac Dawson.
Stevo
Guest
Didn't Kieran Collins do the same thing to Schache if memory serves me correctly? Shut him down that is.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Weitering might get the points but Carlton won't.
Tom Baulch
Roar Guru
Paul D, I know its a premature call but based on TAC cup games, Weitering played one out on Schache and just smashed him - kept him goalless. Weitering runs a 15.1 beep test and has elite fitness and I think that he will become the better player and the rivalry will be a great watch over the years I hope but I think Weitering will take the points.
Tom Baulch
Roar Guru
Carlton looks to be a heavily involved in this years draft, 4 picks in the top 20 - 1,8,11 and 19. Should be really big players in this years draft and it can be assured that Jacob Weitering won't have all the spotlight on next year.