2015 AFL Draft preview: The players your club will consider

The AFL Draft can be a fascinating event but the key interest for most supporters will always be on their own club.

With that in mind, after looking yesterday at all the information you need to know to watch the draft this coming Tuesday, today I’m taking a club-based focus.

Club-by-club I’m going to look at what picks each team has, what kind of needs they have, and the players they’ve been linked to or who I think might fit them well.

Mostly, I’m focusing on the early picks, since the late draft can be unpredictable. Despite reports of a shallow draft, I think there’s plenty of talent on offer in the top 30 or so, and clubs picking in that range have plenty to be excited about.

Adelaide
Picks: 9, 13, 71, 89, 107, 125

The Crows have two high picks and a well-rounded list which is a great combination as it means they can afford the luxury of taking the best players on the board rather than targeting specific needs.

One player they’ve been linked to is 200cm forward Harry McKay with their first pick, though with the likes of Taylor Walker, Josh Jenkins and Tom Lynch already in their forward line I’m not sure it’s the right move.

I’d be looking at midfielders if I were them – every club could use more midfield depth especially given they’ve lost Dangerfield and will likely lose Scott Thompson to retirement in the near future.

Big ball-winners Clayton Oliver and Rhys Mathieson could be in the frame with that in mind, or they might look at a more versatile flanker type like Wayne Milera or Harley Balic if available.

It should be a good draft for the Crows as they add some more young talent to an already well-balanced list.

Brisbane
Picks: 2, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 78, 96, 114

The Lions have the second pick in the draft and while it may look barren after that they will eventually finish the night with three first round picks after bidding on their academy prospects.

Josh Schache is their man at pick 2 and he is exactly what they need, a gun key forward who can kick bags of goals. His dad played for the Bears and he is on record saying he’d love to continue his dad’s Brisbane legacy.

They’ll also secure a versatile, athletic tall in Eric Hipwood, and a prolific midfielder in Ben Keays – both via their academy.

The Lions know who they’re getting with their top picks so it won’t be a night of surprises for them but there will be plenty to celebrate.

Carlton
Picks: 1, 8, 11, 19, 59, 60, 113

The Blues are the biggest players in the draft this year with four picks inside the top 20, including the first overall. They need talent all over the ground and have a great chance to get some.

Jacob Weitering is their man at pick 1, an elite key defender who could become a captain of the club some day.

Their later picks will depend a bit on who falls through but Harry McKay is one who has been linked to them a fair bit at pick 11, though they might have to take him at 8 if they want to beat Adelaide (pick 9).

They look likely to focus on tall players this draft with Kieran Collins also mentioned as a possibility though they would likely have to take him at pick 11 if they want him.

Some midfielders might come into the equation though, especially at pick 19. Jade Gresham is a potential ‘heart and soul’ player for the club who could be available there.

If I was them I’d be focused on taking the most valuable players on the board and trying to minimise risks wherever possible.

Some might say that because they’ve got a number of picks they can afford to take a risk – not me.

This is the most important draft in the history of the Carlton football club and they can’t afford to blow one of the top picks on someone who doesn’t work out.

Collingwood
Picks: 27, 66, 77, 83, 84, 101, 119

The Pies don’t have much of a say in this draft having traded away their picks in securing Adam Treloar, James Aish and Jeremy Howe.

A key forward would probably be ideal for them as a recruit but they aren’t going to get a highly-rated one where they are.

Perhaps they could look for a smaller goalkicker – someone like pacy Daniel Rioli, nephew of Cyril, could provide a valuable point of difference in their side if he’s available at that first pick.

There won’t be much to see here I’m afraid for Magpies fans but they’d already be exceedingly happy with their off-season.

Essendon
Picks: 4, 5, 24, 25, 57, 80, 98, 116

The Bombers have a great chance to fill some of the gaps on their list with a number of high picks this year, two in the top five and another two in the top 25.

Midfielders and forwards are where I’d be looking if I were them and I think that’s what they’ll be after.

They’ve been linked to key forwards Sam Weideman and Charlie Curnow with picks 4 and 5 and midfielders Darcy Parish and Clayton Oliver.

However they may find tall utility Aaron Francis hard to pass up if he’s available – he’s got a lot of elite qualities and is a Bombers fan to boot.

They’ve been linked to Daniel Rioli if available at their picks in the 20s and would also look to see what kind of midfielders are available – Luke Partington, Ryan Clarke, David Cunningham and some others could be handy if around.

Bombers fans have been in hell the last few years but sunny shores might be on the horizon, and an influx of fresh talent will be something to get excited about.

Fremantle
Picks: 22, 35, 61, 74, 91, 110, 128

The Dockers are out of the first round after trading for Harley Bennell and while they’ll be looking for tall players there might not be many options left for them.

Ben McKay is one who could potentially be available for them at pick 22 as a promising tall who can play back and forward.

Another who could appeal is key defender Jesse Glass-McCasker at pick 35 as they look to restock their backline after the retirement of Luke McPharlin.

The Dockers aren’t without decent picks this year but I feel they might be just a little too late in the order to access the really promising tall talent that they need.

Geelong
Picks: 67, 85, 103, 121

Like Collingwood, Geelong’s trade period was the focus for them this year and they little to look forward to in the draft as a result.

The top talent will be long gone by that stage so it will just be a matter of which smokeys the recruiters have grown attached to this year.

Gold Coast
Picks: 6, 16, 29, 56, 79, 97, 115

The Suns have a lot of talent on their list so probably don’t need to specifically target any particular types of players with the three top 30 picks they hold.

They could look to replace the players they lost over the off-season and there are a few who might appeal in that case.

Someone like Wayne Milera would make a solid replacement in the mould of Harley Bennell though strictly speaking I’m not sure there’s a player in this draft with the kind of talent that Bennell has.

A key forward would be worth a look after losing Charlie Dixon and the likes of Sam Weideman, Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay could all factor in there.

Really though I don’t think either is a major requirement as the Suns still have plenty of players of both types and should be able to just take the players they like the most when their picks come around.

Greater Western Sydney
Picks: 10, 34, 43, 53, 55, 58, 63, 64, 65, 70, 95, 102

Like Brisbane, Greater Western Sydney already know who they’re getting as they’ve got a number of highly rated academy prospects.

Jacob Hopper and Matthew Kennedy will both attract bids inside the top 10 picks an the Giants will give up the majority of their picks to secure them.

A key forward in Harrison Himmelberg is also likely to join the club as an academy selection later on in the draft.

It’ll be a good night for Giants fans but not a surprising one.

Hawthorn
Picks: 15, 18, 48, 76, 112, 130

The Hawks have a great opportunity to add some elite young talent to a triple-premiership list with two picks inside the top 20 this year.

Kieran Collins and Riley Bonner are two names they’ve been heavily linked too – Collins a key backman and excellent replacement for Brian Lake, Riley Bonner a penetrative half-back in the mould of current Hawk Grant Birchall.

They could also use some pure midfielders and someone like Rhys Mathieson could slide to them which would be a good result as they look to bolster their ball-winners for the future.

The Hawks will essentially have to wait and see what the draft brings to them at their picks but they should get some good talent no matter which way things go.

Melbourne
Picks: 3, 7, 46, 50, 82, 94, 100, 118

The Dees hold two top ten picks after trading away their future first round pick to secure one this year, and will be looking to add two more elite talents to their list.

They’ve said they’ll take best available at pick 3 and to me that means midfielder Darcy Parish, who after the expected top two picks are gone is the most proven player in the draft pool in my view (aside from the academy-linked players).

However they have been on the look out for a key forward partner for Jesse Hogan and word is they may consider Sam Weideman or Charlie Curnow at that pick instead.

Pick 7 will depend on what they go with at 3 but expect them to grab the reverse of what they did before – if they pick a tall at 3, a midfielder at 7, if they pick a midfielder at 3, a tall at pick 7.

The Dees have drafted well in the last two years and I’ll back them in to make smart decisions again in 2015.

North Melbourne
Picks: 17, 26, 28, 47, 73, 91, 109, 127

North have done well to have three top thirty picks and one in the first round after giving up their original first rounder to secure Jed Anderson.

Like Hawthorn, they’re in that position where they will just wait and see what players are left for them to choose from. There should be some good talent left at their first selection.

Ryan Clarke is one they’ve been linked to as a prolific midfielder with great endurance. He could add another layer of depth to their midfield division.

Height and pace would be two key attributes for them to look at but depending on how the other picks go ahead of them, they might not be able to find much of either.

Port Adelaide
Picks: 32, 49, 86, 104, 122

Port traded their first pick for the third year running and so don’t have much to get excited about at this draft, it’s likely the higher-rated talent will all be gone by the time their first selection comes around.

Local boy Luke Partington might survive to that first pick and would be a great result or they might look at Jesse Glass-McCasker to bolster their key defender depth.

Richmond
Picks: 12, 52, 88, 106, 120, 124

The Tigers are in a good position with their first pick where they will definitely have a few good option on the board, but don’t have much to look forward to after that.

Callum Ah Chee is a player they’ve been linked to a lot. He’s a creative small forward/midfielder who has a lot of pace and is a good kick. He’d fit well into their side.

A ball-winning midfielder would also be a handy addition and they were reportedly keen on Oliver Clayton but will probably miss out.

The Tigers have drafted well in the first round lately and should do well there again, but might not get much value out of their other picks.

St Kilda
Picks: 14, 45, 68, 81, 99, 117

The Saints gave up pick 5 to secure Jake Carlisle but managed to retain a first round selection and could be in a good position as it’s looking likely a quality player slides to them.

Midfielder Rhys Mathieson and half-back Darcy Tucker would both have been considered by them at pick 5 but it now looks likely that one or even both might slide to be available for them at 14.

There’s not a whole lot else for them to look forward to as their next pick isn’t until the 40s, but it looks like they could get a bargain at 14.

Sydney
Picks: 33, 36, 37, 44, 54, 69, 72, 90, 108, 126

The Swans might not have a good draft hand at first glace but their first four picks or so will all be used to pay for highly-rated academy midfielder Callum Mills.

Mills will attract a bid inside the first five picks and the Swans will blow most of their draft currency securing him – and it’ll be well worth it.

Not a whole lot to look at after that, they’ll pick up a few smokeys they like with what they have left.

West Coast
Picks: 23, 31, 62, 75, 93, 111, 129

Decent position for the Eagles to be in given they traded their first rounder away to get Jack Redden, coming into the draft at 23 is only a few picks after the first round ends.

There should be a few well-liked players on the board there and with a relatively well-rounded list the Eagles have the freedom to pick whatever quality player falls to them.

It’s probably a midfielder rather than a tall given the range they’re in. Someone like Daniel Rioli or David Cunningham could provide a good boost of pace, or maybe a versatile player like Thomas Cole would appeal.

Redden and Lewis Jetta were the centrepiece of the off-season for the Eagles but they should be able to bring in some talent through the draft as well.

Western Bulldogs
Picks: 20, 21, 30, 51, 87, 105, 123

The Bulldogs made a big call to trade down from pick 11 to picks 20 and 21 this year and while two-for-one could prove a good deal in the end it probably puts them out of range to target any tall players.

And tall players are something they could seriously use – a ruckman and a key defender would be great additions for them but they’re not in a great position to land highly-rated prospects in either category.

Ben McKay would be one they probably leap at if he’s available at their picks as a versatile tall player, otherwise they probably look to see which midfielders are around and pick some smokey talls later on.

All things considered I would’ve kept pick 11 if I were them but they’ve drafted well the last few years and I trust they know what they’re doing.