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2024 Draft Thread
- Thread starter Mr T.
- Start date
Fantastic seeing the kids views of the best player amongst them!
FOS - 4 Votes
Jagga - 3 votes
Lalor, Draper, Smillie - 1 Vote
Seems about right!
FOS - 4 Votes
Jagga - 3 votes
Lalor, Draper, Smillie - 1 Vote
Seems about right!
4 for FOS n 3 for Jagger, so they're the lead choices, then I think I'd be tipping for that little bit of extra upside available with FOS, couple of broken pinkies have hampered him a bit this year.
He said Joking Faces won’t read the article and instead ask someone else what he said. Whaargh haaargh haaargh….cmon that was gold.
Though the form guide is harder to read then your best bets you’ve dropped in the mud after the 7th at Flemington in June , it’s looking/ reading a little like we go Fos or Lalor at 1 and Smillie could well be the one at 6 , of course I have NFI , however just appears Cal has narrowed us down to 2 and his mail is exceptional.
The bolsters and sliders appear to be taking shape , trainor , Smillie and Draper appear to be heading closer to 10 then 1 , the Viking and Armstrong appear to be pushing up .
Should we be trying to get Bolton ( formerly known as Shai) to head to WC for 3 instead of Freo ? Are our big 3 ( Fos,Lalor, Smith) much better then the next bunch where we may get who we rate at 5 or 6 at 10, 11etc
Geez Blair and Toce have some tough calls , couple of big calls / opportunities that may appear as “bargains” are Trainor and Hotton
Can’t wait till Caesars report about he’s new Shai
The bolsters and sliders appear to be taking shape , trainor , Smillie and Draper appear to be heading closer to 10 then 1 , the Viking and Armstrong appear to be pushing up .
Should we be trying to get Bolton ( formerly known as Shai) to head to WC for 3 instead of Freo ? Are our big 3 ( Fos,Lalor, Smith) much better then the next bunch where we may get who we rate at 5 or 6 at 10, 11etc
Geez Blair and Toce have some tough calls , couple of big calls / opportunities that may appear as “bargains” are Trainor and Hotton
Can’t wait till Caesars report about he’s new Shai
Agree,I reckon tigers have nailed whom are the 2 best prospects, it's the hardest mids to find which is goal kicking mids,fos,LalorYou keep saying he's a forward,,Lalor first and foremost is a mid,,he was played forward to get condition .
Dusty in the juniors was a mid ...
If you are underdone and try and push yourself too hard,your going to get injuries .
He will look good in the Tigers no4 Robert ,,Suck it up
There is 0 chance that kako gets bid on at 6,u would be incompetent and 0 chance that fos gets to 7 ,article is off here.This is the Fairfax article by Marc McGowan-
The next Dusty, ‘Rubber Man’, and a match-winner with Iraqi heritage: The stars of a wide-open AFL draft
Five young guns have a case to have their names called out first on draft night, although the rebuilding Richmond appear to be zeroing in on two in particular.www.theage.com.au
The next Dusty, ‘Rubber Man’, and a match-winner with Iraqi heritage: The stars of a wide-open AFL draft
1. Sam Lalor
GWV Rebels/Vic Country
Midfielder/forward, 187cm, 30/8/2006
Talent League stats (avg): 23 disposals, 6.3 clearances, 6 inside 50s
The Age’s August top 30: No.5
The next Dustin Martin could be on his way to Tigerland. Most recruiters who spoke to this masthead believe Richmond are weighing up Lalor or Finn O’Sullivan at No.1. Many non-Richmond talent scouts also rank Lalor that highly despite a serious hamstring injury ending his season amid a severely interrupted campaign. They are confident he will get on top of his physical issues in a full-time AFL environment, and with improved fitness. Lalor’s combination of power, physicality, kicking skills, game-changing ability and penchant for impacting the game as a midfielder and forward make him a closer projection to Martin than Christian Petracca.
2. Levi Ashcroft
Sandringham Dragons/Vic Metro
Midfielder, 179cm, 18/12/2006
Talent League stats (avg): 30.8 disposals, 5.3 clearances, 1.3 goals
The Age’s August top 30: 2
Ashcroft will join his Norm Smith Medal-winning brother Will at Brisbane, and may even attract a bid at No.1. That owes to his strong body of work across the past two years, including being a back-to-back under-18 All-Australian. Richmond have interviewed Ashcroft since he announced he would be a father-son selection. He will need to bide his time to break into Brisbane’s on-ball rotation, but he is more than capable of being a contributor at half-forward initially. Ashcroft’s rare mix of high-level talent and ultra professionalism should enable him to make an instant impact in 2025. He won’t test at the combine because he is recovering from shoulder surgery.
3. Alix Tauru
Gippsland Power/Vic Country
Tall defender, 191cm, 16/11/2006
Talent League stats (avg): 14.5 disposals, 3.7 intercept marks, 7.3 intercept possessions
The Age’s August top 30: 19
What a rise for Tauru, from virtual unknown in the pre-season to potential top-three pick, if defender-needy North Melbourne take the leap, as some think they might. Recruiters are enamoured with the courage he shows flying for marks, his athleticism, aggression and instinctual play, and his upside. Tauru is most highly rated as an intercept defender, but also played up forward and as a defensive midfielder. There is risk involved in picking Tauru, with his most common draft range seen as 5-12, with several recruiters rating him as an ideal selection for clubs with multiple first-round picks. This would be the ultimate swing-for-the-fence selection.
4. Jagga Smith
Oakleigh Chargers/Vic Metro
Midfielder, 181cm, 28/1/2006
Talent League stats (avg): 33.8 disposals, 13.9 contested possessions, 7.9 clearances
The Age’s August top 30: 1
Smith made every post a winner this past season and was our No.1 prospect two months ago. He remains the most bust-proof selection – some compare picking him to Sam Walsh in 2018 – and the team that drafts him will gain a gun midfielder for the next 15 years. He is a genius at winning the ball in contested situations and escaping from tight spots at stoppages, putting his agility to great use, then almost always finds a teammate. Smith had a 50-disposal game in the under-18 league, and won 31, with 18 contested possessions, in his VFL debut for Richmond. The general view is that he is, perhaps, not as talented or damaging as some in this range.
5. Harvey Langford
Dandenong Stingrays/Vic Country
Midfielder, 190cm, 15/3/2006
Talent League stats (avg): 25.9 disposals, 4.7 clearances, 1.3 goals
The Age’s August top 30: 11
Alongside Smith and Ashcroft, Langford was the most consistently excellent performer this year. He was seen more as a top-30 prospect before the championships, but has shot up draft boards by continually playing well. The co-Larke medallist is big by midfield standards, can play various positions, is a good mark, hits the scoreboard regularly, works hard off the ball, and physically handled the step-up to VFL in a cameo with the Tigers. Some recruiters would be prepared to take him at No.1. There are still queries on his speed and decision-making at times – particularly his kicking inside 50 – but there is no argument with his output.
6. Isaac Kako
Calder Cannons/Vic Metro
Forward, 175cm, 7/3/2006
Talent League stats (avg): 18.7 disposals, 1.7 goals, 7.7 score involvements
The Age’s August top 30: 12
Essendon may need to match a high opposition bid on their NGA prospect, with Melbourne strongly considering the dangerous small forward – or are they playing games with the Bombers? Either way, Kako, whose parents were born in Iraq, is considered a top-10 lock after a brilliant national under-18 championships. There should be no hesitation taking a sub-180cm goalsneak with Kako’s ability this high after Nick Watson’s impressive debut season. Kako is powerful, and has a knack for creating scoring opportunities and kicking audacious goals from seemingly hopeless situations. He can improve defensively, but can impact the game beyond the forward 50.
7. Finn O’Sullivan
Oakleigh Chargers/Vic Metro
Midfielder, 182cm, 30/5/2006
Talent League stats (avg): 17.3 disposals, 5.3 inside 50s, 1.3 goals
The Age’s August top 30: 3
In contention at No.1, but falling to No.7? This promises to be a wild draft, but it definitely feels uncomfortable ranking O’Sullivan here, after a potential Melbourne bid on Kako. He has long been on recruiters’ radars, winning best player honours at the 2022 under-16 championships and being an under-18 All-Australian last year. O’Sullivan has dealt with a series of setbacks this year that prevented him from playing at his best, but there are recruiters who rate him as the most talented player in the pool. O’Sullivan appears to have more time than most, is a strong runner, and adjusts quickly when his first option is shut down. His marking is a strength, and he is a goalkicker with few flaws.
8. Josh Smillie
Eastern Ranges/Vic Metro
Midfielder, 194cm, 17/5/2006
Talent League stats (avg): 25.5 disposals, 11.3 contested possessions, 4.8 clearances
The Age’s August top 30: 4
This selection will be in Richmond’s hands once they trade Dan Rioli to Gold Coast, and the Tigers are bullish on Smillie, who has been likened to Patrick Cripps, despite him not meeting expectations this year. There was No.1 hype about him early in the year, but a moderate championships display hurt his stock. Some recruiters believe Smillie’s best position is at half-back – querying his running ability and impact below his knees – whereas others view him as a big-bodied midfielder who can go forward. His performances this year may not match the Langfords and Smiths, but this is a pick for the future and what Smillie might become. He is tall, strong and has good skills, so there is potential here.
9. Leonardo Lombard
GC Suns Academy/Allies
Midfielder, 178cm, 5/10/2006
Talent League stats (avg): 24.7 disposals, 13 contested possessions, 5.7 clearances
The Age’s August top 30: 14
If St Kilda president Andrew Bassat’s criticism of the draft system was any gauge, the Saints might be the club to place a bid on Lombard. That is certainly the tip in recruiting ranks. Lombard, who shared the Larke Medal at the championships with Langford after an outstanding carnival, buzzes around stoppages and his power and ball-winning talents are sure to be a great addition to the Suns’ midfield. He is often compared to fellow Gold Coast academy product Jake Rogers, the No.14 pick last year. The knock on Lombard – who played in the Suns’ 2023 VFL premiership as a 16-year-old – is that he could be tidier with his disposals, but he is a contested beast.
10. Sid Draper
South Adelaide/South Australia
Midfielder, 180cm, 5/7/2006
SANFL seniors stats (avg): 22.2 disposals, 4.7 clearances, 6.2 tackles
The Age’s August top 30: 6
There are Draper admirers higher than this, including West Coast, so the dual under-18 All-Australian may be snapped up long before this. A shin stress injury put him on the back foot from the start this year, but his renowned work ethic helped him make it back in time to compete at the championships. Draper boasts good midfield craft and ball-winning ability, as well as the power to burst out of stoppages. He finished the season well at SANFL senior level, which was another tick for his top-10 candidacy. However, Draper’s kicking skills and decision-making are considered a tad below some of the best midfielders in this crop.
You are probably right, but it would be great if he was.
We could then trade some later picks to the Bombers for their 1st (currently 9), then after they get Kako, trade our next pick back to them for their F1.
Might be doing a deal with the devil, but its a win/win.
That was as funny as a fart in an elevator Red. Lift!He said Joking Faces won’t read the article and instead ask someone else what he said. Whaargh haaargh haaargh….cmon that was gold.
What ? Farts in an elevator are outrageously funny.
What the hell is wrong with you, you weirdo.
