PRE Pundits 2024 Top 30 | PUNT ROAD END | Richmond Tigers Forum
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PRE Pundits 2024 Top 30

Ok, I've redone my list after going back over some players (and Hannaford's diabolical 2k).

1. FOS
2. Lalor
3. Ashcroft
4. Smillie
5. Langford
6. Lombard
7. Hotton
8. Draper
9. Lindsay
10. Smith
11. Tauru
12. Armstrong
13. Allan
14. Berry
15. Kako
16. J.Whitlock
17. Travaglia
18. Hannaford
19. Trainor
20. Reid
21. Dodson
22. Sims
23. Shanahan
24. Faull
25. Mraz
26. Barrat
27. Dattoli
28. Marshall
29. Ough
30. Oliver
Reid at 20. Interesting.
 
On the talls, I think the Whitlocks are in everything. @bullus_hit has shown his preference for Jack above and @Redford has expressed a preference for Matt.

I kinda like both for different reasons. But I have Matt a lock. I note that each is agile and looks at times brisk. Not just moderate.

On the Whitlocks in general I want to mention role and rating. Neither Whitlock is a #1 forward IMO. Not enough power or ability to hold position. Not their role.

And even as a #2 forward (CHF kinda thing) neither has any class. But yes mobility. (And versatility.) I think either player peaks at average CHF and maybe is a natural at below average #2 forward. (A below average career CHF is rare because they get moved around but an average career CHF is a good and valuable player.)

Could either develop into #3 forward roles? Maybe. They can really get out the back. It matters.

If a Whitlock peaks at below average forward how does he go behind the ball? Looks ok to me. I can see two adequate CHBs, albeit lacking in class. But adequate.

Whitlocks are versatile, more so Matt at this stage. And while he remains mobile he is a very good prospect as a #3 back. Matt Whitlock could be an elite #3 back and will probably be at least average. And so I like Matt Whitlock. At last. Something at which a Whitlock might excel.

I’d cop either. And maybe both. Their versatility really matters.
 
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Ok, I've redone my list after going back over some players (and Hannaford's diabolical 2k).

1. FOS
2. Lalor
3. Ashcroft
4. Smillie
5. Langford
6. Lombard
7. Hotton
8. Draper
9. Lindsay
10. Smith
11. Tauru
12. Armstrong
13. Allan
14. Berry
15. Kako
16. J.Whitlock
17. Travaglia
18. Hannaford
19. Trainor
20. Reid
21. Dodson
22. Sims
23. Shanahan
24. Faull
25. Mraz
26. Barrat
27. Dattoli
28. Marshall
29. Ough
30. Oliver

Nice work. See Jagga up to a more respectable slot.

Hotton above Draper is a massive call ILO.

Draper is a bit forgotton on PRE. He should be grouped with the top 3, making it a top 4.

Hotton has a very small body of work. Didn't do a lot last year and whilst did very well, only played a handful this. Whereas Drpaer proved himself in a strong senior comp. Anyway, its all about projecting.

And Big WIllie at 3 (taking out Ashcroft). Big rise in Spooks charts.

Shows it is quite interesting doing a full 30 this year. Most years it's very samey samey, but not this one.
 
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I'll have a go at a mock top 50 (with a bonus pick to grind some gears). This is with us doing the trade of 6 & 11 to Norf for pick 2 and their F1. This is a hyper-aggressive go at it from an RFC POV.

1. Lalor (RI)
2. Ashcroft (BR) (They extracted a premium for pick 20, we'll make them pay for Levi - they match with 27, 34, 42, 43)
3. FOS (RI)
4. Draper (CA)
5. Smillie (RI) (Live trade of our F1 & pick 23 for this pick and Adelaide's F2. Adelaide might not go for this but let's say their eyes light up at the prospect of hometown boy Sharp next year)
6. Langford (ME)
7. Tauru (NM)
8. Smith (St K)
9. Hotton (St K)
10. Armstrong (ME)
11. Lindsay (RI)
12. Trainor (NM)
13. Travaglia (WC)
14. Lombard (GC) (PA bid matched with 36, 38)
15. Berry (PA)
16. Kako (ES) (FR bid - matched with 29, 32 - get back 43)
17. Allan (FR)
18. Hannaford (GWS)
19. J. Whitlock (GWS)
20. Reid (WB)
21. Sims (RI)
22. Mraz (SY)
23. Shanahan (ES) (live-traded one of their F1s and pick 39 to Richmond for this)
24. Gross (GWS)
25. Marshall (BR) (SY bid - matched with 49, 60, 66 - into deficit next year)
26. Dodson (SY)
27. Oliver (AD)

That's the end of the first round. We still have the first pick of R2, and pick 39.

28. Faull (RI)
29. Dattoli (WB)
30. Gerreyn (WC)
31. Hynes (PA)
32. Davis (FR)
33. L. Smith (GWS) (St K bid - matched with 39)
34. M. Whitlock (St K)
35. Barrat (HA)
36. Ough (WB)
37. B. Camporeale (CA) (PA bid - matched with 38, eat it Scum)
38. Nicholls (PA)
39. Alger (RI)
40. O'Farrell (ES)
41. Clarke (SY)
42. Jaques (GE)
43. Moraes (ES)
44. Day-Wicks (St K)
45. Burmeister (WB)
46. Dennis (PA)
47. Bice (GC)
48. Welsh (AD - CO bid matched with 60, slight deficit for 2025)
49. Stumpf (CO)
50. Champion (WC - ES bid matched with 70, deficit in 2025)
51. Davidson (ES)

Richmond haul: Lalor, FOS, Smillie, Lindsay, Sims, Faull, Alger
2025 hand: 2x R1 (NM, ME); 2 x R2 (RI, AD) (We're trading for Cadman anyway, Sharp piners.)
 
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If North are going to split pick 2 it will be done before the November 8 cut-off date you would think. A swap of that magnitude surely isn't left for draft night?

So potentially another 10 days of waiting to see if we take our present hand to the draft or do a deal, (slower than watching grass grow :rolleyes: )
 
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I'll have a go at a mock top 50 (with a bonus pick to grind some gears). This is with us doing the trade of 6 & 11 to Norf for pick 2 and their F1. This is a hyper-aggressive go at it from an RFC POV.

1. Lalor (RI)
2. Ashcroft (BR) (They extracted a premium for pick 20, we'll make them pay for Levi - they match with 27, 34, 42, 43)
3. FOS (RI)
4. Draper (CA)
5. Smillie (RI) (Live trade of our F1 & pick 23 for this pick and Adelaide's F2. Adelaide might not go for this but let's say their eyes light up at the prospect of hometown boy Sharp next year)
6. Langford (ME)
7. Tauru (NM)
8. Smith (St K)
9. Hotton (St K)
10. Armstrong (ME)
11. Lindsay (RI)
12. Trainor (NM)
13. Travaglia (WC)
14. Lombard (GC) (PA bid matched with 36, 38)
15. Berry (PA)
16. Kako (ES) (FR bid - matched with 29, 32 - get back 43)
17. Allan (FR)
18. Hannaford (GWS)
19. J. Whitlock (GWS)
20. Reid (WB)
21. Sims (RI)
22. Mraz (SY)
23. Shanahan (ES) (live-traded one of their F1s and pick 39 to Richmond for this)
24. Dodson (GWS)
25. Marshall (BR) (SY bid - matched with 49, 60, 66 - into deficit next year)
26. Gross (SY)
27. Oliver (AD)

That's the end of the first round. We still have the first pick of R2, and pick 39.

28. Faull (RI)
29. Dattoli (WB)
30. Gerreyn (WC)
31. Hynes (PA)
32. Davis (FR)
33. L. Smith (GWS) (St K bid - matched with 39)
34. M. Whitlock (St K)
35. Barrat (HA)
36. Ough (WB)
37. B. Camporeale (CA) (PA bid - matched with 38, eat it Scum)
38. Nicholls (PA)
39. Alger (RI)
40. O'Farrell (ES)
41. Clarke (SY)
42. Jaques (GE)
43. Moraes (ES)
44. Day-Wicks (St K)
45. Burmeister (WB)
46. Dennis (PA)
47. Bice (GC)
48. Welsh (AD - CO bid matched with 60, slight deficit for 2025)
49. Stumpf (CO)
50. Champion (WC - ES bid matched with 70, deficit in 2025)
51. Davidson (ES)

Richmond haul: Lalor, FOS, Smillie, Lindsay, Sims, Faull, Alger
2025 hand: 2x R1 (NM, ME); 2 x R2 (RI, AD) (We're trading for Cadman anyway, Sharp piners.)
Not that I agree with all of your convoluted deals but I APPLAUD your work:clap2
 
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Will be interesting to revisit some of these predictions in 5 years time.
Sometimes when I’m looking for something I stumble across old draft predictions: “if we get Smith, Jones, Anderson and Simpson we’ll have cleaned up and I’ll be doing cartwheels “.

Except that Simpson never got drafted, Anderson did but never played a game, Jones played 12 and Smith played 40 over 4 seasons before being on-traded.
 
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Sometimes when I’m looking for something I stumble across old draft predictions: “if we get Smith, Jones, Anderson and Simpson we’ll have cleaned up and I’ll be doing cartwheels “.

Except that Simpson never got drafted, Anderson did but never played a game, Jones played 12 and Smith played 40 over 4 seasons before being on-traded.
Jones just needed a run of six or seven straight games.
 
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Nice work. See Jagga up to a more respectable slot.

Hotton above Draper is a massive call ILO.

Draper is a bit forgotton on PRE. He should be grouped with the top 3, making it a top 4.

Hotton has a very small body of work. Didn't do a lot last year and whilst did very well, only played a handful this. Whereas Drpaer proved himself in a strong senior comp. Anyway, its all about projecting.

And Big WIllie at 3 (taking out Ashcroft). Big rise in Spooks charts.

Shows it is quite interesting doing a full 30 this year. Most years it's very samey samey, but not this one.
Yeah, I was an early Guy Smiley h8er when everyone was giving him to us at 1. I downrated him for going to ground too much and being weak overhead. But another look has me thinking he has so much scope to improve. Even if he doesn't make it as a mid he profiles as an elite half-back. Marking will improve, so will tank. Ceiling is Elite Kicking Motherrooting Beast.

I love Hotton. At least as quick as Draper, better overhead and more versatile. But it's close from Smiley to Allan, you could have them in any order.
 
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I would have posted a couple of FOS interviews but i didn't want him to get crucified here as a 'YEAH Man', ;) a bit of an agricultural speaker, used the word yeah about 30 times across the 2 interviews i listened to.

  • From a young age encouraged to play in multiple positions to make him versatile.
  • See ball get ball when it comes to marking and referred himself to Isaac Heeney in that regards.
  • As others have mentioned he rates his best mate Lalor has the number 1 pick in the draft, strong, skilled, high footy IQ and brings people together, he laughed and said he gets a bit scared when he comes up against him.
 
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I would have posted a couple of FOS interviews but i didn't want him to get crucified here as a 'YEAH Man', ;) a bit of an agricultural speaker, used the word yeah about 30 times across the 2 interviews i listened to.

  • From a young age encouraged to play in multiple positions to make him versatile.
  • See ball get ball when it comes to marking and referred himself to Isaac Heeney in that regards.
  • As others have mentioned he rates his best mate Lalor has the number 1 pick in the draft, strong, skilled, high footy IQ and brings people together, he laughed and said he gets a bit scared when he comes up against him.

Yeah he's a country boy for sure mate.
 
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11. Lindsay (RI)
12. Trainor (NM)
13. Travaglia (WC)
I am working on the basis we go into the draft with our existing picks.

This is a very interesting part of the draft, with Tauru & Armstrong almost certainly gone I agree we will pick one of these intercepting/rebound defenders at 10 or 11.

I just listened to the Vic Metro & Sandringham Dragons coach Rob Harding interviewed and bearing in mind his potential bias he believes that 194cm Luke Trainor has the tools to be the best defender in the draft. He said they played Trainor forward and then moved him to defence, they were also going to move him into the midfield but he was doing so well in defence they left him there.

**Trainor the forgotten man, I haven't seen him play live but just watched some clips, pretty impressive.

He also he hopes Richmond bid on Levi at number 1 as he he is clearly the best player in the draft.

Would probably be reluctant to trade up to 2 if he was Richmond as you are guaranteed an elite midfielder in top 5 or 6 and it would mean missing out on another quality player with the pick we would have to give up.

Outside of Levi he was asked who out of the touted # 1 players did he think would go at one. He said the player they were most worried about when he was coaching Vic Metro was Sam Lalor, "just the power and the driving of his legs out the front of the stoppage"
 
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My stab at a top 30

1. FOS
2. Lalor
3. Ashcroft
4. Draper
5. Smith
6. Langford
7. Tauru
8. Lombard
9. Lindsay
10. Smillie
11. Reid
12. Berry
13. Armstrong
14. Kako
15. Hotton
16. Trainor
17. Allan
18. Travaglia
19. J Whitlock
20. Hannaford
21. Dodson
22. Marshall
23. Faull
24. Dattoli
25. Shanahan
26. Hynes
27. M Whitlock
28. Gross
29. Gerreyn
30. Sims
 
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So I've ignored Leysy and picked players for clubs. It kinda is the same thing anyway.
Besides how do you choose if a back pocket is better than a ruck/forward? Especially later in the draft. The team needs all types.

RFC Lalor
North Tauru
Blues FOS ( Lalor /Smith / Draper)
AC Draper ( / Smith)
Dees Smith (Armstrong )
RFC Langford ( Smith / Lindsay )
st k Reid
St K Smillie (Langford )
Dees Armstrong (Travaglia)
RFC Bo Allan
RFC Lindsay
WCE Travaglia
Port Joe Berry
Freo Hotton
GWS JWhitlock
GWS Hynes
Dogs Dattoli
RFC Jonty Faull
Swans Shanahan
RFC Trainor
GWS MWhitlock
Swans Hamish Davis
RFC Moraes
RFC Harrison Oliver
Dogs Anderson
WC Hannaford
BL bid
Ess bid
Port Dodson
Freo Gerreyn
Ess bid
St K O'Farrell
Haw Sims
BL bid
Dogs Gross
Port Angus Clarke
GWS Retschko
Blues Ough
GC bid
Ess Algar
GC bid
BL bid
BL bid
Swans Dennis
Cats Mraz
Ess Archer Day Wicks
St K Charleson
Dogs Dolan
BL bid
Port Phoenix Hargrave
GC bid
Coll Charlie Nicholls
Ess Urquhart
Ess Barrat
Coll Hugh Boxshall
GWS Jaxon Artemis
Cats Gabriel Stumpf
Coll Warburton
Swans Ned Bowman
BL bid








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