The time has come for the first instalment of the Sports Banter AFL Phantom Draft for 2014.
Note that this will be a rolling draft (continually updated each month or so) covering the first round only with selections based on current ladder positioning and what I see as club needs. It also will not factor in any trades or free agency compensation picks until those deals/picks are locked in after the trade period.
We’ll try to update the Phantom Draft once a month in the lead up to November and have a final instalment just before the draft itself.
Pick #1 St. Kilda – Patrick McCartin (VIC – KPF)
Height: 193cm, Weight: 95kg, DOB: 19/04/1996
Recruited from: Geelong Falcons
Summary: The Saints get their much needed natural key position forward in McCartin who is an old fashioned full forward who leads well, marks well with his strong hands and kicks bags of goals. Very capable one on one in a contested situation as well as having the pack marking ability to command the ball inside 50.
Pick #2 Brisbane – Peter Wright (VIC – KPF/Ruck)
Height: 203cm, Weight: 102kg, DOB: 08/09/1996
Recruited from: Calder Cannons
Summary: The Lions have glaring holes in their list with their forward stocks in most need of a replenishment and big Peter Wright gives them that inside 50 target to replace retired warrior Jonathon Brown. At 203cm, Wright is a towering option in the front half with strong hands and the ability to boot goals from way down town but is also an elite ruckman as proven by his selection as U18 All Australian Ruckman. His versatility may be the deciding factor in the Lions selecting him over the highly touted Christian Petracca.
Pick #3 Melbourne – Christian Petracca (VIC – Fwd/Mid)
Height: 186cm, Weight: 92kg, DOB: 04/01/1996
Recruited from: Eastern Ranges
Summary: The Demon’s will be licking their lips at the prospect of Petracca falling in their lap at pick 3. The strongly built midfielder has dominated all forms of under 18 football this season and has raced up draft boards after his transition from the forward line into the midfield. He wins the contested ball, tackles as if possessed and has the class and polish to finish with team lifting goals. He is the all round package and one for Dees fans to get quite excited by.
Pick #4 GWS Giants – Angus Brayshaw (VIC – Mid)
Height: 187cm, Weight: 87kg, DOB: 09/01/1996
Recruited from: Sandringham Dragons
Summary: GWS will take Brayshaw as the next best midfielder in this draft. He is a big accumulator of the ball through the midfield and one of the best volume tacklers you’ll ever find. Brayshaw has absolutely dominated the TAC and has the proven performances on the board to suggest he can take the next step and become one of the elite midfielders in the competition. He’s got clean hands and is a sound user of the footy with both right and left sides and generally makes good decisions with ball. Not flashy but gets the job done week in week out.
Pick #5 Carlton – Caleb Marchbank (VIC – KPD)
Height: 193cm, Weight: 85kg, DOB: 12/07/1996
Recruited from: Murray Bushrangers
Summary: Marchbank had an outstanding National Championships and pretty much cemented his name as the best lock down defender in this years draft. He reads the flight of the ball exceptionally well, has strong marking/spoiling ability one on one, he’s a good defensive decision maker who backs himself to leave his opponent to take an intercept mark or help out his fellow defenders when required. Nice neat disposal for a key defender who also showed promise in the forward half when he shifted into attack at times throughout the carnival.
Pick #6 Western Bulldogs –Sam Durdin (SA – KPF/KPD)
Height: 197cm, Weight: 89kg, DOB: 06/06/1996
Recruited from: West Adelaide
Summary: Along with Marchbank, Sam Durdin is another outstanding key position talent who can play at either end of the ground. He’s a good mover for someone his height and has the athleticism and versatility to have an impact as a key defender or to move forward and be a target inside 50. A hand injury saw Durdin have minimal impact throughout the National Championships but he is one of the better key position players available in the up coming draft. He’s an excellent overhead mark but also has ability once the ball hit’s the ground. It will be interesting to see if he is developed into a forward or defender at AFL level.
Pick #7 Richmond - Lachlan Weller (QLD – Mid)
Height: 181cm, Weight: 71kg, DOB: 23/02/1996
Recruited from: Broadbeach
Summary: Weller is the brother of St. Kilda’s Maverick but that’s where their similarities as footballers end. Lachlan is a classy midfielder with polished disposal, makes excellent decisions and can really hurt his opposition by foot when out in space. Not only does he get in an under and win his own ball but he also cut’s through traffic with pace and elite disposal. Although not overly strongly built, Weller has some serious depth to his kicking and is the man you want the ball in the hands of to make something happen. A future leader.
Pick #8 West Coast – Jarrod Pickett (WA – Mid)
Height: 179cm, Weight: 76kg, DOB: 18/08/1996
Recruited from: South Fremantle
Summary: The Eagles will be delighted to call out Pickett’s name should he fall to them at pick 8. The Western Australian seems a perfect fit for the Eagles as they are crying out for speed, class and x-factor through their midfield which Pickett has by the truck load. He has been likened to a Lewis Jetta however a little more on the consistent side. He has great running ability, makes very good decisions, assesses his options quickly with ball in hand and isn’t afraid to take the game on. His balance and agility allow him to take the game on almost at will.
Pick #9 Adelaide – Hugh Goddard (VIC – KPF/KPD)
pictured below left with fellow draft prospects Patrick McCratin and Jordan De Goey)
Height: 196cm, Weight: 93kg, DOB: 24/08/1996
Recruited from: Geelong Falcons
Summary: Goddard’s fair to average National Championships may see him in a position to end up at the Crows as one of the last potential high calibre key position players in the draft. Cousin of Essendon’s Brendon, Hugh Goddard is another swingman quite capable at either end of the ground and has an imposing figure for his age. A solid shut down defender who is a good decision maker he is quite capable of kicking a couple of goals a game when played forward but at this stage he just lacks a little of the dominance that the McCartin’s and Wrights have as key forwards. At his best Goddard is a strong marker of the ball, has quite clean disposal and can be a goal kicking key forward however some of his better performances in the National Championships suggest that he may be best suited in defence.
Pick #10 Gold Coast – Jayden Laverde (VIC – Utility)
Height: 189cm, Weight: 82kg, DOB: 12/04/1996
Recruited from: Western Jets
Summary: The Gold Coast may not be able to pass up on the hugely talented Leverde. The excitement machine has played off half back and through the midfield but it was his 17 disposal, 3 goal against W.A in the championships that really shot his name up draft rankings. Another tall midfielder, Leverde loves to use his speed and evasiveness off half back and through the middle often making his opponent look silly in the process. He can sometimes appear to try and do too much but given his x-factor and ability to break a game open many coaches will no doubt give him a license to be creative with ball in hand.
Pick #11 Collingwood – Darcy Moore (VIC – KPF/KPD)
Height: 199cm, Weight: 93kg, DOB: 25/01/1996
Recruited from: Oakleigh Chargers
Summary: Collingwood will be the first to use a father son selection this year with the son of dual Brownlow Medallist Peter Moore. Considered by many to be in the top 5-10 on talent the Pies will be getting a bargain with the key position swingman. Moore can be a close checking lock down defender but can also go forward and kick a bag of goals as shown through the National Championships. He is an exceptional mover for someone his size, can take a strong grab but also has clean hands when the ball hits the ground. Quite athletic and agile, the Pies may finally have another genuine forward to fill the long standing void alongside Travis Cloke.
Pick #12 North Melbourne – Paul Ahern (VIC – Mid/Fwd)
Height: 181cm, Weight: 77kg, DOB: 01/08/1996
Recruited from: Calder Cannons
Summary: North Melbourne will be another looking for an injection of speed and x-factor into it’s playing stocks and Ahern is their man. He had a breakout National Championships, often being in Vic Metro’s best players as a silky smooth, goal kicking midfielder. He has improved the contested side of his game this year but his biggest assest would be his ability to find open space and his polished disposal. Ahern has clean hands at ground level and has breakaway speed allowing him to spread from the contest and create separation from his opponent allowing him to be dangerous all around the ground. Has rocketed into top 10 calculations of late.
Pick #13 Port Adelaide – Jake Lever (VIC –KPD picture below)
Height: 192cm, Weight: 84kg, DOB: 05/03/1996
Recruited from: Calder Cannons
Summary: The Power’s recent drop off in form may see them in a position to recruit Lever who looks to be one of the last key position players in the top bracket to possibly slip through to them after he has missed all of season 2014 to date with a knee reconstruction as a result of a pre-season injury. He showed enough last year to suggest that he’ll be right in the mix for a top 10 selection come Novembers draft as he is a natural rebounding defender with a hard edge and aggressive approach to his game. Not only does he read the ball in flight exceptionally well but he is a great intercept mark who is more than capable one on one and also likes to run and carry the ball out of defence. Very good by foot Lever isn’t afraid to work up the field and be a link man out of defence. Another leader.
Pick #14 Geelong – Jordan De Goey (VIC – Mid/Fwd)
Height: 187cm, Weight: 82kg, DOB: 15/03/1996
Recruited from: Oakleigh Chargers
Summary: De Goey seems a perfect long term replacement for Corey Enright as the two share many similar traits. De Goey has a great set of hands, reads the play well, has a strong defensive side to his game yet can also hurt his opponent on the attack. He is quite capable in most positions but it is through the midfield and defence where he prospers. he is a great intercept mark and often sets up his team with strong tackling, second efforts, intercept marks and then long beaming kicks inside 50 or through the big sticks. Seen by many as the complete package.
Pick #15 Gold Coast activated compensation pick – Tom Lamb (VIC – Fwd/Mid)
Height: 192cm, Weight: 83kg, DOB: 19/10/1996
Recruited from: Dandenong Stingrays
Summary: With the shape of their current list the Suns can afford to take a little gamble on shaggy haired Tom Lamb here who may be this draft’s first round slider. His National Championships were less than inspiring but his versatile best may be a good fit for the Suns. He is a solid mark and a smart footballer but can quite often go missing for long periods of the game. His field kicking needs to improve but what he does do well is read a game and knows when to play on to advantage. At his height and with his running ability he can play across many positions but will need to work hard on many facets of his game. A coach like Guy McKenna will help Lamb get the best out of himself. Was touted as a top 10 prospect prior to the National Championships.
Pick #16 Hawthorn – Liam Duggan (VIC – Def/Mid)
Height: 183cm, Weight: 76kg, DOB: 11/12/1996
Recruited from: Western Jets
Summary: The Hawks love a left footer and they might be in line to draft another one here in Liam Duggan. Duggan had a solid National Championships, often taking the kick ins for Vic Metro. He’s the type of player you want to have the ball coming out of the back half as he hits targets over both short and long distances. Duggan has transitioned into more of an inside midfield role this season further enhancing his draft prospects and he is a high calibre kid as evidenced by him securing the Ben Mitchell Medal as the leading player of this year’s AFL National Academy. The medal is voted on by the playing group and awarded to the player who best displays traits such as courage, commitment, trust and leadership.
Pick #17 Fremantle – Tyler Keitel (WA – KPF/KPD)
Height: 194cm, Weight: 86kg, DOB: 07/02/1996
Recruited from: East Perth
Summary: Fremantle will be in a position to select WA boy Keitel with their first selection as a long term forward line replacement for ageing skipper Matthew Pavlich. Keitel is a key position forward who takes clean marks over head and has the smarts required as a key forward that enable him to protect the drop of the ball and out muscle his opponent. He has also been called upon to play down back at times and has shown that he is quite capable in a defensive role.
Pick #18 Sydney – Isaac Heeney (Sydney – Academy- NSW/ACT – Mid)
Height: 186cm, Weight: 82kg, DOB: 05/05/1996
Recruited from: Cardiff
Summary: The Sydney Swans are tickled pink to get their hands on Heeney so late in the first round thanks to the academy bidding process. Seen by all clubs as an absolute steal given Sydney’s ladder position, Heeney is ranked right up there with Angus Brayshaw as the best midfielder in this draft. He does it all and what sets him apart from the others is the defensive side of his game. He is a strong tackler and runs hard both ways. He has blistering pace, elite disposal, wins his own ball on the inside yet has the class to finish on the outside by hitting a teammate lace out or kicking goals himself. Star!
Pick #19 Essendon – Corey Ellis (compensation pick VIC – Mid/Fwd)
Height: 185cm, Weight: 76kg, DOB: 09/10/1996
Recruited from: Western Jets
Summary: The Bombers enter the draft at the end of the first round with an AFL awarded compensation pick after they were banned from the first round of the 2013 and 2014 draft’s following the supplements scandal. The Bombers have several needs, one being a key position forward to accompany Joe Daniher however they may go with playmaking inside midfielder Corey Ellis. The natural left footer is talented on both sides of the body, is a quick thinker and has very good execution bringing those around him into the game. Averaging 26 possessions a game at TAC Cup level prior to the championships, some recruiters have Ellis rated in their top 10 on talent so the Bombers will snap him up should he still be available so late in the first round.
Pick #20 GWS Giants – Clem Smith (WA – Midfielder)
Height: 177cm, Weight: 74kg, DOB: 03/02/1996
Recruited from: Perth
Summary: Smith may be on the small side but he plays with the physicality and aggression that has him compared to two time premiership player and Norm Smith Medallist Byron Pickett. The Giants look set for key position players and midfielders for the next decade so may look to add a different dimension to their list with Smith. A nuggety Indigenous midfielder Smith plays right on the edge with his physicality and aggression at the contest often resulting in him giving free kicks but there is plenty to like about his game. He has pace to burn, is a presence around the contest and like Byron Pickett, isn’t afraid to lay a big bump! Smith’s disposal has fallen away somewhat but will improve in a professional environment. If he can harness his aggression he’ll be a cracker!