SUPERFOOTY draft experts Jay Clark and Sam Landsberger have spoken to all the clubs and come up with their likely top 20 picks in this years AFL national draft. Take a look at each pick and read through their bio of each player as we count down to draft day on Thursday November 21. 1. Greater Western Sydney TOM BOYD 200cm, 103kg Club: Eastern Ranges Another hulking spearhead to add to the Giants key forward riches. What elevates Boyd is his football smarts; his aerial timing and judgment on the lead is well advanced. 2. Greater Western Sydney JOSH KELLY 183cm, 75kg Club: Sandringham Dragons Aerobic midfield beast with an elite left foot who can play inside and outside. Unflappable teenager who averaged 154 SuperCoach pts in the TAC Cup. 3. St Kilda JACK BILLINGS 184cm, 78kg Club: Oakleigh Chargers Classy half-forward has oodles of x-factor. Superb ball use on both sides and great mark for his size will add coat of gloss to Saints forward half. Will become A-Grade midfielder. 4. Western Bulldogs JAMES AISH 184cm, 75kg Club: Norwood A two-time senior premiership midfielder with trundles of outside class which the Dogs need. A rich history of SANFL talent runs in the bloodlines. 5. Gold Coast KADE KOLODJASHNIJ 190cm, 81kg Club: Launceston Another Scotty Clayton special. Athletic and tall half back is so damaging with his running game, like Grant Birchall or Andrew Mackie. Has poise and a beautiful left foot. 6. Collingwood MARCUS BONTEMPELLI 192cm, 83kg Northern Knights Nick Dal Santos cousin who was thrown into the midfield late this season and dominated clearances. Raking left footer with great vision and athleticism, like Scott Pendlebury. Time stops around him. 7. Brisbane MATT SCHARENBERG 190cm, 87kg Club: Glenelg The ultimate prototype. Can play anywhere like Brendon Goddard, marks strongly overhead and provides clever drive. Dual All-Australian would be a steal here for the Lions. 8. North Melbourne (Father-son) LUKE MCDONALD 188cm 85kg Club: Werribee Hard-running defender with a deadly left-foot and strong leadership, like Luke Hodge. Dominated the VFL finals and will slot straight into Brad Scotts side. 9. Melbourne NATHAN FREEMAN 182cm, 85kg Club: Sandringham Dragons Inside midfielder is exhilarating to watch, using his top-line speed to burst away from danger or cut apart stoppages, in the same vein as Patrick Dangerfield. Will add bite to one-paced Dees midfield. 10. Collingwood BEN LENNON 188cm, 77kg Club: Northern Knights One of the most offensively gifted and exciting players in the draft due to his lethal long kick and courageous overhead marking. Kicks goals but could also settle on a back flank, helping fill the Heath Shaw void. 11. West Coast DOM SHEED 184cm, 83kg Club: Subiaco The man the Eagles wanted at six slips to 11, validating move to fall down the order. Well-rounded midfielder racks up big numbers and is damaging by hand or foot, despite lacking a top gear. 12. Richmond CHRISTIAN SALEM 183cm, 81kg Club: Sandringham Dragons Combines strength with silk, like Dan Hannebery, in a perfect mix for the Tiges. Salem’s left foot is precise, he kicks goals and boasts impressive contested footy numbers. 13. Carlton CAMERON MCCARTHY 193cm, 85kg Club: South Fremantle Key forward who clutches big marks leaping from the side or back of pack. Shot up ranks in his first year of serious footy, before broken leg in the champs. Snug fit for Blues but Richmond could pip them. 14. Greater Western Sydney DARCY GARDINER 192cm, 85kG Geelong Falcons The Giants want a defender here and Gardiner is the best key back in the pool. The All-Australian can clamp down on talls and offers rebound from defence. 15. Sydney MATT CROUCH 183cm, 80kg Club: North Ballarat Aggressive ball magnet who averaged 38 disposals and excels at stoppages. The brother of Brad boasts quick hands and, like Tom Mitchell, would thrive in tight confines of SCG. 16. Geelong ZAK JONES 181cm, 76kg Club: Dandenong Stingrays Fiery defender/inside midfielder with a splash of pace who attacks the footy with purpose. The brother of Nathan won Vic Countrys MVP and is a favourite of Stephen Wells. Runs both ways. 17. Fremantle LEWIS TAYLOR 173cm, 73kg Geelong Falcons Explosive ball-winner has the makings of Brent Harvey, combining toughness and pace at ground level. Short stature a turn-off for some but pinpoint skills and gut-run has helped him to dominate junior level. 18. St Kilda BILLY HARTUNG 177cm, 75kg Club: Dandenong Stingrays A running machine who smashed Brad Hills all-time beep test record at draft camp (16.6) and boasts elite foot skills. A run-and-carry specialist the Saints are monitoring closely to help give them some outside dash. 19. St Kilda BLAKE ACRES 190cm 80kg Club: West Perth Mr Versatile will give Saints a tall and classy ball-winner to plug almost any hole. Wins inside footy, good overhead and is smooth on both sides. Handy size. 20. Gold Coast LUKE DUNSTAN 185cm, 83kg Club: Woodville West Torrens A big-bodied and smart midfielder who shone at the national carnival. Added leadership and strength at clearances has him in first-round mix. THE WILDCARD JONATHON MARSH 192cm, 87kg Club: East Fremantle Marsh is lightning quick for a big man and can follow up at ground level and turn like Lance Franklin. But hes a project. The Dockers wouldnt mind a big man — could they reach early and pounce at 17? THE BIG QUESTIONS: How good is the draft? Recruiters wanting run-and-carry midfielders would be licking their chops at the top 20. Theres plenty of pocket rockets at the top end who confidently tuck the ball under their arm and use it well, such as Kelly, Billings, Hartung and Taylor. But its light on for genuine key position players, leaving clubs looking to next year to nab one of the many available big forwards. Overall, the depth this year is only average, thinning the talent pool after about pick 30. Maybe it will produce 10-15 200-game players. Will Dayle Garlett get drafted? Earlier in the year, it was a resounding yes, but clubs remain nervous about drafting the silky midfield-forward from WA. On talent, he might be top-15. A smooth-moving outside runner who has shades of Harley Bennell, kicking almost 50 goals in the WAFL seniors this year. But defensively he can be poor and many clubs, such as West Coast, have again put a line through his name. In our view, he is worth taking the chance, at a strong club, with a late pick. There will be lots of busts from this years draft. His best chance might be at Geelong or Hawthorn.
Posted on: Mon, 28 Oct 2013 00:58:16 +0000
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