With a lack of finals football, supporters tend to look towards the draft for a bit of excitement and hope for the future. Ahead of the draft and our likely top 6 selection, I thought I'd give a run down of my favoured picks for the upcoming draft and who I'd like to see Freo take.
I) Jack Lukosius
He's been talked up as the number 1 pick for a reason and I'm completely on board. At 195cm, he is a genuine tall forward although he spent most of the U18 championships across half back. In that role he was able to show off his disposal and ability below his knees which I do have to say was Pavlich like.
His contested marking is good but it's on the lead where he's able to read the play and use his fantastic burst speed from a standing start and reading of the play to beat any opponent. It's as a result of this he gets compared with Nick Reiwoldt but I think his recovery and disposal is far superior and so I would equate him to the great man Pav.
II) Izak Rankine
If you know me then you'd know I tend to rate talls a little higher across the board in terms of value so to have this man in the number 2 position says a lot. I'm about to make a big call but I see a lot of Ablett Jnr in this bloke. His side step, awareness, movement and disposal is all absolutely first class and there's little he can't do. He is an excitement machine and ready made for AFL.
My personal opinion is he's the best small/midfielder in a few years and could be anything at AFL level but there are rumblings he has an ego off the field. I don't place much faith in those rumours as someone who doesn't get the opportunity to meet draft prospects like most clubs would but I don't think it'd matter with his talent. I'd have a big head too if I could fend off 2 tackles, burst around 3 more blokes and slot goals with ease from the pocket.
III) Ben King
The King brothers are hard to separate due not only to being twins and identical physically, but the fact that Max was earmarked as a forward before his knee injury and Ben as a defender. That indicates a fair bit about the two talent wise as a forward position is much more difficult to play well. All credit where it's due though, Ben has excelled there after his brother went down injured and he was forced forward. He is incredibly tall and adept in the air, always a threat and able to bring the ball to ground at worst. He does a good job on the ground too but I can only imagine what someone of his size, movement and ability can do when they grow and fill out.
He kicked plenty of bags this season and although he can be shaky in front of goal, he has plenty of chances to fix that up. If he doesn't mark the footy, he is also a chance at ground level as he is very mobile and has good hands. I would think he is a Tom Lynch (gc) clone along with his brother but he could be even better with his size and movement. It'd be very tough to pass him up if he's available at any pick.
IV) Max King
A lot of what I said for his brother Ben applies to Max. The obvious risk is his recovery from a knee injury but if he can do so without losing the speed, movement and agility he displayed before it, he is an incredible prospect. At 200cm like his brother, he is a genuine ruck prospect who is incredibly adept below the knees, on the lead and with ball in hand.
He was the first choice forward ahead of his brother before injury and a fair bit of that was due to his disposal which is a little better than Ben. Before injury it was his running ability that was evident but I'd be wary as to whether he loses a touch of pace and fitness as a result of the knee. Either way, he's still easily in the top 4 players for mine in this draft.
V) Bailey Smith
A decent size for a midfielder with good pace, Bailey has a lot to like. He attacks the ball and man with great vigour which is fantastic to see and has me confident he'd love the step up to AFL and contested balls. The query I have on him is his disposal which can be hit and miss at times. Some passes will look like bullets while others miss the target. I'd hope this skill is refined at AFL level and he could play like a Ryan Griffen in his brownlow year but I do have my concerns.
VI) Sam Walsh
Many have Walsh as the number 1 pick but I just don't see it compared to what else is available. He is a very good midfielder that isn't deficient or lacking in any particular area. I just don't see where he excels. He reminds me a little of Tom Scully in that way (he is much better than Scully though!). He has a good tank, makes good decisions and although his kicks are all pretty shallow, he doesn't waste too many.
I just haven't seen him take enough games by the scruff of the neck and win them. He is a solid mid every week without being BOG. His movement and disposal is best equated to Trent Cotchin (brownlow medallist) who is elite in both. I just think the blokes ahead of him are better.
Honorable Mentions:
Nick Blakey - Going to Sydney under the F/S rule but I could easily see him slotting in higher as a 195cm midfielder. Can play anywhere and I would be happy to take him at our first pick.
Tarryn Thomas - A modern bigger midfielder with great speed and agility. Lots of questions about his off field exploits but being from Tassie, doesn't have the go home factor.
Jackson Hately - A big bodied midfielder who is good in the clinches but can struggle to make pressured decisions which I'm not a fan of. I like his bull at a gate mentality but I'd like more composure at the next level.
Ian Hill - I've included him as someone who's been talked up a lot over the past year or two but realistically I see him going around the 20-30 mark. His disposal is reasonably clean and I like his movement with the footy. I don't think he finds the ball enough or has enough impact at U18 level to really justify an early selection. He seems to do a few things well but nothing exceptional to have him standing above the rest of the crowd atm. The potential is there but his year has been well below what was expected of him. Hopefully we manage a pick around the 25-30 mark to take a gamble on him if we don't get Rankine.
