The home and away season is all but over for this year’s batch of draft prospects, which means that we are closer to draft day. Here is my updated Big Board for the 2016 AFL Draft.
1 | Hugh McCLUGGAGE (previous rank 1)
Ht: 185cm | Wt: 74kg | North Ballarat Rebels
Scouting notes: Superb vision and hands – sees game unfold in front of him extremely efficiently. Makes tacklers miss in traffic. Consistent goalkicker from midfield and half-forward. Footy IQ off the charts.
2 | Jack BOWES (2)
Ht: 188cm | Wt: 79kg | Surfers Paradise/GC Academy
Scouting notes: Class act. Has great vision and touch and is a good ball user. Goalkicker from midfield. Doesn’t have next-gear speed, but has time with ball in hand. NEAFL finals effort a big tick.
3 | Andrew McGRATH (5)
Ht: 179cm | Wt: 75kg | Sandringham Dragons
Scouting notes: Dasher off half-back, but can also go into midfield. Brave in the air. Chooses when to leave opponent well defensively and can lock down. Kicking can be hot and cold.
4 | Jack SCRIMSHAW (10)
Ht: 193cm | Wt: 80kg | Sandringham Dragons
Scouting notes: Lovely left foot – but it can run hot and cold. Reads play well at half back. Extracts ball from contest as good as any. Can play midfield. Mix of Birchall/Bontempelli?
5 | Tim ENGLISH (6)
Ht: 203cm | Wt: 86kg | South Fremantle
Scouting notes: Slender frame. Elite field kick for anyone – let alone ruckman. Tap-work adequate. Transitions well in general play and willing tackler. Needs to improve contested marking.
6 | Will BRODIE (3)
Ht: 189cm | Wt: 82kg | Murray Bushrangers
Scouting notes: Hard worker and consistent performer. Kicking OK but can be better. Professional preparer. You know what you are going to get. Safe pick but lower ceiling than others.
7 | Tim TARANTO (14)
Ht: 186cm | Wt: 82kg | Sandringham Dragons
Scouting notes: Very clever mover across half forward and in midfield. Reads ball very well in air and is a strong mark. Gets to dangerous spots in front half. Clean when ball is on the ground. Not overly quick.
8 | Will SETTERFIELD (12)
Ht: 190cm | Wt: 79kg | Sandringham Dragons/GWS Academy
Scouting notes: Smooth mover. Great size and shape for midfielder but needs to consistently win more ball. Played championships with a bad ankle. Can mark ball when forward.
9 | Ben AINSWORTH (4)
Ht: 179cm | Wt: 74kg | Gippsland Power
Scouting notes: Dynamic in attack and midfield. Extremely strong overhead for size. Still developing tank and midfield craft. Agility at times is a question mark but had early season knee issue.
10 | Sam PETREVSKI-SETON (9)
Ht: 182cm | Wt: 74kg | Claremont
Scouting notes: Kicks on both feet very well but goes on left side too often. Can turn it over trying for perfect kick. Wins own ball and has excellent vision. Had hamstring niggles. Coasting a bit in WAFL Colts.
11 | Harry PERRYMAN (10)
Ht: 184cm | Wt: 75kg | Collingullie-GP/GWS Academy
Scouting notes: Not quick but very smart and has great balance on both sides. One-touch player – just a genuine footballer. Played forward/ midfield in Riverina league in past two months.
12 | Griffin LOGUE (19)
Ht: 193cm | Wt: 92kg | Swan Districts
Scouting notes: Left footer with has good speed and size for modern key back. Sees game well in defence. Can play any position on ground – including midfield. Should develop into a brute. Can double-grab ground ball.
13 | Daniel VENABLES (7)
Ht: 186cm | Wt: 81kg | Western Jets
Scouting notes: More of a forward than a midfielder at this stage. Big-time/moment player. Stands up in tackles well but average workrate. Foot injury ended season and had bad head knock.
14 | Todd MARSHALL (15)
Ht: 197cm | Wt: 87kg | Murray Bushrangers
Scouting notes: Big upside – skinny but narrow shoulders (like Justin Westhoff). Great agility and has good kicking technique, but can be lazy at times. Reads ball well in flight, whoever plays from behind too much. Carrying injuries.
15 | Josh ROTHAM (11)
Ht: 192cm | Wt: 78kg | West Perth
Scouting notes: Shows burst from defence and has good composure with ball in hand. Reads play well and is OK overhead. Played midfield in recent weeks, and OK but better in back half.
16 | Jordan RIDLEY (N/R)
Ht: 192cm | Wt: 79kg | Oakleigh Chargers
Scouting notes: Reads play well in back half and is composed. Kicking is good and takes up OK defensive positions. Can kick goals when playing forward. Contested possession % a question mark.
17 | Jy SIMPKIN (15)
Ht: 182cm | Wt: 72kg | Murray Bushrangers
Scouting notes: Vision is very good. A creator with a good kick. More forward than midfield at this stage. Broke leg in school game for Scotch in April and has since had two surgeries – infection.
18 | Jarrod BERRY (16)
Ht: 191cm | Wt: 80kg | North Ballarat Rebels
Scouting notes: Great character and size to play most positions on ground – but where does he play mostly at next level? Good overhead, but kicking needs to be cleaned up. Injured in Qualifying Final and missed Semi.
19 | Luke RYAN (N/R)
Ht: 185cm | Wt: 87kg | Coburg
Scouting notes: Interceptor and dynamic runner off half-back. Athletic type with high footy IQ. Best prospect in state leagues. Dislocated shoulder (anterior labrum tear) against Collingwood and missed final few rounds.
20 | Alex VILLIS (17)
Ht: 182cm | Wt: 70kg | Norwood
Scouting notes: Only small and slight, but elite kick (both sides) and decision maker. Holds width well – very much more outside than in. Extremely smart and transitions well from back pocket to attack. Not super quick.
21 | Oliver FLORENT (20)
Ht: 183cm | Wt: 75kg | Sandringham Dragons
Scouting notes: Very smart mover – has plenty of x-factor. Contested ball a work in progress but can make tacklers miss with sidestep. Threatens to tear game apart at times but doesn’t go on with it. Resilient character.
22 | Shai BOLTON (21)
Ht: 177cm | Wt: 67kg | South Fremantle
Scouting notes: Has an unbelievable side-step and can jump off two feet. Mostly a forward/wing, but bombs ball too often without lowering eyes when in midfield. High ball drop, but good goal sense. Will take time and patience.
23 | Alex WITHERDEN (25)
Ht: 186cm | Wt: 80kg | Geelong Falcons
Scouting notes: Hybrid-defender who can go into midfield in time. Has good vision, and size. Kicking is adequate and has plenty of self-confidence. Broke leg in school game for Geelong College in May.
24 | Cedric COX (N/R)
Ht: 184cm | Wt: 70kg | North Ballarat Rebels
Scouting notes: Running half back with good vision and smarts. Pace is good. Elite kick both sides. Needs to greatly improve contested game. Can play forward and mark ball.
25 | Patrick KERR (18)
Ht: 194cm | Wt: 93kg | Oakleigh Chargers
Scouting notes: Strong hands and a generally good kick. OK below knees – clean enough. Can be invisible some games. Workrate and forward patterns still need work. More of a deeper forward like a Paddy McCartin.
Previous versions... 5 May: Big Board 1.0 – Giants and Suns academy stars loom large 7th July: Big Board 2.0 – McCluggage moves into top spot