2006 AFL Preseason and Rookie Drafts: Team Analysis
Adelaide:
Andrew McIntyre
James Turner
Rhys Archard
Greg Gallman
The Crows have had a lot of success in rookie drafts, and they stayed in South Australia to find their prospects. McIntyre could eventually join previous rookie picks like Bock and Rutten in the Crows backline. Turner gives them another prospect to develop as a forward.
Brisbane:
Anthony Corrie
Scott Clouston
Daniel Dzufer
Haydyn Kiel
Joel Tippett
Will Hamill
The Lions know the talent in their home state and Kiel, Dzufer or Clouston might be playing for the Lions next season. Corrie was delisted by the Lions after injuries hampered him but he gets another chance to get back to AFL now.
Carlton:
Cain Ackland (preseason draft pick)
Cameron Cloke (preseason)
Sam Jacobs
Michael Jamison
Ross Young
They have needed ruckmen for a while but only addressed that this offseason. They have added Ackland who can also play as a tall forward, C Cloke has played in the ruck but is also capable of filling a key position at either end if needed, and Sam Jacobs is a taller prospect who will be developed alongside Sean Hampson who they selected in the AFL National Draft. Jamison can play in a tall spot at either end while Ross Young is a small defensive option.
Collingwood:
Chris Bryan (preseason)
Sharrod Wellingham
Brent Macaffer
Martin Clarke
Ireland has provided some athletic players in recent seasons and Collingwood might be the next team to benefit with the addition of Clarke. Chris Bryan didn't play a lot last season, and he could be used a lot more by the Magpies. Wellingham gives the Magpies another midfield prospect to develop.
Essendon:
Mal Michael (preseason)
Dean Dick
Danny Chartres
Adam Ramanauskas
The Bombers came away with future stars with their first three or four picks in the AFL National Draft and they have again found a couple of great prospects. Dick could be played forward and he has plenty of time ahead of him to develop, Chartres can fill several spots in a backline and is ready to play if injuries hit the Bombers next season. Chartres was a possible pick for Essendon in the aflinsider.net mock drafts and he may have been someone they considered in the AFL National Draft at pick 47. Chartres is also a good backup plan if Michael changes his mind again and does retire sometime in the next year or two. The Bombers will be greatly improved next season with the addition of Michael, and keeping Ramanauskas on their list was also a win for Essendon.
Fremantle:
Chris Smith
Andrew Foster
Darren Rumble
Benet Copping
The Dockers didn't delist many players and Copping was the lucky one to get another chance there. The Dockers did the same thing with Crowley in the past so Copping may be able to work his way back to the main list. Chris Smith fills a need for them and if they require scoring, and an injury hits, then Smith might be playing a few games next season. AFL commentators will be hoping that Rumble gets into a game too, "let's get ready to" Rumble.
Geelong:
Joel Reynolds
Liam Bedford
Jason Davenport
Tom Lonergan
It was important for the Cats to retain Lonergan, and with the rookie spot they have the ability to elevate him if his health allows it. Another player who could be going from the rookie list to the senior side is Joel Reynolds. He has experience with the Bombers and could help the Cats if Harley or Hunt were hurt. Davenport could be a player that Geelong continue to develop into an attacking wingman, and he could go from their VFL side to their rookie list and then to their AFL list in a couple of years. Reminiscent of players in the past going though the Under 19s, Reserves and then the Seniors.
Hawthorn:
Josh Thurgood (preseason)
Brett Collins
Matthew Suckling
Sam Gibson
Josh Thurgood and the Destroyers could still happen at Hawthorn. The Hawks decided to give him another go and as the Hawks have added some bigger bodies to their list now there won't be a reason for the Hawks to play Thurgood on key forwards.
Kangaroos:
Ben Ross (preseason)
Leigh Adams
Ben Hughes
Matt Campbell
Tim Hutchison
The Kangaroos obviously thought that Ross might be taken by another team in the preseason draft so they made sure they got him there instead of waiting for the rookie draft. Adams was one of the players expected to go at pick 3 of the preseason draft and the Kangaroos will be happy to have been able to take him in the rookie draft.
Melbourne:
Daniel Hayes
The Demons added a small forward prospect with Hayes. Hayes is an athletic youngster so the Demons could have found a player that will get a game with them in the future.
Port Adelaide:
Adam Cockshell (preseason)
Alex Lee
Gavin Grose
Nathan Batsanis
Peter Hardy
Cockshell is a big target up forward and can contribute a goal or two per game. Lee and Grose are a couple more big bodies. Batsanis was a high-possession winner in the TAC Cup, and he will get the AFL chance that other players from the TAC Cup like Caruso didn't.
Richmond:
Kent Kingsley (preseason)
Tasman Clingan
Jake King
They really did go for Kingsley, that will cause a lot of debate among Tigers fans. There might be enough room for Richardson, Kingsley, Riewoldt and Schulz in their forward line, as well as Brown, Krakouer or another small option. The pressure will be on when Kingsley does play and he will need to contribute on the scoreboard in his first game for Richmond.
St Kilda:
Matthew Clarke (preseason)
Clinton Jones
Luke van Rheenen
Robert Eddy
James Wall
Jarryn Geary
Jayden Attard
The Saints had a good day, Clarke gives their new coach the tap ruckman he wanted and they also picked up some rookies who were unlucky not to go in the AFL National Draft. Attard is also a player who might find a spot with the Saints senior team in the future too.
Sydney:
Nick Smith
Matthew O'Dwyer
Luke Brennan
Matthew Davis
Earl Shaw
The Swans brought back a couple of their former players as well as a former Hawk, Brennan. Brennan was drafted by Hawthorn at pick 8 of the 2002 National Draft. Smith and O'Dwyer might get a chance in the Swans backline in the future.
West Coast:
Jamie McNamara
Llane Spaanderman
Chad Jones
Ben Sharp
Ashley Thornton
Beau Wilkes
The Eagles find quality players in the rookie drafts and a player or two from this draft could be playing for them in the next couple of years. Spaanderman was a high pick by the Lions, pick 18 in 2003 of the AFL National Draft, and he is another big body that the Eagles have on their list now. The Kangaroos took Kasey Green last season after the Eagles delisted him and now the Eagles give a delisted Kangaroo, Jones, another chance. Jamie McNamara is a young prospect from WA who will be given time in the WAFL to grow.
Western Bulldogs:
Gavin Hughes
Jarrod Harbrow
Marty Pask
Michael West
Hughes and Harbrow continue the Bulldogs drafting of small, talented players. Hughes would be a chance to play next season if the Bulldogs lose players to long-term injury. Pask is a big, strong player who had some good games with Brisbane last season. Akermanis previously said that Pask needed another go at the AFL and his new team listened.
Andrew McIntyre
James Turner
Rhys Archard
Greg Gallman
The Crows have had a lot of success in rookie drafts, and they stayed in South Australia to find their prospects. McIntyre could eventually join previous rookie picks like Bock and Rutten in the Crows backline. Turner gives them another prospect to develop as a forward.
Brisbane:
Anthony Corrie
Scott Clouston
Daniel Dzufer
Haydyn Kiel
Joel Tippett
Will Hamill
The Lions know the talent in their home state and Kiel, Dzufer or Clouston might be playing for the Lions next season. Corrie was delisted by the Lions after injuries hampered him but he gets another chance to get back to AFL now.
Carlton:
Cain Ackland (preseason draft pick)
Cameron Cloke (preseason)
Sam Jacobs
Michael Jamison
Ross Young
They have needed ruckmen for a while but only addressed that this offseason. They have added Ackland who can also play as a tall forward, C Cloke has played in the ruck but is also capable of filling a key position at either end if needed, and Sam Jacobs is a taller prospect who will be developed alongside Sean Hampson who they selected in the AFL National Draft. Jamison can play in a tall spot at either end while Ross Young is a small defensive option.
Collingwood:
Chris Bryan (preseason)
Sharrod Wellingham
Brent Macaffer
Martin Clarke
Ireland has provided some athletic players in recent seasons and Collingwood might be the next team to benefit with the addition of Clarke. Chris Bryan didn't play a lot last season, and he could be used a lot more by the Magpies. Wellingham gives the Magpies another midfield prospect to develop.
Essendon:
Mal Michael (preseason)
Dean Dick
Danny Chartres
Adam Ramanauskas
The Bombers came away with future stars with their first three or four picks in the AFL National Draft and they have again found a couple of great prospects. Dick could be played forward and he has plenty of time ahead of him to develop, Chartres can fill several spots in a backline and is ready to play if injuries hit the Bombers next season. Chartres was a possible pick for Essendon in the aflinsider.net mock drafts and he may have been someone they considered in the AFL National Draft at pick 47. Chartres is also a good backup plan if Michael changes his mind again and does retire sometime in the next year or two. The Bombers will be greatly improved next season with the addition of Michael, and keeping Ramanauskas on their list was also a win for Essendon.
Fremantle:
Chris Smith
Andrew Foster
Darren Rumble
Benet Copping
The Dockers didn't delist many players and Copping was the lucky one to get another chance there. The Dockers did the same thing with Crowley in the past so Copping may be able to work his way back to the main list. Chris Smith fills a need for them and if they require scoring, and an injury hits, then Smith might be playing a few games next season. AFL commentators will be hoping that Rumble gets into a game too, "let's get ready to" Rumble.
Geelong:
Joel Reynolds
Liam Bedford
Jason Davenport
Tom Lonergan
It was important for the Cats to retain Lonergan, and with the rookie spot they have the ability to elevate him if his health allows it. Another player who could be going from the rookie list to the senior side is Joel Reynolds. He has experience with the Bombers and could help the Cats if Harley or Hunt were hurt. Davenport could be a player that Geelong continue to develop into an attacking wingman, and he could go from their VFL side to their rookie list and then to their AFL list in a couple of years. Reminiscent of players in the past going though the Under 19s, Reserves and then the Seniors.
Hawthorn:
Josh Thurgood (preseason)
Brett Collins
Matthew Suckling
Sam Gibson
Josh Thurgood and the Destroyers could still happen at Hawthorn. The Hawks decided to give him another go and as the Hawks have added some bigger bodies to their list now there won't be a reason for the Hawks to play Thurgood on key forwards.
Kangaroos:
Ben Ross (preseason)
Leigh Adams
Ben Hughes
Matt Campbell
Tim Hutchison
The Kangaroos obviously thought that Ross might be taken by another team in the preseason draft so they made sure they got him there instead of waiting for the rookie draft. Adams was one of the players expected to go at pick 3 of the preseason draft and the Kangaroos will be happy to have been able to take him in the rookie draft.
Melbourne:
Daniel Hayes
The Demons added a small forward prospect with Hayes. Hayes is an athletic youngster so the Demons could have found a player that will get a game with them in the future.
Port Adelaide:
Adam Cockshell (preseason)
Alex Lee
Gavin Grose
Nathan Batsanis
Peter Hardy
Cockshell is a big target up forward and can contribute a goal or two per game. Lee and Grose are a couple more big bodies. Batsanis was a high-possession winner in the TAC Cup, and he will get the AFL chance that other players from the TAC Cup like Caruso didn't.
Richmond:
Kent Kingsley (preseason)
Tasman Clingan
Jake King
They really did go for Kingsley, that will cause a lot of debate among Tigers fans. There might be enough room for Richardson, Kingsley, Riewoldt and Schulz in their forward line, as well as Brown, Krakouer or another small option. The pressure will be on when Kingsley does play and he will need to contribute on the scoreboard in his first game for Richmond.
St Kilda:
Matthew Clarke (preseason)
Clinton Jones
Luke van Rheenen
Robert Eddy
James Wall
Jarryn Geary
Jayden Attard
The Saints had a good day, Clarke gives their new coach the tap ruckman he wanted and they also picked up some rookies who were unlucky not to go in the AFL National Draft. Attard is also a player who might find a spot with the Saints senior team in the future too.
Sydney:
Nick Smith
Matthew O'Dwyer
Luke Brennan
Matthew Davis
Earl Shaw
The Swans brought back a couple of their former players as well as a former Hawk, Brennan. Brennan was drafted by Hawthorn at pick 8 of the 2002 National Draft. Smith and O'Dwyer might get a chance in the Swans backline in the future.
West Coast:
Jamie McNamara
Llane Spaanderman
Chad Jones
Ben Sharp
Ashley Thornton
Beau Wilkes
The Eagles find quality players in the rookie drafts and a player or two from this draft could be playing for them in the next couple of years. Spaanderman was a high pick by the Lions, pick 18 in 2003 of the AFL National Draft, and he is another big body that the Eagles have on their list now. The Kangaroos took Kasey Green last season after the Eagles delisted him and now the Eagles give a delisted Kangaroo, Jones, another chance. Jamie McNamara is a young prospect from WA who will be given time in the WAFL to grow.
Western Bulldogs:
Gavin Hughes
Jarrod Harbrow
Marty Pask
Michael West
Hughes and Harbrow continue the Bulldogs drafting of small, talented players. Hughes would be a chance to play next season if the Bulldogs lose players to long-term injury. Pask is a big, strong player who had some good games with Brisbane last season. Akermanis previously said that Pask needed another go at the AFL and his new team listened.
