8 Steals From The 2007 AFL Draft
13 West Coast - Brad Ebert
An amazing draft for the Eagles was assisted by the teams that let Ebert drop. Pick 13 was definitely lucky for the Eagles. Ebert should play a lot of games for West Coast next year, and will be the reason why they win some of them too.
18 Richmond - Alex Rance
The Tigers made up their mind to take Cotchin, and would have been hoping to get some size with their next pick. They had a number of quality talls to pick from at 18 but Rance was easily the best of the lot. It must have been tough for teams like the Kangaroos, Demons, Hawks and Swans to let Rance slip by, and when they play Richmond you can be sure that they will be reminded that they missed Rance.
23 Essendon - Tayte Pears
There was a chance that when Fletcher and Michael retired it would leave a big hole in their defensive structure. The Bombers don't have to worry as much now with Pears on the list. Essendon had a great draft last year, grabbing a lot of talent from WA, and again they went West to build up their list.
25 Brisbane Lions - Tom Collier
Their draft needs were a big defender and also a midfielder with some size. With one player they answered both needs. Collier can also play around half forward, so Brisbane will get plenty of use out of him. He has also been playing with and against AFL-listed players, and usually playing better than them, so he is ready for an immediate impact at AFL level.
32 Kangaroos - Levi Greenwood
He is a bit of a genetic freak, a ball of muscle with a huge leap. If the Kangaroos can continue their current form into 2008, and make it into the top 4, to improve in the finals they might need a special game from an unlikely player, and Greenwood could be one who could provide it.
34 Geelong - Dawson Simpson
206cm and 104kg, so he wasn't hard for talent scouts to spot. But other teams had different priorities and wanted immediate help so D Simpson was there for Geelong at pick 34. He becomes the 4th ruckman on the Geelong depth chart, so the ruck spot at Geelong is very strong. The Cats have well over 8m of ruckmen with D Simpson joining Ottens, Blake and West.
44 Geelong - Scott Simpson
Fans of the Cats should really start liking that last name. Unlike some of the other tallish forwards taken ahead of him, S Simpson is a genuine centre half forward who knows how to lead and brings a big body to the contest. This could be looked at as the return for the Cats from trading Playfair, and there is every chance that S Simpson will become a much better play than Henry was.
66 Melbourne - Tom McNamara
The back line for Melbourne in 2007 was in disarray, but with this draft and a few players returning from injury it could turn into a strength. McNamara went very late, but he could be playing AFL a lot quicker than some of the high picks.
An amazing draft for the Eagles was assisted by the teams that let Ebert drop. Pick 13 was definitely lucky for the Eagles. Ebert should play a lot of games for West Coast next year, and will be the reason why they win some of them too.
18 Richmond - Alex Rance
The Tigers made up their mind to take Cotchin, and would have been hoping to get some size with their next pick. They had a number of quality talls to pick from at 18 but Rance was easily the best of the lot. It must have been tough for teams like the Kangaroos, Demons, Hawks and Swans to let Rance slip by, and when they play Richmond you can be sure that they will be reminded that they missed Rance.
23 Essendon - Tayte Pears
There was a chance that when Fletcher and Michael retired it would leave a big hole in their defensive structure. The Bombers don't have to worry as much now with Pears on the list. Essendon had a great draft last year, grabbing a lot of talent from WA, and again they went West to build up their list.
25 Brisbane Lions - Tom Collier
Their draft needs were a big defender and also a midfielder with some size. With one player they answered both needs. Collier can also play around half forward, so Brisbane will get plenty of use out of him. He has also been playing with and against AFL-listed players, and usually playing better than them, so he is ready for an immediate impact at AFL level.
32 Kangaroos - Levi Greenwood
He is a bit of a genetic freak, a ball of muscle with a huge leap. If the Kangaroos can continue their current form into 2008, and make it into the top 4, to improve in the finals they might need a special game from an unlikely player, and Greenwood could be one who could provide it.
34 Geelong - Dawson Simpson
206cm and 104kg, so he wasn't hard for talent scouts to spot. But other teams had different priorities and wanted immediate help so D Simpson was there for Geelong at pick 34. He becomes the 4th ruckman on the Geelong depth chart, so the ruck spot at Geelong is very strong. The Cats have well over 8m of ruckmen with D Simpson joining Ottens, Blake and West.
44 Geelong - Scott Simpson
Fans of the Cats should really start liking that last name. Unlike some of the other tallish forwards taken ahead of him, S Simpson is a genuine centre half forward who knows how to lead and brings a big body to the contest. This could be looked at as the return for the Cats from trading Playfair, and there is every chance that S Simpson will become a much better play than Henry was.
66 Melbourne - Tom McNamara
The back line for Melbourne in 2007 was in disarray, but with this draft and a few players returning from injury it could turn into a strength. McNamara went very late, but he could be playing AFL a lot quicker than some of the high picks.
