Preseason Draft Possibilities
More teams could join this list for having preseason picks, and some uncontracted players could also be surprise nominations, so here is an early look at what might happen for the preseason draft.
1 Richmond: Tom Bellchambers
Richmond are looking at a number of players with this pick, including ruckmen Guy Richards and David Fanning. Bellchambers, or Will Sullivan, would give them a younger player to develop. Putt, who they took in the national draft, is a forward/ruckman so Bellchambers would give them more of a traditional ruckman to develop too.
2 Carlton: David Gourdis
They need to find a centre half forward, and from the players that were not drafted here is the one to take. Hugh Sandilands would be a player to take for a tall defensive spot.
3 Melbourne: Chris Kangars
The Demons had a very successful draft, and their picks were used on players with fundamental skills and a good understanding of the game. If they pick Kangars, they can add a project player who could be used in a number of spots. Maybe he could become a midfield tagger to take the role that Godfrey used to have. There are also some of the Sandringham VFL players, like Valenti and Summers, who could be drafted by Melbourne.
4 Western Bulldogs: Scott Welsh
Welsh will provide some help next to Brad Johnson in the forward line. If one of the teams ahead of the Bulldogs decides to take Welsh, then Haelen Kay could be an option as one of the players who was not picked in the national draft. If they do want an older player who would be more likely to help in 2008, then Todd Grima would make sense.
5 Essendon: Cameron Howat
They still need a bit more run, and Howat could provide that from the half back flank. Aaron Joseph would be an option if they want to have more centre-square options. Alister Neville would give them a bit more size for the midfield too.
6 Fremantle: Will Sullivan
Maybe they have a local player in mind, or redrafting one of the players they previously delisted, but the Dockers do need another ruckman behind Sandilands and Warnock. Sullivan might be someone they could use on their list. If they want another medium forward then Ashley Arrowsmith might be a good fit.
7 West Coast: Ryan Willits
The Eagles should get a preseason pick, when they finally officially delist you-know-who, and they will have a spot on their list for another ruckman. Willits could give them a someone with a big body and some marking ability. They could instead go for a younger ruckman who was missed in the draft, or a ruckman from the VFL or WAFL. Maybe they want that extra small forward, and someone like Peter Rolfe could be considered.
AFL Pre-season Draft
Tuesday, December 11. 10am
1 Richmond: Tom Bellchambers
Richmond are looking at a number of players with this pick, including ruckmen Guy Richards and David Fanning. Bellchambers, or Will Sullivan, would give them a younger player to develop. Putt, who they took in the national draft, is a forward/ruckman so Bellchambers would give them more of a traditional ruckman to develop too.
2 Carlton: David Gourdis
They need to find a centre half forward, and from the players that were not drafted here is the one to take. Hugh Sandilands would be a player to take for a tall defensive spot.
3 Melbourne: Chris Kangars
The Demons had a very successful draft, and their picks were used on players with fundamental skills and a good understanding of the game. If they pick Kangars, they can add a project player who could be used in a number of spots. Maybe he could become a midfield tagger to take the role that Godfrey used to have. There are also some of the Sandringham VFL players, like Valenti and Summers, who could be drafted by Melbourne.
4 Western Bulldogs: Scott Welsh
Welsh will provide some help next to Brad Johnson in the forward line. If one of the teams ahead of the Bulldogs decides to take Welsh, then Haelen Kay could be an option as one of the players who was not picked in the national draft. If they do want an older player who would be more likely to help in 2008, then Todd Grima would make sense.
5 Essendon: Cameron Howat
They still need a bit more run, and Howat could provide that from the half back flank. Aaron Joseph would be an option if they want to have more centre-square options. Alister Neville would give them a bit more size for the midfield too.
6 Fremantle: Will Sullivan
Maybe they have a local player in mind, or redrafting one of the players they previously delisted, but the Dockers do need another ruckman behind Sandilands and Warnock. Sullivan might be someone they could use on their list. If they want another medium forward then Ashley Arrowsmith might be a good fit.
7 West Coast: Ryan Willits
The Eagles should get a preseason pick, when they finally officially delist you-know-who, and they will have a spot on their list for another ruckman. Willits could give them a someone with a big body and some marking ability. They could instead go for a younger ruckman who was missed in the draft, or a ruckman from the VFL or WAFL. Maybe they want that extra small forward, and someone like Peter Rolfe could be considered.
AFL Pre-season Draft
Tuesday, December 11. 10am
Cheers
Cheers
There will be plenty of intrigue with the preseason draft. Gourdis would be good for Richmond, but Bellchambers would be too as Richmond do need another big ruckman. Simmonds is a smaller ruckman and getting towards the end of his career, Pattison and Putt are forward/ruckman combo players, Graham is still a project but he has some size. With the drafting of Rance, that could push Polak to the forward line for Richmond too, but Gourdis could still be their pick and a possible future centre half forward.
There was some thought that Sampi could go in the national draft to Melbourne, but because they took Maric maybe they don’t want Sampi with their preseason pick. With Neitz, Newton, Robertson, Bate, Davey and Maric they have a forward line with a bit of variety.
Thank you for the comments.
Here are the players who are training with the clubs:
Adelaide - nil
Brisbane Lions - Patrick Garner (Brisbane Lions); William Hamill (Brisbane Lions rookie); Pearce Hanley (Ballanghaderreen, Ireland)
Carlton - Michael Shields (County Cork Ireland)
Collingwood - Ryan Colbert (Old Xavierians); Kevin Dyas (County Armagh Ireland); Michael Griffiths (East Fremantle); Daniel Nichols (Collingwood rookie); James Wall (St Kilda rookie)
Essendon - Jarrod Atkinson (Bendigo Bombers); Ashley Arrowsmith (Calder Cannons); James Bristow (Gippsland Power); Brent Connelly (Gippsland Power); Tim Plummer (Bendigo Bombers)
Fremantle - Blake Broadhurst (Subiaco); Ryley Dunn (Fremantle); Kyal Horsley (Subiaco); Keaton McRob (East Fremantle); Calib Mourish (Fremantle)
Geelong - nil
Hawthorn - James Allen (Box Hill Hawks); Luke Barker (Box Hills Hawks); Nathan Batsanis (Port Adelaide rookie); Brett Collins (Hawthorn rookie); Joel Coombes (Box Hill Hawks); Ed Curnow (Geelong Falcons); Stefan Garrubba (Casey Scorpions); Sam Gibson (Hawthorn rookie); Jackson Hall (Gippsland Power); Adam Iacobucci (Northern Bullants); Tom Langford (Port Melbourne); Andrew McQualter (St Kilda); Lukas Markovic (Box Hill Hawks); Ryan Normington (Murray Bushrangers); Hugh Sandilands (Oakleigh Chargers); Phil Smith (Calder Cannons); Phil Zarra (Sandringham)
Kangaroos - Jarrod Bannister (Northern Bullants); David Trotter (Kangaroos); James Wilsen (St George)
Melbourne - Daniel Hughes (Melbourne rookie); Alister Neville (Coburg); Ashley Sampi (West Coast); Jonathan Simpkin (Sydney); Peter Summers (Sandringham); Shane Valenti (Sandringham); Stef Martin (Sandringham)
Port Adelaide - Jesse Aish (Norwood); Lachlan Button (Glenelg); Luke Carey (Port Magpies); Tom Carroll (South Adelaide); Ryan Darling (Sturt); Aaron Day (Glenelg); Sam Fairclough (Woodville West Torrens); Nathan Grima (Central Districts); Todd Grima (Geelong rookie); Daniel Havelberg (Central Districts); Matthew Jaensch (Sturt); Luke Jarrad (Woodville West Torrens); Scott Luders (West Adelaide); James Moss (Central Districts); Alan Obst (Central Districts); Steve Wenman (West Adelaide); Ryan Willits (West Adelaide)
Richmond - Daniel Boyle (Murray Bushrangers); Ian Callinan (Central Districts); Clayton Collard (East Fremantle); David Fanning (Port Melbourne); Joe Gazzo (Coburg); David Gourdis (Subiaco); Andrew Horne (Coburg); Cam Howat (Richmond rookie); Jarrod Silvester (Coburg); Will Sullivan (Western Jets); Chris Varsamakis (Eltham); Chris Waller (Beaumaris); Trent Zorner (Eastern Ranges)
St Kilda - Rohan Bail (Mt Gravatt); Michael Barlow (Shepparton United); Ben Woods (Riverview)
Sydney - Brendan Murphy (County Carlow Ireland); Matt O'Dwyer (Sydney); Jake Orreal (no previous club); Sam Rowe (Sydney)
West Coast - Ashley Thornton (West Coast Eagles rookie); Beau Wilkes (West Coast Eagles rookie)
Western Bulldogs - Cameron Lockwood (Williamstown); Scott Meyer (Williamstown); Liam Picken (Williamstown); Patrick Rose (Williamstown); Ryan Williams (La Trobe)
Here is my mock draft -
Richmond - Dave Gourdis
Carlton - Ryley Dunn
Melbourne - Really a ??? i feel maybe Sampi or Valenti
Bulldogs - Scott Welsh
Essendon - Tom Bellchambers (Only have 2 real rucks in there team)
Strange that it doesnt say bellchambers is training with essendon... i saw on the tassie paper yesterday that he was and the bloke was pretty happy about it aswell.
Cheers
Here is my mock draft -
Richmond - Dave Gourdis
Carlton - Ryley Dunn
Melbourne - Really a ??? i feel maybe Sampi or Valenti
Bulldogs - Scott Welsh
Essendon - Tom Bellchambers (Only have 2 real rucks in there team)
Strange that it doesnt say bellchambers is training with essendon... i saw on the tassie paper yesterday that he was and the bloke was pretty happy about it aswell.
Cheers
You might have given away Essendon's plan there, and they would be a good team with the two big Tasmanian ruckmen. Laycock can also play forward, so he is a big body like Bellchambers, but also has some different skills. Hille can play in numerous positions too.
Nothing wrong with your mock draft, Valenti might be the safer option for Melbourne over Sampi, maybe Dunn isn't a good fit for Carlton as they drafted two midfielders and also traded for two midfielders.
There may only be 6 picks, probably 7 with West Coast getting a choice, and maybe 8 if Brisbane have a player leave, but the preseason draft should produce some interesting results.
Thank you for your information about Bellchambers, and for your mock preseason draft.