The 2005 AFL Preseason Draft Analysis
1 Carlton: Dylan McLaren
2 Collingwood: Sam Iles
3 Hawthorn: Brent Guerra
4 Essendon: Scott Camporeale
5 Richmond: Matthew White
6 Brisbane: Ben Fixter
7 Kangaroos: Cameron Thurley
8 Port Adelaide: Matt Thomas
9 Adelaide: Jason Porplyzia
10 Essendon: Chris Heffernan
The 2005 AFL Preseason Draft provided teams with useful players but not the uncontracted stars that have been acquired in previous preseason drafts. McLaren and Iles certainly didn't have the salaries that Rawlings and Stevens had when they were preseason picks.
Like they are expected to do again with Mal Michael, the Bombers a year ago went with the older players. As Essendon finished second last the additions of Camporeale and Heffernan didn't help much. But they could be useful players next season, as long as Lloyd is there for them to kick to.
Porplyzia and Guerra might have been the best picks in last year's preseason draft. Porplyzia was a solid player for the Crows last season. Guerra joined his third AFL team and was consistent for Hawthorn.
Fixter wasn't getting a game for the Swans, but that changed when he joined the Lions and he was one of their few healthy players for the season. White, Thomas and Iles also played senior games with their teams. The Kangaroos delisted Thurley after he played a small number of games last season.
Dylan McLaren was behind French for most of season 2006. French is gone now, as is Chris Bryan, so McLaren is a chance to play all the games next season. His main competition for the number one ruck spot at Carlton will be another preseason pick, Cain Ackland who the Blues have agreed to draft.
The 2006 preseason draft should be similar to the 2005 one. Carlton go first and take another hard-working, but undersized, ruckman. Essendon select a player who has won a Grand Final, but possibly their best days are far behind them. The rest of the teams will draft players who will play a few games next season but won't have a big impact, except maybe the player the Saints take and they could be valuable for them next September.
2 Collingwood: Sam Iles
3 Hawthorn: Brent Guerra
4 Essendon: Scott Camporeale
5 Richmond: Matthew White
6 Brisbane: Ben Fixter
7 Kangaroos: Cameron Thurley
8 Port Adelaide: Matt Thomas
9 Adelaide: Jason Porplyzia
10 Essendon: Chris Heffernan
The 2005 AFL Preseason Draft provided teams with useful players but not the uncontracted stars that have been acquired in previous preseason drafts. McLaren and Iles certainly didn't have the salaries that Rawlings and Stevens had when they were preseason picks.
Porplyzia and Guerra might have been the best picks in last year's preseason draft. Porplyzia was a solid player for the Crows last season. Guerra joined his third AFL team and was consistent for Hawthorn.
Fixter wasn't getting a game for the Swans, but that changed when he joined the Lions and he was one of their few healthy players for the season. White, Thomas and Iles also played senior games with their teams. The Kangaroos delisted Thurley after he played a small number of games last season.
Dylan McLaren was behind French for most of season 2006. French is gone now, as is Chris Bryan, so McLaren is a chance to play all the games next season. His main competition for the number one ruck spot at Carlton will be another preseason pick, Cain Ackland who the Blues have agreed to draft.
The 2006 preseason draft should be similar to the 2005 one. Carlton go first and take another hard-working, but undersized, ruckman. Essendon select a player who has won a Grand Final, but possibly their best days are far behind them. The rest of the teams will draft players who will play a few games next season but won't have a big impact, except maybe the player the Saints take and they could be valuable for them next September.
