http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/a...draft-prediction/story-e6frf9jf-1226089390211 1 Jonathon Patton Eastern Ranges Key forward HEIGHT: 197cm WEIGHT: 95kg STYLE: Jonathan Brown Can take big pack marks but just as dangerous on the lead. Ideal forward-50m target. 2 Stephen Coniglio Swan Districts Midfielder HEIGHT: 182cm WEIGHT: 76kg STYLE: Marc Murphy Undecided whether he will nominate for the draft. Wins hard ball and uses speed to spread and create up forward. 3 Chad Wingard Sturt Midfielder HEIGHT: 181cm WEIGHT: 73kg STYLE: Scott Pendlebury Left footer is super clean and agile slipping through traffic. Quick to move and a tough tackler. 4 Billy Longer Northern Knights Ruckman HEIGHT: 202cm WEIGHT: 95kg STYLE: Dean Cox Elite speed and neat skills give the ruckman an edge over a lot of his opponents. Improving his endurance. 5 Devon Smith Geelong Falcons Onballer/small forward HEIGHT: 175cm WEIGHT: 73kg STYLE: Sam Mitchell into David Rodan Ferocious in his pursuit of the ball and ball-carrier at ground level. Highly productive in attack. 6 Todd Elton Dandenong Stingrays Key forward/ruck HEIGHT: 197cm WEIGHT: 87kg STYLE: Jarryd Roughead Flexibility to be either a focal point in attack or ruck is a huge plus. Big leap and high workrate. 7 Matthew Buntine Dandenong Stingrays Half-back/wing HEIGHT: 188cm WEIGHT: 83kg STYLE: Corey Enright Can either shut down or rebound from half-back. Selfless type who is natural leader. 8 Hayden Crozier Eastern Ranges Forward flank/midfielder HEIGHT: 184cm WEIGHT: 68kg STYLE: Dale Thomas Spring-heeled forward is spectacular in the air and highly skilful around goals. 9 Liam Sumner Sandringham Dragons Outside midfielder HEIGHT: 182cm WEIGHT: 70kg STYLE: Ryan Bastinac Exciting ball-carrier oozes class with his dashing outside run and slick ball use. Not a big kick. 10 Will Hoskin-Elliott Western Jets Half-back/wing HEIGHT: 182cm WEIGHT: 73kg STYLE: Harry O'Brien Smooth utility has pace and clean skills in tight situations. Penetrating kick and a strong mark. Greater Western Sydney has picks 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15
Thought this article was interesting from Emma Quayle, who knows her stuff about the young guys. She reckons clubs wont be killing their lists this year as the depth isnt that crash hot. <blockquote>Here's the good news: the 2012 draft looks very, very strong. Already, a dozen names spring to mind. This time next year, expect to hear plenty about Lachie Whitfield, Rory Atkins and Sam Mayes, for starters. Expect Viney and Joe Daniher to demand first-round picks of the Demons and Bombers as father-son selections, and expect your club to wait until the end of next season to clear out its list and make five, six or more choices. Advertisement: Story continues below This year? It's tougher. Certainly, this draft will be the perfect launching pad for Greater Western Sydney. Patton has both potential and performances on the board. He's big, athletic, agile, takes marks because he knows how to position himself, and he had a say in last night's game, despite running around with a corked leg. In Stephen Coniglio and Chad Wingard, the Giants have a couple of plug-and-play midfielders, creative and brave. Another onballer, Elliott Kavanagh, has only just returned from a hamstring injury but should push into the very top group. Tyson, Hoskin-Elliott, Liam Sumner, Devon Smith and Billy Longer are also in the top group, but it's hard to pencil in anyone further than that, and the depth isn't great either. Some recruiters are struggling to find more than 30 players in this year's junior pool that they would have complete confidence in selecting. The bonus for the Giants is that while this draft will kick them off nicely, it will keep most of their opponents where they are. If any make serious improvement out of this draft, given the lack of depth they will have done very well. It means established clubs will have to look hard. Clubs have always drafted from state leagues, but in the past they have been able to focus on the very best. This year they'll have to do more than that, given the shallow junior pool and the fact that, like Gold Coast last year, GWS can keep or trade players bypassed in previous drafts. Clubs looking for key-position players might wish they already had them. Some of the better ''talls'' on offer don't seem big enough to play in key positions - Jordan Kelly, Brody Mihocek, Matthew Buntine, Adam Tomlinson - although all can play. A bunch of bigger kids have shown exciting glimpses - Sam Frost, Xavier Richards, Sam Gordon - but they have flaws to fix, and consistency to find. The midfield group is a bigger one, although there is still sameness about this year's crop.</blockquote> Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/talent-pool-a-tad-thin-20110706-1h2j8.html#ixzz1RMzIM4W2
Saw Coniglio(Potential #2 draft pick) play last night and he caught my eye. Looks very promising, is quick and ran at speed carrying the footy across Etihad. I think he may have ended up with the most touches in the WA v SA game?
I guess Collingwood will just top up again this year. Any decent jail birds or ex players available this year? Rhyce Shaw is probably the closest of these.