In this article I'm going to look at the best draft picks in the 2012 ORFFL draft. There is no perfect formula for this (unless Lucas/Walesy say there is). I evaluated the player’s average, draft pick, position and age, as well as a little personal opinion thrown in. Feel free to post your own opinions in the comments, if there’s one thing we love here its discussion.

[span style='text-decoration: underline]Top 10 Draft Picks (The information in brackets is POS, AGE, PICK, AVE)

1. Shane Tuck (MID, 30, 285, 114.6)

It’s easy to forget Tuck only played 10 games in 2011 at an average of 82.2. At 30 years of age going into the 2012 season, everyone was ready to right him off as a has-been. Everyone, except SCSS (and I suppose Hardwick) . With a bargain pick of 285, Tuck played every game this year and elevated his average to a massive 114.6, the 12th best in the whole competition. His age is certainly a concern, but it’s hard to argue with those numbers.

Fun fact: Shane Tuck wears ear plugs due to a perforated eardrum.

2. Patrick Dangerfield (F/M, 22, 96, 118.9)

Well, we all knew it was coming didn’t we. Breakout year? You could say that. With Craig David departing as coach of the Crows, blind Freddy could tell you any new coach would need to play Dangerfield in the guts. And the rest is history. After playing mostly forward in 2011 for an average of 80.3, Dangerfield became a contested ball fiend in 2012 using the SC scoring system to his advantage for an average of 118.9. Did I mention this year he was classified as a forward? Amazing! At only 22 years of age, he will have another 10 years in the middle before probably ending his career back in the forward line.

Fun fact: Dangerfield is back to back winner of the GF sprint – 2011 & 2012.

3. Josh P. Kennedy (MID, 24, 81, 120,2)

Affectionately known as JPK, he capped off his year by beating his former team Hawthorn in the GF leaving them wondering what could have been. Where he did his best work though, was in the ORFFL season. An average of 120.2 shot him to elite status and the 6th best scorer in the competition. Simply put, he’s a beast – at KPP size he runs all day and bullocks his way through contests, and I certainly can’t see him slowing down in the years to come.

Fun fact: No-one actually knows what the P in his name stands for.

4. Ivan Maric (RUC, 26, 105, 113.5)

Wow, who could have seen this coming? Oh yeah, SCSS again. We all thought it was a bit ambitious to pick Maric with 105, this was the guy who couldn’t even get a game at Adelaide. I personally remember the footage of Craig David (2nd name drop, thanks Sam Newman) publically berating and embarrassing Maric. That’s all in the past though, as in 2012 he learned to follow the way of the mullet. The People’s Mullet finished 2nd in averages for ruck at 113.4, taking full opportunity as the only ruckman in the side. Expect more to come in 2013 with an undoubtedly even larger mullet.

Fun fact: Maric’s mullet has 2 drug strikes against its name.

5. Beau Waters (DEF, 26, 193, 100.3)

It might be a bit surprising Waters is this high on the list, but I assure you his numbers stack up. After numerous injuries and a solid SC season back in 2010 as a rookie priced defender, he really made a name for himself in 2012 – not only with his stats, but his courage was a large factor in his popularity. As one of only five defenders that averaged over 100 (the others all picked before pick 42), the fact that he was nabbed at 193 is amazing. The injury risk will always be there – after all he only played 8 games in 2011 and 2008, and didn’t play at all I 2009, but if he can maintain his scoring he will always be a top defender.

Fun fact: Google Beau Waters to see just how many articles there are on him being injured.

6. Dayne Zorko (F/M, 23, 220, 100.0)

The man with the super-hero sounding name comes in at number 6 in his debut year. There were always big raps on him being a mature aged recruit, and winning 4 B&F for his QAFL club Broadbeach. It took him a while to debut, starting as the sub in Round 7, but once he got a taste he never looked back. Scoring 9 tons out of 15 matches he started (plus a 99!) with a maximum of 163, there were comparisons to Michael Barlow. There was one main difference though – Zorko was classified as a forward! Averaging 100 in his debut year and keeping his forward status, things are only going to get better for the Zorkoman. How did GC pass on this guy again?

Fun fact: QAFL was voted the 2nd funniest sounding competition name after ORFFL.

7. Sean Dempster (DEF, 28, 456, 86.6)

“You’ve just been Dempstered.” Whether SKT had insider knowledge or not, he certainly got a great last pick in the draft. Dempster’s previous claim to fame was he played in 5 Grand Finals, but now he has All-Australian honours in 2012. That in itself says what a great year he has had, turning himself from a lock down defender into an attacking rebounder, in the process taking all of Sam Fisher’s points. Despite being embarrassed by Buddy Franklin in that one game, he played all 22 games and averaged an impressive 86.6 for the year.

Fun fact: 2012 Prospectus said: “Replace the ‘e’ with a ‘u’ and you’ve got this bloke’s value in fantasy.”

8. Tony Greene (MID, 19, 461, 94.6)

His numbers as a junior were superb, but didn’t get talked about as much as the other GWS mids due to his awkward price in SC prior to 2012. Regardless, he has proved to be an absolute jet in 2012 averaging 94.6, and was robbed of the NAB Rising Star award due to some bogus AFL rules. Certainly a star to watch for the future.

Fun fact: Toby Greene also plays in the under 14 competition.

9. Dayne Beams (F/M, 22, 47, 122.9)

Aside from Dangerfield, Beams was the breakout player of 2012. After missing the first game of the year and starting slowly, Ball went down with an ACL leaving an opportunity for Beams in the middle – and boy did he take it! After averaging 100 in 2011 he was always on the radar, especially after being given forward eligibility, but no-one would expect what happened. Putting the disappointing of missing the 2011 GF behind him, he routinely pumped out massive scores to average 122.9 for the year, and in captain contention for a couple of SC rounds.

Fun fact: What do Beams and Sam Gilbert have in common?

10. Kieran Jack (MID, 25, 101, 112.4)

Similar to JPK, the success of the Swans this year has certainly helped Jack’s scoring, After his breakout year in 2010, he had a quiet 2011 interrupted by injury and form. Always underrated for his defensive mindset, he has certainly added an offensive style to his game recently, bumping his average to 112.4 in 2012. Expect more improvement from this rugby convert in years to come.

Fun fact: Jack still has Minson’s boot imprinted into his leg.

Honorable mentions:
Callan Ward (MID, 22, 122, 106.6)
Rory Sloane (MID, 22, 136, 106.1)
Scott Selwood (MID, 22, 141, 104.0)
Taylor Walker (FWD, 22, 186, 100.2)
Brad Ebert (MID, 22, 226, 100.0)
Harley Bennell (F/M, 20, 233, 97.5)
David Hale (R/F, 28, 185, 95.6)
Tom Hawkins (FWD, 24, 179, 95.1)
Will Minson (RUC, 27, 261, 95.1)
Jonathan Giles (RUC, 24, 217, 93.3)
Ben Hudson (RUC, 33, 448, 92.9)
Brent Reilly (MID, 29, 459, 92.4)
Adam Treloar (F/M, 19, 427, 83.2)

[span style='text-decoration: underline]Best First Year Player

1. Dayne Zorko (F/M, Pick 220, Ave 100.0)
2. Toby Greene (MID, 461, 94.6)
3. Jonathan Giles (RUC, 217, 93.3)
4. Adam Treloar (F/M, 427, 83.2)
5. Stephen Coniglio (MID, 147, 75.9)
6. Dylan Shiel (MID, 204, 75.4)
7. Taylor Adams (F/M, 404, 74.9)
8. Sam Shaw (DEF, M07, 72.9)
9. Tory Dickson (FWD, 454, 69.9)
10. Tom Bugg (DEF, M04, 69.1)

[span style='text-decoration: underline]Most Improved Average (min. 7 games in both 2011/2012)

1. Ivan Maric (+44.1)
2. Brock McLean (+41.5)
3. Patrick Dangerfield (+38.6)
4. Lewis Jetta (+37.9)
5. Taylor Walker (+37.7)
6. Charlie Dixon (+37.3)
7. Brad Ebert (+36.5)
8. Jarryn Geary (+34.4)
9. Mitch Wallis (+33.3)
10. Shane Tuck (+32.4)
11. Chris Masten (+32.2)
12. Kieran Jack (+31.5)
13. Clancee Pearce (+29.8)
14. Andrew Gaff (+29.3)
15. Harley Bennell (+28.9)
16. Beau Waters (+28.4)
17. Tom Hawkins (+25.5)
18. Shaun Atley (+24.3)
19. Josh P Kennedy (+24.1)
20. Sean Dempster (+23.6)

[span style='text-decoration: underline]Most Deflated Average (min. 7 games in both 2011/2012

1. Brent Moloney (-31.6)
2. Josh J Kennedy (-30.8)
3. Michael Rischitelli (-28.6)
4. Heath Hocking (-24.3)
5. Matthew Stokes (-24.2)
6. Graham Johncock (-23.3)
7. Jordan Russell (-22.5)
8. Paul Puopolo (-22.4)
9. Chris Newman (-21.9)
10. Shane Mumford (-21.6)
11. Liam Shiels (-20.8)
12. Shane Savage (-20.4)
13. Todd Goldstein (-20.2)
14. Tyrone Vickery (-19.7)
15. Chris Yarran (19.6)
16. Joel Corey (-19.6)
17. Todd Banfield (19.4)
18. James Gwilt (-18.8)
19. Adam Goodes (-18.5)
20. David Mundy (-17.9)