00:00:00
Speaker 1: We're now two weeks away from the AFL Draft, a night where dreams will be made, and today is the day that the Code Sports Phantom Draft is released, and we've got our draft experts in the building to discuss it all. Chris Kavanaugh and Dan Batton join us. Good morning, boys.

00:00:14
Speaker 2: Yeah, good to be on Yeah, good, good to be here to see Kads phantom draft. It's yeah, he's been making plenty of calls. He's busy all weeks, so ken to unpack it.

00:00:24
Speaker 1: Quick to the so own the phantom Draft there, wash your hands of it, that's right.

00:00:27
Speaker 2: I know it's only only Chris's so yeah, spent.

00:00:31
Speaker 3: Three days on the phones, but I think we've got a rough idea of what might happen now.

00:00:35
Speaker 1: So we've had some great content the last couple of weeks on Code Sports. These two did a mock draft a couple of weeks ago, looking into what clubs would be most interested in in the draft. But now we've got a better idea of the order and potentially some pick swaps that might play out. So cav let's start with how you pulled this one together, the process and the effort's taken.

00:00:54
Speaker 3: Yeah, as I say, a favorite of effort, a lot of phone calls over the past few days. But yeah, spoken with a lot of recruiters, a lot of other industry sources, we could say, but yeah, so and then you've just got to puzzle it together and work out who's telling you the truth and who might be telling a few FIBs, which people do. But yeah, it's been a process. But I think I've got the puzzle together for about the thirty first thirty six picks, So yeah, I think there's going to be a few pick swaps, which I have included in the Fanom draft because they will change a fair bit of things. So I've got Adelaide trading in a future first to Carton for pick eleven because the Blues want that future first to match a bit on Cuddy Walker next year, and they also that pick eleven will get pushed back if the Harry Dan big comes quite early, which we think it will. I've also got Essenon trading picks twenty one and twenty seven a gold Coast for eighteen and thirty six gets essen and in before an Adam Swade bid and also gets Gold Gust few extra points to match some Academy bids, and then I've got West Coast trading thirteen and thirty four to Carlton for pick nine, which again helps Carlton get some more points in to match that early bid on Harry Dean. So I factored in those in the order there, which is why it's a little bit different to what the official order might say.

00:02:20
Speaker 1: Just on those pick swaps. Carlton giving away two first rounds. Would they have been tempted to try and have one pin in the first round alongside their bids for Dean and Ison or could it just not happen.

00:02:31
Speaker 3: It basically can't happen because if a bid for Dean comes in the top six cartons, or if they keep nine and eleven, one of them is going to slide. One of them is going to be swallowed up. Nine will be taken, and then eleven would slide back, probably into the twenties because of some other bids around that area as well. So I don't think it makes much sense for Carlton to hold those two peaks, and that's why they are exploring options ahead of the draft.

00:02:57
Speaker 1: Let's talk about the bids and where they come in, because that would have been one of the most complicated parts of the mock draft, I'm sure. But Richmond on the list here, it looks like they're turning back into bidman again, having a crack at a few different players in a row. Is that something that you reckon that they're willing to do might incense a few clubs.

00:03:14
Speaker 3: Yeah, clubs. Tell me that Blair Hartley, the Tiger's list boss, is on the war pass, so he's ready just to go bid, bid, bid, bid, which I think Dad predicted when he had Richmond in the mock draft the other week. So I think I think West Coast is pretty certain to bid on on Zeke Gillen. It picked two, and then from there it's Richmond probably. Well. I think West Coast is a chance to bid on Harry Dan as well. I'm not ruling that out at all, but I think maybe if they do a deal with Carlton that's potentially less likely. And then and then Richmond, I think they just go bang bang bang with Dylan Patterson, Dan Annibal and Harry Dan if West Coast hasn't. So yeah, it's going to be a few bids in there. Four bids in that first six and quite a bit more to come after that, he said Dan.

00:04:00
Speaker 1: If you're Xavier Taylor or Salem Rovi or Sam Grill coming to Richmond that picked seven or eight after a procession of three or four bids. Does that affect you in any way? Do you think or do you think players sort of accept that that's just how it can fall.

00:04:13
Speaker 2: But those bids, it is an interesting one because we've seen in the past often you know, yeah, it Will ash Cross, Levi ash Cross. Some regarded as Will in particular as the number one player in that draft class, but other clubs opted to go their own guy instead of Will. Obviously Jamara one of the only ones really to attract that that number one pick bid got the Big four. Yeah, that's right, And but I think when you look at the power ranks, obviously we've watched a fair bit of the draft throughout the year, it's it's fair enough almost to have those guys ahead like your Pattison animal and Dean on talent. You know, probably maybe ahead of a Sullivan Roby who's has come very late for sure, and to end up being one of the better players in this draft class. But there is a bit of unknown there. And Xavier Taylor as well, more of a half back type obviously you get key position midfield half back, probably a little bit more valuable potentially than say a medium defender, but yeah, he has huge upside as well, so I'm not sure that mine too much. Especially Xavier Taylor is a Tigers fan, so I think it'd be pretty happy landing at the Tigers and.

00:05:25
Speaker 1: Talk us through some of the some of the bolts here cav that have come in late maybe weren't on the radar as much in the top ten or twenty in the mock draft a couple of weeks ago.

00:05:32
Speaker 3: Yeah, so I think one is definitely Joan Murray, who's the goldcast Sons academy. I think he could get a bid from as early as Geelong at pick twenty. That's where I've got him getting a bit at this stage. I think that's probably where it starts. Could be a little bit back from that, but there's certainly clubs that rate him inside the top twenty, even though he missed most of the year with a stress fracture in his foot. But he's just a really clean midfield, high footy IQ. There's recruiters that just love him, so I think I think he's pretty eigh up. Harry Coyle's the other one. He's come in a bit as well. I've got him going to or getting a bid from g w S a pick thirty, but that could even come slightly higher than that. There's a few clubs that are looking at half backs, including the Western Bulldogs and also g w S. He's seriously athletic. A few recruiters have compared him to Fino Finn Callighan at the Giants, so he could be the first, but probably more likely to be the second Swan's Academy member to get a bid behind Max King and Unlockie Carmichael also has a fair bit of interest in that range too, so I think he's not far behind or could even be in front of Harry Kyle potentially so. And then the other, probably the other big one is Marcus Cras. I'm going to butcher this, but Cras medanskis. Yes, he's two hundred and one centimeter athletic ruckman, was only invited to the state draft combine and he was playing high level basketball until last year before switching to footy. But there's clubs who think he could be gone in the twenties, which would be a fair bolt. But yeah, he's my bolter inside this top thirty six.

00:07:17
Speaker 1: I think so if DeLong do have a dip at Jayan Murray and twenty, the Sons are then matching kids potentially two in the top five and then one at twenty. If you've done the maths on then be able to afford that that third.

00:07:28
Speaker 3: Bit, it makes it hard for him to get. Yeah, potentially, well, Bo Adamsill's the other top rated one. Kobe Coulson is another. I mean, they can't get all five in, It's just not going to happen. But yeah, I think they can get Murray and after that not sure. It depends whether the Adams all big comes and some think he could be top thirty. Some think he could be slightly back from that. So we'll just have to wait and say.

00:07:50
Speaker 1: It's scary for other clubs, isn't it, Because I think it wouldn't be controversial to say that going into next season, Brisbane and Gold Coast probably have the two strongest teams on paper, and the academy talent coming through in this draft quite something.

00:08:01
Speaker 3: It's incredible, isn't it. So they're stocked and Brisbane of course has got Dan Annabel coming into I spoke to one club a couple of days ago who said that they would have him number one on their list. So that's how highly he's rated by some. So yeah, some plenty of talent coming through those Northern academies.

00:08:19
Speaker 1: In the mock draft and you drafted for Richmond, you had, you had Sam Grill going in the in the top ten. Is he still a decent chance there? We've got him sliding back a little bit further now in this phantom draft.

00:08:30
Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean that seems to be the word now. I mean obviously for mock draft it was more on needs and with who they drafted last year in Sam Lawler Josh Smiley as well. It was sort of that toss up in the mock draft between Roby and Grill and went for the speed and running capacity of Sam Grill. But yeah, I wouldn't completely rule it out, but yeah, it seems to be that if Richmond don't go him earlier that it could be a bit of a slide potentially, And obviously cav has him going a bit lower in reality. So yeah, obviously Hawthorne, Yeah, he would be a really good fit for their midfield. I think it would really compliment the likes of Will day, Jian Newcomb in there and probably starts off half back next year.

00:09:22
Speaker 1: And I just wanted to touch on Adelaide cav so disappointing finish to the season, but the minor premiers and looks like they've signaled an intent to trade into the first round here for that second pick. Do you think it's the local products that they're interested in with that pick you've gotten going for Philipo and then Mitch Marsh.

00:09:37
Speaker 3: I do think it is the local products, So I think they don't. I think there's a feeling that Philippo will be off the board by the time their first pick comes around as it currently stands, but they're definitely in discussions with Carlton. I think they're still weighing up whether or not they want to trade the future first because next year's draft does look pretty good. There's also some good South of trains next year. But yeah, Philippo's pretty solid prospect. I think I've got him going to Adelaide at fifteen, which is at Carlton pick, and then I've got Adelaide picking up Mitch Marsh, who's a South Australian forward marking Ford. I think they're looking towards what life after tex Walker looks like, so he fits the bill there too. But I think those two would add a fair bit of excitement in the front half. And if Adelaide doesn't get that pick from Carton, I would just be watching. Saint Kilda currently don't have a pick until pick fifty, less likely to trade in a future first for that selection, but I wouldn't rule it out. I know that Ross Lyine only went to the draft combine and interviewed one player and it was Javann Philip, so he wasn't there for that long, so it clearly since Kilda's got a bit of interest in him. Yeah, I think whether or not it was a courtesy because ross has got a very good relationship with Matteas and maybe it was just that. Maybe I'm reading too much into it, but I would just be watching that for the Saints.

00:11:05
Speaker 1: That's an intriguing male. We heard from Saints president Andrew Bassett towards the end of the season. The Saints won't be afraid to offend people, was what he said. They're going to do some odd things, maybe some aggressive moves on Draft night with the pick spots.

00:11:17
Speaker 2: And the interesting watch, I think for them as well, is they've got Ky Fincher, who's an NNGA prospect, a little bit of a loophole that's going to be probably eliminated from next year where his mom or he was born overseas when his mum was working there Hong Kong, Hong Kong, similar to Jesse Meller from Geelong as well, who lived in Thailand for all of eight months. But Ki Fincher one was a bit of a pretty broad range, could even attract a bid in the teens, but then even it might slide a bit to the thirties. But San Kill at the moment don't have a don't have too many draft points, so they're at their disposals. So we've been seeing, particularly if they do trade back in whether they can secure Kaith Fincher as well.

00:12:00
Speaker 3: Yeah, I think they're not going to match a bid on Fincher if it is in that early twenties range or which is a possibility. I don't have him in my thirty six at the moment, but he's certainly he was discussed in that range, so he didn't miss out by March. But if a bid Dad does come mid thirties onwards, then I think the Saints match, because that pick fifty will come into maybe forty five forty four. That's the projection, so that won't cost him too much. But if it affects their first rounder next year and pushes that back too far that they're not going to know, they'll leave it alone and Fincher you'll be going somewhere else. So been interesting to watch that one.

00:12:36
Speaker 1: A quick one before we move on. Code Sports has a special offer going at the moment for listeners and viewers twelve months for just forty nine dollars. So that gets you all the premium content, analysis, inside access and a very special upcoming draft project that we have in the patheline called Chasing the Dream, So you can hit the link in the description to get access. Now. I've just got a couple of questions without notice. One that a lot of people have been asking me. I didn't check where I came on the show, unfortunately, But Josh Lindsay, who've got gun of the Bulldogs that picked seventeen? Here? Is he a relation of Xavier Lindsay? Because you look at the way they play their profiles they're quite similar, classy left footers.

00:13:11
Speaker 2: I might taste fine man a guy. No, he's no relation whatsoever, but yeah, very classy left footer was in top five conversations earlier in the year, particularly after his AFOL Academy game where he was best on in one of those VFL against the VFL side, and has slid back probably a little bit as indicated in the in that phantom drafts, so Vinton to see where he does go, and I guess clubs are probably a little bit having those question marks maybe whether he can move into the midfield, but certainly the best kick of the draft, so yeah, should provide a bit of value there in the teams.

00:13:54
Speaker 3: Yeah, I wouldn't rule out Melbourne or Hawthorne for him, but yeah, I've got him slipping back to Bulldogs at seven A.

00:14:01
Speaker 1: And cav Just casting your eye over the first round of the draft, is there anyone who stands out as particularly ready to play senior football from round one? Because I know a few teams are screaming out for that player can slot straight and give them hope by playing early in the season. Who's in the best position to do that?

00:14:15
Speaker 3: Did you say Essenon there? Right? Yeah, I think there is a few teams that would like some quick starters. And I've got Essen picking up Dice and Sharp, who I think is ready to go. He could slot straight into that midfield, play a bit of half forward as well. This year he definitely could have. I mean he was playing senior SAMD full footy this year. He's been doing that for a couple of years actually, So yeah, I think he's the one to watch there. And he also brings some leadership with it, which Essendon needs as well, having almost lost Jack Merritt the captain walk out during the trade period. So I think I think he's probably probably the stand up from one.

00:14:54
Speaker 2: Yeah, I'm just looking sort of up at the top. Gold Coast obviously they've got a pretty set lineup, but you know, i'd be expecting Dylan Patterson and Zeke Gilan to play early in the year. Particularly Zeke yolland just so professional where he goes about it, very versatile with the role and the comparisons have been made there to Eryl Gordon with the way you use it. Obviously West Coast, you know, you think that their players could potentially would be more inclined to play considering the sort of the makeup of their list at the moment. You'd say William Dursman probably does slot in there, but even a guy like Jacob Farrell as well, who cav has has them selecting homegrown products, has played league footy this year at West Perth and good size as well.

00:15:43
Speaker 1: One sentiment is so good.

00:15:45
Speaker 2: I think he's one who to watch, particularly for super coaches as well.

00:15:50
Speaker 1: There's a few names missing from the fan and draft that have been on your draft boards over the last few months. Any any names that jump out at you that could end of the frame on the opening.

00:15:59
Speaker 3: Night of the Yeah, well, Finch's one who have talked about there could be anywhere from that twenty to forty range. But the other one for me is Matt Lauray too. So South Australiam wingman had really strong national championships. He's a cricket convert, so he hasn't actually had a full pre season. Clubs have had a bit of a knock on his endurance, but as I say, he hasn't. He was playing cricket last summer, so I think once you get him into an AFL environment he could be pretty special player. I really like him, but he's got a really wide range of probably picked twenty to forty. So I've heard him link to Essendon. I'm not sure that they go with him at pick nine A and that might be a touch early, but he could also get to early forties, so I think he definitely gets taken. He's good enough to be taken. And talking of the Chasing the Dreams draft documentary, he is part of that, so look out for that. But yeah, he's just an interesting watch from one.

00:16:58
Speaker 1: And anyway on your radar, Dan, it could sneak into that first round.

00:17:02
Speaker 2: Yeah, I'm interesting to see where Fred Rodriguez goes. A WA product midfielder afl Academy WA MVP him and Sam Swaddling as well, another similar type of midfielder, sort of tall midfield of both from WA because it seems like they do quite broad ranges with clubs and where they're raided, but they do have a plenty of fans in that region. Also, Max Condo gianis one who probably hasn't been mentioned a great deal. He has his fans as well. In the thirties and forties, there sort of range of the drafts, so it will be interesting to see where those guys go. But that's the thing with this draft crop. There's forty fifty sixty players trying to fit into that sort of thirty bottom thirty.

00:17:53
Speaker 1: Of the draft.

00:17:53
Speaker 2: So it's going to be it's going to be some unlucky stories, I think, and maybe some guys who go on and get picked up in the mid season drafts. I'll go on to have train on spots to clubs. So yeah, there's going to be some unlucky stories. I reckon.

00:18:08
Speaker 3: One club said to me the other day there could be one hundred players picked at pick twenty five. That's how even it is. After you get outside that well, I think clubs about the top fourteen or so. He's pretty strong, and then it's up to interpretation of who wants what it.

00:18:21
Speaker 1: Might help to be two meters tall and have a name like Marcus Krasna dance that first round a lot to play out over the next couple of weeks. Really exciting stuff with the pick swaps in there as well the draft on November nineteen and twenty. You can follow along all our coverage on the cod Sports and Herald Sun websites. And thanks Cavin Dan for coming on and giving us your insights. It's an exciting time and we'll see you all over the next few days as the draft approaches,