With less than a week until the commencement of the 2018 UKL Draft, Dangergawn news has crunched the numbers to provide you with the most detailed analysis of the top prospects and indicative draft order available.
Solomon’s Soldiers, General Soreness and Rico’s Roughnecks all have multiple picks in the top 10 and will be looking to shape the draft order early.
At the other end of the scale, the Defenestrators will only make their first selection in Round 3 (Pick #27). It has been rumoured that this was a specific list management strategy in play this year to account for the general lack of punctuality from coach Zerna. This is even in spite of the Australian leg of the draft being held at his private residence.
The first round of the draft is expected to predominantly yield midfield talent with a likely average scoring range from the mid 80’s through to the early 100’s. Talent in the forward, back and ruck department is likely to be selected in later rounds, although we would expect that some might sneak into the top 10 depending on team requirements.
So, without further ado, we now present our indicative first round mock draft:
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Pick 1 – Solomon’s Soldiers
Scott Selwood
If you had to name one coach in the league who could reasonably be described as a ‘risk-taker’, Coach Bridge would be a standout leader. His liberal strategy of aggressively trading away virtually anyone indicates that he values shiny new things far more than he values stability.
It’s this attribute that makes Scott Selwood the logical first pick for Alex.
When he’s up and about, Selwood reels off more 100’s than Steve Smith during an Australian summer. But to keep the cricket analogy alive, he’s injured more often that the illegitimate lovechild of James Pattinson and Pat Cummins attempting to mediate a heated discussion between Dave Warner and Joe Root in an English pub.
Rumours down at Geelong suggest Selwood will likely be fit to play in the weeks that Gary Ablett isn’t injured, and vice versa.
Nevertheless, there are few players in the current year draft that could be reasonably expected to average over three figures, which makes Selwood a risk worth taking.
Pick 2 – The Bailout Plan
Isaac Smith
While coach Ciancio is not short on midfielders after his keeper selections, he does carry an assortment of players who are likely to spend some time off this year with injury. Isaac Smith could fill the gaps perfectly, with his projected average of around 90 points per game likely placing him as one of Luke’s top 10 players.
Smith will also be great for club morale, since he is often seen smiling and joking with teammates… usually just before he misses a shot for goal to win an elimination final.
Pick 3 – The Redshins
Jacob Townsend
Personally, I wouldn’t draft Townsend at pick 3, but that’s likely because my strategy doesn’t revolve around emotionally drafting premiership heroes. But if we know Coach Symes, we know that he is all about drafting Richmond players – and this was the case even when they were still the laughing stock of the AFL.
Townsend only played 5 games last year, but one of those was a win on the biggest day on the AFL calendar. His output in the final rounds of fantasy football yielded scores of 107 and 83.
Can he continue to perform at these levels? I honestly have no idea. But the next highest ranked Richmond player is Anthony Miles, and even Symes can’t bring himself to like that guy.
Pick 4 – Such is Fyfe
Koby Stevens
If we’re completely honest with you, we have no idea who Koby Stevens is.
But a quick Google search reveals he plays for St Kilda, is only 26 years old and averaged over 90 points a game last year if you exclude a score of 14 in one game when he got injured. That’s pretty good. You’d also expect him to get a bit more midfield time with David Armitage looking like he could break down at any moment.
Over a third of Coach McClaren’s eligible midfielders are over 30 years of age. This guy could inject a bit of youth and be a replacement in 2019 for the probable retirement of Jordan Lewis. The selection would also free up ‘Such is Fyfe’ to utilise the DP status of Newnes and Seedsman in the backline and Mundy up forward.
Pick 5 – Solomon’s Soldiers
Ben Cunnington
Coach Bridge gave Ben Cunnington a go at the inaugural draft, and we reckon he might do it again – solely so he can feel nostalgic listening to “I’m Shipping Up to Boston” by the Dropkick Murphys.
The other reasons why it might be worthwhile drafting him are;
· He averaged a score in the high 80’s across 20 games.
· Aside from Ziebell, North Melbourne wields no other noticeable form of midfield talent. So, he’s like a small fish in a rockpool.
· He grew up on a dairy farm. He’s not some sort of pussy from the ‘burbs.
· Alex needs plenty of depth in his own midfield to cover de Goey’s absence the next time he does something stupid.
Pick 6 – General Soreness
Ricky Henderson
We’ve watched Coach Burgess’ recruiting habits rather intently over the recent years and have noticed a trend. He seems to have a unique ability to pick up players, who at the time, we honestly wouldn’t consider worthwhile at all, and turn them in to half decent fantasy footballers – I’m looking at you Jeremy Howe and Mitch Robinson.
Ricky Henderson is that player for us this year.
We used to enjoy seeing Henderson named for the Crows, because it usually meant there was an extra player on the field for them who could mess things up. When the Crows eventually delisted him, we assumed it was all over for his career.
Fast forward to now, and he’s projected to be the fourth highest scoring player available in the draft. Now while I honestly don’t believe that’s true, it’s likely that Greg might – and if he does – then it probably will be.
Pick 7 – General Soreness
Rory Atkins
Discussions with League Administrator Adam Ritchie yielded some interesting analysis after last years’ draft. He found that, on average, coaches tended to redraft players that they had previously delisted – even on occasions when there might be someone better available.
Some call it an emotional connection, but if like me you picked up a player like Jamie Cripps again, it’s probably better described as Stockholm Syndrome.
Now what does this have to do with Greg’s second pick in the draft? Well he drafted Rory last year and I think he may do it again purely based on the wonders of psychology.
How do I know Greg drafted Rory? Because I had the pick directly after him last year and am a little salty he beat me to the punch.
Pick 8 – Rico’s Roughnecks
Tom Bellchambers
This pick is a little out of left-field but bear with us.
Coach Ritchie’s team is absolutely swimming with gun midfielders. He currently has 11 genuine midfielders which expands to 14 if you include DP’s. Out of those 14, his worst projected player is Jaeger O’Meara! That’s a scary fact to contemplate. But it likely means he will look to draft players in other positions early on.
Bellchambers is currently ranked as the best available ruckman in the draft after establishing his position over Matthew Leuenberger at the Dons last year. He hit some late season form averaging 84 in his last five games.
Adam only has the one ruckman and may look to bolster some depth early, with Bellchambers potentially filling the utility spot and stepping up if something happens to big Stef.
Pick 9 – Champs16
Sam Kerridge
You couldn’t have scripted this.
Sam to be drafted purely as trade fodder for another 12 months.
Pick 10 – Rico’s Roughnecks
Brodie Smith
Adam snagged himself an extra pick in the first round by offloading an aged Luke Hodge to the Chiefs, so that they could plug part of the Docherty sized hole in their backline.
We think this bonus pick gives him the ability to think long term without impacting on his pre-existing draft strategy for the current season.
Enter Brodie Smith.
While we won’t see much, if any, action from Brodie this year, Adam now has scope to pick him up and park him on the bench for a full year. High scoring defenders are a rare commodity in fantasy football, but Adam has the chance to add one here and strengthen the long-term position of his club.
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So that’s our predicted selections for the first round this year. As is usually the case with mock drafts, we will likely be completely wrong, but since no one ever re-reads these kinds of articles after the draft is done, there’s little chance of us being questioned over our journalistic integrity.
Good luck to all coaches of all teams next Saturday.