2019 Pre-Season Draft Review: MaherShalalHashBaz


Grade

B+

Best Pick

Pick 155 – Darcy MacPherson

Selections

Pick Player UF G UF A
5 Jamie Cripps WC – F 8 63.3
25 Rory Atkins AD – C 16 80.1
35 Lewis Taylor BL – F 0 0
45 David Myers ES – C 2 56
55 Jarrad McVeigh SY – B 4 67.5
65 Brett Bewley FR – C 0 0
75 Rory Lobb FR – R,F 11 79.8
95 Brad Sheppard WC – B 19 81.8
102 Matthew Parker SK – F 2 72.5
105 Matt De Boer GWS – F 1 63
115 Jarryd Roughead HW – F 2 73.5
125 Ben Jacobs NM – C 0 0
135 Aaron Sandilands FR – R 2 75.5
145 Joshua Corbett GC – F 0 0
155 Darcy MacPherson GC – F 20 88.7
165 Ben Brown NM – F 4 74.8
175 Adam Kennedy GWS – B 8 65
185 Josh Walker BL – B 4 61.8
195 Francis Watson WC – B 0 0

Summary

A real boom bust draft for the eventual premiers. More busts than booms, but the booms were booming.

MacPherson is the obvious standout – and was almost certainly the best value selection in the entire draft. Sheppard at pick 95 was an integral part of the backline. Lobb was another value get at pick 75.

Round 1 selection Cripps was a disappointment though, and rounds 3 through 6 was a blackhole. Those early missteps dent the grade a little.

One of the interesting things about the approach here is the contentedness to pass on the incoming rookies in favour of more established players. Will they follow a similar approach in 2020? Will other teams adopt this approach?