This year’s season preview sees the teams split into different groups based on the views expressed by their peers in the coaches survey.
First cab off the rank is the group of clubs the competition feels is rebuilding.
Lethal Vipers
Last year’s wooden spooners will be disappointed if they repeat that ignominy again. Their peers think they’re the ones most likely.
Coaches Predictions:
- 10th – 4 coaches
- 9th – 3 coaches
- 8th – 1 coach
- 2nd – 1 coach
2020 Draft Results: I DRINK YOUR MELKSHAM
The Vipers began pursuing an aggressive rebuild after a 1 and 3 start in season 2019. Their first ever draft selection in Scott Pendlebury, Kade Simpson, and second round pre-season selection Orazio Fantasia were sent out for a bevy of young players and a second round selection.
Two bold trades late in the season really standout. In trading out pick 1 they’ve gambled on Angus Brayshaw over Matt Rowell. Pick 11 and the second rounder they acquired earlier in the Pendlebury trade were sent to the Scourers in exchange for two young players in Tom Papley and Rory Atkins. As a result, the Vipers didn’t possess the draft haul a last place finisher might usually hold.
| 12 | Sam Flanders GC – C,F | Lethal Vipers |
| 31 | Jack Bytel SK – C | Lethal Vipers |
| 36 | James Aish FR – B | Lethal Vipers |
| 51 | Willem Drew PA – C | Lethal Vipers |
| 58 | Rory Lobb FR – R | Lethal Vipers |
| 71 | Charlie Cameron BL – F | Lethal Vipers |
| 81 | Jake Melksham ME – F | Lethal Vipers |
| 91 | Max King SK – F | Lethal Vipers |
| 101 | Will Hayes WB – C | Lethal Vipers |
| 111 | Brayden Ham ES – C,F | Lethal Vipers |
| 131 | Jack Newnes CA – C | Lethal Vipers |
| 141 | Marty Hore ME – B | Lethal Vipers |
| 151 | Kysaiah Kropinyeri-Pickett ME – F | Lethal Vipers |
| 161 | Jake Kelly AD – B | Lethal Vipers |
| 171 | Bailey Banfield FR – F | Lethal Vipers |
| 181 | Matt Scharenberg CW – B | Lethal Vipers |
| 191 | Noah Answerth BL – B | Lethal Vipers |
There are some familiar Vipers re-added to the list here – one wonders how many of these players can really move the needle for the Vipers.
Rory Lobb was a great handcuff selection – one of the rare ones who can command a best 22 spot in his own right regardless of whether the lead ruck is playing or not. Aish looks to have a fantasy friendly role at the new look Dockers.
Flanders should play games early and be a maintstay for the Vipers in the coming years. Getting another first round selection in Kropinyeri-Pickett at pick 151 is great value. Scharenberg is oft-injured, but has scored well in the past – another great value pick at 181.
Early Verdict
They’re placing their faith in younger, but established, players. There are exciting prospects on every line – Ryan, Bryne-Jones and Petrevski-Seton down back, Duncan and Brayshaw in the middle, Papley, Naughton and the younger Brayshaw, Andrew, up forward.
Finals contention is probably a stretch. It’s hard to see them overcoming last year’s finalists over the course of a season. But they should be competitive most weeks, and there are plenty of players to be excited about.
***
Feelin Dusty
A new coach and a range of potential outcomes. Most have them pegged for 8th or 9th, but 2 coaches think they could make a leap into finals. One picked them to finish third, and I suspect that was simply a cry for help.
Coaches Predictions:
- 10th – 1 coach
- 9th – 3 coaches
- 8th – 3 coaches
- 6th – 1 coach
- 3rd – 1 coach
2020 Draft Results: Young Fremantle Talent Time
| 3 | Hayden Young FR – B | Feelin Dusty |
| 13 | Caleb Serong FR – C | Feelin Dusty |
| 23 | Trent Bianco CW – B,C | Feelin Dusty |
| 28 | Mitchell Georgiades PA – F | Feelin Dusty |
| 33 | Cameron Rayner BL – F | Feelin Dusty |
| 43 | Miles Bergman PA – F | Feelin Dusty |
| 53 | Nathan Jones ME – B,C | Feelin Dusty |
| 63 | Rhys Stanley GE – R | Feelin Dusty |
| 73 | Taylor Walker AD – F | Feelin Dusty |
| 83 | Sam Sturt FR – F | Feelin Dusty |
| 93 | Brody Mihocek CW – F | Feelin Dusty |
| 103 | Harley Bennell ME – C | Feelin Dusty |
| 113 | Finn Maginness HW – C | Feelin Dusty |
| 123 | Adam Saad ES – B | Feelin Dusty |
| 133 | Jackson Mead PA – C | Feelin Dusty |
| 143 | Fischer Mcasey AD – B | Feelin Dusty |
| 153 | Jeremy Sharp GC – C | Feelin Dusty |
| 163 | Steven Motlop PA – F | Feelin Dusty |
| 173 | Shaun Burgoyne HW – B | Feelin Dusty |
| 183 | Jack Riewoldt RI – F | Feelin Dusty |
| 193 | Josh Jenkins GE – F | Feelin Dusty |
The rebuild is on in earnest at the new look club. Their first 5 selections were new rookies, with the exception being former number one selection Cam Rayner – now with his third team.
Nathan Jones, Rhys Stanley, and Taylor Walker were a surprising zig from the first six round zag. In fact a zigzag is a good summation of their approach overall. There are recurring swings between young players and more established selections throughout.
Sturt, Maginness, Mead and Sharp are nice lottery tickets. Their final three selections will make the best 22 most weeks one imagines – whether that’s excellent drafting or an indication of where the team stands can be decided by the reader.
Feelin Dusty may be Feelin Regretful with the Bennell selection at 103. Motlop at 163 is another that raises the eyebrows. Coach Sippel clearly fancies himself as a Marge Simpson.
Early Verdict
This club has always been frisky, but one suspects this is a classic ‘one step back before two steps forward’ situation. They’ve got some great players – their namesake first among them, and their selection of several reliable – if uninspiring – players in the draft, means they’ll probably avoid the spoon if they so choose.
But there has been a limit of this team’s ceiling for a few years now. Investing in so many key players from one AFL club is risky business at the best of times, but especially so when that AFL club wins without domineering possession.
Some diversification will do them a world of good. But list overhauls don’t happen overnight. Seeing how quickly the competition’s newest coach can bring FD into proper contention will prove interesting!
***
Taxmanian Devils
Another year in the doldrums looms. Another cry for help.
Coaches Predictions:
- 10th – 3 coaches
- 9th – 2 coaches
- 8th – 3 coaches
- 3rd – 1 coach
2020 Draft Results: Going Real Early
| 7 | Will Snelling ES – F | Taxmanian Devils |
| 8 | Jordan Ridley ES – B | Taxmanian Devils |
| 42 | Shai Bolton RI – F | Taxmanian Devils |
| 50 | Jacob Dawson GC – B | Taxmanian Devils |
| 82 | Ben Jarvis GE – B | Taxmanian Devils |
| 92 | Jason Castagna RI – F | Taxmanian Devils |
| 97 | Jarrod Lienert PA – B | Taxmanian Devils |
| 112 | Jarman Impey HW – B | Taxmanian Devils |
| 122 | Patrick Ryder SK – R,F | Taxmanian Devils |
| 128 | Jarrod Harbrow GC – B | Taxmanian Devils |
| 132 | Paul Ahern NM – B,C | Taxmanian Devils |
| 142 | Aaron Hall NM – C | Taxmanian Devils |
| 152 | Riley Knight AD – F | Taxmanian Devils |
| 162 | David Cuningham CA – F | Taxmanian Devils |
| 172 | Alex Keath WB – B | Taxmanian Devils |
| 182 | Griffin Logue FR – B | Taxmanian Devils |
| 192 | Jack Mahony NM – C,F | Taxmanian Devils |
So…. Snelling and Ridley.
I’m a fan of Ridley – I held him for much of last year despite his inability to get a game. And Snelling, well he scores well when he gets a nice role.
Maybe these two will be standout performers and justify their early selections. But one suspects they may have been available at pick 42. There is a chance neither of these two are best 22 players for the Bombers. Coach Bernardi has gambled here, and I suspect he will regret not taking Tom Green and another of the premium draftees.
Bolton is a nice get at 42. Ahern, Hall and Cuningham are worthwhile rolls of the dice at their respective selections.
Early Verdict
I don’t love their draft, and that makes it hard to love their chances at swift improvement in 2020.
There is plenty of young talent on the list already, and the team is definitely heading in the right direction. Rozee and Hunter Clark are worth the price of admission.
But this draft feels like a missed opportunity. Snelling and Ridley are such out-of-left-field first round selections. Maybe they’ll be great – they’ve shown scoring potential. But there is no way MaherShalalHashBaz would accept both of them in exchange for Tom Green, and he went after they were selected. They’re just not value selections at 7 & 8.
The spoon is once again a distinct possibility. That was always on the cards however they drafted. The real question is how much overall progress there is in the list. The risk is the story being the same when we do this preview series again next season…