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November 24, 2005

Robbie Ando’s 2005 Swansblog Phantom Draft

Well the draft is finally upon us and with the Swans not entering the draft until pick 51, interest from Swans fans won't be as high as it has been in past years. Still as I have done for the past 3 drafts over on RWO.com, I have done my own version of the draft for Swansblog with more hope and blind luck than ever before. I hope you all enjoy this feature but remember this isn't done based upon pure fact, just a whole lot of guess work.

Priority Round

1. Carlton – Marc Murphy (Oakleigh Chargers)
State: VIC. Position: Small Midfielder. H: 179cm W: 75kg
Profile: The long time lock-in for the first overall selection in this draft since the National Championships mid year, Marc confirmed this fact by rejecting a large 5 year deal to sign for the Brisbane Lions under the father/son rule preferring to stay in Victoria. As for what Murphy offers he is a in and under ball winner many say will become the next Ben Cousins. For Carlton this pick is a no brainer because they will still be able to get their desired key position player with their second pick in the draft.

2. Collingwood – Shannon Hurn (Central Districts)
State: SA. Position: Tall Midfielder. H: 187cm W: 96kg
Profile: A bit of a late riser and certainly not the selection Collingwood would be expected to make, but with Nathan Buckley nearly at the end of his career, Collingwood need to be aggressive and snap up the best available tall midfield in this draft. Long right-foot kick he is ready made for senior football having played a part in Central Districts past two Grand Final wins and can settle into AFL football by playing a role off half back.

3. Hawthorn – Patrick Ryder (East Fremantle)
State: WA. Position: Key Position Forward/Ruckman. H: 194cm W: 89kg
Profile: Hawks continued this season with their clean out of their older tall’s and are starting to replace them with some of the most exciting young tall’s the draft has to offer and like last season the Hawks will go with the best available tall over the best available player. With their first pick they should go with Ryder who has played most of his junior football in the ruck, but at 194cm is too small to play everyday ruck, so should be moved into the Hawks forward line to which he is more than welcomed. A good mark and very good foot skills be it set shot or on the run. This boy could be the next Adam Goodes.

Round One

4. Carlton – Beau Dowler (Oakleigh Chargers)
State: VIC. Position: Key Position Forward H: 192cm W: 82kg
Profile: Carlton get their key position player and for Dowler he gets his wish of being a Top 5 pick despite the shocking injuries he suffered only a few weeks ago in a car crash that could of ended he football career before it even started. As things stand he really impressed scouts during the year with his marking and kicking for goal and once it was clear he was making a quick recovery from his injuries his stocks shot though the roof and he will be snapped up by Carlton at pick 4.

5. Collingwood – Josh Kennedy (East Fremantle)
State: WA. Position: Key Position Forward/Defender H: 193cm W: 93kg
Profile: With an eye toward the future again the Magpies take Kennedy who can play key position’s at both ends of the ground thanks to his solid hands, good kicking ability and athleticism. Fills another of Collingwood needs looking forward and they can take time again playing him in different positions to find his greatest use for the side. Kind of player I would of wanted at the Swans.

6. Hawthorn – Dale Thomas (Gippsland Power)
State: VIC. Position: Medium Midfielder H: 182cm W: 76kg
Profile: After looking after their big man stocks the Hawks move onto their midfield to add pace and class to what is shaping up as the next big thing in midfields. Thomas has played most of his TAC Cup football as a medium forward but with the pace, skills by hand and foot and the important ability to brake lines which fits into Hawthorn’s style of play he is sure to be groomed into a midfielder after serving his time up forward to begin with. Smart pick by the Hawks.

7. Essendon – Nathan Jones (Dandenong Stingrays)
State: VIC. Position: Small Midfielder H: 177cm W: 84kg
Profile: Essendon decide to add some extra grunt to their midfield by adding Jones to their list and what could be seen by some as a surprising move. But Sheedy loves nothing more than players will to put their bodies on the line in chasing the ball and this is something which Jones does well and to some effect. A natural ball winner and a player that likes to step up on the big stage. A bolt from the blue for some but at number 7 could prove to be a value pick in the years to come.

8. Richmond - Xavier Ellis (Gippsland Power)
State: VIC. Position: Half Back/Winger H: 187cm W: 73kg
Profile: Won’t play senior football next year after committing himself to his private school team for next season in the manner which Luke Ball did in his rookie season. This move in my eyes has seen him drop from a Top 5 Lock to a floater towards the bottom of the Top 10 for teams not really looking for the quick fix an early pick should provide. For Richmond Ellis is too good to pass up on and like last year will snap up on what they see as the other club’s mistakes. As for Ellis he is a quick half back flanker who in time could become an outside midfielder.

9. Brisbane – Marcus Drum (Murray Bushrangers)
State: VIC. Position: Medium Defender H: 190cm W: 82kg
Profile: Brisbane after missing out on Marc Murphy will look towards their other great need with their first pick in the national draft by selecting Drum to add depth and a little bit of height to their defense. While Drum height might stop him from becoming a nature sized CHB, he could become Craig Bolton like and hold down a key defensive post thanks to his attacking ability off half back. For the Lions they will hope he adds on a some bulk and grows a centimeter or two in the next year or two.

10. Fremantle – Mitchell Clark (East Fremantle)
State: WA. Position: Key Position Forward H: 197cm W: 90kg
Profile: Freo hit the jackpot as one of the better local products manage to fall to them at pick 10 and in an important position as well. Clark is a Key Position Forward who many predicted at the start of the year would turn out to be the number one pick. A good pack mark and an even better kick at goal. But a poor year has resulted in a fall in rating and as such manages to stay in his home state and fulfills one of Freo’s greatest needs in the process.

11. Western Bulldogs – Cleve Hughes (Norwood)
State: SA. Position: Key Position Forward H: 193cm W: 85kg
Profile: The Bulldogs head into this years draft in a great position knowing that they only have to focus on drafting key position players and that by their first selection there should be more than enough available to suit their needs. As such the Bulldogs go for yet another South Australian with their first pick in Cleve Hughes. Hughes is a tall forward who moves to the ball well and can take a very good pack mark. Also good on a set shot, he has the ability to become the next big thing as far as Centre Half Forward’s go.

12. Melbourne – Darren Pfeiffer (Norwood)
State: SA. Position: Medium Midfielder H: 183cm W: 78kg
Profile: The Demons are looking for a hard nosed midfielder in this draft and they can exactly that in Pfeiffer who is not only courageous, but a ball winner to boot. Once he has the ball he knows what to do with it most time, but can be prone to just booting the ball as long as he can in hope of making something happen. Can grow out of that, but with Neitz at Full Forward might be the best thing for all about this kid.

13. West Coast - Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls (East Perth)
State: WA. Position: Tall Midfielder H: 186cm W: 74kg
Profile: While really looking for a tall forward the Eagles have been forced by the lack of depth in this draft to look at Oakley-Nicholls due to any selection of a tall being more of a reach than they would like. In any case Oakley-Nicholls is a fine midfielder to select and one that in time will grow to add even more depth to the Eagles midfield. Will take time to bulk up before being ready for senior football but at the Eagles he’ll get plenty of that.

14. Hawthorn – Grant Birchall (Tassie Mariners)
State: TAS. Position: Key Position Defender/Tall Midfielder H: 192cm W: 80kg
Profile: Yes you read he Position right he has the ability to play either across Half Back or on the Wing in an Adam Goodes type role. This ability won’t be lost on the Hawks who are looking to build a team suited to a possession type gameplan and looking for as much grunt as possible for their midfield as well as defense. Needs to work on his foot skills but with the talent and height he has for the type of roles he could fill the Hawks won’t let him slip by.

15. Geelong – Shaun Higgins (Geelong Falcons)
State: VIC. Position: Medium Midfielder H: 183cm W: 76kg
Profile: Has fallen slightly in the eyes of many recruiters but at Pick 15 the Cats will be more than happy to add yet another home grown players to their flock of ex-Falcons down at Skilled Stadium. Natural footballer with ability to win the hard ball and then be able to use it effectively. Will however need to work on his fitness as he has found himself on the fitness table often in the few years.

16. Adelaide – Luke McEntee (North Adelaide)
State: SA. Position: Ruckman H: 197cm W: 89kg
Profile: With their ruck stocks thining out after their starting 2 ruckmen, the Crows go for local boy Luke McEntee who has just come off his second year in Aussie Rules footy thanks to his basketball background. Good athletic ability suits the Crows style of ruckman needed and is improving all the time. Should take a year or two for him to get a taste of senior football, but should be a player to watch in the years to come once he does make it.

17. Adelaide – Travis Varcoe (Central Districts)
State: SA. Position: Small Midfielder H: 179cm W: 72kg
Profile: Again the Crows look to their future with their second straight pick and go with Varcoe with an eye to replacing Andrew McLeod in the coming year. A lighting quick midfielder who not only knows how to set up play, but can stop it as we well with his defensive work. Big problem for this kid is he is coming off a knee reco. But if history is anything to go by the Crows are getting themselves quite a player.

18. Hawthorn – Beau Muston (Murray Bushrangers)
State: VIC. Position: Medium Forward H: 188cm W: 71kg
Profile: With their fourth pick in the draft Hawthorn go with Muston to add to their forward. Coming off a knee reco has seen him fall slightly but in Hawthorn’s eyes his start to the season, known ability to take a good overhead mark and a deadly shot at goal make him the perfect O’Keefe-like forward to add to their side.

19. Essendon - Scott Pendlebury (Gippsland Power)
State: VIC. Position: Tall Midfielder H: 188cm W: 82kg
Profile: This seems a natural selection for the Bombers who are in the market for a winger of this nature, athletic and ready to play for the get go. What also makes this selection likely if Pendlebury is still available at this pick is the fact Scott’s brother played some games with the Bomber’s VFL team.

Round Two

20. Carlton – Andrew Swallow (East Fremantle)
State: WA. Position: Medium Midfielder H: 183cm W: 75kg

21. Collingwood – Richard Douglas (Calder Cannons)
State: VIC. Position: Small Midfielder H: 179cm W: 68kg

22. Hawthorn – Paul Bower (Peel Thunder)
State: WA. Position: Key Position Defender H: 192cm W: 87kg

23. Collingwood - Tom Rischbieth (Sturt)
State: SA. Position: Medium Forward H: 190cm W: 83kg

24. Richmond – Courtenay Dempsey (Morningside)
State: QLD. Position: Tall Midfielder H: 186cm W: 70kg

25. Brisbane – Austin Lucy (Caloundra)
State: QLD. Position: Key Position Defender H: 193cm W: 91kg

26. Fremantle – Danny Stanley (Geelong Falcons)
State: VIC. Position: Medium Forward/Defender H: 186cm W: 87kg

27. Western Bulldogs – Wayde Mills (Southport)
State: QLD. Position: Key Position Defender H: 196cm W: 88kg

28. Kangaroos – Tim Looby (Murray Bushrangers)
State: VIC. Position: Medium Defender H: 186cm W: 91kg

29. West Coast – Alan Toovey (Claremont)
State: WA. Position: Medium Defender H: 188cm W: 79kg

30. Port Adelaide – Jace Bode (Sturt)
State: SA. Position: Tall Midfielder H: 186cm W: 84kg

31. Geelong – Todd Grima (Tassie Mariners)
State: TAS. Position: Key Position Forward H: 193cm W: 88kg

32. Adelaide – Ben McKinley (Northern Knights)
State: VIC. Position: Medium Midfielder H: 184cm W: 80kg

33. St Kilda – Matthew Spangher (Eastern Rangers)
State: VIC. Position: Key Position Defender H: 193cm W: 84kg

34. West Coast - Kristin Thornton (Peel Thunder)
State: WA. Position: Medium Midfielder H: 183cm W: 72kg

35. Geelong – Ryan Jackson (Northern Knights)
State: VIC. Position: Tall Midfielder H: 188cm W: 80kg

Round 3

36. Carlton – Jake Edwards (Western Jets)
State: VIC. Position: Key Position Forward H: 191cm W: 78kg

37. Collingwood – Sam Gilbert (Southport)
State: QLD. Position: Key Position Defender H: 192cm W: 81kg

38. Hawthorn – Travis Tuck (Dandenong Stingrays) F/S
State: VIC. Position: Tall Midfielder H: 187cm W: 75kg

39. Essendon – Jay Neagle (Gippsland Power) F/S
State: VIC. Position: Medium Forward H: 187cm W: 97kg

40. Richmond – Trent West (Gippsland Power)
State: VIC. Position: Ruckman H: 197cm W: 90kg

41. Brisbane - Daniel Dzufer (Caloundra)
State: QLD. Position: Tall Midfielder H: 189cm W: 80kg

42. Fremantle – Toby Stribling (Re-Drafted)
State: SA. Position: Small Midfielder H: 178cm W: 76kg

43. Kangaroos – Matt Riggio (Peel Thunder)
State: WA. Position: Medium Defender/Tall Defender H: 189cm W: 83kg

44. Port Adelaide – Sam Elliot (South Adelaide)
State: SA. Position: Small Midfielder H: 181cm W: 74kg

45. Kangaroos - Kasey Green (West Coast)
State: WA. Position: Medium Defender H: 187cm W: 87kg

46. Western Bulldogs – Michael West (Redlands)
State: QLD. Position: Key Position Forward H: 195cm W: 85kg

47. Geelong – Sam Iles (Tassie Mariners)
State: TAS. Position: Small Midfielder H: 181cm W: 80kg

48. Adelaide – Ryan Gamble (Glenelg)
State: SA. Position: Small Midfielder H: 180cm W: 72kg

49. St Kilda – Matthew Laidlaw (Oakleigh Cannons)
State: VIC. Position: Medium Defender H: 186cm W: 81kg

50. Essendon - Jonathon Cheetham (North Adelaide)
State: SA. Position: Key Position Forward H: 192cm W: 83kg

Round Four

51. Sydney – Alan Obst (Central Districts)
State: SA. Position: Key Position Defender H: 192cm W: 82kg
Profile: Well it’s finally time for the Swans first selection in this years draft and as expected, some quality “scraps” remained for the Swans to choose between. This best of which in my mind is the key position defender, Alan Obst. Clearly the Swans need to add to our height down back with the retirements of Schauble and James, plus the trading of sometime defenders Saddington and Powell. The Swans will be more than pleased to have added to our defensive stocks with this pick.

52. Collingwood – PASS

53. Melbourne – Brad Kelleher (Eastern Rangers)
State: VIC. Position: Medium Defender H: 188cm W: 82kg

54. Sydney – Max Bailey (West Perth)
State: WA. Position: Ruckman H: 205cm W: 93kg
Profile: Again another quality “scrap” and this time a real left field pick considering the amount of ruckman we already have on our list. Still the club has been rumored to be interested and you can never have enough ruckman. Quick and with clean hands for a ruckman, he might not take so long to develop as Ericksen.

55. Western Bulldogs – Hugh Minson (Norwood)
State: SA. Position: Ruckman H: 202cm W: 88kg

56. Brisbane – Ben Fixter (Sydney)
State: NSW. Position: Small Defender H: 180cm W: 79kg

57. Western Bulldogs – Brett Montgomery (Port Adelaide)
State: VIC. Position: Key Position Forward H: 180cm W: 83kg

58. Port Adelaide – Thomas Redden (Glenelg)
State: SA. Position: Tall Midfielder H: 191cm W: 74kg

59. Sydney - Dylan Addison (St George)
State: NSW. Position: Medium Midfielder H: 185cm W: 73kg
Profile: With our last selection in the draft the Swans overlook picking up a experienced player in favour of a local junior who fits the build as the tallish midfielder that we lack in depth in our squad. Good mark and good skills, Addison also adds pace to the midfield.

60. Melbourne – Shane Woewodin (Collingwood)
State: WA. Position: Medium Midfielder H: 185cm W: 83kg

61. Geelong – Matt White (Calder Cannons)
State: VIC. Position: Small Midfielder H: 178cm W: 74kg

62. Adelaide – PASS

63. St Kilda – Robert Warnock (Sandringham Dragons)
State: VIC. Position: Ruckman H: 204cm W: 80kg

Round Five

64. Carlton – PASS

65. Hawthorn – PASS

66. Essendon – PASS

67. Richmond – Michael Stevens (Kangaroos)
State: VIC. Position: Small Midfielder H: 179cm W: 80kg

68. Melbourne – PASS

69. Kangaroos – Jack Edwards (Western Jets)
State: VIC. Position: Key Position Forward/Defender H: 191cm W: 78kg

70. Port Adelaide – Steven Armstrong (Melbourne)
State: WA. Position: Small Midfielder H: 180cm W: 81kg

71. St Kilda – PASS

Round Six

72. Essendon – PASS

73. Kangaroos – PASS

74. Port Adelaide – Cameron Miller (Port Magpies)
State: SA. Position: Medium Midfielder H: 184cm W: 81kg

75. St Kilda - PASS

Posted by robbieando at November 24, 2005 06:49 PM

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Posted by: Richard Davis at November 25, 2005 08:07 AM

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