What would happen if the AFL, in a once-off ”Equalisation Draft”, allowed each club to acquire the services of another player in the competition? In a mouth-watering (yet cruel) exercise, this week I’ve taken the liberty of drafting a player to every AFL club - from a rival team - to help bolster their stocks. Who would you choose for your club? To ensure the AFL competition remains a healthy one, I have put in place the following draft stipulations: - Top 8 ranked sides are required to draft a player from another side in the Top 8 teams (avoid raiding of the cellar-dwellers); - Picks are performed by Power Ranking position, in reverse order (Port Adelaide 1st pick, Collingwood 17th, etc); - No more than 2 players per club can be selected/raided; - Clubs that lose a player can swap 1st & 2nd round National Draft picks with the raiding club, if it is advantageous to do so. And remember, this exercise is about the medium-to-long term future of your club and more importantly for all of us, the long-term viability of the AFL - not only 2011. Let’s begin!
(Note: An early version of the article had Sydney getting Hibberd when it should have read Hurley. This has been corrected now)
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
About Luke
Interesting exercise and as was commented to me on my Google Plus sharing of this, you could ask 100 people and 100 different answers. A couple of differences I would consider:
Tigers: I would be looking for a key back not another midfielder if I had choice of anyone. Harry Taylor or Ben Reid type. Scarlett bit old for the medium/Long term needs.
Suns: As much as you would love Hodge and versitility, need a big forward. Cloke, Daws or maybe Roughead be a better mix in my Opinion
Demons: Again, have midfielders out the ears. See Suns for Tall Forward option. Grillor types that can gang and crash and allow Watts and co to do the pretty stuff.
Sydney: Again agree with commenter on G+. Hibberd aiming a bit low! Key Forward or CHF would be handy. Maybe Kennedy or Darling
Hawks: Assuming everyone on the park, I think great need then ruck or Backman is small forward. With the want (if his body is right) to play Cyril in the guts, need a quick, hardworking small forward. Maybe Lewis Jetta of the Swans (assuming 2 Blues were already taken and couldn’t get Garlett). Would even be tempted to trade back Josh Kennedy of the Swans!
Thanks for the comment Molly. You’re right – I could run this exercise myself 10 times and finish up with 10 different results! But, I’m happy with the outcome of feel that most picks make sense (at least in my little world). On your points:
Tigers: Harry Taylor was a very good call by you here – I keep forgetting he is not very old at all. But, it’s hard to go past the midfield silk of Scott Pendlebury at the selection. Agree that Scarlett is far too old for consideration in this process.
Suns: I considered a “big” player, but they have Dixon and Lynch (and Gorringe?) down there who are developing quite well. Hence the pick of an established star, in Hodge.
Demons: If Travis Cloke was on the board here, I’d agree with you – he may have been a better selection.
Sydney: I’m not the biggest fan of Hurley, but I would admit he is going to be a player. I’m happy with his going to Sydney – valuable player.
Hawks: Hmm, I think ruck is a weakness down there at Hawthorn, but I don’t see Renouf or Bailey close up like you do. You can’t tell me you wouldn’t want to see Nic Nat put the ball down Sam Mitchell’s throat week in, week out!
Cheers mate, and thanks again for the feedback