Draft Watch - YGTNYDP
A new mantra ahead of the 2022 AFL National Draft
YGTMYFT is an abbreviation in that most people who follow the NBA will be familiar with.
It stands for ‘You’ve Got To Make Your Free Throws’ and the basis of it is that although a single missed free throw might not seem too important, if you add them up over the course of the game, it could end up being the difference between winning and losing.
YGTNYDP is what Hawthorn’s mantra needs to be this draft period and into the future, because ‘You’ve Got To Nail Your Draft Picks’ in order to be a successful team.
In fact, as clubs’ clamour for high end draft picks to replenish their list ahead of their next premiership tilt, there is a case to be made that nailing the later selections in the draft is just as important in building out a contending team.
If you look around the league, most clubs have their own late draft pick and rookie list success stories, whether it be Essendon with James Hird, the Western Bulldogs with Chris Grant, West Coast with Dean Cox, the list goes on.
Fortunately, Hawthorn is no exception and in recent times have developed players selected later in the draft (or via the rookie drafts) who have become important pieces of the now and the future.
Selected at Pick 76 in the 2018 Draft, Mitch Lewis was initially more of an ironic name than a full forward prospect, but through hard work on his part and serious development from the club, Lewis has become one of the most promising young key talls in the competition and a cornerstone for any future success for the Hawks.
Likewise with Dylan Moore, who we know loves a goal. Moore was Pick 67 in the 2017, and was delisted and re-rookied at one stage, but has come on leaps and bounds as a small forward, and now as a goal-kicking midfielder with great skills and elite endurance.
The Hawks have a cluster of picks in the later stages of the 2022 Draft (currently sitting at 41, 48, 50, 52, 65) and will need to be astute with their selections at the back end of a relatively thin draft in order to continue their list rebuild and commence the climb up the ladder towards finals football.
Who are some late draft options?
Billy Dowling
Dowling took all before him in the SANFL U18’s competition this season, averaging over 30 disposals a game and being named the League Best and Fairest. Dowling’s best game came against eventual premiers, Glenelg, amassing 44 touches and kicking 4.3 in a clear best on ground performance.
Strengths:
Accumulation
Consistency
Versatility
Improvements:
Strength
Hurt factor
Luke Teal
A lightly framed but impressive medium defender, Teal was hampered throughout his draft year with an emergency appendix removal and broken collarbone among the things to disrupt his season. Teal models his game on Hawthorn’s Will Day, and Teal’s father was a one-time Hawthorn U19 player before playing 18 games at Sydney. A clean and composed user of the ball, Teal has the ability and physical attributes to read the ball in flight and intercept forward 50 entries.
Strengths:
Kicking
Agility
Decision making
Composure
Improvements:
Strength
Production
Harry Lemmey
Once touted as a potential top 10 pick and the best key forward prospect in the draft, it’s been a steep and long fall from grace for Lemmey, who is now considered a late draft option, potentially as a key defender. Lemmey moves well for someone his size (200cm) and knows where the goals are, but there have been some question marks on whether he has the aggression needed to succeed at AFL level.
Strengths:
Overhead marking
Athleticism
Forward craft
Improvements:
Consistency
Aggression
Competitiveness
Kobe Ryan
Another South Australian and another player on this list who has no trouble finding the football. Kobe Ryan did everything he could to put himself in the frame to be drafted this year, averaging more than 30 disposals a game at SANFL U18’s level, 25 a game at SANFL Reserves level and 18 a game at SANFL level - a fantastic effort for a skinny 73kg midfielder.
Strengths:
Accumulation
Consistency
Clean hands
Decision making
Improvements:
Kicking consistency
Strength
Size
Jason Gillbee
A hard running utility with the ability to play multiple positions on the field, Gillbee has put himself squarely in the sights of recruiters with his incredible endurance and work rate, coupled with his versatility. Gillbee averaged 22 disposals in his 10 games at NAB League level this year, never having lower then 16 touches in a game.
Strengths:
Versatility
Work rate
Endurance
Character
Improvements:
Inside game
Hurt factor
Lloyd Johnston
Blessed with incredible physical gifts which help him play much taller than he is, Johnston is a player who has ‘cult figure’ written all over him. Incredibly quick, with great hands and a fantastic vertical leap, Johnston has excelled as an interceptor and rebounder. Johnston was also exposed to some football on the wing later in this season, which will give clubs hope that they can harness his talents further up the ground.
Strengths:
Speed
Intercept marking
Run and carry
Explosiveness
Improvements:
Raw
Consistency
Production
Bailey Macdonald
Every draft has its’ bolters, and this year is no different with Oakleigh’s Bailey Macdonald roaring into contention to be drafted on the back of some hot form late in the season, which ended with Macdonald earning selection for Vic Metro for the final game of the National Championships. Macdonald will be one to watch later in the draft and would be an exciting developable addition to any teams list.
Strengths:
Speed
Rebound
Line-breaking
Improvements: