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Vic Country were quite dominant in the second, to get out to a 41-31 lead. Carmichael the only one of our academy contingent to boost their draft possibilities, so far.
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Vic Country still playing the better football and are ahead 61-44 at the final break. Carmichael leading possession getter and one of the few Allies to use the ball efficiently. Most of the time, it seems that the Allies players are handballing to team mates who aren't in a better position. King very quiet and might be playing a bit injured, as a few times he's tried to chase down opponents, but didn't seem to gain any ground.Comment
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After the Allies started to make a final quarter comeback, Vic Country steadied to win 82-70. A main impetus for the comeback was Carmichael being given some time as an inside mid. Which demonstrated that he's also very good in and under. And that spell included a goal from around 50, and a HTB free, when he managed to drag down the opposition ruckman. With 33 largely effective disposals and some strong defensive efforts, he was probably BOG. It's now possible, that he'll be the Swan taken earliest in the draft.
Of our other academy players, Chamberlain was pretty good, but didn't get much of it. After being touted as a possible top ten pick early in the season, I think late in the main draft or rookie list, is probably more likely. Kyle had a few classy touches in the final quarter, but unfortunately, he contributed to a couple of costly turnovers in the first half. Max King was very quiet and it looked to me that he was either a bit injured or worn out from a long season. In that, in all of his previous games, at some stage he has demonstrated his explosive athleticism, but today that athletic ability didn't seem to be there. Unless he has a big game in the Allies clash with Vic Metro, he could easily drift out of the first round.Comment
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Got to say after today Carmichael should move up the trade table (Putting together a very consistent Allies campaign) and as for King (looks like another Ned Bowman all flash no substance), I am just don't see what the hype is about, - the rest of the Academy boys I am not sure will get drafter or even rookied.Comment
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Carmichael has been the most consistent of all our Academy kids in the matches I have seen, but I am not sure that will make him a early draft pick. He is not especially tall or quick, his disposal is neat and he is sound overhead - none of which screams excitement. However I will be delighted if a bid doesnt come in the first two rounds and we get him on our list - an immediate upgrade on Paton, for example.Comment
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Carmichael reminds me a bit of Cleary. Not in playing style, but because he simply couldn’t do any more and got better through the national champs. He’s demanded he be selected.Comment
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AFL website has an article on the Allies-Vic Country game: Blues' father-son talent shines as Vic Country overcome Allies. Carmichael was "among the best"."Unbelievable!" -- Nick Davis leaves his mark on the 2005 semi finalComment
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The Rookie Me scouting notes for the game. They also thought that maybe Carmichael was BOG.
Scouting Notes: 2025 AFL U18s - Allies vs. Vic Country - Aussie Rules Rookie Me Central https://central.rookieme.com/afl/202...s-vic-country/
It will be interesting to see where a bid comes for Patterson. He's lightning quick, elusive, takes the game on and is a decent kick. However, he does appear to be a bit clanger prone. So, will clubs be more interested in the obvious athletic ability and he goes high? Or will they consider him to be a bit of a risk and he slides?
For Vic Country, I was impressed by Ah-Mu. He leads hard at the ball, has strong hands and seems to be a reliable kick for goal. During the game, I thought he might have been a bit short of KPF size, but that was more an illusion created by his stocky build and he"s actually listed at 198cm. He did give a bit of a chop out to Harding in the ruck: who I'm a little bit surprised isn't mentioned by Rookie Me, as I thought his tap work was very good.
They also mention Duursma, who I thought had a decent game, largely on the half back flank, but I'm not sure if he screams number one pick?
And finally, Walker is mentioned as being eligible for Richmond as an NGA pick, as well as a Carlton F/S. Which I think emphasises the silliness of the NGA system, as I doubt if Richmond had any real influence in encouraging him to take up the game and then developing his talent.Comment
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I think the skill level of the Allies team has been poor in each of the three matches I've watched. But this might indicate the lack of cohesion within the squad / team rather than the players' abilities. It's a tough job to gather these players together and have practically no time to devise / drill a game plan that they can all fit into. Put players with their football and athletic abilities into an AFL system and they will look far better.
I think the recruiters will remember Patterson's solo run that set up the winning goal (that King scored) against WA more than him turning the ball over when he doesn't really know what his team mates are going to do.Comment
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Allies playing again Sunday? Anyone seen who from our academy is playing?Comment
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It seems that McNamara comes back in, but King is out. Which leaves Carmichael, Chamberlain and Kyle to go around again. I've no idea if King was dropped because of his largely anonymous previous game, or whether that suggests that he was playing injured, or picked up an injury during that game? To me, he didn't appear to have his explosive athleticism.Comment
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No, a few times I saw him trying to chase and he couldn't make any ground, so, since he's known for being extremely quick, that would suggest that he was playing with an injury.
But of course, since he hasn't torn a game apart since early in the season, there's every chance that he will drift. Which then makes whether we take him or not dependent on a range of factors. How high Carmichael goes? Whether we have enough points left over, if Carmichael goes high? Have we traded in any points, through trading away a player? Whether he has actually been playing with some sort of chronic injury? Does he have the tank to play midfield, (as he's actually very good around the ball, but has largely been playing as a forward this season)? Or is there anyone in the open draft, that our recruiters really like, that are still available when a bid comes for him?Comment
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Everyone says he’s great around the ball but we haven’t seen it, I think he looks great leaping at the ball and all is testing says he should be ….. but put him in a game scenario he looks lost he may be worth drafting. He reminds me of Ned Bowman does a few nice things a game and you think oh wow this guy could be anything turns out that’s his best.Comment
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The next batch of draft rankings we see will have factored in performances at the U18 nationals. There will be risers like Carmichael who have had solid carnivals and sliders like King who haven't performed up to their earlier season rankings.Where they sit in Twomey's rankings will be telling.
What we can be assured of is that Swans recruiters will know our academy players better than any other recruiting team and can be expected to make the right decisions.
Barring a slashing run home, I'd expect we could probably expect to use our first, which is unlikely to be lower than pick 9 (pre all the other bid matching), on a non academy player before matching is needed.
Only four and a half months to go until the weakest and most compromised draft ever! I feel sorry for WC who hold their own picks 1 & 19 but 19 will be about 30 by the time they get to select with it. Same happened last year. Not ideal for a rebuilding club. Attention AFL - you have an equalisation problem, just one of many!Comment
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