No.1 draft pick may not matter for North Melbourne or Brisbane in an even year
IT’S a sexy sell for an ugly contest, but North Melbourne and Brisbane are not playing for the Cameron Rayner Cup. SAM LANDSBERGER looks at the leading contenders to go at No.1 in the draft.
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THIS is not the Cameron Rayner Cup.
That’s the sexy sell for an ugly contest, but it’s not quite the case.
The No.1 pick will be decided when Brisbane Lions host North Melbourne off Broadway on Saturday afternoon.
The loser will profit with the golden selection.
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Will it remain at the Gabba for the first time since 1998, or be delivered to Arden St for the first time in history?
Whoever holds the pick will boast the most marketability on draft night, as well as the cheeky chance of walking a player through to the pre-season draft.
There is an aura about No.1.
We all know Essendon plumped for Andy McGrath last November, but how many could reel off the next few selections — Tim Taranto, Hugh McCluggage, Ben Ainsworth and Will Setterfield?
But in football terms, it might not mean too much.
The 2017 draft class is wide open, lacking a Nick Riewoldt standout.
This year there is no Lachie Whitfield, who was identified by recruiters as the clear No.1 as far as 18 months before the 2012 national draft.
If there was a betting market, Rayner would be favourite to have his name called first.
He is the cool kid from Penleigh Essendon Grammar School who plays with power and explosion, similar to Brownlow favourite Dustin Martin.
Rayner wants the big stage and he makes things happen whenever he is around the ball.
He could be the man for both the Lions and Kangas, or he could be neither’s choice.
The evenness of this year’s pool mean both could get the player on top of their talent list.
Last year the Lions took McCluggage at No.3, when they rated him above McGrath and Taranto at No.1.
They might prefer a Paddy Dow or Adam Cerra, while Luke Davies-Uniacke could trump Rayner at the Roos.
It is Dow with a bullet for some scouts, particularly after his exhilarating display for Bendigo Pioneers on Sunday.
The Lions’ developing spine is their strength, and the Kangas have Coleman Medal longshot Ben Brown. But would Jarrod Brander appeal?
The 194cm forward, who is no longer in the Greater Western Sydney academy, has impressed as a key defender this season and is the best tall in the draft since Will Sutherland signed a Victorian cricket rookie contract.
St Kilda now holds two top-10 picks and the Western Bulldogs are likely to have their first since Marcus Bontempelli in 2013.
They won’t mind the difficulty rivals have sorting the cream before them.
“Just when you are sold on a player they give you reasons to query them again,” one recruiter said.
“It’s a frustrating year with lots of injuries as well.”
Suddenly the four points at the Gabba, and avoiding the wooden spoon, don’t seem so bad after all.
THE LEADING CONTENDERS FOR THE NO.1 PICK
CAMERON RAYNER (Western Jets/Vic Metro)
Height 187cm, Weight 88kg
Could the Kangaroos pair ‘Mini Dusty’ with big Dusty? Bombers fan Rayner plays the same way as Martin blueprint and thrives in the limelight. Not a great runner yet, but the explosive half-forward made a statement when he averaged 120 SuperCoach points and slotted 12 goals in four Vic Metro games.
PADDY DOW (Bendigo Pioneers/Vic Country)
Height 184cm, Weight: 78kg
Midfielder with great character who cuts angles, kicks goals, can win clearances and marks overhead. Seven of the eight Victorians the Lions have drafted over the past two years have been country boys. Bagged two goals from 35 disposals on Sunday.
LUKE DAVIES-UNIACKE (Dandenong Stingrays/Vic Country)
Height: 187cm, Weight: 85kg
Plays as a Nat Fyfe-type taller midfielder and is a threat near goal. Averaged 349 metres gained for Vic Country and opened this year’s national carnival with 34 disposals, but ultimately missed All-Australian selection. The Rye lad loves riding waves and is at school with St Kilda’s Josh Battle.
ADAM CERRA (Eastern Ranges/Vic Metro)
Height: 186cm, Weight: 85kg
A knee injury ruined his 2016 season and shoulder surgery this month ended his 2017 campaign. But in between the classy midfielder produced some solid form. Smart footballer who lacks a gear of acceleration, but averaged 95 SuperCoach points from 18.3 disposals and 4.3 clearances for Vic Metro.
DARCY FOGARTY (Glenelg/South Australia)
Height: 192cm, Weight: 92kg
A knee injury recently ended his season after a quiet patch of form. Fogarty was seen to be drifting down the draft order, but former Hawthorn recruiter Gary Buckenara still rates him as the No. 1 pick. Buckenara said he plays like a stronger Jack Gunston and will be a star. Has the flexibility to play as a third tall or a defender. Averaged 72 SuperCoach points for South Australia.
Analysis: Sam Landsberger
WHAT THEY NEED
North Melbourne
Loaded with tall players and inside midfielders, the Kangaroos desperately need top-end talent with speed and polish to capitalise on its contested ball power. Ideally it is a Dustin Martin-type who is capable of making an impact with and without the ball.
Brisbane Lions
Exciting and incredibly even list. Developing talls at both ends of the ground, but could use a specialist forward-midfielder to buzz around Eric Hipwood and Josh Schache.
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