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JunkTime AFL podcast with Adam Rozenbachs and Michael Chamberlin

Episode 378: Draft preview with Craig Coombes

·37 min·3 clips
Harley Reid is a pure midfielder who reads the play well, but Jed Walter is a beast forward.
The episode begins with hosts Adam Rozenbachs and Michael Chamberlin introducing the AFL draft preview and guest Craig Coombe, a former recruiter. Coombe returns after a suspension for not sharing Brownlow medal voting information. The hosts ask if this is the most compromised draft since GWS and Gold Coast entered the competition, leading to a discussion on draft fairness and Gold Coast's advantages. Coombe debunks the 'super draft' label, noting only the top six or eight players stand out, with depth being even thereafter. They analyze potential trades, such as West Coast trading for Daniel Curtin, and compensation picks, comparing Ben McKay's pick three to Buddy Franklin's pick 19. Coombe predicts Harley Reid will go first to West Coast, describing him as a smart, quick midfielder, while Jed Walter is a beast forward for Gold Coast. They discuss North Melbourne's needs, suggesting they might pick Colby McKercher or Curtin out of spite. The conversation shifts to how country kids are more adaptable to moving for AFL careers due to farm life and discipline, unlike city kids. Coombe runs through his top 10 draft picks, including Zane Duursma, Nick Watson, and Ethan Read, highlighting their positions and skills. He mentions Nate Caddy as a potential steal for GWS and discusses Richmond's trade regrets with Hopper and Taranto. The episode concludes with Coombe's predictions for Hawthorn and Carlton's 2024 seasons, noting Hawthorn's improvement and Carlton's pressure from Friday night games.

As heard by us

A loose AFL draft preview ties North's early-pick uncertainty to the character shaped on the road to football.

Junk Time's AFL draft preview opens with the 2023 question of whether this is the most compromised draft since GWS and the Gold Coast entered the competition.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

You want 2023 AFL draft talk where a compromised pool is the opening question and country-kid grit gets its own argument.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →
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