View Full Version : Draft Strategy
I am sure there were a lot of Essendon supporters paying special attention to the U/18 championship on the weekend. I am going buck the trend and state that if we finish last I think I would draft Scott Gumbleton instead of Bryce Gibbs. I know the media and a large amount of our supporters would want a midfielder but I think Gumbleton is the best player in the draft (watching Sat, Nat u/16, WAFL) and we should take him. IF we get two picks at 17 & 18 we would get two midfielders such as Colbung, Collard, Jetta, Moss, Scmidt and Hislop which would give us extra midfield options. What way would you go?
Longy413
26 Jun 2006, 18:51
I'm going to sit on the fence a little for the moment, at least until after the Championships.
I do believe Hawkins to be the best player in the draft, although that is redundant with him going F/S.
I really like Gumbleton and wouldn't be unhappy if we had the first pick and drafted him, but there is something about Gibbs. He got 30 plus yesterday and just didn't look to try. He's a footballer, a pure footballer. He has Joe Misiti smarts but much more class.
If Lee comes into our side in the next few weeks and shows promise, I think it will make it an easier decision to go with Gibbs first up.
I am sure there were a lot of Essendon supporters paying special attention to the U/18 championship on the weekend. I am going buck the trend and state that if we finish last I think I would draft Scott Gumbleton instead of Bryce Gibbs. I know the media and a large amount of our supporters would want a midfielder but I think Gumbleton is the best player in the draft (watching Sat, Nat u/16, WAFL) and we should take him. IF we get two picks at 17 & 18 we would get two midfielders such as Colbung, Collard, Jetta, Moss, Scmidt and Hislop which would give us extra midfield options. What way would you go?
Tend to agree , i had a close look at a few of the interstate boys i hadnt see play and i thought that Gumbleton looked good . I was reasonably impressed with Hansen (i had seen him play already), he was beaten by Gumbleton on the day but he shows enough and can play forward or back.
Sellar didnt have a great game , got a lot of cheap kicks from the kick ins. He looks like a Laycock / Hille type of player anyway so he may not be at the top of our list.
Watched Gibbs closely , he has great skills and reads the play very well. Pace isnt brilliant. He played more of a Hird style game without pushing forward as much.He was pretty much out of the game when he was moved to half back but i think he may have a cold the way he was coughing at 3/4 time.
Shaun Grigg was pretty good for Vic Country as was Moss for WA. I didnt get a real good look at the Vic metro boys on the day as i was watching a few of the SA players closely.
I am leaning towards drafting a quality KP player and drafting a midfielder second.
i think we should get gibbs with our first pick if he is there. He is a safe bet to be a very good footballer. If he isnt available i would get hansen. Can play all key positions including even ruck. He is also a victorian.
With our likely two picks in the 20 i would get another midfielder. I like the looks of Collard, Hislop, Houli, Grigg. The other pick should be used on a quality player that has slipped through or even another tall such as everitt who would be a project key position player.
thebigboy
26 Jun 2006, 19:16
Has to be Gibbs at pick 1. He is a genuine Superstar and these types of players dont come around as often as the KPP. Gibbs is simply once in a generation.
Maybe we have to take a massive risk and trade for another pick high inside the top 10 in order to try and secure both
Lingsface
26 Jun 2006, 19:18
Essendon take Bryce Gibbs I think you lack someone who can get big numbers and this kid can he also can kick goals and uses the ball well, dont think this is a time were you should be taking risks on talls with your first pick and should take Bryce because hes going to perform in the afl.
Although is a good assesment by the thread starter as this year does have alot of good midfielders around the 10-20 mark and could be a year where you could take a risk on a tall because of that reason.
Bryce Gibbs all the way. Essendon NEEDS a gun midfielder. We haven't had one for a very long time.
Get Gibbs, then concentrate on netting ourselves a key defender.
mcphee_is_a_gun
26 Jun 2006, 19:27
I'd take Gibbs at our first pick then maybe use one of our next pick on Everitt as i think he could be quite a handy rebounding CHB who can do the job on his player and be damaging as well with the way he sets up the play.
We need Gibbs.
Now we'll probably do something stupid like win games and miss out on him....
Nt Bomber
26 Jun 2006, 19:40
You would probably take Gibbs but you wouldnt be unhappy with Gumbleton who looks as though he can play Centre half back as well as up forward.
Could rotate with Lucas through both positions.
How many people have seen Gibbs play? I am not going to judge him on the one game i have seen him in but on the weekend there where several other midfielders who had more impact.
I have no doubt he will be a great midfielder but he isnt the explosive Chris Judd type player.
If the quality of talls is going to be that much better then we may be silly to pass on them given a) other clubs may go for them as well pushing some better midfielders futher into the draft and b) most years produce a number good midfielders but not as many good talls.
dave_27
26 Jun 2006, 19:54
Carlton will get Gibbs.
We'll just have to settle for the next best talent which will likely be the best KPP in the draft.
Geez we are going to have a decent group of talls coming through in the next few years.
How many people have seen Gibbs play? I am not going to judge him on the one game i have seen him in but on the weekend there where several other midfielders who had more impact.
I have no doubt he will be a great midfielder but he isnt the explosive Chris Judd type player.
If the quality of talls is going to be that much better then we may be silly to pass on them given a) other clubs may go for them as well pushing some better midfielders futher into the draft and b) most years produce a number good midfielders but not as many good talls.
I totally agree. Gibbs is going to be an awesome player but the one area he is not super in is speed- which is something we lack. I really believe Gumbleton looks similar to Reiwoldt and I think we would have to grab him. With our picks 17- 21 I would wish for Collard and Moss. Also recruiting Gibbs would mean that our most improved mf in Watson is superseeded somewhat IMO. By the end of the season we would have a better idea which free agents we could secure through the PSD- that would also shape our strategy. I would probably draft hansen before Gibbs as well following the same theory.
Longy413
26 Jun 2006, 20:11
Fair point on Gibbs' speed. But would a player of his quality make Winderlich, Dyson, Lovett, Dempsey, Stanton and the like better footballers?
A bit in the way Misiti, Williams etc made the players around them better footballers.
If you've got a bloke that is almost a dead cert to make it as an AFL midfielder and has that must class, I don't think speed is important. He isn't slow.
We are developing some footballers with leg speed, lets add a bloke that can compliment them rather than add to them.
carn_the_dons
26 Jun 2006, 20:24
I think getting Gumbleton with our first pick would be a mistake. He could be a quality KPP, but then we picked the likes of Bolton at no.4 in 97 so he may have been touted as being a quality player, can't remember. Gibbs has the potential to be the next Hird. Also, if we draft Gumbleton IMO it would undermine the work we've been doing with the likes of Lee and Bradley, who also can play the same role as him.
dave_27
26 Jun 2006, 21:31
We can hardly afford to be picky about a player not having real pace (he aint slow mind you) when you look at the medicore state of our list atm.
We need some quality midfielders in the side full stop.
Id simply say that our 'strategy' would be to take the 'best' kid available...regardless of what position he plays. Be it even a 'full forward' we've shown this year that without a backup, we arent capable of kicking a winning score. B, HB, CHB, C, W, HF, CHF, FF...cant afford to be choosy with the prospect of several years in the bottom 4 to endure.
Dr Moose
26 Jun 2006, 22:11
We can hardly afford to be picky about a player not having real pace (he aint slow mind you) when you look at the medicore state of our list atm.
We need some quality midfielders in the side full stop.
Can't argue there. Not only is our current midfield weak, it's the next area of our team that will be ageing over the next 5 years.
eastaugh36
26 Jun 2006, 22:23
How many people have seen Gibbs play?
I have seen him week in and week out live in the flesh for 2 years. He is an amazing talent. You guys might have been impressed with him against kids his own age but if you'd seen him dominating against men like I have, then you would be even more impressed. If we have #1 pick and don't take him then Dodoro and Sheeds can run off to retirement together and that's saying something because I am a massive Sheedy supporter.
carn_the_dons
26 Jun 2006, 22:50
I think with if we get some of our younger players already listed (Lovett, Winderlich etc) playing a more predominant midfield/wing role rather than goal-sneak this could help lessen the problem our side has with speed, but i agree we do need more quality midfielders.
Can't argue there. Not only is our current midfield weak, it's the next area of our team that will be ageing over the next 5 years.
Sorry Dr Moose, have to disagree there- I think that the midfield (although not yet) is a definite future strength of ours and certainly not aging. Of our current midfield regulars, only JJ and Campo are 'old'. Hird has hardly played there this year anyway (forward or out injured) and MJ in my opinion is more of a 'utility' rather than a pure midfielder (and will certainly be beyond this year). Pev in my opinion is no longer up to it so I don't include him in any plans beyond this year.
Our list of young midfielders include the like of Watson, Stanton, Monfries, Dyson, Winderlich, Dempsey. The first 3 are 'definites' in my opinion whilst the other 3 still have plenty to prove, however have all shown ability at senior level. I haven't included the likes of Slattery, Nash, Lovett and even Reynolds, all of whom have the potential to make contributions to an Essendon midfield over the next 5-10 years (however are best suited elsewhere, I believe).
That, in my opinion is a pretty good midfield going forward when you add the likes of McVeigh and Heff, both of whom have plenty of footy ahead of them. Having said that, adding a Bryce Gibbs to that list would be sensational and could be just what we need to ensure the 'blue chip' quality of our midfield over the next 5-10 years, but again, the old furfy (sp?) that Essendon has an aging midfield would have, I would have thought, gone with the retirements of Misiti and Mercuri.:thumbsu:
Have to agree with some opinions in that we have to remind ourselves that it was our 'slow' midfield that helped us have an incredible period between 99-01. Sure, age and inconsistency has caught up with some of them in recent years, but I find it hard to believe one early drafted midfielder will turn our fortunes around. Campo, Watson, JJ, Monfries Wines n some of the kids like Jolley will help shape our future.
I actually think a glaring weakness is our 190cm type players...after Fletcher n with losing Wellman...the gap is enourmous in terms of consistent contesting week in, week out. If we can gain one or 2 more capable backline/half back KP players, imagine the likes of Bradley, Lucas and McPhee receiving n screaming down towards the forward 50 like the seasons mentioned above. Sure, we'll take the first available gun midfielder, but I seriously hope we look at taking a KP backman also to help even up our backline against these current versatile forward structures like the Pies, Dogs and Crows.
Philzsay
27 Jun 2006, 01:20
Some might say I'm a little optimistic but I would take the best player available with Pick 2. I dont want the spoon! I will be very happy with Pick 2 in this draft.
I reckon we should go for Gibbs do remember this is more of a KPP draft so we can pick up a KPP with our 17 and 18th picks (if we finsh 16th)
I have seen him week in and week out live in the flesh for 2 years. He is an amazing talent. You guys might have been impressed with him against kids his own age but if you'd seen him dominating against men like I have, then you would be even more impressed. If we have #1 pick and don't take him then Dodoro and Sheeds can run off to retirement together and that's saying something because I am a massive Sheedy supporter.
I was waiting for your view ;) I have no doubt he is a star in the making but then so are a few of the talls and some of the other midfielders. At the end of the day i would be very happy if we get him but i like to think about all the options :thumbsu:
I reckon we should go for Gibbs do remember this is more of a KPP draft so we can pick up a KPP with our 17 and 18th picks (if we finsh 16th)
The real quality with the KPP is in a couple of ruckman which we are not really in the market for and 5 or 6 forwards/backs which i doubt will be there at 17. There will be some good ones come along later in the draft but not the quality of the top few.
blumfieldisback
27 Jun 2006, 13:24
i think we should take gibbs, his pace isnt oo bad apparently, his no judd or deledio but who cares providing he can hold his own. scott west, buckley, hird, riccuito, voss are they blessed with natural pace no but they can hold their own.
we need gibbs, we have lloyd and lucas for the next 5 years if fit. west coast and adelaide have shown u dont need stellar forwards to get the job done.
windyhill
27 Jun 2006, 13:55
Must take Gibbs.
If we get Gibbs than our midfield will definetly be our strength we will have tough in and under players in Watson, Gibbs and Monfries as well as polished outside players in Dempsey, Winderlich, Stanton and Dyson. If these players can kick it to Lloyd and Lucas consistently than we dont need to worry a key position back man. We should draft Gibbs, then with 17 and 18 get one KPP and one midfield preferrably one with raw pace and superb foot skills.
from what i saw on sunday,
gibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs,gibbs,gibbsgibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs,gibbs,gibbsgibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs,gibbs,gibbsgibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs,gibbs,gibbsgibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs,gibbs,gibbsgibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs,gibbs,gibbsgibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs,gibbs,gibbsgibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs,gibbs,gibbsgibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs,gibbs,gibbsgibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs,gibbs,gibbsgibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs,gibbs,gibbsgibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs,gibbs,gibbsgibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs,gibbs,gibbsgibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs,gibbs,gibbsgibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs,gibbs,gibbsgibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs,gibbs,gibbsgibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs,gibbs,gibbsgibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs, gibbs,gibbs,gibbs
mcphee_is_a_gun
27 Jun 2006, 16:02
Getting Franklin for free in the PSD would be good.
windyhill
27 Jun 2006, 16:06
Getting Franklin for free in the PSD would be good.
As soft as they are ,hawfforn supporters would riot for a month. Will never happen.
mcphee_is_a_gun
27 Jun 2006, 16:12
As soft as they are ,hawfforn supporters would riot for a month. Will never happen.
As much as its unlikely, if we throw lots of cash at him i think were a chance at getting him.
As much as its unlikely, if we throw lots of cash at him i think were a chance at getting him.
would be very nice, but a long shot
LOL we wont get Franklin in the PSD keep dreaming
Ill give out my top 5 ATM with the ladder i think will finsh up when the season is done
1. Carlton - Hansen/Gibbs/Gumbleton - Whoever they want more i reckon Gibbs
2. Essendon - Gibbs/Hansen/Gumbleton - Gumbleton plz :thumbsu:
3. Roos - Hansen/Thorp - Thorp :thumbsu:
4. Hawks - Hansen/Selwood - Hansen :thumbsu:
5. Lions - Selwood - they would love him and he will love playing for them along side this brother Troy.
windyhill
27 Jun 2006, 16:23
As much as its unlikely, if we throw lots of cash at him i think were a chance at getting him.
I`m one of his biggest fans. The only thing about throwing cash at him is it will force hawfforn to match it and put pressure on their cap. He will not leave.
mcphee_is_a_gun
27 Jun 2006, 16:24
If we dont get Gibbs i'd opt for Gumbleton as to me he looked the better player out of him and Hansen and was chosen to represent the WAFL against the SANFL.
If we dont get Gibbs i'd opt for Gumbleton as to me he looked the better player out of him and Hansen and was chosen to represent the WAFL against the SANFL.
i agree with u there but what about Mitch Thorp i saw him on Saturday and he looked good reminds me of Brown (Lions) and were would u play Gumbleton CHB or CHF i reckon CHF and push Lucas down back
mcphee_is_a_gun
27 Jun 2006, 16:53
i agree with u there but what about Mitch Thorp i saw him on Saturday and he looked good reminds me of Brown (Lions) and were would u play Gumbleton CHB or CHF i reckon CHF and push Lucas down back
Although Thorp did look good he was playing in a much less standard game than the division 1 matches which is why i'd be cautious in drafting anyone from Tasmania, QLD, NSW or N.T.
LOL we wont get Franklin in the PSD keep dreaming
Ill give out my top 5 ATM with the ladder i think will finsh up when the season is done
1. Carlton - Hansen/Gibbs/Gumbleton - Whoever they want more i reckon Gibbs
2. Essendon - Gibbs/Hansen/Gumbleton - Gumbleton plz :thumbsu:
3. Roos - Hansen/Thorp - Thorp :thumbsu:
4. Hawks - Hansen/Selwood - Hansen :thumbsu:
5. Lions - Selwood - they would love him and he will love playing for them along side this brother Troy.
Top 5's are extremely subjective- especially mid year BUT
Gumbleton, Gibbs, Hansen, Sellar,
Thorp/ Clark/ Reiwoldt/Leuenberger/Selwood/Grigg/Everitt
Most of the kp talent will go early in the draft and are pretty special as a group if you went for midfielders early you would most likely go for a project kp. We have done that in the past with Hunt/Richards- none of whom are now at the club. Pick 17-21 would be much more useful getting two quality mf. I could wear getting 3 good mf because Gibbs especially is a gun but it makes sense to contemplate a key position with first pick.
Although Thorp did look good he was playing in a much less standard game than the division 1 matches which is why i'd be cautious in drafting anyone from Tasmania, QLD, NSW or N.T.
Fantastic point. Though, Thorp and Reiwoldt both look impressive and have played and trained with men in the VFL. Billy Morrison and Todd Grima are examples of kp players standing out in Div 2 but found wanting at the highest level. It is another reason why I am slightly dubious of QLD tall timber and why Austin Lucy slipped in draft calculations last year. Saying that though I think Reiwoldt, Thorp, Hislop and Proud may all go top 20 in a strong draft.
Longy413
27 Jun 2006, 17:44
Hypothetically, if we finish with the first pick and in turn get pick 17 and we take one midfielder and one tall with our first two picks.
Thorp and Hislop/Moss are still available are still available at 17. What is a better combination going forward?
Gibbs and Thorp
or
Gumbleton and Hislop/Moss
mcphee_is_a_gun
27 Jun 2006, 17:52
Hypothetically, if we finish with the first pick and in turn get pick 17 and we take one midfielder and one tall with our first two picks.
Thorp and Hislop/Moss are still available are still available at 17. What is a better combination going forward?
Gibbs and Thorp
or
Gumbleton and Hislop/Moss
Gibbs and Thorp for sure. Although i'd highly doubt Thorp would last that long but i could see Jack Riewoldt doing so.
Hypothetically, if we finish with the first pick and in turn get pick 17 and we take one midfielder and one tall with our first two picks.
Thorp and Hislop/Moss are still available are still available at 17. What is a better combination going forward?
Gibbs and Thorp
or
Gumbleton and Hislop/Moss
Great question VERY difficult answer. I doubt Thorp will be there at 17 and I am sold on Gumbleton being the best player in the draft. I couldnt go to today's games but I will be watching a dvd of them in the next couple of days. I am very keen to have a look at Thorp and Hislop. (I think St Kilda would take Reiwoldt for sure if he is available to them.) Talking about young footballers is tough. I maintain we did the right thing taking Bradley over Tenace/R Clarke but at the time there was a lot of debate. I still rue the fact that we didnt get McLean who was our original target.
mcphee_is_a_gun
27 Jun 2006, 17:58
Great question VERY difficult answer. I doubt Thorp will be there at 17 and I am sold on Gumbleton being the best player in the draft. I couldnt go to today's games but I will be watching a dvd of them in the next couple of days. I am very keen to have a look at Thorp and Hislop. (I think St Kilda would take Reiwoldt for sure if he is available to them.) Talking about young footballers is tough. I maintain we did the right thing taking Bradley over Tenace/R Clarke but at the time there was a lot of debate. I still rue the fact that we didnt get McLean who was our original target.
Im not sure the Saints would draft Riewoldt they don't exactly need another of his type imo.
Longy413
27 Jun 2006, 18:01
St Kilda are a hard one to sum up come draft day. They are a little similar to us, they need some run and carry in the middle, but they also need to add to their tall back and ruck stocks.
They could do anything.
Longy413
27 Jun 2006, 18:13
Anothing thing worth considering -
How would our strategy change if we went to the National Draft knowing we were going to get say, Polak with our first pick in the PSD?
mcphee_is_a_gun
27 Jun 2006, 18:16
Anothing thing worth considering -
How would our strategy change if we went to the National Draft knowing we were going to get say, Polak with our first pick in the PSD?
Then we'd be even more likely to add to our midfield with Gibbs or Selwood and maybe even draft mids with our first 2 picks at least unless we had pick 2 or 3 in which case i think we'd take best available which would be Gumbleton/Hansen.
eastaugh36
27 Jun 2006, 18:31
I have no doubts in saying that Gibbs can play round 1 and be a solid contributor as well.
Whoever we draft for the midfield he must have very clean hands and good skills which is why Gibbs fits the bill so well. As good as Stants is we cant afford to draft another similar player who is slightly deficiant in the skills area.
Anothing thing worth considering -
How would our strategy change if we went to the National Draft knowing we were going to get say, Polak with our first pick in the PSD?
Seeing Essendon picked Paddy Ryder with there first pick last year because he was rated the best player in the draft when they had already picked Laycock and Bradley with there first pick in prevous years I'm sure that they will be take the there best listed player in the draft and will take the appoarch that if he's good enough they will make there own spot in the team. Maybe if they knew that Polak was going to be there first pick in the pre-season draft it would effect there second pick
Longy413
27 Jun 2006, 22:43
Seeing Essendon picked Paddy Ryder with there first pick last year because he was rated the best player in the draft when they had already picked Laycock and Bradley with there first pick in prevous years I'm sure that they will be take the there best listed player in the draft and will take the appoarch that if he's good enough they will make there own spot in the team. Maybe if they knew that Polak was going to be there first pick in the pre-season draft it would effect there second pick
I think this draft is a little different.
The top 5 or so players are so strong it is very difficult to define which is the best player, everyone (as this thread proves) will have a different opinion.
It will more than likely come down to need. If you rate two players equal, you most definately go for need and if you have the first pick in this draft it could well be the case.
Whoever we draft for the midfield he must have very clean hands and good skills which is why Gibbs fits the bill so well. As good as Stants is we cant afford to draft another similar player who is slightly deficiant in the skills area.
Thats a bloody good point ant.
We have way too many blokes that have average skill levels on our list. with the open and fast nature of today's footy we need as many blokes on our list who can spot up a target more often than not.
Whoever we pick better be bloody silk.
blumfieldisback
27 Jun 2006, 23:23
Anothing thing worth considering -
How would our strategy change if we went to the National Draft knowing we were going to get say, Polak with our first pick in the PSD?
you want a player the has the drug gossip surrounding him?
if it isnt true then i would agree with you on this one longy because he deifinitely has unfulfilled potential and would slot nicely into our backline. we all know that fremantle players that go to other clubs become better players aka clement, Mcphee, abraham, holland, simmonds, jeff white, peter bell even though he went back.
ity would then allow us to get gibbs and have a ready made CHB.
Longy413
27 Jun 2006, 23:30
If the allegations are true, he's another mishap away from being outed from the game for two years.
He's a talent, he has a lot of improvement.
It would be up to the club to talk to him and make a decision on his character as to whether or not he has the character to commit to playing AFL football.
I certainly think he'd improve our backline and at the moment, it's only an allegation. For a PSD pick, depending on what else is available, I reckon he'd be worth it.
i am not sure essendon would take the risk with Polak. I have heard some pretty ordinary things about his behaviour which doesnt include unproven drug allegations. We have also been burnt by Zantuck, Haynes and Cupido. I would like Essendon to concentrate on players who have been in the system for a couple of years and may want to come home. A few players who would be high on my list are Ryley Dunn, Matt Rosa and Michael Rischetelli. All Victorians, All Interstate and all have the potential to be good AFL players.
Dunn is hard at it and pretty quick- downside is his kicking which tends to be inconsistent at hitting targets. Matt Rosa is an excellent athlete who can rotate through midfield, decent disposals and pretty courageous. Rischetelli is a local boy with silky skills, as an u/18 I pegged him as an outside player but he has added size to his frame. it would be great to get a potential 8 year victorian player like collingwood did with obree.
Longy413
28 Jun 2006, 22:51
Polak is a risk, but at least he is a different case in that he would be getting away from the negative influences in his lifestyle. If he was the best footballer in the PSD on football ability, we'd be mad not to take a risk on him.
Dunn has risks of his own, can't get his body right. Good kid though. I was calling for him last year.
Rosa is getting a game in the Eagles midfield, can't see him giving that up.
Rischetelli is one I really like, but he re-signed last year didn't he? I presume that would have been for two years.
Polak's real talent is for being a wasted talent.
blumfieldisback
29 Jun 2006, 00:20
Polak is a risk, but at least he is a different case in that he would be getting away from the negative influences in his lifestyle. If he was the best footballer in the PSD on football ability, we'd be mad not to take a risk on him.
Dunn has risks of his own, can't get his body right. Good kid though. I was calling for him last year.
Rosa is getting a game in the Eagles midfield, can't see him giving that up.
Rischetelli is one I really like, but he re-signed last year didn't he? I presume that would have been for two years.
finally some good opinions longy, but i think you will find that rischetelli is out of contract unless the The Age misprinted it, a few weeks ago they named players that were coming out of contract and he was listed as a high target for essendon, lets hope the richard hadley curse doesnt strike. is polak coming out of contract?? dont remember seeing his name there.
i too was asking for dunn last year and the year before that, he is a murry bushranger who generally show some hardness about them, but he is meant to be very quick, i dont think we woul waste a no.1 pre season draft pick on him (quote not directed at longy)
and polak was one of few named in drugs controversy along with toby thurstans, gardiner, josh carr, the stories usually contain 3 of those 4.
i think polak is a country boy from perth and that would intrigue sheeds because he loved players like billy duckworth, i see polak in the same mould as trent croad, just waiting to mature as a footballer and as a person, croad another player let go by fremantle gee that club is a shimozzle connolly is finished, i hope harvs can turn around that club, i reckon if sheeds went there he would win them a premiership within 2 years.
douggie the don
29 Jun 2006, 01:07
Anybody who thinks our midfield is anything short of very poor is crazy.
We need to take drastic action. I say get 3 midfielders with our first three picks and try to fill a hole that has been in steady decline since 2002. Look what the Doggies are able to produce, the mdern game demands a big group of midfielders who can dispose of the ball well under pressure. Our Midfield has NOBODY who can consistantly hit a target (At the moment).
Gibbs gives us what we need. As Dempsey and Lovett further develop their game and if Winderlich and dyson can step up,pace won't be such an issue.
This is the most important draft the club has ever had. The stakes have never been this high and from all reports the talent pool has never been this large either. Therefore i hold the view that whoever we get with our 1st pick will be a quality player. Our second and third pick (eg. #18 + #20) becomes Sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo important!!!! We can't afford to do a "2001" and pick up a Shane Harvey only to see a Dal santo go 2 picks later... Geelong picked up 8 good senior players from that draft and now we need this "superdraft" to run deep for us.
Some good points but I think we also have some holes in defense we need to address. McPhee and Bradley haven't looked totally confident back their lately and one or both could help out in midfield at times or permantly. Lovett-Murray has made great strides this year but I rate him in our 19-22 range who can give us good depth. Blooding Andrew Lee would be a good start but I think we need a little more help back there also
Longy413
29 Jun 2006, 11:09
i think you will find that rischetelli is out of contract unless the The Age misprinted it, a few weeks ago they named players that were coming out of contract and he was listed as a high target for essendon, lets hope the richard hadley curse doesnt strike. is polak coming out of contract?? dont remember seeing his name there.
I know Rischetelli was on that list, I just seemed to remember him being out of contract at the end of last year and made a presumption that they would have signed him to two years. But I might have got that one wrong.
Polak was on that list.
http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2006/06/21/1150845244067.html
blumfieldisback
29 Jun 2006, 11:49
well if rischetelli is on the list he mustn't have signed a two year contract maye it was like Mcveigh and he only signed 1.
but i agree with Dawsax and yourself and we need to address our backline, so if he is fit, hungry and motivated enough we should take polak he showed in one game this year that he can be a very good player and he has some presence about him, most freo players come good at other clubs.
this would allow us to take gibbs as no.1 again he was best on ground for south australia, either his body is too mature and he is playing at his top enchelon now or he is going to be a super super player. To be best on ground in two losing matches shows great poise plus he plays in glenlgs seniors he would be more ready then murphy this year.
so i hastily say go kangas.
C4[2]Yo`DooR
29 Jun 2006, 11:51
I think its safe to say you'll be picking up Gibbs. :thumbsu:
blumfieldisback
29 Jun 2006, 11:51
oh another on that list would be ashley hansen because he has the same persona about him as mark harvey had, but polak would have the height advantage.
C4[2]Yo`DooR
29 Jun 2006, 11:54
Meeson ?
blumfieldisback
29 Jun 2006, 12:01
Anybody who thinks our midfield is anything short of very poor is crazy.
We need to take drastic action. I say get 3 midfielders with our first three picks and try to fill a hole that has been in steady decline since 2002. Look what the Doggies are able to produce, the mdern game demands a big group of midfielders who can dispose of the ball well under pressure. Our Midfield has NOBODY who can consistantly hit a target (At the moment).
Gibbs gives us what we need. As Dempsey and Lovett further develop their game and if Winderlich and dyson can step up,pace won't be such an issue.
This is the most important draft the club has ever had. The stakes have never been this high and from all reports the talent pool has never been this large either. Therefore i hold the view that whoever we get with our 1st pick will be a quality player. Our second and third pick (eg. #18 + #20) becomes Sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo important!!!! We can't afford to do a "2001" and pick up a Shane Harvey only to see a Dal santo go 2 picks later... Geelong picked up 8 good senior players from that draft and now we need this "superdraft" to run deep for us.
someone correct me if im wrong but i think you will find de santo went two picks before harvey, del santo went pick 13. BUT two selections after harvey went another super super player who i was hoping would come out of contract this year because apparently we have been into his head the last 2 years and that is Daniel Kerr and if he was playing ina victorian club people would be saying he is beter then del santo.
but i agree with you we need some quality midfielders, we have some on the rise but this day and age you need constant rotations thats is why brisbane is partly in decline, its why carlton and essendon are on the bottom we dont have the midfield depth. but we have to have the balance and we have shown without lloyd we dont have much else up forward, polak could play both positions.
the draft is being touted as a super draft but not because of midfielders gibbs is the exception, i think we need 2 top 10 players so we can claim gibbs and then a tall then with our next pick 17 or 18 (assuming one has been traded with a player to get a higher pick and a 3rd rounder) claim the next best midfielder, then the next best available player in the 3rd round and use the pre season to get polak, im going with you on this one longy i wanted him last year to.
philhawk
29 Jun 2006, 12:07
the draft is being touted as a super draft but not because of midfielders gibbs is the exception, i think we need 2 top 10 players so we can claim gibbs and then a tall then with our next pick 17 or 18 (assuming one has been traded with a player to get a higher pick and a 3rd rounder) claim the next best midfielder, then the next best available player in the 3rd round and use the pre season to get polak, im going with you on this one longy i wanted him last year to.
Tell me which club would be stupid enough to trade away a Top 10 pick in this draft?
Longy413
29 Jun 2006, 12:14
someone correct me if im wrong but i think you will find de santo went two picks before harvey, del santo went pick 13. BUT two selections after harvey went another super super player who i was hoping would come out of contract this year because apparently we have been into his head the last 2 years and that is Daniel Kerr and if he was playing ina victorian club people would be saying he is beter then del santo.
Dal Santo did go before Shane Harvey (pick 18). But so did Kerr.
Kerr went 12 months before Harvey. He was in the 2000 draft and went at pick 18. We took Davies at pick 17. On Kerr though, he was said to have gone earlier than expected because there were huge concerns over his size. Great pick by the Eagles.
mcphee_is_a_gun
29 Jun 2006, 13:18
Yo`DooR']Meeson ?
we have plenty of ruckmen already so pass.
macca69
29 Jun 2006, 17:37
Yo`DooR']I think its safe to say you'll be picking up Gibbs. :thumbsu:
doesn't Sheedy usually go with a KPP with his first pick?
Longy413
29 Jun 2006, 17:43
doesn't Sheedy usually go with a KPP with his first pick?
1996 - Chris Heffernan
1997 - Mark Bolton
1998 - Mark McVeigh
1999 - David Hille
2000 - James Davies
2001 - Shane Harvey
2002 - Jason Laycock
2003 - Kepler Bradley
2004 - Angus Monfries
2005 - Paddy Ryder
Hille was pick 40 in the year we had draft penalties, Bradley played his junior footy as a midfielder and no-one has really worked out what Mark Bolton is.
So it's fair to say it's a bit of a mix there.
Tell me which club would be stupid enough to trade away a Top 10 pick in this draft?
Sydney traditionally are prepared to trade 1st round pick.
Geelong may look at it as they have a youngish list and have a first rounder at a bargain basement price.
Bulldogs need a key position player- if they think they cant get Thorp, M Clark or Reiwoldt- Sellar, Hansen, Gumbleton and Luenenberg? almost certainly gone they may trade for key position player because of their young list.
macca69
29 Jun 2006, 17:53
1996 - Chris Heffernan
1997 - Mark Bolton
1998 - Mark McVeigh
1999 - David Hille
2000 - James Davies
2001 - Shane Harvey
2002 - Jason Laycock
2003 - Kepler Bradley
2004 - Angus Monfries
2005 - Paddy Ryder
Hille was pick 40 in the year we had draft penalties, Bradley played his junior footy as a midfielder and no-one has really worked out what Mark Bolton is.
So it's fair to say it's a bit of a mix there.
probably phrased that wrongly, when he has a pick in the top 10 he usally picks KPP.
Longy413
29 Jun 2006, 18:07
probably phrased that wrongly, when he has a pick in the top 10 he usally picks KPP.
Doesn't really help your arguement.
Our top 10 picks have been -
1986 - Andrew Payze
1987 - Andrew Rogers
1988 - Michael Werner
1991 - Michael Symonds
1994 - Scott Lucas, Blake Caracella
1996 - Chris Heffernan, Daniel McAlister
1997 - Mark Bolton
1998 - Mark McVeigh
2002 - Jason Laycock
2003 - Kepler Bradley
2005 - Paddy Ryder
Still a fair mix there, unless you're only judging our last three years. But then again that depends on whether you consider Bradley a KPP because that really wasn't what he was drafted as.
Six of the seven top ten picks before that were all midfielders/flankers.
macca69
29 Jun 2006, 18:12
Doesn't really help your arguement.
Our top 10 picks have been -
1986 - Andrew Payze
1987 - Andrew Rogers
1988 - Michael Werner
1991 - Michael Symonds
1994 - Scott Lucas, Blake Caracella
1996 - Chris Heffernan, Daniel McAlister
1997 - Mark Bolton
1998 - Mark McVeigh
2002 - Jason Laycock
2003 - Kepler Bradley
2005 - Paddy Ryder
Still a fair mix there, unless you're only judging our last three years. But then again that depends on whether you consider Bradley a KPP because that really wasn't what he was drafted as.
Six of the seven top ten picks before that were all midfielders/flankers.
also got Lloyd as a pre-draft selection. Guess I was thinking more recently though Lucas, Lloyd, Bolton, Laycock, Bradley and Ryder are the ones I was thinking of. McVeigh, Heffernan, McAlister and Caracella are questionable selections at best, seems he has had more success at picking KPP. So since 1994 60% of your top 10 selections have been KPP, I highly doubt that any other teams are close to that figure, given that approximately 8/22 players in your side at any given time are KPP.
Longy413
29 Jun 2006, 18:18
That's only because you're counting Bolton as a KPP, we'll pick the best player.
Chances are, if we don't have the first pick in this draft, it will be a KPP.
macca69
29 Jun 2006, 18:19
That's only because you're counting Bolton as a KPP
didn't Sheedy try to mold Bolton into a KPP when he was first drafted. Seem to remember him playing almost everywhere down the spine early in his career.
Im not sure who Carlton would go for. Is there a chance they will get first pick EVEN if they dont come last due to a priority pick? That side of the rule is hazy and I would like someone to clarrify it for me if they can.
mcphee_is_a_gun
29 Jun 2006, 18:29
Im not sure who Carlton would go for. Is there a chance they will get first pick EVEN if they dont come last due to a priority pick? That side of the rule is hazy and I would like someone to clarrify it for me if they can.
no chance at all :) :thumbsu:
C4[2]Yo`DooR
29 Jun 2006, 18:36
If we come last, we'll be taking Gibbs simple as that.
S.C[BANKS]
30 Jun 2006, 19:22
Yo`DooR']If we come last, we'll be taking Gibbs simple as that.
no, if you get first pick then theres a chance to take Gibbs
The strategy should be to take the best player available, regardless of that players position.
That way, you have a great player to trade, as a bargaining tool, even if he's not the "position" player we think we need.
If the club selects a midfielder, even though they think a particular key-position player is more talented, it means we are by-passing a better player. That's not the way to go. Take the best player. Then we can decide what we want to do with him after we have that player.
Longy413
2 Jul 2006, 22:53
The strategy should be to take the best player available, regardless of that players position.
That way, you have a great player to trade, as a bargaining tool, even if he's not the "position" player we think we need.
If the club selects a midfielder, even though they think a particular key-position player is more talented, it means we are by-passing a better player. That's not the way to go. Take the best player. Then we can decide what we want to do with him after we have that player.
I agree with the premise of what you're saying. However, I'm not sure how it applies to this draft.
The draft is so even, that drafting for need will have to be a consideration. Not just for us, but for all clubs.
I agree with the premise of what you're saying. However, I'm not sure how it applies to this draft.
The draft is so even, that drafting for need will have to be a consideration. Not just for us, but for all clubs.
You're missing my point.
If we NEED a midfielder, but the key-positon player is better, then we should still take the key-position plyaer, not because we will use that player, but because we then have a powerful bargaining tool, with which to trade.
The better the player, the better bargaining posiiton we are in. Then, we might be able to get a top midfielder in excahnge PLUS another player.
Longy413
2 Jul 2006, 23:31
I'm not missing your point at all. Infact I've made your point several times over in regards to draft.
You're missing my point. This draft is even. At any given pick there is likely to be three, four even half a dozen players that are rated as equals. Even with the first pick of the draft.
Chances are they are going to play in different positions, different types of players. When that is the case, need will take consideration. What we've done with our previous picks in the draft will also have to be considered.
This draft isn't as clear cut as just taking the best player with each pick, there are too many good players.