View Full Version : This years F/S picks
SeymourLions
11 Sep 2006, 18:49
O.K dredging through old posts i laughed at alot, namely Hawkins and Kennedy and where their respective supporters placed them in retrospect to the whole draft.
If i was a recruiter (which im clearly not) I wouldnt use a top 10 pick on Hawkins (if he was available), namely for the following reasons, compared to the other so called top 5 draft picks, Hawkins lacks athletic ability. Hawkins dominates school kids because of his utter size over them, however, fullbacks would do the same to him if he were at AFL level. He is a good player dont get me wrong, but i think people, should tone down their expectations on him, as i think realistically he is closer to the 20th pick than the 10th or even some have said the top 3. Gumbleton and Hansen dominate their opponents through intelligent play, and speed and athletic ability, whilst not being large in the body's. You can aquire body size, not necesserialy footy smarts.
Now ive read in places that Hawthorn supporters rate Kennedy as the second best midfielder in the draft! ahead of Selwood, this is absolutely absured. I think he is probably exaclty right where he will be taken, no loss no gain. He is similar to Hawkins in that he dominates due to his body size against smaller apponents, he has alot of footy smarts and "mungral" about him, but i think Hawthorn supporters will tone down their expectations on Hulk.
And before im cut down with insults, yes, ive seen both live numerous times :thumbsu:
I think 2006 is a good year in terms of F/S picks, but in recent years, i think 2004 will end up being ahead of it, with W.C getting Morton, and Kangaroo's getting Smith. Both were top 10 easily.
O.K dredging through old posts i laughed at alot, namely Hawkins and Kennedy and where their respective supporters placed them in retrospect to the whole draft.
If i was a recruiter (which im clearly not) I wouldnt use a top 10 pick on Hawkins (if he was available), namely for the following reasons, compared to the other so called top 5 draft picks, Hawkins lacks athletic ability. Hawkins dominates school kids because of his utter size over them, however, fullbacks would do the same to him if he were at AFL level. He is a good player dont get me wrong, but i think people, should tone down their expectations on him, as i think realistically he is closer to the 20th pick than the 10th or even some have said the top 3. Gumbleton and Hansen dominate their opponents through intelligent play, and speed and athletic ability, whilst not being large in the body's. You can aquire body size, not necesserialy footy smarts.
Now ive read in places that Hawthorn supporters rate Kennedy as the second best midfielder in the draft! ahead of Selwood, this is absolutely absured. I think he is probably exaclty right where he will be taken, no loss no gain. He is similar to Hawkins in that he dominates due to his body size against smaller apponents, he has alot of footy smarts and "mungral" about him, but i think Hawthorn supporters will tone down their expectations on Hulk.
And before im cut down with insults, yes, ive seen both live numerous times :thumbsu:
I think 2006 is a good year in terms of F/S picks, but in recent years, i think 2004 will end up being ahead of it, with W.C getting Morton, and Kangaroo's getting Smith. Both were top 10 easily.
I doubt it becasue you seem to have no idea.
Nightwolf
11 Sep 2006, 19:00
Hawthorn supporters rated Kennedy second best midfielder due to the fact they are Hawthorn supporters. A troll that has obviously had an affect on you. We dont actually believe he is...
cschreuder61
11 Sep 2006, 19:48
Mojo said Kennedy would be around the second round in a strong draft (such as this one) and first round on a weaker draft, bit like last year.
So yeah you'd think third round pick would be pretty decent value for him, he is already a really good size and looks a natural footballer. Has been playing well for his side and will be good to have the names Tuck and Kennedy back for the hawks.
sinepari
11 Sep 2006, 19:52
Mojo wrote those profiles 6months ago though. Things change dramatically.
vinnie_vegas69
11 Sep 2006, 20:28
Kennedy is about the same as guys like Shaun Grigg and Robert Eddy in terms of style (possibly a bit more powerful) and rating (in my books). Sam Sheldon is about thereabouts too.
Kennedy and Sheldon probably would have pushed into the Top 20 last year, but would probably be around #25-40 this year.
As for Tom Hawkins, lets go over your comments:
compared to the other so called top 5 draft picks, Hawkins lacks athletic ability.
No he doesn't. He is very quick off the mark, spring-heeled and good below his knees for a player of his size.
Hawkins dominates school kids because of his utter size over them
So what should he have done? Starved himself, stayed out of the gym, made himself anaemic so that he wouldn't be bigger than the other kids?
When he takes a mark on the lead because he's 10m clear of his opponent because he reads the play better and lead faster than his opponent could keep up with, that's nothing to do with his size.
He matched up against Eric McKenzie at the Championships, who is about as strong as he is, and IIRC, still kicked 3 or 4 against him.
fullbacks would do the same to him if he were at AFL level.
How so? Would he no longer be 198cm and 98kgs at AFL level? That's not just big at underage level, that's big at AFL level.
Darren Glass is 192cm, 97kgs. Ben Rutten is 191cm and 96kgs. Matthew Scarlett is 192cm and 95kgs
He won't have the advantage, but he won't be pushed around either.
Gumbleton and Hansen dominate their opponents through intelligent play, and speed and athletic ability, whilst not being large in the body's. You can aquire body size, not necesserialy footy smarts.
Gumbleton's not so small in the body, but that aside, being big in the body doesn't automatically mean that you aren't a smart player.
Hawkins is a fantastic prospect, and would have gone ahead of Mitch Thorp and James Sellar as talls in the first round.
Big Nasty
11 Sep 2006, 23:12
Well obviously someone has been doing there home work.
Vinnie you are spot on and how Hawkins would be in the top 3 draft prospects If he wasnt father/son. This guy dominated everyone in the under 18 carnival and was awarded the medal for best in the tournament.
You jealous supporters can argue about his size but if you morons have read the past articles then you would see that hes the best prospect since Judd according to coach and managers who were around the last few years.
its just sporn mum
12 Sep 2006, 03:37
How so? Would he no longer be 198cm and 98kgs at AFL level? That's not just big at underage level, that's big at AFL level.
Darren Glass is 192cm, 97kgs. Ben Rutten is 191cm and 96kgs. Matthew Scarlett is 192cm and 95kgs
He won't have the advantage, but he won't be pushed around either.
id back darren glass to absolutely monster tom hawkins right now if they were matched up on each other. just because hawkins is 98kgs doesnt make him strong. eg fraser gherig would throw tom hawkins around like a rag doll if they played on each other regardless because of his strength not because of his 3kilo advantage.
watching the finals i tend to agree that hawkins had too much of an advantage with his size and that it would be a lot safer to take a gumbleton hansen type player with a lot more natural ability.
id back darren glass to absolutely monster tom hawkins right now if they were matched up on each other. just because hawkins is 98kgs doesnt make him strong. eg fraser gherig would throw tom hawkins around like a rag doll if they played on each other regardless because of his strength not because of his 3kilo advantage.
watching the finals i tend to agree that hawkins had too much of an advantage with his size and that it would be a lot safer to take a gumbleton hansen type player with a lot more natural ability.
Still there are only 4 prospects you could consider before him.
1. Gibbs
2. Hansen
3. Gumbleton
4. Selwood
You'd be crazy to pick someone else at 5. He is better than all the rest and arguably could be ahead of some those mentioned.
It isn't Hawkins size which lets him fly from 2-back in a marking contest to take a contested one-grab mark. It isn't his size which allows him to get a 5m break on his fullback with clever leads. Hawkins would definately go top-3.
Kennedy is harder to pick. If a club wants an inside midfielder they take one early (Hurn). If clubs don't want that type of player someone like Swallow can fall a long way. Kennedy is in the Jordan Lewis class, so could easily be a top-10 pick if a club wanted that type of player. Problem is going to be with Mitchell and Lewis allready at the club, finding gametime for Kennedy is going to be tough.
vinnie_vegas69
12 Sep 2006, 10:27
Problem is going to be with Mitchell and Lewis allready at the club, finding gametime for Kennedy is going to be tough.
My idea for Kennedy was to use as an Aaron Hamill-type, medium sized enforcer in the forward line. He's got got size, he's built like a tank, and his attack on the ball is strong.
He could work like that next to Lance Franklin, Jarryd Roughead and Mark Williams.
My idea for Kennedy was to use as an Aaron Hamill-type, medium sized enforcer in the forward line. He's got got size, he's built like a tank, and his attack on the ball is strong.
He could work like that next to Lance Franklin, Jarryd Roughead and Mark Williams.
Problem would be you would put Andrew McLeod on him and run him into the ground. As a general rule you want your guys without leg speed in the guts.
theGav56
12 Sep 2006, 13:15
If teams play their best defender on hawkins the Cats will go well next year. It means Ottens, Ablett and Mooney won't have them to contend with.
cschreuder61
12 Sep 2006, 14:06
Mojo wrote those profiles 6months ago though. Things change dramatically.
yeah he's added more comments on him on mightyhawk a month or so ago and still sounds that he'd definately be worth taking as a third round selection
blitzer
12 Sep 2006, 14:12
If teams play their best defender on hawkins the Cats will go well next year. It means Ottens, Ablett and Mooney won't have them to contend with.
That will only happen if he shows enough in his first few games to be worthy of that kind of attention. Personally i think its a tall ask for a kid just arriving in afl footy and think it may take him a couple of years to find his feet at the higher level as is common with KPP (Although he is well deleveoped for his age).
Personally i believe top 5 would have been very likely and possibly top 3.
Jimmyjess
12 Sep 2006, 16:37
Too many upsides to Hawkins for him not to have been a top 3-5 pick in the draft if he didn't go Father/Son.
Only concerns from my point of view are his endurance and ability to play in different positions. Could he play back if required? If he doesn't fire up forward where could he play?
its just sporn mum
12 Sep 2006, 16:42
in the two's
carn_the_cattas
12 Sep 2006, 17:46
Too many upsides to Hawkins for him not to have been a top 3-5 pick in the draft if he didn't go Father/Son.
Only concerns from my point of view are his endurance and ability to play in different positions. Could he play back if required? If he doesn't fire up forward where could he play?
He rucked a bit I think. Was pretty good when in there too.