View Full Version : Why not draft another mature player from the WAFL?
G'day.
I was thinking today that we should maybe look at drafting Brad Smith from Subiaco. He is 24/25 and is a solid full forward. He took out the WAFL goalkicking award this year, with an average of 4.5 goals a game and 81 goals.
At 193cm he is definitely tall enough for the spot, and I think the position of full forward would be somewhat easier to adapt to when going from WAFL to AFL.
Some would say he is too old, but if he could come in and sit at full forward permanently all year (like most good teams that have permanent full forwards) and kick a decent bag of 60-70, would be ideal. Could still easily get 100+ games out of him.
Black Thunder
8 Sep 2003, 00:01
obviousbly I've never seen but to have kicked that many goals in the WAFL, he's obviousbly a good player.
I'm sure the club is seriously considering it, but given how quickly Troy Wilson's game was found out by other clubs, they may be a bit wary.
One thing this Smith guy does have on his side is he is 4 or 5 years younger than Willo.
One reason for going for this trade is, if we recruit a full forward, some talls take till they are about 24/25 to actually hold down a permenant spot in a team.
If this Smith guy is good enough to come into our team at FF, we're essentially not losing out from recruiting a FF who may take 6 years to get up to scratch......
Thrawn666
8 Sep 2003, 00:02
Originally posted by ozzult
G'day.
I was thinking today that we should maybe look at drafting Brad Smith from Subiaco. He is 24/25 and is a solid full forward. He took out the WAFL goalkicking award this year, with an average of 4.5 goals a game and 81 goals.
At 193cm he is definitely tall enough for the spot, and I think the position of full forward would be somewhat easier to adapt to when going from WAFL to AFL.
Some would say he is too old, but if he could come in and sit at full forward permanently all year (like most good teams that have permanent full forwards) and kick a decent bag of 60-70, would be ideal. Could still easily get 100+ games out of him.
The idea has some merit.
I think AFL clubs are starting to realise that players benefit from playing in a lesser competition rather than going straight from schools to the AFL. This is more than likely why guys like Seaby etc have been given pretty much a full year in the WAFL.
Be interesting to see if the coaching staff are thunking along similar lines
It would be a gamble I'd be willing to take. He won't go any higher than 3rd round if he nominates for the draft.
Yet we have Hansen already on our list, and Lynch, Seaby, Johnson, Beeck all spending time up forward.
We don't need to recruit a mature age FF, we need coaching staff prepared to play the forwards we already have.
If we have a spare spot on our list, I think Brad Smith may be worth a punt. The thing about our young guys is that none of them are natural full forwards. Give him a go in the preseason and see what he can do.
Originally posted by Sera
If we have a spare spot on our list, I think Brad Smith may be worth a punt. The thing about our young guys is that none of them are natural full forwards. Give him a go in the preseason and see what he can do.
Wilson is a natural FF too. Sure give Smith a go in the pre-season, but IMO if we are prepared to draft a mature age FF now, Hansen & Lynch may as well pack their bags, and we have thrown 2 years down the drain.
eagleskickass
8 Sep 2003, 15:41
My thoughts on Brad Smith, Lynch and Hansen
Being a subi supporter and having gone to MANy games this year if we were to draft Brad Smith i would be exstatic. Some key differences between Wilson and Smith are
: Age
: Wilson crashed packs, often dropped the mark/bounced of his chest, Smith has very strong hands and is also not afraid to throw his body around.
: Smith doesnt need perfect delivery to be useful, some games hes kicked bags in the delivery has been pretty damn aweful.
He definately is worth a punt IMO, if he had been drafted younger he would have probably been in the WAFL till he was 20-22 anyway, so hes 2-3 years older but i think he has benefited from that and would be very useful at FF, he IS a natural FF (having said that he too, like Wilson is One dimensional, but i think we can afford to have a 1 dimensional FF as long as our other KPP players aren't.
Having said this if we did get him it doesnt necessarily count Lynch and Hansen out altogether. Lynch played most of this years WAFL(all but the last 4-5 rounds i think, ask VOR) in the backline and also in the final yesterday against Subi he was down back, didnt play too badly. Ive always seen him as a backman, he has good run, pretty athletic, booming kick (which would be good on kickouts) and a pretty decent field kick. one thing that tends to let him down as he also showed in the AFl is goal kicking. So he could still go for a KPP back position yet. Also when Hansen came to the club he had one aim, to be the eagles CHF 3-4 years after he was drafted. Now we've had McDougal there this year and he well and truly will be in our team in the future but theres nothing saying he cant be a backmen, or having said that Hansen has played a couple of games down back and looked ok also. So both Lynch and Hansen could possibly fill a KPP position, obviously not both will, and i really think drafting Smith could work in our favour.
daddy_4_eyes
8 Sep 2003, 15:50
AFL clubs have an obsession with youth. Just because a guy wasn't firing when he was 17-18 doesn't make him useless when he's 24-25. He would be good to have as a 'just incase' player. We HAVE TO draft 3 non-AFL listed players anyway, why not invest one of our picks into someone who could step up immediately?
Voice of Reason
8 Sep 2003, 18:47
I've seen Smith a few times this year (including yesterday) and think he is a good player. Can he step up? Don't know. Not sure whether he's big enough to play FF in the AFL. He's good on the lead, strong hands and a much more reliable (as in consistent) kick than Wilson. He's certainly not too old. He has the lineage - his Dad, Phil, was a champion goalkicker with West Perth (oh, the irony, especially today).
Against West Perth, he always seems to kick several goals early, then go quiet, but I don't know if this is him or just the way we play against him.
Lynch has played in every big man position imaginable for West Perth this year (literally FB, CHB, Ruck, CHF and FF), but I think he's a backman if he's anything at AFL level (notwithstanding that I was screaming at Darren Harris to throw him forward to CHF for about a quarter yesterday until it happened).
Overall, play Smith at FF and Lynch at FB or CHF depending on match-ups (Glass keeps his place at the back too) - and we'd have a stronger side than we do at present with Haynes at FF and McIntosh retired.
The point is, we haven't got anyone who is a full forward, yet.
Haynes is not a full forward, simple as that. McDougall would be wasted at full forward, his skills and clean hands is more useful at CHF.
Johnson has not proved himself yet, Hansen either.
Smith has the runs on the board in the WAFL. Only question is, can he cut it in the AFL? I think a 3rd round pick is definitely worth the risk.
Black JuJu
8 Sep 2003, 22:56
I don't know if Brad Smith would cut it at AFL level.
He's good yeah, but lets face it, when you play in a lesser competition, you look better than you are when compared to AFL players.
Worth a punt ?
I don't think so.
They should concentrate on blooding youngsters already on the list.
Hansen, Johnson, Lynch, Gasper, McDougall etc etc all need to play senior footy if they are going to make it.
Originally posted by Black JuJu
Worth a punt ?
I don't think so.
You are probably right but I think most of those guys are long term project players. I think our cycle is starting to peak and our window of opportunity is only open for another 2 years. After that time, our senior players will start to age, Judd may be gone and other teams will be better placed and we will have to start the cycle again.
Originally posted by Sera
You are probably right but I think most of those guys are long term project players. I think our cycle is starting to peak and our window of opportunity is only open for another 2 years. After that time, our senior players will start to age, Judd may be gone and other teams will be better placed and we will have to start the cycle again. Exactly.
Our midfield is currently our strength, and our spine is our weakness. We obviously have a few blokes who show promise to fill that spine, but in how many years? Three or four? Or by 2004.
I don't think our current players will be able to do a decent job end-to-end down our spine till 2005. Will our midfield still be on top by then?
We have to match the peak power of our midfield with the development of our key position players.
Look at the reigning premiers. Midfield at its power in the last two years, just as Jon Brown stamps himself as a real powerhouse, Lynch is just a freak, and Michael and Leppitsch standing up in defence.
That is the key, to synchronise the two areas simultaneously.
GoEagles
9 Sep 2003, 01:45
Jason Heatley was also a very good full forward for Subiaco, kicked over 100 goals in a season and got over the 10 goals a game barrier numerous times.
I like Chad Cossom from Subiaco as a player
eagleskickass
9 Sep 2003, 02:23
Originally posted by GoEagles
Jason Heatley was also a very good full forward for Subiaco, kicked over 100 goals in a season and got over the 10 goals a game barrier numerous times.
I like Chad Cossom from Subiaco as a player
That is true but it really is hard to judge, as it stands smith has shown a lot at WAFL level, if he was AFL listed this year he probably would have played or at least been in contention as it is only WAFL form we can base it on. It is a hit or miss chance, but he wouldnt go before 3rd or 4th round anyway i wouldnt think, and personally i think he is worth the punt as if he is effective hed be effective immediately, which would help a lot.
I have never seen him play but in all honesty I think it will just set back the development of other, younger more promising players. Was it against Melbourne when Doogs kicked 3 goals in the first quarter? He looked fantastic and with Gaspar returning from injury, Staker on the scene and Jakovich going around again (he is still easily good enough and is a good forward option) then I see no reason to recruit a mature age player. Not to mention Hansen, Johnson, Lynch etc all waiting for their chance.
Oh and this midfield crap that people are spouting, about having to be in sync and all the rest of it. Ive got news for you, our midfield will be 3 times better than they are now in 2 or 3 years. Cousins will be well and truly in his prime at around 27, 28 and Kerr, Judd, Fletcher and Embley will be early to mid twenties. Our midfield will be extremely good for many years to come so I think we have quite a few years to put the other pieces together.
Just my opinion though.
Originally posted by Sera
You are probably right but I think most of those guys are long term project players. I think our cycle is starting to peak and our window of opportunity is only open for another 2 years. After that time, our senior players will start to age, Judd may be gone and other teams will be better placed and we will have to start the cycle again.
That's a Judge-style coaching philosophy. A quick fix now, to take advantage of players in their prime. There's nothing to say Judd won't hang around after his 2 years either. Plucking a mature age recruit out of left field isn't going to foster much encouragement for the guys who have been sitting on the list for 2 years waiting for a game.
Hansen has had 2 years in the WAFL, has put a few pounds on his frame and is ready to take the next step in 2004. He's not going to get any better now playing WAFL.
Lynch has been ready to play all year, and was last year when asked to step up, which makes his non-selection this year all the more mystifying.
Johnson is physically ready, ability I'm not sold on yet.
Staker & McDougall have shown glimpses that they will be quality, both should be better for putting some beef on their frames in the off-season.
Gaspar just needs an injury-free season.
A mature-age recruit is a wasted pick IMO. With the possible exception of a mature age key defender, which usually take longer to develop anyway. Are their any better than Carroll or Seira running around in the WAFL?
Port1978
10 Sep 2003, 14:06
Being a Subi supporter & not an Eagles supporter.....I definitely do not want you guys to pick him up! :(