2015 Draft Discussion

[jjami15]

While its a long way ahead I wonder if we need to start looking at drafting more midfielders next year. The last couple of years we have taken on a lot of talls. Our midfield is mostly older. Once this current group of talls (as posted by J_P above) gets into their prime our mids will be older. Our age balance will be really off for the long term if we dont start getting a few good young mids into the team

This is a feeling amongst the majority of posters and it is also known that there is a major gap between the ages of our young KPP's and current mids. Therefore you would assume that we would go pure mids for the next few drafts plus taking into account the addition of Keays and Allison from the academy. Next years draft will be interesting as Allison is rated quite high and depending on where we finish we could have two of the best mids from next years draft.

 

[WhiteLionFeva]

We just need kerwality.

 

[jackess]

McStay is the odd one out of that group there jackess. Pretty sure he's 196cm isn't he?

Not 100% sold on him playing as a genuine tall yet. Especially down back.

 

[Haso]

Not 100% sold on him playing as a genuine tall yet. Especially down back.

I think long term he's a forward. I don't think he's in the Dawson or Gardener size category. Same height as Browny, but needs to put on quite a bit of weight.

 

[carnthemlions]

We've been drafting too many in between types; Beasley, McGuiness, Watts, Clayton, Dawson, Gardiner, McStay, etc. It was scary the lack of midfield depth this season.

some of those players are not like the others.

 

[Tassie4ever]

Not 100% sold on him playing as a genuine tall yet. Especially down back.

Will need to improve his defensive skills hugely, whether playing back or forward. A bit of specialised one-on-one with a NRL player perhaps.

Right now, despite his obvious marking ability, he is a real deficiency when the pill hits the ground.

 

[WhiteLionFeva]

Will need to improve his defensive skills hugely, whether playing back or forward. A bit of specialised one-on-one with a NRL player perhaps.

Right now, despite his obvious marking ability, he is a real deficiency when the pill hits the ground.

Players don't need to go to the NRL to see how to tackle (unless they are planning on adopting the spear tackle). Just sit them down in front of a video of Cyril Rioli or Eddie Betts. Pound for pound two of the best tacklers in the AFL.

 

[Quigley]

While its a long way ahead I wonder if we need to start looking at drafting more midfielders next year. The last couple of years we have taken on a lot of talls. Our midfield is mostly older. Once this current group of talls (as posted by J_P above) gets into their prime our mids will be older. Our age balance will be really off for the long term if we dont start getting a few good young mids into the team

We do need to get a few more pure mid types into the younger cohort but Keays and Wagner this year and Allison and Rolls next start to address the balance a fair bit I think.

 

[Sherrinator]

Yes, fully mature at 18.

Yeah a bit like Rich. No upside hey.

 

[Old Den]

We do need to get a few more pure mid types into the younger cohort but Keays and Wagner this year and Allison and Rolls next start to address the balance a fair bit I think.

And Harris the year after?

 

[scoman]

I think long term he's a forward. I don't think he's in the Dawson or Gardener size category. Same height as Browny, but needs to put on quite a bit of weight.

I think he looks the type who will be physically strong. Just has a swagger about him. Give him a couple more years and I can see him being extremely hard to match up on. I don't see him as a tall defend either. I think he will be a third tall forward who can switch ends if need be even start on a wing and drift forward.

 

[Ironmonger]

We do need to get a few more pure mid types into the younger cohort but Keays and Wagner this year and Allison and Rolls next start to address the balance a fair bit I think.

You're pretty confident we'll pick him, then?

 

[Leemas]

Little too optimistic about next years crop I feel. I watched all the games and didn't think Allison had near the impact of Keays in his bottom age year (although he was really good) I don't see the top 5 tag that's been placed on him. I hope like all hell he ends up there but I right now I see him as a poor mans bontempelli. Rolls on the other hand didnt catch my eye. There was another bloke real quick bugger who was an underage (name escapes me) who I think will rise next year. But other than Allison I didnt see anything to get that excited about.

 

[SizeMatters]

I have heard a bit about Allison. Is he quick? I know he is 190cm+
How is his contested ball winning ability? Does he have freakish moments like Bonts? A lot to get excited about that is for sure.

 

[Flea_29]

From exposed form I think the following are locks or as close as you can get:

Freeman
Andrews
McStay
Clarke

Not a lot of best 22 locks from our list though.

Question marks

Close
Gardiner
Schache
Hipwood

I'm just assuming we get Schache and Hipwood. Probably forgot some poor b@stard.

It is a good mix to have I think but expect to see a few ask to leave as positions are as rare as hens teeth.

There is no way that Clarke is (i) a lock and (ii) ahead of Gardiner.
Clarke is a great competitor, but lacks the poise and skill to play in the backline and be in our best 22. Watch him closely over the past 12 months and he continually fumbles and places others under pressure.

 

[PattyKwasagun]

Little too optimistic about next years crop I feel. I watched all the games and didn't think Allison had near the impact of Keays in his bottom age year (although he was really good) I don't see the top 5 tag that's been placed on him. I hope like all hell he ends up there but I right now I see him as a poor mans bontempelli. Rolls on the other hand didnt catch my eye. There was another bloke real quick bugger who was an underage (name escapes me) who I think will rise next year. But other than Allison I didnt see anything to get that excited about.

Important to remember though that Bontempelli wasn't even considered a top 10 draft pick himself until a few months out from the draft. Players like that can take a little while to put it all together, but you can see the glimpses earlier on - I think that's what the situation is with Allison. I haven't seen much of him play but have never heard people around QLD footy who know what they're talking about sound so excited about a young players as long as I've been involved.

 

[SizeMatters]

There is no way that Clarke is (i) a lock and (ii) ahead of Gardiner.
Clarke is a great competitor, but lacks the poise and skill to play in the backline and be in our best 22. Watch him closely over the past 12 months and he continually fumbles and places others under pressure.

I agree that Clarke doesn't really have an AFL brain but he is 2-3 inches taller than Gardiner. Also Clarke is projecting to be a better player than Merrett and he was eone of the premier FB in the comp.

Gardiner is undersized and injury prone. Andrews and from reports Hipwood are just better athletes and each have great intercept marking. Gardiner main drawback is that he is a stopper and offers not a lot on rebound. Although he is better with ball in hand than Clarke we once again have to ask if Gardiner can get enough size to stop 2m beasts. I don't think so.

 

[jjami15]

Gardiner is undersized and injury prone. Andrews and from reports Hipwood are just better athletes and each have great intercept marking. Gardiner main drawback is that he is a stopper and offers not a lot on rebound. Although he is better with ball in hand than Clarke we once again have to ask if Gardiner can get enough size to stop 2m beasts. I don't think so.

Gardiner is the same height as James Frawley, Scott Thompson, Darren Glass Brian Lake so I wouldn't call him undersized. What we've seen is his that he needs to add some polish to his bash and crash style but give the guy a couple more years to grow into his body and he might not be the rebounding type and more of a stopper and smarter with the way he plays so he's not getting the impact type injuries that he has had.

 

[SizeMatters]

Gardiner is the same height as James Frawley, Scott Thompson, Darren Glass Brian Lake so I wouldn't call him undersized. What we've seen is his that he needs to add some polish to his bash and crash style but give the guy a couple more years to grow into his body and he might not be the rebounding type and more of a stopper and smarter with the way he plays so he's not getting the impact type injuries that he has had.

All those you named will be retired before the 200cm+ power forwards start to peak. The worst they had to face were Brown and Roo which were more suited to their body type. I highly doubt the club would play Gardiner on Daniher, Lynch, Dixon, Wright etc... he would be destroyed.

 

[Balony_pony16]

Not 100% sold on him playing as a genuine tall yet. Especially down back.

Yeah, although I think he has talent, I am worried he will become a 1 trick pony type (marking) like Cornelius as a forward. As a back he is already light years behind Harris

 

[jjami15]

All those you named will be retired before the 200cm+ power forwards start to peak. The worst they had to face were Brown and Roo which were more suited to their body type. I highly doubt the club would play Gardiner on Daniher, Lynch, Dixon, Wright etc... he would be destroyed.

Your point is mute, three of the players I mentioned play now and play against those you mentioned. But to also add in your post there is this young bloke who stands at 200cm called Andrews who seems like he might go alright in the backline and this academy kid called Hipwood who also stands 200cm. Remember one of the great things about our game is that it takes all sizes and sorts. Gardiner will be a cornerstone of our defense for the best part of a decade and will form quite a strong back six with Andrews and co.

 

[snooplions]

I hope Schache and Weitering play on eachother every time the lions and carlton play. It will be an interesting little subplot and could develop into quite an epic rivalry.

 

[dlanod]

If we do get Schache we could be fielding a team where two of our key forwards and two of our key backs are taller than our ruck. Not sure that's something seen before.

 

[Quigley]

I have heard a bit about Allison. Is he quick? I know he is 190cm+
How is his contested ball winning ability? Does he have freakish moments like Bonts? A lot to get excited about that is for sure.

He does have a bit of the bont's about him. Has not played a huge amount of midfield up to this point but did very nicely when I saw him at the Champs. 193cm mid with a booming kick. Very good mark and with his size he can get over most mids and be very dangerous going forward. Played quite a bit of forward and can be dangerous resting up there. Reads the play nicely but could accumulate more. I think that will come. Needs to up his running. His inside work is surprisingly good although maybe not consistently so.

Talking to one recruiter from another club and he thinks we have a "gun" on our hands with Allison who would definitely be in the top 5 of his draft class as things stand atm.

 

[neg99]

He does have a bit of the bont's about him. Has not played a huge amount of midfield up to this point but did very nicely when I saw him at the Champs. 193cm mid with a booming kick. Very good mark and with his size he can get over most mids and be very dangerous going forward. Played quite a bit of forward and can be dangerous resting up there. Reads the play nicely but could accumulate more. I think that will come. Needs to up his running. His inside work is surprisingly good although maybe not consistently so.

Talking to one recruiter from another club and he thinks we have a "gun" on our hands with Allison who would definitely be in the top 5 of his draft class as things stand atm.

I've heard some folks describe him as an elite kicker (and best in the draft class so far) - does that sound accurate Quigley?

We could definitely use more elite kicking and at his height sounds like he could be anything.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk