How do you rate our draft haul?

[Cuzz09]

Look at Collingwood, they hardly have a conventional fwd set up.

Smalls and Middle sizes and a giant yank now n then.

But they make it work.

like u did in 16.

Just guys who bust their ass.

That's all it is, the will to win

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[doggiesin08]

We obviously had holes in our list and have addressed them:

• player with more ink than the rest of the last combined - Harmes. Tick
• injured high draft pick who grew up a Dogs supporter - Coffield. Tick
• Tasmanian gun from private school - Sanders. Tick
• third (not second!) sibling to counteract the 'dud brother' curse - O'Driscoll. Tick
• wingman with confusing surname based in Ballarat to at least play in all Mars games (also from private school) - Freijah. Tick
• nostalgic Warragul/Gippsland pick of a 30yo toolie masquerading as a schoolie - Smith. Tick

I don't see any problem...?

Do they have the right size hands?

 

[maddog37]

This off season and draft has instilled a sense of hope and optimism where all I felt from mid last year was a general apathy and apprehension.

 

[Mantra]

I’m going to side step the second part of that because it’s not constructive.

I’m on board with adding to our small forward stocks if there are good options available at the right price, but it sounds like that just wasn’t the case with our picks. If O’Driscoll projects as a better small forward than an alternate “specialist” should we not draft him just because he can also play on the wing? We could put another Ben Cavarra on the list but it won’t achieve anything.

If Lachie McNeil is getting put back on the list it says a lot about our recruitments teams perspective on the quality of those still available. I’d rather they just take a punt anyway, but given you don’t follow the draft that’s probably a good indicator for what’s out there.

Fair enough.

That being said, I don't trust our recruiters judgement. These are the same recruiters who thought it was a good idea to bring in Robbie McComb.

 

[hujsh]

Fair enough.

That being said, I don't trust our recruiters judgement. These are the same recruiters who thought it was a good idea to bring in Robbie McComb.

Don't get the hate for McComb. He didn't work out but taking a proven VFL performer with a good work ethic and seeing how he improves in an AFL environment with the last spot on the list is not a terrible decision.

Didn't work out but he played games so the coaches must not have thought he was too far from contributing. No one has the same smoke for Declan Hamilton who never played a game in 3 years and he was pick 39, not a speculative rookie.

I don't agree with all the times we played McComb necessarily but giving him an opportunity wasn't some inconceivable atrocity

 

[Mantra]

Don't get the hate for McComb. He didn't work out but taking a proven VFL performer with a good work ethic and seeing how he improves in an AFL environment with the last spot on the list is not a terrible decision.

Didn't work out but he played games so the coaches must not have thought he was too far from contributing. No one has the same smoke for Declan Hamilton who never played a game in 3 years and he was pick 39, not a speculative rookie.

I don't agree with all the times we played McComb necessarily but giving him an opportunity wasn't some inconceivable atrocity

Nobody hates McComb. The issue is that a short accumulator who can't kick was literally the last thing the list needed. There's a long list of proven VFL performers with good work ethic. We could've at least picked up a player who played in a position of need, but clearly a sensible recruit wasn't going to satisfy the coach.

 

[Norm De Guerre]

I'm not a draft watcher, I don't have specific names for you

I simply take issue with the demographic of the list. We need small forwards, but continue to not recruit them.

I don't understand why we need to re-list a plodder like Lachie McNeil instead of giving a chance to whoever the next best small forward was.

Like ruckman. Playing as a specialist mall forward is such a niche role in an age of finite list spots how many should we carry?

As it stands we currently have Cody Weightman, Arthur Jones and Charlie Clarke. All small forwards who have been recruited over the past 4 drafts.

I could also add Harvey Gallagher to the list as he played most of his junior career as a small forward/utility. However he looks better suited to a half back role at AFL level, but that may change.

I could add Ben Cavarra to the list of recent small forwards but he was a bust and is now gone.

You can bang your we dont recruit small forwards drum as much as you like. But in the end its just noisy nonsense.

 

[hatescaptcha]

O’Driscolls running ability seems made for HF.

Freijah is a lock for long term wingman.

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[Boyd oh Boyd]

For anyone doubting O'Driscoll's ability as a forward, the Colts Grand Final is worth a watch (for O'Driscoll and because it's an entertaining game). He spends about half the game on the wing, the other half forward. As a wing he has a couple of moments of impact but struggles to get involved. As a forward he plays the role extremely well. He kicks the first two goals and uses his pace to create space and separation for both himself and his team. Two more shots in the second quarter, one a running shot from range that goes out on the full, the other a set shot that hits the post. He has a knack for burning his opponent and slingshotting back towards goal. To my eye was the fastest player out there and can collect the ground ball at pace.

Will need to apply more pressure at AFL level but he shows plenty of 'natural forward' ability.

 

[flipper83]

Based on what? He played on the wing at junior level.
Playing wingers and midfielders up forward is one of the big problems this club has had for years. Arthur Jones is another one- he was terrible up forward this year, looked completely lost.

The half forward in the modern game plays more like a wing anyway. The Steven Milne type player who stays deep crumbing goals is a thing of the past. At least until the game changes again

Nobody hates McComb. The issue is that a short accumulator who can't kick was literally the last thing the list needed. There's a long list of proven VFL performers with good work ethic. We could've at least picked up a player who played in a position of need, but clearly a sensible recruit wasn't going to satisfy the coach.

McComb was brought in after Melbourne ripped our midfield a new one in the Grand Final. I think the idea was that he would bring a physical presence and defensive mindset. Only problem was that he wasn't very good.
I don't mind his recruitment. Just think he should have been delisted sooner.

 

[Euku]

Bulldogs Media | Western Bulldogs

Watch the latest videos from the Western Bulldogs

www.westernbulldogs.com.au

Our draft team talking about O'Driscoll

 

[dogwatch]

Another perspective on our draft haul...

We expect Sanders and Croft to be very good pick ups and long term players, as you would for any two first rounders. So let's take those two as a given. If either made it into the top 10 rated players in the AFL that would be brilliant but it's not the bar they have to clear to be deemed a successful first rounder.

In my view the real test for this draft will be whether any of our next three picks - 45, 47 or 55 - will yield a 100 gamer/regular senior player. For picks in the 45-55 range the long term averages aren't all that flash. We've been a bit spoiled with the likes of Dale, Wood, Daniel, etc.
Anyway here's my evaluation scale based on whether they become 100 gamers/regulars or not:

0 = FAIL
1 = PASS
2 = EXCELLENT DRAFT
3 = HIT IT OUT OF THE PARK

Realistically we should hope for 2 real good 'uns. Don't care which two. That would be a great result.

 

[geoffjennings79]

Realistically we should hope for 2 real good 'uns. Don't care which two. That would be a great result.

I'd actually hope for 4 real good 'uns... but settle for 2.

Or is that accepting mediocrity?!

 

[VitalDread]

Glad we addressed our wing issues with Joel and Adrian
Both can be seen as long term.options for those roles

Ideally have Dom rotating with Joel and Adrian in the vfl next year while they all develop

 

[Turtleman3]

Mail:Sanders was the player they wanted. Wanted to get Croft no earlier than pick 15.

Opinion: Essendon saw this as payback for taking Tory Dickson

29

Tory Dickson

Age

36

Ht

184cm

Wt

85kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.5

3star

K

6.9

3star

HB

5.7

4star

M

3.5

4star

T

2.9

4star

G

1.6

5star

No current season stats available

D

12.8

4star

K

7.0

3star

HB

5.8

4star

M

3.2

4star

T

3.4

5star

G

1.0

4star

in the 2011 national draft.

 

[Mr. Walker]

IF
Sanders turns out the equal of the Bont, and
Croft is the equal of Chris Grant, and
Freijah is as good as Doug Hawkins, and
Smith is another Gary Dempsy, and
O’Driscoll is as good as a really really good player,
THEN
I don’t think anyone would argue with my assessment that this is a great draft haul.

 

[Doggy]

Lol half the Essendope Lual thread is about how they all came onto our board to get our reactions and how funny it was.

That's why you select a draftee

 

[Mantra]

Like ruckman. Playing as a specialist mall forward is such a niche role in an age of finite list spots how many should we carry?

As it stands we currently have Cody Weightman, Arthur Jones and Charlie Clarke. All small forwards who have been recruited over the past 4 drafts.

I could also add Harvey Gallagher to the list as he played most of his junior career as a small forward/utility. However he looks better suited to a half back role at AFL level, but that may change.

I could add Ben Cavarra to the list of recent small forwards but he was a bust and is now gone.

You can bang your we dont recruit small forwards drum as much as you like. But in the end its just noisy nonsense.

He is a winger who has been pigeonholed into the small forward role, and he's terrible at it. Clearly you do not know the list very well.

Harvey Gallagher? Lol.

 

[maddog37]

He is a winger who has been pigeonholed into the small forward role, and he's terrible at it. Clearly you do not know the list very well.

Harvey Gallagher? Lol.

The way you respond to people is juvenile and rude.

Labouring the same point is tiresome too as well as overly combative in its delivery.

We are all supporters so perhaps try a little harder to be polite if possible.

 

[Norm De Guerre]

He is a winger who has been pigeonholed into the small forward role, and he's terrible at it. Clearly you do not know the list very well.

Harvey Gallagher? Lol.

Don't be obtuse.

Jones may be a wingman at AFL level some day. But he hasn't shown an ability to win the ball or run out games when played further up the ground at Footscray. What he did show was an ability to impact games for short periods as a small pressure forward. Something that saw him debut well before he would've if he'd been pigeonholed as a wingman.

If you knew so much about our list you'd know that Gallagher played much of his junior career as a forward until he was shifted to the half back line in his draft year.

Care to address the other small forwards that I mentioned the club recruiting with 1st and 2nd round picks over the last 4 years?

Something that runs counter to your idiotic narrative that the club doesn't recruit small forwards?

 

[Mantra]

The way you respond to people is juvenile and rude.

Labouring the same point is tiresome too as well as overly combative in its delivery.

We are all supporters so perhaps try a little harder to be polite if possible.

Yeah, a poster who says

You can bang your we dont recruit small forwards drum as much as you like. But in the end its just noisy nonsense.

is surely entitled to a polite response

 

[Mantra]

The way you respond to people is juvenile and rude.

Labouring the same point is tiresome too as well as overly combative in its delivery.

We are all supporters so perhaps try a little harder to be polite if possible.

Nothing to see here either?:

Something that runs counter to your idiotic narrative that the club doesn't recruit small forwards?

 

[maddog37]

Nothing to see here either?:

You reap what you sow.

Try and ignore it and rise above.

 

[Mantra]

You reap what you sow.

Try and ignore it and rise above.

I reap what I sow? Let us examine the chain of replies.

First I made this post:

I'm not a draft watcher, I don't have specific names for you.

I simply take issue with the demographic of the list. We need small forwards, but continue to not recruit them.

I don't understand why we need to re-list a plodder like Lachie McNeil instead of giving a chance to whoever the next best small forward was.

Then this rude poster replies with:

You can bang your we dont recruit small forwards drum as much as you like. But in the end its just noisy nonsense.

Then I replied with a backhand:

He is a winger who has been pigeonholed into the small forward role, and he's terrible at it. Clearly you do not know the list very well.

Harvey Gallagher? Lol.

and you're attempting to lecture ME on being juvenile and rude? lol

It's pretty clear there are people here who have difficulties tolerating a difference of opinion, and cannot let such posts slip by without venting out some pent up aggression and rudeness. By all means though keep pretending it's only coming from me

 

[maddog37]