Phantom Draft Tarquin's 2008 Draft with explanations.

[sinepari]

Good explanations and at least you have the Eagles addressing their need for a small forward fairly early. Only surprise is Strauss, he is not someone that most other phantom drafts seem to have mentioned. I'd still like a small defender in their somewhere however.

disagree. many who actually know something have him in going top 40.

Small defenders are not a priority, especially when Selwood or Mcginnity will be more than capable.

Our midfield is shit. We need as much depth as possible.

 

[sydney eagle]

disagree. many who actually know something have him in going top 40.

Small defenders are not a priority, especially when Selwood or Mcginnity will be more than capable.

Our midfield is shit. We need as much depth as possible.

Our midfield is NOT shit. It was devestated by injuries last year. We have shown an inability to shut down opposing teams small forwards in the past so a small defender is more of a priority than adding three or four midfielders to the dozen or so that we already have. I think that an obsession with midfielders is unhealthy and would keep the Eagles from improving in the other areas that need it .

 

[goodie23]

St Kilda – Midfielders with some speed and a small forward. Also looking at a key position defender.

While that draft would be a great result for us, the tag-team of Milne and Schneider means a small forward is not high on our shopping list. A medium lead-up forward in the mould of O'Keefe is a much greater need.

 

[Cruiser23]

Our midfield is NOT shit. It was devestated by injuries last year. We have shown an inability to shut down opposing teams small forwards in the past so a small defender is more of a priority than adding three or four midfielders to the dozen or so that we already have. I think that an obsession with midfielders is unhealthy and would keep the Eagles from improving in the other areas that need it .

Would it help ease your mind if i said Strauss is a very good one-on-one defender and is more than capable of playing a defensive role?

 

[sinepari]

Our midfield is NOT shit. It was devestated by injuries last year. We have shown an inability to shut down opposing teams small forwards in the past so a small defender is more of a priority than adding three or four midfielders to the dozen or so that we already have. I think that an obsession with midfielders is unhealthy and would keep the Eagles from improving in the other areas that need it .

To use an early pick on a specialist small defender would be draft suicide.

Our midfield was not devastated by injuries early in the year, and we were still getting flogged. It's too slow, our ball use is shocking and we make poor decision.

There are young midfielders on our list that have great potential, no doubt, but to pass up 2 quality mids at 18 and 20 if available would be silly.

I'm as big a WC fan as anyone, but if you seriously think that injuries were the only problem we had last year, you are seriously deluded. We played shit football.

 

[Kerrby04]

Our midfield is NOT shit. It was devestated by injuries last year. We have shown an inability to shut down opposing teams small forwards in the past so a small defender is more of a priority than adding three or four midfielders to the dozen or so that we already have. I think that an obsession with midfielders is unhealthy and would keep the Eagles from improving in the other areas that need it .

our defence was pretty much devastated by injuries bar selwood. embley was good at halfback while he was there.

2009 defence would be as solid as the 06flag at full fitness. (hurn glass bones embley wilkes selwood)

wce priority will be a class mid who has quality disposal and a outside quick mid. another priority will be a solid small forward.

2 mids and a small forward in our first 3 picks.

or what looks mostlikely to be

a KP, a mid, a small forward.

 

[swannies]

Good effort, well thought out and enjoyed the read Tarquin.

 

[Trav 20]

I like Schoenmakers as a player, I know in this day and age positions don't matter too much, but I see both Watts and Schoenmakers as CHF's, and disregarding his height, I'm not sold on Schoenmakers being able to play KP, I don't know what it is but from when I've seen him play I think 3rd tall...

I don't agree. The game is becoming more and more athletic and here are 2 talls that have genuine football class combined with exceptional speed.

Predicting whether a player will become genuinely key position when still only 17 is pure guesswork based on not a lot. Recent unsubstantiated reports have Schoenmakers now nudging 194cms. How many forwardlines have 2 old fashioned 'stay at home' key forwards in an era of uncontested footy ? I think the 2 could reak havoc in the oppositions defensive half of the ground.

Would love them both.

 

[sydney eagle]

To use an early pick on a specialist small defender would be draft suicide.

Our midfield was not devastated by injuries early in the year, and we were still getting flogged. It's too slow, our ball use is shocking and we make poor decision.

There are young midfielders on our list that have great potential, no doubt, but to pass up 2 quality mids at 18 and 20 if available would be silly.

I'm as big a WC fan as anyone, but if you seriously think that injuries were the only problem we had last year, you are seriously deluded. We played shit football.

The problems that you refer to can be addressed by improved coaching. Ball use from the defence was even more shocking than that from other parts of the ground. We played shit football because of a lack of basic skills, this is a problem that can be fixed by coaching rather than by drafting a whole heap of extra midfielders and refusing to bolster our defence. If you don't think that injuries were a major problem last year then you are seriously deluded. I'm all for getting ONE quality mid early on but if it comes down to a choice of a second midfielder or a small defender of similar quality i'd prefer the small defender.

 

[LemmingMaster]

Re: Tarquin's 2008 Draft with explainations.

You stated that Carlton needs a KPP, but you then have us picking Ziebell ahead of Hurley?

Basically Ziebell was picked to cover the forward line part of my comment. I wrote those comments first, then started picking the players second. Tried to keep it as real as possible, so I did not just have a preconceived idea of which player went where.

I had in the back of my mind, Yarran, as Carltons selection. The "words" of the Carlton selectors went to say Yarran, but the name Ziebell popped out. Just could not bite the bullet with Yarran. Obviously being my mock draft, I just have this feeling that Hurley will slip down the draft order.

I guess in the end, I tried to pick two players for the forward line with our first two picks. Having the second pick at 40th ment that I did not take what I thought was a bigger risk with my selection at 6 (Hurley or Yarran or Trengove).

It was a lot tougher than I expected, made even more so by the fact I somehow missed out Broadbent along the way.

 

[LemmingMaster]

I know I'm nitpicking, and I would be happy with all those picks, but if Melbourne came out of the draft with those players I would not be over the moon.

I will stand by the Schoenmakers decision, in hindsight, the pick of Sam Wright should have been at least a ruckman.

The fact that Broadbent was missed, means you would have another option at pick 35. You could have picked DeBoer instead or even Suban, if he slid down to your pick.

 

[sinepari]

The problems that you refer to can be addressed by improved coaching. Ball use from the defence was even more shocking than that from other parts of the ground. We played shit football because of a lack of basic skills, this is a problem that can be fixed by coaching rather than by drafting a whole heap of extra midfielders and refusing to bolster our defence. If you don't think that injuries were a major problem last year then you are seriously deluded. I'm all for getting ONE quality mid early on but if it comes down to a choice of a second midfielder or a small defender of similar quality i'd prefer the small defender.

Coaching will only go so far. Natural ability to choose the right target and hit it is rare.

Guys like Priddis, JMAC and Ebert [yes I know, Ebert will be a gun, but his foot skills let him down a bit last year] are never going to have beautiful skills. Yes, they can be improved to a good level, but will never be to an elite level.

My point is, there will be plenty of small forwards and medium defenders at 36 and 52 if that's what we need. Of course we cannot overlook other areas just so we can restock out mids, but IMO the midfield is where the game is won or lost.

In terms of small forwards, I'm confident that a player such as Bennell, who might even slide to our rookie selection/s, could fill the small forward role perfectly. If we take Walters @ 18 or 20, it won't be because we see him as a perminent small forward, rather we see his capacity to move up the ground in time.

 

[Bestbird]

Coaching will only go so far. Natural ability to choose the right target and hit it is rare.

Guys like Priddis, JMAC and Ebert [yes I know, Ebert will be a gun, but his foot skills let him down a bit last year] are never going to have beautiful skills. Yes, they can be improved to a good level, but will never be to an elite level.

My point is, there will be plenty of small forwards and medium defenders at 36 and 52 if that's what we need. Of course we cannot overlook other areas just so we can restock out mids, but IMO the midfield is where the game is won or lost.

In terms of small forwards, I'm confident that a player such as Bennell, who might even slide to our rookie selection/s, could fill the small forward role perfectly. If we take Walters @ 18 or 20, it won't be because we see him as a perminent small forward, rather we see his capacity to move up the ground in time.

Sydney Eagle did have some points in regards to West coasts midfield woes this year in regard to injuries

Kerr missing 4 weeks in the pre season was a bit of a blow as he would have lost some conditioning, not good considering he was going to cop a heavy tag

Lecras was also injured in round 1, in the previous years finals series he had some impact rotating through the midfield at times, Something he was also doing at West Perth before he made the grade at AFL level.

Priddis also missed several games early

And then their was Sam Butler who never got on the park again this year


We also recruited Masten and Ebert lasy year with our early picks

But having said all that i think we will definately go for the best available midfielders in the second round (assuming Nicnat is selected with our 1st round pick).

As the point you made

There will plenty of players available that can fulfill the roles of defenders or small forwards later in the draft

 

[Colin Grigson]

Melbourne

1. Watts
17. Blease
19. Schoenmakers
35. Shuey
51. Wright


Mate, if you swapped Roughead for Shuey at pick 35 I would be absolutely ecstatic with those picks!!!

I rate Blease and Schoenmakers as top 10, and Roughead 1st or early 2nd round.

I don't know how Wright tests for athletic ability, but going on what he showed in the U-18 GF, he could go a fair bit higher than 51.


N.B. no Alistair Smith???? I thought he was rated for his pace and skill??

 

[LemmingMaster]

N.B. no Alistair Smith???? I thought he was rated for his pace and skill??

Alistair Smith, he could get a spot later in the draft.

It is always hard working out who to leave out.

 

[Colin Grigson]

Alistair Smith, he could get a spot later in the draft.

It is always hard working out who to leave out.

Ok thanks.

I was just under the impression that he was some chance of being a 2nd or 3rd rounder. He's obviously got at least 4 clubs interested, being invited to draft camp and all. he tested well for speed, but there isn't much talk about him on BF...

 

[LemmingMaster]

Ok thanks.

I was just under the impression that he was some chance of being a 2nd or 3rd rounder. He's obviously got at least 4 clubs interested, being invited to draft camp and all. he tested well for speed, but there isn't much talk about him on BF...

I made a mistake

 

[TheBigUnit]

Ali Smith (Perth) was invited to DC too, Tarquin.

http://www.afl.com.au/News/NEWSARTICLE/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsId=68589 (9th in repeat sprint, =10th in vertical leap)

 

[LemmingMaster]

It sucks having two Smiths with almost the same first name, I seemed to forget about Alistair Smith.

Considering he was invited to the main dc, you would say there is interest. This being my first Mock draft, there is always a couple of names who you just seem to miss out.

Motlop,was another name I think could slip into Port's hand. Sibasado, Gugliotta, Kilpin, Stanton, Bennell, Garlett are other names which could make it...

I guess we will find out on the day.