List Mgmt. 2018 Draft Watch - Depth Chart In OP

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https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl...iscipline-sets-him-apart-20181107-p50elp.html

reading this, you can see why there was reportedly an audacious bid for us to get him...interesting that he fasts (I myself do it twice weekly)

“Is … is that Bailey?”

AFL 200 game premiership star Luke Ball held up his hand over his eyes, shielding himself from the sheeting rain as he peered across the oval.

“Yep, that’s him,” responded his brother and former Hawk Matt, who was hardly surprised.

It was pushing 5pm on a cold winter’s Saturday in Melbourne last year, approaching an hour after Xavier College had been beaten by arch rivals and flag favourites Haileybury in the APS schoolboy competition.

As coach Matt and his lieutenant Luke walked towards their cars, they spotted year 11 star Bailey Smith.

Still in his full playing kit, Bailey was running 200s.

“What are you doing, mate?” asked Luke, flanked by Matt as they reached him following a trek across the oval.

Bailey was punishing himself for a below-par performance.

“I could relate to it a little bit more,” laughed Luke, as he reflected on the standards he set himself as a junior.

Physically and athletically, he’s miles ahead.

Luke Ball
“For Bailey, it’s always: ‘I’m not doing enough’.

“Physically and athletically, he’s miles ahead of certainly where I was or any other 17-year-old that I’ve ever seen.

“We just reassured him that the eight extra 200s might help him sleep at night but it’s not going to be the difference between him getting drafted or not.”

Sixteen months on, Smith is about to be taken in the top 10 of the national draft.

And while the November 22 date will be occupying most of Smith’s mind, it’s not the only thing happening in a busy period in the teenager’s life.

He’s midway through his year 12 exams, he’s approaching his driving test to get his P-plates and is about to turn 18.

But there will be no raging party.

“Huh? Nah, no way!” Smith exclaimed.

“I’ve never hosted a party in my life. I hate it … there’s too much pressure!”

Ironically, pressure is something all to familiar to Smith, mainly because the vast majority of it is self-driven, as was evident in the extra running after last year’s loss to Haileybury.

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The food app used by Smith.

Not only is he renowned as one of the hardest trainers in this year’s draft pool, but he’s also incredibly strict on himself.

Smith plans and cooks every meal himself, intermittently fasts and has never touched a drop of alcohol – and doesn’t plan to for the entirety of his AFL career.

“I’ve never had it, it’s a mental thing, it’s just not worth it,” Smith told Fairfax Media.

“I’ve come this far, why waste it?”

“I might [try it] when I’m old. Like, really old.”

Smith wouldn’t be the only draftee who plans to stay away from the booze, but his dedication to his diet and personalised training program is unlikely to be matched.

Even during his exam period, Smith still trains twice a day, as he has done all year.

Running and skills in the morning, then study, followed by weights in the afternoon.

But, here’s the catch; he’s only allowed to eat between 2-9pm.

“I’ve always been a good eater, I’ve just become a lot better with planning out what I eat and when I eat it,” Smith said.

When Smith talks about his diet, it would make the average person feel guilty.

It doesn’t exactly get you salivating.

His current go-to meals include: egg whites and soy sauce with spinach, ham and Vita-Weats with spinach and a lot of chicken breast and green beans.

He’s even found sugar-free tomato sauce, which he sometimes allows himself to have on the side.

“It’s only 10 calories per 18-gram serve, which is good,” Smith said.

“It probably is a bit obsessive, but it’s just me doing what I love.

“I do skills and running in the morning, that burns your carb stores and then I have a coffee. I don’t like coffee but it just keeps me fresh.

“Then I study, then I eat, then I’ll hit the gym full of fuel.”

His running and skills work, usually done with his father Nick, is no walk in the park, either.

An average morning would entail three 800-metre efforts, followed by 10x400s and 10x200s.

Then it’s time to get the footy out.

It can’t be the reverse order for Smith. Skills have to follow running because then you’re doing everything “under fatigue”.

“Things like kicking goals on the run, hitting stationary targets when you’re gassed, that sort of stuff.”

Everyone tells me to tone it down. But I love it.

Bailey Smith
It’s a lifestyle that’s not only hard on Smith, but it’s taken some getting used to for his family, friends and girlfriend Charlotte.

Even when going out for family dinners, Smith will either eat before or after and simply sit at the table and make conversation.

“Everyone tells me to tone it down, because it can be pretty full-on at times. But I love it.”

In speaking to Smith, it’s nearly impossible not to be at least slightly inspired by his natural drive, let alone notice it.

In an era where so many kids are pushed too far by junior coaches or overzealous parents, Smith is simply a teenager destined to reach his maximum potential, whatever that is.

In his own words: he loves it.

When he’s not playing, training, preparing, cooking or eating, Smith can usually be found around family and friends or with his two beloved pups; golden retriever Willow and chocolate lab Bob.

And for the Sandringham Dragons captain, he’d love to begin his AFL journey in similar surroundings.

“I obviously understand that it’s a national competition and you can go anywhere, but I’d love to stay at home and I reckon I’d get the most out of myself if I did.”

Given what we know now, it seems highly unlikely that Bailey Smith won’t get the most out himself, wherever it is he ends up.
 
Happy enough with what the club has selected, I have faith in the recruiters and scouts.
Only disappointment for me is the re-rookie of Chol. Just don't see what he offers us to be honest.
Would have much rather taken a rookie ruck like Riley Bowman from Dandenong Stingrays.

Pretty sure even after we officially select Mav Weller we've still got a spot open on the list with this new selection window... Perhaps we get a few on the "permission to train" list if so and see what's about before going further...

Either that or the club has COMPLETE faith in Soldo as a backup option.
Or reckon CCJ is ready, given he was rested from VFL games this yr with a view to '19 this may be the plan.
 

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Wanted Valente or O'Halloran at our first pick but stoked to get RCD, he won't be a kid we see early on but give him 12 months in our system and he'll be a beast heading into 2020. Champion Data describe him as a Wines Oliver Hopper Powell-Pepper type and if that turns out to be correct may not need to trade for Hopper next year.

Jack Ross I reckon will play early as the kid has a ready made body at 186cm & 85kg, Champion Data describe him as a Wines Mitchell Mundy Ward type of player, like RCD if he comes on as hoped again may not need to go after Hopper. These 2 shape as long term Cotchin Martin replacements in the midfield, which could then allow Cotchin and Martin to play forwards later in their careers.

Fraser Turner is a replacement for Grigg down the track and is one of the youngest if not the youngest kid taken in the draft as he is still 17. Champion Data compare him to Masten Ed Langdon Tucker and Tom Phillips, kid already has an AFL tank and will only improve in our system.

Luke English to me is the steal of the draft. Kid averaged 30 disposals a game at Colts level and despite his size is capable of winning his own footy. Described as a Swallow Dunstan Hutchings Ed Curnow type of player he'll no doubt earn a shot down the track.

As for the rookie pick ups, Townsend was always going to come back once interest in him waned and as mentioned previously the kids that we've brought in are going to need protection and Townsend will definitely do that as will Weller. Aarts has earned a crack having been one of the VFL sides most consistent players over the last 3 seasons, while Chol has clearly been told that this is his last chance to make it. At the stage he was taken in the rookie draft there weren't that many options for a ready to go ruck to be brought in.
Cheers for the post, is there a link to the CD ratings/profile of our players?
 
A great haul.
We went after mids and got them.

RCD is our boom or bust big bodied mid. Could be our next star mid. He’s our risk pick, but a good one. His burst of pace out of the contest is exciting.

Ross is our inside grunt mid. Was kinda bummed we missed out on Bytel but stress fractures and a bulging disc in the back combined with shoddy kicking is a big price to pay for a guaranteed junior accumulator. Ross is safer, is a better kick, has desire and aggrsssion toward the contested ball. A safe pick that looks promising and speed out of the contest rivals RCD.

Turner looks a wingman, good runner good kick. Upgrade on Brandon. Something we are missing on our list although him and Naish in future years will be an exciting combo if at least one can run both ways.

English is another safe pick. Could be a 2nd tier mid, accumulate 20 odd possessions a match and not be overly damaging but contribute.

Stack is the wildcard. Could be a Dan Rioli type player but more mid than forward if he is committed. Let’s see how he handles training over the next few weeks.

An exciting haul.
RCD - a potential match winner.
Ross - a potential high possession inside mid.
English- A potential 2nd tier inside/outside mid.
Stack - An Edwards style mid, fingers crossed.
 
How do those unhappy about our lost depth feel now?
I was vocal about my unhappiness in losing midfield depth during the trade period, but getting Maverick Weller and the host of midfielders in the draft showed me that the club is aware of what they are deficient in. Yeah, none of them may end up impacting at AFL level next year, but I am now confident they know what they are doing.

I guess I was still not over our lack in awareness of our deficiencies in the past when this off-season came around and we lost much of our midfield depth. I thought they would not give enough attention to the gaping hole in our midfield. Still need to get used to the proactive and coherent Richmond.
 
Ballsy but stupid move by SOS. Giving up a top 3 pick next year is really dumb. This been universally condemned (unless you barrack for Carlton)

https://thewest.com.au/sport/afl-dr...d-losers-of-the-national-draft-ng-b881030386z

Carlton
We still can’t get over the trade they made in the first round. Unless they improve dramatically, the Blues essentially gave up a top-three pick in next year’s draft for pick No.19 and Adelaide’s first 2019 pick. The Crows were smashed by injury this season, so if they rebound it has the potential to be a disaster for the Blues. There’s arguments in support of the move, but selling it to a tired fanbase will be one hell of a task.

https://wwos.nine.com.au/afl/2018-a...ong-cats/fa21ca7f-f7dd-4776-a1c9-56eef230ff7c

Walsh is likely to be able to slot in alongside Carlton co-captain Patrick Cripps right away and has the potential to truly be one of the league's most elite midfield players. However, the Blues may have undone all their good work by a trade with the Adelaide Crows.

Carlton clearly saw a player it liked in Liam Stocker and traded 2019 first-round picks with the Crows in exchange for Adelaide's pick 19 and the rights to draft Stocker. Blues list manager Stephen Silvagni defended the trade and suggested that the team saw the move as the ability to get a player in a year early.

But make no mistakes about it, despite the positive moves they made throughout this off-season, including the trades to acquire Mitch McGovern and Will Setterfield, they are likely to be chained to the bottom of the ladder, making that 2019 pick a very valuable asset for the Crows.

http://www.espn.com.au/afl/story/_/id/25356894/afl-draft-2018-************-winners-losers


Carlton
Yes, Sam Walsh makes Carlton's midfield a lot better and is of comparable quality to recent first overall selections. The query is whether the Blues maximised the opportunity they had at pick 1 considering Jack Lukosius is arguably the best prospect of the last decade and Izak Rankine is likely to be better than anyone drafted in 2016 or 2017.

Carlton's trade of their 2019 first round selection for Liam Stocker and Adelaide's 2019 first round selection is ballsy but questionable considering there are several impressive midfielders expected to go inside the first five at next year's draft.

Skillful forward Finbar O'Dwyer was a surprise pick late, while Father-son prospect Ben Silvagni (son of Stephen) as a key forward and recycled rookie Hugh Goddard as a key back are questionable additions with Carlton's list already overflowing with key position players. It was also a surprise to see journeyman Tomas Bugg receive a third chance.

Grade D
 
Or reckon CCJ is ready, given he was rested from VFL games this yr with a view to '19 this may be the plan.
Same thought went through my mind yesterday watching some of his 2018 highlights.Reckon some could be panicking over nothing.
 
Question is would rfc still have taken RCD over stoker if Carltoon hadn’t jumped in?


On iPhone using BigFooty.com mobile app

Fans who went to the club's pre draft dinner last week who listened to Clarke give a presentation on a few players say yes. We rated RCD ahead of stoker.

I still can't get passed the fact he's 90kg but he looks 13 years old!
 
Fans who went to the club's pre draft dinner last week who listened to Clarke give a presentation on a few players say yes. We rated RCD ahead of stoker.

I still can't get passed the fact he's 90kg but he looks 13 years old!

Best selection tigers could have made imo. This kid could be anything


On iPhone using BigFooty.com mobile app
 

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