Draft 2021 AFLW Draft discussion

[The_Wookie]

Hi guys,

the live Draft thread is now open here.

Draft - The 2021 AFLW National Draft, 6.45pm AEST on womens.afl & the AFLW app

Click for a Full list of drafted players >> ============================ The 2021 AFLW Draft will take place on Tuesday, July 27 in a virtual format, commencing at 6.45pm AEST on womens.afl and the AFLW Official App. Like last year, it will be a studio show, hosted by Nat Edwards, Sarah...

www.bigfooty.com

 

[Lord of the Wings]

So just because she's one year older, she shouldn't be taken regardless of how good she is? And there are plenty of good players around that height.

She has an extra year of development on the others around the mark. Of course she is going to be ahead. She is almost 2 years older than Friend for example. I know who I'd rather

 

[Kchamp]

She has an extra year of development on the others around the mark. Of course she is going to be ahead. She is almost 2 years older than Friend for example. I know who I'd rather

Well if she's ahead why wouldn't you take her in a draft like this? Jess Fitzgerald is the exact same height and had a breakout season after being taken at pick 2 in last years draft. Ling could be the same.

 

[Pie 4 Life]

Ling will more likely than not be off the board when Richmond are up, so the argument might be negligible.

 

[Stan Judkins]

Young key position talents struggle against senior competition? Not really a shock

But, what about Grace McRae, shouldn't she go 1st round?

 

[Stan Judkins]

Ling will more likely than not be off the board when Richmond are up, so the argument might be negligible.

Yeah your right
We're looking for a FWD/MID so it's Slender or Friend with our 1st pick
We traded Frederick, Wakefield & Bernardi are into their 30's, we traded in J.Hosking (mid), M.Shevlin (def) & P.Kelly (ruck)
We need a gun KPF more than anything ATM
If Ling is at our 2nd pick we'll take her then, but it's more than likely she'll be long gone

 

[The_Wookie]

 

[Kchamp]

But, what about Grace McRae, shouldn't she go 1st round?

I'm a huge supporter of McRae. She was awesome in her first two games at Vic Country she looked like the standout on the inside. Unfortunately, her performances at Gippsland and Hawthorn weren't as impressive. I'm sure she would have gotten more notice if she had played in better teams. She should have gone to Southern Saints, they could have used her in the guts, Hawthorn had her playing at half-back. The hype of the u19 Championships has left. Other talents have risen.

 

[Kchamp]

Ling will more likely than not be off the board when Richmond are up, so the argument might be negligible.

Sorry Pie4Life, Do you think she could go sooner than Richmonds first pick?

 

[Stan Judkins]

I'm a huge supporter of McRae. She was awesome in her first two games at Vic Country she looked like the standout on the inside. Unfortunately, her performances at Gippsland and Hawthorn weren't as impressive. I'm sure she would have gotten more notice if she had played in better teams. She should have gone to Southern Saints, they could have used her in the guts, Hawthorn had her playing at half-back.

"I'm a huge supporter of McRae. She was awesome in her first two games at Vic Country she looked like the standout on the inside."
Yeah i know you are
Do you think she'll get drafted?

 

[Kchamp]

"I'm a huge supporter of McRae. She was awesome in her first two games at Vic Country she looked like the standout on the inside."
Yeah i know you are
Do you think she'll get drafted?

Yeah, I've still got around the second round mark this time. But I had Olivia Meagher in the same situation last year and she was overlooked. Who knows but I have her.

 

[Pie 4 Life]

Sorry Pie4Life, Do you think she could go sooner than Richmonds first pick?

Yep, a good chance to go to the Saints.

 

[Kchamp]

Yep, a good chance to go to the Saints.

Wow over Stella Reid? Do have an inside source?

 

[Pie 4 Life]

I'm a huge supporter of McRae. She was awesome in her first two games at Vic Country she looked like the standout on the inside. Unfortunately, her performances at Gippsland and Hawthorn weren't as impressive. I'm sure she would have gotten more notice if she had played in better teams. She should have gone to Southern Saints, they could have used her in the guts, Hawthorn had her playing at half-back. The hype of the u19 Championships has left. Other talents have risen.

The issue with McRae is she doesn't need to be in the guts, she needs to increase her versatility. Let's give an example of those who have missed out in recent years. Last year Olivia Meagher (as you mentioned missed out) she has gone on to play more outside at Collingwood (not just purely in the guts) to expand her versatility. Brooke Hards was rated an A+ as an inside mid with nothing left to prove, missed out and told to improve her versatility. She went to the Dogs and was thrown everywhere, but showed she could take up the challenge, and she has far more athleticism than McRae.

Compare McRae to other inside mids. Georgie Prespakis - can play forward, wins the same (usually more) of the ball, and has greater impact going forward. Charlie Rowbottom - better in the air, can play FF. Tess Craven - consistent, better around stoppages and able to get separation going forward. Amanda Ling - better athleticism and matches her in most other areas.

As a person and player, McRae is someone I respect for the role she plays, and I love that she toils so hard for her team, she's someone as a player I'd love to have on my team. But she just doesn't have that elite trait that others have, or the others are just better in certain areas. Yes she's able to win the ball on the inside and tackle, but once the ball is on the outside, she does not have the same impact like a Ling, Craven etc.

For me McRae is someone who has to go and play other roles in order to get drafted, open up her versatility and show she can impact in other areas. That's what others have had to do in the past and will continue to do. I hope she does make it to AFLW, but right now she just lacks that elite trait/standout trait that others have, with many inside mids able to match her with her best qualities of inside ball-winning/tackling.

 

[Stan Judkins]

Yep, a good chance to go to the Saints.

Yes i've heard that too, Amanda Ling to the Saints 1st pick

 

[Pie 4 Life]

Wow over Stella Reid? Do have an inside source?

There's a reason an article popped up about her this week on the AFLW site. If I had to say right now she'd be the more likely one for that selection.

 

[Kchamp]

The issue with McRae is she doesn't need to be in the guts, she needs to increase her versatility. Let's give an example of those who have missed out in recent years. Last year Olivia Meagher (as you mentioned missed out) she has gone on to play more outside at Collingwood (not just purely in the guts) to expand her versatility. Brooke Hards was rated an A+ as an inside mid with nothing left to prove, missed out and told to improve her versatility. She went to the Dogs and was thrown everywhere, but showed she could take up the challenge, and she has far more athleticism than McRae.

Compare McRae to other inside mids. Georgie Prespakis - can play forward, wins the same (usually more) of the ball, and has greater impact going forward. Charlie Rowbottom - better in the air, can play FF. Tess Craven - consistent, better around stoppages and able to get separation going forward. Amanda Ling - better athleticism and matches her in most other areas.

As a person and player, McRae is someone I respect for the role she plays, and I love that she toils so hard for her team, she's someone as a player I'd love to have on my team. But she just doesn't have that elite trait that others have, or the others are just better in certain areas. Yes she's able to win the ball on the inside and tackle, but once the ball is on the outside, she does not have the same impact like a Ling, Craven etc.

For me McRae is someone who has to go and play other roles in order to get drafted, open up her versatility and show she can impact in other areas. That's what others have had to do in the past and will continue to do. I hope she does make it to AFLW, but right now she just lacks that elite trait/standout trait that others have, with many inside mids able to match her with her best qualities of inside ball-winning/tackling.

Could you do me a favour Pie 4Life could you show us your phantom draft. I've seen PMB's but I'd like to see yours.

 

[Pie 4 Life]

Could you do me a favour Pie 4Life could you show us your phantom draft. I've seen PMB's but I'd like to see yours.

Haven't really thought about it much, but expect the Top 10 to be something like:

1 GC - Rowbottom
2 Geelong - Prespakis
3 WC - Rowley
4 St Kilda - Ling
5 Richmond - Slender
6 GC - Levi
7 Geelong - Craven
8 GC - Goodwin
9 Geelong - Friend
10 Carlton - Reid

 

[Stan Judkins]

There's a reason an article popped up about her this week on the AFLW site. If I had to say right now she'd be the more likely one for that selection.

The reasoning i was given is Saints want Patrikios & Smith a bit more outside to use the ball without so much pressure in the coal face, hence the desire to draft a really good inside mid to feed the ball out especially to those 2
A name wasn't given , but Ling or Craven fits that requirement

 

[Kchamp]

Haven't really thought about it much, but expect the Top 10 to be something like:

1 GC - Rowbottom
2 Geelong - Prespakis
3 WC - Rowley
4 St Kilda - Ling
5 Richmond - Slender
6 GC - Levi
7 Geelong - Craven
8 GC - Goodwin
9 Geelong - Friend
10 Carlton - Reid

So you have the utilities high as well.

 

[Pie 4 Life]

The reasoning i was given is Saints want Patrikios & Smith a bit more outside to use the ball without so much pressure in the coal face, hence the desire to draft a really good inside mid to feed the ball out especially to those 2
A name wasn't given , but Ling or Craven fits that requirement

We're pretty close with the junior clubs, it was a "don't be surprised if..."

Not a fully fledged guarantee, but where there's smoke there's fire.

 

[PMBangers]

I'm a huge supporter of McRae. She was awesome in her first two games at Vic Country she looked like the standout on the inside. Unfortunately, her performances at Gippsland and Hawthorn weren't as impressive. I'm sure she would have gotten more notice if she had played in better teams. She should have gone to Southern Saints, they could have used her in the guts, Hawthorn had her playing at half-back. The hype of the u19 Championships has left. Other talents have risen.

Her performances for Gippsland were essentially all best on ground, not sure that would be a reason she wouldn't be considered/ a mark against

 

[jatz14]

She has an extra year of development on the others around the mark. Of course she is going to be ahead. She is almost 2 years older than Friend for example. I know who I'd rather

She doesn't. She missed a season of TAC cup due to having a knee injury in the preseason. Then the following year Covid hit. It's why she decided to go back as an over ager rather than go straight to the VFLW.

On moto g(6) plus using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Pie 4 Life]

So you have the utilities high as well.

As someone who has watched both Slender and Friend since they were 14/15 playing V/Line, my ratings of players don't go off one season. In fact, by the time it gets to draft day I've probably watched Slender for example 30 times live maybe over the years. They show signs as Under 15s, you look for development and what they achieve, and also when they get to this year, those who can improve further, compared to those who might cap themselves at where they are at.

Slender is a 175cm key defender who moved forward in stints last year, and a little bit this year, as well as through the midfield. She had 27 disposals against a fully stocked Calder midfield, the most of any player in the NAB League this season. She is genuinely the most unique prospect going around.

Friend is the best contested mark in the draft. She can take pack marks against three or four players. Not only that, she has the athleticism to roam up the ground, play as a wing and had a deadly, powerful left foot. She is someone who is equally able to play in multiple roles.

They are both very, very good players. Stats might not show that, and yeah, Slender's had a pretty ordinary start to the VFLW, though against Collingwood many would. She's playing as a forward and is still lightly built compared to stronger opponents. Friend is stronger in the upper body, and is more confident. Slender is confidence based player who a teammate last year said "when she was on she was unstoppable, but when she was off she would be right off". You get that with talls. It happens, but the upside on both Slender and Friend? Enormous.

 

[Kchamp]

Her performances for Gippsland were essentially all best on ground, not sure that would be a reason she wouldn't be considered/ a mark against

Her numbers are definitely better than her VFLW numbers. But when you're a team at the bottom of the ladder, it can hurt you. There are some good talents at Gippsland that seem to have fallen under the radar, Grace Matser, Matilda Van Burkle (Who has been highly rated by AFL Draft Central in the past), and Grace McRae.

 

[Pie 4 Life]

Here's some information from when I went to the V'Line Cup three years ago. Some of the names will look familiar for the upcoming draft, and most were 14/15 at the time depending on when they were born in the year.