2009 draft groupthink

[Gavin Excell]

First time in ages clubs are so willingly trading their first round, second round and 3rd round picks. This willingess to pass up picks for dubious recycled players is interesting given it was almost heresy to pass your first round pick in recent years.

It clearly suggests the view of most/all clubs is that this 2009 draft is weak.

That may well be the case but is it possible that there's an incredible amount of group think going on, with all talent spotters folowing the leader and falling into line with the view the draft is weak. Are clubs player identification systems that sophisticated or are they all just jumping on board the majority view?

Perhaps the clubs that hold on to their draft picks will yet emerge the winners

 

[Mervyn Beasley]

Yeah, kinda makes u wonder if theres a heap of Hirds and Grants lurking and then after a year or 2 a douple of Mitchells in the VFL.

 

[Rack Watts]

Dylan McNeil, under estimate at your own downfall.

 

[omit]

clubs can do one of two things. hoard picks in this draft and build/continue re-building (Melbourne) or realise that with the GC and WS teams coming in to the competition they better have a crack at the title while they can by topping up (Brisbane, Collingwood) because the next few drafts are going to be very slim for the current 16 teams

also a number of high profile players have declared their intentions to change clubs (Mclean, Ball, Burgoyne) and Fev getting kicked out of Carlton means there is a lot of value in trading some high picks and fringe players

 

[thejester]

Four clubs are taking that attitude. The others are still backing the draft.

 

[Durham Hawks]

it may not be a "weak" draft, what it might be is a poorly identified draft. like an earlier poster said - there could be hirds, grants or dean cox's out there which have not been identified by the mainstream. maybe that's why clubs are still interested in trading up their third and fourth round picks as part of deals.

 

[pinion]

i think there's also some good value to be had as clubs clear out some gifted but unfulfilled talent to get a decent crack at 'the last uncompromised draft' (god i'm sick of hearing that). the clubs that aren't within a stones throw of a flag pretty much have to get their list right with this draft

 

[Cohzee]

At least we have had an intriguing trade week for once.

 

[Brilliant]

Collingwood has enough young players. Mick has a deadline now and doesn't have time to develop anymore of them.
It is now or never for Mick.

Sydney believe they can't bottom out, ever.

Clarkson has a man crush on Burgoyne, they also have enough kids.

Vossy may not rate the draft, want to smash GC, counter Hunt with Fev for attention or not like the list he got from Leigh. They have alot of kids as well.

 

[Play by Numbers]

As far as I know the Eagles have been trading for picks, albeit lower ones.

Would probably only have used 3 selections anyway, this way though we increase the chances of drafting the players we rate.

More than likely it could also have to do with quite a few clubs possibly thinking they are a genuine shot next year, so are topping up.

 

[West123]

It makes sense that teams don't do the same thing each year and that trends change. Hawthorn are a great example. They trotted out alot of kids and showed depth I was unaware they had accumulated. So this year they went and got two extra starters because they didn't need more depth.