2010 AFL Draft

[ThePuppetMaster]

i know its early, but the championships have just been played and therefore our ideas now will probably as good as ever.

do we pick players on a needs basis? or go with the best player available policy?

We are likely to get one of picks 4,6,8 or 10 in my opinion its most likely to be pick 8

we obviously need some more KPF stocks, which makes me think we would go for someone like Jack Darling at pick 8, he had a poor championships but he has shown he has talent, he is 190cm though which may be a little on the short side for a KPF, but he is also likely to grow a bit as well. If Gorringe was available i would be tempted to go for him simply because his ruckwork is so advanced for his age, even though we have Gawn and Fitzy as potential ruckman, but gorringe looks to be one of the best ruck talents going around, it would be stupid to pass him up.

If we were to draft on best available basis, someone like gaff may be available at 8... this is very unlikely but i have heard complaints about the depth of his kicking ability and his ability to win contested ball, which may lessen his appeal to some recruiters. Someone like Dion Prestia or Ben Jacobs would be available i think or Jayden Pitt, who has great raps on him about speed and footskills or joshua green.

it all really depends on what earlier clubs do, the gold coast will probably go for the best player available, the fact that the draft is compromized may tempt teams to go for needs, but i would discourage it for melbourne unless one of the best players available fits our needs. Thoughts?

 

[Deefolt]

can we not speculate about which draft number we will get until closer to the end of the year, kthx

 

[Fairtex]

If we were to in fact get pick 8... thats not so bad.. remember Richmond chose Jack Riewoldt with pick 13?

 

[Theo X]

I would love to get Jack Darling if he's still there at our first pick, was touted as a potential #1 not long ago, if he slides like Butcher did last year, we'd jump at it hopefully. 190cm is a bit short for a KPP, but like it's been said he apparently plays tall for his height. I think Pavlich and Fev are both only 191cm anyway. Also, would love to get Mitch Thorpe with a later pick too if not rookie/psd, sounds like he's doing well at Weribee, and his attitude has improved after getting the boot from Hawthorn, but then thats just Bigfooty talk.

 

[stretcharmstrong]

Would also love to pick up Darling if available. 190cm doesn't worry me at all given that he'd be our second tall in the FWD line.

If it came down to picking best available I would hope that footskills would be number one on the list of boxes to tick as it is an area that our established players struggle with, and there aren't too many of our young guys with elite footskills either.

On that matter, who of our current young kids have been noted for their kicks? As far as I've seen (or heard) only Watts, Tapscott and Blease are outstanding by foot, with a few others like Trengove and Morton being probably better than average, but not great.

 

[Gazza_11]

Morton is great by foot? Davey does it well too.

 

[stretcharmstrong]

Morton is great by foot? Davey does it well too.

Yeah, for some reason Morton is just a player that I haven't seen mutch of, I don't know why given his 40-odd games. But yeah, I thought he was good, but was unsure how good. Obviously Davey is as elite as they come as far as footskills, but I was more interested in the young blokes, <50 gamers...

 

[cannons]

Would like Darling or Day, but there is so much to happen prior to the draft that it's difficult to predict the order at this point in time.

 

[Gazza_11]

Yeah, for some reason Morton is just a player that I haven't seen mutch of, I don't know why given his 40-odd games. But yeah, I thought he was good, but was unsure how good. Obviously Davey is as elite as they come as far as footskills, but I was more interested in the young blokes, <50 gamers...

Fair enough on both counts. Scully's kicking needs a lot of work here, as does Gysbert's.

 

[Theo X]

Would also love to pick up Darling if available. 190cm doesn't worry me at all given that he'd be our second tall in the FWD line.

If it came down to picking best available I would hope that footskills would be number one on the list of boxes to tick as it is an area that our established players struggle with, and there aren't too many of our young guys with elite footskills either.

On that matter, who of our current young kids have been noted for their kicks? As far as I've seen (or heard) only Watts, Tapscott and Blease are outstanding by foot, with a few others like Trengove and Morton being probably better than average, but not great.

Strauss supposedly has precision kicking, never seen it live though

 

[Ghost of Grinter]

Watts is a class kick, one of our best already.

Davey is a great kick, probably our best.

I think Grimes is a servicable kick on both feet.

Tapscott kicks like a mule and is a better kick than any 2009 draftee.
(Although Martin like Sidebottom is good on both sides)

Trengove is also a great kick.

Scully isnt a great kick, but Its more his composure than his style.
He was all nerves earlier in the year and couldnt relax, was always rushing.

Of the 2010 Draftees, I think Matthew Watson is a hell of a kick and Id
take him before Darling as a big fella.

Jacobs and Gaff deliver well and are lefties, we should take Gaff if he is
available.

 

[Scully 31]

Highly doubt Darling will slide. He is a WA boy and West Coast will most likely finish below us. Because Darling is a good player and West Coast would still be concered to take a Vic boy (due to Judd) they will take the safer pick in Darling. Gaff will go top 6 from all reports. Someone said we should take Day. Day will go top three, that you can count on, but i would love to have Darling, Day or Gaff. But highly unlikly.

 

[ThePuppetMaster]

if gaff is available it will be a double win for us, great young player and a dees fan!!!

 

[omit]

On that matter, who of our current young kids have been noted for their kicks? As far as I've seen (or heard) only Watts, Tapscott and Blease are outstanding by foot, with a few others like Trengove and Morton being probably better than average, but not great.

Gysberts came 3rd in Buckleys kicking test at the Draft camp behind Martin and Rohan

 

[d33my]

What does Buckley's kicking test involve, exactly?

 

[omit]

What does Buckley's kicking test involve, exactly?

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/82957/default.aspx

 

[Scully 31]

Gysberts came 3rd in Buckleys kicking test at the Draft camp behind Martin and Rohan

This is true. But Scully was injured and Trengove was playing for Sturt in the SAFL.

I think the challenge is the player stands on a sopt and trys to hit people in six differant positions from various distances away.

 

[omit]

here's a video of the kicking test

http://www.afl.com.au/video/tabid/76/contentid/201723/buckley+trials+kicking+test/default.aspx

 

[d33my]

Cheers omit

 

[Demon 16]

Depends who is available obviously.

But if the best players are gone our target will be a tall. Here are the best tall options - bare in mind Sam Day will definately be gone before our pick;

Patrick McCarthy
11 March 1992, 194cm, 79kg, Glenelg/Plympton
Built like a praying mantis but plays like a king bee. It’s easy to be impressed by his height (he looks taller than 194cm) and application, which is enormous. But he’s also a natural leader, an inclusive footballer, with the ability to organise those around him. More suited to defence than attack at this stage.

Daniel Gorringe
2 June 1992, 198cm, 85kg, Norwood/Tea Tree Gully
Intelligent ruckman who has the rare ability for a teenager to tap the ball to his teammates rather than just get his hand on it. Thinks his way through stoppages. Attacks the ball in general play. His ruckwork early in the match against Western Australia set up the Croweaters’ carnival. A player you could build your team around.

Scott Lycett
26 September 1992, 202cm, 95kg, Port Adelaide Magpies/Thevenard Magpies
Yes, height is his main virtue, but he’s also competitive and level-headed, and he runs into space to provide an option heading into attack. Prone to the odd Brian Lake-esque mistake, but you forgive him because he’s having a go, and he never drops his head.

Sam Day
6 September 1992, 195cm, 90kg, Sturt/Prince Alfred College
Rivals Harley Bennell as the most talented player in the pool. Day is athletic, he can leap over tall buildings, he kicks goals - there seems no limit to what he can do. Having said that, he’s played mostly in the Adelaide private school competition and he’s likely to take a while to come on, not unlike Jack Watts. Magnificent baseball and basketball prospect, too.

Tom Lynch
31 October 1992, 196cm, 86kg, Dandenong Stingrays/Sorrento
Gangly key forward who improved as the championships went on. Agile with good hands. The highlight was his four goals against Queensland in the fourth round. Played mostly private school footy to this stage. Enormous potential.

Jack Darling
16 June 1992, 190cm, 94kg, West Perth/Sacred Heart College/Sorrento-Duncraig
Magnetic key forward who, unfortunately, is unlikely to play key forward in the AFL because he’s too short. He’s selling himself as a potential midfielder and he might just be right. He certainly gets a lot of the ball. And his competitiveness is bullish enough for him to be drafted on that quality alone. Be intriguing to see just where he goes.

My guess at this point is Gorringe if available but most likely Darling or McCarthy.

 

[Bartram_Class]

I'd definitely be leaning towards another tall forward if there is a sufficiently good one up for grabs.

Nothing above 195/196 though I would have thought.

 

[stretcharmstrong]

Does anyone else think that figjam's kicking test seems ridiculously inadequate?

Only 6 kicks? That is a stupidly small sample size. 60 would be reasonable, but obviously unpractical. You cannot make a reliable judgement about a players kicking ability from 6 kicks. What about under direct pressure? What about both sides? On the run? Off one step?

I would have thought a test that involves elements of pressure, both sides kicking, on the run and one-step kicks could be devised with about 15-25 kicks and be a much much better indicator.

Just saying...

EDIT: Just had a look at that vid and there is both sides kicking, and all the kicks are off about 1-2 steps after making a quick 180 degree turn. It seems alright, but could be better and should definitely involve a higher number of kicks.

 

[Andy_Mac]

I'd definitely be leaning towards another tall forward if there is a sufficiently good one up for grabs.

Nothing above 195/196 though I would have thought.

This years draft will be fascinating, and I feel there are going to some bargins to be had with early non-GC picks as GC look to balance needs and best available.

The first 3 look set: Swallow, Bennell and Day. They are the best 3 going around at the moment and 2 smalls and a KPP it is a nice balance of needs and best available. Given that they get May (another KPP) for free as a zoned player I think they will go small with the rest of their picks save for maybe Gorringe.

My thoughts on the non GC teams are that both WCE and Richmond will go small looking to add depth to their midfields. Port is a hard one they took Butcher last year and have a few other young tall’s so I would suggest they would go best available. My thoughts are Brisbane will defiantly target a KPF.

If we finish below Port and Brisbane then I would expect we will get to pick the second best tall.

Darling at only 190cm is a worry; yes Fev and Pav are about the same height but conversely Gysberts and Morabito at Freo are mids that aren’t much shorter... I also worry that his results in U18 are being skewed by the “Tom Hawkins effect”, where by a man child can rag doll the kids but lacks the ceiling once the kids catch up at AFL level. That said 12 months ago he has the man, and our forward line needs someone who can split packs and take a big contested grab.

 

[Gazza_11]

You'd think Darling would start off as an attacking midfielder or rover and then move forward later, like Leigh Matthews.

 

[Tulip]

I can see us getting a nice rookie this year