2012 Draft Discussion

[POBT]

Clay Smith's kicking still looked terrible this year and I still think it was a poor selection by the WB.

He played 16 games in his first year. I reckon that is more than enough to warrant a "wait and see". With his other skill sets, he doesn't need to be an elite kick, just needs to cut down on the massive errors. Raines has done it, with time and coaching. Hence my point - we shouldn't overly focus on a player's weakness/es if they have plenty of positives to their game.

 

[Quigley]

Is Liam Flaherty the guy that kicked a couple of goals early against Vic Country? If so, he looked good then and I promptly saw no more of him.

That's him. Picked up a few goals at the champs in what was a pretty ordinary NSW team I think. He picked up the Rising Star in the NEAFL Eastern Conference and seems to have shown good development in the second half of the year. He has the tools I think to be a very good player.

 

[jjami15]

To be honest, I'm becoming less and less enthused about what will be available at pick 8. There's a lot of great talent there, but it seems anything you'd be ecstatic with at 8 (the top, top talent) will be gone after the first 5 or 6 picks, and then the group after that could slot in any order up until about pick 20. Just my read of it.

Striking it with your first pick is obviously important in that when your down you have to make the most of those opportunities of top ten picks. For me the collective of picks within a draft is more important than just nailing that one pick. Geelong is a good example with their two excellent drafts in the early 2000's. For me I really look forward to when the mini draft and concession picks are finished. Imagine, pick 6 with O'Meara and Crouch in the draft.......maybe take.......Toumpas or Crouch!

 

[lionsrthebest]

To be honest, that's been the case for the last couple of years, I reckon. I certainly felt it last year.

In the lead up to the draft, once you get outside the top 5, most players appear to either be "jack of all trades, master of none" types or have one or two weaknesess to offset their talent. As a result, people with less than elite draft picks seem to get less enthused because they realise that the prospects are limited of picking someone who will be a rolled gold champion. That is, until it becomes clear who their club is likely to take, at which point they start to convince themselves that they've got a champion on their hands!!!

The good news is, as drafting science has improved, I reckon the "miss" rate has declined. So even if you are unlikely to get the next Wayne Carey with pick 8, you are also less likely to get the next Llayne Spaanderman. Whilst draft position is no guarantee of success, I think there is a reasonable expectation that, at least, you'll get a very good player with a top 10 pick. Anything less is poor drafting. To look at 2008 as an example, every single player in the top 10 looks like being a "very good" player, at the least. I'd probably say the same about 2009 although there's a bit more doubt there (and it was a draft tainted by GC concessions).

I would also say that it is worth focusing on the strengths rather than the weaknesses. Unless something is unlikely to be resolved (eg if you are a 174cm full forward!), then chances are that clubs can fix up the weaknesses given time. I reckon we casual draft observers get a bit too caught up on the weaknesses. Clay Smith's kicking was a good example last year where a club backed itself to fix the weakness because the strengths were too good to ignore.

 

[lionsrthebest]

To be honest, that's been the case for the last couple of years, I reckon. I certainly felt it last year.

In the lead up to the draft, once you get outside the top 5, most players appear to either be "jack of all trades, master of none" types or have one or two weaknesess to offset their talent. As a result, people with less than elite draft picks seem to get less enthused because they realise that the prospects are limited of picking someone who will be a rolled gold champion. That is, until it becomes clear who their club is likely to take, at which point they start to convince themselves that they've got a champion on their hands!!!

The good news is, as drafting science has improved, I reckon the "miss" rate has declined. So even if you are unlikely to get the next Wayne Carey with pick 8, you are also less likely to get the next Llayne Spaanderman. Whilst draft position is no guarantee of success, I think there is a reasonable expectation that, at least, you'll get a very good player with a top 10 pick. Anything less is poor drafting. To look at 2008 as an example, every single player in the top 10 looks like being a "very good" player, at the least. I'd probably say the same about 2009 although there's a bit more doubt there (and it was a draft tainted by GC concessions).

I would also say that it is worth focusing on the strengths rather than the weaknesses. Unless something is unlikely to be resolved (eg if you are a 174cm full forward!), then chances are that clubs can fix up the weaknesses given time. I reckon we casual draft observers get a bit too caught up on the weaknesses. Clay Smith's kicking was a good example last year where a club backed itself to fix the weakness because the strengths were too good to ignore.

totally disagree heres one example for brisbane Simon Black selection No.31 i would class Blacky a rolled gold champion to quote you - --i believe as a champion in hindsight he should have been taken no. 1 my grandmother always used to say when buy quality it always lasts - keep on going Blacky -the others took a licking but you just keep on ticking For me blacky is 100% master in everything he does
1 1 Melbourne Travis Johnstone 209
1 2 Richmond Brad Ottens 245
1 3 Hawthorn Trent Croad 222
1 4 Essendon Mark Bolton 124
1 5 Brisbane Luke Power GWS 302
1 6 Fremantle James Walker 151
1 7

 

[Haso]

totally disagree heres one example for brisbane Simon Black selection No.31 i would class Blacky a rolled gold champion to quote you - --i believe as a champion in hindsight he should have been taken no. 1 my grandmother always used to say when buy quality it always lasts - keep on going Blacky -the others took a licking but you just keep on ticking
1 1 Melbourne Travis Johnstone 209
1 2 Richmond Brad Ottens 245
1 3 Hawthorn Trent Croad 222
1 4 Essendon Mark Bolton 124
1 5 Brisbane Luke Power GWS 302
1 6 Fremantle James Walker 151
1 7

Which part of POBT's quote are you disagreeing with? I can't really see what you are getting at.

 

[POBT]

I've been exposed as a charlatan.

 

[Haso]

I've been exposed as a charlatan.

Get 'im, boys!

 

[charles202]

Im getting in early for a change about who I want us to draft this year....talk about a kiss of death for the three souls chosen!


8. Kristian Jaksch (194cm forward – Oakleigh)

For a pick that I don’t think we can afford to get wrong this guy just seems like an ideal fit.

Has the potential to be a good CHF with good repeat efforts, speed off the mark and a decent set shot.

However, should he not develop as a CHF he has all the attributes to be a prototypical CHB.

23. Nathan Hrovat (173cm midfielder - Northern Knights)

Led Vic Metro’s clearances this year to go with being a mid-20’s possession accumulator.

With this likely to be Blacky’s last year, there is certainly room in the engine room for an up and coming clearance specialist.

Was in Metro’s leadership group this year, which is always an attractive draft attribute.

30. Adam Carter (179cm midfielder - South Fremantle)

We have seen the emergence of Claye Beams this year as an underage player who was focused on cricket who has begun to blossom in a full time football environment, hopefully Adam Carter could follow the same trajectory.

 

[POBT]

I really liked what I saw from Jaksch in the champs. Wouldn't worry me if we pulled the trigger early on him.

I still prefer Shaw if we go tall - he just looks like he is waiting to play senior footy IMO.

 

[Mayestro]

Im getting in early for a change about who I want us to draft this year....talk about a kiss of death for the three souls chosen!


8. Kristian Jaksch (194cm forward – Oakleigh)

For a pick that I don’t think we can afford to get wrong this guy just seems like an ideal fit.

Has the potential to be a good CHF with good repeat efforts, speed off the mark and a decent set shot.

However, should he not develop as a CHF he has all the attributes to be a prototypical CHB.

23. Nathan Hrovat (173cm midfielder - Northern Knights)

Led Vic Metro’s clearances this year to go with being a mid-20’s possession accumulator.

With this likely to be Blacky’s last year, there is certainly room in the engine room for an up and coming clearance specialist.

Was in Metro’s leadership group this year, which is always an attractive draft attribute.

30. Adam Carter (179cm midfielder - South Fremantle)

We have seen the emergence of Claye Beams this year as an underage player who was focused on cricket who has begun to blossom in a full time football environment, hopefully Adam Carter could follow the same trajectory.

I really like the first two picks (barring us being able to nab Hogan in the mini draft), though I think a key defender such as Rodda at 30 would be ideal. Apparently this is a good draft for KPDs, so spending one of 23 or 30 on one should be a priority.

 

[jjami15]

Ok, bit pie in the sky but we'll I've seen worse. Pick 8 and 23 and Banfield for Hogan and Tom Lee. Tom Lee was on Adelaides list for a year and could be used but he GWS as a pre listed player.

 

[Haso]

Good start Brisbane

I think you need to start taking a more respectful approach when referring to players who have put their all into becoming AFL plyers and not been quite good enough. They don't deserve derision. Please check how you refer to them in future.

 

[Nick Lions]

Drafting and trading seriously does my head in. One minute I want us to chase Tippett, next I want us to draft a key forward. Then I decide a key defender is more important, then I decide we should use every pick on midfielders. All this and there are still 2 games left in the season.

 

[WAguru]

I see Brisbane looking for a ruckman this year.

 

[Haso]

I see Brisbane looking for a ruckman this year.

Depends on if we retain Huddo, seeing as we dafted Longer at pick 8 last year, rookie listed Sam Michael who can back-up ruck, traded for Lisle who can pinch-hit along with Merrett, and also have our number 1 Leuenberger coming back by Rd 1 next year.

 

[blueiris]

I see Brisbane looking for a ruckman this year.

Unlikely we need a key Forward and Defenders more but could rookie list one maybe

 

[jackess]

1. Leuenberger
2. Hudson
3. Longer
4. Sam Michael
5. Scott Clarke?
6. Kurt Tippett?
7. Lisle

 

[Ruse]

Should definitely rookie Yannick Crowder and Benjamin Shearry they have a lot of potential.

 

[T Rick]

Good start Brisbane

Appalling lack of respect...

 

[Morgs_]

Depends on if we retain Huddo, seeing as we dafted Longer at pick 8 last year, rookie listed Sam Michael who can back-up ruck, traded for Lisle who can pinch-hit along with Merrett, and also have our number 1 Leuenberger coming back by Rd 1 next year.

I'd hope they play Lisle/Longer and Leuy next year and have Michael as backup if Huddo retires (for good) would be a great boost for Sam if he could play a handful of games next year. I think Huddo will hang up the boots but continue to help the Lions out in some sort of capacity. If they do this though, we would have a pretty tall forward line in Brown, Ace, Lisle/Longer and Leuy while hes resting, that's not including Tippett if we get him as well.

 

[Triple R]

Did anyone watch the TAC cup GF? Great finish to the game with Jackson MacCrae kicking the golden point to win the game. Jaksch and Membrey played well as KPF with Jaksch being swung back later in the game to great effect.

Some great footballers in the Gippy Power team.

 

[Bert Man]

Did anyone watch the TAC cup GF? Great finish to the game with Jackson MacCrae kicking the golden point to win the game. Jaksch and Membrey played well as KPF with Jaksch being swung back later in the game to great effect.

Some great footballers in the Gippy Power team.

Who played a breakout game?

 

[Dylan12]

I am down at the docklands watching the GF's, and the TAC was a pretty high standard game and an absolute nailbitter with a point splitting them.

I was very impressed with Kristian Jaksch and tended to keep an eye on him after the TAC Cup Show on 9 last week has us taking him with pick 8 in their phantom draft, but competes well and looked a very likely key forward who can go back.

 

[Bert Man]

I am down at the docklands watching the GF's, and the TAC was a pretty high standard game and an absolute nailbitter with a point splitting them.

I was very impressed with Kristian Jaksch and tended to keep an eye on him after the TAC Cup Show on 9 last week has us taking him with pick 8 in their phantom draft, but competes well and looked a very likely key forward who can go back.

How was Jackson Macrae and Rory Atkins?