2012 draft

[scottwade]

Haven't seen Towers play but he did win this year's Fothergill-Round medal in the VFL.

Last ten years winners have included Firrito, Aaron Davey, and the last 4 winners prior to Towers have been Nahas, Michael Barlow, Hibberd and Ahmed Saad, so a reasonable pedigree.

 

[JimmySwan]

Not convinced about Membrey, just dont know where he fits at AFL level. Dick is lightning quick defender/winger. Loves to carry ball & no-one can catch him.

Are you kidding me? Not convinced about Membrey? Mark my words he will be a gun.

 

[scottwade]

Not convinced about Membrey, just dont know where he fits at AFL level. Dick is lightning quick defender/winger. Loves to carry ball & no-one can catch him.

Interestingly Dick played on Membery at the U18 champs and was absolutely monstered.
But I much prefer Dick at the next level.

I wonder how much improvement Membery has in him and as you say not sure he can truly play the 3rd fwd role at AFL level, so where else does he play?
Marsh (189cm) & Dick (187cm) are both about the same height, but if you were to compare them to existing players I see Marsh as a Mattner type, Dick in the Shaw role.

 

[Tippett2Goal]

Bit disappointed we didn't go KPD however aside from that am happy with Towers, is good cover at this stage. Not sure what to think about the 2 rebounding defenders we grabbed, is certainly an area which needed to be sured up for the future, however is also a role that can generally be played by any reasonably good young midfeilder as they build fitness / strength (ie Heppell/Atley/Gibbs).

I assume with us passing so early we may look at picking up a Ruckman in PSD along with Tippett, anyone else have ideas on this?

Membrey could be a valuable pickup, however with his game style (seems to try use his body strength more than lead up) would not expect him to be effective at AFL level in the immediate future.

 

[scottwade]

I assume with us passing so early we may look at picking up a Ruckman in PSD along with Tippett, anyone else have ideas on this?

I have my doubts.
We have plenty of 'older' rucks, so I wouldn't have thought we'd seek out a mature age player and with pick 65 we chose to pass on the guy I thought was the second best U18 ruck in Lewis Pierce (went #75 to St Kilda).

 

[Tippett2Goal]

I have my doubts.
We have plenty of 'older' rucks, so I wouldn't have thought we'd seek out a mature age player and with pick 65 we chose to pass on the guy I thought was the second best U18 ruck in Lewis Pierce (went #75 to St Kilda).

Do we though, we have Mumford and Pyke, then White, I was thinking specifically we might target Cameron Symonds 19yr old going on 20 from East Perth, 205cm and more physically developed than the u18 options.

 

[scottwade]

Do we though, we have Mumford and Pyke, then White, I was thinking specifically we might target Cameron Symonds 19yr old going on 20 from East Perth, 205cm and more physically developed than the u18 options.

I think the evolving sub rules (and particularly the possibility of 2 subs from 2014 onwards) will limit how many pure ruckmen teams will carry on their list.
I mentioned in the Tippett v Reid thread that I think the reason we are chasing KT so hard is because of his ability to play relief ruck as well as KPF.
So I guess the question is, if Tippett does come in does it mean Pyke drops out of our 22 or do we accommodate essentially 2 'first' rucks and play Tippett solely as a KPF?

When I talked about mature age rucks I was thinking more along the lines of a 25yo state league player.
I can see the advantage of a taking a somewhat more advanced 20yo with WAFL experience, like Symonds, rather than a less physically developed and less experienced youngster.
Alternatively if the club does want to go down the development path would we rookie Naismith?

 

[robamiee]

i dare saywe play tippett as solely KPF and will only ruck in the forward 50 giving our ruckman 1/3 field rest instead of having to push forward all the time.....
Roosy always said young ruckman are tricky and take ages to develop, thats why we have generally always traded in ruckman on the fringes that come into our 22...Ball, Jolly, Mummy etc...
By all account Kevin Sheehan reckoned we got a steal with membrey at that high in the draft...
a mature midfileder in towers i reckon as a back-up depending on how Judes body holds up...so a good fall back option...

i like our list a good balance and i have no idea why we all complain, our recruiting team in generally regarding as one of the best in our list managment hence why the swans are constantly referred to in regards to trading and recruit...have faith ye all....

 

[Membling]

Not a bad draft really.

Towers is instant depth for mattner and Shaw and can still develop
Marsh is another hbf for Shaw mattner
Membrey was best available
Dick is a winger/lock down utility

All in all wouldn't have minded a development KPP but think coaches feel brown and lockyer can fit the bill. Also shows we definitely think we can land tippett

 

[YorshireSwan]

Do we though, we have Mumford and Pyke, then White, I was thinking specifically we might target Cameron Symonds 19yr old going on 20 from East Perth, 205cm and more physically developed than the u18 options.

Would assume that KT is pencilled in to be able to play 2nd ruck should he manage to get to us as well, not too concerned about the ruck in the very short term.

 

[Membling]

Would assume that KT is pencilled in to be able to play 2nd ruck should he manage to get to us as well, not too concerned about the ruck in the very short term.

We should pick up fort or Hannath in the rookie I would expect.

Those two or haretaku would be options one would think

 

[swansfan51]

I've taken out our grand final 22, plus you can include McGlynn in that as he would have played if fit. So its worth a look at the structure of our list and what areas we may need to strengthen. Here are the reserves we have in various positions

Key defenders:

Key forwards:
Tommy Walsh

Small forwards:

200cm+ ruckmen:

Inside Midfielders:
Tom Mitchell
Daniel Robinson

Outside Midfielders/Flankers:
Jed Lamb
Tony Armstrong
Harry Cunningham
Dean Towers
Shane Biggs

3rd Talls/Utilities:
Gary Rohan
Jordan Lockyer
Alex Brown
Jesse White
Andrejs Everitt
Tim Membrey
Matthew Dick
Harrison Marsh

Updated with the new inclusions. While I still preferred other available WA players it should be noted that Harrison Marsh does have the potential to move into midfield.

 

[grimlock]

Where's Alex Starling?

 

[swansfan51]

Where's Alex Starling?

I don't pretend to have any idea where he will play! Is he in Australia yet?

 

[S120]

He'd be played a little in the ruck and mainly forward line to begin with I'd expect. Could be plonked in defence Folau-style I suppose.

 

[scottwade]

While I still preferred other available WA players it should be noted that Harrison Marsh does have the potential to move into midfield.

Some of our recruiting team's conversation regarding Marsh was audible last night.
We had picks 44 & 46, WCE 45.
The gist of the snippet heard was;
"You're worried about West Coast?"
"Yes, obviously. We've got to take him now".

So clearly we thought WCE would snap up Marsh at #45.
What would be interesting to know is if Colledge had been there at #46 (selected by WCE @ 45), whether we would have taken him instead of Membrey.
I would have.

 

[swansfan51]

West Coast got away with Adam Carter at 59, they can't complain

 

[SydneyPhilly]

Marsh and Membrey look like steals. Very excited for Marsh; upon closer inspection he looks exactly like a decent hard nosed back pocket with decent kicking.

Shame Temay went before our 2nd pick though. Thought he would have been a great get for us.

 

[Superstar swan]

Wrapt with membrey, awesome mark and deadly kick on goal

 

[Eastern Rangers]

Marsh and Membrey look like steals. Very excited for Marsh; upon closer inspection he looks exactly like a decent hard nosed back pocket with decent kicking.

Shame Temay went before our 2nd pick though. Thought he would have been a great get for us.

Reading this thread it's clear you don't know what you have with Marsh.

He's a gun clearance player when in the middle at colts, fast, desperate and strong tackler, with a smashing kick. He has I suppose what you would call well developed elements of his game that just need to be brought together to make a package. At worst he's a solid medium defender, but his potential through the middle interests me more.

 

[Thenewguy!]

Jack Hannath would be a good Rookie imo.
I never wanted to pick up Membrey at 22 but to get him at 46 im now stoked I don't know anything about Towers tho is he a average kick?

 

[jokiKan]

Reading this thread it's clear you don't know what you have with Marsh.

He's a gun clearance player when in the middle at colts, fast, desperate and strong tackler, with a smashing kick. He has I suppose what you would call well developed elements of his game that just need to be brought together to make a package. At worst he's a solid medium defender, but his potential through the middle interests me more.

Most people on this board would have never heard of Harry Marsh, let alone know his best position.

But, I've seen on another board that you have rated him for a long time, and have been saying what you said above since the middle of the year. Thanks for sharing your thoughts about Marsh here..

Luckily our recruitment manager has seen it in him as well...

Pick 44: Harrison Marsh, East Fremantle
Beatson says: "This was his first year playing up in the city (he lived in Margaret River) so it was a fair education for him and he got thrown into the WA side and it was a bit of an eye opener for him with the intensity and pace of that level, but we like his power, we like his competitiveness and he can play genuinely on-ball. He is strong through the core and he interviewed well. He is the grandson of East Fremantle legend Ray Sorrell."

 

[SydneyPhilly]

Reading this thread it's clear you don't know what you have with Marsh.

He's a gun clearance player when in the middle at colts, fast, desperate and strong tackler, with a smashing kick. He has I suppose what you would call well developed elements of his game that just need to be brought together to make a package. At worst he's a solid medium defender, but his potential through the middle interests me more.

I was going off of evidence provided (interviews and stats mostly) but that pales in comparison to watching him personally. Anyone you'd compare him too in todays game? (playing style etc)

 

[TheGong]

I was going off of evidence provided (interviews and stats mostly) but that pales in comparison to watching him personally. Anyone you'd compare him too in todays game? (playing style etc)

Chris25 who looks to have a good knowledge of West Australian draftees had him going at 35 in his phantom draft. His description is:

35. Essendon - Harrison Marsh (188cm midfielder - East Fremantle)

I was quite disappointed in Marsh's U18 Championships, not because of his performances but due to the position he played. I think he has the makings of a very good midfielder. But for WA, he played all three of his games as a third tall defender - and often, in more of a defensive role as opposed to a rebounder. So he barely won any ball, and while his defensive work was good, I just think he could have done so much more if he was given the opportunity. As a midfielder he has a lot of really intriguing attributes - for starters, he is 188cm and also has quite a mature body already. But it's his run and carry which is truly impressive, I've seen him set off on a number of nice looking runs down the wings in the WAFL and in the Championships. He has surprisingly good speed, which is something you may not expect from looking at him. And he is also a nice kick, both in terms of distance and accuracy. The question is whether he does make the step up to full time midfielder or not, and that will likely determine his draft position. AFL Comparison: David Mundy.

 

[swansfan51]

Where's Alex Starling?

I'm changing my answer from "I don't know what position he'll play" to "we have no evidence to suggest he is even going to be on our list at all"