2013 Draft Discussion

[dlanod]

Who is Conway and why are we in best position to get him before gold coast?

Conway (and Tickner and others) are members of the Lions Academy. That means we can take them under the same rules as the father/son kids.

 

[jjami15]

To add courtesy of Knightmare:
Luke Dunstan (SA –Mid/Fwd)
Height: 184cm, Weight: 82kg, DOB: 29/01/1995
Recruited from: Woodville-West Torrens
Style: Dustin Martin
Player comparison:
Range: 1-5
Profile: Dunstan is a dominant inside midfielder with a really strong body. Really damaging player who will not only win his own footy every time he goes in for it but then will do big damage with it. Dunstan has very damaging footskills and is a really natural finisher anywhere near goal. Not only is Dunstan an exceptional inside player but he can also swing forward, take a mark and hit the scoreboard when given the opportunity and I expect he will continue to be a very damaging player at the next level.

I do like the sound of Dom Sheed. Especially if we take Conway then instead of taking two pure inside ball winners then taking the extractor to then feed an outside mid could be an option. But I look at Melbourne and think, damn, what if they had both of Viney and Wines. You would have the inside mids covered for years. So that could be an option.

I think foot skills is highly regarded by our recruiters so that also something to be taken into consideration in the players we could draft.

A possible way it could pan out is (ridiculous mind you being so far out but I love the draft)

First round: Sheed or Dunstan (don't know what it is about Crouch but happy to be proven wrong)

Second round: Cameron Conlon (VIC – KPF/Ruck)
Height: 197cm, Weight: 90kg, DOB:
Recruited from: Northern Knights
Style:
Player comparison: Nathan Vardy
Range: 5-20
Profile: Real talent as a key forward and has the ability to really develop into something at the next level. Has a really nice leap on him but also some real contested marking ability. Very accurate shot on goal both from field kicks and set shot attempts. Capable through the ruck and with his leap might be a no.2 ruck type option but I see him best utilised as a key forward.
(Heard somewhere he could be injured so possible slide)

Round three: Conway. Qld players are not highly regarded even though Dayne Beams was taken in the 20's. would like to think that he is definitely a player though and would raise the interest of others but not too much.

Round four: Rookie elevation or Tickner and same for Round five.

Does mean that give would have to be delisted and I could identify five for you by that's for another thread and another time.

 

[Dan12]

It depends on how tall he plays. If he plays like a legitimate 3rd tall and still reads the game well and rebounds, I think he'd be a good fit. I'd really like someone who can control the game from the defensive half.

A genuine 3rd tall who can shut down an opponent and rebound would be a good acquisition. Suits our game plan that's for sure.

 

[whatboutbob]

It depends on how tall he plays. If he plays like a legitimate 3rd tall and still reads the game well and rebounds, I think he'd be a good fit. I'd really like someone who can control the game from the defensive half.

I really admired his champs last year but didn't see him being a great fit for us at our 1st pick and he should be gone before our 2nd.

 

[GrandBlue]

Matt Crouch is your mob's man.

 

[WhiteLionFeva]

There will be a lot of prospects from all around Australia. Bit early to be slotting in two Qld'rs in our first two or three picks isn't it? Tickner sounds very promising although the comments suggesting a laconic style worry me a bit. Think we need someone with a bit of mongrel frankly. Also, some have suggested Conway lacks pace and has average disposal. Does he have enough to offer in other areas to make up for those deficiencies and can he improve sufficiently?

 

[dlanod]

There will be a lot of prospects from all around Australia. Bit early to be slotting in two Qld'rs in our first two or three picks isn't it? Tickner sounds very promising although the comments suggesting a laconic style worry me a bit. Think we need someone with a bit of mongrel frankly. Also, some have suggested Conway lacks pace and has average disposal. Does he have enough to offer in other areas to make up for those deficiencies and can he improve sufficiently?

We take Conway and Tickner (and any other prospects) only as high as other teams rate them. If no one rates Conway above our second rounder and Tickner above our fourth, we only have to use our third and fifth rounders on them, etc. If someone bids stupidly high on either, compared to how the club rates them, they'd presumably let the other club have them. No skin off our nose. Some teams have passed on father/sons in recent years in similar circumstances.

 

[POBT]

I really admired his champs last year but didn't see him being a great fit for us at our 1st pick and he should be gone before our 2nd.

With Lester pencilled in for a midfield role, I am not seeing that 3rd tall defender or playmaking defender on our list. Yeo isn't far off the 190cm mark but I dunno if he's the right "type". Docherty seems to me to be less of a playmaker and more of a line breaker.

I'm thinking someone of the Sam Fisher mould or even Luke Hodge. Tall enough to play tall if required but a real playmaker from the back half.

Do you use a first round pick on that type of player? That's probably a good question. Plowman and Buntine have gone top 5 and played similar type roles. But that could well be GWS having the ability to recruit for type.

 

[13Beast]

My biggest concern right now is our defence. Seeing usually rock-solid salwarts such as Patful and Adcock totally off their game this season, not to mention Maguire oft-injured and Ash nearing the end, coupled with the promising yet still incredibly young and raw backmen in Yeo, Golby and Docherty naturally prone to mistakes due to their inexperience, it has me very very worried.

If Jack Watts is looking for a home, he could slot in nicely. I'd like more games pumped into Lester, Harwood and McKeever - as any of those 3 could potentially develop into a solid defender, as could Michael/Close.

However, picking up some polished recycled players (such as Watts) or mature, developed guys from state level comps (Brett Goodes anyone?!?) may do better to stem the tide and develop a solid foundation there rather than relying on entirely blooding more youth back there and waiting for them to deliver.

Regarding the midfield; we need Green in there for a bit more mongrel, possibly Harwood too. Green is an absolute terrier and we have plenty of promising young smalls to fill the forward spots. He deserves an extended run in the middle, and lets see what he is capable of.

 

[Quigley]

On a few guys mentioned:

Boyd - yep great to dream but not going to happen. Will be one of the first 2 picked.
Aish - he is an accumulator but more outside than in and the quality of his disposals is not as high as I would like. I don't think he suits our needs.
Dunstan - might be gone before we pick but one I expect we are monitoring closely.
Crouch - I rate him as the best inside mid available this year. Might be there when we pick.
Conlon - I have not seen live after missing the champs last year with an arm injury. He has a knee injury atm which will keep him out this year. A good prospect by all accounts and could be worth a punt if we want to go tall.


Conway - of the underaged inside mids last year I rated him behind only Crouch. I expect someone in the 15-25 range will put in a bid to force us to use our second rounder on him. That is excellent value for us.
Tickner - pace over the first 5 metres my only concern with him. He is listed at 194cm now and has been playing at FB for the AIS. I am thinking he might end up a CHB/third tall defender and be very good in that role. He is aggressive, powerful and reads the play nicely.

A couple of guys to also keep in mind when you are thinking of who we should take this year:

Hammelmann - bottom aged AIS full forward who is a member of the academy.
Dawson - classy flanker who can play either end. Good mark and gets around the park nicely. He is also a bottom aged AIS lions academy member.

 

[pulsade]

I agree with your sentiments in some part but I just don't see them being elite or even close to that. I believe that you do need some depth there however and that's our lot that we have. Yes, Boyd will be gone most likely and there goes another top KPF draftee. For me the picture is trying to build a team that can play finals and then the big one. There is no guarantee in draftees but the percentages are the top picks, in KPF's, turn out to be potent forward line players.

I have no gripes with drafting Mayes as watching him play he already has that old head on young shoulders and just love watching the ball come off his boot. I know he has played seniors in SA but come on he's playing top flight AFL and showing others on our team a thing or two. So it says a thing or two about his ability.

I totally agree in that I don't want us to sneak into the finals one year. When we make finals I hope it is for an extended period of time. But it is harder these days when less than half the teams make the finals.

 

[Panthera]

As long as we get Conway for cheap as chips, I'll be happy.

Wotttt!!!!???? Who is this Conway and why are we automatically getting him?

 

[Old Den]

Wotttt!!!!???? Who is this Conway and why are we automatically getting him?

http://www.lions.com.au/season/reserves/academy

We have the option of picking Academy boys in the National Draft a la father son rules.

 

[Dan12]

Dawson - classy flanker who can play either end. Good mark and gets around the park nicely. He is also a bottom aged AIS lions academy member.

I would change that to freakish mark. Has a huge leap

 

[jjami15]

I would change that to freakish mark. Has a huge leap

Would you say, similar to Jeremy Howe?

 

[cotter101]

Luke Dunstan (Midfielder/Forward) - As it stands, I rate him as the best midfielder in this years draft. He is an predominantly an inside midfielder who can also have a big impact up forward. For an inside midfielder, he has sharp footskills. I doubt he would be available at our pick, but the draft is ages away. He is an elite talent.

Matt Crouch (Midfielder) - He is probably the best player in the draft when it comes to clearance and getting the ball. He gets to a lot of contests and he is always up and about either tackling or extracting the ball. Good hands and a good tackler.

Cameron Conlon (Key Forward) - Probably the next best forward after Boyd. Has a great leap and is an above average contested mark. He is very accurate kicking for goal and is better than most tall forwards in terms of field kicking. From what I've seen, needs to pick up his work rate a bit and push himself to more contests. The potanital is there though.

 

[SizeMatters]

I would change that to freakish mark. Has a huge leap

Yeah, I played at the same club as him (go tigers) and he is a freak. Will get drafted by us one day. Can play anywhere on the ground which is what the Lions have been focusing on the last few years.

Edit: he is a few photos of him when he was younger. As you can see he loves to get on others backs.
http://www.redcliffetigers.com.au/liam-dawson-takes-the-next-step

 

[BlackCaviar]

Boyd is a massive chance , reason for our current form , and the fixture isn't our friend

 

[Dan12]

Boyd is a massive chance , reason for our current form , and the fixture isn't our friend

Even if we are 2-11 (highly unlikely) after this run of death coming up, we should be 7-15 by the end as our fixture gets a lot easier at the end of the season. Definitely don't think we'll get a top 3 pick unless the wheels are well and truly off. Won't be enough to get Boyd.

 

[Dale4captain]

We've got a few players who are almost certainties to be on the trade table this year,unless drastic improvement occurs in the next 10 games.

Jarrad grant: 192cm 87kg, 23 years of age. 57 goals from 50 games. Tall utility who hasn't come on as we'd have expected. Can play as a leading forward, tall wingman and even a Medium/Tall defender. Is very fast, probably is in the top 5 for pace at the club. has had trouble putting any muscle on, therefore he's struggling with Macca's highly contested game plan.

Dylan Addison: 186cm 89kg, 25 years of age. 18 goals, 76 games. Formerly a HBF but last year was very effective as a defensive forward. Very contested player, macca loves him. has been injured for the first 4 rounds, but expect him to be back in the team soon. So brave, its scary.

Christian Howard: 185cm, 84kg, 22 years of age. 17 games, 3 goals. former first round pick who is another who hasn't done well with Macca's contested game plan. I like him as a player, has elite foot skills, isn't overly slow, although by no means has express pace, and has a massive tank. Is capable of playing HBF, wing and outside midfielder. Probably needs a fresh start.

Lukas Markovic: 193cm 96kg, 25 years of age. 25 games. Was a mature age recruit about 4 years ago, has been in and out of the side for various reasons, including form, injury and team balance. One of the coaches favourites and has a fantastic attitude. Great leader. Knocks on him are his pace and isn't overly tall for a gorilla defender.

Jason Tutt: 177cm, 80kg. 9 games and 8 goals. 21 years of age. Fast outside midfielder with a big tank and a penetrating kick, is a ball of muscle. Was critisised for his hardness, but to his credit has come back this year and hit the contest hard. wasn't afraid to tackle a bigger opponent. Was injured last year and lost opportunities that he certainly could have taken because of it.

Patrick Veszpremi: 182cm, 85kg. 22 games, 17 goals. 23 years of age. I love Patty as a player, and hate the fact the club wont give him a proper go. Has all the skills and ability in the world,just struggled a little with his tank and ability to run out games. This was partly due to the club trying to make him into a midfielder, when he is clearly a natural forward, which is what we lack. Is an excellent kick, knows where the goals are, and as stated before, is a natural footballer. Has improved his tank considerably, as evident by his VFL performances this year, in which he has tallied 37 disposals, 3 goals 5 behinds, before that was 18 disposals, 3 goals 2 behinds, and in the first round of the VFL, he snagged 1 goal,2 behinds and 18 disposals. Very good start by Patty.

Interested in any of these blokes? or does someone else on our list tickle your fancy...

 

[Harris Specter]

Interested in any of these blokes? or does someone else on our list tickle your fancy...

That Dalhaus guy goes alright. Would love him at the Lions.

But this is probably the wrong thread to post in as this thread is for the 2013 Draft.

 

[Dale4captain]

That Dalhaus guy goes alright. Would love him at the Lions.

But this is probably the wrong thread to post in as this thread is for the 2013 Draft.

No chance of snagging Dahl Yeah, couldn't find your trading thread after a quick scan.

 

[Harris Specter]

No chance of snagging Dahl Yeah, couldn't find your trading thread after a quick scan.

Yeah a 2013 Trade Discussion. It's too early for that. Might see a thread like that near the end of May.

 

[Hollow Knight]

I think I'm moving in here already. Richy's injury was the tipping point.

 

[Bert Man]

A mid season draft would be nice about now.

Are their any stand out mature recruit players this year? I remember Shane Nelson ran around quite nicely and could add a little speed.