2013 Draft Discussion

[Quigley]

Also not a huge fan of Aish myself although admittedly I haven't seen him yet this year. Outside in player who can find plenty of it but has only average skills. If I was going to compare him to anyone as far as what he will end up like it probably would be to Redden. Good player by not really a star.

 

[cotter101]

Luke Dunstan is exactly the type of player we need to add to our midfield. Averaged 27 disposals and 5 clearances a game in the colts last year. His speed looked fairly good for an inside midfielder and is superb by foot. He leads by example and could end up a future captain at whatever club is lucky enough to pick him up. He also impacts the scoreboard.

At this stage, it is unlikely he will be around at our pick. But obviously it is too early to tell.


Cameron Conlon is one to watch. If he plays a pure forward role, our board will be going nuts about him come draft time.

 

[Panthera]

Luke Dunstan is exactly the type of player we need to add to our midfield. Averaged 27 disposals and 5 clearances a game in the colts last year. His speed looked fairly good for an inside midfielder and is superb by foot. He leads by example and could end up a future captain at whatever club is lucky enough to pick him up. He also impacts the scoreboard.

At this stage, it is unlikely he will be around at our pick. But obviously it is too early to tell.


Cameron Conlon is one to watch. If he plays a pure forward role, our board will be going nuts about him come draft time.

Won't be there @ pick #5?

 

[cotter101]

Won't be there @ pick #5?

I'm doubting it. At this stage, he is an easy top 3 pick for mine.

 

[jjami15]

Way were travelling who knows where we end up. Could fall as far as that third pick. I'm really excited for the national champs to start and to add names/highlights/further feedback to faces. Boyd, Aish and Dunstan are a likely top three from what every one is saying at the moment. It's the next small batch I spose well need to look more in depth at.

 

[SizeMatters]

Really hope we get the best inside mid for our first pick (if Boyd is gone) and get Conway cheap. That will allow them enough time to develop under Moloney and Black if he decides to give it one more year. Would give us a 10 year clearance pair that can release Rich on the outside.

 

[cotter101]

James Aish - Midfielder - (183cm/75kg)

At this stage, Aish is regarded as top two pick in this years draft crop. Very silky player with good speed and is a very neat user of the footy. Very much and outside player at the moment and will need to continue to work on his inside game, which will certainly improve. A bit like our own Sam Mayes when it comes to composure.

Thomas Boyd - KPF - (199cm/100kg)

Easily the best KPF in this years draft and is very similar to Patton. Very good contested mark and has a significant presence about him. He has a massive frame and certainly knows how to use it. Reliable on-field and goal kick.

Luke Dunstan - Midfielder/Forward - (184cm/82kg)

Averaged 27 disposals and 5 clearances a game in the colts last year. His speed looked fairly good for an inside midfielder and is superb by foot. He leads by example and could end up a future captain at whatever club is lucky enough to pick him up. He also impacts the scoreboard. Very much a top 2 chance.

Josh Kelly - Midfielder - (181cm/71kg)


This kid is going to be talked about a lot this year. In fact, he was talked about a fair bit last year when the mini draft came around. His running ability is just jaw dropping, testing phenomenally in the repeat sprints and the beep test. He has the skills to match, will kick goals and get plenty of the ball.

Matt Scharenberg - Defender/Midfielder - (189cm/88kg)


Very good defender/midfielder. Down back he is very good at locking down his opponent, and also provides a fair bit in terms of rebound. Just reads the play so well. Can push up and make an impact with his big body. Feel his future lies in defence with his ability to shut down tall's and smalls and hurt the opposition coming out of defence.

Marcus Bontempelli - Defender/Midfielder - (190cm/82kg)


Don't think I have seen him mentioned anywhere yet. Superb left footy kick with real penetration. He is a line breaking defender/midfielder, he can play on tall's and smalls and is a very good read of the play, takes intercept marks, keeps on running and can get on the scoreboard. I rate him as an 'elite' prospect and think he will go top 10. At this stage, my favorite of the draft.




I rate the above as potential 'elite' prospects in this years draft. Obviously have to wait till the conclusion of the champs to get a better idea.

 

[SizeMatters]

No Crouch? I can see the Lions going for another utility IMO.

 

[Dylan12]

I caught Hutchy and "the list manager's" TAC show today, the first episode for the year and it looks like I might actually have a clue about potential draftees for a change. Based on what I have read around these parts about Tom Boyd going pick 1 or 2, I was surprised that Kevin Sheehan only rated him in the 5-10 mark. Obviously a lot of water to go under the bridge with the champs and finals etc, but we just may be a chance if our season continues on this southward decline.

 

[chopperduck]

Best KPF in the draft, if not available, best inside midfielder. We need some mids that can win the ball. Not only do we need one now, but we will have Black and Moloney to replace over the next few years. We will probably also need another defender, although this might be able to wait until next year. We will use a few picks up on Tickner and Conway, so we won't have much left over.

 

[cotter101]

No Crouch? I can see the Lions going for another utility IMO.

Probably deserves a mention. I rate a few players higher though.

 

[13Beast]

After seeing some awfully worrying lapses with our defence this year, and I know it's nowhere near as sexy as choosing a silky-skilled sublime midfielder or hulking man-child of a forward, I would probably be happiest with an absolute blue-chip, low-risk, A-grade defender who can lock down a key defensive role and provide some serious backbone.

 

[Quigley]

After seeing some awfully worrying lapses with our defence this year, and I know it's nowhere near as sexy as choosing a silky-skilled sublime midfielder or hulking man-child of a forward, I would probably be happiest with an absolute blue-chip, low-risk, A-grade defender who can lock down a key defensive role and provide some serious backbone.

My concern is the tendency for the highly drafted "can't miss" top 10 medium defenders to not live up to their potential. Ususally if they are any good they are playing at other parts of the ground at this age. I am thinking Myers, Shepherd and Buntine is looking at following the trend.

 

[13Beast]

My concern is the tendency for the highly drafted "can't miss" top 10 medium defenders to not live up to their potential. Ususally if they are any good they are playing at other parts of the ground at this age. I am thinking Myers, Shepherd and Buntine is looking at following the trend.

I guess that is the way they are often played in the youth ranks, Quigley? Defenders often being the last position for big kids lacking in the ability to clunk marks and kick goals up forward, or smaller kids not quite polished enough for a role in the midfield?

If so, I guess that can make it very difficult to truly pick a genuine pure defender from the draftees.

 

[Quigley]

Whilst I don't usually like the third tall defender types I do really like Scharenberg this year. Unlike those others he can play tall or small and is actually very good defensively as well as offensively. I would have no trouble taking him at all. He is that versatile size that Voss likes as well.

 

[Quigley]

On the KPD side 13Beast from what little I have seen this year I have been pretty impressed with how well Bourke has taken to the defensive job. He still needs to put on some bulk but he has been doing very nicely from what I have seen. Following along the stats over the last few weeks I have also noticed that he has been the leader in rebound 50s in about 3 of the last 4 weeks. He was an AIS scholarship holder last year as a forward and fell through to the rookie draft after a disappointing year. He could yet be a very good get for us and could form a great partnership with Clarke.

 

[POBT]

I note Heppell is one who was mostly seen as a rebounding mid sized defender before a late-ish shift to the midfield. Even then, most draft notes at the time had him as a HBF with midfield potential, rather than a true midfielder.

Birchall is another one who has more than held his draft value despite being seen as a flanker IIRC.

I also think you need to look at the flip side - how many really solid footballers have slid in the draft rankings because they play a role which is not seen as an integral one?

Having said all of that, I would agree that you shouldn't burn a top 10 pick on someone who has played almost exclusively as a back flanker or 3rd tall. They would want to be exceptional if you are going to overlook at top notch KPP or mid.

I guess I am seeing a big hole in our list for someone to come in as a real playmaker in the back half - I'd love to grab this year's version of Sam Fisher.

 

[chopperduck]

On the KPD side 13Beast from what little I have seen this year I have been pretty impressed with how well Bourke has taken to the defensive job. He still needs to put on some bulk but he has been doing very nicely from what I have seen. Following along the stats over the last few weeks I have also noticed that he has been the leader in rebound 50s in about 3 of the last 4 weeks. He was an AIS scholarship holder last year as a forward and fell through to the rookie draft after a disappointing year. He could yet be a very good get for us and could form a great partnership with Clarke.

Was thinking this the other day after seeing some good reports on Bourke from the ressie watches so far this year. Clarke looks great, if Bourke could even develop into that 3rd tall Patfull type defender, it means we only really need a good sized FB to get in. Whilst our defenders are starting to get on, we still have time to replace them.

 

[SizeMatters]

Where would Tickner play though? Forward? I noted that he probably played better as a KPD

 

[pauldrc]

Was thinking this the other day after seeing some good reports on Bourke from the ressie watches so far this year. Clarke looks great, if Bourke could even develop into that 3rd tall Patfull type defender, it means we only really need a good sized FB to get in. Whilst our defenders are starting to get on, we still have time to replace them.

Agree.

KPF is what we need, but that might be a difficult thing by the sounds of it....

 

[chopperduck]

Where would Tickner play though? Forward? I noted that he probably played better as a KPD

If you got them, and can get them cheap, take them. Often failed forwards make the best defenders. 2 of our best defenders in the past 10-15 years has been Merrett and Leppa, both failed forwards, AA quality defenders. Even look at Hendo now at the blues, isn't too bad as a young defender, couldn't make it as a forward. Otherwise we could always shop around for a FB if we can't find one to develop quick enough and the other two turn out as planned.

We need a big strong contested marking genuine KPF though, no point take 3rd or 4th best. Either we trade ourselves into a position to go after Boyd, if he is the best KPF and we rate him high enough, or you go after the best Mid. Taking a KPF who would go late teens, early 20's in the top 10 just because they are the next best KPF would be a waste. We still need inside grunt and genuine clearance players.

We've had to pretty much rebuild our list via the draft with youth, chances are we aren't going to be good enough to draft that good as to replace every position on the field, so we can always go via trade or FA to get the missing pieces we don't draft correctly. I can see us really wanting to land a big name player this trade period though.

 

[jjami15]

When I was watching the Geelong V Essendon game one of the commentators stated that they drafted quite a few of those utility type players that went on to build the core of the team. If this was so it would give some credence for what our club has done over the last few years. With the development of Lester and PattyK being those utility types and showing midfield potential I think that the mid field is becoming more developed. However I do think that we might be reaching that quota. Bring on the nationals!

 

[dlanod]

If you got them, and can get them cheap, take them. Often failed forwards make the best defenders. 2 of our best defenders in the past 10-15 years has been Merrett and Leppa, both failed forwards, AA quality defenders. Even look at Hendo now at the blues, isn't too bad as a young defender, couldn't make it as a forward. Otherwise we could always shop around for a FB if we can't find one to develop quick enough and the other two turn out as planned.

Patfull was a forward as well, as was Jarred Molloy (IIRC) who had more success down back. Bradshaw and Lynch are both obvious examples that came of age down back before shifting (yet again) up forward to good effect.

So yeah, we got most of our KPDs through a few of those transitions.

 

[13Beast]

Was thinking this the other day after seeing some good reports on Bourke from the ressie watches so far this year. Clarke looks great, if Bourke could even develop into that 3rd tall Patfull type defender, it means we only really need a good sized FB to get in. Whilst our defenders are starting to get on, we still have time to replace them.

What are the ages of Patfull, Adcock, Maguire and Merrett? They must all be relatively close in age I'd imagine? Maguire is getting on, Staker too. Leaves the cupboard quite bare down back. Seems the club has exclusively recruited a lot of offensive players the last couple years (aside from Michael/Bourke/Close - all of whom could become kpd's). Does that mean the club will likely start hunting defenders from now on? Or will it still be best available come draft day?

 

[13Beast]

If you got them, and can get them cheap, take them. Often failed forwards make the best defenders. 2 of our best defenders in the past 10-15 years has been Merrett and Leppa, both failed forwards, AA quality defenders. Even look at Hendo now at the blues, isn't too bad as a young defender, couldn't make it as a forward. Otherwise we could always shop around for a FB if we can't find one to develop quick enough and the other two turn out as planned.

We need a big strong contested marking genuine KPF though, no point take 3rd or 4th best. Either we trade ourselves into a position to go after Boyd, if he is the best KPF and we rate him high enough, or you go after the best Mid. Taking a KPF who would go late teens, early 20's in the top 10 just because they are the next best KPF would be a waste. We still need inside grunt and genuine clearance players.

We've had to pretty much rebuild our list via the draft with youth, chances are we aren't going to be good enough to draft that good as to replace every position on the field, so we can always go via trade or FA to get the missing pieces we don't draft correctly. I can see us really wanting to land a big name player this trade period though.

If Karnezis or Polec fail to slot back into the playing group this year or god forbid make ruminations about leaving, perhaps one of them could be packaged along with our high draft pick (#5?) for pick 1 or 2...putting us in the running for Boyd?