2014 Draft Discussion

[Kevvo]

Tempering expectations is a gateway drug to tanking.

 

[Billy Puller]

Tempering expectations is a gateway drug to tanking.

 

[jackess]

Ubergang will be the 1st qlder we select

I interpret this as he's the one other clubs are most interested in, forcing us to pick him up before other academy picks.

 

[Kevvo]

I was being facetious. Maybe a bit vague.

Sincerely, I am 100 per cent for tampering expectations.

 

[Billy Puller]

I was being facetious. Maybe a bit vague.

Sincerely, I am 100 per cent for tampering expectations.

Accepting we are gonna be shit for a while is the first step to recovery.

 

[Schmidty Chut]

If Hammelmann can improve his set shot technique, I think he'll be our full forward within 2 seasons. A tick under 2 metres, can mark well on the lead and gets separation from defenders with good footy smarts. Is pretty good below the knees and his second efforts are there, just doesn't have the strength/stamina to execute them properly yet.

An extra 10kg and a couple of pre-seasons of AFL level training will do him wonders.

If we can get him for a 3rd rounder or later it'll be a steal

A couple of simple things with the technique such as getting a bit close to the man on the mark can be rectified with ease... As long as all the tools are there, which they are in his case, recruiters will be happy to nominate him highly.

 

[WhiteLionFeva]

I have hopes that Hammelmann might turn into a defender if he doesnt grab a forward spot. I like Close and think he will take one of our forward positions, along with our first pick this year. That leaves maybe 1 spot for another ruck forward martin or west playing 3 talls.

Hammelmann might be good as a defender.

So might Close for that matter. Sometimes players just turn into something you don't expect. Daniel Merrett started as a forward, although he hadn't played much footy admittedly. Before that we had Bradshaw switching from attack into defence, and back again. Paul Roos started as a forward and became an All-Australian CHB. Gary Ablett Snr started as wingman and became one of the great full-forwards. Chris Langford started as a wingman and became a premiership full-back. Most of these guys were stars but I mean to emphasise that players can develop over time, especially those who are still growing when they start their senior careers.

 

[Eons]

So might Close for that matter. Sometimes players just turn into something you don't expect. Daniel Merrett started as a forward, although he hadn't played much footy admittedly. Before that we had Bradshaw switching from attack into defence, and back again. Paul Roos started as a forward and became an All-Australian CHB. Gary Ablett Snr started as wingman and became one of the great full-forwards. Chris Langford started as a wingman and became a premiership full-back. Most of these guys were stars but I mean to emphasise that players can develop over time, especially those who are still growing when they start their senior careers.

Gary Pert is another one. All depends on the teams needs at the time.

 

[BuntonRules]

What makes you think we have turned a corner?

So might Close for that matter. Sometimes players just turn into something you don't expect. Daniel Merrett started as a forward, although he hadn't played much footy admittedly. Before that we had Bradshaw switching from attack into defence, and back again. Paul Roos started as a forward and became an All-Australian CHB. Gary Ablett Snr started as wingman and became one of the great full-forwards. Chris Langford started as a wingman and became a premiership full-back. Most of these guys were stars but I mean to emphasise that players can develop over time, especially those who are still growing when they start their senior careers.

Boke called Leppa springs to mind.

 

[Giant Pete]

Who do you think you guys will take with your first pick?

 

[Dan12]

Who do you think you guys will take with your first pick?

Best key forward available.

 

[Panthera]

Who do you think you guys will take with your first pick?

Depends where our first pick is

We may not even have a first rounder after trade week

 

[a mayes ing]

Boke called Leppa springs to mind.

A caoach isn't going to stop kids going back to homestates. Yeo still left when he talked to Leppa

 

[Haso]

A caoach isn't going to stop kids going back to homestates. Yeo still left when he talked to Leppa

He's talking about players excelling in unexpected positions, young fella.

 

[Quigley]

Leppa started as a key position before becoming an AA CHB.

I am one who thinks Close is more likely to end up at the defensive end but I am not writing him off as a forward just yet.

 

[Crawb]

Who do you think you guys will take with your first pick?

Considering we'll be bottom 2 for certain, McCartin or Wright.

 

[Davemonkey]

SEN seem certain we'll take Wright

2. Brisbane Lions – Peter Wright

Calder Cannons | 8/9/96 | 203cm | 102kg | Ruck/tall forward

With Matthew Leuenberger and Stefan Martin one could argue that a ruckman/forward isn’t the greatest need for a Brisbane list that still has many holes. However both Leuenberger and Martin have had their injury issues and Brad Ottens-like big man is hard to overlook.

 

[James North]

SEN seem certain we'll take Wright

The biggest problem I have with this is the assumption that we won't be playing in the GF with Goose at FB.

 

[POBT]

I hadn't paid much attention to the DOBs of the players before now.

Interesting to note that Wright is about 5 months younger than McCartin. And Marchbank is born in December and so nearly a year younger than a January lad like Moore, Petracca or Brayshaw.

 

[Dom PC]

Can't wait to pull out the red head puns if we draft Wright. Already seen some good name puns... if he can play like Ottens did in the forward line for Richmond I'd be happy with him at pick 2.

 

[Quigley]

SEN seem certain we'll take Wright

I don't rate what these guys say particularly highly especially at this stage but credit where it is due I had been struggling for a comparison for Wright and Ottens is a pretty damn good one.

 

[chopperduck]

Nothing wrong with an Ottens type sitting in our goal square as an anchor in attack. Especially if we can offset that with some good leading types. Close and Paps along with maybe Hammelmann who people seem to rate on the lead. These guys work up the field with good leads, it is going to leave space behind for our mids to run into or isolate a big marking type 1v1 near the square.

 

[POBT]

I was always a big Ottens fan. He was an All Australian forward at one point, after all. I think it is fair to say that he found consistency late in his career as a ruck but that may have been more due to being de-Richmonded at the Cats.

On his day, he was a fantastic forward. Moved well, could take a contested mark and one of the best kicks you'd see on a big bloke. Can definitely see that comparison.

 

[Hollow Knight]

Yeah Drew Petrie is another comparison I like with Wright. They're somewhat different stylistically with Wright probably going to have more physical presence, but Petrie is a good example of how a forward/ruck (as opposed to a ruck/forward) can be greatly valuable and a genuine focal point up forward.

The idea of a 202 centremetre behemoth inside 50 leading all day who, if he doesn't mark it, will be a more than even chance to bring it to ground for the mozzie squad is a nice option to have. Especially if he can build a good strategic inside 50 relationship with Close who would play the second tall role (with some good forward defensive pressure for a big man), and Paparone playing as a long leading link man.

On paper, it sounds like a more than servicable forward set up to me. You don't need a superstar forward line if you have quality elsewhere. I think our midfield is probably where we are going to load up on class over the next few drafts and if we put a hard working, balanced small and tall forward line on the end of a high quality midfield, we could look pretty good.

 

[POBT]

Petrie is also a good case study for the changing role of the key forward. The most goals he's kicked in a season is 58. In essence, he's a 2 goal a game forward which is hardly outstanding. But if I had a choice between him and (say) Jack Riewoldt, I'd take Petrie every time, even without the ability to go into the ruck. Petrie creates a contest every single time the ball goes near him. Riewoldt may be the better full forward and the more likely to kick regular goals, but I think Petrie's game is more suited to the modern style of footy.