2014 Draft Discussion

[jackess]

How would you compare Wright to Paddy Ryder and Mitch Clark?

 

[Devz15]

Would be interested on others thoughts on Peter Wright that have seen him play live.

The way I see it - 203cm, super kick, good mover for his size, not a great contested mark, average at ground level (to be expected for his size) and no general consensus on where he will play his best (suited) footy at AFL level. Change the name and it could be another Cannons boy from a couple of years ago - Liam McBean. As you can probably gather, not sold on him as a genuine top 5 draft pick.

I saw Wright play down in Geelong against the Falcons earlier in the year. It rained the first two quarters and the Falcons backman playing on Wright wore him like a glove. He had a quiet first half and didn't kick a goal. At half time the rain cleared and it became dry and Wright ended up kicking 6 goals in the last two quarters. From what I saw that night I noticed that Wright has absolute confidence in himself to kick goals from beyond 50m and that he is also a very good set shot. On two occasions he kicked long bombs from 55m out from a set shot. He applys some decent forward pressure for a kid his size & has a bit dash too. If we do end up with Wright I will be fairly happy.

Hopefully that gives you a decent idea, I haven't seen much of him at all this season but that's what I took out of watching him play.

 

[Devz15]

How would you compare Wright to Paddy Ryder and Mitch Clark?

I would say Mitch & Paddy are your more athletic ruckman that can move well around the ground, whereas Wright would be your more crash & bash ruckman and leading forward.

 

[bato]

Reece McKenzie

Reece McKenzie (Northern Knights)
Height: 196 cm
Weight: 100 kg
Position: Key forward/ruckman
Player comparison: Travis Cloke
Strengths: Contested marking, running patterns, dominates games
Areas needing improvement: Goal kicking consistency, temperament

Reece McKenzie will take the AFL by storm. He’s been kicking bags of goals since 16 years of age, when he kicked 10 for Marcellin in the A-Team.

His marking is unbelievable: no defender can beat him for strength in the TAC Cup, he has enough acceleration on the lead to constantly turn a one-metre advantage into two on the lead and his running patterns are unpredictable, but intelligent.

The sum of all the parts means he could easily be one of the best key forwards this year, but he struggles to put it all together.

McKenzie is stronger than anyone in this draft class. He is a man mountain, yet he seems to be able to move well and find the ball up the field. His disposal average of 11 is strongly affected by his down games.

When he is playing poorly, he barely finds the footy. McKenzie averages a tick under six marks per game, which shows how hard he works to get himself into the game. What is even scarier is his contested marking: he has three per game.

When on song, McKenzie looks as though he has as much talent and dominance as Patrick McCartin. However, what separates the two is goal kicking.

Against the Eastern Ranges earlier this year, McKenzie kicked 1.4 with one out on the full. He had nine marks – three of those contested – and he added 18 hitouts. He was unstoppable that day, but he just kept missing.

His mental demons really got the better of him. I interviewed him early in the year, and he said that because he has such a high expectation of himself, he can get frustrated when he isn’t playing well, which can really throw him off his game. That will get better with maturity.

Fast forward a few months, and McKenzie took on the Ranges again. This time, he kicked 10.4 from his 19 disposals and 13 marks (eight of those contested). Clearly, his best is unstoppable. His goal tally of 26 in eight games is okay, but he must learn how to kick straight.

His father, Warren McKenzie, played in Carlton’s 1987 premiership. However, Warren didn’t play 100 games, and thus McKenzie is on the open market. The Blues have had their eyes on him since he was 16. At that stage, he was an elite basketballer.

This year marks his first season at TAC Cup level, although he had been part of the Northern Knights since the under 16s. The Blues have a strong interest in McKenzie, but his 10 goal game may take him from being a late second rounder into a possible top 25 selection.

 

[crispy creme]

Re Peter Wright, this is the great thing about the draft and talent ID - evreyone has, and is entitled to, a different opinion. Now watched Wright at least 10 times live and still completely undecided.

 

[whatboutbob]

Now watched Wright at least 10 times live and still completely undecided.

Not really what you want from a top draft pick, eh?

 

[chopperduck]

Is it the talent that is undecided or the way he fits in with our team?

 

[cotter101]

Funnily enough, I know a couple of recruiters who completely disagree on Wright. One of them seems to think he is easily the best player in the draft whereas another said he wasn't sure if he'd use a top 5 pick on him. So it's fair to say opinions about him differ a hell of a lot.

For mine, I think he'd compliment our list extremely well. a few young forwards such as Wright, Hammellman, Close, McStay and even Freeman should mean our search for a KPF is over. McStay and Close have shown some signs in the seniors already.

He is able to play both in the ruck and up forward to a high standard. Something which would be very valuable going forward.

 

[Panthera]

Reece McKenzie

Sounds like a beast!

 

[Panthera]

Funnily enough, I know a couple of recruiters who completely disagree on Wright. One of them seems to think he is easily the best player in the draft whereas another said he wasn't sure if he'd use a top 5 pick on him. So it's fair to say opinions about him differ a hell of a lot.

For mine, I think he'd compliment our list extremely well. a few young forwards such as Wright, Hammellman, Close, McStay and even Freeman should mean our search for a KPF is over. McStay and Close have shown some signs in the seniors already.

He is able to play both in the ruck and up forward to a high standard. Something which would be very valuable going forward.

Whilst we'd love another bonafide superstar ala Browny; we're probably able to still be successful with a couple of really good tall forwards b/c of the talent we'll have hanging around them in Green, Taylor, Zorko, Mayes etc.

Close and Hammelmann may be enough, with McStay running through there when needed

That being said, if Wright is there at pick 5 I think we'd read his number out pretty quickly

 

[dlanod]

Father/son and academy prospects for this year can be discussed elsewhere, since we now know who we're potentially interested in.

 

[WhiteLionFeva]

Re Peter Wright, this is the great thing about the draft and talent ID - evreyone has, and is entitled to, a different opinion. Now watched Wright at least 10 times live and still completely undecided.

Prevaricator

 

[Luke Kathutian]

Whilst we'd love another bonafide superstar ala Browny; we're probably able to still be successful with a couple of really good tall forwards b/c of the talent we'll have hanging around them in Green, Taylor, Zorko, Mayes etc.

Close and Hammelmann may be enough, with McStay running through there when needed

That being said, if Wright is there at pick 5 I think we'd read his number out pretty quickly

These days you really need the one really dangerous tall. Not for the goals they kick themselves but because as soon as you need to start double teaming a tall to control them your defence is destabalised. It creates otjer avenues to goal. Good forwards might kick a couple goals each but they can be manned by a single opponent and domt create that destabalisation that really blows open opponents.

 

[WhiteLionFeva]

Father/son and academy prospects for this year can be discussed elsewhere, since we now know who we're potentially interested in.

And because it's all speculation.

 

[LIONS08]

http://www.afl.com.au/video/2014-08-07/big-cannon-a-draft-delight
I haven't seen a whole heap of Wright play but I am pretty impressed. He doesn't move like your usual 203cm ruck man and I certainly see him being able to develop his forward game more and more. He has a very impressive set shot by the looks of things! Landing them from 55m out with ease it looks like. Would we be able to fit him in our team with both Leuy and Stef? Thats the only problem I can see. He does seem to like to get up the ground a bit which would allow Stef or Leuy to rest at full forward while the other rucks. I can see this kid being extremely valuable!

 

[chopperduck]

I like the way he moves, he doesn't have that baby giraffe gumby uncoordinated thing that a lot of big guys have. He looks comfortable with his size, whether that is above his head marking or down at ground level. Moves well and looks half decent on the lead and knows how to kick.

I do see him as a forward ruck, someone who would go play 5min in the ruck and alet the ruck play at FF to rest. I think if he was having an off game u could move him to the ruck to get him involved a bit as well. We need a big target up forward and Leppa wants a 2 ruck set up, so I can see this kid fitting into our team easy over the next 10 years.

 

[Quigley]

He really needs to work on his leading though. He relies on being bigger and stronger than the opposition entirely too much atm. That will work a bit at AFL level but not to the extent it does at junior level. There needs to be quite a bit of work put in to getting him on his bike and leading hard at the ball repeatedly.

 

[LIONS08]

He really needs to work on his leading though. He relies on being bigger and stronger than the opposition entirely too much atm. That will work a bit at AFL level but not to the extent it does at junior level. There needs to be quite a bit of work put in to getting him on his bike and leading hard at the ball repeatedly.

Ahh yep i can see where you are coming from. Without seeing him in person it makes it tough to make an educated call. Who is you preferred target for us in the draft? Considering that the saints are likely to take McCartin. Do you see us taking a mid with our first pick? Also how highly do you rate Hammer? I really respect your opinion.

 

[Quigley]

I don't really have a preferred target atm. No-one has really grabbed me. Quite a few who could work out but all of them have significant holes in their games. I was really keen on Durdin last year but he has not come on as I had hoped especially up forward. I think he will be a solid player but if he is a defender (likely) I am not sure he is really any better than our current crop or that much of an upgrade on Andrews. Pickett is one guy I like as an impact player (ie quick skilled but might not get a huge amount of it) who I could see being very handy for us. I am much higher on Lamb than most and I could maybe be persuaded if he had a few big games between now and the end of the year.

We could also do worse than Brayshaw if he was there when we are picking and he very much fits our type. He is a very low risk prospect and he does have quite a lot of upside although I am not sure he has true elite capabilities. He would be another pretty good building block in the midfield though.

 

[rusty08]

These days you really need the one really dangerous tall. Not for the goals they kick themselves but because as soon as you need to start double teaming a tall to control them your defence is destabalised. It creates otjer avenues to goal. Good forwards might kick a couple goals each but they can be manned by a single opponent and domt create that destabalisation that really blows open opponents.

All well and good, providing the teammates use the other options. Browny was so commanding, the ball was often kicked to him, even with 2 or 3 opponents.

 

[jjami15]

It was interesting to hear him say that he sees himself more as a forward. Vic M coaches obviously playing him in the ruck has given a lot of opinions on where his position is. He possibly is best fit and would add that point of difference to make quite a potent forward line. Possible three talls of Wright, Close and Hammer or even swinging McStay forward if things weren't working. Going from the cupboard being bare of KPF's to having a possible number is pleasing and will be a test of our patience.

 

[Ironmonger]

Whoever takes Peter Wright will need to treat him with kid gloves I reckon. A 203cm ruck/forward with back problems sounds like a bit of a project. Particularly if he needs to learn to lead harder and faster.

If we draft him, it has to be as a forward. We cannot have him spending 20-30% of each game thundering into the hard Gabba center wicket.

 

[cotter101]

Honestly think Reece McKenzie will rapidly climb up the ranking and push top 10. He could easily be better than Wright or McCartin.

If Wright, McCartin and Petracca were gone at our first pick I'd personally be inclined to pick Ahern or Brayshaw.

 

[pulpdriver]

Honestly think Reece McKenzie will rapidly climb up the ranking and push top 10. He could easily be better than Wright or McCartin.

If Wright, McCartin and Petracca were gone at our first pick I'd personally be inclined to pick Ahern or Brayshaw.

What does McKenzie need to do to solidify as a top 10 prospect?

 

[cotter101]

What does McKenzie need to do to solidify as a top 10 prospect?

He needs to work on his consistency and his kicking.

Capable of coming out and kicking 7+ goals one week, but will then follow it up with just the 1 goal next week. He is a big bodied, athletic tall forward who is a good contested mark.