2014 Draft Discussion

[blueiris]

That raises an interesting point, with Martin in career best form and being out of contract, what happens if he gets a better offer?

You would think that the only club needing a ruckman would be Collingwood what would they offer though

 

[Haso]

There's a dude named Cavka.

I'll always use the K if we draft him.

 

[Haso]

There's a dude named Cavka.

I'll always use the K if we draft him.

And also an F.

 

[Kevvo]

My thinking was that West is pretty much gone for all of next year, Leuey is a week to week proposition and I don't see Archie being at the level for at least another year. I also don't see us playing both Leuey and Martin together somehow, unless both improve their ability to play/rest forward.

That's fair enough, I didn't realise the outlook for West was that bad. I reckon our first round draft pick would be planned with more than a one year horizon, so I think the ruck depth is probably still okay as it relates to drafting Wright. Having said that, I don't really have a strong view on Wright as a forward-ruck or ruck-forward, and it's very possible our recruiters view him as the former in which case my point is mostly moot.

 

[western royboy]

You would think that the only club needing a ruckman would be Collingwood what would they offer though

The offer will be 0 - if he wants to go they will simply offer him more cashola and won't worry about us.

 

[winged1]

The offer will be 0 - if he wants to go they will simply offer him more cashola and won't worry about us.

Not to mention the media contract and all the hootchies he can ah.....handle.

 

[blueiris]

The offer will be 0 - if he wants to go they will simply offer him more cashola and won't worry about us.

Don't think they would have as much free cash as we would have to offer

 

[Dan12]

Actually, I'd have said ruck was probably our best position, and one of the easiest to source mature players who can do a job. I'd be totally comfortable with any of Leuey, West or Martin playing as first ruck, and Archie looks to be developing fairly well. I'm pretty confident that Stef will still be here next year, so I'd say that's probably the last thing we'll need to bolster.

We have good first rucks, however we have little in the way of players who are effective both up forward and in the ruck. Wright could help us in that regard if we pick him. This is also why I really want to see if Leuy can play forward as well as ruck for however many games he plays for the remainder of the year.

I reckon we'll also get a 22-25yo ruckman dirt cheap this off season. Someone who'll be here for a few years until Smith and possibly Wright develop and also in case our injury prone rucks trip over each other walking down the stairs and all suffer season ending injuries. Someone like Sam Grimley from Hawthorn or a state leaguer. We might even retain Sam Michael.

Remember that Leppa's game plan involves two rucks, not a 1st ruck and a pinch hitter (which we're playing right now, because Martin's the only fit ruckman we have). So I wouldn't underestimate the possibility of us adding to our ruck stocks this off season.

 

[SizeMatters]

That raises an interesting point, with Martin in career best form and being out of contract, what happens if he gets a better offer?

Well I guess Leppa will sit him down and talk him through the likelihood of him getting a guaranteed role in the best 22 and his role with a *fingers crossed* fit Berger. I think Berger would be a bit more worried IMO as he's probably on the same coin as Martin + West + Smith together yet is hardly ever on the field.

 

[Kevvo]

We have good first rucks, however we have little in the way of players who are effective both up forward and in the ruck. Wright could help us in that regard if we pick him. This is also why I really want to see if Leuy can play forward as well as ruck for however many games he plays for the remainder of the year.

I reckon we'll also get a 22-25yo ruckman dirt cheap this off season. Someone who'll be here for a few years until Smith and possibly Wright develop and also in case our injury prone rucks trip over each other walking down the stairs and all suffer season ending injuries. Someone like Sam Grimley from Hawthorn or a state leaguer. We might even retain Sam Michael.

Remember that Leppa's game plan involves two rucks, not a 1st ruck and a pinch hitter (which we're playing right now, because Martin's the only fit ruckman we have). So I wouldn't underestimate the possibility of us adding to our ruck stocks this off season.

To be fair, we haven't seen much of West and either of those two working in tandem, but in one of the two (or three?) games at the beginning of the season, he kicked a bag. On top of which, Leppa seemingly had the idea that West could serve that purpose.

I take your point, but it still seems implausible to me that we would actively seek another player for whom ruck was a substantial part of their role, on top of having 3 quality, relatively senior first rucks and already having Freeman and Archie as 200cm plus project types. I know Freeman is a forward prospect, but at that height you'd think we might expect him to pinch hit in the ruck occasionally.

 

[Skoob]

I think if we rate Hammelman and Uebergang and look like getting one or both then we may look at best available with our first pick. You can only have so many key forward options, assuming we keep Freeman and Lisle. On the other hand, we aren't flush with ruck options and so a guy like Wright would have a lot of appeal you would think.

Mitch Clark, Retzy, Ace, Lisle & Dadsy* all say you can never have enough back up plans for KPP.

*Not quite writing Sammy off yet, but I'm not optimistic that he'll be any sort of forward.

 

[acuguy]

Luey and Wright on the list together stinks of Luey and Longer on the same list. Too much of a cost for too little return. 2 ruck/forwards at that price is too much especially considering the outstanding form of Martin. Between Luey, Martin, Archie and West we have the forward ruck role covered for the next 5 years. Durdin's next 4 months could see him come into our calculations!

 

[blueiris]

Luey and Wright on the list together stinks of Luey and Longer on the same list. Too much of a cost for too little return. 2 ruck/forwards at that price is too much especially considering the outstanding form of Martin. Between Luey, Martin, Archie and West we have the forward ruck role covered for the next 5 years. Durdin's next 4 months could see him come into our calculations!

There would be no reason why we would look at Durdin he's not considered a top 5 pick

 

[acuguy]

There would be no reason why we would look at Durdin he's not considered a top 5 pick

I think you will find he is definitely in the top 10 names. I think you would also know that there isn't a standout talent for pick 1. I think you would also know that the next 4 months will help separate players. Or maybe I am just giving you too much credit!

 

[blueiris]

I think you will find he is definitely in the top 10 names. I think you would also know that there isn't a standout talent for pick 1. I think you would also know that the next 4 months will help separate players. Or maybe I am just giving you too much credit!

We often overrate players on big football I think he's a top 10 player just that that experts like Sheehan and others don't rate him in front of players like McCartin Wright Brayshaw Petracca and Pickett

 

[WhiteLionFeva]

Mitch Clark, Retzy, Ace, Lisle & Dadsy* all say you can never have enough back up plans for KPP.

*Not quite writing Sammy off yet, but I'm not optimistic that he'll be any sort of forward.

Yeah, he was an exciting prospect two years ago but seems to have gone backwards which is a shame. Might be one of the casualties of our need to keep turning over players at the fringe.

 

[western royboy]

Don't think they would have as much free cash as we would have to offer

Collingwood aren't going to trade for Stefan Martin -as great as he has been over the last 5 weeks.

 

[Skoob]

Yeah, he was an exciting prospect two years ago but seems to have gone backwards which is a shame. Might be one of the casualties of our need to keep turning over players at the fringe.

Think he still has a spot and time to claim it, just not as a forward. He's a follower, not a leader, which is a shame, because I think he has the physical attributes.

 

[POBT]

The worst thing to happen to Wright was having a run in the ruck. Another game or two as ruckman and he'll be lucky to make it on a rookie list.

 

[POBT]

There would be no reason why we would look at Durdin he's not considered a top 5 pick

Right.....

 

[Scubaveg]

Mitch Clark, Retzy, Ace, Lisle & Dadsy* all say you can never have enough back up plans for KPP.

*Not quite writing Sammy off yet, but I'm not optimistic that he'll be any sort of forward.

Anyone know how Retzy is going?

 

[Schmidty Chut]

Luey and Wright on the list together stinks of Luey and Longer on the same list. Too much of a cost for too little return. 2 ruck/forwards at that price is too much especially considering the outstanding form of Martin. Between Luey, Martin, Archie and West we have the forward ruck role covered for the next 5 years. Durdin's next 4 months could see him come into our calculations!

Good point that, I guess it comes down to whether they consider Wright as someone capable of being a genuine key forward, who can pinch hit in the ruck, or as a first and foremost ruck/forward. So with McCartin unlikely to be around at the Lions' pick, the best available and also on a wants/needs basis could be a mid i.e. Petracca, Brayshaw. To be fair, there is plenty of time in the year for Wright to prove himself as someone who could turn out as a great forward in years to come.

 

[Tairy Greene]

The worst thing to happen to Wright was having a run in the ruck. Another game or two as ruckman and he'll be lucky to make it on a rookie list.

I think we can throw him a bone and take him in the Pre-season Draft.

 

[PTizzle]

Anyone know how Retzy is going?

Playing for Central District (with Tom Collier) in the SANFL last I heard, I think he's going pretty well. I haven't seen any of his games since he stopped playing for Box Hill but he was a very big unit last I saw.

 

[Haso]

Playing for Central District (with Tom Collier) in the SANFL last I heard, I think he's going pretty well. I haven't seen any of his games since he stopped playing for Box Hill but he was a very big unit last I saw.

Runs in the family, that.