2014 Draft Discussion

[dlanod]

One way or the other, Petracca's emergence as a likely number one is good news for us. Either we get him or we have a better chance of getting one of the significant key forwards.

Incidentally, it seems pretty rare for a team to ignore a clear number one and go needs based with the first pick. But of course, St Kilda have unusual circumstances and Petracca may not be all that clear.

Just on Frawley, he is a restricted free agent and if he does move away from Melbourne it won't necessarily be for huge money. He's played his entire career at a struggling team and he wouldn't surprise me if he was prepared to take a lower offer from a better club.

Frawley is actually unrestricted. He's only got the eight years service, but because Melbourne frontloaded his contract he's below the threshold for restricted free agency.

 

[Ironmonger]

Frawley is actually unrestricted. He's only got the eight years service, but because Melbourne frontloaded his contract he's below the threshold for restricted free agency.

Yeah wrong terminology on my part. My point was that he could leave without being paid a huge amount.

 

[lionshine]

I know there is a fair bit of hype around Petracca's game today but I think it is important to remember that had he been born 1 day earlier he would have been eligible for last years draft. I think players like Aish, Kelly, Billings, and Bontempelli would be tearing the TAC cup apart in similar fashion to Petracca if they were playing in it this year.

 

[Panthera]

Went along to see Calder v Sandringham earlier today

Got to the game at the start of the 2nd quarter. Quarter time was 2 goals to 1 (none to Wright).

A few pieces of play:

Wright (playing out of the goal square) kicks his first, 5 minutes into the 2nd qtr. after a strong lead, mark & goal. Talks a lot to his teammates (in a positive way). Repeat leads all the time. Commanding presence.

Swapped into the ruck halfway through the second after supply totally dried up (zero inside 50's for 10 mins). Got the hit out that led to a F50 but his replacement at FF looked lost.
Dropped back onto the wing to take a great defensive pack mark. Imposing figure. Punches it through for a behind minutes later. Does all the team things very well. Floated forward last bit of qtr. Horrible supply.

Tyler Roos gets a lot of the ball but butchers it most times. Can’t see him improving his disposal enough for an AFL career.

Wright now at CHF to start of 3rd. Runs under the ball after an average attempted pass. F50 ruckwork is exceptional. Got 5m off his opponent, kick goes 5m over his head (he should get used to this).

Wright gets a free kick from 45m. Grazes post. Kicks goes 15m over goal line with slight breeze.

Ball rolling at his feet. Gets down with ease but fumbles slightly. 2nd & 3rd efforts are good. Kicking to him at CHF is atrocious.

Kid nearly knocks my can of Coke over with his toy footy.

Calder doing most of the attacking now. Back to FF after a stint in the ruck. Marks over 2 just outside the goal square and kicks truly from 15m on slight angle.

Smashes three opponents and takes a huge pack mark. Kicks straight from 30m. Big fist pump after that one and rallying cry to his team

Calder dominating.

Ball drops in front of him, gets it and snaps around the corner. Out on the full. He’s starting to move around the F50 like The Hulk. Defenders are calling for extras in the hole in front of him.

Slots his 3rd of the quarter with very smart lead, mark & goal. Ice cold finish from boundary line.

Dominant quarter to bring his team back into it. From 36pts down, Calder go into the final quarter just 8 pts down.

4th qtr. starts with Wright being double teamed, 2 v 1. Not much ball coming in first 20mins. He’s in zero contests. I left as Sandringham kick the sealer.

Is he a direct replacement for Jono Brown? No, but his kicking is the same. Hits it hard and straight, no matter where he’s kicking from. Kicks like a forward, not a dopey ruckman.

Is he more a ruckman than a KPF? Not sure, but he’s very smart when playing deep forward and knows how to play there. No issue with him being our first pick after seeing how he goes about it.

Is he capable of playing a forward type role in the AFL? Definitely!

Would Close and Hammelmann compliment his playing style, physique? I think they’re all totally different players and it would be very hard to match up on such a forward line in coming years, especially with Green, Zorko & Taylor hanging around in the same area.

 

[Old Den]

My two bob's worth on the first round draft pick.

Six games to go and I think we can beat the Suns and/or Melbourne...the other four,Adelaide,Freo,Collingwood and Geelong will be very big asks.

I have done the fixture forecast and these are my conclusions.

Win 2 more games we get pick 5 in the Draft.

Win one more game we get pick 3.

Win no more games we get pick 2.

 

[piari]

I am not sure if this is to prepare Lions for more departures at the end of the year.

Feel for the boy though. Long way to Perth if things get worse for his father.


http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/marco-paparone-watches-his-father-battles-cancer/2316859/

 

[chopperduck]

Thanks for that Panthera good sum up. I saw some results online and thought i'd love to have a bit of a run down on how he went about it. Seemed to dominate that 3rd qtr and drag his side back into the game, a great sign for a KPF. His ability to go up into the ruck and get involved in the play should be seen as a positive, meaning if he isn't getting supply, you can get him into the game. He seems to like throwing his weight around and making a difference in the game, so you don't want him to stand in the goal square by himself for a qtr without touching it.

The little things you mentioned, the strong marking, contested marking, crashing the packs and the like are great signs. He really does sound like a player we could use playing that deep forward role with Close and maybe McGuane the support acts up around the 50m mark. Hammelmann with his fast leading also a different type of player and if he turns into an AFL quality forward, could form a nice partnership with him.

 

[chopperduck]

I don't think so. Whilst it is hard to say, Paps has always been positive about being here, and there certainly does seem to the support from his family to chase his AFL career and be happy, rather than some others to bug them to come home. This isn't a new problem since being here though either, so it's not new to him, and he has still been pretty happy being over here.

 

[chopperduck]

Too much focus has been on Wright and painting him as a typical ruck/forward, a player kind of useless up forward and is much better in the ruck. I think this idea of him needs to be broken. Those 'dopey' ruck/forward types don't do what this kid does. Good strong goal kick, good sense inside 50 and strong marking. This isn't a guy who is a ruck, playing up forward because he is tall and waiting for his turn in the ruck. He is a guy who can ruck, and is playing forward because he is damn well good at it. Time to see his ability to ruck as a bonus, and not something that paints him in a negative light.

 

[SizeMatters]

Wright played well no doubt but looking at his opponents (#20) you can possibly see why. He is just a huge lump of a lad that is just bigger and stronger than the average 18 year old. When you get someone like that at junior level I personally look at the smaller things that can seperate himself apart from typical AFL defender. Do they sheppard, put blocks on, workrate when chips are down, one percenters etc. and it seems Wright does them well.

 

[Cockliff38]

It sounds like Wright hits the packs and is half decent on the lead - great attributes to accompany his physical stature. He could be forgiven for making the most of his figure and bullying the TAC defenders ala Tom Hawkins in his draft year. Means Wright is more of a chance to make an impact sooner rather than later - unlike Hawkins who took time to adjust

 

[chopperduck]

His size will make defenders very very nervous, especially if he can get out on a lead as well. A typical ruck/forward will just wait for the ball to come in and contest it, but with Wright he could lead, or if it does come in on his head, he is a strong mark and 203cm tall. Very big ask for a defender. Being a good shot at goal from anywhere to 55m out means he will convert his chances as well.

 

[Swanny10]

Wright played well no doubt but looking at his opponents (#20) you can possibly see why. He is just a huge lump of a lad that is just bigger and stronger than the average 18 year old. When you get someone like that at junior level I personally look at the smaller things that can seperate himself apart from typical AFL defender. Do they sheppard, put blocks on, workrate when chips are down, one percenters etc. and it seems Wright does them well.

He may be bigger than most of his opponents that's true but he still can put on a lot of size on like most 18 year olds. After 5 years in an afl system he'll be bullying senior key defenders too.

 

[a mayes ing]

He may be bigger than most of his opponents that's true but he still can put on a lot of size on like most 18 year olds. After 5 years in an afl system he'll be bullying senior key defenders too.

Yep, really starting to want Wright now, even more than Petracca, as l think if we can get Close, Wright and Hammelman to AFL quality then we will have an awesome forward line that is hard to match up on as they are all different. Combine that with the mozzies.

 

[Big Lion]

Great work Panthera, even included photos, cheers mate good report.

 

[James North]

Great work Panthera, even included photos, cheers mate good report.

Still a bit bummed there isn't a pic of this so called "spilt Coke" ... but I guess I'll take his word for it.

One of life's great travesties and there was no evidence.

 

[John_Proctor]

Only nearly spilt so not worth the photo!

My thanks too panthera.

 

[Big Lion]

Still a bit bummed there isn't a pic of this so called "spilt Coke" ... but I guess I'll take his word for it.

One of life's great travesties and there was no evidence.

I heard there was a second kid in the grassy knoll.

 

[POBT]

I believe Keith Hernandez was involved.

 

[rusty08]

Yep, really starting to want Wright now, even more than Petracca, as l think if we can get Close, Wright and Hammelman to AFL quality then we will have an awesome forward line that is hard to match up on as they are all different. Combine that with the mozzies.

I'll ask the question again, not necessarily to you, why no mention of freeman? Almost 200cm and with what seems a good build to work with. Hardly seen anything of him so can only go off reserve write ups. They seem reasonably happy with his progress.

 

[Big Lion]

I'll ask the question again, not necessarily to you, why no mention of freeman? Almost 200cm and with what seems a good build to work with. Hardly seen anything of him so can only go off reserve write ups. They seem reasonably happy with his progress.

Still a bit raw isn't he.

 

[a mayes ing]

I'll ask the question again, not necessarily to you, why no mention of freeman? Almost 200cm and with what seems a good build to work with. Hardly seen anything of him so can only go off reserve write ups. They seem reasonably happy with his progress.

I am from Perth so l have never seen him.
I really like Close and think he can be huge for us. Wright, well, if he comes then he can be our focal forward point. It then turns to either Hammelman and Freeman and l have heard good things about Hammelmann about his speed and leads.

 

[Nunez]

I'm a fair bit behind with hammelenman or whatever his name is. Is he an Academy forward?

 

[Big Lion]

I'm a fair bit behind with hammelenman or whatever his name is. Is he an Academy forward?

Yes

 

[James North]

I believe Keith Hernandez was involved.

Still trying to get that signed baseball he promised from the time I helped him move.