List Mgmt. 2014 Draft Trade FA Megathread

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Care to elaborate? Strengths? I've just read he's a poor mans Acres.
KM obviously rates him pretty highly. Has him at #8 in his power rankings, the 4th best mid behind Petracca, Brayshaw and Heeney.

Knightmare said:
(WA – Mid)
Height: 186cm, Weight: 81kg, DOB: 03/02/1996
Recruited from: Swan Districts
Draft range: 10-30
Best position/role: Midfield – on the ball.
Strengths:
Ability to keep his feet – Blakely is exceptionally balanced. He has good strength through the legs and hips but mostly he just has excellent balance and because he is someone who maintains his balance and does not leave the ground he is as a result someone who will keep his feet in the contest, rarely if ever going to ground and in tackles also can be difficult to bring to ground.
Inside game – Showed through the U18 Championships excellent inside ability winning the contested ball, winning the clearances, reading the ruck taps well to get first hand on it, tackling strongly and moving evasively in traffic which has allowed him substantial time and space in traffic to use the ball efficiently. He gives the second and third efforts inside. Typically Blakely is someone who hits the ball at speed which gives him in traffic a really explosive feel, where he will burst away from congestion and make some evasive moves to avoid would be tacklers, then gets it away cleanly all on his own. Season one ready –Has performed and performed strongly against men at senior WAFL league level and has coped well against the stronger bodies which suggests that he can make the transition to playing from season one at AFL level.
Evasive movement in traffic – His real athletic gift that pops out at you is his explosive ability to sidestep that he uses in traffic. With his explosive sidestep he can effectively create significant time and space for himself to dispose of the ball effectively by hand and foot which particularly when playing on the ball greatly helps his disposal efficiency. He also uses quick, small steps brilliantly and frequently in traffic to also create time and space for himself as with those smaller steps he can change direction more quickly, allowing for that creation of space. He moves exceptionally quickly in traffic, just reading the drop of the ball first consistently, winning it and getting up to speed quicker than anyone else which gets him out of traffic with ball in hand, and on the move he also while accelerating and quickly change direction making him extra hard to lay a hand on.
Skillset – Blakely is an efficient user of the footy. By hand he inside the contest can work effectively as an inside extractor finding the outside runners or creating space to get a clear pass off by hand to a target in more space. By foot he will look in general play to work into space before kicking, executing his kicks to a target when he has the time and space to deliver. He has good vision finding the best the targets in best position, making good decisions and shows a willingness when he has time with ball in hand to lower his eyes and find the best targets. He also can at times use his opposite side as required. He also when tackled has the strength to release by hand to a target.
Outside game – Blakely while he played as an on-baller through the U18 Championships has relatively good outside ability for an inside player who can also outside the contest get involved in the play but also use it well.

Weaknesses:
Pace – Blakely while he has an incredible ability to create space in traffic and to sidestep guys he is not a linebreaker with only average pace and a relative lack of straightline speed.
Scoreboard impact – Blakely can on occasion hit the scoreboard through the midfield but at this stage he is not someone you would put in the forward 50 as someone who is neither a natural crumbing forward or a marking forward for him to be a real threat.
Marking ability – Blakely at this stage can take uncontested marks around the ground but is not a marking threat as some other tall midfielders are. He takes his marks cleanly and can take his marks out in front but he is not someone who generally takes his marks on the move, leaping up at the ball or taking it at the highest point which makes him slightly limited in this regard, mostly just waiting for the ball to come towards him when he is stationary. I would also categorise his hands overhead as clean but not strong or sticky hands. At this stage Blakely is relatively limited on the lead as someone who does not seem to read where the ball is going or read the drop of the ball to be a major threat on the lead. Additionally he is not a threat to take 1v1 marks or pack marks, limiting his potential to play in the front half. What I expect will improve:I expect Blakely will continue to improve his inside game which is where he has real scope to develop but also at the same time add some further strings to his bow.

Who he can become?
Blakely through the midfield has the scope to develop into something similar to Callan Ward.

When will he be ready to play?
Blakely in my view is round one ready to play and has the opportunity from season one to establish himself as a regular part of a best team if the opening is there for a midfielder given his exceptional WAFL League performance and strong play through the U18 Championships.

How to best utilise him?
Blakely is best utilised through the midfield on the ball.

Interpretation of his numbers:
Blakely’s numbers through the U18 Championships were excellent as WA’s best midfielder. His disposal numbers were excellent. His contested ball winning, tackle and clearance numbers were all excellent, as was his disposal efficiency by position. His numbers at WAFL league level have been excellent similarly demonstrating strong disposal and tackle numbers against men suggesting he is capable of playing at AFL level from season one.
 

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t_94

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Care to elaborate? Strengths? I've just read he's a poor mans Acres.
I wouldn't say he's as skilled as Acres, there are a few similarities. Not sure He'll ever be a genuine gun of the game but He has shown what he an do at senior WAFL level averaging 18 disposals from 14 games this year, and made the u/18 all Australian team. I just find some of those other types particularly from Vic have been overrated ( Ahern, Ellis etc) and don't have nearly as many runs on the board as Blakely. The traits that stand out to me He's very good through traffic and has a reasonable inside/outside mix. I would say his playing style is along the lines of Callan Ward. Knightmare compared him to James Kelly I think?
 

Keg on legs

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Last night I was thinking about the issue of whether we recruit Reece McKenzie at picks # 21 or 22 ?

Allan Richardson and Aaron Hamill have both shown every indication that they were happy with Josh Bruce playing full forward! They both think he can contribute and make it as a key forward as he has shown he can take of solid mark, is a reasonable set shot and most importantly provides good defensive pressure. We have to remember at the same age and with much less exposure to AFL as a kid Bruce made the All Australian U18 side as a Full Forward.

Josh Bruce is an elite rower and has developed into a tall athletic defender and forward and was the first player signed to GWS from their 2010 Under”18 TAC Cup team.He played one match for NSW/ACT at the 2009 NAB Under”18 Championships and in 2010 represented his state in each of their five matches, averaging 16 disposals, ranking number one with 53 contested possessions and 35 marks as well as scoring 15 goals ” ranked second.

He was one of only three bottom”aged players to be selected in the 2010 NAB AFL U18 All”Australian team.

He also played 11 matches at TAC Cup level where he averaged 14 disposals and took equal team”high 55 marks including 21 contested. He also scored 16 goals for the season.

Hence to recruit Reece McKenzie he would now have to displace Bruce at FF as he doesn't have the flexibility of other talls and to be honest I think the coaches have decided on who they want as the full forward in the immediate future.

Sorry Barrels - but the more I think about the importance of 2nd & 3rd efforts and defensive pressure in the modern game the more I am convinced the Saints will go with either the best midfielder available eg Cockatoo, Blakely, Neale-Bullen and the best key defender available eg Marchbank, McDonald or Keitel or again take two midfielders at # 21 & 22.

If that occurs it will be because we have other plans in selecting a key defender at #41 or via the rookie draft.

If we are to take both McKernan and Petrenko as rookies it will give us one live pick in the rookie draft. Given the success of our and other clubs rookie development I hope we are not cutting things too fine - some tough decisions still to made me thinks?
 
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sammm

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http://www.saints.com.au/news/2014-11-05/who-is-training-at-lhc

"Four Sandringham VFL players will also join the playing group during this time. They are Cameron Banfield, Elliot Le Grice, Jack Noone and Kenny Ong"

THREE delisted AFL players will train at St Kilda from today 5 until the National Draft.
Taylor was delisted after 10 games with the Gold Coast Suns and none since 2012. The mid-sized defender possesses excellent endurance and played TAC Cup at the Geelong Falcons.
 

felsty

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Last night I was thinking about the issue of whether we recruit Reece McKenzie at picks # 21 or 22 ?

Allan Richardson and Aaron Hamill have both shown every indication that they were happy with Josh Bruce playing full forward! They both think he can contribute and make it as a key forward as he has shown he can take of solid mark, is a reasonable set shot and most importantly provides good defensive pressure. We have to remember at the same age and with much less exposure to AFL as a kid Bruce made the All Australian U18 side as a Full Forward.

Josh Bruce is an elite rower and has developed into a tall athletic defender and forward and was the first player signed to GWS from their 2010 Under”18 TAC Cup team.He played one match for NSW/ACT at the 2009 NAB Under”18 Championships and in 2010 represented his state in each of their five matches, averaging 16 disposals, ranking number one with 53 contested possessions and 35 marks as well as scoring 15 goals ” ranked second.

He was one of only three bottom”aged players to be selected in the 2010 NAB AFL U18 All”Australian team.

He also played 11 matches at TAC Cup level where he averaged 14 disposals and took equal team”high 55 marks including 21 contested. He also scored 16 goals for the season
.


Hence to recruit Reece McKenzie he would now have to displace Bruce at FF as he doesn't have the flexibility of other talls and to be honest I think the coaches have decided on who they want as the full forward in the immediate future.

Sorry Barrels - but the more I think about the importance of 2nd & 3rd efforts and defensive pressure in the modern game the more I am convinced the Saints will go with either the best midfielder available eg Cockatoo, Blakely, Neale-Bullen and the best key defender available eg Marchbank, McDonald or Keitel or again take two midfielders at # 21 & 22.

If that occurs it will be because we have other plans in selecting a key defender at #41 or via the rookie draft.

If we are to take both McKernan and Petranka as rookies it will give us one live pick in the rookie draft. Given the success of our and other clubs rookie development I hope we are not cutting things too fine - some tough decisions still to made me thinks?
I have one and a half words for you - Le Grice
 

Barrels

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Look, as much fun it's been the last few months (for me), if we don't draft RM, we don't draft him. FWIW, I think his athleticism is as overrated as his apparent lack of athleticism is over-critiqued; he is a neither a lumberer nor the bastard love-child of LeBron and Sally Pearson.

That being said, I'm not massively convinced Brucey is a good enough kick to play as a permanent key forward...

If we go for a key defender that's potentially available at 21/22 then Goddard please, unless we're content to reach for McDonald.

Otherwise Neal-Bullen, Maynard, Menadue, EVW or a gem of a slider.
 

dewah07

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lol someone on the phantom draft

FWIW, I'm very confident that he will go top 10 and would love Collingwood to select him. I see him as the new Plugger.
im all for peoples opinions but commmme on, this sucks
 

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Defacto

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He's a Collingwood supporter, enough said. Would be very happy if they take him at 5, would allow another very good player to slip to us
wont it just move the top 20 around and not necessarily mean we get a slider?

dont we need the other mckenzie to enter the top 20 and maybe another, to ensure we get a good slider?
 

dewah07

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wont it just move the top 20 around and not necessarily mean we get a slider?

dont we need the other mckenzie to enter the top 20 and maybe another, to ensure we get a good slider?
If history is anything to go by their will be around 2-5 guys who wernt universally rated as a top20 go highe most recent culprits of this are freo and the cats
 

Big Mart

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Le Grice. Good VFL player. Not quite as good as Simpkin.
Noone. No
Banfield. Definitely not.
Ong. We have enough small fwds... He's a cross between curran and minchington.
Taylor Grace was the best prospect playing at Sandy in 2014
Otherwise Cockie is head and shoulders better than all others, and he isn't quite up to it.
 

dewah07

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Le Grice. Good VFL player. Not quite as good as Simpkin.
Noone. No
Banfield. Definitely not.
Ong. We have enough small fwds... He's a cross between curran and minchington.
Taylor Grace was the best prospect playing at Sandy in 2014
Otherwise Cockie is head and shoulders better than all others, and he isn't quite up to it.
Lol of you thought grace was the best prospect in his 7 games. Half of them he didn't get near it and the other half he didn't effect a game enough to be drafted. Solid vfl player going foward.

For a player who is suppose to be this great kick, his kick to handball ratio is terriable even at the vfl level.
 

aussierulesrules

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So, I'm about 300-odd posts behind, have I missed anything but a whole lot of flirting?

Any more strong rumours about who is looking like being gone by our 2nd and 3rd picks, or who we are really keen on?

Last I read was Reece McKenzie to Adelaide, De Goey to West Coast and Clem Smith to Gold Coast.
 
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