Paige uploaded a new podcast - Basic spiel for us.
- Great year to have multiple picks where we have them
- Pick number one some people think Petracca, Petracca, Petracca. Discusses Sam McLure this afternoon regarding Paddy McCartin. She said that we can't complain with taking either and we will get a quality player with either. Paige said she would take McCartin due to the face that their is no key position talent in the next few years equal to McCartin. Said she is not Elshaug or Bains and it wouldn't be an easy decision. It gives the Saints a gun 10-15 year forward meaning we can load up on midfielders with picks 21 & 22. McCartin has had a really bad run of luck more than anything else with getting his foot stepped on etc. If McCartin had a full bill of health the entire year he could have produced a lot. Ridculous ability to take big contested grabs and its something that the Saints could build a team around, someone you want to add to that is a McCartin type. This would be looking at the bigger picture. Says the more she thinks about it the more she likes it with Paddy going to the Saints.
- Discusses Nick Riewoldt and if McCartin lands at St Kilda he will be able to learn off the best key forward of the modern era. Someone like McCartin would be able to develop under Nick Riewoldt closely.
- Pick 21/22 is good picks to have, Corey Ellis could be one that slides through. Ability around the stoppages first class, good contested ball and tackling, nothing flashy about him and doesn't have much X-Factor, just gives complete service.
- Another one is Tom Lamb, talk he will go to Essendon at pick 17, has a lot of upside. Bottom age year sensational, was a little bit overwhelmed with the pressure that has come over him this year and as a result he has struggled this year. Similar to Pat Vezpremi in 2007 draft with the reading in his body language etc. Lots of internal pressure with Tom Lamb on himself. Woeful field kicking. She would back the Saints and their development to get him right and he would fight into the forward line/midfield well. Blue print of the modern midfielder.
- Other options, Dan McKenzie, has a knack for finding another gear in big games. Doesn't get much possession but dominated qualifying final. Great athleticism. Physically and mentally put his opponents to the sword. The Saints would be good to mould him.
- Alex Neal Bullen been around this range for most of the year. Played a lot at Glenelg, similar to Dane Swan type. Deceptively quick and slots in nicely amongst bigger bodies. Takes hits and dishes them out. One of the best inside midfielders available at this years draft and is good at using the ball on the outside. Neal Bullen is a poor mans Petracca as they share similar attributes. Able to hit the score board as well. They might think if they get McCartin at one he would play well next to Dunstan. Massive beep test and sub 10 3k time trial. Really rare for a player to go to another level to go to another level after National Championships, ANB stats tell the story, averaging 15 disposals pre Championships, up to 24-25 post championships.
- Pick 41 will be a really interesting option. Trying to find gems in the 40s and there on. Good opportunity to find someone late who could come good. Would the Saints look at Ahmed Saad. Paige suggests Jack Lonie, she likes him cos she is taller than him. He would also be able to bring excitement to the Saints and can create opportunities to. Good avenue to goal and masters the ability to play front and centre. It would be good to have McCartin playing forward and Lonie crumbing at his feet, they had great chemistry in the championships.
- Jayden McGrath, injury concerns this year.
- Lots of talk on the Petracca/McCartin issue. Could be a massive beat up and that the Saints have got the journos to take the heat off Petracca over the next couple of days. AFL have requested the Saints to keep it a secret and she feels the Saints would have done this so doesn't understand the leak. Either way this is going to memorable draft.
PS - This went a lot longer than I anticipated when I started typing