List Mgmt. 2014 Draft

[Mr Peabody]

If Laverde is anywhere near as good as most people have suggested, I hope we take him.

I believe you're thinking is in line with how the club is seeing it. They are backing themselves in to develop our existing talls while acknowledging we need a tall down back especially as Tanner looks a bit iffy. We'd be rating many of the mids higher than the talls, so if someone like Laverde is available at our pick, I'm of the view we will swoop. The exit interview with Brad Lloyd after their pre draft meeting confirms it for me (once you get past the vetting errors):-

Speaking to media following a meeting with Fremantle's management committee, Lloyd said the club would like to bring in some talls but were happy to recruit them with a later picks if an outstanding midfielder made was still on the board at No.13.

https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/25608575/tall-order-for-dockers-at-draft/

 

[mike91]

Chris25 How'd you feel if we took Jake Lever over Sam Durdin?

 

[strobe00]

Poor Vajayjay. What were his parents thinking.

Dillon is a pretty normal name. dunno if they had much choice with the remainder.

 

[Arcassius]

I believe you're thinking is in line with how the club is seeing it. They are backing themselves in to develop our existing talls while acknowledging we need a tall down back especially as Tanner looks a bit iffy. We'd be rating many of the mids higher than the talls, so if someone like Laverde is available at our pick, I'm of the view we will swoop. The exit interview with Brad Lloyd after their pre draft meeting confirms it for me (once you get past the vetting errors):-

Speaking to media following a meeting with Fremantle's management committee, Lloyd said the club would like to bring in some talls but were happy to recruit them with a later picks if an outstanding midfielder made was still on the board at No.13.

https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/25608575/tall-order-for-dockers-at-draft/

Yeah seems inconceivable really. If Laverde is anywhere near as good as most people have suggested, I hope we take him. Our tall backs went alright without McPharlin, and Pearce looks promising and the one AFL game Tanner played was very good, except he wasn't strong enough at the time. it was our midfield that let us down at times and our kicking, he is a classy midfielder with panache and great skills.

Well we did desist tanner - so we are short a developing tall

 

[Alfonz]

I really have no idea, but prefer Goddard the most out of the key defenders. He compares himself to Harry Taylor, and you can see it in his highlights. Not sure what he looks like the 99% of the time that isn't in the highlights.

Durdin ... not sure if it is his light frame (which kind of looks like staying light) or something I can't put my finger on, but his highlights don't do anything for me. Lever sounds good, but huge risk. Not so much the knee reco (assuming it is healed properly), but more the lack of exposed form. Kids can go up/down in the ratings by a large amount over 12 months. Marchbank is the one I like the least, seems too small.

But anyway, it seems like we'll have 5-10 players available that we might as well put in a hat and pluck a name out. Would have just about as much chance of making the right choice as trying to actually rate the players. As much as people seem to be convinced we're going to get a good player no matter what, let's face it, it is going to come down to a lot of luck whether we make the right choice at #13. History shows that once you are in that 10-20 range, maybe 50% (or more) of the players are going to be duds.

 

[Docker82]

Just because one club doesn't rate a player - doesn't mean another club should automatically rule them out, we've picked up plenty of late gems at the end of the draft that other teams have overlooked. Besides, haven't GWS already committed to another handful of academy/zone players this year? They probably can't fit them all in.

Maybe at 72 but before that there is much likely to be better options and/or we can just draft him later anyway. GWS are a different story to every other team as well. With a senior list of 44-48 players instead of 38-40 like everyone else and having had the opportunity to watch him play for the last few years you'd think they'd be a spot for him on their list if he is the 38th best player in the draft as suggested by the phantom draft quoted.

Many of our late picks were mature agers who nearly always go later with the exception of one or two every year and/or had serious questions on things like attitude and skills. About the only exception is Neale who is a midget for a modern day midfielder.

 

[Swan Districts Kid]

Of the 3 CHB types being mentioned for pick 13, my preferred order is Goddard -> Durdin -> Lever.

Although he looks like he could be the best mover of the 3, to me Lever sounds the riskiest because:
- has already had a knee reco;
- lack of recent exposed form, as hasn't played as much this season;
- I view him as greater flight risk of the 3 in question. I know I'm probably wrong on this point, but I'm a bit wary of Melbourne kids (especially Vic Metro captains) compared to Vic Country or SA kids.

Also, after being burnt by previous 1st round 'discounts', I'm wary of late draft sliders (eg Pitt, Simpson) - makes me wary that the Vic clubs might know something we don't. Would hate to squander another 1st round pick on perceived 'upside' that never eventuates.

Goddard seems like a very solid & grounded character - I liked how he said he admires Harry Taylor not only for his game, but for his character. I read somewhere that his height is up to 195cm. I hope he lasts to pick 13.

Unlike some on the board, I think Durdin looks pretty good. Highlights show him taking plenty of pack & intercept marks & lots of rebounding run - like Goddard, looks a good rebounding CHB McPharlin type.

Would seriously consider Laverde if he lasted to pick 13 - tall, poised & skilled midfielder - looks like a future A-grader very suited to Freo's tall midfield.

 

[jusjoshin]

You see players who ran 14+ beep tests struggle with Pre-Season training. Clem ran 11.2 beep test which is sensationally poor. And most ruckman would've beat his 3km time trial by over a minute. From my own observations players with naturally low level endurance really struggle to increase it. Look at Moller, Crichton, Faulks and other players in our recent history. I wouldn't be against drafting him with pick 54 but hopefully not earlier.

And I really struggle to see how he is the state's most talented prospect when compared to Pickett and Garlett.

Anyone else think Freo (or West Coast) may have been in Clems ear to play possum at the draft camp? I think we may well take him with our second pick if he's still there.

 

[malpaso]

I'd really like to grab Nakia Cockatoo with our first round pick, I just get the impression he's going to star in the AFL.

 

[Taylor]

I'd really like to grab Nakia Cockatoo with our first round pick, I just get the impression he's going to star in the AFL.

I like what he is capable of but his injury was/is the same as the one that has pushed Jack Trengove out of football for almost two years.

One game, even with the training load behind it doesn't fill me with confidence about whether his foot can hold up to 20 games a year.

I'm not trying to rain on the parade, just to bounce debate around.

 

[E Shed]

Of the 3 CHB types being mentioned for pick 13, my preferred order is Goddard -> Durdin -> Lever.

Although he looks like he could be the best mover of the 3, to me Lever sounds the riskiest because:
- has already had a knee reco;
- lack of recent exposed form, as hasn't played as much this season;
- I view him as greater flight risk of the 3 in question. I know I'm probably wrong on this point, but I'm a bit wary of Melbourne kids (especially Vic Metro captains) compared to Vic Country or SA kids.

Also, after being burnt by previous 1st round 'discounts', I'm wary of late draft sliders (eg Pitt, Simpson) - makes me wary that the Vic clubs might know something we don't. Would hate to squander another 1st round pick on perceived 'upside' that never eventuates.

Goddard seems like a very solid & grounded character - I liked how he said he admires Harry Taylor not only for his game, but for his character. I read somewhere that his height is up to 195cm. I hope he lasts to pick 13.

Unlike some on the board, I think Durdin looks pretty good. Highlights show him taking plenty of pack & intercept marks & lots of rebounding run - like Goddard, looks a good rebounding CHB McPharlin type.

Would seriously consider Laverde if he lasted to pick 13 - tall, poised & skilled midfielder - looks like a future A-grader very suited to Freo's tall midfield.

These are my thoughts almost exactly too. I don't expect Goddard to be available at our pick, looks too high quality to be left on the board at 13 but that is the interesting thing about this draft, with the evenness and quantity of the players in the first 15 or 20, if the talls are taken early that means high quality mids will be around and if the highest rated mids are gone we should be able to snare Durdin or Lever. Like you I prefer Durdin over Lever for the same reasons.
If they are all gone then we will have a crack at Weller, Cockatoo or perhaps DeGoey. I can't imagine Laverde getting through to us.
Any of the players mentioned above along with McGovern and possibly Clem Smith would be massive and Lloyd has said they have their eye on a few players they expect to be available late.
Should be an exciting draft.

 

[Chris25]

Chris25 How'd you feel if we took Jake Lever over Sam Durdin?

Think it's no secret that I'm a big Durdin fan. But I like Lever too. He'd have been a definite top 3 pick if he weren't injured.

The big positive is that you get someone who could walk into the leadership group straight away. Basically every report on him is the same - that he will 100% captain his club one day. I can't comment on whether he would look to move back to Victoria, but my gut feeling is that he would have a Pavlich-like commitment to whoever drafts him.

The only real question mark is on his role, and whether he is truly a KPD or more that Sam Fisher type utility. I'd take him though, and would be confident of being able to develop him into whatever role we wanted.

 

[theGav56]

Love the speculation. Dream. Dream. Dream. Happy with any of the likely talls, and even happier if we have options. Certainly not going to be unhappy if they are all gone and we sign up laverde or de Goey. Happy days.

 

[theGav56]

Chris, was Boyd captain material and a good character too?

 

[bluengold89]

I like what he is capable of but his injury was/is the same as the one that has pushed Jack Trengove out of football for almost two years.

One game, even with the training load behind it doesn't fill me with confidence about whether his foot can hold up to 20 games a year.

I'm not trying to rain on the parade, just to bounce debate around.

I'm not sure if it makes any difference, but i think Cockatto's injury was actually his fifth metatarsal and not his navicular. The navicular is the bone that ended the careers of Croad, Egan and now possible Trengove. A quick google search suggests fifth metatarsal injuries are more common, and more likely to heal than a navicular injury. Although everything around that area can be dicey due to limited blood supply.

Cockatoo is the real unknown of this draft though. If Laverde doesn't slide to 11, I'd like to see West Coast take a risk on him.

It's definitely shaping up as one of the most interesting drafts I've followed. After pick 3 the rest of the top 20 are so even that clubs are going to end up rating players completely differently.

 

[Nickos66]

Of the 3 CHB types being mentioned for pick 13, my preferred order is Goddard -> Durdin -> Lever.

Although he looks like he could be the best mover of the 3, to me Lever sounds the riskiest because:
- has already had a knee reco;
- lack of recent exposed form, as hasn't played as much this season;
- I view him as greater flight risk of the 3 in question. I know I'm probably wrong on this point, but I'm a bit wary of Melbourne kids (especially Vic Metro captains) compared to Vic Country or SA kids.

Also, after being burnt by previous 1st round 'discounts', I'm wary of late draft sliders (eg Pitt, Simpson) - makes me wary that the Vic clubs might know something we don't. Would hate to squander another 1st round pick on perceived 'upside' that never eventuates.

Goddard seems like a very solid & grounded character - I liked how he said he admires Harry Taylor not only for his game, but for his character. I read somewhere that his height is up to 195cm. I hope he lasts to pick 13.

Unlike some on the board, I think Durdin looks pretty good. Highlights show him taking plenty of pack & intercept marks & lots of rebounding run - like Goddard, looks a good rebounding CHB McPharlin type.

Would seriously consider Laverde if he lasted to pick 13 - tall, poised & skilled midfielder - looks like a future A-grader very suited to Freo's tall midfield.

These are my thoughts almost exactly too. I don't expect Goddard to be available at our pick, looks too high quality to be left on the board at 13 but that is the interesting thing about this draft, with the evenness and quantity of the players in the first 15 or 20, if the talls are taken early that means high quality mids will be around and if the highest rated mids are gone we should be able to snare Durdin or Lever. Like you I prefer Durdin over Lever for the same reasons.
If they are all gone then we will have a crack at Weller, Cockatoo or perhaps DeGoey. I can't imagine Laverde getting through to us.
Any of the players mentioned above along with McGovern and possibly Clem Smith would be massive and Lloyd has said they have their eye on a few players they expect to be available late.
Should be an exciting draft.

Agreed on both posts, something else that makes me a little nervous about Lever is that - like Tanner, he was as highly rated as a 1st rounder in his jnr year before he sat out the vast majority of his draft year with injury. For much of the same reasons as above - i'm hoping it's Goddard/Weller/Laverde then Lever/Durdin, but regardless of the outcome i'm still excited by the caliber of 1st rounder we'll be taking.. so no meltdowns with the 1st pick at this stage.

 

[Eski3]

All I can really go by is the highlights and the interviews on the AFL website. All of Goddard, Lever and Durdin seem very similar. I'm just going to back in whoever our recruiters prefer

 

[ilikepotatoes]

Please be Lever....

 

[E Shed]

All I can really go by is the highlights and the interviews on the AFL website. All of Goddard, Lever and Durdin seem very similar. I'm just going to back in whoever our recruiters prefer

Really? I think they look very different players. Goddard reminds me of Fletcher while Durdin is so like Westhoff its uncanny, he has great hands. Lever its hard to get a handle on (pun intended).

 

[george2]

Think it's no secret that I'm a big Durdin fan. But I like Lever too. He'd have been a definite top 3 pick if he weren't injured.

The big positive is that you get someone who could walk into the leadership group straight away. Basically every report on him is the same - that he will 100% captain his club one day. I can't comment on whether he would look to move back to Victoria, but my gut feeling is that he would have a Pavlich-like commitment to whoever drafts him.

The only real question mark is on his role, and whether he is truly a KPD or more that Sam Fisher type utility. I'd take him though, and would be confident of being able to develop him into whatever role we wanted.

I don't really understand this as he is 194cm and has a massive arm span as well. People are calling Marchbank a KPD although he is 2cm shorter than Lever and has a shorter arm span. When I watch the Lever footage he reminds me of Dustin Fletcher as he seems the kind of guy that will never be massively bulky but will be able to hold his own as a KPD.

I too am really hoping we pick up Lever as his best football has been played in the position that he will transition in to at AFL level rather than Durdin who's best has come as a ruckman.

 

[Eski3]

Really? I think they look very different players. Goddard reminds me of Fletcher while Durdin is so like Westhoff its uncanny, he has great hands. Lever its hard to get a handle on (pun intended).

Sorry, I meant in terms of which one is objectively 'better'. We could do with any of the 3

 

[apuchar]

Cal T.

David - on Goddard and Durdin polarising recruiters, it's probably down to the fact both have played at both ends of the ground, both have struggled for consistency a touch, and probably struggled to dominate games this year as much as some might have expected. Can't see either of them dropping out of the first 15 picks though.

 

[Taylor]

If Lever meets standard physical development numbers then he will end up close to 200cm tall, based off his arm span anyway.

 

[apuchar]

Cal T.o


David, on Laverde, I'm not sure if the Giants are interested, so if he doesn't go to Collingwood, he might get through to Adelaide. Would they take him? It's not certain, meaning there's even a slim chance he gets to Essendon's pick 17. West Coast would strongly consider, but that's the way I went with (I can't have two players at one pick, unfortunately).

 

[apuchar]

Sounds like Marchbank may even go in the top 10
Cal T.

Scott, Durdin could absolutely be available. If Marchbank goes to GWS at pick 6/7 or Geelong at 10, it will push one out - and mean that Durdin/Lever/Goddard could be around for the Crows to choose.