2014 Rookie Draft Thread

[doggies ftw]

Very happy with Smith, happy enough with Kelly these are the sort of selections you use the rookie draft for, Pearce yeah fine he's shown a little bit and has been injured he's worth a shot considering we had 4 spots open, Goodes? Makes absolutely no sense whatsoever, we needed big bodies this year too he played how many games? And was crap anyway, whats he actually going to add next year? Our young midfielders have overtaken him and we have more than enough to grind out a year without needing Goodes to step in. He adds plenty on the training track, fantastic but don't waste a rookie spot on that.

We've got plenty of KPDs and probably enough to fill both the VFL and AFL team, I don't see that as an issue but surely we would have been much much much better taking a speculative forward, whose even going to play that role at VFL level? Redpath and ?. Payne would have been great, Bevan too.

I'm rapt with our main draft and overall list management this year, but we've ****ed up here and we've ****ed up our rookie list for the past few years really. We used it so well up until recently, Dahl, JJ, Campbell, Jong just to name a few recent ones, now we just seem to be using it for back up.

 

[GreatSouthWest]

Why is that a bad thing?

Because it's disguised as a player recruitment/re-draft. I understand it, i get it, but overall we've picked up only two new players - one new to the system, and 50% of the rookie spots are filled with players, most of us would agree, have limted longevity/upside.

 

[Bocky]

He doesn't count in terms of drafting ; )

He certainly affected our draft

 

[Walsh Bay]

You would have thought having Murph, Boyd, Minson, Morris and Picken on the list provided enough seniority.

But clearly there was genuine concern we lack maturity and leadership.

In the end though we used the rookie draft for one project player (who will have at least nine similar players ahead of him on our roster) and three depth players. For a side that is in all likelihood going to finish bottom two.

We are in catch-up mode.

 

[F3000]

first order of business is get that roarke kid to wipe his twitter..

 

[Dogs Rule]

Goodes is 31 in February. Crazy.

So, he's on the rookie list for another year (at best). Meanwhile, if we get a string of injuries (which hopefully we don't) we're up the proverbial creek, because we've p***ed away selections on a 31-year-old HBF who we've tried and found isn't quite up to it and a kid who has played a few games and who we're not sure about.

Hmmm.

 

[Roscoe_au]

You would have thought having Murph, Boyd, Minson, Morris and Picken on the list provided enough seniority.

But clearly there was genuine concern we lack maturity and leadership.

In the end though we used the rookie draft for one project player (who will have at least nine similar players ahead of him on our roster) and three depth players. For a side that is in all likelihood going to finish bottom two.

We are in catch-up mode.

Not if Kelly is developed into a big bodied, run-with mid. Hawthorn were trialing him there, apparently.

 

[Bocky]

Because it's disguised as a player recruitment/re-draft. I understand it, i get it, but overall we've picked up only two new players - one new to the system, and 50% of the rookie spots are filled with players, most of us would agree, have limted longevity/upside.

Maybe that's all they were after. I don't know. Last year Gia did a similar thing (in my opinion). Yes he played in the seniors but realistically I don't think he was there for his game play.

 

[Roscoe_au]

Goodes is 31 in February. Crazy.

And Dustin Fletcher just turned 60.

I don't think its his age that's a worry. It's the position he'd play if he got upgraded.

Still, I dont think its all that bad having him tied to the club

 

[dogwatch]

I would have liked Payne with our second pick but will roll with what we've got. Roarke will be an interesting one to follow (off the field as well as on it!). I do like that we went for the "best of the rest" with our first pick and didn't use it on a Pearce or Goodes. A bit like how we got Jong.
Watching the Box Hill highlights it looks like Kelly can take Greenwood's #34 jumper.
He's obviously a coach's pick and fits the requirement of being a good user of the ball. It helps that he's over 190cm. I'm OK with that.

 

[Zgope1]

At afl level we played goodes as a hbf/utility. He finished the year in the vfl as a fit fit mid for footscray. I'm watching him year apart the Vfl granny right now in fact. I doubt we'd have picked him if we didn't lose griff, cooney, Higgins and tutt and I know his role will be as a mid this year for us, but as relief.

I would've liked us to see it differently but watching this vfl grand final I can see the logic, he's been amazing. Good think is Kelly is playing too and Pearce and I watched the tac gf last night and saw roarke smith be awesome. Good timing

 

[JTCWBFC]

And Dustin Fletcher just turned 60.

I don't think its his age that's a worry. It's the position he'd play if he got upgraded.

Still, I dont think its all that bad having him tied to the club

I wonder if he said to the club, "i'll only play at Footscray if you Rookie me".

 

[doggies ftw]

Yup. Heaven help anyone here who suggests suggest Simon ever makes a mistake...

Absolute bullshit post mate. I think you'll find he cops a hell of a lot when theres a reason for it, I.e now.

Also do people actually think its only Dals choice to take Goodes and Pearce? Really? He's the talent spotter, we also have a list manager.

 

[goodcop badcop]

if we were we are stupid taking Roarke in first round if thats the case.
Not like he was not going to be there in third.

So in short - we were never taking Payne

How do you know? Have you even seen him play?
I just read a report from the coach that there was quite a bit of interest in him towards the end of the season.

 

[Dogs Rule]

And Dustin Fletcher just turned 60.

I don't think its his age that's a worry. It's the position he'd play if he got upgraded.

Still, I dont think its all that bad having him tied to the club

Agree with you, but the rookie draft has been corrupted. It used to be about giving kids who had been overlooked another chance.

 

[BRWB]

And Dustin Fletcher just turned 60.

I don't think its his age that's a worry. It's the position he'd play if he got upgraded.

Still, I dont think its all that bad having him tied to the club

Its not Goodes age (well a little), its not his character. Its just that he is genuinely shit player who is a turnover merchant at AFL level, why rookie list someone like this when all the talk has been about 'ball use'.

Is it Simon balancing our list with a shit ball user after drafting so many great ball users..?

Got me ****ed

 

[Ant_]

I wonder if he said to the club, "i'll only play at Footscray if you Rookie me".

Doubt it, could get more coin on the open market than as a rookie contract

 

[go you pups]

What was the knock on Keitel?????? No one took him

 

[Stringer2Dogs]

The reaction to taking Goodes again is ridiculous!

We've lost so much experience in the off-season that we need to keep some mature heads on longer. In the perfect world we wouldn't have needed him.. but with Cooney, Griff, Gia, Higgins etc. all leaving / retiring unfortunately we need him.

He's an example setter, a mentor, well respected and still an extremely good trainer.

Calm down please people.

edit: There's more to footy than getting in youngsters and disregarding team dynamics / experience... look at Richmond / Melbourne.

He's not there to contribute at AFL level.

 

[Dav1d]

I want to see some Roarke footage now

anyone got a replay of the TAC GF?

 

[ManOfClay]

Happy enough to go small in the RD. The bulk of players in recent times who have come off the rookie list to play good AFL footy have been smalls.

Quality talls don't last nearly long enough for the RD

 

[hatescaptcha]

Highlights of Roarke Smith on the clubs website:

http://www.westernbulldogs.com.au/video/2014-12-03/rookie-draft-roarke-smith-highlights

 

[Dogs 13]

first order of business is get that roarke kid to wipe his twitter..

And lose the man bun.

 

[King Harold]

I'm ok with a spot for Goodes , but he fits best with the teams contending as I said all along.
People shouldn't forget he is probably the best player playing VFL at the moment and is a far better player than most on this board give him credit for.

 

[Testekill]

What was the knock on Keitel?????? No one took him

Probably attitude.