2015 Draft Discussion

[cotter101]

Dixon @ FF Close @ CHF and McStay as 3rd tall is the setup id love to have. But if there is a genuine top talent KPF available at our pick i just think we have to go there. As ive said previously, even if you draft one and give them 3-4 years development time before they start really producing, Dixon is around the 30 mark, so the timing is pretty good. McStay and Close in their Prime.

If the likes of Freeman also turn out to be good prospects, then we will profit when one of the talls leaves for more opportunities. Talls hold value better come trade time.

Upon saying that, we have to keep drafting other positions as well. If we lose Aish then id love to get another top mid to replace him at some point. I do feel we need a Wines/Brayshaw type still.

Yeah, I tend to agree with this. Mathieson is someone who I've got top 5 and would fit this bill. I see some qualities in him that quite honestly remind me of Voss. Kicking can let him down but that's common with most young inside midfielders, it's something he'd improve at the next level.

 

[Eons]

Freeman at FF, Dixon at CHF and McStay as the 3rd tall with Christensen, Green and Zorko as the smalls...

 

[SizeMatters]

Freeman at FF, Dixon at CHF and McStay as the 3rd tall with Christensen, Green and Zorko as the smalls...

Yeah and if we don't manage to get Rance I would trail Close as a CHB...
although would still like McStay to get his hands on the ball more often, he just looks a lot more confident after he gets a few possessions up the ground. Wouldn't mind seeing McStay play back and Close up forward.

 

[jjami15]

Dixon @ FF Close @ CHF and McStay as 3rd tall is the setup id love to have. But if there is a genuine top talent KPF available at our pick i just think we have to go there. As ive said previously, even if you draft one and give them 3-4 years development time before they start really producing, Dixon is around the 30 mark, so the timing is pretty good. McStay and Close in their Prime.

If the likes of Freeman also turn out to be good prospects, then we will profit when one of the talls leaves for more opportunities. Talls hold value better come trade time.

Upon saying that, we have to keep drafting other positions as well. If we lose Aish then id love to get another top mid to replace him at some point. I do feel we need a Wines/Brayshaw type still.

Well said, it also would add that vital depth that all good teams have and also the added competition for spots. Over the course of 2/3 seasons we most probably will have covered our KPP needs at both ends.

I would then imagine that it would all be about drafting mids, inside and out and not forgetting about Keays who should eventually move in their. In regards to mids it would have to be both your inside types but I would love two or three with elite speed to break the lines.

 

[Eons]

Yeah and if we don't manage to get Rance I would trail Close as a CHB...
although would still like McStay to get his hands on the ball more often, he just looks a lot more confident after he gets a few possessions up the ground. Wouldn't mind seeing McStay play back and Close up forward.

I have visions of the ball been kicked in quick to Dixon and McStay and Freeman floating across the pack taking marks. Freeman and McStay will benefit immensely from playing second and third tall behind Dixon.

Can't see how Close fits into our forward line when those 3 are all fit, like to see Close trialled down back. Doesn't seem a natural forward, would be a much better player down back getting led to the ball.

 

[John_Proctor]

lets not get too carried away with Freeman/Close/McStay and really all our kids. There is still a wide band of potential outcomes for them from here.

McStay - worst case Cornelius, best case Gunstan
Freeman - worst case Jason Laycock, best case Tippett
Close - worst case Spandermann, best case Cam Mooney

Reality is that these guys have been given plenty of game time because we've had noone else. If the three 'worst case' names above were on our list last year and this (not that Laycock was ours) they'd have gotten a decent run of games and the chance to take a few marks and kick a few goals.

as it happened Cornelius 35 goals in 25 games, 4 marks a game stacks up well against these guys (eg. McStay 17/17) (noting he was 22/23 when he was dropped off the list).

Big shame this year is that Close and Freeman are injured and missing the chance to play. Would be great to have gotten to the end of this year with all three having played 25-30 games battled through full seasons and be ready to go next year. As it is Close and Freeman will eb coming back next year still with only 5-15 games under their belts and us none the wiser as to if they'll make the grade.

 

[Panthera]

I have visions of the ball been kicked in quick to Dixon and McStay and Freeman floating across the pack taking marks. Freeman and McStay will benefit immensely from playing second and third tall behind Dixon.

Can't see how Close fits into our forward line when those 3 are all fit, like to see Close trialled down back. Doesn't seem a natural forward, would be a much better player down back getting led to the ball.

I can't wait 'til Hammelmann puts on a bit of bulk and starts knocking on the door...he's got the highest ceiling (as a pure forward) for mine

In reality, we just need them to bulk up a bit more and get on the bloody park to show us what they can do as a group. Three forwards over 196cm in our forward 50 with our small brigade in Green, Zorko, Taylor and Christensen and our midfield should be fun to watch

Adding a Dixon would be great too, to take a little pressure off the youngsters and provide an effective bash / crash option we've lacked since Browny retired.

 

[BlackGun1]

The angle of the shot could make Keays look taller.

I think he's listed at 185cm now according to the team list on the AFL website. Hipwood also listed at 200cm from 197cm previously.

 

[LJH2014]

Wouldn't mind seeing mcstay trialled on the wing if we are able to get Dixon, freeman and Close all up and running. Obviously will be work to do until then but I could see it functioning

 

[BrizzyBandit]

Wouldn't mind seeing mcstay trialled on the wing if we are able to get Dixon, freeman and Close all up and running. Obviously will be work to do until then but I could see it functioning

Yeah still not convinced Close is a keeper.

Hope I'm wrong... He is really young and needs time so happy to preserver with him for another couple of seasons.

 

[Bucking Beads]

Yeah still not convinced Close is a keeper.

Hope I'm wrong... He is really young and needs time so happy to preserver with him for another couple of seasons.

I'm a Close fan but I have a feeling he will be better suited to playing down back. He doesn't seem like a natural forward.

 

[jjami15]

I'm a Close fan but I have a feeling he will be better suited to playing down back. He doesn't seem like a natural forward.

That's because he's not and they have tried to train him into it as a project player and from memory he was more of a ruck/forward as a junior.

 

[cotter101]

That's because he's not and they have tried to train him into it as a project player and from memory he was more of a ruck/forward as a junior.

Mostly played CHF and pinched hit in ruck. Didn't play much in his draft year because of injuries. He used to roam up the ground and take marks, he never really kicked any bag of goals and I personally don't think he will at this level either.

 

[blueiris]

So how many of our Academy players will we look at this year and would we have to trade to get enough picks to take 2 or 3 players.

 

[WA Lion]

So how many of our Academy players will we look at this year and would we have to trade to get enough picks to take 2 or 3 players.

Would appear Keays, Hipwood, Buzza, and Wagner are in the window. Keays rated somewhere in the 15-25 range apparently so our 2nd round pick with the 197 point discount under the new bidding system will hopefully go close to getting that done.

Hipwood is someone who appears to be a 2015 version of Harris Andrews i.e. not on anyone's radar until the draft year when they kick on all of a sudden. Would imagine at this early stage our 4th round pick might get him to us, although if he keeps going as well as he is that might change to our 3rd round pick. Not sure about Buzza and Wagner, but from the limited vision I have seen of Buzza, he looks worthy of a rookie list spot at least (particularly if we lose Leuey and need additional ruck cover).

Of course, with the probable loss of Aish to a trade, and Leuey and Adcock a chance to bring picks via free agency, we may have plenty of picks to play with. (although if we get Rance that offsets what picks we get via FA. Plus if rumours that Dixon has agreed to join us are true then there goes a few more picks!)

 

[BrizzyBandit]

Picks or players... I think we have players they'd want.... Like Leuey or maybe or Adcock or both..

 

[lionshine]

I really want the club to draft Aaron Francis. Someone said he played the best individual national game they had ever seen at U18 level and after absolutely dominating in the backline with a best on ground performance the week prior he was switched into the forward line with stints in the middle and kicked 4.5, amassed 22 possessions, laid 7 tackles and took another 8 marks in another BOG performance. He has been named in the midfield for this weekends game. Seems like a genuine utility who has elite potential. Could be the type of gun player who makes a huge difference such as Fyfe or Franklin(Not comparing his playing style to these players just his potential ability to make a difference).

 

[jjami15]

I really want the club to draft Aaron Francis. Someone said he played the best individual national game they had ever seen at U18 level and after absolutely dominating in the backline with a best on ground performance the week prior he was switched into the forward line with stints in the middle and kicked 4.5, amassed 22 possessions, laid 7 tackles and took another 8 marks in another BOG performance. He has been named in the midfield for this weekends game. Seems like a genuine utility who has elite potential. Could be the type of gun player who makes a huge difference such as Fyfe or Franklin(Not comparing his playing style to these players just his potential ability to make a difference).

Be prepared to finish last then

 

[jackess]

I really want the club to draft Aaron Francis. Someone said he played the best individual national game they had ever seen at U18 level and after absolutely dominating in the backline with a best on ground performance the week prior he was switched into the forward line with stints in the middle and kicked 4.5, amassed 22 possessions, laid 7 tackles and took another 8 marks in another BOG performance. He has been named in the midfield for this weekends game. Seems like a genuine utility who has elite potential. Could be the type of gun player who makes a huge difference such as Fyfe or Franklin(Not comparing his playing style to these players just his potential ability to make a difference).

Me too. Francis and Weitering are the two standouts for me based on the small amount I've heard about them.

 

[SizeMatters]

Can't see Carlton passing on Weitering and GCS would surely pick up Francis if they both continue as they are playing. Leaves the best KPF to land in our lap.

 

[Bucking Beads]

Can't see Carlton passing on Weitering and GCS would surely pick up Francis if they both continue as they are playing. Leaves the best KPF to land in our lap.

Carlton need a key forward just as much as we do so hard to see them passing up a KPF if they are rated in the top 3.

 

[blueiris]

Carlton need a key forward just as much as we do so hard to see them passing up a KPF if they are rated in the top 3.

Then we take Wietering or Francis either way we would get a beauty

 

[SizeMatters]

Carlton need a key forward just as much as we do so hard to see them passing up a KPF if they are rated in the top 3.

Well I would think Carlton would take best available KPP as they are light on at either end. Most people have Weitering as the number 1 pick by default. Just can't see them passing on him.

 

[lionshine]

Be prepared to finish last then

Weitering will give him a run for his money and prospects such as Shache and Parish could appeal as well. If we are in the top 3 we have a chance and if he is selected before ours we will end up with one of the likes of Weitering, Shache or Parish anyway. We can't lose really.

 

[Quigley]

I really want the club to draft Aaron Francis. Someone said he played the best individual national game they had ever seen at U18 level and after absolutely dominating in the backline with a best on ground performance the week prior he was switched into the forward line with stints in the middle and kicked 4.5, amassed 22 possessions, laid 7 tackles and took another 8 marks in another BOG performance. He has been named in the midfield for this weekends game. Seems like a genuine utility who has elite potential. Could be the type of gun player who makes a huge difference such as Fyfe or Franklin(Not comparing his playing style to these players just his potential ability to make a difference).

I wouldn't go that far but it was a very fine game. Did not quite have the class that I want to see from someone right at the pointy end of the draft. He is also coming from a fair way back and had ground to make up. I would still like us to take a KP but if we ended up with Francis (say with a compensation pick eg Leuey + Adcock = a Frawley gift pick) then I would not be complaining at this stage.