2015 Draft Discussion

[SizeMatters]

With McGuire coming out and saying we don't need and assistance it is possible that AFL house or similar have had private talks about giving us a PP possibly? Why would fat ED say anything otherwise? If we continue to lose we could be getting an extra first rounder. Add in a possible first rounder for Aish and Berger we could potentially have the first 3 picks of the draft and a mid rounder.

 

[lionshine]

I think we need to find a superstar in this years draft. You look at the likes of Bontempelli, Stringer, Hogan, Cameron, Whitfield, O'Meara. These are all young and relatively unproven players but they have all shown glimpses of being future superstars. To be honest, I don't see a young player of this caliber on our list. We have some fantastic young talent and players who I can see being future guns/A graders but I don't see a young player on our list who will be likely to develop into an out and out superstar. The only one I see on our list who might have that type of potential is young McStay.

 

[lionshine]

With McGuire coming out and saying we don't need and assistance it is possible that AFL house or similar have had private talks about giving us a PP possibly? Why would fat ED say anything otherwise? If we continue to lose we could be getting an extra first rounder. Add in a possible first rounder for Aish and Berger we could potentially have the first 3 picks of the draft and a mid rounder.

They are probably having those types of discussions but they will be dependent on the Lions season continuing the way it has started till the bitter end. This will not end up happening. We will finish on 6-8 wins and finish with pick 4-6 and I doubt we will get a PP.

 

[SizeMatters]

I think we need to find a superstar in this years draft. You look at the likes of Bontempelli, Stringer, Hogan, Cameron, Whitfield, O'Meara. These are all young and relatively unproven players but they have all shown glimpses of being future superstars. To be honest, I don't see a young player of this caliber on our list. We have some fantastic young talent and players who I can see being future guns/A graders but I don't see a young player on our list who will be likely to develop into an out and out superstar. The only one I see on our list who might have that type of potential is young McStay.

You look at those teams and they play those players to their strength. Look at us and we try to add strings to their bows and destroy them. Mayes is a good example.

 

[Full Wingspan]

I'm still filthy about Melbourne and Gold Coast rorting us out of snaring Hogan. Draft tampering at its worst.

 

[bungalow_bill]

Just might be worth giving Dukes Of Hurley a bit of credit if you're going to use his work FYI.

Advice heeded

 

[SizeMatters]

Is there really any substantial evidence that draft tampering took place? A lot of slandering going around.

 

[jjami15]

The problem with drafting a KPF is do they join the queue and sit behind McStay, Close, Freeman, Andrews and possibly Hammelmann, Staker, Leunberger and Paine or do we based on their under 18 form let them jump the rest and start them off in the team so we can get games into them next season?

The queue will change at the end of this year with Staker, Paine very highly likely being cut, Luey is not and never will be a KPF and might leave as a FA and Hammelman, as pleasing as his form is a rookie and rookie KPF's becoming mainstays are rare. This leaves Freeman, Close, Andrews and McStay who might not even finish up as KPF's so to answer your question, yes we do need another KPF and it has to be the best out of this draft. I also want us together the best KPD.

With McGuire coming out and saying we don't need and assistance it is possible that AFL house or similar have had private talks about giving us a PP possibly? Why would fat ED say anything otherwise? If we continue to lose we could be getting an extra first rounder. Add in a possible first rounder for Aish and Berger we could potentially have the first 3 picks of the draft and a mid rounder.

ED reads the same articles as we do and if it isn't pro Collingwood/VFL he becomes a loud mouth w***er. Don't get your hopes up (but I'll gladly take it)!

 

[jackess]

The queue will change at the end of this year with Staker, Paine very highly likely being cut, Luey is not and never will be a KPF and might leave as a FA and Hammelman, as pleasing as his form is a rookie and rookie KPF's becoming mainstays are rare. This leaves Freeman, Close, Andrews and McStay who might not even finish up as KPF's so to answer your question, yes we do need another KPF and it has to be the best out of this draft. I also want us together the best KPD.

ED reads the same articles as we do and if it isn't pro Collingwood/VFL he becomes a loud mouth ******. Don't get your hopes up (but I'll gladly take it)!

So we have 5 pretty highly rated key forwards on our list next year and all are under 22. How do we ensure that we can develop them correctly and still have a functioning forward line?

Leppa clearly doesn't rate the NEAFL for developing youngsters so it's a waster to have them playing there.

 

[Lace Out]

They are probably having those types of discussions but they will be dependent on the Lions season continuing the way it has started till the bitter end. This will not end up happening. We will finish on 6-8 wins and finish with pick 4-6 and I doubt we will get a PP.

6 wins is optimistic,8 won't be happening.

 

[jjami15]

So we have 5 pretty highly rated key forwards on our list next year and all are under 22. How do we ensure that we can develop them correctly and still have a functioning forward line?

Leppa clearly doesn't rate the NEAFL for developing youngsters so it's a waster to have them playing there.

Highly rated is quite objectionable and depends on ones perspective. I can see that you don't think that it's not important to get a KPF with our first pick or a first round KPF at least. It would be great if they were all able to make it and be up towards the top of the Coleman list in a few years time. McStay definitely has something but don't be surprised if he ends up down back later on as a player who is Harry Taylor like. Freeman is a natural forward but has played only four games. Close plays CHF which is the hardest spot on the ground and I personally am not sold and haven't seen anything that Freeman or McStay have thus far. Andrews will be a forward/ruck and I've already outlined my thoughts on Hammelman. I personally think that attaining a true KPF out of this draft won't hurt.

When and if in the 4/5 years they do come on then we will have a diverse forward line that should trouble most teams (please God).

 

[lionshine]

6 wins is optimistic,8 won't be happening.

Last year we were 0-5 and hadn't won a quarter. 4 out of those 5 losses were big losses. We ended up finishing on 7 wins. The second half of this year the team as a whole will improve dramatically. Trust me.

 

[Schache It Off]

Last year we were 0-5 and hadn't won a quarter. 4 out of those 5 losses were big losses. We ended up finishing on 7 wins. The second half of this year the team as a whole will improve dramatically. Trust me.

The 2nd half of the season is when we do very well, quite comparable even to top 8 sides. I expect 6-7 wins in the last 11 games, think it's achievable imo.
Of course, another shitty start to the season which means that we have no chance to make the finals.

 

[Schache It Off]

Last year we were 0-5 and hadn't won a quarter. 4 out of those 5 losses were big losses. We ended up finishing on 7 wins. The second half of this year the team as a whole will improve dramatically. Trust me.

Sorry to quote again but I would say that we had 2 competitive losses - Geelong and the Hawks...We were ok-ish against Richmond for the 2nd and 3rd quarter and obviously GC and Poort were terrible games.

This year we have failed to be competitive against 3 middle tier teams - Norf, Richmond and WCE. Bigger difference.

 

[mpal6]

They are probably having those types of discussions but they will be dependent on the Lions season continuing the way it has started till the bitter end. This will not end up happening. We will finish on 6-8 wins and finish with pick 4-6 and I doubt we will get a PP.

We don't have a proud Jonathan Brown putting his body on the line and dragging us to that customary 5-6 wins anymore. This is likely to be the season where we completely bottom out - players not gelling with each other, new players still getting used to Leppa's game plan, long term injuries to our core players who we just can't afford to miss any games. Perfect storm.

 

[FFB1]

I think we need to find a superstar in this years draft. You look at the likes of Bontempelli, Stringer, Hogan, Cameron, Whitfield, O'Meara. These are all young and relatively unproven players but they have all shown glimpses of being future superstars. To be honest, I don't see a young player of this caliber on our list. We have some fantastic young talent and players who I can see being future guns/A graders but I don't see a young player on our list who will be likely to develop into an out and out superstar. The only one I see on our list who might have that type of potential is young McStay.

To be fair you've plucked some pretty high draft picks out there, bit hard to say we don't have player(s) of that calibre on our list.

Bontempelli =Pick 4.
Stringer =Pick 5
Hogan = Pick 2
Cameron = Pick 1
Whitfield = Pick 1.
O'Meara = Pick 1

 

[dlanod]

Cameron was a prelisting, O'Meara and Hogan were mini draft picks but the essence of the post was correct.

 

[a mayes ing]

To be fair you've plucked some pretty high draft picks out there, bit hard to say we don't have player(s) of that calibre on our list.

Bontempelli =Pick 4.
Stringer =Pick 5
Hogan = Pick 2
Cameron = Pick 1
Whitfield = Pick 1.
O'Meara = Pick 1

And that is the problem with not completely bottoming out. Every year we keep getting 5/6/7/8 wins a year. We aren't getting these absolute superstars that are pick 1/2 etc.

 

[captainrich]

And that is the problem with not completely bottoming out. Every year we keep getting 5/6/7/8 wins a year. We aren't getting these absolute superstars that are pick 1/2 etc.

cant exactly tank either

 

[a mayes ing]

cant exactly tank either

Not suggesting we tank, just explaining, due to our late surge every year when wins are almost meaningless due to the fact that finals are out of the equation has hindered us.

 

[captainrich]

Not suggesting we tank, just explaining, due to our late surge every year when wins are almost meaningless due to the fact that finals are out of the equation has hindered us.

it is a bit frustrating these false dawns we have at the end of every year and ensures we miss out on some very good players ie bontempelli, wines

 

[PattyKwasagun]

it is a bit frustrating these false dawns we have at the end of every year and ensures we miss out on some very good players ie bontempelli, wines

Reckon Mayes will end up a considerably better player than Wines. Will take a little longer, but I'm confident that will happen. The one I wish we'd been able to get is Jake Stringer.

 

[captainrich]

Reckon Mayes will end up a considerably better player than Wines. Will take a little longer, but I'm confident that will happen. The one I wish we'd been able to get is Jake Stringer.

I remember we constantly went down this road a couple of years ago in discussing Polec and Heppell, with the same argument being made for Polec hope it doesn't follow the same suit.

It is disapointing with the various compensations teams received via acquiring players from other teams we missed out on some certain guns

 

[PattyKwasagun]

I remember we constantly went down this road a couple of years ago in discussing Polec and Heppell, with the same argument being made for Polec hope it doesn't follow the same suit.

It is disapointing with the various compensations teams received via acquiring players from other teams we missed out on some certain guns

I'd argue that Mayes has shown much, much more than Polec ever did though - so I'm not concerned about that. And anyway - if you did reopen that discussion, there is genuine credibility to the argument that Polec will be a better player than Heppell. Just not with us

 

[captainrich]

I'd argue that Mayes has shown much, much more than Polec ever did though - so I'm not concerned about that. And anyway - if you did reopen that discussion, there is genuine credibility to the argument that Polec will be a better player than Heppell. Just not with us

yeahh hes had a dodgy start to the season, can just be due to the injury, would be great if he does turnout better than wines, though not confident on it.

haha the polec heppell debate is still touch and go, heppel really stepped up last year in ways I dont see polec doing but hey not our problem anymore