2015 Draft Discussion

[Nunez]

Not until 2016.

Isn't Beams a free agent?

 

[BlackGun1]

http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl...-under-18-talent/story-e6frf3e3-1227433319073

Re Keays, interesting to see that there is speculation he wont be guaranteed to join the Lions, not the first time thats been mentioned by a journalist. Surely just a bit of a stir up by the media to rage the Academy debate?

Hipwood is rapidly rising the ranks in many peoples eyes, not just the BF experts. What he does in the back half of the year and his testing is going to be very interesting indeed.

 

[a mayes ing]

http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl...-under-18-talent/story-e6frf3e3-1227433319073

Re Keays, interesting to see that there is speculation he wont be guaranteed to join the Lions, not the first time thats been mentioned by a journalist. Surely just a bit of a stir up by the media to rage the Academy debate?

Hipwood is rapidly rising the ranks in many peoples eyes, not just the BF experts. What he does in the back half of the year and his testing is going to be very interesting indeed.

Reckon it is just journo rubbish. Very much doubt we would not pick Keays.

 

[dlanod]

http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl...-under-18-talent/story-e6frf3e3-1227433319073

Re Keays, interesting to see that there is speculation he wont be guaranteed to join the Lions, not the first time thats been mentioned by a journalist. Surely just a bit of a stir up by the media to rage the Academy debate?

Hipwood is rapidly rising the ranks in many peoples eyes, not just the BF experts. What he does in the back half of the year and his testing is going to be very interesting indeed.

Similar "word" about Dawson last year. Could be the club smokescreening in order to get lower bids on him.

 

[Quigley]

On Keays I think he was not that highly thought of earlier in the year but he has improved since then and I would be very surprised if wrapping him up was not high on our priority list now.

 

[cotter101]

I seriously disagree with this years crop being weaker than last years. I personally think it will be better overall going forward. Every year we hear the same thing about the draft supposedly being weak. I don't mind this crop to be honest.

 

[WA Lion]

On Keays I think he was not that highly thought of earlier in the year but he has improved since then and I would be very surprised if wrapping him up was not high on our priority list now.

Given all the dramas we have had with top end talent leaving us to head home, I would be shocked if the first time our academy produces top end talent (1st round talent to many people) we don't grab them (for fair price)

 

[WA Lion]

I seriously disagree with this years crop being weaker than last years. I personally think it will be better overall going forward. Every year we hear the same thing about the draft supposedly being weak. I don't mind this crop to be honest.

And further to this, you can only truly and accurately judge the quality of a draft year once all the players have finished up so you can make a fair comparison.

At this stage you are comparing potential ability and what they MIGHT become, something which is very subjective. And given how someone like Hipwood this year and Andrews last year can come from nowhere in a hurry, this crop may well be a good one but we won't know until they all finish up

 

[Leuy LongerCombo]

Could some of the Hipwood hype come down to Andrews success this year. (Not a knock against Hipwood in anyway)

A lot of similarity thou, academy member, height, versatility, late birthday, big growth spurt..

 

[dlanod]

Could some of the Hipwood hype come down to Andrews success this year. (Not a knock against Hipwood in anyway)

A lot of similarity thou, academy member, height, versatility, late birthday, big growth spurt..

It's crossed my mind as likely too, though I think the majority was Hipwood's performances in the Championships making him more visible.

 

[WA Lion]

It's crossed my mind as likely too, though I think the majority was Hipwood's performances in the Championships making him more visible.

Which now the champs have finished, I am hoping the out of site out of mind principle applies and he drifts back down the order a little to help us with the draft points needed to get both he and Keays

 

[cotter101]

And further to this, you can only truly and accurately judge the quality of a draft year once all the players have finished up so you can make a fair comparison.

At this stage you are comparing potential ability and what they MIGHT become, something which is very subjective. And given how someone like Hipwood this year and Andrews last year can come from nowhere in a hurry, this crop may well be a good one but we won't know until they all finish up

Certainly. You can't really compare the drafts until 4 or 5 years down the track. I'd be very surprised if this draft is not stronger than last years.

Could some of the Hipwood hype come down to Andrews success this year. (Not a knock against Hipwood in anyway)

A lot of similarity thou, academy member, height, versatility, late birthday, big growth spurt..

It's crossed my mind as likely too, though I think the majority was Hipwood's performances in the Championships making him more visible.

Think you've both pretty well hit the nail on the head. Hipwood's performances in the champs were good and certainly gone up the rankings since then. I think you'll find clubs are largely undecided on how to rank the kids in the academies. Some will rate them significantly higher than others. Clubs will want to bid to force us to pay more either way.

If someone bid a pick inside the top 20 on Hipwood, I'd pass on him. I feel 25-30 would still be a bit of a reach, but I'd likely take him there because he is a Queenslander and it minimizes the go home factor.

 

[Leuy LongerCombo]

The club should do its best to draft both Hipwood and Keayes. If they both get top 20 bids Id still like to see us matching, only if it doesn't effect our first pick the following year thou.

It's hard to predict where you going to finish the following year (our year this year) it would be dissapointing to drop down as spot or two, especially if there is a perseved top 3 like this year.

 

[Ironmonger]

Could some of the Hipwood hype come down to Andrews success this year. (Not a knock against Hipwood in anyway)

A lot of similarity thou, academy member, height, versatility, late birthday, big growth spurt..

Such a good point. I think after the immediate impact of Heeney and Andrews other clubs would appreciate the benefit of a draftee coming out of an academy system as well. We can probably also see that in the push to make academies available more widely.

 

[Bucking Beads]

So the academy bidding happens after the trade period now?? I don't see how this will work.

 

[dlanod]

So the academy bidding happens after the trade period now?? I don't see how this will work.

If you are curious about how it will work:

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-05-...ed-for-fatherson-and-northern-academy-players
http://www.afl.com.au/staticfile/AFL Tenant/AFL/Files/Father-son-bidding-system.pdf

 

[blynd_freddie]

I seriously disagree with this years crop being weaker than last years. I personally think it will be better overall going forward. Every year we hear the same thing about the draft supposedly being weak. I don't mind this crop to be honest.

Surely the reason behind both Vic Metro having a poor U18 Champs and the shallow draft is because the local Melbourne kids or to be precise, Calder "the footy factory" Cannons are having such a quiet year? Calder are currently sitting 10th with only 3 wins - but when the draft was deeper they finished higher - at the end of their recent past home & away seasons they finished 1st in 2014, 4th in 2013, 7th in 2012 and again 1st in 2011.

 

[AFLQLD]

Nicely summed up.

Weak draft in Melbourne = weak draft. According to lots of people who Melbourne a lot.

There may not be the extreme outliers at the very top of this draft (and probably aren't in most years) but the liklihood is that quality talent is still going to emerge in a year or two that suggests this draft is as good as most.

 

[Crusha]

Reckon it is just journo rubbish. Very much doubt we would not pick Keays.

A lot depends on Picks available at Draft time post the Trade Period.

I'm sure we would want to get Keays on board, but I'm not sure what price we would be prepared to pay.

The lions are "apparently" very keen on Wagner, and it would not surprise me if they pass on Keays if he requires an early selection (high points), and take Wagner and Hipwood.


Everyone has been commenting as if the likely nominations fall in the Keays-Hipwood order.
It's interesting to consider those selections in the reverse order, especially should they both be "early" first round selections.

 

[Forward We Go]

It's crossed my mind as likely too, though I think the majority was Hipwood's performances in the Championships making him more visible.

Being in the AFL Academy (Like Keays), having a pretty good u18's carnival, named NEAFL Rising Star back in May, Named All Australian just last week all contribute to his exposure.

 

[jjami15]

The difference in Keays and Hipwood is that Keays has been a consistent performer over two years of the national championships and earlier in the year when the national squad played he was collecting disposals just as well as the more highly rated kids. Hipwood is supposedly a bit of a late bloomer and look to have a fair bit of upside to his game. We don't know which way the club is thinking and who they should get but these two boys have definately put their hand up. They will get even further opportunities I imagine playing for the Lions reserves and also for their respective teams in the NEAFL. There will also be further opportunity when the 'Allies' play the best 17 year olds in the country later in the year and let's just hope they don't tear this game apart like Cockatoo and go top 10.

 

[jjami15]

Just for a bit of fun, let's say Luey gets a great offer and we get pick 2 as compo. Would you pick Weitering or Francis? Obviously pick 1 is for the Love Schache!

 

[Luke Kathutian]

Just for a bit of fun, let's say Luey gets a great offer and we get pick 2 as compo. Would you pick Weitering or Francis? Obviously pick 1 is for the Love Schache!

It's a nice fantasy but Schache will go to Carlton unless they prefer Weitering. Have a look at their draw, our draw, and our list of players returning. There is almost 0 chance of us finishing below Carlton. Hopeful that we finish 17th but that depends on where Melbourne and Essendon go from here. Either is a chance to fall completely off the pace. Luckily the saints or gold coast aren't part of the conversation anymore. If we do end up 16th and pick up Francis it might not be too bad. He seems like some sort of cross between Pendlebury and Drummond. Rebounding defender, full back and full forward are our 3 needs so a 16th - 18th placed finish wouldn't hurt. 15th would be a disaster. 18th would be wonderful in terms of using PSD against GC but its not going to happen, unless we get hit by injuries.

 

[Old Den]

Just for a bit of fun, let's say Luey gets a great offer and we get pick 2 as compo. Would you pick Weitering or Francis? Obviously pick 1 is for the Love Schache!

I'd be trading our other first round pick...after buying a big ticket in Tattslotto.

 

[jackess]

I'd be trading our other first round pick...after buying a big ticket in Tattslotto.

Agreed. Put it up for grabs.