Good draft in my opinion, shows ambition without being reckless.
Venables:
If feet are ok, we will have a gun no doubt about it. Feet issues (with both as well) take an extended recovery and have a high rate of recurrance however. If fit will be in the top 3 mids from this draft. Could also be Cavka all over again.
Worth the risk considering where we are.
Rotham:
Great pick for mine, ready made replacement for Schofield / Hurn when the time comes. Highly rated disposal combined with pace. Would love to see him become like JJ at the Bulldogs.
Rioli:
My favourite pick of the draft, and the only one I expect to play much senior football in 2017. Genuine crumber, silky silks, tackles hard, pops up in the right places and always knows where the goals are. Has been quality for years and only limited due to poor fitness. Lost 16kg at Glenelg this year and was the outstanding small forward in the SANFL (and in my opinion the best small forward outside AFL in 2016). If he maintains his fitness to standard over preseason, will be starter in Round 1.
Have been a big fan of his for a long while since watching him play for Saints in the NT and am stoked to have him in blue and gold.
As previously stated, the only query over him is his fitness, his football is elite.
Have a very good feeling about this pick. Potentially fills a need in our squad that has been light for a decade now. Think he could have an instant impact and become a crowd favourite.
Waterman:
Great to not have him bid upon and get him late, well below what his value would be if not F/S. Bit of a tweener in my opinion, but plays tall. Will be interesting to see what development the club has in mind for him. Has the potential to be a very difficult match-up for opposition.
Only negative I would have is that after every other club had passed we should have used a 5th pick, as it would effectively become pick 1 in the rookie draft.
Have no issue with taking Petrie on a one-year rookie spot as long as McInnes is dumped. Can't have both. At worst Petrie can play as a stay at home FF should our forwards break down in addition to rucks. From what I have observed McInnes can do neither.
Expect at least one young ruck with the remaining two rookie selections.
Next year looks to be KPP heavy, so that will be the time to look towards replacement for Kennedy long term.
Add Mitchell and Vardy coming in; Redden, Jetta, Sheed and Duggan getting preseasons that were missed last season and despite NicNat and Lycett's injury woes, 2017 actually looks to be coming together nicely so far.
Venables:
If feet are ok, we will have a gun no doubt about it. Feet issues (with both as well) take an extended recovery and have a high rate of recurrance however. If fit will be in the top 3 mids from this draft. Could also be Cavka all over again.
Worth the risk considering where we are.
Rotham:
Great pick for mine, ready made replacement for Schofield / Hurn when the time comes. Highly rated disposal combined with pace. Would love to see him become like JJ at the Bulldogs.
Rioli:
My favourite pick of the draft, and the only one I expect to play much senior football in 2017. Genuine crumber, silky silks, tackles hard, pops up in the right places and always knows where the goals are. Has been quality for years and only limited due to poor fitness. Lost 16kg at Glenelg this year and was the outstanding small forward in the SANFL (and in my opinion the best small forward outside AFL in 2016). If he maintains his fitness to standard over preseason, will be starter in Round 1.
Have been a big fan of his for a long while since watching him play for Saints in the NT and am stoked to have him in blue and gold.
As previously stated, the only query over him is his fitness, his football is elite.
Have a very good feeling about this pick. Potentially fills a need in our squad that has been light for a decade now. Think he could have an instant impact and become a crowd favourite.
Waterman:
Great to not have him bid upon and get him late, well below what his value would be if not F/S. Bit of a tweener in my opinion, but plays tall. Will be interesting to see what development the club has in mind for him. Has the potential to be a very difficult match-up for opposition.
Only negative I would have is that after every other club had passed we should have used a 5th pick, as it would effectively become pick 1 in the rookie draft.
Have no issue with taking Petrie on a one-year rookie spot as long as McInnes is dumped. Can't have both. At worst Petrie can play as a stay at home FF should our forwards break down in addition to rucks. From what I have observed McInnes can do neither.
Expect at least one young ruck with the remaining two rookie selections.
Next year looks to be KPP heavy, so that will be the time to look towards replacement for Kennedy long term.
Add Mitchell and Vardy coming in; Redden, Jetta, Sheed and Duggan getting preseasons that were missed last season and despite NicNat and Lycett's injury woes, 2017 actually looks to be coming together nicely so far.
