2016 Draft discussion

[brizrider]

I'm not a huge fan of the emphasis the AFL industry places on the importance of 'high character' players who happened to go to the right sort of school. The fact that a player went to Brighton Grammar/Scotch College/wherever should mean absolutely nothing.

The respect for Vic private schools is more about the fairly professional programs that they run and the high quality competition rather than pure elitism I think. Kids who've played in the SANFL or WAFL are similarly rated and valued.

 

[briztoon]

I'm not a huge fan of the emphasis the AFL industry places on the importance of 'high character' players who happened to go to the right sort of school. The fact that a player went to Brighton Grammar/Scotch College/wherever should mean absolutely nothing.

Can't say I've heard much emphasis placed on which school kids go to, when talking about character.

I know schools get mentioned, but usually it's in a discussion about kids getting scholarships at Vic private schools, and how their school sporting commitments impact on TAC cup participation.

 

[M Malice]

when is it too early? http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-11-26/looking-forward-to-the-likely-2017-nab-afl-draft-stars not even 24 hours gone by. here's 3 of the 10.

Connor Ballenden
Tall forward
199cm/94kg
29/3/99
Brisbane Lions Academy/Queensland
The towering tall forward took a couple of pack marks in the NAB All-Stars clash to again highlight his talents as a key forward. He is big and bustling and a nice kick for goal, and will have excited Brisbane Lions supporters with his development across this season. The Lions will get first access to Ballenden, who used to be a rugby union player, under academy rules.


Jaidyn Stephenson
Forward
184cm/67kg
15/1/99
Eastern Ranges/Vic Metro
Stephenson is electric whenever he's around the ball and already has shown brilliant match-winning traits. He blitzed in the 2015 TAC Cup finals series for the Eastern Ranges as a 16-year-old, and he booted 23 goals in 11 games for the Ranges this year. He's wiry but can jump high and take huge marks, he has wheels to get away from opponents, and is efficient around goal.

Hunter Clark
Midfielder/half-back
185cm/73kg
26/3/99
Dandenong Stingrays/Vic Country
It was in 2015 that Clark began to come into prominence as a likely prospect, having performed exceptionally well at that year's NAB AFL Under-16 Championships. Clark is an excellent kick on both feet, he can fly for his marks, and he loves to stream down the wing and set up the play. He's tough and hard but plays with a great level of composure.

 

[cotter101]

when is it too early? http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-11-26/looking-forward-to-the-likely-2017-nab-afl-draft-stars not even 24 hours gone by. here's 3 of the 10.

Connor Ballenden
Tall forward
199cm/94kg
29/3/99
Brisbane Lions Academy/Queensland
The towering tall forward took a couple of pack marks in the NAB All-Stars clash to again highlight his talents as a key forward. He is big and bustling and a nice kick for goal, and will have excited Brisbane Lions supporters with his development across this season. The Lions will get first access to Ballenden, who used to be a rugby union player, under academy rules.


Jaidyn Stephenson
Forward
184cm/67kg
15/1/99
Eastern Ranges/Vic Metro
Stephenson is electric whenever he's around the ball and already has shown brilliant match-winning traits. He blitzed in the 2015 TAC Cup finals series for the Eastern Ranges as a 16-year-old, and he booted 23 goals in 11 games for the Ranges this year. He's wiry but can jump high and take huge marks, he has wheels to get away from opponents, and is efficient around goal.

Hunter Clark
Midfielder/half-back
185cm/73kg
26/3/99
Dandenong Stingrays/Vic Country
It was in 2015 that Clark began to come into prominence as a likely prospect, having performed exceptionally well at that year's NAB AFL Under-16 Championships. Clark is an excellent kick on both feet, he can fly for his marks, and he loves to stream down the wing and set up the play. He's tough and hard but plays with a great level of composure.

It's far to early........ but Worpel should be rated the #1 by every club in the country as it stands.

 

[jackess]

It's far to early........ but Worpel should be rated the #1 by every club in the country as it stands.

Even at his height?

 

[pulpdriver]

Even at his height?

Isn't he 6'?

 

[jackess]

Isn't he 6'?

Ah. Confused him with spargo

 

[pulpdriver]

It's far to early........ but Worpel should be rated the #1 by every club in the country as it stands.

Would love to see the long, blonde, flowing locks of Worpel winning the ball and moving it out to the long, blonde, flowing locks of Rich who thumps it onto the chest of the long, blonde, flowing locks of Schache. Assuming Schache grows his hair out and dyes it blonde, of course.

 

[luthor]

Would love to see the long, blonde, flowing locks of Worpel winning the ball and moving it out to the long, blonde, flowing locks of Rich who thumps it onto the chest of the long, blonde, flowing locks of Schache. Assuming Schache grows his hair out and dyes it blonde, of course.

I've heard it all now.

Sexism,ageism.......

.......and now blondeism

 

[pulpdriver]

I've heard it all now.

Sexism,ageism.......

.......and now blondeism

tbh I'm actually a bit of a closest blondist. For year I've found it patently unfair that they are able to have more fun.

 

[luthor]

tbh I'm actually a bit of a closest blondist. For year I've found it patently unfair that they are able to have more fun.

Oh well

Congratulations on your coming out.

 

[jjami15]

when is it too early? http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-11-26/looking-forward-to-the-likely-2017-nab-afl-draft-stars not even 24 hours gone by. here's 3 of the 10.

Connor Ballenden
Tall forward
199cm/94kg
29/3/99
Brisbane Lions Academy/Queensland
The towering tall forward took a couple of pack marks in the NAB All-Stars clash to again highlight his talents as a key forward. He is big and bustling and a nice kick for goal, and will have excited Brisbane Lions supporters with his development across this season. The Lions will get first access to Ballenden, who used to be a rugby union player, under academy rules.


Jaidyn Stephenson
Forward
184cm/67kg
15/1/99
Eastern Ranges/Vic Metro
Stephenson is electric whenever he's around the ball and already has shown brilliant match-winning traits. He blitzed in the 2015 TAC Cup finals series for the Eastern Ranges as a 16-year-old, and he booted 23 goals in 11 games for the Ranges this year. He's wiry but can jump high and take huge marks, he has wheels to get away from opponents, and is efficient around goal.

Hunter Clark
Midfielder/half-back
185cm/73kg
26/3/99
Dandenong Stingrays/Vic Country
It was in 2015 that Clark began to come into prominence as a likely prospect, having performed exceptionally well at that year's NAB AFL Under-16 Championships. Clark is an excellent kick on both feet, he can fly for his marks, and he loves to stream down the wing and set up the play. He's tough and hard but plays with a great level of composure.

Tut tut, Jason it's never too early especially for our club for where we have been the last few years. Had thes pages left up on my phone for awhile.

Google AFL Draft Central 20 names to watch out for in 2017

 

[blueiris]

Isn't Spargo an Academy player eligible for GWS though

Ah. Confused him with spargo

 

[WhiteLionFeva]

Isn't Spargo an Academy player eligible for GWS though

Yep and lives in that AFL outpost of Albury. Go figure.

 

[scoman]

Isn't Spargo an Academy player eligible for GWS though

Hate thise cheatin' academies!

 

[Len S]

I see it more as a pattern of trying to get the best out of himself, he evidently struggled but also probably had a bit of growing up to do, not every 18 year-old is mature enough for the AFL hence the draft age being a hot topic. The combination of moving 4000km from home to become an AFL player, doing early morning shifts and his coach saying that he is extremely driven is enough for me.

Anyone having dealings with this guy,speak highly of him.In particular,his former teacher who valued the support and leadership Cox gave in a more than difficult environment . Emma Quayles article in The Age was clear on this.

 

[Lace Out]

Gotta say, very smart strategy to draft multiple players from the same area. Noble earning his crust already.

Coincidental bonus according to Conole not a strategy.

 

[lionshine]

when is it too early? http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-11-26/looking-forward-to-the-likely-2017-nab-afl-draft-stars not even 24 hours gone by. here's 3 of the 10.

Connor Ballenden
Tall forward
199cm/94kg
29/3/99
Brisbane Lions Academy/Queensland
The towering tall forward took a couple of pack marks in the NAB All-Stars clash to again highlight his talents as a key forward. He is big and bustling and a nice kick for goal, and will have excited Brisbane Lions supporters with his development across this season. The Lions will get first access to Ballenden, who used to be a rugby union player, under academy rules.


Jaidyn Stephenson
Forward
184cm/67kg
15/1/99
Eastern Ranges/Vic Metro
Stephenson is electric whenever he's around the ball and already has shown brilliant match-winning traits. He blitzed in the 2015 TAC Cup finals series for the Eastern Ranges as a 16-year-old, and he booted 23 goals in 11 games for the Ranges this year. He's wiry but can jump high and take huge marks, he has wheels to get away from opponents, and is efficient around goal.

Hunter Clark
Midfielder/half-back
185cm/73kg
26/3/99
Dandenong Stingrays/Vic Country
It was in 2015 that Clark began to come into prominence as a likely prospect, having performed exceptionally well at that year's NAB AFL Under-16 Championships. Clark is an excellent kick on both feet, he can fly for his marks, and he loves to stream down the wing and set up the play. He's tough and hard but plays with a great level of composure.

Definitely far, far, far too early! After a long year of evaluating this years prospects we should now spend at least a little bit of time enjoying the new batch of draftees we've just added to our list and start to look towards next season. I am a big fan of the draft and will follow it again next year with a keen interest but probably not until the mid way point of next year. I will just say one thing though and that is that I've casually followed Stephenson's progress since last year TAC Cup grand final when he kicked 4 goals as a 16 year old. He is a rare, exciting talent with x factor written all over him. Quick, great leap and knows where the goals are as evident by his 23 goals from 11 games as an underager in this years TAC Cup. Watch out for him next year. Anyway, until next year

 

[briztoon]

It's far to early........ but Worpel should be rated the #1 by every club in the country as it stands.

Never to Early. It's a tradition in the States to put up an early big board/early top 10 for the following years draft.

I was going to mention that Worpel and Jaidyn Stephenson are the two I am hoping we grab next year, before we have to match a bid on Ballenden. Last measurement I saw for Worpel was 185cm.



http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au...l/news-story/75133e69c87224cf32a2f089d9d58f5a

 

[briztoon]

Another Vic Country name to watch is Aidan Quigley.

Any relation to our own Quigley?

 

[MacMum]

Go on, that's a young Richy!!

 

[briztoon]

Isn't Spargo an Academy player eligible for GWS though

There was an article a couple of weeks ago suggesting the AFL is considering redrawing GWS's academy zone, and that as a result Spargo, and a couple of other GWS kids, would be available to all clubs.

 

[The Bear]

Gary Buckenara’s club-by-club analysis of the 2016 AFL draft

BRISBANE LIONS

WHO THEY PICKED

3 Hugh McCluggage (North Ballarat Rebels)

17 Jarrod Berry (North Ballarat Rebels)

23 Alex Witherden (Geelong Falcons)

24 Cedric Cox (North Ballarat Rebels)

55 Jacob Allison (Aspley/Lions Academy)

71 Corey Lyons (Sandringham Dragons)

The big winner of the draft, the Lions picked up Hugh McCluggage at No.3, the guy I rated as the best player in this year’s draft. He will be a star. Jarrod Berry was also a very good get at pick No.17 and it’ll be valuable for the Lions to have three teammates from North Ballarat go up there together in terms of player retention with Cedric Cox also joining and brings x-factor. Alex Witherden is a really nice player who has had some injury concerns but makes good decisions and has composure — attributes the Lions obviously targeted because they are characteristics McCluggage and Berry are known for. McCluggage, Berry, Witherden and Cox can all step into the AFL side next year.

Bucky’s verdict: A very good result for Brisbane, their best haul at the draft for a very long time.

 

[bungalow_bill]

Interesting that the top two picks have a north American connection. McGrath is Canadian? Taranto's father is American.

 

[POBT]

"Best draft haul for a long time?"

I reckon last year potentially is the club defining draft. I really liked this year's draft haul but if Schache and Hipwood keep developing, we'll look at 2015 as our most valuable draft IMO.