2016 Draft discussion

[POBT]

We can't rely exclusively on local talent. We only have half the State to recruit from and that simply isn't enough to build a list on.

 

[chopperduck]

who is this years Oliver, Cripps, or Wines for example? We might get a top 4 pick and I would hope we use it on an inside mid that wins clearances and CP like his life depended on it.

We do still need this type of player. Matho is an inside type, but we still need more. Keays and Allison arent those types either, as good a prospect as they are.

 

[mpal6]

who is this years Oliver, Cripps, or Wines for example? We might get a top 4 pick and I would hope we use it on an inside mid that wins clearances and CP like his life depended on it.

Not relevant to draft thread but the issue is we have balanced this inside mid area by recruiting Bastinac, Jansen and drafting Mathieson - this is on top of having 2 X Robbos in our list. Need at least 2 of the new arrivals to transition to the dependable level so Beams can avoid the heavy lifting. I have high hopes for Mathieson, can't wait for his debut.

We lack the outside run and carry big time - punchable face was supposed to be doing this for us, before he ****ed off to adelaide. Not sure a top 4 pick would cut it for landing SPS. All 2016 draft predictions currently have Sam at pick 1/2.

 

[chopperduck]

Allison - endurance good (I expect around the 15 beep or maybe a touch under) pace average (I expect him to run between 3 and 3.1 over the 20m).

Rolls - endurance very good to elite (15.5ish beep) but again pace is only average (again around 3.1 I expect). Rolls does seem to get up to pace reasonably quickly though ala Green.

How is Rolls kicking Quigs? Do you think he could be that rebounding HB flanker type or is he more a winger/mid type? I dont mind if he isnt super quick, id rather good acceleration so he can get away from a player and use the ball.

I like Cuts as a long term option down back, but TBH i dont see Beams or Harwood in a future finals team.

 

[jjami15]

Like the look of pepper Powell. Would complement our team nicely.

He's one that I am interested in. Butchered the ball a bit in last years champs but over the off season has taken his game to a new level by all reports. Not sure where he sits currently but look forward to seeing his national champs. WA should do a lot better this year with he, SPS and Rotham.

 

[lionshine]

Not relevant to draft thread but the issue is we have balanced this inside mid area by recruiting Bastinac, Jansen and drafting Mathieson - this is on top of having 2 X Robbos in our list. Need at least 2 of the new arrivals to transition to the dependable level so Beams can avoid the heavy lifting. I have high hopes for Mathieson, can't wait for his debut.

We lack the outside run and carry big time - punchable face was supposed to be doing this for us, before he stuffed off to adelaide. Not sure a top 4 pick would cut it for landing SPS. All 2016 draft predictions currently have Sam at pick 1/2.

Rich and Aish were rated as top 2 draft picks at this time of year in their respective draft years. Both slipped to pick 7.

 

[DanT7]

I'd love for us to being in two into recruits: another Irish, preferably related to the Hanley's (build our family club ideals) AND a big prospect type player, someone we can get excited about - like one of those 213cm dudes in the US. There's a bit of thrill and excitement around that stuff even if they don't turn out to be superstars the club needs to have some fun like this!

 

[captainrich]

I'd love for us to being in two into recruits: another Irish, preferably related to the Hanley's (build our family club ideals) AND a big prospect type player, someone we can get excited about - like one of those 213cm dudes in the US. There's a bit of thrill and excitement around that stuff even if they don't turn out to be superstars the club needs to have some fun like this!

we are less likely to do this compared to other clubs due to being able to use local talent as Class B talent, whereas other clubs need to take these speculative picsk as their class b Rookies

 

[theteamtobeat]

Hopefully we draft more mature aged players with our late picks and rookies. Guys like Adams, Ben Brown, Saad, Sam Gray, Miles, Lambert, Papley etc have been enormous for their respective teams.

 

[DanT7]

we are less likely to do this compared to other clubs due to being able to use local talent as Class B talent, whereas other clubs need to take these speculative picsk as their class b Rookies

There should be another class of rookie then

 

[lionshine]

Hopefully we draft more mature aged players with our late picks and rookies. Guys like Adams, Ben Brown, Saad, Sam Gray, Miles, Lambert, Papley etc have been enormous for their respective teams.

Agreed. We need to find another Zorko! In saying that for every Zorko there are 3 Bradd Dalziel's.

Marlon Pickett from the WAFL is one I am interested in.

 

[Balony_pony16]

We do still need this type of player. Matho is an inside type, but we still need more. Keays and Allison arent those types either, as good a prospect as they are.

We actually don't have anyone the coach can send into the middle and back him to win some clearances when games are on the line. ATM with have guys that can play an inside role but don't ever take the game by the scruff of the neck. We seriously need a brute inside mid with clean skills. The demons have Viney, brayshaw & Oliver (trenners returning), and that is a combination to get excited about. Matho is the only guy who could potentially match them in the long run... provide he stops kicking like a mule. So absolutely we need a brute inside mid IMO

 

[lionshine]

We actually don't have anyone the coach can send into the middle and back him to win some clearances when games are on the line. ATM with have guys that can play an inside role but don't ever take the game by the scruff of the neck. We seriously need a brute inside mid with clean skills. The demons have Viney, brayshaw & Oliver (trenners returning), and that is a combination to get excited about. Matho is the only guy who could potentially match them in the long run... provide he stops kicking like a mule. So absolutely we need a brute inside mid IMO

Brodie or Powell-Pepper could be handy.

 

[jjami15]

Brodie or Powell-Pepper could be handy.

Powell-Pepper also has leadership qualities. Two hard at inside Bulls with a no hold bars attitude and leadership qualities from this years draft would be great.

 

[M Malice]

Powell-Pepper also has leadership qualities. Two hard at inside Bulls with a no hold bars attitude and leadership qualities from this years draft would be great.

if we had the choice of those 2 or petrvski-seton who would you take jiami15?

 

[winged1]

We actually don't have anyone the coach can send into the middle and back him to win some clearances when games are on the line. ATM with have guys that can play an inside role but don't ever take the game by the scruff of the neck. We seriously need a brute inside mid with clean skills. The demons have Viney, brayshaw & Oliver (trenners returning), and that is a combination to get excited about. Matho is the only guy who could potentially match them in the long run... provide he stops kicking like a mule. So absolutely we need a brute inside mid IMO

Matho probably wont get that big, but a good player can win it. But the longer the game goes those guys (Cripps/Oliver/Wines) dont get any smaller and can just wear them down.

People talk about Black being not that big but he is 6'2 he isnt a small guy and was probably a little ahead of the curve when most mids were under or about 6'. Plus Blackie had very good core strength.

 

[SizeMatters]

if we had the choice of those 2 or petrvski-seton who would you take jiami15?

about to ask the same question. Personally at this stage I'd take the inside bulls. Blokes like SPS excel in a more mature side IMO, teams that win the CP and can feed the ball out to him with ease. SPS probably the more talented but what worries me is that he is slight, doesn't rack them up either.

 

[jjami15]

if we had the choice of those 2 or petrvski-seton who would you take jiami15?

about to ask the same question. Personally at this stage I'd take the inside bulls. Blokes like SPS excel in a more mature side IMO, teams that win the CP and can feed the ball out to him with ease. SPS probably the more talented but what worries me is that he is slight, doesn't rack them up either.

That's a really difficult question when you take into account where our midfield sits. SizeMatters you are correct in that he needs to begin accumulating more but his 15/25 are never really wasted and he makes good choices and those disposals hurt the opposition. You would have to go with SPS I reckon, he really is class and with this draft especially it lacks that type of player and so does our list. Brownie commented on 'On the Couch' Monday night that he remembers Leigh Matthews commenting something along the lines that you need about 90% class/talent on the list to be a top team. SPS is all class and I don't like the Cyril Rioli comparisons as he is a once in a generation player but I see more of him being like Daniel Wells. My opinion might change as the championships go on and we get to see more of the boys. The thing I like about Will Brodie is that in the 3 big games that the AFL academy have played (vs NZ and the two VFL teams) he has been best on, he reminds me of Priddis which isn't a bad thing. Also have to take into account that we got Keays and Matho last year.

 

[cotter101]

Personally, I'm all for the American recruits. In ten years time, it won't be uncommon for clubs have a couple athletically gifted 210cm+ giants on their list. Some of them even midfielder's.

 

[jackess]

Personally, I'm all for the American recruits. In ten years time, it won't be uncommon for clubs have a couple athletically gifted 210cm+ giants on their list. Some of them even midfielder's.

Can they run 15km at a decent speed each game? They might handle bursts but I can't see them being that big and running all day as midfielders have to.

 

[cotter101]

Can they run 15km at a decent speed each game? They might handle bursts but I can't see them being that big and running all day as midfielders have to.

Must say I meant to have (200cm) in brackets next to my comment about midfielders. Totally screwed that one up.

 

[WhiteLionFeva]

Can they run 15km at a decent speed each game? They might handle bursts but I can't see them being that big and running all day as midfielders have to.

All teams will have at least one 210cm+ player on their list in 5 years. The natural increase in player heights and search for advantage ensures it.

 

[pauldrc]

Personally, I'm all for the American recruits. In ten years time, it won't be uncommon for clubs have a couple athletically gifted 210cm+ giants on their list. Some of them even midfielder's.

We might be one of those clubs also soon if Hipwood keeps growing!

 

[Dylan12]

Talent at US Combine reaches record heights

THE TALLEST player ever tested in AFL history was one of 18 prospects who took part in the opening day of the League's US Combine in Los Angeles on Monday.

Basketballer Stanislas Heili became the tallest player ever tested by the AFL in Australia or overseas, when he measured in at 212.3cm at the Velocity Sports facility in Redondo Beach this week.

The mark leaves the 22-year-old just short of seven feet tall, but edges him ahead of American giant Mason Cox who tested at 211.4cm when he attended the AFL combine two years ago and made his AFL debut for Collingwood on Monday in the Pies' win over Essendon.

The AFL is scouring the globe for taller prospects and has identified America as a market for potential ruckmen. Heili, who was born in France and studies at Lindenwood University in Missouri, fits the prototype for clubs searching for talent outside traditional pathways.

Richmond and North Melbourne are the two clubs that have sent recruiting staff to the Combine.

Kevin Sheehan, the AFL's national and international talent manager, said it was not the only new benchmark set on the opening day of testing in America.

"Both Shane Henry, a 197cm basketballer from Virginia Tech, and Khalia Spicer, a 201cm prospect from Kent State University with a tennis, track and cross country background, broke the absolute running vertical jump record," he said.

"Henry recorded a jump of 371cm and Spicer jumped 368cm, which surpassed the likes of Mason Cox (364cm), Jason Holmes (359cm) and Nic Naitanui (356cm)."

Henry also equaled Naitnaui's 102-cm record in the running vertical jump.

The start of the three-day combine coincided with Cox's debut, with the Magpies big man starring at the combine in 2014. Cox toured Australia shortly after the completion of the combine and trialled at four clubs – Collingwood, North Melbourne, Richmond and Port Adelaide – before choosing to sign as an international rookie with the Magpies.

Derrick Williams shows his leap while practicing ruck work. Picture: Lachlan Cunningham

Sheehan said Cox's debut on Anzac Day had excited the new batch of AFL hopefuls in America.

"There was high buzz last night as USAFL officials and the Combine prospects gathered at their hotel in preparation for their introduction to the AFL, and they watched the Collingwood and Essendon game live with all eyes on the debutant," Sheehan said.

"He didn't let anyone down, confirming in their eyes that anything is possible."

DAY ONE TESTING – TOP COMBINE PERFORMERS

Height
Stanislas Heili (Lindenwood University) – 212.3cm
Devontae Watson (Temple University) – 206.5cm
John Cannon (UNC) – 206cm

It's a long way down as Stanislas Heili learns to bounce the Australian ball. Picture: Lachlan Cunningham

Absolute running vertical jump (right leg)
Khaliq Spicer (Kent State University) – 368cm
Devontae Watson (Temple University) – 364cm
Omari Gudul (Angelo State University) – 357cm

Absolute running vertical jump (left leg)
Shane Henry (Virginia State) – 371cm
Jamal Hunter (Jacksonville State) – 356cm
Austin Lewis (McNeese State University) – 354cm

Omari Gudul does the agility test during the AFL US Combine. Picture: Lachlan Cunningham

Vertical jump
Shane Henry (Virginia State) – 84cm
Jamal Hunter (Jacksonville State University) – 84cm
Khaliq Spicer (Kent State University) – 79cm
Derrick Williams (Park University) – 79cm

Running vertical jump (right leg)
Khaliq Spicer (Kent State University) – 99cm
Brandon Nazione (Eastern Michigan University) – 90cm
Shane Henry (Virginia State) – 87cm

Nduka Ezeamii is measured during the AFL US Combine in Los Angeles Picture: Lachlan Cunningham

Running vertical jump (left leg)
Shane Henry (Virginia State) – 102cm
Jamal Hunter (Jacksonville State) – 83cm
Nduka Ezeamii (Avila University) – 83cm

20 metre sprint
Austin Lewis (McNeese University) – 2.86 seconds
Ikem Eriobuna (Allen University) – 2.93 seconds
Jamal Hunter (Jacksonville State) – 2.96 seconds
Imoh Silas (Siena College) – 2.96 seconds
Imoh Silas goes through his warm-up during the AFL US Combine in LA. Picture: Lachlan Cunningham

Agility test
Jacquez Rozier (Middle Tennessee State University) – 8.35 seconds
Brandon Nazione (Eastern Michigan University) – 8.35 seconds
Ikem Eriobuna (Allen University) – 8.44 seconds

Repeat sprint
Khaliq Spicer (Kent State University) – 25.51 seconds
Imoh Silas (Siena College) – 25.73 seconds
Bruce Marshall (Missouri Southern State) – 25.95 seconds

Daniel Joseph Woody Quinn in the sprint test during the AFL US Combine. Picture: Lachlan Cunningham

 

[winged1]

This will come down to getting in athletes or football players, it seems to be cyclical which is in vogue.