2016 Draft discussion

[braddsey]

Is the draft here yet?

I hear that in 2017 they're looking to have the draft over 2 weeks, announcing 10 picks per day. This allows for in depth commentary and analysis of every pick, and another million columns of useless newspaper space filled... but whatever, it keeps the AFL on the back page.

 

[jjami15]

Is the draft here yet?

I wish . Have alsready started to think about specific players now, kind of hoping that we keep those four picks that we have. In regards to what we need Im trying to remember what the club have said that we need. I agree with Leppa that we need speed and it was really evident in the last few games. I think Fagan has said small forwards and flexible midfielders and obviously our contested football sucks!! I hope we target players that are quite dynamic. Pick 3 it would have to be out of Ainsworth and Brodie. I was/am a big fan of Brodie and think he will have a good career however I think that Ainsworth fits a few more of the criterias and does have that scope to move into the midfield. In regards to 16 I am a huge fan of SPP and think that WC might actually grab him at their first. If not I really hope that we grab him here. I don't think his kicking is that bad but I also don't think that there a lot of players in this draft that you would consider an elite kick. His attack at the ball and man would be great to have. In regards to our two other picks I'm not too sure. I like another inside midfielder like a Willem Drew and also the addition of more outside run like Bolton but I think he will be gone here. There is also some more run out of the backline and that is where a Cedric Cox or precise kicking like a Witherden.

 

[scott_the_man]

I wish . Have alsready started to think about specific players now, kind of hoping that we keep those four picks that we have. In regards to what we need Im trying to remember what the club have said that we need. I agree with Leppa that we need speed and it was really evident in the last few games. I think Fagan has said small forwards and flexible midfielders and obviously our contested football sucks!! I hope we target players that are quite dynamic. Pick 3 it would have to be out of Ainsworth and Brodie. I was/am a big fan of Brodie and think he will have a good career however I think that Ainsworth fits a few more of the criterias and does have that scope to move into the midfield. In regards to 16 I am a huge fan of SPP and think that WC might actually grab him at their first. If not I really hope that we grab him here. I don't think his kicking is that bad but I also don't think that there a lot of players in this draft that you would consider an elite kick. His attack at the ball and man would be great to have. In regards to our two other picks I'm not too sure. I like another inside midfielder like a Willem Drew and also the addition of more outside run like Bolton but I think he will be gone here. There is also some more run out of the backline and that is where a Cedric Cox or precise kicking like a Witherden.

I'm also a fan of SPP, there is a bit of Dustin Martin in the way he plays. He is a better kick than what he's made out to be, I remember watching the allies game and seeing him launch a set shot from 65m out which missed by a whisker which really impressed me. He also finished first in the goal kicking test at the combine with a perfect 30/30. From what I've seen his short field kicking needs some work but that will improve in time. Certainly has the potential to develop into one of the best players of this draft

 

[lionshine]

Apparently Schwab is hoping to secure McCluggage with pick 3. Would be unlikely that he'd be willing to share that info without some level of strategy behind it though you'd think.

 

[blueiris]

Apparently Schwab is hoping to secure McCluggage with pick 3. Would be unlikely that he'd be willing to share that info without some level of strategy behind it though you'd think.

Are McGrath and Ainsworth considered top 2? Schwab would obviously know who GWS would take it would be part of the agreement over pick 2 that each club would know who we we're likely to choose

 

[lionshine]

I wish . Have alsready started to think about specific players now, kind of hoping that we keep those four picks that we have. In regards to what we need Im trying to remember what the club have said that we need. I agree with Leppa that we need speed and it was really evident in the last few games. I think Fagan has said small forwards and flexible midfielders and obviously our contested football sucks!! I hope we target players that are quite dynamic. Pick 3 it would have to be out of Ainsworth and Brodie. I was/am a big fan of Brodie and think he will have a good career however I think that Ainsworth fits a few more of the criterias and does have that scope to move into the midfield. In regards to 16 I am a huge fan of SPP and think that WC might actually grab him at their first. If not I really hope that we grab him here. I don't think his kicking is that bad but I also don't think that there a lot of players in this draft that you would consider an elite kick. His attack at the ball and man would be great to have. In regards to our two other picks I'm not too sure. I like another inside midfielder like a Willem Drew and also the addition of more outside run like Bolton but I think he will be gone here. There is also some more run out of the backline and that is where a Cedric Cox or precise kicking like a Witherden.

It is such an even draft that the players you mentioned e.g. SPP, Drew, Bolton ect. could legitimately go anywhere from 10-25.

A list of players likely to fall in the range of 9-30 which would put them in contention at our picks 16, 21 and 22 include Logue, Berry, Florent, Bolton, SPP, Drew, Simpkin, Cedric Cox, Witherden, Clarke, Gallucci, Venables, Battle, Scharenberg, Rotham, Villis, Kerr. That is a solid list of 17 players there and it is hard to split them. I'd love to end up with 3 of Logue, Florent, Bolton, Simpkin and Drew, however, if we added any 3 of that group in addition to a gun at pick 3 I think we will have added some real quality to our list. I wouldn't be surprised if the club took a bit of a risk/gamble on a smoky at pick 22.

 

[lionshine]

Are McGrath and Ainsworth considered top 2? Schwab would obviously know who GWS would take it would be part of the agreement over pick 2 that each club would know who we we're likely to choose

Who knows? It might be a case of the Bombers are settled on McGrath and the Giants are settled on Ainsworth and the Suns who currently hold picks 4 and 8 are getting excited about the potential to draft McCluggage. Now we might have our sights on Brodie but Schwab could leverage the fact that we have pick 3 and can select McCluggage before the Suns get a chance to in an attempt to extract picks 4 and 8 from them. Highly unlikely mind you, I think the club is happy to have 4 picks inside the top 25 and are probably keen to hold onto pick 3, however, that is just one example of Schwab revealing that we are keen on McCluggage in a strategic manner.

As for McGrath and Ainsworth being considered top 2, I don't think that's the case, however, rumours are that the Bombers are really interested in McGrath and he is starting to firm as the number 1 pick. If he does go there, I don't think it is necessarily a forgone conclusion that the Giants select McCluggage, they may prefer the speed and x-factor that Ainsworth provides and his ability to play as a dangerous small forward resulting in McCluggage slipping to us. Personally if we hold onto pick 3 between now and the end of the trade period tomorrow afternoon I would happily take whoever the Bombers/Giants don't select out of McCluggage/McGrath/Ainsworth. We can't lose in that scenario imo.

 

[chopperduck]

Wouldn't mind going the Ainsworth/Berry/Florent/Bolton combo. Think it gives us a really nice combination of midfield types.

 

[ManeMan]

Wouldn't mind going the Ainsworth/Berry/Florent/Bolton combo. Think it gives us a really nice combination of midfield types.

I like it. I am definitely hoping for Ainsworth/Berry/Florent. Would be good to get another inside/outside mid type with the other pick. Hoping Gallucci or Venables slide.

 

[briztoon]

Apparently Schwab is hoping to secure McCluggage with pick 3. Would be unlikely that he'd be willing to share that info without some level of strategy behind it though you'd think.

Where was this mentioned?

 

[briztoon]

I wish . Have alsready started to think about specific players now, kind of hoping that we keep those four picks that we have. In regards to what we need Im trying to remember what the club have said that we need. I agree with Leppa that we need speed and it was really evident in the last few games. I think Fagan has said small forwards and flexible midfielders and obviously our contested football sucks!! I hope we target players that are quite dynamic. Pick 3 it would have to be out of Ainsworth and Brodie. I was/am a big fan of Brodie and think he will have a good career however I think that Ainsworth fits a few more of the criterias and does have that scope to move into the midfield. In regards to 16 I am a huge fan of SPP and think that WC might actually grab him at their first. If not I really hope that we grab him here. I don't think his kicking is that bad but I also don't think that there a lot of players in this draft that you would consider an elite kick. His attack at the ball and man would be great to have. In regards to our two other picks I'm not too sure. I like another inside midfielder like a Willem Drew and also the addition of more outside run like Bolton but I think he will be gone here. There is also some more run out of the backline and that is where a Cedric Cox or precise kicking like a Witherden.

I'm waiting for the Trade period to finish before I lock in on certain players.

I do not know any where near enough about other teams open list spots, team needs, etc to even imagine who will be available where.

At 3 I would prefer Ainsworth, unless McGrath was available. At 16, Oliver Florent would be my number one target if he is available.

If we keep 21 and 22, I would hope one of Cox or Witherden would still be available to fill the need at HB. And there should still be a myriad of inside mids available. Can't even speculate who, though I am growing to like the idea of SPP.

 

[lionshine]

Where was this mentioned?

Twitter Q&A.

 

[captainrich]

would think taranto, brodie would be in contention for pick 1 and 2 as well not just hugh, mcgrath and ainsworth

brodie who is ready to go contested beast and esendon someone who could be in a premiership window now, and taranto with his bontempelli/oliver like rise late

 

[powerakablacvos]

I too am a big, big Brodie fan.
Listening to Schwab, I got a feeling and I can't let it go that Brodie might just be the one.
Perhaps the reason were happy to on-trade pick 2!

 

[briztoon]

Don't see Taranto going top 3. Brodie an outside chance at 1, but I haven't read or heard him called a contested beast. Not in the same mould as an SPP or Clarke.

 

[lionshine]

I feel like Brodie is the typical Ollie Wines/Daniel Rich type pick. Has a big body which has aided him in dominating at U18 level, he is obviously a quality player with multiple AFL level traits and as a result he will come in from Round 1, have a strong season and potentially win the rising star and everyone will be really excited about him. From there, however, he doesn't really go on to become the star player everyone expected him to be.

I do like him as a player and would back him in to have a better career than that if we ended up with him but I just see him as that type. I would much prefer we targeted someone with a real point of difference such as McGrath with his pace or McCluggage with his freakish goal kicking ability or Ainsworth with his speed/power/x-factor. If Brodie is our man though, I won't complain too much. He could just as easily become a beast like Cripps as he could stagnate like a Wines or Rich so best too wait and see and if our recruiters pick him they obviously rate him and I'll back their judgement as they've done a good job the past couple years!

 

[carnthemlions]

I feel like Brodie is the typical Ollie Wines/Daniel Rich type pick. Has a big body which has aided him in dominating at U18 level, he is obviously a quality player with multiple AFL level traits and as a result he will come in from Round 1, have a strong season and potentially win the rising star and everyone will be really excited about him. From there, however, he doesn't really go on to become the star player everyone expected him to be.

I do like him as a player and would back him in to have a better career than that if we ended up with him but I just see him as that type. I would much prefer we targeted someone with a real point of difference such as McGrath with his pace or McCluggage with his freakish goal kicking ability or Ainsworth with his speed/power/x-factor. If Brodie is our man though, I won't complain too much. He could just as easily become a beast like Cripps as he could stagnate like a Wines or Rich so best too wait and see and if our recruiters pick him they obviously rate him and I'll back their judgement as they've done a good job the past couple years!

To be fair, it might be a bit early to say that Wines will continue to stagnate. He had a down year, but so did pretty much everyone else at Port.

 

[ZoBlitz]

I too am a big, big Brodie fan.
Listening to Schwab, I got a feeling and I can't let it go that Brodie might just be the one.
Perhaps the reason were happy to on-trade pick 2!

Welcome to Bigfooty!

 

[Fatcat08]

Welcome to Bigfooty!

Now now Zo thats not how we treat new posters around here!

 

[John_Proctor]

fascinating answers from Schwab on particular players.

a few bits for those who don't want to click through:
- 'hoping mcluggage gets to us at 3'
- 'brodie in the next group behind mcluggage'
- 'ainsworth clearly in our top 10'
asked about 'anyone other than Frost' - 'might draft experience with late picks'
- 'like our academy boys'
- 'hoping academy boys won't be bid on or late'

http://www.lions.com.au/news/2016-10-19/askschwabby

 

[John_Proctor]

I haven't seen anyone play and below based on assumption McGrath and Mcluggage gone. but for me purely on measurements I'd take Brodie. We've tried to make Lester a big midfielder, hasn't worked. we bought in jansen hoping he makes the grade, hasn't worked. we bought in bell, hasn't worked.

We get Brodie as a big mid in the draft highly rated and from many comments I've seen the most likely to play next season and most likely to play 200 games from this draft group.

Ainsworth to me we have various players on the list similar to him (Zorko, Christensen, Taylor) smallish forward focused midfielders. Noted he might be better than all those players...

But if its a narrow call I'd go the type of player we've been looking for and not found not the type of player we already have.

 

[Not a Psycho]

I haven't seen anyone play and below based on assumption McGrath and Mcluggage gone. but for me purely on measurements I'd take Brodie. We've tried to make Lester a big midfielder, hasn't worked. we bought in jansen hoping he makes the grade, hasn't worked. we bought in bell, hasn't worked.

We get Brodie as a big mid in the draft highly rated and from many comments I've seen the most likely to play next season and most likely to play 200 games from this draft group.

Ainsworth to me we have various players on the list similar to him (Zorko, Christensen, Taylor) smallish forward focused midfielders. Noted he might be better than all those players...

But if its a narrow call I'd go the type of player we've been looking for and not found not the type of player we already have.

I like your thinking, however my only reservation that we probably have a better chance at getting a solid big-bodied/contested player later in the draft. From the looks of things we're only really going to get one crack at a player with real x-factor in this years draft.

 

[briztoon]

I like your thinking, however my only reservation that we probably have a better chance at getting a solid big-bodied/contested player later in the draft. From the looks of things we're only really going to get one crack at a player with real x-factor in this years draft.

I believe there will be some x-factor players available at 16. It's just that they may not yet have an AFL body or are recovering from injury.

 

[charles202]

I don't get the hype around SPP, I get the elite measurables but after watching Tom Bell butcher the ball for half a season I think I would prefer less X factor and more substance. I really like Dylan Clarke and hope we grab him at 16, in saying that drafting Metro boys always make me a little nervous

 

[Leemas]

I don't get the hype around SPP, I get the elite measurables but after watching Tom Bell butcher the ball for half a season I think I would prefer less X factor and more substance. I really like Dylan Clarke and hope we grab him at 16, in saying that drafting Metro boys always make me a little nervous

Half our list are hopeless with the ball and half of the 'tough guys' can't even win it either! We still got a long way to go to clean up this list, Port's first next year is a good start. I think theres a fair few list cloggers coming out of contract next year so expecting another big influx of talent again.