2016 Draft discussion

[The Flying Belgian]

Why do people get overly invested in what players are selected in what amounts to make believe? It's all a bit of fun I know, but every year I see people (and I'm not necessarily talking about people from our board) get agitated about various mock and phantom drafts. It's a curious thing.

 

[lionsbest]

Yeah i am not overwhelmed with Pepper Powell. Might turn out to be a good player but he didn't strike me. More of a kid who took advantage of being hard at it against kids who might not be prepared for that kind of stuff. Bit different in the AFL.. Despite all the work that now goes in the draft by recruiting staff it's still very much a speculative business - especially outside the top 15 players.

Extremely harsh. To be fair , he played the majority against players his own age. You cannot compare apples and oranges.i believe it is only fair to compare him against players his own age.Regards your point that draft picks are speculative, I totally agree ,it is very true with any pick regardless whether or not they r in or out of the top 15. Regards SPP ,the club may see tremendous scope in his development , if they pick him. In a sideline note , I wanted a more ruthless approach of culling and trade of existing player list, I was extremely disappointed Green was not traded.

 

[lionsbest]

A few things have just come up, give it another couple weeks.

Regards Liam Ryan, kudos if the lions draft him as a rookie or very late pick. You broke it 1st.

 

[lionsbest]

I know the love for Ainsworth, but I would roll the dice and pick SPS. Some of footage I saw ,all I could say is WOW. I hope his passion and love for the game propels him to immense success.

 

[briztoon]

BOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!

lol

 

[blueiris]

I know the love for Ainsworth, but I would roll the dice and pick SPS. Some of footage I saw ,all I could say is WOW. I hope his passion and love for the game propels him to immense success.

WE may not get Ainsworth with GWS interested in him anyway who would you pick out of McLuggage and SPS?

 

[Slitherin9]

WE may not get Ainsworth with GWS interested in him anyway who would you pick out of McLuggage and SPS?

I think Schwabby made our choice clear here. If McCluggage is available we will take him.

 

[lionsbest]

WE may not get Ainsworth with GWS interested in him anyway who would you pick out of McLuggage and SPS?

That is a bit easier, as I stated in an earlier post if mccluggage is taken prior to pick 3 I would go with SPS. if mccluggage is available at 3 I would go with him. It's a real pity the lions did not get pick 8 or 10 for Hanley this year ,but hopefully port finish last next year and that will ease the pain.

 

[Len S]

I know the love for Ainsworth, but I would roll the dice and pick SPS. Some of footage I saw ,all I could say is WOW. I hope his passion and love for the game propels him to immense success.

SPS got absolutely towled up by the Vics midfielders ,at the nationals and showed a distinct lack of interest in the center square contest.Disposal was poor under pressure , very second round,probably should stay in W.A.

 

[lionsbest]

SPS got absolutely towled up by the Vics midfielders ,at the nationals and showed a distinct lack of interest in the center square contest.Disposal was poor under pressure , very second round,probably should stay in W.A.

I believe you don't judge a player on one game.every player has a bad game. You have to be fair and put his performances into context, that being the fact he was injured. He screams X factor. If one player represents the struggles the lions have been thru over the years and the spirit to triumph over adversity, it is SPS. If it is true Simon Black was his favourite player and we drafted him ,I would be more than happy for the young kid to be given S Black number. Hopefully it would be an immense source of inspiration.

 

[jackess]

I loved Ainsworths highlights reel but after watching McLuggage I'd definitely have him ahead of Ainsworth. He might not be as dangerous up forward, would still be quite dangerous anyway, but McCluggage is a gun. I'd be very happy either way.

 

[Dizzle]

I loved Ainsworths highlights reel but after watching McLuggage I'd definitely have him ahead of Ainsworth. He might not be as dangerous up forward, would still be quite dangerous anyway, but McCluggage is a gun. I'd be very happy either way.

It's why we didn't care about moving back a spot in the draft; we need all of them, and will be happy with any of them.

 

[Cooties]

I'm just on the edge of my seat waiting to see who the Hawks pick with 88 in the Big Footy Phantom draft... any day now

 

[lionshine]

Regards Liam Ryan, kudos if the lions draft him as a rookie or very late pick. You broke it 1st.

Cheers for the kudos but I broke nothing. I merely shared an article that stated we had interviewed him. I was one of the first to bring his name up in here many months ago but again that isn't because I "broke" any news or anything about him being linked to us. I just liked him as a potential mature aged prospect(Albeit he is only 20).

 

[Billy Puller]

Although a Lions supporter he wants to play in Melbourne for a big club. - SPS from the going places article.

 

[jjami15]

Although a Lions supporter he wants to play in Melbourne for a big club. - SPS from the going places article.

Personally you can't begrudge the kid can you? Does highlight what the 'rest' are up against though. The AFL really did miss an opportunity when setting up GC and GWS to not relocate some teams and also send one to Tassie to break up the monopoly.

I'm starting to read that it's a strong draft and that is deep, I'm not so certain about this. It's very even which I do agree on but it just doesn't really have that top flight talent that I can see. The top 6/7 are good I agree and will have very good careers though. At the start of the year all I wanted is to draft was mids, however looking at the pieces of the puzzle that makes up our team I am not unhappy if we were to draft players that fit in other areas such as small forwards and HBF. Still 2/3 weeks to go, lots of innuendo, players still finishing testing/school and for me it's not so who we draft at 3 but the collective of our top 4 picks. Hope we don't reach too far for a player at the last pick though as we aren't in a position to gamble. Trust that Noble and Fagan would be involved in the process and we will make thbe correct decisions.

 

[scoman]

I'm just on the edge of my seat waiting to see who the Hawks pick with 88 in the Big Footy Phantom draft... any day now

Might be a few days with the speed that bad boy is running this year.

 

[Dalions]

Although a Lions supporter he wants to play in Melbourne for a big club. - SPS from the going places article.

I wonder if clubs will see SPS as a flight risk wanting to be in Vic. Essendon will not pick him at 1. Carlton at 5, North at 11. I wonder if he might still be available at 16 for Brisbane and would they consider taking him. Most likely freo or Gcs my bet though.

 

[lionsbest]

Although a Lions supporter he wants to play in Melbourne for a big club. - SPS from the going places article.

Apparently Cedric cox is his cousin. In my top 4 picks I have SPS and cox with pick 22.that is of course mcl does not get to our pick 3. Having his cousin play alongside him in same team would i believe change SPS's mind about only wanting to play in vic.if we get SPS at 3 it is highly plausible that cox is available @ 22. Connection here is the pull factor.

 

[Cockliff38]

I.E. BF phantom draft - Quigley picked up Florent at #16. Simpkin & Witherden were available also

 

[WhiteLionFeva]

Personally you can't begrudge the kid can you? Does highlight what the 'rest' are up against though. The AFL really did miss an opportunity when setting up GC and GWS to not relocate some teams and also send one to Tassie to break up the monopoly.

As someone who had to suffer the big Melb clubs trampling all over the Roys and other struggling clubs for years well before drafting was introduced, I can and I do. The sooner the AFL increases the two year minimum to three the better.

 

[briztoon]

I.E. BF phantom draft - Quigley picked up Florent at #16. Simpkin & Witherden were available also

Right move by Quigley. Everyone knows I've been trumpeting the Witherden bandwagon for most of the year, but I would have picked Florent in that spot as well. Florent is one rung below SPS.

 

[Cockliff38]

Right move by Quigley. Everyone knows I've been trumpeting the Witherden bandwagon for most of the year, but I would have picked Florent in that spot as well. Florent is one rung below SPS.

Fair enough. I'm big on Witherden but must admit I haven't seen much of Florent

 

[WhiteLionFeva]

Fair enough. I'm big on Witherden but must admit I haven't seen much of Florent

He is another one who went up in the standings as the year wore on. Was particularly impressive in the TAC Cup finals which always attracts attention.

 

[Brod208]

Fair enough. I'm big on Witherden but must admit I haven't seen much of Florent

I'd say he's about to pick Witherden as I type this...