2016 Draft discussion

[ULittleBeauty]

See Callum Twomeys tweet an hour or ago

Worsfold says Dons are locked in on the No.1 pick. Also, CEO Xavier Campbell was part of Essendon convoy to visit Hugh McCluggage yesterday.

Apparently they visited McGrath last week.....


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[blueiris]

See Callum Twomeys tweet an hour or ago

Worsfold says Dons are locked in on the No.1 pick. Also, CEO Xavier Campbell was part of Essendon convoy to visit Hugh McCluggage yesterday.

Apparently they visited McGrath last week.....


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Gerald Healy just said on 3aw Essendon have chosen McGrath

 

[jackess]

See Callum Twomeys tweet an hour or ago

Worsfold says Dons are locked in on the No.1 pick. Also, CEO Xavier Campbell was part of Essendon convoy to visit Hugh McCluggage yesterday.

Apparently they visited McGrath last week.....


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

So they met with McCluggage and now they're locked.....

 

[briztoon]

So who is going number 1?

 

[TheZork]

Even if Essendon take McGrath would GWS really pass up on McCluggage? At that end of the draft you surely have to take the best player available.

 

[The Flying Belgian]

Even if Essendon take McGrath would GWS really pass up on McCluggage? At that end of the draft you surely have to take the best player available.

You've seen the calibre of young midfielders leaving that club, right? If there's ever a club that has the luxury of drafting for need it's GWS. Even so, you might be right.

 

[M Malice]

Knightmare has Declan Watson at 29 in his final power rankings list.

29. Declan Watson (QLD - Brisbane Academy)

Best position: Key defence

Height, weight: 194cm, 80kg

Recruited from: Aspley

Plays like: Jack Hombsch

Projected draft range: late draf

Rated last month: Unrated

Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: 
Promising play during AFL Under-18 Championships. Involved in offensive drives out of back half.
Strengths:

- Finds a lot of the ball for a key defender

- Always looks involved and on the move when the ball is in his area

- Provides run in support on forward drives

- Zones off well down back

- Intercept marking

- Reading flight of the ball

- Able to shut down opposition key forwards

- Moves well through traffic

- Good at ground level

- While testing suggests otherwise, movement in games was fine

Weaknesses:

- Weighting on kicks can be hot and cold from game to game

- Good but not dominant one-on-one or as an intercept mark

 

[a mayes ing]

Even if Essendon take McGrath would GWS really pass up on McCluggage? At that end of the draft you surely have to take the best player available.

They will probably be in the top 4 next year so they will want someone that can play straight away and make an impact. That would be Ainsworth, as l doubt McCluggage would be ready to go from day dot.

 

[WA Lion]

I just hope we don't actually have to choose between McCluggage and Ainsworth.

For some on here it is a very easy choice, but for others including myself it is not so easy. I would rather one of them already be gone by our pick i.e. McCluggage to Bombers or Ainsworth to GWS.

If rumours of GWS interest in Taranto are true we might actually have to choose, which would suck (but in a good way of course given their quality)!

 

[a mayes ing]

If it was a choice, l think it should be a relatively easy decision. McCluggage is the best performed youngster coming out of the under 18's in a long time apparently.
Ainsworth is good but we want midfielders, and l know that Ainsworth will eventually become a midifielder, but l don't know why we wouldnt grab a pure goal-kicking midfielder rather than a fwd-mid.

 

[jjami15]

I just hope we don't actually have to choose between McCluggage and Ainsworth.

For some on here it is a very easy choice, but for others including myself it is not so easy. I would rather one of them already be gone by our pick i.e. McCluggage to Bombers or Ainsworth to GWS.

If rumours of GWS interest in Taranto are true we might actually have to choose, which would suck (but in a good way of course given their quality)!

It's doing my head in actually.

Gerald Healy just said on 3aw Essendon have chosen McGrath

Gerard doesn't really have his finger in the pulse. But it's 50/50 isn't it.

See Callum Twomeys tweet an hour or ago

Worsfold says Dons are locked in on the No.1 pick. Also, CEO Xavier Campbell was part of Essendon convoy to visit Hugh McCluggage yesterday.

Apparently they visited McGrath last week.....


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yeah hi Hugh, look we're not going to pick you. How 'bout the cows out the back?

 

[WA Lion]

If it was a choice, l think it should be a relatively easy decision. McCluggage is the best performed youngster coming out of the under 18's in a long time apparently.
Ainsworth is good but we want midfielders, and l know that Ainsworth will eventually become a midifielder, but l don't know why we wouldnt grab a pure goal-kicking midfielder rather than a fwd-mid.

That's the thing, I don't think anything you said is inaccurate whatsoever, but I am still leaning towards Ainsworth instead.

It is a nice problem to have, but I like Ainsworth's commitment to us, his attitude and the fact that he can change a game in an instant. But as you have already done, you can make just as strong a case (if not stronger) for McCluggage

 

[Cockliff38]

This is one of those 'hope we don't get a choice' situations where we want the decision to be made for us... Which is also how I feel about Shai Bolton at our later picks

 

[a mayes ing]

This is one of those 'hope we don't get a choice' situations where we want the decision to be made for us... Which is also how I feel about Shai Bolton at our later picks

I actually hope we do get the choice as l am sure our recruiters will know a massive amount of information on both those boys, which will give them an informed decision on who the best pick-up will be.

I personally wouldn't want to make the choice, both will be great.

 

[Len S]

I actually hope we do get the choice as l am sure our recruiters will know a massive amount of information on both those boys, which will give them an informed decision on who the best pick-up will be.

I personally wouldn't want to make the choice, both will be great.

Massive front page and article on McGrath in today's Age.Simply irresistible , as the song says.He offers everything Essendon desperately needs,in the form of character and integrity , leadership, not to mention talent,ready to go with a wonderful attitude . I suspect Healey is correct and we'll choose between McCluggage and Ainsworth .... I think !

 

[luthor]

The natural order of things should be

Ess - McCluggage

GWS - McGrath

BL- Ainsworth


Just a hunch but I think Essendon are taking McGrath.

If so, what GWS do at Pick 2 is anyone's guess.

Heard talk that if they miss out on McGrath, they are into Taranto.

Maybe we will have to pick between Ainsworth and McClug.

What a delicious dilemma that would be.

 

[Dalions]

"If only" that priority pick come in at 3. Then we could have had them both.

 

[luthor]

"If only" that priority pick come in at 3. Then we could have had them both.

Don't remind me

 

[briztoon]

What I do not understand is why would GWS go for Taranto rather McCluggage.

I can understand GWS going for Ainsworth. Ready made player that doesn't need to spend time in the NEAFL before making his debut.

 

[Flea_29]

The natural order of things should be

Ess - McCluggage

GWS - McGrath

BL- Ainsworth


Just a hunch but I think Essendon are taking McGrath.

If so, what GWS do at Pick 2 is anyone's guess.

Heard talk that if they miss out on McGrath, they are into Taranto.

Maybe we will have to pick between Ainsworth and McClug.

What a delicious dilemma that would be.

I like your 'Bruce' comment there.

I'm actually really excited about this coming draft - more than any other.
We will actually get one of McCluggage or Ainsworth, which is what our team really needs.
Add 3 more quality players at picks 16, 21 & 22 and our future could be set.
Add Allison and Watson and we will have 6 quality players in the one draft.
When you think that we drafted 5 quality players last year and will draft 3 more top 25 players next year, our future is looking very bright.

As for going into deficit next year for Allison and/or Watson, then so be it - they're two quality kids.
We will only need to draft 3 players next year and our first 3 picks will be in the top 20-25. Collingwood's 3rd rounder next year (traded to us) should be enough to cover any 'deficit' this year.

3 more sleeps

 

[luthor]

What I do not understand is why would GWS go for Taranto rather McCluggage.

I can understand GWS going for Ainsworth. Ready made player that doesn't need to spend time in the NEAFL before making his debut.

The speculation is doing my head in.

In all honesty, I don't think I've anticipated a draft as keenly as this one.

Bloody hurry up Friday night so I can go back to normal life.

 

[Hollow Knight]

What I do not understand is why would GWS go for Taranto rather McCluggage.

A lot of people consider Taranto's upside to be enormous.

Bontempelli going ahead of Aish and Scharenberg was considered a bit of a headscratcher by some pundits in 2013 but far to say that the "we rate his upside" view of the Dogs was a good one.

 

[WhiteLionFeva]

Can we assume at this late stage that GWS are not going to be penalised draft picks? Gone very quiet unless I have missed something.

 

[luthor]

A lot of people consider Taranto's upside to be enormous.

Bontempelli going ahead of Aish and Scharenberg was considered a bit of a headscratcher by some pundits in 2013 but far to say that the "we rate his upside" view of the Dogs was a good one.

they got it right,

...........and Scharenberg and Aish have so far turned out to be disappointments on so many levels

 

[briztoon]

I like your 'Bruce' comment there.

I'm actually really excited about this coming draft - more than any other.
We will actually get one of McCluggage or Ainsworth, which is what our team really needs.
Add 3 more quality players at picks 16, 21 & 22 and our future could be set.
Add Allison and Watson and we will have 6 quality players in the one draft.
When you think that we drafted 5 quality players last year and will draft 3 more top 25 players next year, our future is looking very bright.

As for going into deficit next year for Allison and/or Watson, then so be it - they're two quality kids.
We will only need to draft 3 players next year and our first 3 picks will be in the top 20-25. Collingwood's 3rd rounder next year (traded to us) should be enough to cover any 'deficit' this year.

3 more sleeps

If a bid comes in, in the second round, we have to use our second round pick to pay the points deficit. Unless of course we trade out our second round pick, then we have to use our next available pick, i.e. Collingwoods third rounder that belongs to us.