2016 Draft discussion

[chopperduck]

Strange that the likes of Rotham, Clarke, Atley, Scharenberg all seemed to have slipped out of the top 30 in the past 4-6 weeks. Will be interesting to see where they end up.

 

[Toffee Lion]

Who cares, we're going to get a great player either way and support them.

 

[SizeMatters]

I'm on the Gallucci bandwagon. If he is there at 21 I hope we grab him... would rather him than Venables, Graham or Ryan who have also been linked to our pick in the 20s. Would also bid on Scheer and Cumming with one of those picks as well and hopefully the Suns or Giants won't match if they do then honestly don't know who I would like at 22... I can understand why we might be taking a smokie here now.

 

[Lace Out]

Tipping Dodoro to request extra time before announcing pick 1

 

[lionshine]

Emma Quayle has Isaac Cumming going at 10. he got a late invite to draft night so could be on the money.

wonder if the giants would match 3 high first round bids, Setterfield, Perryman and Cumming?

I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that Cumming was on our radar. Wouldn't be surprised at all if we placed a bid on him with pick 16. I really rate him I'd love for us to bid on him and have GWS choose not to match but they seem to really rate him so I think that is unlikely.

 

[Crusha]

Anderson/Toomey/Quayle have the same first 15, with one or two (depending on Cumming nomination) of Gallucci, Witherden or Marshall gone before our 2nd pick.

Given that, I would like to see the following, dependant on:

• choice between McCluggage and Ainsworth at 3
• Whether Witherden is available at our 2nd Pick
• Whether GC match the Williams bid at our second round picks
• Watson & Allison both being taken (bids matched)

For me, this is a balanced intake of players I like the look of, who should be available at our picks.
As always, just my opinion ........... and, hopefully gets the 2016 Draft bug out of my system.

 

[Balony_pony16]

If gws match a high bid for cumming I think we should try get mutch with our 4th pick. Kid will be pretty good

 

[PattyKwasagun]

The more I look into Graham, the more I really want us to take him. He sounds like he's got exceptional leadership qualities which is something we desperately need, but he's also a large bull of a midfielder the type of which we haven't had in some years.

He looks to me to be just about the hardest player at the contest in this whole draft, and also moves through traffic really well for a man of his size.

The knock on him is obviously the kicking, but it doesn't look as bad as it's made out to be. He bombs long in hope too often and I think that might give the impression that he's a bad kick, but when he actually aims for a target he seems to go okay.

Either way, I think it's easier to improve a player's kicking than their character & intensity of play, and Graham seems to have the latter two in spades.

At this stage, I'd have him as my 19th favourite in this draft class. So if we take him with one of our 20s picks, I'll be happy. I openly admit that I am a casual observer, but he does strike me as the type of player who will make a big impact and leave clubs wondering why he didn't go earlier.

 

[harvester]

Personally think the lions will go with Ainsworth for our third pick. Being friends with schache and skinner will help all these guys settle into Brisbane. Taking someone else is a big gamble, given our recent record with player retention, and state of our club.

 

[PattyKwasagun]

Personally think the lions will go with Ainsworth for our third pick. Being friends with schache and skinner will help all these guys settle into Brisbane. Taking someone else is a big gamble, given our recent record with player retention, and state of our club.

I see where you're coming from, but I think it's a bigger gamble to start sacrificing talent for no reason other than the mismanagement of the past. I don't think any other club would even contemplate passing on McCluggage at 3 (bar GWS due to the list they have), and if we're going to just because we're worried he might be a flight risk, then we may as well give up on aiming to be a competitive club now.

It's also worth mentioning that the only evidence people have for worrying about whether or not McCluggage will be happy here is the fact that he hasn't actively said he wants to play for the Lions. That's an awful metric to go off.

At some stage, you have to back your system in and fill your list with the best talent available to you, rather than jumping at shadows of homesickness and trying to keep yourself safe. Ultimately talent should be the one thing not compromised on.

I think a player stating that they'd like to play for your club can only ever be considered a nice bonus. I'm not sure it's ever good to let that come into your actual calculations. It's like the single person who settles for a partner who likes them rather than trying their luck with the person they really like.

I just think that the only scenario in which we should pick anybody over McCluggage should be because we view them as a better footballer.

 

[Davemonkey]

Name one player from Warnambool who ever stayed at the Lions for their whole career!

GO ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Didn't Shaun Mugavin stay with us his entire On Ground MC career? Huh?

 

[jjami15]

My Christmas Day, toot toot. Pick 3 we get a very good player. Hope at 16 we also get a player that excited us. With 21/22 I'm starting to get a little bit worried with these but let's wait and see. If one of them is Graham I think it will be a waste. Kicking is woeful.

 

[Soren Lorenson]

I see where you're coming from, but I think it's a bigger gamble to start sacrificing talent for no reason other than the mismanagement of the past. I don't think any other club would even contemplate passing on McCluggage at 3 (bar GWS due to the list they have), and if we're going to just because we're worried he might be a flight risk, then we may as well give up on aiming to be a competitive club now.

It's also worth mentioning that the only evidence people have for worrying about whether or not McCluggage will be happy here is the fact that he hasn't actively said he wants to play for the Lions. That's an awful metric to go off.

At some stage, you have to back your system in and fill your list with the best talent available to you, rather than jumping at shadows of homesickness and trying to keep yourself safe. Ultimately talent should be the one thing not compromised on.

I think a player stating that they'd like to play for your club can only ever be considered a nice bonus. I'm not sure it's ever good to let that come into your actual calculations. It's like the single person who settles for a partner who likes them rather than trying their luck with the person they really like.

I just think that the only scenario in which we should pick anybody over McCluggage should be because we view them as a better footballer.

Can't agree with this more, absolutely spot on. We have put the support structures in place, we now have to back them to make the right decisions. Also, when you read through the innuendo and media hyperbole, I really think that McCluggage just wants to play AFL football and is happy to do that wherever he can.

 

[Bucking Beads]

Sounds like McCluggage is a lock for us now. Hopefully we pick up a small forward with one of our other picks.

 

[M Malice]

feels like christmas to me as well jj only we have to wait till tonight to see what we get from santa (Schwab).

my final go at this- trying to be realistic.

who i think we will get- McCluggage, Witherden, Venables, Ridley. + matched bids Allison, Watson.

who i want- McCluggage, Simpkin, Witherden/Berry, hopefully there will be plenty of options at our last open draft pick, would be happy with any of these- Bolton/Powell-Pepper/Venables/Cumming/Ridley. + matched bids Allison, Watson.

do not want any of- Marshall, English, Battle.

 

[Cockliff38]

Happy draft day everyone. Hope Santa got you some new (McC)luggage

 

[scott_the_man]

Witherden's kicking style reminds me of Matt Suckling. Could be a weapon

 

[SizeMatters]

We already have Robinson and Mathiesson who just grab the ball and throw it on the boot more often than not... this is why I hope we don't grab Graham.

 

[jjami15]

There's been a lot of talk out from the club Conole, Schwab, Noble and Fagan in the areas of small forwards, HBF's, intercept marking defenders and versatile mids so I'll use that as a gauge as the types of players we will target. We are still woefully slow and remember watching Carlton (at the Gabba) spread the ball out of their defensive 50 with ease. Our contested numbers have been down the bottom for years but we did draft Matho and Keays last year. Kicking skills and general skills are fairly lacking as well. Hoping that we go some way tonight to bringing some players that have attributes that could rectify these within time.

 

[13Beast]

Apparently Port are very keen on Witherden with one of their 2 picks in teens, if he is there at our pick 16 we may have to take him there if we want him as I don't think he will make it to 21.

Absolutely agree. Elite half back with the best kick in the draft? Yes, we'll take him thank you very much. I really do not want the Lions to get cute and try and see if he'll still be floating around at 21/22. Short of a massive slider available at 16 (ie Brodie), Witherden ticks all the boxes: highly skilled, and fits needs.

 

[Dylan12]

At some stage, you have to back your system in and fill your list with the best talent available to you, rather than jumping at shadows of homesickness and trying to keep yourself safe. Ultimately talent should be the one thing not compromised on.

I just think that the only scenario in which we should pick anybody over McCluggage should be because we view them as a better footballer.

Who is to say Ainsworth isn't a better talent and even if he isn't marginally better than McCluggage, how can you even contemplate over looking a player with a desire to join the club and has genuine friendships with existing players at the club, which will only assist in the overall collection of them actually staying at the club long term?

Absolute no brainer if you ask me, but of course the club will inevitably be cute about it's choice.

 

[M Malice]

Absolutely agree. Elite half back with the best kick in the draft? Yes, we'll take him thank you very much. I really do not want the Lions to get cute and try and see if he'll still be floating around at 21/22. Short of a massive slider available at 16 (ie Brodie), Witherden ticks all the boxes: highly skilled, and fits needs.

probably why we are looking at Jordan Ridley as well. had read very little about Ridley up until recently when he surfaced as a popular tip for us to take. all the stuff i have read re him describe him as an elite kick, one (can't remember which) described him as the best kick in the draft.

 

[WhiteLionFeva]

McClug looks a lot like Cotchin in the way he plays. Would be very happy with that.

Thought the exact same thing watching a Rich game last night. Eery how similar they move.

 

[dlanod]

Who is to say Ainsworth isn't a better talent

Feel free to explain how Ainsworth is the better talent. Many many people, both professional and amateur, have written up their explanations as to why McCluggage is the better talent, so I'm curious to hear the counter-point.

 

[WhiteLionFeva]

Who is to say Ainsworth isn't a better talent and even if he isn't marginally better than McCluggage, how can you even contemplate over looking a player with a desire to join the club and has genuine friendships with existing players at the club, which will only assist in the overall collection of them actually staying at the club long term?

Absolute no brainer if you ask me, but of course the club will inevitably be cute about it's choice.

As far as I can tell it's not a Matho and Parish type close friendship. He played Vic country with Schache and Skinner is from Gippsland but beyond that? His desire to come to us is not the main issue either when you are deciding onna pick 3.