Opinion 2017 Draft Discussion - Pick 3 - Poll added

[sydeston]

I think that Dixon would have only played a maximum of 5 games for Kingston in the TSL after the U/18 Championships. I saw his last 2 games live, and have now watched video of two of his other TSL games . They were all impressive but you are correct, the last two games were his best. I should add here, that in my opinion the highlight reels from those 2 games, don't reflect Dixon's all round strengths. Co-ordinated, good skills, good on the ground and in the air and hard at it. I have watched Dixon for a while. He has always had plenty of ability but his game just continues to improve at a big rate.

Just saw these - vision of all Hugh Dixon's possessions (good and bad) from his last 2 TSL games - I am getting the other games also. These show a different side to Dixon's game than the public highlight reel. He is not just the key position forward, always staying forward, taking a few marks and kicking a couple of goals. Not as good as live but at least you get a better feel for his game.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/mhhxr4u6ygex25t/Dixonj_TSL17R20.mp4?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/o6kwftoqxh1ufkn/Dixonj_TSL17R21.mp4?dl=0

 

[MileHigh]

Positive early analysis for us from the man with his finger on the pulse

Without much thought, and I'll put in the time post-finals to do a proper phantom draft for ESPN. But for an early feel.

1. Bris - Dow
2. GC - LDU
3. Carl - Rayner
4. NM - Cerra

 

[djw1952]

I think those highlights are a little misleading. He has size advantage... against other kids. Step into AFL and it won't be as much of an advantage.

The main issue I have is with his kicking. It isn't bad, but he tends to over shoot his targets especially under pressure. Have you watched any footage of guys like Cerra and Constable? If so what do you think? If not, give them a whirl.

Hey guess what.......these "kids" are imperfect humans not robots, so none of them are perfect, so get a grip mate!!! Maybe SOS should not pick any of these under 18 players and just pick guys from other clubs who have "proved" themselves already...............

 

[TheHeatleyStand]

Beep tests aren't all about endurance


But carry on

Yup it's about your maximum oxygen uptake and aerobic capacity

 

[ForYouBlue]

I think those highlights are a little misleading. He has size advantage... against other kids. Step into AFL and it won't be as much of an advantage.

The main issue I have is with his kicking. It isn't bad, but he tends to over shoot his targets especially under pressure. Have you watched any footage of guys like Cerra and Constable? If so what do you think? If not, give them a whirl.

Yeah I did notice his kicks were off the mark on occasion, but he looks to have a really good kicking action oddly enough ! Reminded me a lot of Andy walker in that respect. Think LDU has a bit of X factor as well. Cerra I do like from the little I've seen but a little less natural. I'll have to check constable out.

 

[ForYouBlue]

I thought the same but it's hard to tell just watching a highlights package. I think his positioning and reading of the play looks better than some of the other inside mids but it's hard to not be tempted by Rayner.

From the full games I've watched I think I still have Rayner at #1, even though LDU fits a more immediate need.

If Charlie is set to play in the midfield then I'd take Rayner. If not, I think LDU.

Thanks for the insight beef heart. He just looks to have natural balance and touch, also with a bit of flare which I don't see much of in the other couple around the mark.

 

[Blue_Fusion]

Hey guess what.......these "kids" are imperfect humans not robots, so none of them are perfect, so get a grip mate!!! Maybe SOS should not pick any of these under 18 players and just pick guys from other clubs who have "proved" themselves already...............

What are you on about? He asked what the knocks are on LDU and I told him what I think they are.

 

[La Dispute]

Hasnt he said that he wont leave SA? Or that he will return at the first opportunity?

I dunno mate, you're telling me.

Where has he said this?

 

[TooBlue14]

Hey guess what.......these "kids" are imperfect humans not robots, so none of them are perfect, so get a grip mate!!! Maybe SOS should not pick any of these under 18 players and just pick guys from other clubs who have "proved" themselves already...............

A bit touchy. He was only answering a pro con question considering the debate is squarely around bolts asking for elite kicks. These kids get played plenty of money, it is a job after all. We reserve every right to pick a player that matches the clubs idea of best player for us. You e come to the wrong place if you're having a crack at a posters opinion. There's plenty to whinge about if you like.

 

[katmanblue]

I dunno mate, you're telling me.

Where has he said this?

I remember reading about it in this thread a while back. Someone compared it to what Chad Wingard did in his interviews. Not too sure on the exact details.

 

[Soapy V]

Hey guess what.......these "kids" are imperfect humans not robots, so none of them are perfect, so get a grip mate!!! Maybe SOS should not pick any of these under 18 players and just pick guys from other clubs who have "proved" themselves already...............

It's why the interviews/meetings are so important. Need to know what a kid has done and what he is going through. There can be genuine reasons. We can only judge from watching performances. SOS will have a real idea of what makes them tick and what upside or not they will have. We are talking about 17 year old kids. So many variables.

Positive is SOS & Bolts put a premium on being a quality person as well.

 

[Coops93]

I remember reading about it in this thread a while back. Someone compared it to what Chad Wingard did in his interviews. Not too sure on the exact details.

Really? I don't remember reading that at all. Was it on the forum?

Early in the year he was the most common no.1 pick but has slid considerably. I wonder if he will come into calculations internally.

Although given the choice between Fogarty and Rayner you'd have to pick Rayner, no? Local, so no go home factor, better season playing a similar role and (so far) rated as the better overall player.

 

[Sector 7G]

Yup it's about your maximum oxygen uptake and aerobic capacity

A fair chunk of it is mental application. Much harder to do by yourself if other drop out early.

 

[bigdog43]

Every year there seems to be a Taranto, Bontempelli or Oliver that storms up the draft boards with a massive back end to the season. Really hoping there's another one this year!

 

[Omega Blue]

Every year there seems to be a Taranto, Bontempelli or Oliver that storms up the draft boards with a massive back end to the season. Really hoping there's another one this year!

I see dow as that guy

 

[Govinda blueboy]

Nope otherway round. Think gresham but stronger midfield game

I've noted that a lot of posters rate him, but given we've already got Samo, Fish and Polson on the list as small midfielders, would Higgins be the right fit for us?

 

[ParapMarkets]

True, and kicking skills is not the be all end all of a footballer, but if I were recruiting I would look at getting players with footskills in the earlier picks and those with average disposal much later. Sure there are players who are elite with average footskills, but they are exceptions to the rule.

I'm not quite as excited about the kicking skills statement regarding our recruiting as you are. It's not like there are any recruiters out there who are saying "other things being equal, let's take the guy who is a shit kick", so it's really about how much bias you place on kicking and how much you are willing to sacrifice in other areas like toughness, determination, footy smarts (and in our case............size).

Kicking skills is clearly a key component of Scott Clayton's recruiting philosophy and he has completely fluffed the Suns' list with an abundance of good picks. We wouldn't have our best player if a heavy bias towards kicking existed, numerous examples of players overlooked early in the draft because of reported kicking issues (like Sloane and Parker).

It is clear however, when looking at who we have recruited, that SOS is clearly targeting players with good kicking skills and he hasn't been quite so worried about size. I like these players and I am happy with what we have done in the past 2 off seasons but I do think we need a bit of balance. We need some size in the middle, that's why I am happy about the talk of maybe getting Matt Kennedy.

 

[PostPaolo]

I think it'd be really remiss of our recruiting department to part with pick 3 unless it was somehow involved in attaining a star. As far I'm concerned I see Rayner, Dow and Cerra all as 'potential' A-Graders and despite queries whether this draft is any good, the very top end is excellent. Comparing Rayner, Dow and Cerra to 2014, 2015 and 2016's top prospects at this point, I think it really stacks up. Drafting a Dow or Cerra would absolutely add quality to our on-ball brigade whilst bringing in Rayner would allow us to attain a very unique power-medium sized forward with scope to run through the midfield, he screams of Mark Ricciuto to me and of recent draftees Christian Pertracca. From what I've read and heard at TAC/U18 games this year I get the feeling Rayner might be the one there at #3 as things stand and I wouldn't want him to go to #4.

 

[Gw2_James]

Really hoping we get Cerra. I remember watching him play in 2 or 3 games earlier this year, kid was really involved, thought he was a reliable kick too compared to most of the other kids playing.

Rayner sounds like he will be a very dangerous player if everything goes right.

Cerra or Rayner for me

 

[BlueTongue]

I'm not quite as excited about the kicking skills statement regarding our recruiting as you are. It's not like there are any recruiters out there who are saying "other things being equal, let's take the guy who is a shit kick", so it's really about how much bias you place on kicking and how much you are willing to sacrifice in other areas like toughness, determination, footy smarts (and in our case............size).

Kicking skills is clearly a key component of Scott Clayton's recruiting philosophy and he has completely fluffed the Suns' list with an abundance of good picks. We wouldn't have our best player if a heavy bias towards kicking existed, numerous examples of players overlooked early in the draft because of reported kicking issues (like Sloane and Parker).

It is clear however, when looking at who we have recruited, that SOS is clearly targeting players with good kicking skills and he hasn't been quite so worried about size. I like these players and I am happy with what we have done in the past 2 off seasons but I do think we need a bit of balance. We need some size in the middle, that's why I am happy about the talk of maybe getting Matt Kennedy.

When you look back at our past recruiting, the emphasis hasn't been on kicking, but other things like agility, aerobic capacity, height, tenacity etc.
These things are all great but if they don't have the basic footskills they will be a liability a lot of the time.

Eg. Going back to the Setanta days, he was tried in most positions on the field and in today's footy he wouldn't have lasted the 7+ years he did.
Full credit to him, by the end of his time with CFC, he was probably one of our better and more reliable shots at goal (THEN we decide to offload him), but it's got me stuffed why the club put so much into his development. I mean I get he was an international rookie gamble, but he was a Hurler FFS, and he didn't have the basic footskills a Gaelic Footballer has, let alone knowledge of the game.

In today's side, Kerridge is super fit, racks up the possessions, and tries hard all day, but turns the ball over almost as much as he gets it.

Again, it's FOOTBALL, and decent kicking is a minimum baseline skill everyone in the team should have IMHO.

 

[Bic]

Today is a new day, and Rayner is still the man at 3 if available.

I feel if his endurance is a failure to make it AFL level midfield, he is still a bloody dangerous forward.

Cerra is my next pick over Dow and LDU - has a little Cotchin/Pendlebury about him.

 

[Bic]

Really hoping we get Cerra. I remember watching him play in 2 or 3 games earlier this year, kid was really involved, thought he was a reliable kick too compared to most of the other kids playing.

Rayner sounds like he will be a very dangerous player if everything goes right.

Cerra or Rayner for me

Same.

If both available, I have Rayner ahead due to scope of improvement and being a match winner type of player.

 

[Blue and Silver]

This year's draft is uninspiring. I think that there is plenty to work with, but only 1 player screams Star! And that is Rayner.

Needs a good fitness program though

Sent from my SM-G920I using Tapatalk

 

[MileHigh]

If that is the general analysis of this draft that the talent drops off considerably after pick 5-6 then SOS did well to use up our 2nd rounder in trades last year and there probably isnt much between player talent in the later rounds.

 

[La Dispute]

Really? I don't remember reading that at all. Was it on the forum?

Early in the year he was the most common no.1 pick but has slid considerably. I wonder if he will come into calculations internally.

Although given the choice between Fogarty and Rayner you'd have to pick Rayner, no? Local, so no go home factor, better season playing a similar role and (so far) rated as the better overall player.

I'd take Rayner over Fogarty, but I prefer Fogarty to many current projected top 5 draft picks.

I'd certainly take him over Cerra and may be better than LDU.

In a weak draft I wouldn't be surprise to see him jump up the rankings