2017 Draft thread

[Not a Psycho]

I'm taking the Rayner homesick rumours with a grain of salt.
Last year all the talk, including by Anderson, was that Jack Scrimshaw was tanking interviews and would be out the door first thing if he was drafted by an interstate club.
Next thing you hear out of the Gold Coast is that he's signed a two year extension without a game being played.

 

[lionshine]

I'm taking the Rayner homesick rumours with a grain of salt.
Last year all the talk, including by Anderson, was that Jack Scrimshaw was tanking interviews and would be out the door first thing if he was drafted by an interstate club.
Next thing you hear out of the Gold Coast is that he's signed a two year extension without a game being played.

Yep all these "rumours of homesickness" surrounding Rayner has really only come from one person and that is Brett Andersen. I think that was more speculation on his behalf than anything else as well based on his response to the question which was "Hmm I have my doubts".

 

[BuntonRules]

Not only the club, but with the commitment our younger players have shown, I would back them in to make any draftee feel like part of the "family".

 

[Ruse]

We start to operate like that we will never win another flag. Most of these rumours seem to be big footy paranoia - nothing to do with the real world. Trust the club to do due diligence, and if they decide this is who we need, trust the club to retain him.

With Fagan steering the ship, trust is a luxury we can't afford.

 

[BuntonRules]

I have gained celebrity. Ruse has slagged one of my posts! I am truly humbled.

 

[a mayes ing]

Even if we did disregard these flight rumours, l am still not sure we would want Rayner. We need midfielders and more midfielders. He will be a great forward but draft watchers have been saying that he may never develop the tank to play the majority midfield.

 

[mish33]

I have to say I base this on the little footage available on YouTube which makes my opinion fairly irrelevant, but I just don't see the big deal about LDU. Yes he's pretty big and looks like a smooth mover, but he missed targets too often under no pressure in those champs games and didn't seem to do much heavy lifting in the middle anyway, playing a fair bit through half back or forward. Am I missing something?

If we're after a big inside mid I think constable could be that player. He seems to make those fast decisions cleaner than most, particularly by hand.

Still has to be Rayner for me though if we have pick one even if he shows some signs of flightiness. Seems the most complete package and best available at this stage by a considerable margin as well as being a big game player. Will be interesting to see how things pan out later in the year.

 

[POBT]

It's not completely unambiguous as nothing has explicitly stated when the 1,000 point penalty gets applied, before or after trade week. However IMO (and lining up with the AFL.com.au reports and their draft order) it'll get taken off GWS's first round pick at the end of the season, so trading in pick 2 will leave it untouched.

Interesting. I had assumed it would be post trade week, allowing GWS to manufacture trades to get the 1,000 points and not just automatically losing their first pick or having it downgraded.

 

[briztoon]

Interesting. I had assumed it would be post trade week, allowing GWS to manufacture trades to get the 1,000 points and not just automatically losing their first pick or having it downgraded.

If I am GWS and trade in pick 2, I sure as hell want to be paying the 1000 point penalty off my own first round pick, rather than the traded in pick.

 

[BuntonRules]

Rayner will probably never be Tom Scully, but in a professional setting will be fit enough to play that high half forward role - basically a front of the pack midfielder. That to me is far more enticing than a B+ mid, which is how I see LDU. A matchwinner. What I like about him is you can see the hunger for the contest when the ball is in his vicinity. I have remarked before about seeing this trait in Hipwood, and that is what sets him apart. IMO Rayner can give us something we have not seen since Aker.

 

[M Malice]

I have to say I base this on the little footage available on YouTube which makes my opinion fairly irrelevant, but I just don't see the big deal about LDU. Yes he's pretty big and looks like a smooth mover, but he missed targets too often under no pressure in those champs games and didn't seem to do much heavy lifting in the middle anyway, playing a fair bit through half back or forward. Am I missing something?

If we're after a big inside mid I think constable could be that player. He seems to make those fast decisions cleaner than most, particularly by hand.

Still has to be Rayner for me though if we have pick one even if he shows some signs of flightiness. Seems the most complete package and best available at this stage by a considerable margin as well as being a big game player. Will be interesting to see how things pan out later in the year.

Like it, tend to agree on the little I have seen and the lot I have read on players I would be going for Rayner, if not I would rather Dow over LDU.

 

[Bishop]

I'm taking the Rayner homesick rumours with a grain of salt.
Last year all the talk, including by Anderson, was that Jack Scrimshaw was tanking interviews and would be out the door first thing if he was drafted by an interstate club.
Next thing you hear out of the Gold Coast is that he's signed a two year extension without a game being played.

Contracts mean nothing these days. I'll bet you a fiver Scrimshaw is back in Victoria in the 2018 trade period.

 

[bungalow_bill]

Contracts mean nothing these days. I'll bet you a fiver Scrimshaw is back in Victoria in the 2018 trade period.

It'll mean a better deal for the GC in 2018

 

[Ruse]

Contracts mean nothing these days. I'll bet you a fiver Scrimshaw is back in Victoria in the 2018 trade period.

That's like a weeks' worth of pocket money for you. Are you sure you want to do that, kid?

 

[Bishop]

That's like a weeks' worth of pocket money for you. Are you sure you want to do that, kid?

Happy to up the offer !! Fiver was tongue in cheek.

 

[briztoon]

THE NAB AFL Under-16 Championships is considered the first major stepping stone towards a long AFL career and the level of talent on display in this year's carnival did not disappoint.

Western Australia caused a major upset in the decider against Vic Metro at the Gabba to claim its first national title since 2012.

Coached by Tony Micale, Western Australia had a combined winning margin of eight points across its three games and celebrated with vigour at the final siren in its contest against Vic Metro.

Queensland won the Division Two title after going through the tournament undefeated.

AFL national and international talent manager Kevin Sheehan said there were a number of standout performances across the Championships, with the 2019 draft pool already looking promising.

"It's great to see kids learn and experience different aspects of the game," Sheehan said.

"We saw a wonderful standard of football and we were rapt with the quality across the Championships."

The Championships form the basis for the level one NAB AFL Academy, which will be named later in the year.

Here is a look at 10 of the top performers in the 2017 NAB AFL Under-16 Championships.

Matthew Rowell
Vic Metro
HT: 177cm
WT: 71kg
DOB: 1/7/01
A small midfielder who thrived in contested situations and showed he could push forward and make an impact there. Rowell's clean hands under pressure and his vision to locate teammates in traffic shone through. Was outstanding with 31 disposals and four goals in the round two match against South Australia. Averaged 23.7 disposals with an efficiency rating of 83 per cent in the Championships.

Emerson Jeka
Vic Metro
HT: 196cm
WT: 87kg
DOB: 18/9/01
The prototype of the modern day AFL key forward. Jeka is mobile, has a good pair of hands and is an accurate and long kick. Had 20 disposals, seven marks and kicked three goals in the decider against Western Australia. His ability to bring his teammates into the game with deft handballs was a feature. Considered one of the best tall forwards in his year's draft intake.

Noah Anderson
Vic Metro
HT: 188cm
WT: 83kg
DOB: 17/2/01
Racked up 28 disposals in the decider against WA, capping off a terrific Championships. A prolific ball-winner who can work inside and outside the contest. A very consistent Championships saw Anderson named the Kevin Sheehan medallist as the best and fairest player in Division One, as well as his side's MVP. Hawthorn will narrowly miss out on having priority access to Anderson, the son of premiership player Dean. Dean Anderson played 83 games for the Hawks – short of the 100 required to be an eligible father-son pick.

Kysaiah Pickett
South Australia
HT: 170cm
WT: 60kg
DOB: 2/6/01
The nephew of former North Melbourne, Port Adelaide and Melbourne enforcer Byron was electric in South Australia's forward line. Pickett exhibited a keen goal sense, instinctive attributes in attack and an aggressive streak against much bigger opponents. His most impressive trait was his ability to keep the ball trapped inside forward 50, averaging six tackles per game.

Hayden Young
Vic Country
HT: 184cm
WT: 72kg
DOB: 11/4/01
Quick to read the fall of the ball and impact in the air as the general in Vic Country's defence. Young possesses great game awareness, uses the footy well off his left foot from half-back and demonstrated an ability to intercept opposition kicks. Won Vic Country's MVP award. Averaged 20 disposals and five marks.

Luke Jackson
Western Australia
HT: 197cm
WT: 81kg
DOB: 29/9/01
The 15-year-old ruckman has made a recent switch from basketball and his athletic prowess and ruck craft throughout the Championships was special. Jackson's competitiveness – his desire to fight for loose balls at ground level and then follow up to the next contest, with second and third efforts, was impressive.

Deven Robertson
Western Australia
HT: 179cm
WT: 69kg
DOB: 30/6/01
Strong overhead for his height and was remarkably consistent across WA's three games. Won the footy on the inside and then displayed his talent by using the ball with efficiency out in space. Won WA's MVP award, averaging 23 disposals (13.3 contested) and five marks.

Liam Delahunty
NSW/ACT
HT: 191cm
WT: 90kg
DOB: 13/2/01
Dangerous up forward across the Championships with his strong marking in pack situations and on the lead a feature. A player with plenty of upside, he kicked multiple goals in games and displayed a powerful left leg. Won the McLean Medal as the best and fairest player in Division Two. Part of Greater Western Sydney's academy.

Jackson Barling
NSW/ACT
HT: 181cm
WT: 75kg
DOB: 17/8/01
A medium-sized forward with some of the surest pairs of hands of any player in the Championships. As a focal point in the forward line, Barling presents well at the footy and reads the flight of the ball coming in with smarts. The son of Tim Barling, who played 14 games for Richmond between 1984-85, and 13 for Sydney between 1989 and 1990.

Kobe Tozer
Queensland
HT: 194cm
WT: 83kg
DOB: 1/3/01
Strong marking, athletic tall forward who consistently presented to the ball carrier. Tozer averaged 16 disposals, six marks and three goals per game in the Championships. Stamped himself as his team's focal point in Queensland's final match with a 20-touch, nine-mark and five-goal game against Northern Territory. Part of the Brisbane Lions academy.

 

[briztoon]

Happy to up the offer !! Fiver was tongue in cheek.

Bishop, meet our resident troll.

 

[bungalow_bill]

Another promising academy KPP

 

[Ruse]

Bishop, meet our resident troll.

You are AMAZING.

I am going through a pretty rough patch right now and I read what you post to keep my mind off things.

Thanks so much for what you do!

And if anyone reads this, could you please include my family in your prayers tonight.

It would be appreciated very, very much!

 

[dlanod]

Interesting. I had assumed it would be post trade week, allowing GWS to manufacture trades to get the 1,000 points and not just automatically losing their first pick or having it downgraded.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-06-07/afl-indicative-draft-order-june-2017

It's not really conclusive proof but to me it's reading gives circumstantial proof with no comments about them maybe getting it back if they trade in other picks:

The Giants hold pick 18 (worth 985 points), but the points penalty will see their pick become worthless and shifted to the end of the draft. It could still be used if the club needs it to fill an empty list spot. At this point the flag favourites will enter the draft at pick No.25 (the second-round pick they received from the Saints for midfielder Jack Steele last year).

 

[jjami15]

I have to say I base this on the little footage available on YouTube which makes my opinion fairly irrelevant, but I just don't see the big deal about LDU. Yes he's pretty big and looks like a smooth mover, but he missed targets too often under no pressure in those champs games and didn't seem to do much heavy lifting in the middle anyway, playing a fair bit through half back or forward. Am I missing something?

If we're after a big inside mid I think constable could be that player. He seems to make those fast decisions cleaner than most, particularly by hand.

Still has to be Rayner for me though if we have pick one even if he shows some signs of flightiness. Seems the most complete package and best available at this stage by a considerable margin as well as being a big game player. Will be interesting to see how things pan out later in the year.

My main concern with this draft is that the top rated players aren't really elite draft prospects. Have a look at the discussion of LDU and Rayner for example with both having areas of their game which are lacking and they're the mostly two top rated prospects. Agree with the lack of 'heavy lifting' concerns about LDU especially when you think we would be needing inside mids. There are players in the top 20/30 who will go on and have good AFL careers and I just hope we are able to draft those who ever they are.

 

[Billy Puller]

I just want a legitimate small forward. From the NEAFL games I've watched I think sambono could be a real special player. Also as always brought up there's that excitement machine from WA Ryan I think he is.

With the excitement machine Hipwood already up forward one of those two guys would add a lot to help bringing the fans back.

Nothing helps bring the fans back then exciting players. Used to love watching Hooper run round for us

 

[buttermuffs]

At this point I've jumped ships on who to take when so many times. In all honesty as long as we bid on Ballenden later in the draft I'd be very happy with whoever we take earlier.

 

[jackess]

Sambono is so freaking skinny. Great goal sense but surely a late pick or rookie selection.

 

[Lazza16]

I just want a legitimate small forward. From the NEAFL games I've watched I think sambono could be a real special player. Also as always brought up there's that excitement machine from WA Ryan I think he is.

With the excitement machine Hipwood already up forward one of those two guys would add a lot to help bringing the fans back.

Nothing helps bring the fans back then exciting players. Used to love watching Hooper run round for us

I worry that Sambono matchstick legs will snap if a Robbo type tries to give him a corky.....