2017 Draft thread

[winged1]

and another ruckman IMO.

4 is enough, we just need better depth

 

[jjami15]

Does anyone think we need one more tall defender?

I do, I know some have identified Skinner as a possibility and I hope does come on but in relation to this years draft and our age profile I just can't go past this years crop of midfielders. If we can jag one later in the draft I wouldn't mind so much but I do like the clubs line with hitting the draft hard for 3yrs (2 to go). After that time I would then look to trade/free-agenc

4 is enough, we just need better depth

Outside of Martin and possibly Smith there really isn't one there that you can say that when Martin retires (2/3 yrs you would expect) there really isn't one on our list at this time to fill that need so again I would look to trade/free agency later.

 

[pulpdriver]

I do, I know some have identified Skinner as a possibility and I hope does come on but in relation to this years draft and our age profile I just can't go past this years crop of midfielders. If we can jag one later in the draft I wouldn't mind so much but I do like the clubs line with hitting the draft hard for 3yrs (2 to go). After that time I would then look to trade/free-agenc

Outside of Martin and possibly Smith there really isn't one there that you can say that when Martin retires (2/3 yrs you would expect) there really isn't one on our list at this time to fill that need so again I would look to trade/free agency later.

I doubt there'd be one club out there that has a top tier ruck outside the number one. Just the nature of the role, the second tier guy is almost always looking to move on and often he becomes A grade once he moves. Having talented depth is all you can ask and I think Archie has proven he can hold the role and has scope to go to the next level. I'd be kinda disappointed if we looked to invest in the ruck any more over the next two years unless there's a career ending injury. Worst case scenario look to trades but no need to invest at the draft level imo.

 

[chopperduck]

Dont think we really need more defenders TBH. I think Fagan will play a different set up, and if you look at the Hawks they always played kinda undersized. 2 key defenders in Frost and Harro and the rest will be the 190cm+ hybrid types like the Cutlers and Gardiners.

Think we have some KPD options, Hammer was ok, but Hippy can play down back as could McStay and Paps if needed. Skinner is still untried but could be an option for the future. Also consider Frost is the oldest at like 24yo and there really isnt a pressing need to get more developing.

Rucks i think are ok for now, hopefully Archie keeps developing. Eagles is unknown but could be used if needed as a mature option. Just drafted another developing type. Id rather give it another year or 2 to see how Archie goes and just look to poach a ready made if needed. Also Ballenden could come into the frame in a ruck relief role.

I just want more mids this year. Hugh, Berry, Cox, Matho, Keays, Taylor, Mayes, Robertson, Barrett is an ok start for our midfield in 5+ years, but it still seems way too thin to me with a few of those names not even sure things.

 

[briztoon]

If we looked at our 2017 draft picks based on 2016's ladder, right now we would have picks:
2
9
20
43
74
92
110

I'm going to try and be realistic in my expectations from this draft.

Rocky is a free agent this summer. I am still not sure on all the AFL free agency and trade rules, but my understanding is we can't trade Rocky. Best we can hope for is a compensation pick in line with his new contract.

First I believe we have to wait and see what the AFL decide to do about the Academy discount, because there is talk the AFL will reduce the discount to 10% or remove it all together.

Then wait and see how the U18 champs go, as that will greatly determine Ballendens worth.

 

[POBT]

Does anyone think we need one more tall defender?

It depends IMO.

Right now, I only have confidence in one (Andrews). On that basis, you'd have to think that we will take a KPD at some point.

But if Frost becomes a defensive mainstay, Gardiner shows that he can play tall, Skinner comes back from injury really well and McStay and Hipwood get used in defence on occasion with success, then it totally changes things.

Right now, it looks grim but we're not totally bereft of options - we just need to see how the year pans out.

 

[jjami15]

If we looked at our 2017 draft picks based on 2016's ladder, right now we would have picks:
2
9
20
43
74
92
110

I'm going to try and be realistic in my expectations from this draft.

Rocky is a free agent this summer. I am still not sure on all the AFL free agency and trade rules, but my understanding is we can't trade Rocky. Best we can hope for is a compensation pick in line with his new contract.

First I believe we have to wait and see what the AFL decide to do about the Academy discount, because there is talk the AFL will reduce the discount to 10% or remove it all together.

Then wait and see how the U18 champs go, as that will greatly determine Ballendens worth.

Everything is open to conjecture and movement when it comes to AFL power brokers so who knows what will happen from one day to the next anyway.

Tom is a restricted free agent so could possibly force a trade if we needed to. He looks primed so hopefully at worst an end of first round pick.

Supposedly the word on the street is Port's pick (9 from last year) is immune to having to be used if Ballenden is bid earlier.

I too am trying to be realistic for this draft but if continues to trend and look as it might then I'm all in and pick the eyes out of it by getting as many high picks as possible, if Rocky goes as a F/A and we get best compo welcome another top 4 pick you would think.

 

[jjami15]

It depends IMO.

Right now, I only have confidence in one (Andrews). On that basis, you'd have to think that we will take a KPD at some point.

But if Frost becomes a defensive mainstay, Gardiner shows that he can play tall, Skinner comes back from injury really well and McStay and Hipwood get used in defence on occasion with success, then it totally changes things.

Right now, it looks grim but we're not totally bereft of options - we just need to see how the year pans out.

I can't put my finger on McStay. He has at times shown that he can play back, he's put more size but to play KPD it takes a certain mindset and I don't know if he's got it. He's come out saying he wants to play forward but who knows, out of contract at the end of year as well, just saying.

 

[winged1]

I doubt there'd be one club out there that has a top tier ruck outside the number one. Just the nature of the role, the second tier guy is almost always looking to move on and often he becomes A grade once he moves. Having talented depth is all you can ask and I think Archie has proven he can hold the role and has scope to go to the next level. I'd be kinda disappointed if we looked to invest in the ruck any more over the next two years unless there's a career ending injury. Worst case scenario look to trades but no need to invest at the draft level imo.

I agree. The club has two guys who can play at that level and two speculative picks. Oscar and Eagles may come good, but there is always a mature ruck somewhere not getting a run we could trade for.

 

[pauldrc]

4 Ruckmen, 1 a No 1 ruck, one with potential to become no 1 ruck one day, and 2 project developing rucks seems about right.

Plus Hippy could still become a ruck/fwd Tippett type player as easily as he could become a CHB....

 

[pauldrc]

If we looked at our picks this year (or even just our first 4 picks) as say:

2
9
20
43

So 2 gun mids, then Ballenden and then a KPD with our next pick, we would be pretty well set IMHO.

 

[POBT]

I can't put my finger on McStay. He has at times shown that he can play back, he's put more size but to play KPD it takes a certain mindset and I don't know if he's got it. He's come out saying he wants to play forward but who knows, out of contract at the end of year as well, just saying.

While I agree, there have been flakier youngsters than McStay turn out to be quite good defenders. Turning Leppa into a defender was a coaching masterstroke but I dunno that the average punter would have thought it possible when he was trying to take hangers every 2 minutes when playing full forward.

My biggest question mark re McStay is attitude. Talent will be no barrier to him achieving at senior level. But he's got to get his focus and attitude right.

 

[chopperduck]

MxStay needs consistency in his game as well. Has a natural ability to read the ball in flight and time his jumps perfectly. But it is the things before and after that moment that he needs to work on and drill into him. If forward he needs to be defensive and work hard on his positioning. He cant just have a licence to fly at everything. In defense he lacks that ability to lock down on someone. Overall probably needs some more dicipline.

But, if Fagan is going down the dogs type path of playing players to their strengths, he can be very damaging if you can work him into your forward set up correctly.

 

[jjami15]

Just bumping the thread.

A lot of us have been keeping an eye on Port and eventhough it's early days there could be two top 10 picks or even better (top 5 picks). Carlton look likely at this stage (possibly us as well) for the wooden spoon. Just need Brander to not be aligned to GWS's academy and in the open draft leaving the best mids for us to pick the eyes out of. Carlton have shored up their young KPD's via draft and trades and need another KPF. We still are slow, our clearances are terrible and from our drafting last year and game style this year footskills looks to be paramount (Hawks anyone). An inside mid and outside would be quite handy. Fogarty is supposedly 193cm now (Cripps/Bont height) and Raynor is closer to 190. In regards to footskills you can't go past Lochie O'Brien and Hunter Clark (VC boys as well). Add two of those to our developing mids of Matho and McCluggage and you can start to see the makings of a team that will come through with our KPP's and should start to fire at the same time. Patience is required and a few things to fall our way.

 

[BigCat2]

I've always wondered about Dandenong boys. Originally the region was classified as Vic Metro then changed to Vic Country to balance up numbers. They are by far closer to Melbourne compared to other VC regions - so for retention purposes, they might be more comparable with VM boys. A significant number of highly rated VC boys this year are from Dandenong Stingrays.

 

[dlanod]

I've always wondered about Dandenong boys. Originally the region was classified as Vic Metro then changed to Vic Country to balance up numbers. They are by far closer to Melbourne compared to other VC regions - so for retention purposes, they might be more comparable with VM boys. A significant number of highly rated VC boys this year are from Dandenong Stingrays.

Kind of like Philip Island boys.

 

[BigCat2]

Yeah there was some guy called Sam I Am or Xavier Doherty or something from Philip Island who went home after a couple of years...

 

[Davemonkey]

Kind of like Philip Island boys.

Insert gif of Hemsworths kicking footy. Chris is naturally dressed as thor.

 

[Leuy LongerCombo]

During the Bulldogs game, Noble mentioned something along the lines of, building the Midfield out first. Hopefully confirming what most of us are thinking, that we will be targeting mids in this draft.

Brander's eligibility is a great point, his non inclusion could benefit us two fold, another highly rated talent available to everyone and potentially bringing Ballendens bid lower. What's the query about his eligibility ? Is it that his family owns two farms, one inside, one outside the GWS Zone, Spliting time at both residences.

As for our potential targets, I'm happy to go for an inside/outside combination but don't quiet feel the love for hunter yet, so would be happy to double down on two inside types as well.

Like so many others I'm looking forward to see how Fogarty goes this year in the midfield, could be a genuine game changer/winner if he goes as expected.
O'Brein would be great, but hard seeing us grabbing both at this stage, and would prefer Fogarty over Lachie. He reminds me a little of Kelly or Whitfield.
Really like what Rayner could become, and there always last years favorite Worpel. Adding 2 of those 4 would be great way to start our midfield rebuild.

 

[dlanod]

Brander's eligibility is a great point, his non inclusion could benefit us two fold, another highly rated talent available to everyone and potentially bringing Ballendens bid lower. What's the query about his eligibility ? Is it that his family owns two farms, one inside, one outside the GWS Zone, Spliting time at both residences.

The family is registered and live in the GWS zone, but they've spent some time outside the zone to be closer to Brander since he's been given a scholarship to a school in Vic.

 

[Dalions]

http://m.afl.com.au/news/2017-01-19...demy-prospect-waits-to-see-if-hell-be-a-giant

AFL story from a few weeks back in relation to Brander.
Parents have 2 properties.

 

[lionshine]

During the Bulldogs game, Noble mentioned something along the lines of, building the Midfield out first. Hopefully confirming what most of us are thinking, that we will be targeting mids in this draft.

Brander's eligibility is a great point, his non inclusion could benefit us two fold, another highly rated talent available to everyone and potentially bringing Ballendens bid lower. What's the query about his eligibility ? Is it that his family owns two farms, one inside, one outside the GWS Zone, Spliting time at both residences.

As for our potential targets, I'm happy to go for an inside/outside combination but don't quiet feel the love for hunter yet, so would be happy to double down on two inside types as well.

Like so many others I'm looking forward to see how Fogarty goes this year in the midfield, could be a genuine game changer/winner if he goes as expected.
O'Brein would be great, but hard seeing us grabbing both at this stage, and would prefer Fogarty over Lachie. He reminds me a little of Kelly or Whitfield.
Really like what Rayner could become, and there always last years favorite Worpel. Adding 2 of those 4 would be great way to start our midfield rebuild.

Keep an eye out for Luke Davies-Uniacke as well. Impressed last season when he was able to get on the field.

Also I feel like Ethan Penrith is one who could rise up the draft boards similar to Andrew McGrath last year. He's got blistering pace and loves to take the game on.

Two lesser names Aidan Quigley and Aiden Domic are two to keep any eye out for as well.

 

[a mayes ing]

I know some posters think that Port are going to be closish to the bottom but l just can't see it.
They have the easiest draw.
They get back 2 good players in Ryder and Monfries.
Pretty sure they have a pretty healthy list iirc. Although 1 of their playmakers hurt his hamstring but should be available for R1 or 2
Dixon is an unknown, he can win games off his own boot but he gets injured. If he stays injury free...
Wouldn't surprise me to see them around the 8-10 mark imo

 

[Mr Ripper]

Yeah there was some guy called Sam I Am or Xavier Doherty or something from Philip Island who went home after a couple of years...

You're thinking of Dawtrey.

 

[jjami15]

I know some posters think that Port are going to be closish to the bottom but l just can't see it.
They have the easiest draw.
They get back 2 good players in Ryder and Monfries.
Pretty sure they have a pretty healthy list iirc. Although 1 of their playmakers hurt his hamstring but should be available for R1 or 2
Dixon is an unknown, he can win games off his own boot but he gets injured. If he stays injury free...
Wouldn't surprise me to see them around the 8-10 mark imo

I think before the pre-season matches that most would have felt the same and I know that I did. However, understand it's only pre-season, what they have shown over their two games would be concerning if I was a Port supporter. What have they shown apart from 2014? They are under a lot of pressure internally and Hinkley has made this open. Ryder actually looks to be carrying a bit of weight at the moment and haven't sighted Monfries. I still feel that they'll finish just out the eight but won't be suprised if the wheels fall off (happens to a team each year).