2017 Draft thread

[Dylan12]

Out of curiosity, are there any bottom age Lions Academy players in this game.

Gut wrenching for Hugo Barry (looks very much an ACL in the final minute of the game).

 

[Carlos Danger]

First time I've seen ballenden play. Thought he was ok his kicking was pretty impressive for a big man. If it was up to me I'm still picking him up
Next years draft kids look pretty good Rankine, blakey & lucosius especially
Only 1 game but Brander didn't impress me that much
Fogarty did some good things, not sure his midfield work is as good as is talked up but good player.

 

[jjami15]

Ballanden is a big lump of a lad but he is definitely going to end up in the ruck. He is more Mumford than Boyd/Patton. Boyd and Patton dominated at this level as KPF and even Boyd now looks better as a ruck than KPF and from the limited viewing granted he isn't close to those two. His agility is lacking for a KPF as well. The kicking into our forward line was terrible granted but Ballenden did spend a large majority of the time in the ruck and did take some good contested marks later in the third and fourth quarters. Any future player comprising should be Mumford.

Payne is massive and if he gets drafted has the size to take the big KPF in time. Not sure if his closing speed and he did execute his kicking out of the backline quite well but looks to be a later/rookie pick.

Clayton was very quiet but the SA side dominated most of the game and it would have been difficult to stand out in the Allies side. SA really pushed up and pressures the ball carrier and were a much better skilled size.

On Fogarty I can see the Stringer comparison but for me he isn't a pick one and all the talk of him becoming a midfielder I can't quite see to be honest and will end up playing a very similar to Stringer I feel.

 

[briztoon]

Can someone please enlighten me re the NT and Tas academies. Do Vic based clubs have zones to indigenous players in both NT and Tas now?

Yes.
When I get home, I'll try and find the maps for you.

 

[briztoon]

At work, so haven't seen the game. Expecting the underage kids dominated.

I've been talking up Rankine since the beginning of the season. Would really fill our need for a top class small forward who can play through the midfield.

 

[briztoon]

Read Twomey's match report. Mentioned that Ballenden is looking more of a ruck prospect now.

Really hard to see Ballenden being worth a first round pick at this rate.

 

[jackess]

Read Twomey's match report. Mentioned that Ballenden is looking more of a ruck prospect now.

Really hard to see Ballenden being worth a first round pick at this rate.

Is he even a good ruckman?

 

[briztoon]

I only watched the first half of yesterday's game last night. But he did look like the dominant ruck and has a good kick and strong hands.

 

[chopperduck]

dont mind if he turns out as a ruckman. He is a big lump of a lad and will probably have more forward presence then most rucks. Long term we have a spot for a big ruck/forward who can sit deep and clunk some marks.

 

[Devz15]

dont mind if he turns out as a ruckman. He is a big lump of a lad and will probably have more forward presence then most rucks. Long term we have a spot for a big ruck/forward who can sit deep and clunk some marks.

I agree, I don't mind if he does end up a Ruck/Fwd. Are we willing to use a top 10 pick on a ruckman though? Better yet, should we?

 

[WhiteLionFeva]

Ballanden is a big lump of a lad but he is definitely going to end up in the ruck. He is more Mumford than Boyd/Patton. Boyd and Patton dominated at this level as KPF and even Boyd now looks better as a ruck than KPF and from the limited viewing granted he isn't close to those two. His agility is lacking for a KPF as well. The kicking into our forward line was terrible granted but Ballenden did spend a large majority of the time in the ruck and did take some good contested marks later in the third and fourth quarters. Any future player comprising should be Mumford.

Payne is massive and if he gets drafted has the size to take the big KPF in time. Not sure if his closing speed and he did execute his kicking out of the backline quite well but looks to be a later/rookie pick.

Clayton was very quiet but the SA side dominated most of the game and it would have been difficult to stand out in the Allies side. SA really pushed up and pressures the ball carrier and were a much better skilled size.

On Fogarty I can see the Stringer comparison but for me he isn't a pick one and all the talk of him becoming a midfielder I can't quite see to be honest and will end up playing a very similar to Stringer I feel.

Yeah, it's a worry when the big guys look slow even at under age level. Ballenden can take a good mark when it's in front of him but doesn't seem to be a pack mark type or to use his size/strength to advantage. And slow as molasses. If Harris is giraffe-like, Ballenden is elephantine. Hard to see him having the speed or mobility to play key position at senior level. Looked ok in the ruck but Coleman Jones pretty much dominated and got a heap of possessions. Payne looks promising but also slowish and again not an imposing type given his physique when compared to other teenagers. Mind you, even Brander struggled yesterday until moved forward late in game. Thought Fogarty was underwhelming. Even the commentators seems to go cold on him as the day wore on. I've seen Rayner live and would have him over Fogarty any day based on that display and his first game which was very ordinary.

 

[chopperduck]

I agree, I don't mind if he does end up a Ruck/Fwd. Are we willing to use a top 10 pick on a ruckman though? Better yet, should we?

will wait until end of the year before worrying about what pick he goes at. At this point we have picks 1 and then another 2 between probably 12-20. we wont take him at 1 so really he wont cost us a top 10 pick anyway.

 

[lionshine]

Jack Higgins was BOG for Vic Metro against WA today with 30 disposals, 2 goals, 7 clearances and 4 tackles. Someone on the Draft and Trading board stated that they think he is superior to Ben Ainsworth in every facet after what he/she saw today.

Adam Cerra had 24 disposals and Cameron Rayner was named among the best with 23 disposals, 1 goal and 6 clearances.

If Jack Higgins continues the form he showed today throughout the entire U18 series he may push himself into pick 1 calculations alongside LDU and Rayner.

 

[Bishop]

Jack Higgins was BOG for Vic Metro against WA today with 30 disposals, 2 goals, 7 clearances and 4 tackles. Someone on the Draft and Trading board stated that they think he is superior to Ben Ainsworth in every facet after what he/she saw today.

Adam Cerra had 24 disposals and Cameron Rayner was named among the best with 23 disposals, 1 goal and 6 clearances.

If Jack Higgins continues the form he showed today throughout the entire U18 series he may push himself into pick 1 calculations alongside LDU and Rayner.

Not a chance.

 

[lionshine]

Not a chance.

Haven't seen the game personally so was only going off reports. Based on what I have personally seen of him I never agreed with those talking him up as a top 5 prospect. I liked him but thought his height, lack of pace and average skills would work against him and didn't warrant a top 15 let alone a top 5 selection. Based off what I read today though it sounded like he had a very, very dominant game which made me think if he can start to produce that consistently over the U18 Champs he may start to push himself into that top 5 category.

What did you think of his performance today?

 

[Bishop]

Haven't seen the game personally so was only going off reports. Based on what I have personally seen of him I never agreed with those talking him up as a top 5 prospect. I liked him but thought his height, lack of pace and average skills would work against him and didn't warrant a top 15 let alone a top 5 selection. Based off what I read today though it sounded like he had a very, very dominant game which made me think if he can start to produce that consistently over the U18 Champs he may start to push himself into that top 5 category.

What did you think of his performance today?

Bit underlined is the best summation of Higgins. Lacks speed, lots of short kicks makes his KE% look good.

He was good today against the worst U18 state team that will be lucky to have 5 players drafted from it this year. Take games like that with a grain of salt. And the Ainsworth comparison is nothing alike - Ainsworth had speed, agility and elite marking ability overhead for a player of sub 180cm - Higgins has none of that.

Higgins will win plenty of the ball in the Champs and I'd argue clear favourite for the Larke Medal as best player in the champs, but that doesnt equate to being seen by clubs as a top ten. Most have him in the teens and whilst it's unlikely he'd be top 10 (not impossible) Pick 1 is completely zero % chance.

 

[lionshine]

Bit underlined is the best summation of Higgins. Lacks speed, lots of short kicks makes his KE% look good.

He was good today against the worst U18 state team that will be lucky to have 5 players drafted from it this year. Take games like that with a grain of salt. And the Ainsworth comparison is nothing alike - Ainsworth had speed, agility and elite marking ability overhead for a player of sub 180cm - Higgins has none of that.

Higgins will win plenty of the ball in the Champs and I'd argue clear favourite for the Larke Medal as best player in the champs, but that doesnt equate to being seen by clubs as a top ten. Most have him in the teens and whilst it's unlikely he'd be top 10 (not impossible) Pick 1 is completely zero % chance.

Yeah when the poster stated that he looked superior to Ainsworth in every way my first thought was Ainsworth is definitely quicker/more powerful. I guess that poster was simply making the comparison due to the fact that both can play as midfielders and as dangerous small forwards but they aren't exactly alike in style. I've probably got a little caught up in all the hype surrounding his game today as I definitely wouldn't have rated him a pick 1 chance before his game today. Still a talented little player though. There is definitely room for improvement with his kicking and his lack of pace and the fact that he is below 180cm works against him but I love his competitiveness and his ability to win the ball both inside and outside and go forward and play as a dangerous small forward is very handy and something that all 18 clubs could use.

 

[Bishop]

Yeah when the poster stated that he looked superior to Ainsworth in every way my first thought was Ainsworth is definitely quicker/more powerful. I guess that poster was simply making the comparison due to the fact that both can play as midfielders and as dangerous small forwards but they aren't exactly alike in style. I've probably got a little caught up in all the hype surrounding his game today as I definitely wouldn't have rated him a pick 1 chance before his game today. Still a talented little player though. There is definitely room for improvement with his kicking and his lack of pace and the fact that he is below 180cm works against him but I love his competitiveness and his ability to win the ball both inside and outside and go forward and play as a dangerous small forward is very handy and something that all 18 clubs could use.

Put it this way if I was a Lions supporter and Jack Higgins was picked over Luke Davies-Uniacke with Pick 1 I'd burn down the facilities

 

[lionshine]

Put it this way if I was a Lions supporter and Jack Higgins was picked over Luke Davies-Uniacke with Pick 1 I'd burn down the facilities

I think you should burn them down regardless.

 

[lionshine]

Bit underlined is the best summation of Higgins. Lacks speed, lots of short kicks makes his KE% look good.

He was good today against the worst U18 state team that will be lucky to have 5 players drafted from it this year. Take games like that with a grain of salt. And the Ainsworth comparison is nothing alike - Ainsworth had speed, agility and elite marking ability overhead for a player of sub 180cm - Higgins has none of that.

Higgins will win plenty of the ball in the Champs and I'd argue clear favourite for the Larke Medal as best player in the champs, but that doesnt equate to being seen by clubs as a top ten. Most have him in the teens and whilst it's unlikely he'd be top 10 (not impossible) Pick 1 is completely zero % chance.

One other player who from all reports had a good game today Adam Cerra is one who I have thought has the potential to move up the draft boards. What did you make of his game Bishop? Also I'd appreciate your thoughts on Cameron Rayner as he has been my favourite player in this draft since late last year.

 

[Carlos Danger]

Put it this way if I was a Lions supporter and Jack Higgins was picked over Luke Davies-Uniacke with Pick 1 I'd burn down the facilities

And cause $100,000 worth of improvements

 

[Bishop]

One other player who from all reports had a good game today Adam Cerra is one who I have thought has the potential to move up the draft boards. What did you make of his game Bishop? Also I'd appreciate your thoughts on Cameron Rayner as he has been my favourite player in this draft since late last year.

Haven't watched it yet (as wasn't in WA for the game) so only going off what people at the ground have told me, already have made a few calls to people who know better than me!

Cerra was outstanding - had a message come through to me within minutes of the game saying he was BOG from a drafting point of view as was his skills and his impact on the game. Rayner good through the midfield and up forward, played more mid than fwd that he probably has at times this year.

I've got Cerra pushing my Top 5 and have for a while - is a jet and while Twomey didn't have him in his 'salsa' ratings during the week he's someone I think could contend for No.1 pick (but probably sits in 1-6 range)

 

[briztoon]

Just got home.

Jack Higgins was BOG for Vic Metro against WA today with 30 disposals, 2 goals, 7 clearances and 4 tackles. Someone on the Draft and Trading board stated that they think he is superior to Ben Ainsworth in every facet after what he/she saw today.

Adam Cerra had 24 disposals and Cameron Rayner was named among the best with 23 disposals, 1 goal and 6 clearances.

If Jack Higgins continues the form he showed today throughout the entire U18 series he may push himself into pick 1 calculations alongside LDU and Rayner.

I read this while at work, but didn't have a chance to replay.

Not a chance.

Looks like Bishop summed up my reaction and replied for me.

Haven't watched it yet (as wasn't in WA for the game) so only going off what people at the ground have told me, already have made a few calls to people who know better than me!

Cerra was outstanding - had a message come through to me within minutes of the game saying he was BOG from a drafting point of view as was his skills and his impact on the game. Rayner good through the midfield and up forward, played more mid than fwd that he probably has at times this year.

I've got Cerra pushing my Top 5 and have for a while - is a jet and while Twomey didn't have him in his 'salsa' ratings during the week he's someone I think could contend for No.1 pick (but probably sits in 1-6 range)

I've been waiting to see Cerra in the champs and finish school footy and play in the back half of the TAC cup. I have been thinking he could do a Taranto and climb the draft boards late. (Also been waiting/hoping/praying that Stephenson and/or O'Brien to do the same the same thing, purely on the off chance that we get a beginning of round 1 PP).

It's quite possible that this years top 3 will end up being LDU, Rayner and Cerra.

 

[bungalow_bill]

So good to finally be getting access to the cream of the crop rather than pick 7 every year. 2 2 (3) 1 and probably a few more top five picks.

 

[POBT]

Two people who didn't watch a game arguing with each other about the game.

How very BigFooty.