2017 Draft thread

[buttermuffs]

I'm not sure about this. Outside of Sam Hayes, Jarrod Brander and Will Sutherland (if he picks football), I'm not sure if another KPP is worth a top 15 pick. Ballenden looked good today, but really playing back today didn't look anything like an AFL game. He wasn't wrestling a big key forward, spoiling from behind, or using speed to get separation and take an intercept mark. A team would have to rate Ballenden ahead of Balta or Oscar Clavarino, who I believe show more promise as KPD's at AFL level. Or believe he can produce a similar effort as a KPF, and I genuinely question wether Ballenden has the mobility to play as a KPF in todays game.

A team in the second half of this years draft in search of a KPF would be better off trading for Freeman, Hammelmann, Close, or even Josh Walker who are further along in their development and would likely offer more up forward than a 19 year old first year KPF. And then target next years draft as the year to draft a top young KPP.

God I hope we can get a good deal out of Close, Freeman or Hammelmann.

 

[Panthera]

We'd be absolutely nuts to not do this. I'm sure Noble will be all over it.

A couple of caveats though...

- Would be a nightmare though if we packaged up and an earlier bid for Ballenden still came!
- We also have to be careful about damaging our 2018 draft. Let's say we trade up to pick 6 and Ballenden gets bidded on at 7. We not only wipe out the rest of our draft, but also if we can't match the points with our limited remaining picks, we lose points off our 2018 first rounder. Could be the difference between missing out on a Rankine or Lukosius.

It's now highly doubtful that CB is picked in the Top 10. For whatever reason, he didn't put a massive Championship series together. Did quite well in the Ruck and at CHB but that's not the position/s he'll be taken highly for. He wasn't played forward much and unless he comes out against a decent opponent and kicks a good bag before the draft...somewhere between 10 - 20 is his range.

If we can somehow sneak a second pick before needing to take him; well...

As for points; it's worth remembering that we receive a 20% discount on Ballenden.

 

[The Flying Belgian]

In every circumstance, even if trade-up offers emerge?

What if the standout pick 1 was a key forward followed by some classy mids?

In the NBA and NFL, high draft picks are treasured just as much for their potential to open up trade opportunities for pieces that fit your particular team more. The McCluggage & Berry comparison isn't perfect because we supposedly rated McCluggage at 1 anyway, but even Ainsworth and Berry would have been better value than just pick 2 straight up.

Sure, but you just have to be careful you're not trading down into mediocre talent which seems to be a danger in this draft.

 

[briztoon]

Would it be wise to just go after Ballenden and Rayner this year. We get a star player and KPP, and possibly focus on getting picks next year (won't be easy at all, 1 or 2 extra in the first two rounds?). Then next year, in a much stronger draft we can look at getting multiple players in the first two rounds.

Seeing as I'm not high on either player, I'm not keen on that idea at all.

For me, Ballenden is a ruck who could pinch hit up forward. I don't believe at this stage he has shown the speed or stamina to be a genuine KPF or KPD at AFL level.

And for me Rayner is Dusty lite. But hasn't shown he has the endurance (or willingness to run both ways) required to compete in the midfield at the next level.

This years championships were a little strange. Rayner never really had to compete against similarly sized bodies when crashing for a pack mark. Ballenden took some great intercept marks today, but I can't remember any of them being contested marks.

From todays game, Brander and Sutherland looked like the two best KPP prospects followed by Hayes and Crossley. And Zac Bailey stood out as the driving force out of the midfield for the Allies and Ballenden for his marks and good field kicking for a big guy. While Coffield and Higgins stood out for Vic M as much as Rayner, with cameo from Brayshaw.

The three players that really stood out during these championships were the 3 underage SA kids. Even against Vic Metro who flogged SA, they stood out.

 

[Hollow Knight]

Seeing as I'm not high on either player, I'm not keen on that idea at all.

For me, Ballenden is a ruck who could pinch hit up forward. I don't believe at this stage he has shown the speed or stamina to be a genuine KPF or KPD at AFL level.

And for me Rayner is Dusty lite. But hasn't shown he has the endurance (or willingness to run both ways) required to compete in the midfield at the next level.

This years championships were a little strange. Rayner never really had to compete against similarly sized bodies when crashing for a pack mark. Ballenden took some great intercept marks today, but I can't remember any of them being contested marks.

From todays game, Brander and Sutherland looked like the two best KPP prospects followed by Hayes and Crossley. And Zac Bailey stood out as the driving force out of the midfield for the Allies and Ballenden for his marks and good field kicking for a big guy. While Coffield and Higgins stood out for Vic M as much as Rayner, with cameo from Brayshaw.

The three players that really stood out during these championships were the 3 underage SA kids. Even against Vic Metro who flogged SA, they stood out.

Always important to remember that the championships are just one piece of the puzzle. Clubs track these guys for years. Plenty of highly rated prospects have had poor championships and still been drafted highly based on the full body of evidence.

And on Ballenden, we will have a much clearer picture than anyone else.

 

[buttermuffs]

Seeing as I'm not high on either player, I'm not keen on that idea at all.

For me, Ballenden is a ruck who could pinch hit up forward. I don't believe at this stage he has shown the speed or stamina to be a genuine KPF or KPD at AFL level.

And for me Rayner is Dusty lite. But hasn't shown he has the endurance (or willingness to run both ways) required to compete in the midfield at the next level.

This years championships were a little strange. Rayner never really had to compete against similarly sized bodies when crashing for a pack mark. Ballenden took some great intercept marks today, but I can't remember any of them being contested marks.

From todays game, Brander and Sutherland looked like the two best KPP prospects followed by Hayes and Crossley. And Zac Bailey stood out as the driving force out of the midfield for the Allies and Ballenden for his marks and good field kicking for a big guy. While Coffield and Higgins stood out for Vic M as much as Rayner, with cameo from Brayshaw.

The three players that really stood out during these championships were the 3 underage SA kids. Even against Vic Metro who flogged SA, they stood out.

I wanna get Rankine next year, my god is that kid good.

With Rayner, we could end up getting LDU instead or Fogarty. With Rayner going 1st most likely we could trade down one pick, get a pick next year (with some pick swapping shit) and draft LDU.

I feel like it would be best to take Ballenden, stay committed to the academy and he's a nice utility.

 

[jjami15]

I wanna get Rankine next year, my god is that kid good.

With Rayner, we could end up getting LDU instead or Fogarty. With Rayner going 1st most likely we could trade down one pick, get a pick next year (with some pick swapping shit) and draft LDU.

I feel like it would be best to take Ballenden, stay committed to the academy and he's a nice utility.

The only way I see us moving down would be like last year for another pick in this years draft as no club will be giving up their first rounder for next year.

 

[briztoon]

I wanna get Rankine next year, my god is that kid good.

With Rayner, we could end up getting LDU instead or Fogarty. With Rayner going 1st most likely we could trade down one pick, get a pick next year (with some pick swapping shit) and draft LDU.

I feel like it would be best to take Ballenden, stay committed to the academy and he's a nice utility.

Unlikely a team moves up from pick 2 to pick 1 to guarantee they get to pick Rayner first. People forget that GWS didn't just move up from 3 to 2 in last years draft. GWS started at pick 7 and completed two seperate trades to move up to pick 2, reportedly targeting Andrew McGrath.

 

[13Beast]

I am certain that there will be quite a few player movements this off-season. I'm wondering if surplus guys like Paparone, now pushed out by the young brigade, would be worth any late picks from WA clubs. Ditto if the club decided to bite the bullet with Rich. Not to mention our KPP stocks - Freeman and/or Close may very well be gone. I don't expect these guys (bar Rich) to fetch much in terms of picks, but hey, its all points that can hopefully cover Ballenden.

TBH, if Ballenden starts tearing it up for the rest of the year and shows himself to be a gun in the making, I wouldn't be devastated if all we got out of this draft was the best player at #1 (Rayner, LDU, whomever rises to the top) and Ballenden. Any late picks can be speculative, and to be fair, Brisbane has done pretty good at snatching up some good players late in the draft.

 

[M Malice]

I liked what I saw of Sambono and would be quite happy if he was a late to rookie pick. Jeff Garlett like.

Adam Sambono or Liam Ryan I would be all over as a rookie or late round pick, I would prefer Ryan at this stage, killing it at a higher level in the WAFL.

 

[M Malice]

IMO trading into the first round next year could still be highly speculative, the club we trade with to get their first rounder could surprise and move up the ladder unexpectedly. Will we get as good a player at pick 10-18 next year as we would a pick in the 1-9 range this year?

No way would I be giving up our pick 1-3 this year for a first rounder next year.

 

[CarterS]

IMO trading into the first round next year could still be highly speculative, the club we trade with to get their first rounder could surprise and move up the ladder unexpectedly. Will we get as good a player at pick 10-18 next year as we would a pick in the 1-9 range this year?

No way would I be giving up our pick 1-3 this year for a first rounder next year.

Call me impatient but trading this year's picks for next year's.. I wanna be good now!

 

[briztoon]

I am certain that there will be quite a few player movements this off-season. I'm wondering if surplus guys like Paparone, now pushed out by the young brigade, would be worth any late picks from WA clubs. Ditto if the club decided to bite the bullet with Rich. Not to mention our KPP stocks - Freeman and/or Close may very well be gone. I don't expect these guys (bar Rich) to fetch much in terms of picks, but hey, its all points that can hopefully cover Ballenden.

TBH, if Ballenden starts tearing it up for the rest of the year and shows himself to be a gun in the making, I wouldn't be devastated if all we got out of this draft was the best player at #1 (Rayner, LDU, whomever rises to the top) and Ballenden. Any late picks can be speculative, and to be fair, Brisbane has done pretty good at snatching up some good players late in the draft.

We can only take as many picks to the draft as we have list spots. You can no longer bank multiple picks to use to match a bid on an academy player.

So unless it's a salary dump or opening up an extra roster spot, trading players for low points value picks that you might not be able to take to the draft is worthless. And with a draft like this year is projected to be, few teams will be willing to swap an early third round pick or late second round pick for two later picks.

 

[Cockliff38]

Cal Twomey's form guide after the champs

13. Ballenden
Ballenden started the championships quietly but found some form when he moved to defence in the third round of the carnival, gathering 23 disposals and eight marks for the Allies. It's probably not a position he will hold at the next level, but it wasn't a bad learning experience for the Brisbane Lions academy prospect. Some of Ballenden's better games this year have come as a ruckman who pushes forward rather than the other way around. He has a lot going for him when he's on song including being a terrific long and accurate kick.

 

[WA Lion]

Cal Twomey's form guide after the champs

Just after Port's pick would be ideal so certainly in the ballpark at 13 for that to happen.

 

[Cockliff38]

Just after Port's pick would be ideal so certainly in the ballpark at 13 for that to happen.

After 18 would be even better

 

[Dylan12]

Are Brander and Crossley academy players of any other clubs?

 

[Dalions]

After 18 would be even better

I still think it will be Richmond who will put a bid in for him.
Unless if one of the more fancied KPP makes it through.

 

[winged1]

I still think it will be Richmond who will put a bid in for him.
Unless if one of the more fancied KPP makes it through.

Richmond - the Newman of the AFL

 

[WhiteLionFeva]

Actually lightening is likely to strike the same spot repeatedly. That's why they have lightening rods.

Just saying...

I think it was Gary Player who once quipped that when he played in stormy weather he pulled out the one iron because not even God can hit a one iron.

 

[LongLion]

Very impressed with Ballendean's kicking skills for a big bloke. Also liked Bailey's dash out of the centre.

 

[WA Lion]

Are Brander and Crossley academy players of any other clubs?

Brander was part of GWS but has been made available to open draft. Crossley is GC I think

 

[WhiteLionFeva]

Are Brander and Crossley academy players of any other clubs?

Brander and Charlie Spargo are both Giants Academy but the AFL has ruled the Giants no longer get first dibs on them. Crossley I think is Suns Academy.
EDIT: beaten by WA Lion

 

[Cockliff38]

Very impressed with Ballendean's kicking skills for a big bloke. Also liked Bailey's dash out of the centre.

Bailey was really impressive. I'd be stoked if we landed him but what picks we have in the 20-30 range remains to be seen. He'd start as a defensive forward (which Fagan obviously values) but has decent promise as a speedy midfielder.

 

[Eons]

I think it was Gary Player who once quipped that when he played in stormy weather he pulled out the one iron because not even God can hit a one iron.

Lee Trevino.