2017 Draft thread

[royboys4eva]

Not sure if Lochie O'Brien was carrying a knee injury as a few have suggested but he was underwhelming in the games he played. Looked very good last year. I see Twomey still has him as pick 8 in his Phantom Draft.

I see Rayner already weighs 88 kegs. How do these kids get so big at such a young age?

 

[Hollow Knight]

I see Rayner already weighs 88 kegs. How do these kids get so big at such a young age?

Creatine.

 

[SizeMatters]

Hoping Ballanden can improve his ruck work. While Skinner is still an unknown we may have a spot down back for a key defender, how ever I got a gut feel Skinner will be a 150+ gamer for this club. Ballenden could be the ideal ruck-forward we have been screaming out for. Can't see any room for him up forward or down back ATM although having KPP depth is great thing to have.

 

[chopperduck]

will be interesting to see if any clubs come knocking looking for that specific player. Rayner would have to be that player currently, and id be happy to trade down this year, still maybe snag a LDU and push our 2nd pick higher up. If the offers dont come, then Rayner at pick 1 would be a nice consolation prize.

Really think Ballenden is going to end up around that 12-18 mark, will really depend where Ports pick lands to see how that marries up. Our next pick around 18-19, could easily see Worpel slide near there.

Really the problem we have is IF this Charlie Cameron thing happens, we are a bit light on for picks to make a trade happen. Very well might be a quality over quanity type draft for us.

 

[Carlos Danger]

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.

I think so too. Unless the tigers land casboult or Reid or similar to fill a CHF spot in the trade FA period. They will be looking for a KPP option. Be very happy for them to finish above the power that's for sure.

 

[jackess]

I think so too. Unless the tigers land casboult or Reid or similar to fill a CHF spot in the trade FA period. They will be looking for a KPP option. Be very happy for them to finish above the power that's for sure.

That's a good point. They probably want a KPF to push for a premiership within the next couple of years. Picking up a project player like Ballenden would still be useful but won't help their current problem.

 

[Carlos Danger]

That's a good point. They probably want a KPF to push for a premiership within the next couple of years. Picking up a project player like Ballenden would still be useful but won't help their current problem.

Yeah they will want a proven player but they also have no depth. Think they want a few irons in the fire developing in the VFL. Imagine if riewoldt got injured - they'd have no-one.

 

[Dylan12]

Crossley I think is Suns Academy.
EDIT: beaten by WA Lion

Based solely on the Allies games I have seen, Crossley looks the better of he and Ballenden despite Ballenden being the more highly touted in recent time. IMO of course.

 

[WhiteLionFeva]

Based solely on the Allies games I have seen, Crossley looks the better of he and Ballenden despite Ballenden being the more highly touted in recent time. IMO of course.

Yes, sounds like Crossley is a genuine ruck whereas Ballenden is a sort of hybrid.

 

[WA Lion]

Based solely on the Allies games I have seen, Crossley looks the better of he and Ballenden despite Ballenden being the more highly touted in recent time. IMO of course.

He is the better ruck comfortably, but that is his only position. Ballenden has much more flexibility and would be comfortably better in any other position forward or back.

 

[Kevvo]

Ballenden's selling point, from what I can tell, seems to be his skill level compared to the other talls.

From what I've seen he can drift out of games for long stretches, but his marking and kicking (general play and goals- not that he's kicked much for goal this year) looks really good. Playing ruck and defence has forced him into the game so he has looked better there.

It probably suits us that there is ambiguity about his best position. Bit of upside but also a risk if a club goes early on him.

 

[jjami15]

So Rayner is firming as pick no1. Would love to know our clubs thoughts! I personally feel LDU is a better fit and is a pure midfielder with good outside and inside run. He does have AFL traits that's for sure, keeps his feet, delivers the ball by hand when tackled, good footskills both feet, looks inside for that 45deg kick and does have a good turn off pace (not breakaway). This could be an opportunity for us. Move down one spot to pick 2 (currently North's) and their second round pick. This could be used for trade or draft.

i'm leaning towards trying to move up the draft into the top ten to acquire another player like a Dow or O'Brien. Two extra midfielders to add would be pretty good for our list. I do like Coffield as an option as well, especially if Witherden makes the move into the midfield.

Next year I reckon we are right in for a chance for Rankine which would be awesome. I was also really impressed by Sam Walsh, just super clean with the ball, lots of substance to his game. Similar to McCluggage but more Cotchin. I know the club have said that the draft last year, this and next are a big focus. Our spine looks set. Build the midfield and skill by foot. Starting to see the future.

 

[POBT]

The role of the forward-ruck is going to be interesting in the next 5 years. Over the past 5 or so seasons, most sides liked to have a full time ruck plus a forward who could give the first string ruck a spell. Most of the time, clubs were happy to accept a slightly less productive forward who could do a decent job in the ruck. In effect, you could be only OK at both roles and you'd get a game.

That does seem to be changing, at least at some clubs. We're seeing guys in the ruck who probably have no right to be there. They might only spend 5 minutes there but their ability to compete in the ruck is pretty well non-existent, particularly against a first string ruck.

So the question is whether the "jack of all trades" forward-ruck will continue to get games. If not, we need to assess Ballenden as a full time forward, defender or a ruck, and not a bits and pieces type.

I personally don't think that we should be writing him off as a forward just yet, even if his best form this year has been in other roles. The way he is playing in defence could easily translate to a forward role at senior level where the delivery is better and the system more defined.

 

[buttermuffs]

'Go-home Five' of 2013 are ancient history to the Lions' recruiting team
http://m.afl.com.au/news/2017-07-06/how-the-lions-stemmed-their-draft-bleeding

 

[Hollow Knight]

Just need Docherty or Yeo to do a LeBron and come back at some point to make things right.

 

[buttermuffs]

'Go-home Five' of 2013 are ancient history to the Lions' recruiting team
http://m.afl.com.au/news/2017-07-06/how-the-lions-stemmed-their-draft-bleeding

Judging by this article I think we might actually take LDU, and then if Ballenden drops past the Port pick (or we trade up) we will target a teammate (Hunter Clark) or just a fellow Country teammate.

Also, what do people think of Fogs from SA?

 

[SizeMatters]

Hunter Clark is the kind of bloke Fagan would love. Would surely be high on the draft board I would think.

 

[buttermuffs]

Hunter Clark is the kind of bloke Fagan would love. Would surely be high on the draft board I would think.

That's great. If we can get Clark and LDU then we maximise the potential of both of them staying. Unless they hate each other, then we'd get rid of Clark and hope LDU stays. But they wouldn't hate each other.

 

[jjami15]

You would definitely be thinking about the relationships between draftees as per Hugh, Jarrod, Cedric and Alex.

I like Hunter, kicks both feet and hard as a cats head. Was commented on on last nights game that he was seen as more of an outside player but has turned that perception around.

 

[scoman]

I have read a number of times now that LDU has the ability to remain upright when tackled and dispose of the ball. Has great core strength etc.. Still think he is the one who best suits our needs as a pure midfielder. If we land Cameron in the trade period and have Christensen and Robbo returning from injury our forwardline is pretty stacked. Adding the highest rated pure mid tyoes two years in a row (LDU and Clugga) should pay off.
Its a bit of a risk letting Raynor go but the chances of him developing a tank to play big midfield minutes and become the new 'dusty' also comes at a risk.

 

[hyper realist]

Hunter Clark is the kind of bloke Fagan would love. Would surely be high on the draft board I would think.

yeah he would be great to get,like petrocelle or clavarino, but i'm not sure it's possible as we wait for the trading-go-round into horse-drafting-go-round to play out over the next 5 months.it's a long time.i would be happy with any of the 3 just mentioned as well as coffield dow miers cerra garner l o'brien d fogarty LDU plus ballenden and payne via academy.

somehow we need another high pick, though last year would have been better.
and have to imagine how they will be developed as most will

 

[spotthedog1]

After watching a few games, I'm really hoping Paddy Dow slides to our Port pick. Think he'd be a great pickup for us.

 

[SizeMatters]

Looks set for a FA compo or two to slide into first round you would think? Fyfe + Martin? I think if they do choose to leave then the clubs will most likely take it to the trade table though so maybe no first round compo picks given this year.

 

[Hollow Knight]

Reckon Fyfe and Martin will stay put.

 

[jackess]

Reckon Fyfe and Martin will stay put.

Yep. Kelly and Lever will probably be the 2 big moves.