Game Day 2017 National Draft

[Apex36]

Would you Rather Higgins?

Yes Dave, just because he doesn’t want Brander it means he automatically would prefer the shortest player in the draft.....

 

[peter moore]

Would you Rather Higgins?

Balta!

 

[Apex36]

Not Hine directly but people involved with the program. You'd be surprised at how much people just chat at games. Obviously not "We're taking Player X" but chatting about the draft crop in general perhaps certain players, the odd bits and pieces, but more importantly the games they're at also give you a clue as to who they're into.

Hine and Rendell missed a TAC Cup triple header to head to WA late in the season. Presumably watching Naughton (perhaps others). Or the choice to go to a certain game over others. Yes all the games are taped but first hand vision is always better than tapes.

Any talk on Balta?

 

[Pie 4 Life]

Any talk on Balta?

Balta won't likely be six. I don't often find myself agreeing with Terry Wallace but his description of Balta today was the best I heard. Described him as a bit like a "deer in headlights". He has a raking kick but even looking at the highlights (sums up him in most games) he has that tendency to look straight ahead and narrow his view. Basically he will nearly always kick long straight or if short it's usually lateral. He nearly never kicks that 45 degree kick which can upset zones. That's my knock on Balta.

If we had a mid teens pick that would be about right, but I think we hope a KPD will be there at our third rounder which is wishful thinking. I would say if Naughton is there at #5 we might pull the trigger, but I doubt he will be now with Freo having two picks. I've said since the start I think Coffield is the one we like the most. But we might consider Andrew Brayshaw or a sliding Cerra potentially as well.

Long story short Naughton is the only KPP we take at 6 IMO. I know we liked Hayes too but like Brander and Balta have weighed up if it's worth it to take early. Again just what I've heard at different times and don't need to take it as gospel but i dispute that we are "95% likely to take Brander". I would say 15% if I had to put a percentage on it. Unless something drastic has changed in the last couple of weeks.

 

[TradeDraft]

Balta won't likely be six. I don't often find myself agreeing with Terry Wallace but his description of Balta today was the best I heard. Described him as a bit like a "deer in headlights". He has a raking kick but even looking at the highlights (sums up him in most games) he has that tendency to look straight ahead and narrow his view. Basically he will nearly always kick long straight or if short it's usually lateral. He nearly never kicks that 45 degree kick which can upset zones. That's my knock on Balta.

If we had a mid teens pick that would be about right, but I think we hope a KPD will be there at our third rounder which is wishful thinking. I would say if Naughton is there at #5 we might pull the trigger, but I doubt he will be now with Freo having two picks. I've said since the start I think Coffield is the one we like the most. But we might consider Andrew Brayshaw or a sliding Cerra potentially as well.

Long story short Naughton is the only KPP we take at 6 IMO. I know we liked Hayes too but like Brander and Balta have weighed up if it's worth it to take early. Again just what I've heard at different times and don't need to take it as gospel but i dispute that we are "95% likely to take Brander". I would say 15% if I had to put a percentage on it. Unless something drastic has changed in the last couple of weeks.

So Brander going to be a Huge Slider on Draft Night Pie 4 Life?

Typical us to take yet ANOTHER mid

 

[TradeDraft]

Not Hine directly but people involved with the program. You'd be surprised at how much people just chat at games. Obviously not "We're taking Player X" but chatting about the draft crop in general perhaps certain players, the odd bits and pieces, but more importantly the games they're at also give you a clue as to who they're into.

Hine and Rendell missed a TAC Cup triple header to head to WA late in the season. Presumably watching Naughton (perhaps others). Or the choice to go to a certain game over others. Yes all the games are taped but first hand vision is always better than tapes.

Problem with Freo getting 2 picks ahead of us I think Increases the Chances they take Naughton at Pick 5. 1 ahead of us

 

[Apex36]

Balta won't likely be six. I don't often find myself agreeing with Terry Wallace but his description of Balta today was the best I heard. Described him as a bit like a "deer in headlights". He has a raking kick but even looking at the highlights (sums up him in most games) he has that tendency to look straight ahead and narrow his view. Basically he will nearly always kick long straight or if short it's usually lateral. He nearly never kicks that 45 degree kick which can upset zones. That's my knock on Balta.

If we had a mid teens pick that would be about right, but I think we hope a KPD will be there at our third rounder which is wishful thinking. I would say if Naughton is there at #5 we might pull the trigger, but I doubt he will be now with Freo having two picks. I've said since the start I think Coffield is the one we like the most. But we might consider Andrew Brayshaw or a sliding Cerra potentially as well.

Long story short Naughton is the only KPP we take at 6 IMO. I know we liked Hayes too but like Brander and Balta have weighed up if it's worth it to take early. Again just what I've heard at different times and don't need to take it as gospel but i dispute that we are "95% likely to take Brander". I would say 15% if I had to put a percentage on it. Unless something drastic has changed in the last couple of weeks.

Solid knocks on him as a defender I guess, but what about as a forward? He has some pretty decent returns while playing up front and KM (yes I know he’s not the final word on drafting) reckons he could become an elite key forward if developed there.

 

[Apex36]

Problem with Freo getting 2 picks ahead of us I think Increases the Chances they take Naughton at Pick 5. 1 ahead of us

Great news.

 

[DraftBalta]

Would rather a one paced mid than a below average KPP with no real weapons.

We don't know how Brandy turns out but we already know Cerra's speed

 

[Apex36]

We don't know how Brandy turns out but we already know Cerra's speed

And we already know about Branders poor hands and terrible kicking.

 

[Pie 4 Life]

So Brander going to be a Huge Slider on Draft Night Pie 4 Life?

Typical us to take yet ANOTHER mid

I wouldn't consider Coffield a pure mid.

But I don't think he will be a huge slider on draft night. I think largely the reason he's been linked to us this far is Pies need a KPP, who's the top KPP? I think you'll see him slip down PD's bit by bit. As I said I wouldn't say he's a certainty not to be selected by us, but I would say highly unlikely based on what I've heard.

 

[DraftBalta]

And we already know about Branders poor hands and terrible kicking.

Yes because we've seen 2 minutes of a highlight reel and he wasn't at his best, all I saw was a big raw kid that hasn't grown into his body yet, no way you can make the call yet, anyway it's still not like a physical limitation that Cerra has

 

[Pie 4 Life]

Solid knocks on him as a defender I guess, but what about as a forward? He has some pretty decent returns while playing up front and KM (yes I know he’s not the final word on drafting) reckons he could become an elite key forward if developed there.

I wouldn't say any tall in this draft is an "elite" potential tall. Next year there are three who could be top 10 in the league if they continue but again that's 12 months off and so much happens plus there's no guarantees. Balta is a player who his liabilities are better suited as a forward but because of his ability to hit the ball at pace and run it's why many have him earmarked as a defender. The fact there isn't a clear strongest position for him is why I couldn't justify taking him that early.

I think if you look at both Balta and Brander's liabilities, then you can probably find the same liabilities in that 3rd-4th round so if I'm the Pies, they say "let's take best available with #6 and back out development team to make the best of a tall late". That's how I would look at it anyway. Rather than reach for a KPP, take best available then pick up a less recognised KPP down the draft and hope you can develop them right. If we had a pick in the teens I'd say yeah pull the trigger but with #6 there's too much risk.

 

[Pie 4 Life]

No point arguing over which player is more of a spud either. It will come down to whoever we pick on the night and all those areas of concerns will be brought up. As long as we don't draft Higgins or Clark we'll be right haha

 

[unplugged]

I reckon between now and draft night we should come up with a poll with about 10-15 options on it (one where we can see each other's votes) as to who we think we will pick (or should?)...

Would be good to see who gets it right, if anyone!

 

[sr36]

Well I hope we pick him and that poo lands on your face then because we really don't need another one paced mid and I can just see Cerra dropping out of the top 5

In 5 years time when these draftees are beginning to excel (or fail) and our one paced mids - Pendlebury and Sidebottom are nearing their end (I actually think Sidebottom will play for ages and smash our games record), would you prefer a gun one paced mid or a middle of the road tall? Don't draft kids for immediate needs, draft them for 5 years down the track.

 

[Baird]

Yes Dave, just because he doesn’t want Brander it means he automatically would prefer the shortest player in the draft.....

Lol he's not that small. Plenty smaller than him

 

[DaicosianMarvels]

There is one player I really want in this draft and that's Coffield. The next choice would be Balta.

Anyone else other than the top 3 expected to go before us would be underwhelming.

 

[nahnah]

Do we still take Coffield after we just gave up a future second for Murray? Seems like we are confident Murray can play as our small defender, unless we want two? Then where does that leave Crisp?

 

[Kirby]

I'm happy at this stage for Coffield/Fogarty/Stephenson at 6 and at 38 I'd be rapt if we could land Wooller or Petty.

 

[Pie 4 Life]

There is one player I really want in this draft and that's Coffield. The next choice would be Balta.

Anyone else other than the top 3 expected to go before us would be underwhelming.

Well yes I can tell you as a fact if Rayner slips we'll be taking him lol. He's the #1 on our list (and everyone that doesn't involve a "go home" factor)

 

[DraftBalta]

In 5 years time when these draftees are beginning to excel (or fail) and our one paced mids - Pendlebury and Sidebottom are nearing their end (I actually think Sidebottom will play for ages and smash our games record), would you prefer a gun one paced mid or a middle of the road tall? Don't draft kids for immediate needs, draft them for 5 years down the track.

You don't know what he is 5 years down the track so that's a rubbish comparison

 

[sr36]

You don't know what he is 5 years down the track so that's a rubbish comparison

You often get benefit quicker, but the draft is all about 5 years down the track. If you aren't willing to speculate about what they are going to be like 5 years down the track, don't go to the draft. Trade all your picks.

 

[soreplums]

If you aren't willing to speculate about what they are going to be 5 years down the track, don't go to the draft. Trade all your picks.

Yep. That’s why clubs draft players with a “high” ceiling

 

[DraftBalta]

You often get benefit quicker, but the draft is all about 5 years down the track. If you aren't willing to speculate about what they are going to be like 5 years down the track, don't go to the draft. Trade all your picks.

Speculate, good word, so we can equally speculate about him being a champion key forward and Cerra just another fat bottomed mid... fair enough then