Wasn't Partington and Mutimer racking up some pretty decent numbers in the WALF?
And how many years older is Kelly?
Is Kelly that much better than Ah chee? Ah chee cost us a 3rd to 4th round downgrade. We certainly wouldn't trade pick 26 for Ah chee so why use pick 26 on Kelly?
This is the point isn't it? Pick 26 IMO is reaching for Kelly when there are quality kids available around that pick.
If Tim Kelly was 17/18 yrs old this year he would probably be a top 5 pick this year, with his explosiveness, strength and contested footy. Him being 23 doesn't worry me. He was the only mature age invited to the draft combine and he's past those wasted few years where a player is too small to play seniors.
I wouldn't want to draft all mature age but 1 or 2 this year wouldn't be a bad thing. Choosing Kelly at 26 still leaves 13, 21, 32, 37 and 69 for young guys. Plus the rookie draft. If we can get Kelly later, all the better but It sounds like Carlton might grab him at pick 30. There is even talk, Geelong might get him with 22 or 24. We can't stop Geelong without using pick 21 but we should use 26 I believe to stop Carlton.
Kelly will be able to step straight into the midfield next year and has the bigger body so will be able to survive there. He also has the acceleration and inside/outside mid attributes we are desperate for. And we are desperate for ball carriers I believe. Shuey, Yeo and Gaff are probably our only ones and Jetta when he feels like it, and that is something Kelly will add to the team. (I hope Ah Chee and Venables will as well)
Kelly has also shown he is very good in the forward line, kicking bags of goals in some WAFL games, so he will be dangerous when resting forward.
All these young kids we draft won't get much midfield time next year due to their body size, so we need some midfield help for next year.