Preview 2018 Draft General Discussion

[aussierulesrules]

Good call.

After all there’s only 348 days until draft night. Unlikely to change much from now.

So how about your box Max? I imagine you won't want to pump him up too much, but how do you reckon he compares with Daniher, both at the same age, and in terms of talent/attributes/strengths/weaknesses, and also Lukocious?

 

[HedgeFund]

So how about your box Max? I imagine you won't want to pump him up too much, but how do you reckon he compares with Daniher, both at the same age, and in terms of talent/attributes/strengths/weaknesses, and also Lukocious?

Nup - no tyre pumping.

I didn’t see a second of J. Daniher in his top age TAC year, so it would be futile to make any attempt at comparison.

In any event, Ben is better.

 

[Snake_Baker]

To be honest, I don't think they're far off.

I'm in the opposite camp. I don't think they have bottomed out yet.

Based on form to date I'd be pissed off with King over Rankine. I wouldn't even be overly happy with Lukosious over him but I could live with that.

Rankine does have size against him.

 

[aussierulesrules]

Nup - no tyre pumping.

I didn’t see a second of J. Daniher in his top age TAC year, so it would be futile to make any attempt at comparison.

In any event, Ben is better.

Interesting, so where do you see Ben being best suited to playing at AFL level?

 

[HedgeFund]

Interesting, so where do you see Ben being best suited to playing at AFL level?

Either end to be honest.

Against Caulfield in May Ben kicks 6, Max kicks 2.

Against Scotch in June Ben kicks 4, Max kicks 3.

Against St Kevin’s in August Ben kicks 6 whilst Max kicks only 3.

Basically, every time Haileybury has the luxury of playing two 202 cm key forwards, the “defender” kicks more than the twin who only plays forward.

Dragons haven’t played Ben forward yet, as in 2017 we always needed him in defence (we didn’t have a Clavarino last season). That could change next year.

 

[briztoon]

I'm in the opposite camp. I don't think they have bottomed out yet.



Rankine does have size against him.

What, 1cm shorter than the 2016 number 1 draft pick.

 

[Newatthis]

So you're saying you can't perform a lock down role in U/18s? Why even put that rule in?

I don't care what they say, clubs have lock down players.

 

[RedmanWasHere]

Rankine does have size against him.

Ben Ainsworth's short as well and look where he was drafted.

 

[HedgeFund]

I don't care what they say, clubs have lock down players.

TAC rules discourage (if not prevent) midfield tagging.

Classic shut down defenders are well and truly permitted.......but not drafted in high numbers.

 

[Snake_Baker]

What, 1cm shorter than the 2016 number 1 draft pick.

Ben Ainsworth's short as well and look where he was drafted.

My query is his inside impact.

His natural ability is undoubted, but is he the best pure midfielder in the draft? Will his inside game be up to scratch?

 

[PMBangers]

My query is his inside impact.

His natural ability is undoubted, but is he the best pure midfielder in the draft? Will his inside game be up to scratch?

Only Rozee and possibly Smith are able to outdo him on the inside imo. Rankine is an absolute talent who doesn't rely on size to win the inside ball, I'm sure he's working on bulking up over this offseason and will continue to do so during the season as at the moment it's his only major flaw

 

[HBFlanker]

Everyone seems to assume that North will finish bottom 2. If that were the case and we could pick any player type I still think we would go midfielder. Though if we don't get much from our young KPP in Wood, Durdin, Neilson, McKay and to a lesser degree Larkey we might go tall. But to me that would be a real disappointment as Durds, Neilson and McKay showed good signs in 2017.

So for me I'd be hoping for Rankine or Walsh at this early stage. In an ideal world we wild also snag Thomas and Scott after our second pick. I know that's probably wishful thinking but a man can dream.

Rankine
Pick 20
Thomas
Scott
Crocker

That would be a pretty lovely outcome

Yes.
God yes.

 

[the big lebowski]

Yes.
God yes.

Unlikely but possible

 

[demondavey]

If Lynch leaves via FA then GC will have both Lukosius and Rankine

So what? That doesn't solve the issue the club has. It might seem a great proposition but it won't be when those two either don't live up to expectation or want out after two years because the club is a basket case.

It's amazing how people think problems can be solved by unknown commodities when the problems in house are cancerous.

 

[briztoon]

So what? That doesn't solve the issue the club has. It might seem a great proposition but it won't be when those two either don't live up to expectation or want out after two years because the club is a basket case.

It's amazing how people think problems can be solved by unknown commodities when the problems in house are cancerous.

Well we don't know what the GC is like in house now, with the partial list clean out and new coaching staff on board.

It's like Brisbane post 2016. Fagan and Noble came in and are establishing a new culture within the club.

 

[demondavey]

Well we don't know what the GC is like in house now, with the partial list clean out and new coaching staff on board.

It's like Brisbane post 2016. Fagan and Noble came in and are establishing a new culture within the club.

Then they'd better forget a couple of potential good players from next years draft and give lynch 10 million for 8 years

 

[briztoon]

Then they'd better forget a couple of potential good players from next years draft and give lynch 10 million for 8 years

I think everyone agrees on that. Wonder what the AFL's ambassadorial contract will be worth.

 

[demondavey]

I think everyone agrees on that. Wonder what the AFL's ambassadorial contract will be worth.

I'd say it'd definitely make it very difficult for him. He could return home and be another star in Victoria, or be the AFL pin up boy in QLD and be very wealthy.

 

[demondavey]

Well we don't know what the GC is like in house now, with the partial list clean out and new coaching staff on board.

It's like Brisbane post 2016. Fagan and Noble came in and are establishing a new culture within the club.

I wouldn't think they'd be a great club internally, probably getting better now, like Brisbane, but long way to go.

 

[Newatthis]

TAC rules discourage (if not prevent) midfield tagging.

Classic shut down defenders are well and truly permitted.......but not drafted in high numbers.

Who said anything about drafting. The quote was that tagging is not allowed at all. I just said it happens.

 

[Johnny Bananas]

So Rankine and Lukosius are the consensus top two at this stage. Are the King twins consensus top 5?

 

[briztoon]

So Rankine and Lukosius are the consensus top two at this stage. Are the King twins consensus top 5?

eh, I wouldn't say that. Some people have Max King firmly in the number 1 discussion.

At best, I think people should be having possible top 5, possible 10, possible first round discussions at the moment.

A year out, really can't say there's a consensus on next years draft.


I've been giving it a little bit of thought, and I honestly do not know how much emphasis should be put on the likes of Rankine, or Lukosius, or D. Fogarty dominating at SANFL level.

I watched a little bit of youtube early in the season of Fogarty, dominating a SANFL game, and the kid was just bigger, faster and stronger than the vast majority of men he was playing against.

While Rankine isn't as big as Fogarty, he's faster and much more skilled than the majority of players in the SANFL players he comes up against.

The one comparison that sprung to mind, was an U18 Australian rep cricketer playing warehouse cricket. Sure the kid is playing against men, but he's so much more talented and physically gifted than the men he's playing against.


I don't know how much NEAFL you watched this year, but I watched as many games as I could shown on NITV and all the Lions reserve games streamed live on youtube.

The first NITV game I watched was NT Thunder versus Aspley up in Darwin. The Thunder towelled up Aspley. What stood out for me in the first 2 minutes was the body shape of all the players on the field, they were physically underdeveloped when compared to AFL players, or they looked undersized and overweight.

When it came to the Lions reserves, and even when we had quite a few of our 18 year old academy kids playing, and many of our 2016 and 2015 draftees playing, we were noticeably bigger, faster and stronger against the non AFL reserve sides.



I guess my point is, it's all well and good saying these top interstate kids are playing against men in state leagues, but what is the calibre of the state leagues? At least two rungs below AFL level?

 

[The Grover]

Who said anything about drafting. The quote was that tagging is not allowed at all. I just said it happens.

No doubt it happens, especially when the stakes get higher close to finals time.

Rayner was mauled/targeted/tagged by Gippsland late in the season.

 

[aussierulesrules]

eh, I wouldn't say that. Some people have Max King firmly in the number 1 discussion.

At best, I think people should be having possible top 5, possible 10, possible first round discussions at the moment.

A year out, really can't say there's a consensus on next years draft.


I've been giving it a little bit of thought, and I honestly do not know how much emphasis should be put on the likes of Rankine, or Lukosius, or D. Fogarty dominating at SANFL level.

I watched a little bit of youtube early in the season of Fogarty, dominating a SANFL game, and the kid was just bigger, faster and stronger than the vast majority of men he was playing against.

While Rankine isn't as big as Fogarty, he's faster and much more skilled than the majority of players in the SANFL players he comes up against.

The one comparison that sprung to mind, was an U18 Australian rep cricketer playing warehouse cricket. Sure the kid is playing against men, but he's so much more talented and physically gifted than the men he's playing against.


I don't know how much NEAFL you watched this year, but I watched as many games as I could shown on NITV and all the Lions reserve games streamed live on youtube.

The first NITV game I watched was NT Thunder versus Aspley up in Darwin. The Thunder towelled up Aspley. What stood out for me in the first 2 minutes was the body shape of all the players on the field, they were physically underdeveloped when compared to AFL players, or they looked undersized and overweight.

When it came to the Lions reserves, and even when we had quite a few of our 18 year old academy kids playing, and many of our 2016 and 2015 draftees playing, we were noticeably bigger, faster and stronger against the non AFL reserve sides.



I guess my point is, it's all well and good saying these top interstate kids are playing against men in state leagues, but what is the calibre of the state leagues? At least two rungs below AFL level?

Aish and Toumpas going really well at senior SANFL level at 17/18yo certainly hasn't translated to AFL footy.

 

[Johnny Bananas]

I guess my point is, it's all well and good saying these top interstate kids are playing against men in state leagues, but what is the calibre of the state leagues? At least two rungs below AFL level?

No doubt, SANFL has to be of a higher standard than the NEAFL though with all the former AFL listers. Haven't watched much of either though.