2018 Draft thread

[jackess]

Unless McStay has a strong year forward I think a tall forward should be our target. Unless Walsh is that far ahead of them.

 

[pulpdriver]

That's pretty much how I am seeing this season.

I would much rather we were winning and showing signs that we are beginning to climb off the foot of the ladder. But so far all this season has shown me is that we still lack class all over the field, and that we don't have an AFL quality best 22, and little depth in our squad. Our depth should be the kids we've drafted in the last 3 years, however we really are requiring more of them than a team really should be asking.

Yet a priority pick isn't going to help us immediately, because what we really need is half a dozen more A grade players to fill out our best 22. But failing some A grade free agents signing with the club next trade period, I'll take a beginning of first round priority pick.

Getting hard to deny, can only lie to yourself so much but honestly there are problems with the list. There is a chunk of the list that won't make it, a chunk that are at end of their career and a chunk that are talented and promising but simply too young. Need the opportunity to bridge the divide. Give us the youth talent injection that can convince the talented youth to stay and build towards the long term.

 

[pulpdriver]

Unless McStay has a strong year forward I think a tall forward should be our target. Unless Walsh is that far ahead of them.

We're clamouring out for both. Need a marking tarket to give our midfielders confidence going forward and get the bonus of releasing Hipwood to play like a tall flanker but our midfield needs significant investment.

 

[briztoon]

Cut and paste some of the more notable performances that might interest some Lions fans.

Scouting notes: TAC Cup – Round 4 AFTER a one-week hiatus due to the TAC Cup’s first development weekend of the season, the TAC Cup returned with some big individual bags of g... afldraftcentral.com.au

#22 Sam Walsh – Walsh is an absolute machine and there’s no doubt at this stage that he is by far the best midfielder in the TAC Cup. Despite not spending a lot of time in at the centre bounces, he floated around the outside collecting 39 disposals. His tackling was important during the day, including a strong tackle in the opening minute of the match. He spreads well and has a decent burst of speed when he needs to use it. Snapped a good goal in the third term and simply was everywhere throughout the match. If I had to nitpick – the right footer had a few occasions where he should’ve gone onto his left foot, but at this stage he prefers to use his more comfortable right boot.

#29 Bailey Williams – Williams was the most dominant player on the ground proving to be a handful up forward, he finished with seven goals and could have been even more with a few missed shots on goal. Williams was unstoppable one-on-one with his strength, height and leap too much for any of the Jets defenders. Williams did not just do great work in the air, although he did take a lovely hangar in the third quarter, his hands at ground level were very clean which was apparent in the last quarter when he went up for a marking contest – the ball then went over the contest and he quickly recovered, picking the ball up at speed and ran into goal. Williams dominated in the ruck last year and has added another string to his bow up forward.

#13 Thomas Berry – Another solid game from Berry, who seems to be still working himself back from that horrific collision with the point post against Bendigo. Berry was the Rebels best midfielder at stoppages today, winning clearances around the ground and in the middle. Berry was also good when he went forward today, showing his versatility with a knowledge of forward craft and leading patterns. Kicked back-to-back goals in the third quarter and could have had three goals in the third quarter, hitting the post after a set shot.

#16 Jack Bytel – Was outstanding in the middle and was pivotal in his sides huge last quarter. Not only a ball magnet but extremely damaging player who was able to kick the ball long inside 50 and put the Rebels defence under extreme pressure. Looked a class above the rest in the middle and I understand the plaudits coming from those who believe he will be a high draft pick.

 

[briztoon]

 

[briztoon]

Unless McStay has a strong year forward I think a tall forward should be our target. Unless Walsh is that far ahead of them.

We're clamouring out for both. Need a marking tarket to give our midfielders confidence going forward and get the bonus of releasing Hipwood to play like a tall flanker but our midfield needs significant investment.

Read the first question and response at the bottom of the screen shot.

 

[pulpdriver]

Read the first question and response at the bottom of the screen shot.


View attachment 486844

I don't really need the comments tbh. Seen Lukosious play that SANFL final. Continued development is a given. He'll be number 1. Would love him to be a Lion. Still need to address the midfield though.

 

[SizeMatters]

I don't really need the comments tbh. Seen Lukosious play that SANFL final. Continued development is a given. He'll be number 1. Would love him to be a Lion. Still need to address the midfield though.

Pick 1 Lukosius, pick 2 Walsh. Find another top 15 pick and take Berry. Dream scenario at this stage but obviously it will all change in 6 months time.

 

[SizeMatters]

On Lukosius... he's a generational talent from what I've seen. Athletic, and insane footy IQ but he also backs it up with performances. Even if people think our midfield is the number one weakness you just don't give up on a talent like Lukosius. As close as a Riewoldt clone that you can get at this stage IMO. A franchise player.

 

[pulpdriver]

Pick 1 Lukosius, pick 2 Walsh. Find another top 15 pick and take Berry. Dream scenario at this stage but obviously it will all change in 6 months time.

We might not even need a another top 15 pick to take T. Berry. We'd still have 19 in that scenario, might be enough though this far out and before Champs who knows? Can confidently say I don't expect that top 5 to change too much unless King turns out to have done an ACL. Even in a year where you'd be ecstatic to have any pick in the top 30 there are about 5-10 kids that look sublime and potential 250 gamers.

 

[SizeMatters]

We might not even need a another top 15 pick to take T. Berry. We'd still have 19 in that scenario, might be enough though this far out and before Champs who knows? Can confidently say I don't expect that top 5 to change too much unless King turns out to have done an ACL. Even in a year where you'd be ecstatic to have any pick in the top 30 there are about 5-10 kids that look sublime and potential 250 gamers.

better safe than sorry Berry Jnr is a beast at the stoppages and contested work which is something we need. Also comes from good pedigree and I would bet my left nut that he is extremely professional like his older bro. Just can't pass up on blokes like that. They are the types that build foundations of a footy club.

 

[bungalow_bill]

You would assume if Carlton finish last they take Lukosius despite already having Curnow and McKay - or do they go Rankine?

 

[pulpdriver]

better safe than sorry Berry Jnr is a beast at the stoppages and contested work which is something we need. Also comes from good pedigree and I would bet my left nut that he is extremely professional like his older bro. Just can't pass up on blokes like that. They are the types that build foundations of a footy club.

Would love the kid basically because we have so few players that can win the ball and tear away with pace but the bro factor is a huge plus. Brad and Chris constantly whining has disendeared them somewhat to me. Need a new hard bros combo would love it to be the Berrys.

 

[briztoon]

We might not even need a another top 15 pick to take T. Berry. We'd still have 19 in that scenario, might be enough though this far out and before Champs who knows? Can confidently say I don't expect that top 5 to change too much unless King turns out to have done an ACL. Even in a year where you'd be ecstatic to have any pick in the top 30 there are about 5-10 kids that look sublime and potential 250 gamers.

There might be a few first round and end of first round compo picks this year.

 

[pulpdriver]

There might be a few first round and end of first round compo picks this year.

How so?

 

[Dodongo]

Dodongo would like us to finish last so we can get Lukocius. Dodongo then would try and trade next years first with something to get pick 2 or 3 to get Rankine or Walsh. Dodongo would then trade up our next pick to about 15 to get Berry.

Dodongo thinks we should do what we can at the draft table to get another top 3/4 pick this year

 

[briztoon]

How so?

If Lynch leaves GC, they'll get a compo pick right after their first round pick.

I'm not up to speed on all the free agents or most other teams, but there's been some talk on the draft and trade board about one or two blokes in SA and WA that might move, and are supposedly worth first round compo.

 

[jackess]

We can draft to complement the midfielders we already have with our other picks. But to add another potential A grade KPP to go with Hipwood and Andrews would be huge.

 

[jackess]

If Lynch leaves GC, they'll get a compo pick right after their first round pick.

I'm not up to speed on all the free agents or most other teams, but there's been some talk on the draft and trade board about one or two blokes in SA and WA that might move, and are supposedly worth first round compo.

Clubs would be more willing to let them go in a strong draft too.

 

[Lionsrbest2]

Jason carter. I love attacking rebounding defenders. Intercept marking. HBF, I love what I see. For latter pick in the draft.

 

[lionshine]

As desperate as we are to restock our midfield if we have the opportunity to draft Jack Lukosius we'd have to select him I think. He really does look like one of the best draft prospects to come through in the past 15 years. Paring him up with Eric Hipwood could turn us into a powerhouse side if both fulfil their potential. I'd love for us to get another pick in the top 6 to draft a gun mid as well.

 

[Lionsrbest2]

Dodongo would like us to finish last so we can get Lukocius. Dodongo then would try and trade next years first with something to get pick 2 or 3 to get Rankine or Walsh. Dodongo would then trade up our next pick to about 15 to get Berry.

Dodongo thinks we should do what we can at the draft table to get another top 3/4 pick this year

I don’t mind either, your proposal is interesting. I really want midfield depth, however what you are suggesting lukocius and rankine I am open to. I would be reluctant to give up a 1st round pick next year while we rebuild. A player and next years second round for a first rounder this year possibly. Depends on nature of trade. Interested in who you might be willing to trade to move up the draft.

 

[spotthedog1]

Didn’t every player look like a first gamer last week?

Lol. Very true.

How can you come to any sort of judgement about him based on one game, where he was surrounded by so many spudworthy team-mates?

And where exactly is the "uber-excitement" that you speak of?

You're creating an argument where none exists.

Turns out I misinterpreted some discussion where people have completely written off pick 2 two years later as a complete hopeless case. Another thing I just don't understand. I have seen a few people getting very excited though, and not sure why.

Just a reminder to people as well - Schache trade was not for pick 15. About 3 quarters of the Schache trade proceeds plus pick 20 got us to pick 15. And people still saying we won the trade confuses me.

That said, if you read my post, you'll see that I haven't formed any judgement about him off one game. I dont believe I wrote him off at all. He had a bad game, but as you say, so did everyone. I just thought I'd noticed an unusual level of excitement about him which didnt match my own.

Did you watch the NEAFL game against the NT?

As others have posted if people cannot be upbeat about young draftees, then we have little to keep us going given our last decade.

Bit unfair to compare to Berry based on the current sample size.

I did catch the NT game on youtube. Thought he was OK. Reasonable without being excellent. Obviously the coaches were quite impressed with him, so there's likely something I'm missing, hence me asking the question as to why everyone is so excited - sadly no one has told me what they find exciting about him. My big highlight out of that game though was that I thought Corey Lyons had some AFL traits and wouldn't be surprised if he gets a call up in the near future. I could be wrong though, I readily admit that much as I love the game, my top 5 from a game tend to be quite different to the professionals' best lists, and I'm not sufficiently conceited to think that they're the ones who are wrong. OK, maybe I'm conceited enough to think I'm more right than Damien Barrett, Terry Wallace and a few others, but not the actual coaches.

Wasn't comparing him to Berry. Was comparing my excitement about him to my excitement about Berry at this time last year. Could be rose-coloured glasses of course.

 

[a mayes ing]

If we get pick 1 again, we have to draft Luckosius. If we get a PP, l can see the AFL saying we can only draft a mature age player.

 

[Hollow Knight]

I'd be totally fine with us getting a priority pick straight after our first that we had to trade for established players.

If other clubs try take the piss at the trade table we should be able to bank it and try again the next year. That will make the offers more legit, especially in this draft.

Seems a more sensible approach to helping poor teams get better faster, but as it makes sense, the AFL won't do it.