2018 Draft thread

[Lionwest]

We need to find the next Tim Kelly with our second pick.

I've watched a fair few South Freo games over the journey, whilst he always had class I never expected him to impact AFL level the way he has so far

He's ripper guy from all accounts so I hope he continues on with a great career.

 

[luthor]

I've watched a fair few South Freo games over the journey, whilst he always had class I never expected him to impact AFL level the way he has so far

He's ripper guy from all accounts so I hope he continues on with a great career.

There will always be a diamond in the rough somewhere but it doesn't mean all your picks have to be from the rough.

Sure. Kelly has been brilliant but is it great judgement or just dumb luck?

It's a numbers game.

Over the last 20 years or so, since drafting has become more of an exact science, there's a far better chance of landing your ball on the green from the fairway than from a bunker or the heavy rough.

 

[briztoon]

Of course being drafted in to the right situation plays a role.

I dare say Kelly might not look so good or have the same impact if he had landed in our midfield. Or he still might have.

 

[SizeMatters]

I rated Kelly top 5 on talent for last years draft. Will still be top 5 at the end of that draft cohorts careers IMO. Absolute gun.

 

[blynd_freddie]

And a top five for this year - snapped this a week or so ago, versus Calder.
Looks to have strengthened up a bit, chicken from the local Chicken Shop? lol

 

[M Malice]

Any of these guys likely to get picked up by us in this years draft? I haven't seen any of them rated in BF and MSM draft ratings yet, Casey would be a terrific story if he came to us.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-05-09/fathers-and-sons-whos-on-the-radar

On the horizon: The most likely prospect this year for the Lions is Sandringham leader James Rendell. The son of former Fitzroy ruckman Matt, Rendell has been a regular goalkicker for the Dragons in the TAC Cup and has been to Brisbane on multiple occasions to train with the Lions. There's a few other players eligible this year too including Casey Voss, son of triple premiership captain Michael, who is developing nicely in South Australia. Jake Bradshaw (son of Daniel) and Lachlan Harris (son of Fitzroy's Leon) are also in the mix, while there's a tug-of-war looming over Chris Johnson's son Lachlan, who is draft eligible in 2019. The Calder Cannon is also eligible for Essendon under the Next Generation Academy.

 

[Hollow Knight]

I imagine some people will look at that picture of Walsh and pull out the "man child amongst kids... where is the upside?" argument.

I look at it, compare it to pictures of him this time last year, and think "holy shit, this kid is a pro already".

Draft him pls thnx.

 

[Hollow Knight]

I rated Kelly top 5 on talent for last years draft.

So did our recruiters, but they couldn't be sure he'd stick around.

 

[briztoon]

I imagine some people will look at that picture of Walsh and pull out the "man child amongst kids... where is the upside?" argument.

I look at it, compare it to pictures of him this time last year, and think "holy shit, this kid is a pro already".

Draft him pls thnx.

Not really. He has added lean muscle compared to photos from last year, but he's not as big as what Worpel, Rayner, LDU and Brayshaw, or even Cerra were at the same time last year. He probably has a similar build to what Paddy Dow had. And he's a little shorter than those players.

When you watch the live streamed/YouTube TAC matches from this year, he's not noticeably bigger than a lot of the other players of a similar size. Not on the same scale as Worpel, Rayner and LDU were against their peers last year.

 

[Cockliff38]

So did our recruiters, but they couldn't be sure he'd stick around.

Speaking of which, https://www.sen.com.au/news/2018/05/08/cats-'wary'-of-kelly-contract-status-says-edmund/

 

[jackess]

Speaking of which, https://www.sen.com.au/news/2018/05/08/cats-'wary'-of-kelly-contract-status-says-edmund/

And the clubs think we need zones......

I assume this backs up what the club was worried about.

 

[Jivlain]

And the clubs think we need zones......

I assume this backs up what the club was worried about.

Pretty comprehensively by the sounds of it.

 

[Hollow Knight]

Speaking of which, https://www.sen.com.au/news/2018/05/08/cats-'wary'-of-kelly-contract-status-says-edmund/

Yep, ticked every box for a go home risk.

You'd like to think that the more mature recruits who are given a chance from the state leagues would be extra resilient as well as incredibly grateful to go anyway and repay the faith but the ease of player movement has completely shifted the entire player culture. And the AFLPA are still agitating to lubricate player movement further.

Combined with talk of zones... there's a bad moon on the rise.

 

[briztoon]

Do I understand that article correctly, that Kelly’s wife and kids are still WA?

 

[WhiteLionFeva]

Any of these guys likely to get picked up by us in this years draft? I haven't seen any of them rated in BF and MSM draft ratings yet, Casey would be a terrific story if he came to us.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-05-09/fathers-and-sons-whos-on-the-radar

On the horizon: The most likely prospect this year for the Lions is Sandringham leader James Rendell. The son of former Fitzroy ruckman Matt, Rendell has been a regular goalkicker for the Dragons in the TAC Cup and has been to Brisbane on multiple occasions to train with the Lions. There's a few other players eligible this year too including Casey Voss, son of triple premiership captain Michael, who is developing nicely in South Australia. Jake Bradshaw (son of Daniel) and Lachlan Harris (son of Fitzroy's Leon) are also in the mix, while there's a tug-of-war looming over Chris Johnson's son Lachlan, who is draft eligible in 2019. The Calder Cannon is also eligible for Essendon under the Next Generation Academy.

Rendell seems to be the best performed of that group so far this year. Bradshaw hasn't shown a great deal for the Bushrangers from what I've heard. Watched Lachie Harris play for Caulfield Grammarians in the amateurs on Saturday. Doubt we'll draft him.

 

[Dalions]

Do I understand that article correctly, that Kelly’s wife and kids are still WA?

I read it that way.
That would make things very hard.
And a lot of pressure to return as soon as he can, you would think.

 

[Toffee Lion]

I'm assuming Casey Voss isn't much of a player or else we'd be hearing more about the potential of drafting him this year?

 

[trikster]

Do I understand that article correctly, that Kelly’s wife and kids are still WA?

Correct

On [device_name] using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[winged1]

There will always be a diamond in the rough somewhere but it doesn't mean all your picks have to be from the rough.

Sure. Kelly has been brilliant but is it great judgement or just dumb luck?

It's a numbers game.

Over the last 20 years or so, since drafting has become more of an exact science, there's a far better chance of landing your ball on the green from the fairway than from a bunker or the heavy rough.

But it's amazing how some clubs just keep picking these guys up, who aren't just solid but actually good players.

Geelong are probably the best at it.

 

[briztoon]

Rankine is the best talent (after Lukosius) and has to be tracked. I'd tip him to be there at 3. It sounds like clubs are hot on Sam Walsh top 2. He'd be my person pick at this point in time and I'd back myself to get other mids later on, as there is always value in the mid part of the draft and often also in the rookie draft with mids.

Best midfielder though to answer that is Bailey Smith. He's better than Sam Walsh for mine. Better clearance winner, better contested ball winner and much more reliable kick.

 

[jjami15]

He did get Josh Kelly wrong by not having him higher in his draft year which he admitted. Just saying!

 

[pulpdriver]

He did get Josh Kelly wrong by not having him higher in his draft year which he admitted. Just saying!

I feel like Walsh is his next Kelly.

 

[WhiteLionFeva]

Watched Walsh's highlights from the Falcons game v Eastern Ranges (got 30+ possessions) and the impression I get is that he gets a lot of the ball (often as a second possession out of a clearance rather than in and under type), his pace would be more McCluggage/Berry than Bailey/Zorko and his kicking is not a strength - he has no left foot at all. Be interested to see some vision of Smith for a comparison.

 

[jackess]

You do worry about his kicking but you can also see how much someone like Bailey's kicking has improved after being drafted

 

[jjami15]

Watched Walsh's highlights from the Falcons game v Eastern Ranges (got 30+ possessions) and the impression I get is that he gets a lot of the ball (often as a second possession out of a clearance rather than in and under type), his pace would be more McCluggage/Berry than Bailey/Zorko and his kicking is not a strength - he has no left foot at all. Be interested to see some vision of Smith for a comparison.

First kick was left footed. He is an aerobic beast. Ran 15.12 in last year's at the start of last year's testing. Also oozes leadership qualities.