I've been waiting for a draft summary thread. We have a draft day thread and individual pick threads but I thought it might be worth it to discuss the overall results (ND, PS and RD) given we've had a few days to reflect now. Mods - feel free to delete if you don't think it's needed.
So after reading more about our picks and watching some more footage, I'm pretty happy with our draft overall. The only thing I would have liked was a bit more focus on mids with classy ball use and decision making after the Thilthorpe pick. It sounds there probably wasn't a great supply of these types outside of Hollands. Macrae was one that I liked and Carroll seems to fit this description. I think Cook makes pretty good decisions with ball in hand but have not seen enough of Pedlar and Berry to make the same call.
It looks like we have focused on players that are hard at the ball and the player with the Pedlar and Berry picks. TT and Cook also have some mongrel. If we're not prioritising classy ball use, then I prefer this strategy to going with athletisicm/speculative. Looking at our future midfield now, we definitely have a strong tackling midfield unit remembering we're also bringing in Hately (Hately, Schoenberg, Jones, Pedlar, Berry). This is great but I think next year we really need to be agressive and get two high picks (assuming we finish low again) to balance that with two high class ball users (Horne, Sonsie, Rachele, Sinn, Chesser). I think that would round out our group pretty well for the rebuild.
The SA factor is just a bonus IMO. I'm hoping that we're not doing it on purpose and that fixing our retention issue is led by a culture change.
Picks I like:
TT - Easy one here. I like that it looks like we're earmarking him as a forward. Realistically with ROB becoming a top line ruck, he's not going to be going for that position in the short term anyway. Was him or Hollands for mine.
Pedlar - Finding out more about him makes me comfortable with the selection. Plays hard, wins the ball, has power and kicks goals.
Cook - Just natural talent and looks to have some mongrel. Lots of upside.
Hately - If we can call this a draft pick, it's obviously a very good one for our club
Picks I don't really have an opinion on (yet):
Berry - Haven't seen enough
Rowe - Unsure whether his SANFL form will translate to AFL
Borlase - See above
Newchurch - Highly speculative
Prediction for best player of our draft:
Hard to go past TT as he has so many great qualities for a tall to excel at AFL level.
The smokey though could be Cook imo. I wasn't really thinking about taking him as I was concentrating on midfielders and didn't think he'd last that long anyway. He has some serious football talent, goals sense and aerial ability. I think I'll be watching him the closest.
So after reading more about our picks and watching some more footage, I'm pretty happy with our draft overall. The only thing I would have liked was a bit more focus on mids with classy ball use and decision making after the Thilthorpe pick. It sounds there probably wasn't a great supply of these types outside of Hollands. Macrae was one that I liked and Carroll seems to fit this description. I think Cook makes pretty good decisions with ball in hand but have not seen enough of Pedlar and Berry to make the same call.
It looks like we have focused on players that are hard at the ball and the player with the Pedlar and Berry picks. TT and Cook also have some mongrel. If we're not prioritising classy ball use, then I prefer this strategy to going with athletisicm/speculative. Looking at our future midfield now, we definitely have a strong tackling midfield unit remembering we're also bringing in Hately (Hately, Schoenberg, Jones, Pedlar, Berry). This is great but I think next year we really need to be agressive and get two high picks (assuming we finish low again) to balance that with two high class ball users (Horne, Sonsie, Rachele, Sinn, Chesser). I think that would round out our group pretty well for the rebuild.
The SA factor is just a bonus IMO. I'm hoping that we're not doing it on purpose and that fixing our retention issue is led by a culture change.
Picks I like:
TT - Easy one here. I like that it looks like we're earmarking him as a forward. Realistically with ROB becoming a top line ruck, he's not going to be going for that position in the short term anyway. Was him or Hollands for mine.
Pedlar - Finding out more about him makes me comfortable with the selection. Plays hard, wins the ball, has power and kicks goals.
Cook - Just natural talent and looks to have some mongrel. Lots of upside.
Hately - If we can call this a draft pick, it's obviously a very good one for our club
Picks I don't really have an opinion on (yet):
Berry - Haven't seen enough
Rowe - Unsure whether his SANFL form will translate to AFL
Borlase - See above
Newchurch - Highly speculative
Prediction for best player of our draft:
Hard to go past TT as he has so many great qualities for a tall to excel at AFL level.
The smokey though could be Cook imo. I wasn't really thinking about taking him as I was concentrating on midfielders and didn't think he'd last that long anyway. He has some serious football talent, goals sense and aerial ability. I think I'll be watching him the closest.