Draft 2021 AFLW Draft discussion

[The_Wookie]

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the live Draft thread is now open here.

Draft - The 2021 AFLW National Draft, 6.45pm AEST on womens.afl & the AFLW app

Click for a Full list of drafted players >> ============================ The 2021 AFLW Draft will take place on Tuesday, July 27 in a virtual format, commencing at 6.45pm AEST on womens.afl and the AFLW Official App. Like last year, it will be a studio show, hosted by Nat Edwards, Sarah...

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[Biggie]

Good game this Vic Metro v WA

 

[PMBangers]

Good game this Vic Metro v WA

Metro much improved from the Country clash which is great to see, goal kicking could improve though

Franklin moved forward for the last bit of that quarter, hope that continues

 

[Biggie]

Franklin moved forward for the last bit of that quarter, hope that continues

She's playing much better

Presparkis is a jet

 

[PMBangers]

She's playing much better

Presparkis is a jet

Rowbottom climbed back to 1 for me after that game.

WA definitely deserved the win, unfortunate not to get it

 

[Biggie]

Rowbottom climbed back to 1 for me after that game.

WA definitely deserved the win, unfortunate not to get it

Missed the last 10 minutes - bloody work

Just checked the scores and wowee, what a fightback

Did we miss on the siren?

 

[PMBangers]

Missed the last 10 minutes - bloody work

Just checked the scores and wowee, what a fightback

Did we miss on the siren?

Yep, Reilly had a shot after the siren about 45 out and the wind drifted it across for a point

 

[Biggie]

Yep, Reilly had a shot after the siren about 45 out and the wind drifted it across for a point

Damn.

 

[AlphaSheep]

Rowbottom climbed back to 1 for me after that game.

WA definitely deserved the win, unfortunate not to get it

Curious that WA played a lot like the Eagles did this season -- play on constantly, kick to open space, don't be scared of switching play or using the corridor. Which is kind of like the Dockers too, at their best, though I thought they went away from it in the second half of the season. Maybe we're seeing the emergence of a Western Australian brand of women's football. Certainly makes for much more attractive games.

 

[PMBangers]

Curious that WA played a lot like the Eagles did this season -- play on constantly, kick to open space, don't be scared of switching play or using the corridor. Which is kind of like the Dockers too, at their best, though I thought they went away from it in the second half of the season. Maybe we're seeing the emergence of a Western Australian brand of women's football. Certainly makes for much more attractive games.

WA also just have a lot of athletically superior players that allow for that style, like they seriously don't have a player you'd classify as slow on their list, and most are agile so that take it on and run onto kicks over the top suits them a lot

 

[AlphaSheep]

Ella Roberts had 31 disposals. I don't think she played her best game, either.

Meanwhile Lauren Young, who's even younger than Roberts, had 37 and 9 tackles. I only caught a bit of the game, but SA were playing her as a 178cm midfielder.

There's some crazy good tall, mobile kids coming through. Monty Ham's a little below where I thought she'd be this year, but I still reckon she's in the same category once she gets it together. But like Amy Franklin, if the coach sticks her deep up one end, she's not going to see much of the ball.

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[PMBangers]

Ella Roberts had 31 disposals. I don't think she played her best game, either.

Meanwhile Lauren Young, who's even younger than Roberts, had 37 and 9 tackles. I only caught a bit of the game, but SA were playing her as a 178cm midfielder.

There's some crazy good tall, mobile kids coming through. Monty Ham's a little below where I thought she'd be this year, but I still reckon she's in the same category once she gets it together. But like Amy Franklin, if the coach sticks her deep up one end, she's not going to see much of the ball.

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The two champs games for Metro are the first two games Ham has played any sort of extended period in the forwardline, she's the third best stoppage player for Metro behind Rowbottom and Prespakis, but as a bottom-ager they were never going to play her in there for extended periods. Next year, that metro starting midfield of Hurley, Ham and Hipwell (maybe Baskaran even) will be much better than this years.

 

[Vacuous Space]

The two champs games for Metro are the first two games Ham has played any sort of extended period in the forwardline, she's the third best stoppage player for Metro behind Rowbottom and Prespakis, but as a bottom-ager they were never going to play her in there for extended periods. Next year, that metro starting midfield of Hurley, Ham and Hipwell (maybe Baskaran even) will be much better than this years.

They managed to get Hurley in for a few centre bounces today. I get showcasing the draft eligible players, but I don't get not using Ham in there at all. AFAICT, the only centre bounce she's been in for was the one against Country where she roved Campbell's tap, got a clean break and kicked a 70m point. Also, only one centre bounce for Campbell today doesn't make a lot of sense.

 

[PMBangers]

They managed to get Hurley in for a few centre bounces today. I get showcasing the draft eligible players, but I don't get not using Ham in there at all. AFAICT, the only centre bounce she's been in for was the one against Country where she roved Campbell's tap, got a clean break and kicked a 70m point. Also, only one centre bounce for Campbell today doesn't make a lot of sense.

Yeah look, I think from discussions with people involved it seems Metro selection and team set up was focused around getting players drafted this year. As a balance around stoppages Rowbottom and Ham are pretty similar in the guts so they might negate each other a bit, Hurley getting in there was good to see though, I'd have her at 2 for the Vic draft next season atm and she proved she's worth that today.
I maintain that Campbell is a superior ruck, and prospect, to Gillard, so why she wasn't used more often there I don't know and find a little frustrating, but it probably goes back to the point of draftability, she's short for a League ruck so they're probably giving her exposure as a forward

 

[AlphaSheep]

Yeah look, I think from discussions with people involved it seems Metro selection and team set up was focused around getting players drafted this year. As a balance around stoppages Rowbottom and Ham are pretty similar in the guts so they might negate each other a bit, Hurley getting in there was good to see though, I'd have her at 2 for the Vic draft next season atm and she proved she's worth that today.
I maintain that Campbell is a superior ruck, and prospect, to Gillard, so why she wasn't used more often there I don't know and find a little frustrating, but it probably goes back to the point of draftability, she's short for a League ruck so they're probably giving her exposure as a forward

I haven't seen any NAB League this year because somebody made the annoying decision to stop putting games on Youtube. Probably the same person who decided not to put these championships on Youtube. I had Ham as automatic No.1 Vic pick next year based on what I saw last year... any thoughts after this season?

Also, I don't suppose anyone's heard anything about Geelong's drafting intentions? They usually try to pick locals, will obviously make the exception for Georgie or Charlie, but neither may want to go, or may indicate they'll head back to Melbourne asap if they are picked. Which could unleash the mother of all AFLW trading periods as clubs compete to buy the No.1 pick from Geelong.

 

[PMBangers]

I haven't seen any NAB League this year because somebody made the annoying decision to stop putting games on Youtube. Probably the same person who decided not to put these championships on Youtube. I had Ham as automatic No.1 Vic pick next year based on what I saw last year... any thoughts after this season?

Also, I don't suppose anyone's heard anything about Geelong's drafting intentions? They usually try to pick locals, will obviously make the exception for Georgie or Charlie, but neither may want to go, or may indicate they'll head back to Melbourne asap if they are picked. Which could unleash the mother of all AFLW trading periods as clubs compete to buy the No.1 pick from Geelong.

Yeah Ham is pretty comfortably at 1 in Vic for me, then Baskaran, Hurley, Eardley, Clarke, Shepherd and Hipwell male up the neslxt handful in almost any order, she's essentially a taller Rowbottom, probably less accurate but further kick if you're being pedantic.

It's something Pie 4 Life and I have discussed before, Cats are pretty likely to get a priority pick as well, so if they don't take either Metro girl I assume it's Slender and then trade the other pick to the highest bidder

 

[Pie 4 Life]

Yeah Ham is pretty comfortably at 1 in Vic for me, then Baskaran, Hurley, Eardley, Clarke, Shepherd and Hipwell male up the neslxt handful in almost any order, she's essentially a taller Rowbottom, probably less accurate but further kick if you're being pedantic.

Can’t forget Scott considering the past week now

 

[PMBangers]

Can’t forget Scott considering the past week now

For the goal celebrations alone

I'd still have her in the group below with the likes of Di Donato, Williamson, Taylor, etc. though

 

[Pie 4 Life]

For the goal celebrations alone

I'd still have her in the group below with the likes of Di Donato, Williamson, Taylor, etc. though

As if you forget Skepper on that list

 

[PMBangers]

As if you forget Skepper on that list

The etc. saved me , I'm just waiting until.the end of NAB League season to finish my rankings then I'll be able to tell you comprehensively the objectively correct order

 

[Pie 4 Life]

The etc. saved me , I'm just waiting until.the end of NAB League season to finish my rankings then I'll be able to tell you comprehensively the objectively correct order

Yeah I say she would be at the other end of that group rather than the etc. end haha.

For 3/4 they will only have the one round left too

 

[AlphaSheep]

Yeah Ham is pretty comfortably at 1 in Vic for me, then Baskaran, Hurley, Eardley, Clarke, Shepherd and Hipwell male up the neslxt handful in almost any order, she's essentially a taller Rowbottom, probably less accurate but further kick if you're being pedantic.

It's something Pie 4 Life and I have discussed before, Cats are pretty likely to get a priority pick as well, so if they don't take either Metro girl I assume it's Slender and then trade the other pick to the highest bidder

I've only seen a little of Rowbottom, but I think Ham's a smidge more athletic.

So many unknown variables makes it impossible to predict this year's Vic draft. We could see anything from both Georgie and Charlie going to the Cats, to neither going and ending up one at the Saints, the other anywhere else.

But we could still conceivably see two Prespakises at Carlton (is the plural of Prespakis 'Prespaki'?).

 

[Vacuous Space]

Yeah look, I think from discussions with people involved it seems Metro selection and team set up was focused around getting players drafted this year. As a balance around stoppages Rowbottom and Ham are pretty similar in the guts so they might negate each other a bit, Hurley getting in there was good to see though, I'd have her at 2 for the Vic draft next season atm and she proved she's worth that today.
I maintain that Campbell is a superior ruck, and prospect, to Gillard, so why she wasn't used more often there I don't know and find a little frustrating, but it probably goes back to the point of draftability, she's short for a League ruck so they're probably giving her exposure as a forward

I'd have thought Gillard would also be best served by spending some time outside the ruck, though. I'm not sure anyone other than Collingwood is going to take her as a first round pick to ruck. Tigers and Dogs are picking too early (at the moment) and the Dogs might get Campbell anyway. Carlton, North and the Dees all have well established rucks. It feels like a bargain if Gillard lasts to Collingwood's pick, but I don't see where else she might go, unless she's going to play some not ruck.

 

[PMBangers]

I'd have thought Gillard would also be best served by spending some time outside the ruck, though. I'm not sure anyone other than Collingwood is going to take her as a first round pick to ruck. Tigers and Dogs are picking too early (at the moment) and the Dogs might get Campbell anyway. Carlton, North and the Dees all have well established rucks. It feels like a bargain if Gillard lasts to Collingwood's pick, but I don't see where else she might go, unless she's going to play some not ruck.

It'll be interesting to see how she's used next level, there seems to be a legitimate split 33% each way to defender, forward and ruck, but either way a clear second position is probably needed either through champs or VFLW. Currently she's behind a few for me rankings wise, so I wouldn't be shocked to see her drop to the second round

 

[Vacuous Space]

I've only seen a little of Rowbottom, but I think Ham's a smidge more athletic.

So many unknown variables makes it impossible to predict this year's Vic draft. We could see anything from both Georgie and Charlie going to the Cats, to neither going and ending up one at the Saints, the other anywhere else.

But we could still conceivably see two Prespakises at Carlton (is the plural of Prespakis 'Prespaki'?).

I feel like watching Rowbottom play NAB League this year has given me some insight as to what it might be like to watch Bri Davey play against teenagers. Ham is basically the same player, playing for a much lesser NAB League team and has a year of junior to go. I'm expecting huge things from her next year, especially with Baskaran and Russell both in their draft years as well. Hopefully less time spent forward not having the ball kicked to her.

In terms of Geelong, I may be in the minority, but I really like what they've done at the draft. If they could manage to get Slender and maybe one of the other Country academy girls as well as one or both of Craven and Lee, I'd consider that a huge win. They might cop some criticism if they don't get Prespakis or Rowbottom, but I think their main focus should be amassing talent they can keep and get through expansion as unscathed as possible.

And I don't care how it happens - I'm hoping for a Princes Park pairing of the Prespaki.

 

[AlphaSheep]

I feel like watching Rowbottom play NAB League this year has given me some insight as to what it might be like to watch Bri Davey play against teenagers. Ham is basically the same player, playing for a much lesser NAB League team and has a year of junior to go. I'm expecting huge things from her next year, especially with Baskaran and Russell both in their draft years as well. Hopefully less time spent forward not having the ball kicked to her.

In terms of Geelong, I may be in the minority, but I really like what they've done at the draft. If they could manage to get Slender and maybe one of the other Country academy girls as well as one or both of Craven and Lee, I'd consider that a huge win. They might cop some criticism if they don't get Prespakis or Rowbottom, but I think their main focus should be amassing talent they can keep and get through expansion as unscathed as possible.

And I don't care how it happens - I'm hoping for a Princes Park pairing of the Prespaki.

I don't have that much difficulty with how Geelong have drafted, though I do wonder at all these Geelong Falcon girls who post big numbers in NAB League then don't do anything at AFLW, or don't get picked at all. I agree that long term committed players are most important, I'm just wondering how Geelong are going to cope when their zone is gone, all the other Vic teams can pinch their local players but they're struggling to attract non-Geelong players the other way. It's like the worst of both worlds.

I'm also a huge Monty Ham fan, I think players like her, Roberts and Rowbottom could help change the game. Women's footy needs more players who win one-on-one contests convincingly then punish the whole opposition team for it. While players like Conti, M Prespakis and others can do it on the ground, Ham and co can do it in the air as well. Those kinds of players are congestion busters, and if women's footy needs anything right now, it's congestion busters.

A pretty perfect pairing of Princess Park Prespaki would be fun, but picture this -- one Prespakis in navy blue, the other in black and white stripes, facing each other across the centre bounce. Or in yellow and black. The drama.