Opinion 2023 AFL Draft Prospects

[Mofra]

Agree Sweet is likely gone but we are likely to have Darcy and Croft as backups to English & Lobb, so maybe not a pressing need.

Oh god. Darcy isn't ready and Croft didn't even ruck much as a junior.
Ideally we take another young ruck in the rookie draft, as rucks are a crapshoot and every year there seem to be a couple of good rucks found.

 

[dogwatch]

Oh god. Darcy isn't ready and Croft didn't even ruck much as a junior.
Ideally we take another young ruck in the rookie draft, as rucks are a crapshoot and every year there seem to be a couple of good rucks found.

Some kid in the Albury district?

 

[_Cerberus_]

Darcy will be a Forward/Defender first, and only a relief ruck. Would be pissing away his strengths if he rucks full time. Sweet goes, we need a developing ruck to ruck in the VFL full time, with enough skills to provide reasonable ruck work at AFL level should English be out with injury. Good time to develop someone now given we have Lobb and English together for a couple of years

 

[hatescaptcha]

Oh god. Darcy isn't ready and Croft didn't even ruck much as a junior.
Ideally we take another young ruck in the rookie draft, as rucks are a crapshoot and every year there seem to be a couple of good rucks found.

Will Elliot plays forward / ruck 202cm from the chargers. Was rated really highly before his draft season was a ride off from injury.


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[TiAn_]

Oh god. Darcy isn't ready and Croft didn't even ruck much as a junior.
Ideally we take another young ruck in the rookie draft, as rucks are a crapshoot and every year there seem to be a couple of good rucks found.

Don’t really want to add a fourth in line pure ruck to the list just on the off chance we don’t re-sign English, or something. Lobb is enough injury insurance for the next two years. Then Darcy (and probably Croft) will be. Anyone we draft now won’t leapfrog Lobb or Darcy as English’s support, so they’d want to have another string to their bow (which sounds like Croft to me).

 

[Mofra]

Don’t really want to add a fourth in line pure ruck to the list just on the off chance we don’t re-sign English, or something. Lobb is enough injury insurance for the next two years. Then Darcy (and probably Croft) will be. Anyone we draft now won’t leapfrog Lobb or Darcy as English’s support, so they’d want to have another string to their bow (which sounds like Croft to me).

Going in with just one ruck and one part-timer (two at a stretch if we include Darcy) seems terribly thin.
Gold Coast copped injuries to their first 4 ruck options not too long ago.

 

[TiAn_]

Going in with just one ruck and one part-timer (two at a stretch if we include Darcy) seems terribly thin.
Gold Coast copped injuries to their first 4 ruck options not too long ago.

I think those situations are the exception though. Jordon Sweet has played 11 AFL games. And that was with Martin barely playing and English being a bit injury prone.

By the time Lobb retires, Darcy will be 22-23 and capable of filling in for the odd stretch where English is out (and likely much better than anyone we draft this year). If we draft another tall in addition to Croft they’d need to have other strings to their bow, or they’re unlikely to have much opportunity.

 

[dogwatch]

Going in with just one ruck and one part-timer (two at a stretch if we include Darcy) seems terribly thin.
Gold Coast copped injuries to their first 4 ruck options not too long ago.

And when you suddenly need one it would be nice to know that he's somebody you've been playing within the club's programs and knows how we play, not some raw kid plucked off the street in desperation in the previous week's MSD.

The problem is that behind English you have Lobb who is a useful forward but a C-grade ruckman on the wrong side of 30, and you have Darcy who has the skills and height but is still developing. Croft isn't even on our list and is 17 years old and 80kg so he won't be ready for rucking for at least another 3-4 years, if ever.

So if English leaves or has lengthy periods out of the game due to injury or concussions we'd rely on Darcy to shoulder the ruck duties. Not ideal and he'd be our last man standing too, apart from Lobb who may be in decline by then.

If you deal with this problem by getting a ready-made ruck from another club he would have an expectation that he'd get senior games each year, otherwise why would he move? Problem is if English and Darcy (and maybe Lobb) stay fit he won't get those games. Would such a player come over just to be a break-glass option? I doubt it. He'd go to whoever gives him the most hope of playing seniors.

So the best strategy should be to get a 19-20yo developing ruck from the bush or the state leagues, one who will not cost much in salary, will continue to improve in the VFL and can step up in an emergency. You can have such a player on your list for 3 or 4, maybe even 5 years before he would seek a move because he is not getting a game. Like Sweet has done. And if we strike it lucky and he really comes good we might decide to play him in the seniors as the Lobb successor.

Our alternative is to try to retain Sweet who has been an emergency for most of our games this year. But will he want to stay? One good offer and I'd say he's gone. His career clock is now ticking.

 

[Mofra]

And when you suddenly need one it would be nice to know that he's somebody you've been playing within the club's programs and knows how we play, not some raw kid plucked off the street in desperation in the previous week's MSD.

The problem is that behind English you have Lobb who is a useful forward but a C-grade ruckman on the wrong side of 30, and you have Darcy who has the skills and height but is still developing. Croft isn't even on our list and is 17 years old and 80kg so he won't be ready for rucking for at least another 3-4 years, if ever.

So if English leaves or has lengthy periods out of the game due to injury or concussions we'd rely on Darcy to shoulder the ruck duties. Not ideal and he'd be our last man standing too, apart from Lobb who may be in decline by then.

If you deal with this problem by getting a ready-made ruck from another club he would have an expectation that he'd get senior games each year, otherwise why would he move? Problem is if English and Darcy (and maybe Lobb) stay fit he won't get those games. Would such a player come over just to be a break-glass option? I doubt it. He'd go to whoever gives him the most hope of playing seniors.

So the best strategy should be to get a 19-20yo developing ruck from the bush or the state leagues, one who will not cost much in salary, will continue to improve in the VFL and can step up in an emergency. You can have such a player on your list for 3 or 4, maybe even 5 years before he would seek a move because he is not getting a game. Like Sweet has done. And if we strike it lucky and he really comes good we might decide to play him in the seniors as the Lobb successor.

Our alternative is to try to retain Sweet who has been an emergency for most of our games this year. But will he want to stay? One good offer and I'd say he's gone. His career clock is now ticking.

The expectation above was that he walks, which I think he will.
Timmy's missed games almost every year due to injury (and concussion) so relying on he, part timer over 30 and a kid seems pretty optimistic.

The year we took Timmy in the draft, Brissie took Oscar Mac as a mature aged rookie. An ideal 'type' for us to consider at the end of the year, although a bunch of rucks went in last year's MSD so we might have to jump in early

 

[Dannnnnnnnnn]

The chances of Bev playing a rookie ruck are slim-to-none. Even if Sweet is out, we would need to go through English, Lobb, Darcy, O'Donnell, Ugle-Hagan, Hannan and Caleb Daniel

5

Caleb Daniel

Age

29

Ht

171cm

Wt

72kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

21.3

5star

K

11.5

4star

HB

9.8

5star

M

3.5

4star

T

2.9

4star

CL

1.4

4star

D

19.5

4star

K

11.1

4star

HB

8.4

4star

M

3.6

4star

T

2.0

3star

CL

1.0

3star

D

16.4

4star

K

7.2

3star

HB

9.2

5star

M

3.4

4star

T

2.6

4star

CL

0.2

2star

before he even thinks about it.

Not averse to taking a ruck at some stage (especially a mature one), but I'm certainly not investing in one that will need a lot of development just because we're light on depth.

 

[VogonProsthetnic]

I’m tipping Darcy is going to be a pretty good tap ruckman. What we will be needing is a KPF or KPD who can hold their own for a few games a season in the ruck.

What are the chances of Darcy and English getting injured at the same time?

 

[doggies ftw]

The chances of Bev playing a rookie ruck are slim-to-none. Even if Sweet is out, we would need to go through English, Lobb, Darcy, O'Donnell, Ugle-Hagan, Hannan and Caleb Daniel before he even thinks about it.

Not averse to taking a ruck at some stage (especially a mature one), but I'm certainly not investing in one that will need a lot of development just because we're light on depth.

I mean Timmy was a rookie ruck once that Bev played - I think he’d play a rookie ruck over anybody else as long as he was the right type of ruck, even if he wasn’t ready.

I think it’s time to draft another one to start developing, if he stays on the list for 4 or 5 no harm done really. The VFL team needs a ruck, it’s not good for anyone’s development to have the likes of Darcy/Buku playing there. Yeah we can play Lobb/Darcy there and probably will over the next few years if it’s just the odd game here & there that Timmy misses - but then we lose Lobb from his current role, and Darcy’s development from the role we expect him to play going forward (although in 3+ years I think that Darcy could be a dominant ruck or at least back up ruck if that’s what we needed from here, but I’d prefer to have another option so we can utilise him elsewhere)

Should start developing one now assuming Sweet goes which I think he will certainly next year if not this year. Just a late pick is all we need

 

[hatescaptcha]

I mean Timmy was a rookie ruck once that Bev played - I think he’d play a rookie ruck over anybody else as long as he was the right type of ruck, even if he wasn’t ready.

I think it’s time to draft another one to start developing, if he stays on the list for 4 or 5 no harm done really. The VFL team needs a ruck, it’s not good for anyone’s development to have the likes of Darcy/Buku playing there. Yeah we can play Lobb/Darcy there and probably will over the next few years if it’s just the odd game here & there that Timmy misses - but then we lose Lobb from his current role, and Darcy’s development from the role we expect him to play going forward (although in 3+ years I think that Darcy could be a dominant ruck or at least back up ruck if that’s what we needed from here, but I’d prefer to have another option so we can utilise him elsewhere)

Should start developing one now assuming Sweet goes which I think he will certainly next year if not this year. Just a late pick is all we need

Mitch Edwards is looking like a Tim English clone. We do love gun WA talls.


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[Bald]

Are we really going to rule out drafting any Tasmanian through fear we can’t keep them? Guess we should rule out all the SA, WA and NSW kids too.

If a kids good and fits what we want back in our system to keep them. Otherwise stick to Victorian kids and limit ourselves

I think it’s not too far of a stretch to assume that Tasmanians in the competition will be at far greater risk of leaving than those of other states because you just know there will be incentives (either known or under the table) to get as many home grown players there as possible.

 

[Bald]

I think every club needs an AFL listed ruckman playing VFL consistently (in the ruck as well - so not Darcy). Sweet is that for now but you wouldn’t begrudge him for looking at other opportunities and should he leave, he should be replaced.

 

[dogwatch]

I’m tipping Darcy is going to be a pretty good tap ruckman. What we will be needing is a KPF or KPD who can hold their own for a few games a season in the ruck.

What are the chances of Darcy and English getting injured at the same time?

As Mofra pointed out it certainly happens. Even four of them at a time.

Also - on Darcy - when I watched him on several occasions in the ruck in the VFL last year he seemed a natural. Good positioning, good instincts, good taps. Unlike English who has had to learn his ruckcraft late in his development.

 

[scooter600x]

Sweet is the perfect backup ruck.
Good enough to pinch hit if needed but not good enough to be anyone’s first ruck.
Almost no chance he goes, he’s not good enough to get a main job anywhere

 

[Doggies_13]

I think it’s not too far of a stretch to assume that Tasmanians in the competition will be at far greater risk of leaving than those of other states because you just know there will be incentives (either known or under the table) to get as many home grown players there as possible.

Disagree, back your system to keep them. They are an hour from home. Some want to get out of Tasmania once they can. We are talking about guys who will have been in the system 4 years when the team comes in. We aren’t talking a year or two. And if they are worrying about getting home they’d be gone before then because they won’t make it.

Will there be an attraction no doubt but no greater than other states. Will players use Tasmania entering the comp as a bargaining chip in contact negotiations absolutely but not just Tasmanians.

 

[Palace03]

Just about every club would have a Sweet type of the list and if he's happy to stay I'd wouldn't be tipping him out. If he took an offer from another club, I would expect the club would pick up another "Sweet type" as DFA or a state league ruck. Even if they are not great quality you have to have that mature bodied, relief ruck option on the list, they take up bugger all cap and are unlikely to leave. If Tim did end up leaving then we become a far more attractive option to quality young rucks through a trade as the No 1. ruck spot becomes wide open.

As for drafting Tassie kids in the next 4-5 years, I'd be staying away early in the draft. Once the Tassie team arrives they will be right in the slot at 22-23 years old and the financial incentives coupled with the lure of going home is a big risk for other sides.

 

[Mofra]

Sweet is the perfect backup ruck.
Good enough to pinch hit if needed but not good enough to be anyone’s first ruck.
Almost no chance he goes, he’s not good enough to get a main job anywhere

West Coast chased him last year, and Port need a mature ruck. I think he'll be easy to pry out of it means he gets AFL game time somewhere.
The swans may be in the market, Geelong if they miss out on TDK. Plenty of teams looking to add mature rucks

 

[LittleG]

West Coast chased him last year, and Port need a mature ruck. I think he'll be easy to pry out of it means he gets AFL game time somewhere.
The swans may be in the market, Geelong if they miss out on TDK. Plenty of teams looking to add mature rucks

Is he doing better than TDK at VFL level?

IF he is, we might actually get another decent draft pick.

 

[weltschmerz]

Sweet’s probably in line to be starting ruck for the VFL team of the year.

 

[Mofra]

Is he doing better than TDK at VFL level?

IF he is, we might actually get another decent draft pick.

Sweet does everything except mark the ball. He's a quite good 'old style' ruck, coaches obviously have different opinions on what they want from a ruck. Witts seems more 'old style' as well and he's one of the Suns' most important players

 

[hatescaptcha]

If WC finish last which looks likely, they would have to entertain multiple picks for number 1. They need a lot more young talent and there’s plenty of WA talent.

Think we are one of the few teams that are in a good position to be able to offer an attractive deal.

Reid would look seriously good in our side now and would lead our future midfield.


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[TiAn_]

If WC finish last which looks likely, they would have to entertain multiple picks for number 1. They need a lot more young talent and there’s plenty of WA talent.

Think we are one of the few teams that are in a good position to be able to offer an attractive deal.

Reid would look seriously good in our side now and would lead our future midfield.


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North will have pick 2, Port’s first (~12-16) and maybe pick 3 or 20 if Ben McKay leaves. They’d be in the box seat to trade for it.