2023 young talent time

[freo_leo29]

I feel like there's gonna bew a few rookies that I'd like this year

Wouldn't mind putting kuek on the lti and taking another, surely by the time kuek is back we will have another injury anyway

 

[Shadow Man]

Milan Murdoch any chance as a rookie?

 

[DQ 4EVER]

From your wonderful post & not having seen many of these boys live, I want Cooper Simpson

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Happy happy

 

[Joose]

Do you know much about young Beattie Chris?

 

[ubiquitous226]

I'm not sure it's the year to go all in with an emphasis on WA players.

The exception for me would probably be Riley Hardeman. I suspect we'll have him very high on our board and would be the one we look to trade up into the 15-20 range for. I'd also consider the same for Lance Collard, if he was on the board around the 25 mark.

Otherwise, I think a few of the better WA players aren't really needs for us. I wouldn't consider Curtin unless he fell a long way, not worth the cost and he's not a positional need - also might be a decent chance of coming home in a few years anyway. Don't think I'd make a move for Tholstrup either. And even though he'd be good value at our first, Clay Hall doesn't really offer anything that Johnson and Erasmus don't already.

Personally, I don't see Mitch Edwards as a pressing need - but accept a match after 40 would be too good a value to ignore. I wouldn't go for Zane Zakostelsky or one of the other young rucks like Evan Smith.

Of those that are left, Koen Sanchez might be available at our first pick - would be a decent addition, smart player and just a good classic footballer. More clever rather than dangerous in the forward half, which could be a positive or negative depending on what you want. Either one of Reece Torrent and Joe Fonti could be considered at a later pick as some rebounding half back depth. I wouldn't be disappointed there. The wildcard is probably Aiden O'Driscoll. I think the club will seriously look at him for a wing position despite his size, and he would be a more attacking option than Liam Henry provided. He's the one I seem to change my mind on the most.

And then there's some others who'd be more likely as rookies like Xavier Walsh, Oscar Hine-Baston, Jack Cocking and Ashton Ferreria.

I've ended up listing a fair few players, the only issue I have with targeting locals is at most of our picks there are likely to be better players/better fits who we'd be overlooking for the WA factor. And I think that's especially true both in terms of the mature aged guys and for forward talent - which we've said is a focus this draft.

Best case for a WA based draft would probably be Koen Sanchez, Aiden O'Driscoll and Reece Torrent.

What's your thoughts on why Sanchez was overlooked?
Was there an issue of his main role being mid which recruiters may not see him capable of at AFL level, and others projecting better in the small forward area?

We haven't moved yet to even trial him, preferring Beattie, so that says something.

 

[Chris25]

Do you know much about young Beattie Chris?

I've seen a few games this year. Looks a decent young player, I know Woodville is pretty excited about his prospects. There's a few similarities with another Woodville player in James Rowe who spent a couple of years with Adelaide. Busy little player, above average speed, natural around goal.

What's your thoughts on why Sanchez was overlooked?
Was there an issue of his main role being mid which recruiters may not see him capable of at AFL level, and others projecting better in the small forward area?

We haven't moved yet to even trial him, preferring Beattie, so that says something.

I liked Sanchez as a prospect, he was one of only 2 in my top 50 who went undrafted.

But he wasn't at the top of my list for us, largely for the reason you said - I think he's a natural small mid who would probably be forced to play forward. And I think teams are more and more seeing the small forward positions as specialist ones - so I can see why guys like Anastosopoulos, Charleson, Delean and Rawlinson were picked ahead of him.

I think if Sanchez was given a go then he'd be able to work his way into an AFL midfield and be a decent addition. As a forward, I think he's a clever enough player to make it work but his ceiling might be limited in that role.

 

[theGav56]

I've seen a few games this year. Looks a decent young player, I know Woodville is pretty excited about his prospects. There's a few similarities with another Woodville player in James Rowe who spent a couple of years with Adelaide. Busy little player, above average speed, natural around goal.



I liked Sanchez as a prospect, he was one of only 2 in my top 50 who went undrafted.

But he wasn't at the top of my list for us, largely for the reason you said - I think he's a natural small mid who would probably be forced to play forward. And I think teams are more and more seeing the small forward positions as specialist ones - so I can see why guys like Anastosopoulos, Charleson, Delean and Rawlinson were picked ahead of him.

I think if Sanchez was given a go then he'd be able to work his way into an AFL midfield and be a decent addition. As a forward, I think he's a clever enough player to make it work but his ceiling might be limited in that role.

Is Delean going to be a genuine small forward for us? How is his ground level work?

 

[Chris25]

Is Delean going to be a genuine small forward for us? How is his ground level work?

I’d have ranked Delean’s forward craft as second to only Nick Watson in the draft pool. He’s equally as good in the air as on the ground, and really is that throwback stay at home forward pocket.

It’s only his athletic profile that saw him available at our final pick.

 

[BettercallSaul]

I’d have ranked Delean’s forward craft as second to only Nick Watson in the draft pool. He’s equally as good in the air as on the ground, and really is that throwback stay at home forward pocket.

It’s only his athletic profile that saw him available at our final pick.

Really love your insights “Chris”, much appreciated. Re Beattie, to confirm, he does have real pace? I couldn’t find any mention of his combine test and his highlights didn’t really highlight pace. I ask as being his size he needs to really excel in other areas.