Collard and O'Brien

[theGav56]

Just had a look at the Draft and Trades Board and it has this in one of the Mock Drafts;

Well it's only the first 3 rounds, but here it is;

ROUND ONE
8. Collingwood - Clayton Collard. Think Collard is a good fit for what Collingwood is looking for in a midfielder. They want someone who is quick, but can also win their own footy, and Collard does that for you.

16. West Coast - Brock O'Brien. Local player, and when you look at the type of hard / tough defenders that the Eagles have taken before with the likes of Beau Waters, I think O'Brien will appeal to them again, and be able to replace a Banfield or Chick in defence over the next couple of years.

42. Essendon - Caleb Mourish. Smoky who's got Sheedy pick written all over him. Draft camp was abysmal, but I don't think that'll stop Essendon from picking him, especially with his type of ability for a ruck - rover.

Don't know anything about the poster or their credentials for assesing the draft, but this was fairly typical of what was being posted about Collard and O'Brien, with hot debate over whether Collard or Jetta were the better choice to be picked first. Absolutely stoked with who we got for the picks we had.

I think that at some stage this year we could see one of them play seniors. Already with Schammer long term injured, Browne looks a hot chance to play. How Likely do you see it that one of Collard or O'Brien might get call?

 

[newlander77]

I doubt we will see either in the pre-season games. So the chances of seeing them play the real stuff this year is unlikely. Development year for them all.

 

[theGav56]

Why wouldn't you give them a run in the pre-season? Seems like a great opportunity for them.

 

[peppy la pew]

I'm with fatso on this, give them a year at wafl level to get their bodies hardened.
Have a look at Marc Murphy and Dale Thomas for instance, played too much, too early.
The pre-season should be a battle for Schamster's spot, and i will guess that Brownie might just sneek in. In saying that lets have a peek of Ryley Dunn, is this his first injury-free season ?

 

[theGav56]

I'm with fatso on this, give them a year at wafl level to get their bodies hardened.

Yes, fair enough Peppy. I definitely want to see Borwne and Dunn do evry thing possible to get an AFL career happening.

 

[dominguez]

IIRC Collard has done very little work over the summer, making it unlikely that he will play this year. Look forward to checking out a bulldogs game to see how he goes though.

Peppy la pew makes a good point, if we see Brock this year it is a really bad sign for Ryley Dunn. They both seem to be best suited to the half back line so Ryley will either be injured again or have been over taken by a first year player if Brock gets a run.

It's a shame in situations like this that we don't have a reserves team. Obviously it's not possible in WA, but I would head down most weeks if Collard, Mourish, O'Brien, Warnock, Campbell, Ibottson, Copping, Smith, Rumble and Foster were all in the one wafl team.

 

[davey_23]

Collard will be a gun. He has something special that not many players have. Dont be suprised if Jetta comes to join him in a few years.

 

[Cheetah]

Yeah that'd be good!!!!!

 

[pinkus maximus]

had a look at a couple of the u18 games over the weekend and all i can say is the 30 players picked befor collard must be bloody good because he looked outstanding. the pleasing thing was, he seems very adept when hes 'inside' gathering the ball and distributing while in traffic,and he looks even better running towards goal

 

[Lynch takes a mark]

This is from Mojo on the day of the draft

there was somthing similar posted about O'Brien as well but can't find it, I think it was more to do with Attitude and lack of improvement and development last year.

Sounds like they didn't want to run the risk of another Sampi/Rioli/Richard Cole by the sounds of it and went for Safer pics.

Early developed players with OP and maybe not the running power or be quite able to develop it. Heavy set teenagers might always struggle with there weight body type.

So Collard 182 and 85 kgs and still 17
Proud 180cms and 83 kgs and just turned 18.

Both aboriginal and both OP this year.

It’s a worry. Very talented players but are they going to make it the running game of AFL these days where if you cant cover the ground all day then teams will exploit you.

This is why 2 of my favourite players may slide down the draft a little bit. In a deep draft some clubs will pass on a stocky/OP ridden player with ? on there ability to do a full training regime.

 

[TOA.]

Collard has OP. Wont play for a while from what I heard.

Mourish has a thigh?? problem

O'Brien has afew issues. His hamstrings are very dodgy at this stage, did it 3 times last year, once very badly. Freo would do well to nurse him through until they are 100% right. You dont want chronic hamstrings problems when your 18. It doesnt bode well for the future, especially for someone explosive like O'Brien. Think he has some other complaint aswell.

 

[lids2004roar]

Don't get carried away about mock drafts.

Looks at Richmond's for example:


Daniel Connors predicted to go at number 6.

Jack Riewoldt number 8

Shane Edwards number 14



That is why this is the "Super draft", the talent on offer at number 10 isn't noticeably better than the talent on offer in the 3rd round.

 

[macca69]

Collard was also one who was considered to be of great risk to becoming homesick, which would no doubt contributed to slipping a bit. Steal at #29.