Analysis Do we have a forward line yet?

[therubbernub]

Well with the trade period done and dusted, and with it has gone a lot of our draft picks, leaving our prized #1 pick and some shrapnel . For all intents and purposes we have our list, except for one elite player. IMO that will either be Walsh or Rankine.

I am very torn about which we should take, because I see both as quite exceptional players . However one player stands out as being the logical choice- Rankine. Why? because he can help fill two holes in our list- he can be an elite forward with great evasive skills and elite goal sense, and simply, he has already shown that he can do things that other players cannot. But his skills can also translate very well into the midfield, and so he can also help fill that hole as well.

Walsh on the other hand is the super professional , consistent , high effort/commitment mid that any club needs. He is not irreplaceable as there are many midfielders that tick this box, but he is probably the least risky pick to get an elite player.

That said I always believe in the glass half full theory. In this case I believe that Rankine will deliver on his promise as a junior and become an amazing AFL player.

Which gets me to my point. IF we take Rankine , is our forward line just about complete? Consider the excitement of a half forward line consisting of -

RANKINE CHARLIE MITCH M

That is an elite half forward line in anybodies language. Even Rankine is capable of taking a decent overhead mark. I dont think too many people would argue, that this Half forward line up would be equal to any other teams.

Which leaves a Full forward line up of

FASOLO HARRY RESTING MID/ MURPHY

Now on his day Fasolo can be a real handful and Harry has shown heaps of potential

So just considering the forward line, Taking Rankine instead of Walsh , appears to have completed our future forward line. But as the saying goes, are we robbing Peter to pay Paul? Without Walsh, how does our midfield shape up? Well IMO there is some real depth developing there. I leave you with a proposed line up, where we have moved Docherty into the centre where he can play midfield and direct play and he is replaced with Newman.
I have LOB and Willow on the 2 wings, which I believe will allow them to utilize their elite disposal skills. The back 6 is similar to the past 2 years except for the addition of Newman, and hopefully with AR's help, they can all stay on the park.

 

[Azzurro]

Rankine or Walsh...

I called it in the other thread (the prediction one) that Rankine will be the best from this draft - but we won’t take him.

Sam Walsh will be a Blue, so either flip Fas to the HF line and add Kennedy to the F pocket, or add Pickett to the team at HF and move... someone... out?

 

[therubbernub]

Rankine or Walsh...

I called it in the other thread (the prediction one) that Rankine will be the best from this draft - but we won’t take him.

Sam Walsh will be a Blue, so either flip Fas to the HF line and add Kennedy to the F pocket, or add Pickett to the team at HF and move... someone... out?

It does seem that we are taking Walsh........but is it beyond sos to walsh on the walsh? The thing is that we seem to have enough depth in our midfield now, albeit young and requiring fitness and strength (plus luck with injury)

 

[Malifice]

I almost always get this wrong, but I'm prepared to put them on the line - its Rankine for mine.

 

[Thehurdle]

I’m hoping Andrew Russell can get Pickett fit. I can imagine him being a genuine star. If so Walsh makes sense.

 

[Sheephead]

We could still do with a small forward. The retirement of Matty Wright isn’t seismic but it is a position of need that has been weakened further. Rankine would be a great addition to any forward line. I have hopes for Pickett but think a second small would be helpful. Any thoughts on Jake Neade?

 

[HBF]

I’m hoping Andrew Russell can get Pickett fit. I can imagine him being a genuine star. If so Walsh makes sense.

Well said. We've seen what Pickett can do in patches. If we can get him fit we may have a very good player on our hands. Not that this is always a good indicator, but he was an excellent junior.

 

[Jabba73]

A couple of months ago Lucoscious was a once-in-a-generation player every team wanted, what happened to him?

The club has been dropping hints it will be Walsh and with good reason. Makes me wonder if it has been the mother of all misdirections because there has been enough interest in a play for pick one. The initial offers to trade it (and clubs are probably sounding out each other about trades now) means we are tempted and have a different target in mind, hence no talk about any player but Walsh.

 

[Red Bull]

Rankine is so so tempting.
He is the ONLY reason i would consider trading pick 1 (Walsh) to GC in a 2 for 1 deal ie :
1 for 2&6 or 1 for 3&6 with GC taking Lukosios at 2

Murphy Curnow Pickett
McGovern McKay Rankine

In the air or on the ground this forward set up would be lethal ...

 

[Blue Dimension]

Pickett was in great form during the pre-season this year before he got injured. He was about to explode!

Seems like a player that needs consistency in training and matchplay to perform at his best (perhaps even more so than others). If he stays fit look out imo.

I also recall a game late 2017 once he got a bit of form under bis belt, i think against Hawthorn, where he was as dangerous as any player on the field. He has it.

Edit: just had a look at his 2018 pre season stats. Stats not as strong as i recall his games being. Perhaps did a lot off the ball/what he did do when he did get it was impactful.

 

[ferrisb]

I would like to make 2 points

1) Neither player is going to complete our team, nor are they going to dominate for at least a few years. So I would caution against picking for best 22 fit and just probably pick the better 'outright player'. Which means probably Walsh.

2) if I wanted a mid AND a HFF but only had pick 1 and late picks? I'd pick the mid first and try and pick up the HFF/small fwd late or in rookie draft. Betts, Cameron, Breust, Garlett, Ronke, Papley etc all rookie/PSD. Sure, 2-3 stabs at a speculative HFF likely won't get you a player as good as Rankine. But if you took Rankine first, you sure as hell wont get a mid anything like Walsh in the rookie draft. Seems better pay-off to me to pick Walsh.

 

[thylacine60]

Well with the trade period done and dusted, and with it has gone a lot of our draft picks, leaving our prized #1 pick and some shrapnel . For all intents and purposes we have our list, except for one elite player. IMO that will either be Walsh or Rankine.

I am very torn about which we should take, because I see both as quite exceptional players . However one player stands out as being the logical choice- Rankine. Why? because he can help fill two holes in our list- he can be an elite forward with great evasive skills and elite goal sense, and simply, he has already shown that he can do things that other players cannot. But his skills can also translate very well into the midfield, and so he can also help fill that hole as well.

Walsh on the other hand is the super professional , consistent , high effort/commitment mid that any club needs. He is not irreplaceable as there are many midfielders that tick this box, but he is probably the least risky pick to get an elite player.

That said I always believe in the glass half full theory. In this case I believe that Rankine will deliver on his promise as a junior and become an amazing AFL player.

Which gets me to my point. IF we take Rankine , is our forward line just about complete? Consider the excitement of a half forward line consisting of -

RANKINE CHARLIE MITCH M

That is an elite half forward line in anybodies language. Even Rankine is capable of taking a decent overhead mark. I dont think too many people would argue, that this Half forward line up would be equal to any other teams.

Which leaves a Full forward line up of

FASOLO HARRY RESTING MID/ MURPHY

Now on his day Fasolo can be a real handful and Harry has shown heaps of potential

So just considering the forward line, Taking Rankine instead of Walsh , appears to have completed our future forward line. But as the saying goes, are we robbing Peter to pay Paul? Without Walsh, how does our midfield shape up? Well IMO there is some real depth developing there. I leave you with a proposed line up, where we have moved Docherty into the centre where he can play midfield and direct play and he is replaced with Newman.
I have LOB and Willow on the 2 wings, which I believe will allow them to utilize their elite disposal skills. The back 6 is similar to the past 2 years except for the addition of Newman, and hopefully with AR's help, they can all stay on the park. View attachment 578954

you want 2 charlies, nubster? why not?

 

[BLUEALLTHRU]

Walsh for mine..

 

[SkyhorseTamer]

Rankine is so so tempting.
He is the ONLY reason i would consider trading pick 1 (Walsh) to GC in a 2 for 1 deal ie :
1 for 2&6 or 1 for 3&6 with GC taking Lukosios at 2

Murphy Curnow Pickett
McGovern McKay Rankine

In the air or on the ground this forward set up would be lethal ...

You’d do both of those in a heartbeat because both are so in our favour that it’s never going to happen

 

[thylacine60]

it has the fomo aspect to it - surprise everyone and take rankine who becomes very good and watch as walsh becomes juddesque...

 

[Red Bull]

You’d do both of those in a heartbeat because both are so in our favour that it’s never going to happen

Hence Walsh being 99.9% in Navy barring GC doing something extraordinary ...

 

[GapInIkonPark]

We lack a pressure forward with one touch skill, we have the talls.

 

[thylacine60]

what's mcgovern?

 

[therubbernub]

you want 2 charlies, nubster? why not?

Judd has 2 charlies....

 

[katmanblue]

I’m hoping Andrew Russell can get Pickett fit. I can imagine him being a genuine star. If so Walsh makes sense.

I had really high hopes for Pickett, but I am starting to get the feeling that he just doesn't have the discipline to work hard and meet dietary restrictions/requirements throughout the year, consistently.

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[katmanblue]

Well said. We've seen what Pickett can do in patches. If we can get him fit we may have a very good player on our hands. Not that this is always a good indicator, but he was an excellent junior.

IF

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[jooce8891]

It does seem that we are taking Walsh........but is it beyond sos to walsh on the walsh? The thing is that we seem to have enough depth in our midfield now, albeit young and requiring fitness and strength (plus luck with injury)

the thing is we dont have enough depth in our midfield, having depth literally means if a couple of players in your midfield get injuries it can be easily covered, which is still where we would struggle.

 

[jooce8891]

Pickett was in great form during the pre-season this year before he got injured. He was about to explode!

Seems like a player that needs consistency in training and matchplay to perform at his best (perhaps even more so than others). If he stays fit look out imo.

I also recall a game late 2017 once he got a bit of form under bis belt, i think against Hawthorn, where he was as dangerous as any player on the field. He has it.

Edit: just had a look at his 2018 pre season stats. Stats not as strong as i recall his games being. Perhaps did a lot off the ball/what he did do when he did get it was impactful.

his essendon game wasnt to shabby either (last year in the one we lost ): )

 

[gandaal]

I almost always get this wrong, but I'm prepared to put them on the line - its Rankine for mine.

I think it's Rankine for the right club, but I don't think we're the right club for Rankine. We need someone self motivated with grit and determination.

I think it's an underrated aspect of recruiting, picking the right player for your club rather than the best overall talent.

 

[Shambolic]

I empathise with those that lost some faith In Pickett this year. The injury was a huge hit which we all acknowledge and he didn’t see to come back well at all - seemed a bit chubby tbh. But when he did come back we were pretty much shot as a team with no defensive unit left and only a couple of kids in form. So it’s genuinely difficult to assess that.

In some of these games we tried him as a one on one forward which I don’t think is a strength. He needs to be able to use that pace and we really didn’t allow that - our delivery is shocking. A couple of times he just seemed to runaround in a big circle.

No more sitting on the fence for me - I think he will play 20 odd games this year and show his wares


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