Draft Day Thread

[PalmernPav]

Really happy with the Hall pick to be honest.

Played seniors this year by the sounds of it, and going by those performances, could easily play midfield next year.


I know nothing about him. But looks like he has a fantastic first 2-3 steps which is obviously why his 20m times are so good. Add to that, looks very well balanced and a really nice kick.

The only pick I am really disappointed with is Ballantyne. Seems like a massive waste to me. Where did Blight go?

Surprised Pearce did not get picked up. Would have loved for us to get him with a late pick. Is ready to go. Hard to see why he wasn't picked. I rate him quite highly.

Suban was an excellent choice IMO. Was rated from late 1st round to 25, so I think we've done well there.

Not surprised about DeClanger at all.

The story about him not nominating last year was all bollocks IMO. I'd say it was far more likely he was told no-one was interested, and it looks like it was proven this year.




As a wise poster on here has said, along with myself, if you can't kick, you can't play. It's as simple as that!

Blight went in the 40's.



We're on the same page Chops. Echoed my sentiments completely. Pearce must be picked up.

 

[Chops_a_must]

Blight went after 37 I think.

Ooofff.. makes the Ballantyne pick look even worse.

 

[Chris25]

Am I the only one getting happier with our draft, the longer I think about it?

Walters at 53 and Hall at 77 were both major steals. Both of them in the midfield, will add a heap of speed and skill. While Suban could well have been a top 20 pick, and in him we have a Palmer-type midfielder. Clarke was one of the more agile ruckmen in the draft, and with a couple of years development in him, should be a very good pick. Bucovaz looks to have good skills and speed, and can will be handy in that third tall role. Ballantyne will be able to slot straight into the Round 1 team, and will allow the other guys a chance to develop. And while I don't know much about Ruffles, he sounds like he could be similar to Hinkley, the two of them would be a handful sprinting down the wings.

Overall I am very pleased. And with the talent still available in the rookie draft, the future is looking good.

 

[pinkus maximus]

Yeah, on paper it looks pretty good. I still would have liked a KPP or two, but if you don't rate the ones that are available what can you do?

Agree with the Hall pick too, looks reall zippy and evasive. Perfect for Subi

 

[Norman Ross]

Hi guys, Im just curious what the drafting policy is at Freo, while I think you've done well with picks 3, 24 and 37, pick 3 could be the greatest or worst pick of all time, I dont follow the rest of your picks.

I understand that pace is an issue which has been addressed, but hasnt there always been a query on the height of your midfield?

Ala, the midget brigade? Pace is important at Subi, but so are big bodies on the smaller grounds in Vic. I was a little surprised Ballantyne, Ruffles and Walters were taken in the same draft.

Do you think you coud have taken a few more larger 185 + mids as opposed to the FP/flanker types.

Overall I thought you did ok. Walters slid along way, had your club known that in advance would they have taken Ballantyne so early?

 

[Postman_Pav]

The Postmans verdict:

Like the Hill pick. Could have thrown a blanket after the Watts and Nat though.

Dont mind the Ballyntyne pick. He'll be good next year but how good he'll be in 3yrs when sides figure him out is the question.

Like the Suban pick. Question is whether he will get his body/fitness right to play midfield or just stay in defence.

Dont mind the Clarke pick, maybe a round too early.

Walters is a nice get although not the huge bargain some would think. Was always 35-55 option.

Hall is talented, knows how to play but is very small and not that quick. Could make it though.

fwiw, Hall and Walters are not quick. They test about the same as Micheal Hurley the big lumbering CHB with pace question marks actually. Although they do play quicker than they test. Testing times would have been the reason they slid down the order though.

Wouldnt say Freo did poorly in this draft but didnt gun it either. WCE seemed to pip you afew times.

 

[Chops_a_must]

Yeah, on paper it looks pretty good. I still would have liked a KPP or two, but if you don't rate the ones that are available what can you do?

Agree with the Hall pick too, looks reall zippy and evasive. Perfect for Subi

Not just that though, but he can obviously run all day.

You can take from the draft that:

Pav and Mundy will be playing a lot of time in the midfield. I expect Bukavaz or whatever his name is to take over that playmaker, skillful role, that Mundy had. And Pav to play in the midfield to provide the size needed in what would be a small midfield otherwise.

Secondly, we are probably prepared to go a bit smaller but faster in the forward line, with Murphy and more likely Campbell to get much more time.

And thirdly, that Drum is going to be specifically groomed for that KPD position without a doubt. Lets hope he stays fit because he has some great talent.

 

[Kip Kinkel]

I think there is a bit of an over-reaction to the Ballantyne situation. As Stronzo so delicately put it, we have paid professionals who follow and watch all of the players available, and the recruiters make judgement calls based on that. At the end of the day he is a Sandover winning small forward, and is more than likely ready to go round 1.
In our forward line he could also prove very bloody dangerous, with focus on our already established forwards he will be getting the 4th or 5th defender.
If he starts the year with a bang there will probably be people saying he was a bargain!

 

[SupersonicDocker]

The Postmans verdict:

Like the Hill pick. Could have thrown a blanket after the Watts and Nat though.

Dont mind the Ballyntyne pick. He'll be good next year but how good he'll be in 3yrs when sides figure him out is the question.

Like the Suban pick. Question is whether he will get his body/fitness right to play midfield or just stay in defence.

Dont mind the Clarke pick, maybe a round too early.

Walters is a nice get although not the huge bargain some would think. Was always 35-55 option.

Hall is talented, knows how to play but is very small and not that quick. Could make it though.

fwiw, Hall and Walters are not quick. They test about the same as Micheal Hurley the big lumbering CHB with pace question marks actually. Although they do play quicker than they test. Testing times would have been the reason they slid down the order though.

Wouldnt say Freo did poorly in this draft but didnt gun it either. WCE seemed to pip you afew times.

Your talking about 20m sprints from a standing start, no players stands still on an afl pitch mate... Think you will find Hall in particular is grease lightning...

Agree on ballantyne and suban.

Clarke im worried about, if the club wanted to address the ruck issue we should have taken mckernan or trengove... A lot of talk about clarke is actually quite an average tap ruckmen and needs a lot of work... Which further confuses why we took vic metros 4th string instead of mckernan their 1st/2nd...

 

[Bradesmaen]

Your talking about 20m sprints from a standing start, no players stands still on an afl pitch mate... Think you will find Hall in particular is grease lightning...

Agree on ballantyne and suban.

Clarke im worried about, if the club wanted to address the ruck issue we should have taken mckernan or trengove... A lot of talk about clarke is actually quite an average tap ruckmen and needs a lot of work... Which further confuses why we took vic metros 4th string instead of mckernan their 1st/2nd...

He's a project player.. just like Robbie Warnock was. We've got Keps as the backup/pinch hitter for now. He can learn a lot from Sandi too. McKernan is more of a forward than a ruckman, he's only 196cm too. I was surprised we went Clarke instead of Redden, but quite clearly they rated Clarke and obviously they'd had a chat to him otherwise they wouldn't just take him and watch him skip off home.

 

[chinggis77]

If we take Yarran, Ballantyne and DeBoer with our first 3 picks it will be the mother of all **** ups.

Well, Ballantyne with the second pick was a f*** up! What were they thinking?

No-one else was likely to take him until much later. Why not leave it until pick 37? Even if they left it to pick 24 they could of got Trengrove or Zak instead!!!!

Freo remains a laughing stock as ever.

No success here until we get rid of that muppet Harvs!

 

[Bradesmaen]

Well, Ballantyne with the second pick was a f*** up! What were they thinking?

No-one else was likely to take him until much later. Why not leave it until pick 37? Even if they left it to pick 24 they could of got Trengrove or Zak instead!!!!

Freo remains a laughing stock as ever.

No success here until we get rid of that muppet Harvs!

Great fan you are.

 

[Underdog]

Well, Ballantyne with the second pick was a f*** up! What were they thinking?

No-one else was likely to take him until much later. Why not leave it until pick 37? Even if they left it to pick 24 they could of got Trengrove or Zak instead!!!!

Freo remains a laughing stock as ever.

No success here until we get rid of that muppet Harvs!

He'll be a decent enough that will have people happy with the pick in a few years time.

The issue is more about getting value. He was likely to be available at your next pick allowing you to get a higher rated talent at 21, but people will forget about that in time.

 

[salim malik]

Well, Ballantyne with the second pick was a f*** up! What were they thinking?

No-one else was likely to take him until much later. Why not leave it until pick 37? Even if they left it to pick 24 they could of got Trengrove or Zak instead!!!!

Freo remains a laughing stock as ever.

No success here until we get rid of that muppet Harvs!

Say hello to shitemuppet ,your obviously closely related

 

[rgauci]

Those saying Suban is like Palmer are going to be rudely shocked.

He's more of a Sewell/Hasleby/Bartel at best.

At worst he's a Tom Hunt. medium paced HBF who is great at contested ball with an amazing left boot.

 

[Chops_a_must]

Those saying Suban is like Palmer are going to be rudely shocked.

He's more of a Sewell/Hasleby/Bartel at best.

At worst he's a Tom Hunt. medium paced HBF who is great at contested ball with an amazing left boot.

Heath Black clone.

He is probably our best pick up in the draft on paper right now I think.

 

[Stronzo]

How many lefties did we pick up? Seems to be quite a few? If Suban is half as good as those first three rgauci then I'll be very happy.

Was just wondering the same.

 

[Nodgey]

Those saying Suban is like Palmer are going to be rudely shocked.

He's more of a Sewell/Hasleby/Bartel at best.

At worst he's a Tom Hunt. medium paced HBF who is great at contested ball with an amazing left boot.

rhyming slang? Ouch!


The more I hear of Suban, the more I like.

It appears to me we've got Ballantyne who's ready to go R1. Suban definitely has the size to play next season, and Hill should also get games if he's as good as we think he is. Plus Walters could also get games just like Hinkley did this year.

Whilst Clarke and the last 3 picks are the "project" players. IMHO.

 

[Bradesmaen]

How many lefties did we pick up? Seems to be quite a few? If Suban is half as good as those first three rgauci then I'll be very happy.

Hill is, Suban is, Walters is, Hall is.

 

[SunKing]

Woohoo at Rich falling all the way to Bris

That's better!
Thanks guys for taking Hill at #3..

 

[Stronzo]

That's better!
Thanks guys for taking Hill at #3..

I hope you extend a thankyou to every other club who passed on rich.

 

[Moo]

I hope you extend a thankyou to every other club who passed on rich.

Don't be silly Stronzo - if he wins a Chas it will be only Freo that passed on him.

 

[MadMac]

Just listening to Daniel Rich interview on 6PR. He said that he's excited about the move to Brisbane [however he sounds like he's gutted]

 

[pinkus maximus]

Just listening to Daniel Rich interview on 6PR. He said that he's excited about the move to Brisbane [however he sounds like he's gutted]

can't blame him. the WA media have been licking his bum all year claiming he is the best midfielder we have produced in years blah blah blah, he must have thought he was a certainty to stay home

 

[footyfix]

weegirls have been winding up Rich for the last two years making him believe they will fullfill his dream of playing for them then they toss him aside at the last minute and somehow we are to blame that he's crushed? I feel terribly sorry for Nic Nat, he seems like such a nice boy. He doesn't deserve to be slimed.