Draft Day Thread

[Moo]

If I was a West Coast supporter I'd be furious if Jetta goes at 7 this year.

I'm really hoping they do it.

 

[dominguez]

Balla's still an odd choice so early. I guess we had our heart set on Swift.

I listened live and it was strange how it played out. Surely it's a case of simply writing a list from 1 to 70 and crossing off the players as they get called out? Then when your selection comes around you just call out the name of the player highest on your list (obviously late in the draft between picks you'd review what you've picked so far and consider drafting for need).

When Swift went just before our pick it sounded like they went "Um, ah, um, um, ah, um, shit we need to pick somenone, um, ah, BALLANTYNE."

 

[dominguez]

Looking back at the draft though ...I did want Rich over Hill - so as soon as that was called I knew we had taken a chance on upside versus a likely solid player.

I had 2 sauces (soy and HP) ...one a WAFL Colts Official had told me that if Freo passes on Rich they will regret it for a decade.

The whispers about Hill over Rich started just after draft camp.

Either the club weren't happy with how Rich tested or he interviewed poorly. I'm guessing the latter, because really Rich over Hill was a no brainer.

It's a bit like Jetta this year, if the Eagles really want him they should have traded for another pick in the first round and have 2 bites at the cherry and if we wanted Rich we could have done the same.

What people also need to remember when reading this is it just banter ....we are all excited and sitting at our PC's with nothing to do so we all take the piss a bit (plus to be fair I had not gone to bed at that point in time).

Definately.

 

[SupersonicDocker]

I think it's a bit early to call, I wasn't really blown away by his performances...Though I'm more than happy to wait for a full preseason.

Suban who was taken around the same mark has certainly shown more, Swift too would have been nice.

I certainly was, so were opposition coaches who began to scramble in final weeks to stop him from getting near the footy at stoppages...

I can comfortably say he looked our most dangerous player whenever the ball was in the forward line. He and Mayne will wreak havoc this season

 

[Alfonz]

It is still hard to fathom Broughton was pick #74 in the rookie draft (or a few spots higher counting the passes).

 

[bigkev bleeds purple]

I hope that reading the first few pages of this thread will humble some of the drama queens on this board who think they know better than the people our club pays to know every player in the draft inside out.

This has also reinforced my opinion that Chris25 is the best authority we have on this board in regards to the draft and emerging players. Keep up the good work Chris, I have quietly been really enjoying your recent posting.

 

[DeanS]

"Either the club weren't happy with how Rich tested or he interviewed poorly. I'm guessing the latter, because really Rich over Hill was a no brainer"


I was under the impression Rich didn't attend the testing and that caused some concern. No injury was mentioned as an excuse. He just didn't want to be tested.

 

[Moo]

I hope that reading the first few pages of this thread will humble some of the drama queens on this board who think they know better than the people our club pays to know every player in the draft inside out.

So you want a ....

Round 1 ...I am happy and trust our recruiting staff
Round 2 ...I am happy and trust our recruiting staff
Round 3 ...I am happy and trust our recruiting staff

Makes for a great board.

Draft day threads should be about raw emotion - you are on and it is happening in real time.

If you are hoping they take a CHB and we recruit a 5 foot 5 inch Victorian back pocket - I'm happy to curse and swear about it.

At the end of the day we all settle down and get behind them but if you dont like draft day threads - dont read draft day threads.

 

[Chris25]

This has also reinforced my opinion that Chris25 is the best authority we have on this board in regards to the draft and emerging players. Keep up the good work Chris, I have quietly been really enjoying your recent posting.

While I do appreciate the sentiment, I think Ysaye has me covered when it comes to the draft.

 

[Bradesmaen]

And he gave us Butcher over Morabito in the mock draft

 

[Reveler]

drafts can be judged 3-4 years down the track. I'm still not sold on Hill over Rich or the fact that Clarke isn't cry baby or even that ballantyne wasn't taken to early.

 

[BeinPurplenGreen]

Imagine how the potential draftees are feeling. And the people whose jobs it is to make the decisions that effect us all for years to come.

One of the best posts in the thread IMHO. I'd nly add that imagine how it must feel to be one of the players that has been talked up all year, only to not be picked in the ND, then miss out on the Rookie Draft too.

For such young kids, must be quite a roller-coaster ride...

This better be good Freo, I'm missing out on BowlsTalk on 91.3!

Hopefully you caught Jack High, or at least had it set to video?

This is a F$%^#^G disaster!!!! We have stuffed this draft.

Ballentine=Egomaniac who has no interest other than his own

Vic Metro Ruckman = Freo waves Bye Bye after two years because he misses his Mommy!

Surban=Another half back flanker that will miss his girl and go home again.

WHERE IS THE WA TALENT???????????????

Hill is good but not the best Midfielder.

Freo you have killed us for the future.

Wow. What a post. Thank goodness Freo's recruiters had some slightly different views...

Hopefully you've come around a bit since then - at least on some of the players??

This has also reinforced my opinion that Chris25 is the best authority we have on this board in regards to the draft and emerging players. Keep up the good work Chris, I have quietly been really enjoying your recent posting.

I'd agree with you that in terms of recent posts on draft prospects, Chris' hard work stands out - well done to you Chris for the effort and quality.

While I do appreciate the sentiment, I think Ysaye has me covered when it comes to the draft.

I'd agree that ysaye has added a lot of insight (especially over earlier seasons). From the wegirls, TOA and Swannies always seem to follow young players closely and without bias, and I reckon our boy jgb's thoughts are always worth a close read too -though I've not seen jgb posting too much over the last few weeks. Hope you're OK j, and look forward to your thoughts during this years draft.

 

[dominguez]

That post from Dockerland1 makes me look cool, calm and collected.

 

[E Shed]

While I'm wrapped with Hill, Suban, Balla, Clarke & Ruffles I still find it's only with the PSD picking up DeBoer, Pearce & Broughton that things actually make sense.
Will be interesting to see Bucovaz in action when he gets on the park. He was one of the WTF pickups that we haven't had a look at yet.

 

[Moo]

While I'm wrapped with Hill, Suban, Balla, Clarke & Ruffles I still find it's only with the PSD picking up DeBoer, Pearce & Broughton that things actually make sense.

I agree with this - once the rookie draft was done the entire draft rounded out a lot better.

I still wonder if we knew that Sibo and De Boer would slip and Hall and Ruffles wouldn't or whether it was all just luck.

Will be interesting to see Bucovaz in action when he gets on the park. He was one of the WTF pickups that we haven't had a look at yet.

Plus he was the steak knives in the Warnock deal ....imagine the ***** we could throw at Caaaaaarlton if the Vazman works out too.

 

[bigkev bleeds purple]

So you want a ....

Round 1 ...I am happy and trust our recruiting staff
Round 2 ...I am happy and trust our recruiting staff
Round 3 ...I am happy and trust our recruiting staff

Makes for a great board.

Draft day threads should be about raw emotion - you are on and it is happening in real time.

If you are hoping they take a CHB and we recruit a 5 foot 5 inch Victorian back pocket - I'm happy to curse and swear about it.

At the end of the day we all settle down and get behind them but if you dont like draft day threads - dont read draft day threads.

You're right Moo, but I still question the value of posts cursing our new recruits only seconds after they pull on the purple. Seems like an excellent way to end up with a foot in a mouth down the track. And there are many feet in many mouths in this case.

As for the last part... I think you'll notice there was no contribution to this thread from me until now

 

[The Night Shift]

This thread is a pisser.. some of those over reactions

 

[Clay Davis]

I just don't understand why anyone has their heart set on players who haven't even played in the AFL yet.

 

[E Shed]

I just don't understand why anyone has their heart set on players who haven't even played in the AFL yet.

How can you not? If you follow WAFL, Colts, Juniors or whatever of course you are going to get a feeling for the players and we all like to think of ourselves as amateur experts on the game and judging form. It's just natural that we are going to feel some involvement in selecting who pulls on our beloved Freo jumper. I watched a bit of Swans WAFL in 2008 and became quite attached to young Walters so was wrapped we picked him up. I also watched a lot of Claremont the last couple of years and hoped we might get Richardson. Still think he could play AFL but I obviously don't see what the recruiters see.
No harm in enjoying the process.

 

[dominguez]

I just don't understand why anyone has their heart set on players who haven't even played in the AFL yet.

Schwabby's back.

 

[E Shed]

Schwabby's back.

Gold

 

[prattsta]

When Swift went just before our pick it sounded like they went "Um, ah, um, um, ah, um, shit we need to pick somenone, um, ah, BALLANTYNE."

I'm told the entire Fremantle table gave a moan when WC called out Swift.

Personally I was happy with the Ballantyne pick at the time, and I've been happy with it ever since. Given how the rest of the draft played out, versus what the general consensus around here was, I'm more than comfortable backing the club in with the 'we want him, he wont be available later, we're taking him now' strategy (Note: That seems to be how they approached the Stephen Hill pick as well. At the time everyone suggested Hill would've been available to us later on - he wouldn't of - so we should have taken Rich). BF may actually explode during this years ND as a lot of teams will be taking that approach.

 

[Moo]

At the time everyone suggested Hill would've been available to us later on - he wouldn't of - so we should have taken Rich)[/I]. BF may actually explode during this years ND as a lot of teams will be taking that approach.

At the time I knew there was no way Hill would of lasted to our 2nd pick, I did think Swift was a chance though.

If we had of got Swift, I think we still would of got Ballantyne - Suban would of been the casualty. At the moment Swift vs Suban is to close to call.

On your 2nd comment - I agree I can see a lot of teams reaching on KP's early.

 

[Moo]

You're right Moo

I agree totally with this post

 

[estibador]

If we had of got Swift, I think we still would of got Ballantyne - Suban would of been the casualty. At the moment Swift vs Suban is to close to call.

Well when you put it like that I wouldn't make that trade.

I know Swift is probably going to be a quality player (not that I would admit that to any eagles fans) but I couldn't be happier with Suban. Not only is he a gun in the making but his leadership and aggression and all that jazz is mucho impressive for a rookie.

Quality young man all round and like plenty of others I reckon he's our future captain. And unlike Swift he doesn't look like a Chupa Chup.