Draft discusson thread

[Masto]

http://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/we...fl-season-begins/story-e6frg1wu-1225946295441

"West Coast is set to pounce on West Perth youngster Jack Darling with the fourth pick in the draft if the burly forward is overlooked by the Gold Coast, which has the first three selections."

Noooooooooooooooooooooo

 

[Pat_Footy]

Goodes was never a ruckman

Just because he went up for the taps - it's like saying Adam Cooney was a ruckman because he beat Cox once.

NN got significantly more hitouts as a back-up ruckman carrying a shoulder injury than Goodes got in his 1st brownlow year. Which I might add was nearly double his next best year.

?? Goodes was a ruckman. He used to be a very good ruckman. He kept hurting his knee especially when they used to run in and leap at each other. Goodes was just too good a player to lose to injury so they changed his role.

 

[The Falcon Strike]

?? Goodes was a ruckman. He used to be a very good ruckman. He kept hurting his knee especially when they used to run in and leap at each other. Goodes was just too good a player to lose to injury so they changed his role.

Goodes was very good around the ground - but he was a very average ruckman.

In his brownlow year (which was almost double his next best year) he was the 29th in terms of average hitouts per game at 12.5.

 

[Chris_6678]

http://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/we...fl-season-begins/story-e6frg1wu-1225946295441

"West Coast is set to pounce on West Perth youngster Jack Darling with the fourth pick in the draft if the burly forward is overlooked by the Gold Coast, which has the first three selections."

Noooooooooooooooooooooo

He didnt say that he actualy said this.

Worsfold said the club had also been set on holding on to all of its early draft picks, and its prized No.4 selection would now be used on the best available player at this month's NAB AFL Draft.

"With that first pick, where they live doesn't come into it," he said, with one of Victorian pair Andrew Gaff or Dyson Heppell expected to be recruited with the club's first pick.

http://www.westcoasteagles.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/7155/newsid/104797/default.aspx

 

[Kaboodleer]

I can't imagine we would draft Darling, it does kind of make sense to draft a KP forward given we have so many up and coming midfielders, but at this point Tom Lynch seems to be a higher rated forward prospect if we went in that direction. Not to mention Darling doesn't look at all like best available given he's tipped to go outside the top 10.

 

[Carbine Chaos]

Not to mention Darling doesn't look at all like best available given he's tipped to go outside the top 10.

As was Brad Sheppard.

If the club wants him, they will take him at 4.

 

[Eastern Rangers]

As was Brad Sheppard.

If the club wants him, they will take him at 4.

We have pick three not pick 7. Dustin Martin or Morabito would be in Eagles colours if we had pick 3 in 09.

We chose between Sheppard, Lucas and Jetta at pick 7.

 

[Carbine Chaos]

We have pick three not pick 7. Dustin Martin or Morabito would be in Eagles colours if we had pick 3 in 09.

We chose between Sheppard, Lucas and Jetta at pick 7.

Still, Sheppard was not considered the best available last year and we took him, when many thought he could slip to the 20s (which I don't think would have happened).

Best available is clearly a subjective term.

 

[Kaboodleer]

Still, Sheppard was not considered the best available last year and we took him, when many thought he could slip to the 20s (which I don't think would have happened).

Best available is clearly a subjective term.

Fair point, and I guess we have to trust the recruiters, I would still think it was odd to take Darling at 4 given Gaff, Polec, Heppell and quite a few others seem to be rated so much more highly.

 

[whichone]

Still, Sheppard was not considered the best available last year and we took him, when many thought he could slip to the 20s (which I don't think would have happened).

Best available is clearly a subjective term.

No, we took Sheppard because the club believed that he was the best available. Maybe he wasn't considered the best available on bigfooty, but that is why people on here aren't AFL recruiters.

 

[Carbine Chaos]

No, we took Sheppard because the club believed that he was the best available. Maybe he wasn't considered the best available on bigfooty, but that is why people on here aren't AFL recruiters.

Then who's to say the club doesn't consider Darling best available?

 

[beatlesmith]

I wouldn't be particularly surprised, nor would I be disappointed if we took Darling.
People questioned why we took Sheppard at 7 when he "should" have been taken in the late teens or twenties, similar to how Stephen Hill should have been taken later too.
These are suppositions made by il-informed fans who watch a few highlights videos, or maybe a few games just prior to the draft. Considering the resources, experience, access and effort of the recruiters, i'm inclined to trust the club.

 

[Masto]

I wouldn't be particularly surprised, nor would I be disappointed if we took Darling.
People questioned why we took Sheppard at 7 when he "should" have been taken in the late teens or twenties, similar to how Stephen Hill should have been taken later too.
These are suppositions made by il-informed fans who watch a few highlights videos, or maybe a few games just prior to the draft. Considering the resources, experience, access and effort of the recruiters, i'm inclined to trust the club.

The difference IMO is that Hill and Sheppard both have very good athleticism and excellent character. Darling is limited athletically, is short for his position and has questionable character. He would be a risky pick IMO but I guess Woosh needs a ready-made player to save his bacon.

 

[adagio]

The difference IMO is that Hill and Sheppard both have very good athleticism and excellent character. Darling is limited athletically, is short for his position and has questionable character. He would be a risky pick IMO but I guess Woosh needs a ready-made player to save his bacon.

BS. He's very good athletically, he's tall enough to play KP and you don't know him personally so you have no idea what his character is like.

And Woosha is the coach not the recruiting manager.

 

[beatlesmith]

BS. He's very good athletically, he's tall enough to play KP and you don't know him personally so you have no idea what his character is like.

And Woosha is the coach not the recruiting manager.

This.
Honestly this "Darling is too short to play KPP" misconception is ridiculous.
Same height as Fevola, Bradshaw and our very own Callum Wilson.
Much more athletic than Callum Wilson, and going by some of the pack marks he has taken, he has a good leap which should negate any possible disadvantage his height has.

I don't think he's a risky pick at all. Of course picking KPP is riskier than going for a midfielder like Gaff, but as far as KPPs go, Darling is a very safe bet.

 

[Masto]

BS. He's very good athletically, he's tall enough to play KP and you don't know him personally so you have no idea what his character is like.

And Woosha is the coach not the recruiting manager.

No his pace is just average and he appears to be stiff and have a poor turning circle.

And if you think being expelled from school and then getting bashed in a nightclub aren't red flags then you have your head in the sand.

 

[Carbine Chaos]

No his pace is just average and he appears to be stiff and have a poor turning circle.

And if you think being expelled from school and then getting bashed in a nightclub aren't red flags then you have your head in the sand.

Wow some people are quick to judge.

Wasn't he expelled for having a bit of fun with some chick?

And being King Hit from behind was his fault, was it?

Certainly an awful character

But clearly you know everything about him so take our heads out of the sand we'll listen to you and your awesome prejudices.

 

[Masto]

This.
Honestly this "Darling is too short to play KPP" misconception is ridiculous.
Same height as Fevola, Bradshaw and our very own Callum Wilson.
Much more athletic than Callum Wilson, and going by some of the pack marks he has taken, he has a good leap which should negate any possible disadvantage his height has.

I don't think he's a risky pick at all. Of course picking KPP is riskier than going for a midfielder like Gaff, but as far as KPPs go, Darling is a very safe bet.

You're really trying to use Callum Wilson as some kind of proof he can make it at AFL level? He is undersized for a KP forward, Fevola and Bradshaw are the exceptions rather than the rule.

 

[Pat_Footy]

Most kids don't get expelled - That is a worry. Nobody knows what went down with the king hit so commenting is pointless. You don't get expelled for having a girfriend....

 

[wcesam]

Well given it seems that Woosh still has quite a bit of faith in our current midfield group, Darling definitely wouldn't be out of the question. But it is probably between Gaff/Polec and Heppell.

 

[Carbine Chaos]

Most kids don't get expelled - That is a worry. Nobody knows what went down with the king hit so commenting is pointless. You don't get expelled for having a girfriend....

Thanks Captain Obvious. Wasn't he expelled because of what he and the girl were doing I reckon it's hilarious.

All of our comments are pointless anyway because none of us (I'm assuming) know him personally, just going off hearsay and whatnot.

 

[Postman_Pav]

I really wouldnt bother discussing Darling or anyone else whose name is not Gaff. West Coast are all over him like nobodies business. Other clubs expect WC to take him. Only other player who is a 5% chance is Polec. If Polec was quick then he would be the one but he tests worse than nearly all over mids in that range which is not good for an outside player is it.

 

[Masto]

BTW Goldcoast were all set to sign up Jack Darling last year just like David Swallow but they turned off by his attitude. Even if you believe he is not a bad apple you have to accept his cocky attitude is going to make him a target for drunken punks. Get ready for some Masten-like headlines like 'Darling Belted in Nightclub'.

 

[beatlesmith]

You're really trying to use Callum Wilson as some kind of proof he can make it at AFL level? He is undersized for a KP forward, Fevola and Bradshaw are the exceptions rather than the rule.

Many of those adverse to drafting Darling believe that Wilson will be a good FF and thus drafting Darling is unnecessary, so there's the link. None of these people ever seem to describe Wilson as "undersized".

Guys like Fevola, Bradshaw and Pavlich for that matter show that even if you are on the low end of KPP height, you can still be a prolific goalkicker. More goals are kicked by players between 190-195cm than between 195-200cm.
Heck even sub 6-foot Lecras managed to kick 63 goals, most of which were from leading and marking effectively as a FF.
You are talking about differences in individual, not tens of centimetres. Measure a cm, it is tiny. Whilst you're at it, look up the heights of the greatest goalkickers of the modern era and reflect upon what a silly argument you have constructed.

If Polec was quick then he would be the one but he tests worse than nearly all over mids in that range which is not good for an outside player is it.

What was his sprint time? I think you'll find he didn't test at the Draft combine because of injury.
I'm much more inclined to trust vision of him which shows that he is in fact very quick, as all reports of him have described.

BTW Goldcoast were all set to sign up Jack Darling last year just like David Swallow but they turned off by his attitude. Even if you believe he is not a bad apple you have to accept his cocky attitude is going to make him a target for drunken punks. Get ready for some Masten-like headlines like 'Darling Belted in Nightclub'.

Source or GTFO
If you want a club full of good blokes, i suggest that professional football is not the best means of finding it.
People describe Masten's attitude as being negative, yet he puts in more work and has better fitness than almost anybody at the club. That is the area of attitude that is vital in football.
Not drafting players because they might be w***ers has even less validity than the fear of drafting interstate players.

 

[Kaboodleer]

In regards to Darling being expelled the worry is that even if the incident with the girl seems reasonably harmless schools don't just expel kids for one incident they often show quite a bit of patience. I'd imagine they would have warned him and he still didn't change his behavior, sounds like a worry to me especially when he gets cashed up and famous from playing AFL.

Tbh I do like the idea of trying to fill the club with generally good blokes, I'd like to think we can avoid the Milnes of the world and still pick up very good players and have a good culture at the club.