Draft discusson thread

[Pat_Footy]

Yeh, I was talking to Gaff's best mate and potential draftee Sam Crocker, he said wc hadn't spoken to him but there was a very good chance of Gaff coming to us at pick 4. I asked him if he knew how Gaff would feel about moving west and Crocker said its Gaff's dream to play AFL, and he'd be happy no matter where he goes. He also mentioned he's good mates with Shuey, so that'd make moving west a lot easier for him.

I think wc would be crazy not to take that into consideration when choosing between Gaff, Heppell and Polec. We all know Shuey has star potential and im sure, like us, the wc coaching staff are terrified at the thought of Shuey returning to Victoria Judd-style. So adding a good mate of his to the list would be really good for both Shuey, Gaff and West Coast.

No, that will not be taken into consideration and for good reason. All draftees will make mates when they join a footy club. They go on bonding holidays for this very reason. Judd was best mates with Kerr and he still left - money is often the lure. It might make the initial 2 week period easier but that's it... I would be worried if drafting is based on that.

 

[beatlesmith]

I'm starting to warm to Gaff.
If we got Gaff as well as a more pure and dynamic wingman like an Andreoli or I.Smith (as well as a KP forward like Cook) I wold be very happy.

Gaff, Smith and Cook would be a great result.

 

[dext]

I just look at heppell as having a lot more potential. He has just as much football intelligence as what everyone is saying gaff has. He sets up the whole entire play from defence when he's got it with his long hurn type passes. The difference is gaff has been a pure midfielder his hole career where as heppell has only moved there at the second part of the year (after no pre season) where he dominated gathering 35-40 possessions a game and winning the game off his own boot. Gaff is a very good contributer but there isn't many games you can say he won it off his own boot.

Heppell has the bigger body and height with a better leap and mark and with a full pre season under his belt could end up with a massive tank, which just makes him a lot more versatile option, with a lot bigger upside.

 

[kane249]

Yep, Heppell's kicking for mine is just too good to pass up on. If we draft an Andreolli with our second pick it would be the best of both worlds for mine.

 

[DivideandMultiply]

I just look at heppell as having a lot more potential. He has just as much football intelligence as what everyone is saying gaff has. He sets up the whole entire play from defence when he's got it with his long hurn type passes. The difference is gaff has been a pure midfielder his hole career where as heppell has only moved there at the second part of the year (after no pre season) where he dominated gathering 35-40 possessions a game and winning the game off his own boot. Gaff is a very good contributer but there isn't many games you can say he won it off his own boot.

Heppell has the bigger body and height with a better leap and mark and with a full pre season under his belt could end up with a massive tank, which just makes him a lot more versatile option, with a lot bigger upside.

Actually this is a common misconception.

He hasn't always been a rebounding defender, in fact from what I have heard it has only mainly been in the last couple of years.

Nor did he specifically play as an inside mid in the TAC.

Fulfilled both inside and outside roles.

His preparation and football smarts have been lauded just as much as young Gaff and I would suggest his delivery inside 50 and goal scoring ability are huge assets.

I have no idea how either will turn out and TBH hope both succeed, all I can really say is I like the look of Heppell and Smith. Both just seem to have something special, with room for development yet still have pretty solid bases.

 

[maxrm]

Wow, Gaff has just won the Oakleigh Chargers B&F award after playing just 7 games. He averaged 31 disposals over those 7 games and averaged over a goal a game. He got maximum votes in almost every game to win the B&F. I think he's just looking too good to overlook. Will be a star!

 

[DivideandMultiply]

Wow, Gaff has just won the Oakleigh Chargers B&F award after playing just 7 games. He averaged 31 disposals over those 7 games and averaged over a goal a game. He got maximum votes in almost every game to win the B&F. I think he's just looking too good to overlook. Will be a star!

I have suddenly become suspicious of your identity.

 

[Mattman93]

Wow, Gaff has just won the Oakleigh Chargers B&F award after playing just 7 games. He averaged 31 disposals over those 7 games and averaged over a goal a game. He got maximum votes in almost every game to win the B&F. I think he's just looking too good to overlook. Will be a star!

So who's facebook page did you read that on?

 

[tesseract]

For the first half of his career Fletcher was a great kick.
Incredibly reliable with those sub 40m stab passes, which Gaff does similarly.
Still want Polec. Think he has more potential than Gaff or Heppell, and fulfills a need more too.

I'm aware that Fletcher's kicking became a source of frustration more so later in his career. I think his kicking overall was erratic, but his short passing was generally good. I took the good with the bad better because WC were performing better at around the mid point in Fletcher's career, when he had that golden run of a few years; because of this his kicking deficiencies got glossed over somewhat.

I'm not trying to dissuade you from wanting Polec. I want him selected too. But I do believe that no matter where Gaff ends up, he'll star.

 

[WCE Ebert #18]

So who's facebook page did you read that on?

Its on the AFL site. theres an article titled Gift of the Gaff.

Link here:

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/104376/default.aspx

and I really want us to take GAFF also!!! Looks to be an amazing prospect and very excited about the fact he could be at the Eagles in 2011!

 

[tesseract]

What I got mostly from his testing results was that he isnt slow. He doesnt seem to play quick but at least there aernt any fears that he cant match the speed of AFL.

If there were doubts that Gaff couldn't match the speed of the AFL, he wouldn't be a likely draft candidate at all, let alone a top 10. So that was never a concern of mine. If WC can accept Ebert and continue to play him, Gaff has no such worries.

 

[tesseract]

We will take Gaff with pick four, who I'm contempt with as he will be a good solid player.

But I think not taking Heppell will come back to bite us on the ass

Sigmund asked me to tell you that he's content with your post.

 

[Carbine Chaos]

If there were doubts that Gaff couldn't match the speed of the AFL, he wouldn't be a likely draft candidate at all, let alone a top 10. So that was never a concern of mine. If WC can accept Ebert and continue to play him, Gaff has no such worries.

It's just an issue of how many 'slowies' the Eagles can afford to have in the midfield at one time. Ebert, Stevens, Gaff for example are not naturally blessed with great pace.

 

[tesseract]

I'm more critical of Fletchers off field drug issues than his on field performance.

It's pretty obvious he was a party boy, almost died in the US and was now caught red handed.

Somewhere I read that Gaff was mates with Shuey. Would that get him over the line if the club was at the stage of tossing a coin between say him and Heppell?

What you've highlighted was a general comment, not directed at you. I made it because when a player becomes a whipping boy for one reason, it usually doesn't stop at that one criticism.

One shouldn't think it'd have any bearing on whether Gaff gets selected over someone else. A professional organization should be above that. I think it'll come down to need in the case where they couldn't split them. They're different enough as players to be able to separate them on that basis.

 

[neng]

For most of it, it's not how fast an individual can run within the team, it's how fast the team can transfer the ball up the field. We only need one or two speedsters. Collingwood and Geelong both used this method and they have delivered 3 GFs in 4 years. Run and carry works but you still need the players that can implement the skills involved in that game plan, being decision making and awareness. Gaff would be great for this because he knows where to run and we will see him with the ball on the 2nd or 3rd possesion after a clearance, and because he is a good decision maker, we should find a slight improvement in our clearances from Priddis through to the outside runners.

 

[tesseract]

Gaff is quick, he's just intelligent enough to realise he doesn't need to use it all the time. Whilst I hate using the "see 2 minute highlight video" to prove my point, his highlight reel on the AFL site has some perfect examples where he has had to put on the after burners to create some space.

I never said Gaff was slow. You've interpreted what you thought I was saying, rather than what I actually said.

 

[Wet Toast Rule]

Not keen on Andreoli from what I've seen.

Very quick but doesnt have a good kicking action and looks a bit awkward. Just doesnt have that smooth gliding run and carry of somebody like Hill, but then again you cant have a Hill type at pick 26.

As for pick 4 - Polec or Darling would be exciting, but Gaff / Heppell would be the safe bet.

Polec has an exceptional pick-up of the ball and is great through traffic as well for a wingman. And he is a left footer. If he wasnt such a tosser it would be great but then again a lot of the best players are arrogant.

 

[bodazoka]

I never said Gaff was slow. You've interpreted what you thought I was saying, rather than what I actually said.

Sometimes people quote you because they agree with you. As I did above.

 

[dext]

For most of it, it's not how fast an individual can run within the team, it's how fast the team can transfer the ball up the field. We only need one or two speedsters. Collingwood and Geelong both used this method and they have delivered 3 GFs in 4 years. Run and carry works but you still need the players that can implement the skills involved in that game plan, being decision making and awareness. Gaff would be great for this because he knows where to run and we will see him with the ball on the 2nd or 3rd possesion after a clearance, and because he is a good decision maker, we should find a slight improvement in our clearances from Priddis through to the outside runners.

Totally agree. Hence the reason we need heppell.

 

[ziad]

If there were doubts that Gaff couldn't match the speed of the AFL, he wouldn't be a likely draft candidate at all, let alone a top 10. So that was never a concern of mine. If WC can accept Ebert and continue to play him, Gaff has no such worries.

swift and masten?

 

[Prem87]

Masten & Swift are quick especially over the first few steps. People often sell Masten short.


http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/chris-flying-at-high-mast/story-e6frf33u-1111113829698

"Merging supreme athleticism and natural skill with an unquenchable competitive streak, Masten has emerged as one of the brightest young prospects of the year.

A highly talented junior athlete, Masten won national titles in 400m, 800m and 1500m and set a couple of new state records along the way.

He was forced to give athletics away at 14 to concentrate on footy, but his deeds on the track surprised no one close to the young man who sets out to excel.

“It’s that sort of mentality. I just have to win everything,” Masten said.

“Whether it be a game of pool or table tennis even. Ever since I was a little it was always the same.”

Masten’s athletics background serves him well on the football field. He has modelled his playing style on his idol Ben Cousins, and insiders at East Fremantle say Masten has the precious ability to run all day.

“It definitely helps me a lot,” Masten said.

“I can run out games a lot easier and training is so much easier for me. When it’s getting tough I find I can run out opponents because I’ve got that background.

“Footy’s a lot of short sprints, and definitely in that first five (metres) my technique’s improved because of my running.”

 

[Mattman93]

Not keen on Andreoli from what I've seen.

Very quick but doesnt have a good kicking action and looks a bit awkward. Just doesnt have that smooth gliding run and carry of somebody like Hill, but then again you cant have a Hill type at pick 26.

As for pick 4 - Polec or Darling would be exciting, but Gaff / Heppell would be the safe bet.

Polec has an exceptional pick-up of the ball and is great through traffic as well for a wingman. And he is a left footer. If he wasnt such a tosser it would be great but then again a lot of the best players are arrogant.

Agree on Andreoli. Was very keen on him, but now would rather Cripps.

May or may not be because of Pav's opinion on the two.

 

[bodazoka]

Mabye its there awareness then.

Masten did get run down by Sandilands twice in the space of 5 minutes. lol geez that was embarrassing!

 

[tesseract]

swift and masten?

I don't have an issue with their speed. In the case of Swift, his decision making and reaction time needs to be sharper.

 

[Prem87]

I don't have an issue with their speed. In the case of Swift, his decision making and reaction time needs to be sharper.

Wisbey sums up Swift's 'lack of awareness' quite well. But how long will he take for it to all click again ala his U16's form?
_____________________________

"In judging Swift's games this year after 12 months off, it is of course important to distinguish between being rusty and being no longer capable of what you used to do. Swift's feet hadn't slowed up this year but he was struggling for his '06 U16 split-second timing and touch e.g. Swift has very reliable hands overhead yet dropped a virtual sitter against E Perth (Q2).

His knee problems had no impact on his hands yet here was a kid who was a reliable 186cm pack mark in '06 who, returning from 12 mths layoff, was in completely open space yet had a ball slip straight through his waiting hands, seemingly without even a finger touching it. You don't lose naturally clean hands - it just takes some time to regain your feel and sense of timing. Similarly, he was getting nailed a fair bit in '08 games, not through lack of pace but because he lacked his normally sharp ability to think through situations and his normally ultra-sharp anticipation and evasive timing. His brain was telling his body and reflexes to show off like they used to but they in turn kept wasting valuable time having to check the 2006 instruction manual.

Touch and timing were the only (albeit significant) differences I noticed between Swift '08 and Swift '06. At his age, you get those fully back just with ground time. I saw no evidence of physical impediment resulting from his knee reco, just some rustiness."