Opinion Draft preview (Thread closed, pls move discussion to new draft 'review' thread)

[Knightmare]

Who Collingwood seem to want based on a combination of media rumours and common sense:
Pick 5: Presumably De Goey is is the pick and the guy Collingwood want. Perhaps they also have Laverde or Langford on the shortlist for that selection. Perhaps they like Pickett though it looks like he will be gone by this selection.

Pick 30: Connor Blakely Collingwood have been linked to but it depends on availability and it's also against the odds. Damien Cavka with his elite endurance (16.7 beep) as a goalkicking midfielder who had a ripping finals series screams a future Collingwood selection and could be in the mix. Perhaps Daniel McKenzie as an super athletic type with clean but penetrating footskills is another I expect to firmly be in the mix for this selection. Toby McLean as a small forward who can push into the midfield is another I could see Collingwood looking at as another who is well performed and was best on ground in the TAC Cup grand final. Blaine Boekhorst is another as a linebrekaing mature ager from WA is another who has been linked to us and could be a chance here.

Pick 48: If Cavka, McLean or Boekhorst make it through I'm sure they would all be among the shortlist here. Nathan Drummond plausibly could be a consideration with his speed/endurance combination with our liking towards overagers having taken Langdon and Elliott in recent years. A lesser spoken about talent could also at come into play if we're not confident they will be available as a rookie - an example of this could be a Will Fordham as one example.



Who would I take:
Pick 5: Pickett if he falls though to 5 (unlikely with GWS said to be likely to take him at 4). Otherwise I lean towards Laverde. Wright I also like but given I'd be looking to add Reece McKenzie later, Wright would not be necessary.

Pick 30: Connor Blakely would be my pick here if available, failing that Reece McKenzie would be my pick.

Pick 48: If Blakely at 30 happened I'd be going Reece McKenzie here. If McKenzie is not available I'd go for Dean Gore. If Dean Gore is not available Peter Bampton would be my pick.

My dream outcome would be:
Pick 5: Pickett
Pick 30: Blakely
Pick 48: R.McKenzie
Which on my draft board would be three of my top 11 rated talents in this draft and from a needs perspective in my view perfectly compliment our list and give us arguably the best outside running, best pure onballer and the dominant go to key forward in the draft.
Get all that and Darcy Moore and that's a pretty reasonable group going forward to compliment our current young group we have coming through.

 

[Tbone McGraw]

Come on guys.

It is offseason and Knightmare is a very respected draft poster.

I didn't realise Pickett had risen so much

 

[mike123]

Hey that was my dream

 

[Knightmare]

GWS have long from all reports been exceedingly keen on Pickett. GWS seem to want Pickett and Goddard based on all the media rumours then are still deciding at 7 who they will take, or at least their preference at 7 has not become apparent.

Given GWS want Pickett and Goddard, it's pretty easy to figure given our deep key defence group that we won't be picking Goddard, so given this logically Pickett would be the pick at 4.

GWS may also have wind of us liking Pickett and for all we know we may favour Pickett even to Laverde or Langford. So it seems a nearly forgone conclusion that Pickett will be picked at 4 again based on what the media outlets are suggesting at this time.

 

[Tbone McGraw]

GWS have long from all reports been exceedingly keen on Pickett. GWS seem to want Pickett and Goddard based on all the media rumours then are still deciding at 7 who they will take, or at least their preference at 7 has not become apparent.

Given GWS want Pickett and Goddard, it's pretty easy to figure given our deep key defence group that we won't be picking Goddard, so given this logically Pickett would be the pick at 4.

GWS may also have wind of us liking Pickett and for all we know we may favour Pickett even to Laverde or Langford. So it seems a nearly forgone conclusion that Pickett will be picked at 4 again based on what the media outlets are suggesting at this time.

Is Pickett 173cm or do i have the wrong bloke?

Maybe i should look it up myself.

 

[mike123]

I thought he was 180

 

[Knightmare]

Is Pickett 173cm or do i have the wrong bloke?

Maybe i should look it up myself.

Officially Pickett is 176.9cm. So he is shorter than you'd ideally like. Perhaps all things said and done he grows to 178/179cm. But he is just such an incredible talent that personally for me anyway, I couldn't care less. He is in the Lewis Jetta category of outside runners as someone who takes on the game and breaks the lines to that same standard.

 

[Tbone McGraw]

Officially Pickett is 176.9cm. So he is shorter than you'd ideally like. Perhaps all things said and done he grows to 178/179cm. But he is just such an incredible talent that personally for me anyway, I couldn't care less. He is in the Lewis Jetta category of outside runners as someone who takes on the game and breaks the lines to that same standard.

Thanks.

In all honesty, i don't want a player under 180cm.

Can i ask why you don't really rate Laverde? Great height, great skills imo.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Scodog10]

Thanks.

In all honesty, i don't want a player under 180cm.

Can i ask why you don't really rate Laverde? Great height, great skills imo.

Thanks in advance.

Just my two cents, but with Pickett's game (relative strengths and weaknesses) an extra inch or two won't make one iota of difference.

 

[popin]

Thanks.

In all honesty, i don't want a player under 180cm.

Can i ask why you don't really rate Laverde? Great height, great skills imo.

Thanks in advance.

It's just Knights opinion, so it's really just a guessing game reading media and watching state games so I'm sure most peoples opinion on pick 5 is pretty similar if you give extra analise into draft tactic games what clubs could do if have many picks inside the top 10. So it's easy to work stuff like that out.

 

[Hagla]

Officially Pickett is 176.9cm. So he is shorter than you'd ideally like. Perhaps all things said and done he grows to 178/179cm. But he is just such an incredible talent that personally for me anyway, I couldn't care less. He is in the Lewis Jetta category of outside runners as someone who takes on the game and breaks the lines to that same standard.

Lewis Jetta isn't a great player though. He's exciting but he's not quite at the level I'd be happy with. I'd take Rioli without the hamstring issues in a heartbeat over Jetta.

 

[Tbone McGraw]

Just my two cents, but with Pickett's game (relative strengths and weaknesses) an extra inch or two won't make one iota of difference.

Fair enough but we thought that about Kennedy

 

[Knightmare]

Thanks.

In all honesty, i don't want a player under 180cm.

Can i ask why you don't really rate Laverde? Great height, great skills imo.

Thanks in advance.

Laverde is terrific and a real impact player with the full bag of tricks.

It's not that I don't like Laverde's talent. He is rated inside my top 10 power rankings. But at the end of the day I just like what Pickett does a little more. As a team we just badly lack any meaningful outside run as a team with a bunch of unskilled, inside only players and Pickett is someone who can really give our list a very different edge to what we have.

In saying all this given Pickett is unlikely to be available I'd advocate the selection of Laverde as another list compatible talent.

Lewis Jetta isn't a great player though. He's exciting but he's not quite at the level I'd be happy with. I'd take Rioli without the hamstring issues in a heartbeat over Jetta.

Jetta this year was poor and he struggled with injury in 2013 but I see Jetta as the 2012 Jetta who kicked 45 goals and had 396 meaningful possessions with many of those involving meaningful linebreaking runs. That's more the player I look at Pickett and see.

I agree though, I'd also take a healthy Rioli over Jetta. He isn't as quick. But forward of centre and even pinchhitting on the ball he is a better player again. I just don't see Pickett as that same pressuring forward as more someone who like Jetta breaks the lines with the best of them.

 

[Matt_352]

Ideally for me is:

5. Laverde
30. Blakely
48. Cavka/R.McKenzie
85. Langdon

 

[Scodog10]

Fair enough but we thought that about Kennedy

I still think that of Kennedy... You give him an extra 2-3 inches as a predominantly inside mid and it changes things, IMO. That extra size gives Kennedy a greater scope to build his body up, better vision in the contest and presumably a better defensive game (with an increased ability to stick tackles).

As a predominantly outside player Pickett with an extra 2-3 inches might have an increased ability overhead (though I think that comes more from ability to read the ball in flight) and again an increased defensive game, but on the flipside he may lose some of that evasiveness that makes him so special.

We are talking hypothetically though so more just my take than anything else

 

[Tbone McGraw]

I still think that of Kennedy... You give him an extra 2-3 inches as a predominantly inside mid and it changes things, IMO. That extra size gives Kennedy a greater scope to build his body up, better vision in the contest and presumably a better defensive game (with an increased ability to stick tackles).

As a predominantly outside player Pickett with an extra 2-3 inches might have an increased ability overhead (though I think that comes more from ability to read the ball in flight) and again an increased defensive game, but on the flipside he may lose some of that evasiveness that makes him so special.

We are talking hypothetically though so more just my take than anything else

Great points but would you pick Kennedy at 5?

That is my point. I don't want another small mid at pick 5 unless a super kick.

In before the lewis taylor argument (was it him that won rising star?)

 

[mike123]

Great points but would you pick Kennedy at 5?

That is my point. I don't want another small mid at pick 5.

The only similarity between Kennedy and Pickett is that they are small. Its not a good comparison.

I don't really care about their skills.

Why? It's the skills that are most important.

 

[Knightmare]

Ideally for me is:

5. Laverde
30. Blakely
48. Cavka/R.McKenzie
85. Langdon

Cavka if available at 48 would be a good get but he may not be available there. Though it's the same story with Blakely at 30 who really is just a hope he is there guy.

Ed Langdon probably goes somewhere closer to pick 35 than 85.
He hasn't played much during the year and his tac cup numbers are average at best but he had a big game through the u18 champs and has shown some real traits in game with his ability to take on the game with pace and use the footy.
He also tested exceptionally well at the national combine (2.92, 20second sprint *92 percentile) (15.3 beep *94 percentile and 10min, 12sec 3km *86 percentile), (24.06 sec repeat sprint time *94 percentile) and also went well in the agility (8.47sec *77 percentile).

 

[jjsmitty8]

Any chance we might get Ahmed Saad with a late pick? Would love to get him. He's a genuinely quick, unorthodox, pressure small forward who can find the goals. Something that I feel we lack.

 

[Tbone McGraw]

The only similarity between Kennedy and Pickett is that they are small. Its not a good comparison.



Why? It's the skills that are most important.

I edited my post but still don't want a small mid

 

[Scodog10]

Great points but would you pick Kennedy at 5?

That is my point. I don't want another small mid at pick 5 unless a super kick.

In before the lewis taylor argument (was it him that won rising star?)

Yeah, if he had the same outside game as Pickett I would. I just don't see height as all that important when assessing an outside players ability.

For instance if Brayshaw were Kennedy's height and not 186cm I don't believe he'd be the top 3 lock he's currently considered because it would impact his game too much.

Another example would be Membrey if he had an extra 2-3 inches it could be a game changer. Conversely Grundy with an extra 2-3 inches is good, but it wouldn't really change how I viewed him all that much because it might effect him in other ways.

 

[Knightmare]

On Kennedy v Pickett.

Kennedy is inside only.

Pickett is an outside guy primarily though he can at times win some of his own footy. With Pickett the difference regarding his pace is that EVERY TIME he gets it he will run and take on the game. You don't see from many other players. But Pickett just knows when he can go and will continue to run and run and run offensively.

Additionally when drafted Kennedy was 174cm v Pickett at 177cm for those interested in the height comparison.

Another consideration regarding Kennedy is he didn't really show that much improvement from the age of 16. Pickett continues to improve and take steps forward so all things said and done while different types, in my mind Pickett will be the clearly better player assuming no injury issues and he goes into a club that can develop their talent well.

Any chance we might get Ahmed Saad with a late pick? Would love to get him. He's a genuinely quick, unorthodox, pressure small forward who can find the goals. Something that I feel we lack.

Ahmed Saad probably falls into the rookie draft I would assume. But quick. Deadeye from those set shots. He wouldn't be the worst option for a club to take a chance on and could probably help a few teams struggling up front for a small role player.

Should that be Collingwood? I'd probably pass. I don't see who he plays in front of when we have Elliott, Broomhead, Fasolo, Karnezis and a bunch of rotational midfielders ahead of him/better players when healthy who I would be inclined to play first anyway.

 

[loki04]

We re-interviewed P.Wright this week too, so wouldn't count him out and requested a 2nd medical on him (have to go through AFL now for that).

 

[Knightmare]

We re-interviewed P.Wright this week too, so wouldn't count him out and requested a 2nd medical on him (have to go through AFL now for that).

You never say never. And I'd be happy with Wright so I wouldn't complain if that's the way it goes.

I expect the club is just doing their due diligence and will be doing the same with all the other players who could be on their shortlist.

 

[TradeDraft]

Laverde is terrific and a real impact player with the full bag of tricks.

It's not that I don't like Laverde's talent. He is rated inside my top 10 power rankings. But at the end of the day I just like what Pickett does a little more. As a team we just badly lack any meaningful outside run as a team with a bunch of unskilled, inside only players and Pickett is someone who can really give our list a very different edge to what we have.

In saying all this given Pickett is unlikely to be available I'd advocate the selection of Laverde as another list compatible talent.

What been said that Pickett will go to GWS at Pick 4 that would leave us drafting 1 of Lavearde or Wright