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

[Knightmare]

Dream turn out for me:

5. Jayden Laverde
9. Darcy Moore
30. Connor Blakely
48. Reece McKenzie
85. Ed Langon

Then pick up Panos in rookie draft

Langdon won't be available quite so late.

But if Dean Gore or Peter Bampton are still available. I'd be stoked.

 

[spartan-magpie]

Knight, do you think Panos is any chance to come to the pies?

Would be nice to have a Greek brigade consisting of PK and Panos.

 

[Knightmare]

Knight, do you think Panos is any chance to come to the pies?

Would be nice to have a Greek brigade consisting of PK and Panos.

I recall reading somewhere that he was one we have spoken to so he is probably somewhere on our draft board and probably towards the back end probably more as a backup plan. He could be a consideration perhaps as a rookie.

 

[spartan-magpie]

I recall reading somewhere that he was one we have spoken to so he is probably somewhere on our draft board and probably towards the back end probably more as a backup plan. He could be a consideration perhaps as a rookie.

Would you pick him? If so, as pick 85 or rookie? Where would you play him?

I like the sound of him -
Whether or not he can translate that into afl games might be a mystery. But a big bodied strong mid who can kick goals sound a bit like someone who jilted us recently - not saying he is anywhere in the same league as the 17 but could that be out thinking? Seeing as he'd be a ready made replacement

 

[Knightmare]

Would you pick him? If so, as pick 85 or rookie? Where would you play him?

I like the sound of him -
Whether or not he can translate that into afl games might be a mystery. But a big bodied strong mid who can kick goals sound a bit like someone who jilted us recently - not saying he is anywhere in the same league as the 17 but could that be out thinking? Seeing as he'd be a ready made replacement

I personally wouldn't pick Panos at 85. I'd hope there are some better options. Maybe and this would be a hope that a Dean Gore or Peter Bampton make it through to that pick. There might be some other unexpected slider as Jon Marsh was definitely last year. Maybe my guy Reece McKenzie makes it through for all we know if Cal Twomey is right and he goes later rather than earlier.

Panos as a rookie would be more a consideration and I'd still personally pass as I like some other players more, but I can understand why we'd pick him. You'd draft him as an inside mid and hope he develops his endurance. He isn't a round 1 starter but someone some years older who could develop into that role given his skillset and uniqueness of his game as previously an undersized key position player. Panos is useful in that he can as required play forward and back and even key position which is really unique for a guy you draft as a midfielder. He has a terrific skillset by position and if he has a setshot he is Matthew Lloydesque in that 9/10 he'll nail it. So that's the type of player you're looking at. A useful guy and intriguing guy, not dominant but still has further scope to improve and could be a unique multi-role guy who could add some further height through the midfield and some versatility to go with it.

 

[swoop42]

Langdon won't be available quite so late.

But if Dean Gore or Peter Bampton are still available. I'd be stoked.

Going by a saints supporter over at the draft rumour thread they are really into Gore so I expect we might have to use pick 30 or at best 48 if we rate him.

Pickett, Laverde, Langford, De Goey in which order do you rate them?

 

[TradeDraft]

Langdon won't be available quite so late.

But if Dean Gore or Peter Bampton are still available. I'd be stoked.

Would you take Ed Langdon at 30?

 

[Knightmare]

Going by a saints supporter over at the draft rumour thread they are really into Gore so I expect we might have to use pick 30 or at best 48 if we rate him.

Pickett, Laverde, Langford, De Goey in which order do you rate them?

Cal Twomey made the comment 'Expect Dean Gore is probably a 45-onwards selection. Been some interest from Richmond I believe.' Given that while I'd be open to him at 30, if Twomey is right then he could be had at 48 which would be a terrific outcome.

Would you take Ed Langdon at 30?

No. There are better options early that should be available.

 

[spartan-magpie]

I personally wouldn't pick Panos at 85. I'd hope there are some better options. Maybe and this would be a hope that a Dean Gore or Peter Bampton make it through to that pick. There might be some other unexpected slider as Jon Marsh was definitely last year. Maybe my guy Reece McKenzie makes it through for all we know if Cal Twomey is right and he goes later rather than earlier.

Panos as a rookie would be more a consideration and I'd still personally pass as I like some other players more, but I can understand why we'd pick him. You'd draft him as an inside mid and hope he develops his endurance. He isn't a round 1 starter but someone some years older who could develop into that role given his skillset and uniqueness of his game as previously an undersized key position player. Panos is useful in that he can as required play forward and back and even key position which is really unique for a guy you draft as a midfielder. He has a terrific skillset by position and if he has a setshot he is Matthew Lloydesque in that 9/10 he'll nail it. So that's the type of player you're looking at. A useful guy and intriguing guy, not dominant but still has further scope to improve and could be a unique multi-role guy who could add some further height through the midfield and some versatility to go with it.

Thanks for the reply. Appreciate your wisdom.

 

[rustyg70]

The more I read on Laverde, the more I really want us to pick him.
He seems like the exact type that we need.

 

[The Prince 29]

The perception that R.McKenzie is a man-child seems a common one due to the fact that he is 196.9cm, 106.9kg but while he is that big he isn't purely your Hawkins in the sense that he will only take advantage of you due to size, in addition to being able to do this he is also a genuinely strong mark who takes it at the highest point and can take it v any amount of contact as I'd argue the strongest contested mark in this draft.

He is a mark and goal forward - like Cloke and being that you can if you find someone equally strong/with elite closing speed/capable in the air he could be shutdown, but just being so extremely explosive on the leap and such a high leaper but then able in the air to take it at the highest point personally I just don't see how you can defend all that even as a mark and goal forward.

There was a perception that he lacked pace and athleticism but finished equal second in the 20m and top 10 in the vertical. His repeat time is strong. There is a perception that he lacks agility, though interestingly he tested in the top 50%.

Additionally he relatively although not badly lacks endurance with a 13.3 beep (bottom 15%) though as a genuine full forward and more a power/fast twitch athlete I consider that forgiveable. It is also something he is said to be working on so that will improve.

Some talk say he doesn't perform v better opposition and is more someone who will kill weak opposition and struggle against better teams/better opponents. It's true to an extent in that he had his two biggest games v Eastern who missed the finals and NT who are undersized. But personally I'd have no major issue with his performance v the better teams with the more obvious statistical trend to me his improvement from July onward/the second half of the season where he really elevated his game.

He does look man childish though doesn't he.
From the footage I've seen he seems to have toned up a bit during the season.
If we are lucky enough to get him, drop a few kilos off him he'd look good up at ff, with cloke at chf, where he looks so much better I reckon. Slot in Reid and Elliot and a couple of quicker players and I think the fwd line will be looking good.

 

[The Prince 29]

Under

Who Collingwood seem to want based on a combination of media rumours and common sense:
Pick 5: Presumably Laverde is the pick and the guy Collingwood want. Perhaps they also have Langford or De Goey 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.

Under 180, do not takey.

 

[Knightmare]

Under

Under 180, do not takey.

I generally don't like taking sub 180cm guys but Pickett is special on another level. When you can do what he can do, you take that because he runs and takes on the game like pretty much no one else.

Dion Prestia as a 176cm guy while inside rather than outside at pick 8 is a recent example of why you don't overlook sub 180cm guys when they can play. He went pick 8 overall in 2010 and some would argue he was out of that draft for Gold Coast the best of the players they drafted and arguably better than David Swallow to this point.

Pickett is a different type but he can in his own right like Prestia as a sub 180cm guy really dominate and have a big impact at the next level.

He does look man childish though doesn't he.
From the footage I've seen he seems to have toned up a bit during the season.
If we are lucky enough to get him, drop a few kilos off him he'd look good up at ff, with cloke at chf, where he looks so much better I reckon. Slot in Reid and Elliot and a couple of quicker players and I think the fwd line will be looking good.

I'm not convinced R.McKenzie needs to lose any weight. He has the explosive 20m pace (2.87sec - same as J.Pickett and equal best of those who will go on draft day) and the vertical leap (top 10 at the draft combine) that suggest he is fine at his present weight. Even for agility he takes in the top 50% at the combine.

He will work on his endurance but I personally like him at that high playing weight and if he stays in the 105-110kg region as he is at 106.9kg at the moment, that seems a good weight for him to remain and then just make that a leaner 107/108kg over time.

 

[Men of Steele]

Rather than everyone postulating on who they want us to get and why we should get them, could we all have a go at just naming/locking in the 5 that you think will be at Collingwood next year. No reasons needed or to be provided, just submit the names that will recieve Welcome to Collingwood threads in 5 days time. Everyone should get 1 right out of 5. I will start with these

5 -Langford
9 - Moore
30 - Cavka
48 - Gore
85 - Grace

 

[MyManLynch]

5- Laverde
9- Moore
30- McKenzie R
48- Cunico
85- Pass

 

[The Prince 29]

I generally don't like taking sub 180cm guys but Pickett is special on another level. When you can do what he can do, you take that because he runs and takes on the game like pretty much no one else.

Dion Prestia as a 176cm guy while inside rather than outside at pick 8 is a recent example of why you don't overlook sub 180cm guys when they can play. He went pick 8 overall in 2010 and some would argue he was out of that draft for Gold Coast the best of the players they drafted and arguably better than David Swallow to this point.

Pickett is a different type but he can in his own right like Prestia as a sub 180cm guy really dominate and have a big impact at the next level.



I'm not convinced R.McKenzie needs to lose any weight. He has the explosive 20m pace (2.87sec - same as J.Pickett and equal best of those who will go on draft day) and the vertical leap (top 10 at the draft combine) that suggest he is fine at his present weight. Even for agility he takes in the top 50% at the combine.

He will work on his endurance but I personally like him at that high playing weight and if he stays in the 105-110kg region as he is at 106.9kg at the moment, that seems a good weight for him to remain and then just make that a leaner 107/108kg over time.

Humbled for the reply Knightmare, long time admirer of your work.
Put Pickett in the long stops, I 'm wary of the short players unless exceptional. I'm not sure he'll last till 5 anyway, if he's got the toe and the smarts great, I'm not sold on him as the best at 5 though.
Reece I do like though, risk is there, upside huge. When I say loose weight, I meant skin fold as he appears heavy. As an explosive athlete at underage he can get away with it, repeated lead at arm though?

 

[The Prince 29]

5 Pickett/laverde
30 R Mckenzie
48 Langdon
85 J McGrath
Give Jayden a try, played with and against his dad, won't disappoint with his endeavour.

 

[Babylove]

5 - Laverde
9 - Moore
30 - Cavka
48 - Langdon
85 - Pass

 

[Medders123]

5 - Jayden Laverde
9 - Darcy Moore
30 - Damien Cavka
48 - Blaine Boekhurst
85 - Pass

 

[loki04]

5 - Jayden Laverde
9 - Darcy Moore
30 - Damien Cavka
48 - Blaine Boekhurst
85 - Pass

Yeah I think it will pretty much fall like this except they will use 85.

 

[MAGPIE2013]

I wouldnt be supprised if we take wright at 5 and then mid like connor blakely at 30

 

[Crazy Tails]

I wouldnt be supprised if we take wright at 5 and then mid like connor blakely at 30

I am thinking the same.

 

[POKsPies252]

I wouldnt be supprised if we take wright at 5 and then mid like connor blakely at 30

Or other way round, Laverde at 5 and Key Fwd (McKenzie) at 30

 

[boxy99]

All I want is laverde please pick him Hine!

 

[Rorzza]

5 - Wright (203)
http://www.afl.com.au/video?guid=696729
9 - Moore (199)
http://www.afl.com.au/video?guid=693724
30 - Neal-Bullen (182)
http://www.afl.com.au/video?guid=698165
48 - Boekhurst (184)
http://www.afl.com.au/video?guid=699721
85 - Taylor (178)
http://www.afl.com.au/video?guid=699088