List Mgmt. Draft Watch 2015

[Rory Walkerfield]

IMO if we do draft Burton, he won't push anyone out. Our forward line actually works perfectly as it is - Tex and JJ as those two KPFs who offer different things, Betts and Cameron as your crumbers, Menzel as your livewire medium forward and Lynch as your linkman, sometimes goalkicking 3rd tall. Could Burton play the same role as Lynch? From what I've heard, I don't think so. If we do draft Burton, we'll plan to either play one off the bench, or develop Menzel into a wingman (which puts the team balance out of whack).

Burton is 18. Jenkins is 27. Their afl careers will only overlap by a couple of years. A top end forward to develop over the next 3 to 4 years is a need.

 

[Stiffy_18]

Burton is 18. Jenkins is 27. Their afl careers will only overlap by a couple of years. A top end forward to develop over the next 3 to 4 years is a need.

Is Burton a KPF though? It doesn't sound like it. All the comparisons are to Gunston. Not I am a fan of how Gunston plays (still not over the way he walked out on the club) but as good a player as Gunston is, he is not a KPF. Especially not the one that does some relief duties in the ruck.

The only player that can be considered as a long term replacement for Jenkins (in terms of role and type of player) that is on our list is Dear. From draft and players that might be at our pick, it's Harry McKay.

People believe that there will be a return of the back up ruckman with the extinction of the substitute but forget that the rotations have reduced significantly which means that there is simply no room for a back up ruckman who can't play in another position. Replacement for Jenkins needs to be someone who can also pinch hit in the ruck to give the #1 ruckman a bit of a relief. At 191/192cm Burton is not that player.

 

[Captain Furious]

Can Burton be developed into a midfielder? It's something that he is aiming for (ala Fyfe). If we do take a punt on him at 13, I would try and develop him into a midfielder who can play forward. If he can do that he would be a very difficult match up just like Fyfe.

If we draft Burton, it may be to develop as a midfielder. He played as a mid his whole junior career up until his growth spurt and playing league for North at 16 put him forward. Having just recruited a 21 yr old Menzel, Lynch only 25 and Betts playing tall, we don't really need him as a forward.

Unless of course they want to develop him as a Dunstall/Modra type full forward. Lot of flexibility with him, I'd be really excited to draft someone with his talent.

 

[LiamPickering]

Burton is 18. Jenkins is 27. Their afl careers will only overlap by a couple of years. A top end forward to develop over the next 3 to 4 years is a need.

Love how you make mention of the fact that Josh Jenkins turns 27 in February next year, but not the fact that Burton turns 19 in January. Maybe Burton just doesn't grow old!

 

[Team DJ]

Is Milera genuine mid material? Its just that we don't exactly have any immediate vacancies/needs up forward at the moment. Obviously his pace would come in handy as its something we certainly lack and is a trait that's hard to come by.
Seems like the sort of player that would get homesick easily, maybe pick him up a few years later for a steal?
Surely we would be going for a tall defender with at least one of our first two picks, or do they envisage a future for Hartigan?

Elite speed. Elite Kick.
Probably our 2 biggest needs.
Huh? Hes a SA Boy.

 

[Stiffy_18]

If we draft Burton, it may be to develop as a midfielder. He played as a mid his whole junior career up until his growth spurt and playing league for North at 16 put him forward. Having just recruited a 21 yr old Menzel, Lynch only 25 and Betts playing tall, we don't really need him as a forward.

Unless of course they want to develop him as a Dunstall/Modra type full forward. Lot of flexibility with him, I'd be really excited to draft someone with his talent.

The biggest issue for all teams is his injury. Are teams allowed to have potential draftees undergo an extensive medical before the draft so they know what they are dealing with? Or is it a case of crossing the fingers and hoping for the best?

If the clubs are allowed to do that, I would expect that AFC are all over it and performing as detailed a medical as humanly possible (scans included). I could see why a potential draft and his agent might be reluctant to do it but if there is nothing to hide and they genuinely think that he will have no issues with it, then I see no reason why they would shy away from it.

 

[Team DJ]

I remember Portland drafted for need rather than talent once. They got Sam Bowie instead of Michael Jordan.

To be fair, Bowie was one of the greatest college players of all time. Just couldnt shake injuries.

 

[Team DJ]

Can Burton be developed into a midfielder? It's something that he is aiming for (ala Fyfe). If we do take a punt on him at 13, I would try and develop him into a midfielder who can play forward. If he can do that he would be a very difficult match up just like Fyfe.

I see a young Hird or Fyfe in him. My feeling is yes.
High half forward to begin his career. Midfield after a few pre seasons.

 

[Draft Bored]

I listened to the Road to the Draft podcast and Cal where they went through the club picks and their needs and then identified a list of players that the teams would be looking at with those picks.

Cal again stated that he thinks the way things are looking to pan out at the moment that Francis could be there at pick 9 for us and we would take him (obviously). He thinks the biggest threats to us are Essendon at 4 or 5 and Carlton at 8. Doesn't see Melbourne going after him and think that Essendon are likely to go for forwards (tall) with their picks and would look at Milera if Parish is picked by Melbourne at 3.

I hope he is right and Francis is there for the taking at pick 9. The kid will be a star and could play anywhere.

Surely Essendon take him. He's one of the only Bombers fan's left in Australia!

If he falls to 9 my celebration is going to get me kicked out of the convention centre.

 

[GrommoT]

Huh? Hes a SA Boy.

I think he means if another interstate team drafts him, we swoop in in a few years' time when he starts to get homesick.

Spoiler: ... 2018 Clips ...

v. North [20180819]

v. Port [20180804]

v. Melbourne [20180728]

v. Geelong [20180712]

v. GWS [20180603]

.

Spoiler: ... 2017 Clips ...

v. Saints [20170609]

.

 

[Hodgy]

If you're calling Martin and Wright midfielders you might as well call Hampton, Seedsman and Menzel midfielders, so I don't think you're point holds. Martin was a flanker/winger and Wright hasn't played more than snippets in the midfield since 2012, playing forward pocket/flank. Hampton and Seedsman are winger/flankers, Menzel is a medium forward with midfield potential. All I see us doing is correcting our over supply of slow, small and poorly skilled mid types.

You'll note we've also lost Podsiadly, Siggins and Osborn, 2 genuine key position types and a KPF/Ruck, you don't think we should be replacing them?

No.
Our side last year was good with one glaring deficiency. Our midfield sucked apart from Danger and we've lost him. Any tall defender or forward we got now would have to be very special to push their way into our side right now whereas I could find room for probably 4 mids who would only need to be better than Kerridge or Lyons to get a shot.

Simply put we could win a flag with the talls that we have now but there is no way that we could win a flag with the midfield that we have.

 

[Captain Furious]

The biggest issue for all teams is his injury. Are teams allowed to have potential draftees undergo an extensive medical before the draft so they know what they are dealing with? Or is it a case of crossing the fingers and hoping for the best?

If the clubs are allowed to do that, I would expect that AFC are all over it and performing as detailed a medical as humanly possible (scans included). I could see why a potential draft and his agent might be reluctant to do it but if there is nothing to hide and they genuinely think that he will have no issues with it, then I see no reason why they would shy away from it.

I think they have an extensive medical at the Combine. Not sure if clubs can do their own, I can't see why not.

But all the testing in the world won't be able to ascertain for sure how he's going to function under AFL conditions. On the negative, it was a really hardcore break. On the positive, he did it at 17 and should heal better than a guy in his mid-late 20's (like Nathan Brown).

If we do draft him, will need to be very patient. Wouldn't have played for almost 2 years when next season comes around, even SANFL level will be a very tough ask. Shouldn't really expect any AFL games out of him for the first couple of years.

 

[Jeffcrowe]

I just think that Parish would be such a perfect fit for our list at the moment. Most of our outside players play really wide of the contest (Smith, Henderson, Seedsman) having another top end talent in the Douglas mould would complement our midfield perfectly I think.

I will back your judgement on this however, as I know you have a very good understanding of where these kids sit. It doesn't matter a whole lot though as Parish has about a 1% chance of getting to us. I think we could be a legitimate chance of getting Francis at 9 though. For me it all depends on what happens at picks 5 and 6. I think those two picks will shape the whole first round.

Fair call , I'd love parish too on needs, we need a player like that but we would go for the best player which I think is francis

Francis slipping is gaining momentum which is exciting for us .... He's a v unique player and we would find a spot for him

If we drafted him we would be well on the way of having the best backline in he league in next few years , and no doubt he pinch hits in midfield when he gets fitter

 

[Captain Furious]

No.
Our side last year was good with one glaring deficiency. Our midfield sucked apart from Danger and we've lost him. Any tall defender or forward we got now would have to be very special to push their way into our side right now whereas I could find room for probably 4 mids who would only need to be better than Kerridge or Lyons to get a shot.

Simply put we could win a flag with the talls that we have now but there is no way that we could win a flag with the midfield that we have.

I don't think we can win a flag with just Talia and Hartigan as KPDs. I'm not convinced about Hartigan against top line forwards; yes he's inexperienced but that's half my point. Plus if one of them goes down, and over the course of a season that's far more likely than not, we're stuck using undersized defenders in a KP role.

If we don't draft Collins (who at 193cm doesn't really solve our undersized defence problem) we'll probably need to rookie the best mature age KPD left. Expect Hartley and Brown to go in the main draft.

 

[Hodgy]

I don't think we can win a flag with just Talia and Hartigan as KPDs. I'm not convinced about Hartigan against top line forwards; yes he's inexperienced but that's half my point. Plus if one of them goes down, and over the course of a season that's far more likely than not, we're stuck using undersized defenders in a KP role.

If we don't draft Collins (who at 193cm doesn't really solve our undersized defence problem) we'll probably need to rookie the best mature age KPD left. Expect Hartley and Brown to go in the main draft.

Talia, Hartigan and Lever are a lot better than anything that West Coast had through most of this year and they nearly won it. In fact those 3, considering that they are all still improving would give us the best group of tall defenders in the league in my opinion. They are certainly better than Lake and Frawley. We can win with them but we simply can't win with Matt Crouch, Lyons, Dougy this year or Thompson. Sloan is a good B+ mid and Smith proved this year that he isn't a mid.
We have good rebounding defenders and small forwards, ruck is good and as far as I can see our talls are fine, we need wingmen who are quick and can hit a target (think Isaac Smith in the grand final) and contested mids who can actually kick (think Hodge and Mitchell).

 

[grundog49]

Think smaller Jarrad Waite for Burton. Best forward by far in this year's draft. On a lead there's no one better and can play on tall or small. Hasn't got endurance to be midfield and thought he could become Fyfe like is Fantasy. Hes good but he's no Skinny kid from WA who has an amazing leap.

Francis is great but who does he replace. He can play from round one but who does he replace. Brown, Lever, Hartigan? Hes the best SA talent since Scharenberg. Lever and Francis I see are two similar as defenders. Menzel has taken his spot in the forward line. Hes no midfielder.

 

[1990crow]

Think smaller Jarrad Waite for Burton. Best forward by far in this year's draft. On a lead there's no one better and can play on tall or small. Hasn't got endurance to be midfield and thought he could become Fyfe like is Fantasy. Hes good but he's no Skinny kid from WA who has an amazing leap.

Francis is great but who does he replace. He can play from round one but who does he replace. Brown, Lever, Hartigan? Hes the best SA talent since Scharenberg. Lever and Francis I see are two similar as defenders. Menzel has taken his spot in the forward line. Hes no midfielder.

Brown ~ Hartigan ~ Lever
Francis ~ Talia ~ Laird
Smith ~ B.Crouch ~ Seedsman
Jacobs ~ M.Crouch ~ Sloane
THE forward line

It works

 

[Wouldbetackler]

I don't think we can win a flag with just Talia and Hartigan as KPDs. I'm not convinced about Hartigan against top line forwards; yes he's inexperienced but that's half my point. Plus if one of them goes down, and over the course of a season that's far more likely than not, we're stuck using undersized defenders in a KP role.

If we don't draft Collins (who at 193cm doesn't really solve our undersized defence problem) we'll probably need to rookie the best mature age KPD left. Expect Hartley and Brown to go in the main draft.

I'm hoping we go best 2 available to us and pick up 2 mature aged KPP in rookie draft that are ready to go if one goes down

 

[Bring back Bas]

Have a hunch Gold Coast will take Milera, he replaces Bennell and seems like the smallest flight risk of the top 10. Also makes sense why they would swap 3 for 6 if he is who they want.

If it is Milera who they want, moving to pick 6 is risky because you would think that Essendon would be very keen at 5. I have a feeling that they might be interested in Collins or an inside mid as I don't think Essendon will be interested in these types of player.

 

[Bring back Bas]

Fair call , I'd love parish too on needs, we need a player like that but we would go for the best player which I think is francis

Francis slipping is gaining momentum which is exciting for us .... He's a v unique player and we would find a spot for him

If we drafted him we would be well on the way of having the best backline in he league in next few years , and no doubt he pinch hits in midfield when he gets fitter

Do you see Francis playing as a regular HBF or as the third tall in defense?

 

[1990crow]

Do you see Francis playing as a regular HBF or as the third tall in defense?

Francis will be able to play anywhere but most likely to start as a HBF whilst he builds a tank.

 

[Rory Walkerfield]

Love how you make mention of the fact that Josh Jenkins turns 27 in February next year, but not the fact that Burton turns 19 in January. Maybe Burton just doesn't grow old!

**** me. Talk about semantics!

 

[Rory Walkerfield]

Is Burton a KPF though? It doesn't sound like it. All the comparisons are to Gunston. Not I am a fan of how Gunston plays (still not over the way he walked out on the club) but as good a player as Gunston is, he is not a KPF. Especially not the one that does some relief duties in the ruck.

The only player that can be considered as a long term replacement for Jenkins (in terms of role and type of player) that is on our list is Dear. From draft and players that might be at our pick, it's Harry McKay.

People believe that there will be a return of the back up ruckman with the extinction of the substitute but forget that the rotations have reduced significantly which means that there is simply no room for a back up ruckman who can't play in another position. Replacement for Jenkins needs to be someone who can also pinch hit in the ruck to give the #1 ruckman a bit of a relief. At 191/192cm Burton is not that player.

I didn't realise the rules required us to replace players like for like...

 

[Jeffcrowe]

Do you see Francis playing as a regular HBF or as the third tall in defense?

Definitely more HBF ....basically on the least threatening medium forward and the guy dropping off at any opportunity to be the loose

Would really free up brodie smith up the ground

In some ways drafting Francis would be like drafting a mid because smith becomes a full time mid within 12 months

 

[Redleg Crow]

To be fair, Bowie was one of the greatest college players of all time. Just couldnt shake injuries.

Geez, remember last year after the pre-season game against Geelong, Rowe on AA was talking about Lever being Sam Bowie to Cockatoo's Jordan