Draft whispers, rumours & scuttlebut

[TwentyNine]

So funny. I'm just commenting but your self worth is so high you think by criticizing you I'm trying to make a name for myself. You are hilarity personified in ridiculous self importance! Give yourself a break and stop taking yourself so seriously!

It's funny, you're talking to a Richmond fan, but really, you're talking to the Richmond footy club

 

[doona]

Vic metros are kings of the go home

Yeo, ebert, McCarthy, beams, Polec, membrey, Treloar,...... The list goes on.

So many vic metro "kings"

 

[KeilorUnder9s]

It's funny, you're talking to a Richmond fan, but really, you're talking to the Richmond footy club

You're obsessed, cut the shit.

 

[Zach Package]

Does Curnow have this?

Certainly looks like he does to the naked eye

 

[TwentyNine]

You're obsessed, cut the shit.

Have a sense of humour mate

 

[Amarula]

Have a sense of humour mate

Sorry, but did you just ask a Richmond fan to have a sense of humour??

 

[Frank J Moose]

Yeo, ebert, McCarthy, beams, Polec, membrey, Treloar,...... The list goes on.

So many vic metro "kings"

Well you've gone with a Vic Metro king in your list. Couldn't you think of more from the other states?

 

[PattyKwasagun]

Heard today that a club with no picks in the top 10 is astonished at hearing how far Aaron Francis is set to fall. They've had him #1 or #2 all year and are now regretting not trading into the latter half of the top 10. Thought he was unattainable.

 

[Nahas2Waite]

Heard today that a club with no picks in the top 10 is astonished at hearing how far Aaron Francis is set to fall. They've had him #1 or #2 all year and are now regretting not trading into the latter half of the top 10. Thought he was unattainable.

How far mate..2nd round?

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Heard today that a club with no picks in the top 10 is astonished at hearing how far Aaron Francis is set to fall. They've had him #1 or #2 all year and are now regretting not trading into the latter half of the top 10. Thought he was unattainable.

Not as surprising as you think especially if you are unsure what position he is at AFL level. What is he going to be? Utility isn't good enough, what is he going to mainly play? Mid, FWD, or DEF? If he is a bit of this, bit of that...then I can understand the drop.

 

[PattyKwasagun]

How far mate..2nd round?

I think many think he'll now go between 8-12.

Not as surprising as you think especially if you are unsure what position he is at AFL level. What is he going to be? Utility isn't good enough, what is he going to mainly play? Mid, FWD, or DEF? If he is a bit of this, bit of that...then I can understand the drop.

Not at all about what I think. I can see your points, I was just passing on what an executive at a club said.

 

[ItsAllAboutMe]

Not as surprising as you think especially if you are unsure what position he is at AFL level. What is he going to be? Utility isn't good enough, what is he going to mainly play? Mid, FWD, or DEF? If he is a bit of this, bit of that...then I can understand the drop.

Has been compared to Brendan Goddard all year and that never stopped him going #1, versatility can be a strength

 

[Vindicater]

Francis will go top 5.

Has been a consensus top 3 pick all year.

There is alot of smoke by clubs at the moment as always at this time of year and the draft guru's are all clamoring to pic the bolters so they can look good and Francis is the easiest to make fall in their mocks.

I still think he goes 3rd to Melbourne.

 

[cdcanman]

Keep in mind a player drafted next week is going to be playing their best (hopefully) on the other side of 2020, comparing them to guys who will be five years retired..

I don't understand your point.
Francis doesn't need the other smaller KPD mentioned to still be around in order to make it himself.
Whether they are still playing or not is irrelevant. I raised them as examples to point out that shorter players have proven that height is not necessarily a barrier preventing them from making it as a KPD, even in modern football.

 

[cdcanman]

I look forward to playing the team with the 188cm defender or forward with Lions having Freeman, Schache Andrews, and Hipwood all 200cm or just under

Somehow I don't think Hawthorn, with short people like Gibson, Gunston and Stratton filling key posts, will be all that worried. Glad you are looking forward to it though
West Coast's defence seemed to cope just fine despite being critically undersized due to injury all season long.
I'll take quality over size every day of the week and twice on Sundays.

 

[cdcanman]

Exactly, it's the new era of football and marking is one of the biggest weapons in the game.

Francis is an excellent mark. One could argue that he has the best pair of hands in this draft.
His intercept marking was a real 'weapon' for SA in the carnival.
'His best spot is as an intercept-marking defender.'
'Francis' aerial exploits are among the best in the draft. He can read the flight of the ball, has the courage to back into traffic or jump over packs and has the power to hold onto his grabs.' Callum Twomey

 

[Damon_3388]

Has been compared to Brendan Goddard all year and that never stopped him going #1, versatility can be a strength

Or he could turn out like Gary Rohan.

 

[markm106]

I'm thinking Francis goes to Essendon with one of there top 10 picks.
Cal Twomey seems to be full time researching the draft for AFL.com.au. He says club and player are keen. Doubt he'd get past Adelaide first if he drops.

 

[Mofra]

Rumours:
Bulldogs are considering two absolute bolters at picks 30 & 51 - a ruckman at 30 and a small at 51, both have barely been mentioned on the D&T boards

Dal isn't averse to picking bolters e.g. Webb at 27 last year

 

[ManOfClay]

Or he could turn out like Gary Rohan.

Severely breaking a leg and struggling since?

 

[Funk]

Sorry, but did you just ask a Richmond fan to have a sense of humour??

If Tiger fans "aggro" in October/November was matched by their Captain each September - they might even win a final!!!!

 

[Taylor]

I don't understand your point.
Francis doesn't need the other smaller KPD mentioned to still be around in order to make it himself.
Whether they are still playing or not is irrelevant. I raised them as examples to point out that shorter players have proven that height is not necessarily a barrier preventing them from making it as a KPD, even in modern football.

Sorry, my point was that the trend from back when those (now would be considered undersized) key forwards has been towards taller key posts, both attacking and defensive so I expect that by the time the players drafted in a week are at their peak the players filling the key defensive and key attacking options will be ruckman sized.

It might seem like a tiny advantage but unless a player possesses a freak athletic trait, such as Nic Nat's or Fyfe's leap, their size against much taller opponents will put them back.

I have a theory that the easiest position to draft is a tall defender, not because it is the easiest position to play but because a super elite athlete doesn't need to know how to read the ball, doesn't need to know where to block space if they can burst and beat their leading forward to the ball to spoil. It doesn't make for much rebound football because they are punching the ball away all the time but they are keeping their man out of the game, so it gets the job done. Tall athletes without much (if any) football talent are far more common than the footy smart versions so easier to find and since the key talls taken high in the draft are knocking on 2m tall these players will start to come across to AFL as clubs look to counter that offensive advantage.

 

[blueiris]

Somehow I don't think Hawthorn, with short people like Gibson, Gunston and Stratton filling key posts, will be all that worried. Glad you are looking forward to it though
West Coast's defence seemed to cope just fine despite being critically undersized due to injury all season long.
I'll take quality over size every day of the week and twice on Sundays.

What about size and quality Gibson is one of the worst defenders in the AFL he's seriously overrated always gets beaten by the taller forwards I bet he's glad Brown retired being that he was Brown's little bitch.

 

[BPikkers]

What about size and quality Gibson is one of the worst defenders in the AFL he's seriously overrated always gets beaten by the taller forwards I bet he's glad Brown retired being that he was Brown's little bitch.

Are u serious?

 

[swansfan51]

Severely breaking a leg and struggling since?

You mean delivering the same production 3 years after his leg injury as he was delivering in his entire junior and senior career before it?