Draft

[theGav56]

Our midfield looks like it needs the most work, we need more players that can win clearances. Unfortunatley Fremantle's main clearance winner Paul Haselby suffered a season ending injury. I'd like to see the club secure the service's of Daniel Rich, but depending on were we finish on the ladder and what each club is looking for he might slip through our fingers. We have a very short midfield with the likes of Bell, J Carr, Palmer, Haselby, Schammer Black, Brock O'Brien. I would like to see us get some midfielder's who are 185cm's just to add a pit of extra height around the ground and for contests in the middle of the oval.

Daniel Rich is another shortie isn't he? Headland, Gilmore, Peake, Ibbotson, Bradley, Pavlich, Crowley and Dunn are all reasonable sized midfielders, and while Bradley and Gilmore are not realsitically what you are suggesting we recruit, we actually have a few tallish options for throwing in there. I think our problem is more to do with class than size. Our real pain comes from the failures of Schammer and Dunn to develop into core, clearance winning midfielders. Both high draft picks who have underperformed for whatever reasons.

 

[Eagle87]

Daniel Rich is another shortie isn't he? Headland, Gilmore, Peake, Ibbotson, Bradley, Pavlich, Crowley and Dunn are all reasonable sized midfielders, and while Bradley and Gilmore are not realsitically what you are suggesting we recruit, we actually have a few tallish options for throwing in there. I think our problem is more to do with class than size. Our real pain comes from the failures of Schammer and Dunn to develop into core, clearance winning midfielders. Both high draft picks who have underperformed for whatever reasons.

Rich is 181cm.

I shall leave it to others to decide if thats short but for comparison purposes:
G Ablett (jnr) is 182 (and about the same weight), Bartel is 186cm, Judd 188cm, Cousins 179cm and Kerr 178cm.

 

[Ysaye]

Daniel Rich is another shortie isn't he? Headland, Gilmore, Peake, Ibbotson, Bradley, Pavlich, Crowley and Dunn are all reasonable sized midfielders, and while Bradley and Gilmore are not realsitically what you are suggesting we recruit, we actually have a few tallish options for throwing in there. I think our problem is more to do with class than size. Our real pain comes from the failures of Schammer and Dunn to develop into core, clearance winning midfielders. Both high draft picks who have underperformed for whatever reasons.

181cm isn't that short - Voss was 183cm, Cooney 182cm, Palmer is 181cm. larger sizes aren't that great anyway because you have further to go to pick up the ball. Rich is the cream of the crop this year and should be picked by us if we get a look in. Tackling, brilliant skills, agility and decent pace ensure that this kid is all class.

You'd think Michael Walters has to come into play as a short (175cm) option this draft, having been noted as a real speedy goal-kicking rover. Won't go top 5 you wouldn't imagine at his size, but would be around 10 to 15. Hence the importance of a second 1st round pick around this mark would be really valuable.

 

[Moo]

Trading Pav - his value will come to the front to when we can Vet list him and save on the salary package. 4 years of Pav is worth a lot especially if we can send him out on a flag.

I really don't think we need to abandon ship. Our inability to win is frustrating but we are not like Melb and Essendon who look like they really need a clean out.

For the next 3 seasons we have a very good core to build around (especially in the traditionally difficult positions of ruck and KPP) - Pavlich, McPharlin, Sandilands, Palmer, Crowley, Drum, & Ibbotson.

Key 7 players moving forward.

To this add the likely possibility of the following being serviceable - Mi Johnson, Tarrant, Bradley, Dodd, Hase, Hayden, Headland (on age only), Hinks, Mayne, Mundy.

The key 7 is supplemented by 10 more that I would very much expect to be there around the mark. You would hope 1 or 2 of the Jury Out crowd may lift sufficiently.

Jury is out on Campbell, Murphy, Schammer, Duffield, Gilmore, Foster, Head, Peake, Thornton & O Brien.

Losses are likley to be Bell, Black, Browne, Dunn, McManus, Farmer, J Carr, Solly, Webster, Mark Johnson, Browne & Grover.

Of these Bell, Black, Farmer, Carr and Grover sting (note not all will go at once but I would expect in 2011 - most of this group is gone) - however it is still only a loss of 1 to 2 per season.

This gives us effectively a core team of 18 going forward 3 seasons ahead ...the trick is to do what we did last year and bring in another 6 quality players in the next couple of drafts/trades. Very possible.

A core group of 24 with support from 1 or 2 smart rookie elevations and natural finds (eg if Smith or Connelly can push up) and that my friends is more than good enough to push for finals football.

Plus with GC coming in ....they will need to trade some picks for experienced players ..perhaps this is when we can move one or two in.

Warnock: 1st Round draft choice (Melbourne)

Paul Duffield: 3rd Round Selection

Daniel Gilmore: 3rd/4th Round Selection

David Mundy High 2nd Round Selection

Ryan Murphy: 3rd/4th Round Selection

Brett Peake: High 3rd Round Selection

Warnock we will be lucky to get a 2nd rounder for and thats if there is competition.

Duffield - is worth nothing on the trade table

Gilmore - 4th rounder

Mundy - 2nd rounder (likely a late one)

Murphy - 4th rounder (maybe a 3rd)

Peake - Need to be lucky to get anything

 

[chook2734]

I think We should keep him and make him Co-Captain

I think you might be onto something here Rip. I don't think I'd go the co-captain thing again, but I would certainly be looking at him to take Carr's role as vice captain. He is far from inspirational and too undisciplined for the role.

 

[rotto]

Moo,

I agree with most of your points. We are not in the same boat as Melbourne or Essendon. We dont a massive clean out. Their no point delisting borderline AFL players for a five/sixth round pick.

Without trades, pick 4 players in national draft, 1 in Pre Season and 3 rookie draft. Their is no delisting players for pick 70 in national draft and pick 50 odd in rookie draft. What you want is talent young kids but some project that have less than 10% chance of making it.

If Mundy, Warnock or Murphy want out then trade them, otherwise keep them.

Last year draft, we found Palmer, Hinkley, Mayne, and Bradley and if get 3 or 4 players out of the coming draft then we will be ok long term.

 

[Rabbitoh]

What kind of message does it send if you trade your captain who has shown tremendous loyalty?

Shit thread 332docker.

Well said Dom.

 

[Freo Blood]

I think most of us are of the same opinion but to state again trading/losing Pav would be a disaster.

We talk about building culture and history of a club. Keeping a legend like Pav is absolutely crucial. We want Pav to retire in Freo colours and be living in Perth and a big part of leading the way behind the scenes in the future.

But before that I can imagine with relish the thought of Pav in 4-5 years time a stay at home Full Forward in the mould of Alistair Lynch. Would be unbeatable.

 

[Rubber Pants]

I'm kind of sick of people bagging out Sandilands, he has been pretty dominant this year and improved in nearly every area of his game.

People were unhappy that he wasn't doing enough around the ground but he's stepped up winning a huge amount of clearances, gathering contested possessions and generally just getting more of the ball.

Then people were whinging about him not taking enough marks but he's now taking a hell of a lot of contested marks and is a real danger in our forward line as well as taking saving marks in the back line.

People were saying he didn't kick enough goals but he had 2 goals 3 on the weekend and was looking good.

In every area he was criticised in he has stepped up and exceeded expectations. Now I'm just waiting for someone to start going on about how he doesn't tackle enough.

To even talk about trading away one of our best players who apart from Ibbo is probably showing the most improvement is ludicrous.

 

[Bluto]

I'm kind of sick of people bagging out Sandilands, he has been pretty dominant this year and improved in nearly every area of his game.

People were unhappy that he wasn't doing enough around the ground but he's stepped up winning a huge amount of clearances, gathering contested possessions and generally just getting more of the ball.

Then people were whinging about him not taking enough marks but he's now taking a hell of a lot of contested marks and is a real danger in our forward line as well as taking saving marks in the back line.

People were saying he didn't kick enough goals but he had 2 goals 3 on the weekend and was looking good.

In every area he was criticised in he has stepped up and exceeded expectations. Now I'm just waiting for someone to start going on about how he doesn't tackle enough.

To even talk about trading away one of our best players who apart from Ibbo is probably showing the most improvement is ludicrous.

I agree with pretty much all of that. I think the next thing on the list is to improve his goal kicking...which is Ok at the moment. If he is going to genuinely hurt teams then it has to get somewhat better.

I would like to see him monster the ball forward more with his hitouts, but that is purely a tactical coaching call. And to be honest at the moment we dont have the one-touch midfielders to take advantage of it.

Watching Warnock on monday reminded me of his great skills and made me sad to think he is probably going. The Falcons combo of Seaby and Warnock was probably better than half the AFL ruck combos going around.

 

[Moo]

From a 2005 WHTP Posting about Sandi....ahhh if we could just work out how to structure around him we could get away with a lot of clearances.

By Moo

Our ruckmen play like millionaires when they should be attending to the basics first, I dont blame the likes of Sandi as the Big Bird's first instinct is surely not to tap back to a precise position...this crud has been learnt.

Firstly I played ruck in the highly influential Ongerup Football Association as an undersized ruck - whenever the opposition big guys tried to be pretty tap ruckman I would simply punch their arms and take away the precision element allowing our little noongar rovers to steal half the taps.

However playing against the Dunkelds (massive boys) they used to just whack the ball to CHF and every now and then back tap ....it was humiliating as the ball just kept going forward. Sound familiar - no cos we never ever do it?

Secondly, we should midfield conference before every centre clearance and have a plan stan ...force the opposition to match up - I'd trade a crystal clear pretty possession out of the middle (of which we get maybe 1 or 2 a quarter) for 2 or 3 butt ugly hacks out of the middle straight into CHF. Quick possession and shovel it out or just kick the thing ...cookie style into the forward line ....we may even find the odd free kick for being front and centre to the ball.

Thirdly, I also coach Basketball and it seems we do the opposite of how we would benefit off a dominant centre. Jees I have even lined up with all 4 of my guys at the offensive (attacking) key just to demoralise the other team into matching up from the word go to what I want.

In basketball dominant centres team dictates the line up....god knows we line up like everyone else. It makes no sense, seal off and positioning - or just move forward, anything but this junk. Once you start dominating then the subtle changes of placement. Quite simply we need to place more boys in front of the ball, not this "men behind the ruckman and running onto it crud" that we serve up week in, week out Big Bird is massive and we just do not use his ability.

Thump the thing forward. There it aint so hard I'll say it again - thump the thing forward ...if you want to get pretty agree to thump it forward left or thump it forward straight. Thump it forward into space, ignore the other teams line up ...they can either match up or get stuffed as far as I am concerned.

Big Bird is slow and other teams take advantage of that, Big Bird is also big, how about we take advantage of that ....if he can not do it - drop him but me thinks he can do it and we are trying to be cute.

It is not as though I am some hack trying to introduce a new massive zone theory or some forward zone theory ...I'm a hack saying - yes bugger the pretty aspects just do the basics - ball moving forward in our direction. (do we remember this from jr footy?)

It aint rocket science but we are trying to make it like that. Everytime I see this fandangled pretty tap it back onto a 5c piece, I really just want to spew and think if thats our strategy - get Super Muir, Johnno and Rabbit into the ruck.

Quite simply put the Bird Bird in the middle, place our guys where we think the ball is going and he hits it forward.

It aint Big Bird its the set up - Midfield and Ruck coach(es) take note!!

http://wehavethepassion.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=418

 

[dominguez]

I'm kind of sick of people bagging out Sandilands, he has been pretty dominant this year and improved in nearly every area of his game.

People were unhappy that he wasn't doing enough around the ground but he's stepped up winning a huge amount of clearances, gathering contested possessions and generally just getting more of the ball.

Then people were whinging about him not taking enough marks but he's now taking a hell of a lot of contested marks and is a real danger in our forward line as well as taking saving marks in the back line.

People were saying he didn't kick enough goals but he had 2 goals 3 on the weekend and was looking good.

In every area he was criticised in he has stepped up and exceeded expectations. Now I'm just waiting for someone to start going on about how he doesn't tackle enough.

To even talk about trading away one of our best players who apart from Ibbo is probably showing the most improvement is ludicrous.

Good post.