Draft Watcher eDPS Draft Watch 2020

[eDPS]

 

[eDPS]

Is this why you have a heap of WA players moving up your boards? More exposure to those players, hence they look like shiny new toys?

I’ve only had McDonald move up since they started again

 

[eDPS]

I am very happy with the selection of Trew for Adelaide. He is the exact type of player that we currently have the greatest need for. My only concern is whether Edwards will address this need for us as a big bodied, clearance specialist. Edwards will come bit cheaper but will obviously not be as high quality. I wouldn't want to run the risk of having to many slow inside specialists in the one midfield. Do you think that the two are too similar? and how would you compare them as midfielders? Typically clubs pick the best available talent early and address list balance with later picks but in this case we are (probably) already locked in to Edwards with a later pick so I wonder if we would look at a more balanced midfielder like O'Driscoll on Bruhn at that pick if they are available. Do you think that access to F/S or NGA players later in a draft - or a high quality one the next year - effects what a club does with earlier picks or do they still pick the best available?

Edwards could add depth do a lot of areas, Trew is more of a pure mid where as Edwards can play forward and back aswell. I don’t think Edwards is on Trews level as a mid but he is still different enough to allow getting both.

Who knows how long the NGA lasts so clubs may not give at as much thought from now on but you would certainly need to consider it for talented f/s. For example Essendon has two gun small forwards to come in for 2022 in the Davey Twins, pies have a small forward in Dib next year and a midfielder in Daicos so they may not look at those types this year.

 

[Bring back Bas]

Edwards could add depth do a lot of areas, Trew is more of a pure mid where as Edwards can play forward and back aswell. I don’t think Edwards is only Trews level as a mid but he is still different enough to allow getting both.

Who knows how long the NGA lasts so clubs may not give at as much thought from now on but you would certainly need to consider it for talented f/s. For example Essendon has two gun small forwards to come in for 2022 in the Davey Twins, pies have a small forward in Dib next year and a midfielder in Daicos so they may not look at those types this year.

Thanks for the response. We'll take both in that case.

 

[Bring back Bas]

I’ve only had McDonald move up since they started again

Where did McDonald start the season at? He is obviously out-performing your expectations of him so far. If everyone keeps going the way they are does he end up at number one in your rankings? If he reverts back to your preseason expectations does he fall back down your rankings or is he now a top pick because he has shown that his best is very good? I'm interested in what a player needs to do to move and fall in your rankings. I know it would depend on the particular player but if you could explain in general the importance of a good game or a good month that would be an interesting read. Also what were your expectations for a KPF playing in the SANFL or WAFL? Is Thilthorpe over or under performing so far?

 

[eDPS]

Where did McDonald start the season at? He is obviously out-performing your expectations of him so far. If everyone keeps going the way they are does he end up at number one in your rankings? If he reverts back to your preseason expectations does he fall back down your rankings or is he now a top pick because he has shown that his best is very good? I'm interested in what a player needs to do to move and fall in your rankings. I know it would depend on the particular player but if you could explain in general the importance of a good game or a good month that would be an interesting read. Also what were your expectations for a KPF playing in the SANFL or WAFL? Is Thilthorpe over or under performing so far?

I had him in the teens so it wasn’t going to take much for me to put him higher, I wasn’t sure on his contested marking but he has absolutely shown it. He will never improve his speed but apart from that he doesn’t really have many issues I can see. He could go 1 but it would be hard for crows to pass on a gun local talent in Thilthorpe.
Yeah you need more than one good game but the reason the likes of McDonald and Thilthorpe are rated as they are now is because they have had numerous good games for a few years now.

Thilthorpe is the most polarising player for me, his speed and leap worry me a bit mostly the leap though and that he is already a big unit compared to someone like JUH and McDonald who have a lot more size to put on yet in comparison. Thilthorpe however can do things not many other 200cm players can, he competes really well at ground level and commands a good defender on him because of his smarts and reach.

 

[briztoon]

Edwards could add depth do a lot of areas, Trew is more of a pure mid where as Edwards can play forward and back aswell. I don’t think Edwards is on Trews level as a mid but he is still different enough to allow getting both.

Who knows how long the NGA lasts so clubs may not give at as much thought from now on but you would certainly need to consider it for talented f/s. For example Essendon has two gun small forwards to come in for 2022 in the Davey Twins, pies have a small forward in Dib next year and a midfielder in Daicos so they may not look at those types this year.

So you’re saying Essendon won’t bid on Coleman jr. this draft.

 

[eDPS]

So you’re saying Essendon won’t bid on Coleman jr. this draft.

I didn’t think they would bid on the older one last year and didn’t think they would draft Johnson in the main draft. Dodoro works in mysterious ways sometimes

 

[Bring back Bas]

I had him in the teens so it wasn’t going to take much for me to put him higher, I wasn’t sure on his contested marking but he has absolutely shown it. He will never improve his speed but apart from that he doesn’t really have many issues I can see. He could go 1 but it would be hard for crows to pass on a gun local talent in Thilthorpe.
Yeah you need more than one good game but the reason the likes of McDonald and Thilthorpe are rated as they are now is because they have had numerous good games for a few years now.

Thilthorpe is the most polarising player for me, his speed and leap worry me a bit mostly the leap though and that he is already a big unit compared to someone like JUH and McDonald who have a lot more size to put on yet in comparison. Thilthorpe however can do things not many other 200cm players can, he competes really well at ground level and commands a good defender on him because of his smarts and reach.

I suppose it is hard to say if a player does X then they will be pick Y because every player is different. I imagine Gould could have done just about anything last year and he never would have gone really high as he had physical traits holding him back. Other players probably only need to show a glimpse to be rated higher.

I don't watch any of the draft hopefuls so my opinion isn't worth much but Thilthorpe does concern me too. Everyone's opinion seems to be somewhat influenced by the fact that he is 200cm and like you said, is very mobile and fast for a player of that size. Unless he is going to play as a ruckman at AFL level - I understand that is highly unlikely - I see very little benefit in being 200cm rather than 195cm but that seems to come in to most peoples thinking. If he was 195cm would he be rated as highly as he is?

Additionally, has Thilthorpe every been a dominate forward? I thought that most of his junior career has been spent as a ruckman. It reminds me of Durdin who played his best junior footy as a ruckman but was drafted as a KPD. Durdin could also do things that few other his height could do.

 

[briztoon]

I didn’t think they would bid on the older one last year and didn’t think they would draft Johnson in the main draft. Dodoro works in mysterious ways sometimes

Drafting Johnson was a big two fingers up at the Lions and AFL.

Dodoro knew Johnson would go straight on to the lti list, and therefore wouldn’t take up a senior list spot this year.

We had committed to drafting Johnson in the rookie draft for exactly the same reason.

We didn’t actually have a senior or rookie list spot for him, but were doing him and his family a solid.

Genuinely hope the kid makes the most of his opportunity.

 

[eDPS]

I suppose it is hard to say if a player does X then they will be pick Y because every player is different. I imagine Gould could have done just about anything last year and he never would have gone really high as he had physical traits holding him back. Other players probably only need to show a glimpse to be rated higher.

I don't watch any of the draft hopefuls so my opinion isn't worth much but Thilthorpe does concern me too. Everyone's opinion seems to be somewhat influenced by the fact that he is 200cm and like you said, is very mobile and fast for a player of that size. Unless he is going to play as a ruckman at AFL level - I understand that is highly unlikely - I see very little benefit in being 200cm rather than 195cm but that seems to come in to most peoples thinking. If he was 195cm would he be rated as highly as he is?

Additionally, has Thilthorpe every been a dominate forward? I thought that most of his junior career has been spent as a ruckman. It reminds me of Durdin who played his best junior footy as a ruckman but was drafted as a KPD. Durdin could also do things that few other his height could do.

Gould’s testing at the combine was a real turn off, I think leap was the only thing decent when everything else was very poor especially endurance, it was a risk for clubs to take him high with his lack of athleticism but could still end up a bargain if he can really work on that athleticism. Scope and upside are big things scouts look for as kids dominating now and a sure thing to dominate at the next level and it’s usually the ones who are more physically developed that can struggle to live up to the hype.

If he was 195cm he probably wouldn’t be in pick 1 contention as that rucking ability is also a feature of his game, same can be said for Tim English who knows what he would become without that growth spurt to become ruck size.

Nah Thilthorpe spent a lot of time forward with stints in the ruck and even midfield. Thilthorpe potentially becoming a key defender isn’t out of the questions either, could be in the Cale Hooker mould where he doesn’t have to be that quick but will rely on smarts and size to intercept, he has great skills for a big man aswell so you would have no problems having him kicking out from defence.

 

[Mutineer]

Draft prospect Lachlan Grubb making his SANFL League debut on the wing for Central Districts.

 

[eDPS]

Draft prospect Lachlan Grubb making his SANFL League debut on the wing for Central Districts.

Yeah saw that before good to see another likely prospect get a league game, would be good to see how he goes up the ground as he looked a natural forward from what I’ve seen up till now.

 

[Mutineer]

Yeah saw that before good to see another likely prospect get a league game, would be good to see how he goes up the ground as he looked a natural forward from what I’ve seen up till now.

Interesting player named in the Reserves for Glenelg.....Mitch Martin. must have done his quarantine..

Edit : Must have missed him last week I see he kicked a goal for them last week

 

[Ysaye]

I suppose it is hard to say if a player does X then they will be pick Y because every player is different. I imagine Gould could have done just about anything last year and he never would have gone really high as he had physical traits holding him back. Other players probably only need to show a glimpse to be rated higher.

I don't watch any of the draft hopefuls so my opinion isn't worth much but Thilthorpe does concern me too. Everyone's opinion seems to be somewhat influenced by the fact that he is 200cm and like you said, is very mobile and fast for a player of that size. Unless he is going to play as a ruckman at AFL level - I understand that is highly unlikely - I see very little benefit in being 200cm rather than 195cm but that seems to come in to most peoples thinking. If he was 195cm would he be rated as highly as he is?

Additionally, has Thilthorpe every been a dominate forward? I thought that most of his junior career has been spent as a ruckman. It reminds me of Durdin who played his best junior footy as a ruckman but was drafted as a KPD. Durdin could also do things that few other his height could do.

Thilthorpe has had good games as a forward. There is a touch of opportunism in some of his gameplay and he has never had a 9 goals match like say Max King, but then Thilthorpe has been playing at senior SANFL level, not Vic School football, which represents different opportunities and challenges.

Positional flexibility with talls seems to be seen as a significant factor by recruiters, and the emphasis on this will get bigger still with the suggested smaller lists. Given Thilthorpe clearly has more positional flexibility than say McDonald or Grainger-Barras, I think this is a big thing going for him. I think the 200cm thing is also worth noting - there are more and more KPs who are closer to 200cm than they are to 195cm; given playing as a tall is a lot about the cms (both in terms of height and jump), this size difference from the others is another advantage he has over the others.

 

[eDPS]

Thilthorpe has had good games as a forward. There is a touch of opportunism in some of his gameplay and he has never had a 9 goals match like say Max King, but then Thilthorpe has been playing at senior SANFL level, not Vic School football, which represents different opportunities and challenges.

Positional flexibility with talls seems to be seen as a significant factor by recruiters, and the emphasis on this will get bigger still with the suggested smaller lists. Given Thilthorpe clearly has more positional flexibility than say McDonald or Grainger-Barras, I think this is a big thing going for him. I think the 200cm thing is also worth noting - there are more and more KPs who are closer to 200cm than they are to 195cm; given playing as a tall is a lot about the cms (both in terms of height and jump), this size difference from the others is another advantage he has over the others.

Just on DGB I think he could be developed in other areas of the ground, tall midfielders isn’t out of the question as he has some Bontempelli traits with his ground ball work.

 

[briztoon]

Thilthorpe has had good games as a forward. There is a touch of opportunism in some of his gameplay and he has never had a 9 goals match like say Max King, but then Thilthorpe has been playing at senior SANFL level, not Vic School football, which represents different opportunities and challenges.

Positional flexibility with talls seems to be seen as a significant factor by recruiters, and the emphasis on this will get bigger still with the suggested smaller lists. Given Thilthorpe clearly has more positional flexibility than say McDonald or Grainger-Barras, I think this is a big thing going for him. I think the 200cm thing is also worth noting - there are more and more KPs who are closer to 200cm than they are to 195cm; given playing as a tall is a lot about the cms (both in terms of height and jump), this size difference from the others is another advantage he has over the others.

I do have some concern about Thilthorpe’s and McDonald’s (and Callow‘lack of genuine ability to jump, or fly for a mark.

I believe this will negatively impact their ability to take contested marks at AFL level.

I’ll admit I wasn’t that impressed with the McDonald highlights from last weekend. It was more that I thought the defending against him was poor, and that he wasn’t out bodying or out working a talented defender.

To be a top tier talk forward, I believe you need be able take marks on the lead, and be able to take either contested pack marks that do rely on your ability to either jump vertically or fly in from the side higher than the pack.

I haven’t seen any evidence of the later from the three kids I mentioned.

 

[andleanback]

I do have some concern about Thilthorpe’s and McDonald’s (and Callow‘lack of genuine ability to jump, or fly for a mark.

I believe this will negatively impact their ability to take contested marks at AFL level.

I’ll admit I wasn’t that impressed with the McDonald highlights from last weekend. It was more that I thought the defending against him was poor, and that he wasn’t out bodying or out working a talented defender.

To be a top tier talk forward, I believe you need be able take marks on the lead, and be able to take either contested pack marks that do rely on your ability to either jump vertically or fly in from the side higher than the pack.

I haven’t seen any evidence of the later from the three kids I mentioned.

You didn’t see McDonald’s pack mark jumping from behind in the 2nd quarter? McDonald doesn’t have outstanding hops but it’s above average and way better than Callows. McDonald’s running vertical is 83cm which is 20cm better than Callows at 63cm. That would be alarm bells for me, if you were thinking of taking callow high in the draft as your future key forward.

 

[eDPS]

You didn’t see McDonald’s pack mark jumping from behind in the 2nd quarter? McDonald doesn’t have outstanding hops but it’s above average and way better than Callows. McDonald’s running vertical is 83cm which is 20cm better than Callows at 63cm. That would be alarm bells for me, if you were thinking of taking callow high in the draft as your future key forward.

83cm VL puts McDonald in the top 10 of last years testing results at the combine, if that’s not outstanding I don’t know what is

 

[andleanback]

83cm VL puts McDonald in the top 10 of last years testing results at the combine, if that’s not outstanding I don’t know what is

Yeah I was being modest haha it’s no Ugle-Hagan though. A lot of kids in this draft have really good running verticals looking at the testing results from earlier in the year. One of those years I suspose. He’d be considered above average this year, the top 10 around the country were all above 89cm and kids that possess some of the best leaps didn’t test.

 

[Mutineer]

Zane Trew injured today?

 

[eDPS]

Zane Trew injured today?

Very likely, didn’t touch the ball after QT

 

[philthy05]

Taj Schofield also went off injured yesterday. not sure how serious it is someone said he rolled an ankle the other week

 

[briztoon]

Very likely, didn’t touch the ball after QT

Shoulder?

 

[eDPS]

Shoulder?

No idea, will find out sooner or later

 

[saintsb4idie]

No idea, will find out sooner or later

concussion