Ellis Is The One

[Powers manager]

Tonight I saw a story about Xavier Ellis on the channel ten news. Having watched countless games he's played it was good to see the sort of a person he was off the ground. There isn't any questions posed on his ability yet I never really have seen or heard how he conducts himself off the field. He seems to be a very down to earth sort of a person, or a snob, as he doesn't allow as much media coverage on himself, in comparison to say Murphy. Alan McConnell also gave him a huge rap about his leadership quilities and great personality on the radio tonight. He looks to me the goods and would be my number one, unfortunately he looks likely to be gone before the hawks picks come around. Would you have him at one???

 

[TGR]

When you are the premier player in the draft ( Murphy ) you don't seek the media spotlight, it seeks you.

 

[KnaveyBlue]

Collingwood will get him at 2, no doubt.

They need a pacy outside player that can have 476 bounces in a run down the wing against Carlton. Collingwood are lost without one of those sorts!

 

[Kegs44]

Havent seen him play, but if Murphy is ahead of him he aint as good as a normal number 2 selection. Dont get me wrong, I'm sure the kid can play, and be a good AFL footballer, but not a 'star'.

 

[sinepari]

Havent seen him play, but if Murphy is ahead of him he aint as good as a normal number 2 selection. Dont get me wrong, I'm sure the kid can play, and be a good AFL footballer, but not a 'star'.

Big call. Many late picks have become 'stars'.

 

[Vinnie Vegas]

I personally have had Ellis at #1 for much of the season. I just love his combination of brilliant footskills, pace, agility and footy smarts.

 

[Powers manager]

Havent seen him play, but if Murphy is ahead of him he aint as good as a normal number 2 selection. Dont get me wrong, I'm sure the kid can play, and be a good AFL footballer, but not a 'star'.

If you havn't seen him you obviously can't comment! Hird became a star and he was picked extremely late unlike Ellis who's going 2 or 3.

 

[Bee Vee]

I personally have had Ellis at #1 for much of the season. I just love his combination of brilliant footskills, pace, agility and footy smarts.

Keep telling yourself and you'll eventually believe it.

 

[FIGJAM]

Keep telling yourself and you'll eventually believe it.

Not everybody ranks Murphy as their #1 pick.

I reckon Carlton, Collingwood and Hawthorn could walk away tomorrow all saying that they got their two preferred players!

As for Ellis, he'll be welcome at Collingwood if we think he's the best available at that pick.

We ain't giving much away, and I reckon the Ellis to Collingwood connection has been pure speculation for months!

WIDESPREAD opinion has Collingwood taking pacy midfielder Xavier Ellis at No.2 in Saturday's national draft, but the Magpies yesterday wouldn't come to the party.

"I think we have, yeah . . . yeah, we have," Magpies chief executive Greg Swann said when asked if the Pies had penned in the name of their prized selection.

Who? "Can't tell you."

"If everyone says we're taking Ellis, well, good, we'll see what happens on the day."

 

[The Flying Belgian]

If you havn't seen him you obviously can't comment! Hird became a star and he was picked extremely late unlike Ellis who's going 2 or 3.

Think you'll find that Kegs' comment was more a reflection of his opinion on Murphy rather than Ellis.

 

[Bee Vee]

Not everybody ranks Murphy as their #1 pick.

I reckon Carlton, Collingwood and Hawthorn could walk away tomorrow all saying that they got their two preferred players!

As for Ellis, he'll be welcome at Collingwood if we think he's the best available at that pick.

We ain't giving much away, and I reckon the Ellis to Collingwood connection has been pure speculation for months!

Not everyone thinks Saddam Hussein is a tyrant either.
But I'd bet the overwhelming majority are correct.
Lets not be ridiculous here.
If Murphy and Ellis were available at 2, would you really expect Collingwood to take Ellis?
Besides, nobody is saying you shouldnt be happy with second best.

 

[FIGJAM]

If Murphy and Ellis were available at 2, would you really expect Collingwood to take Ellis?

I'm not even remotely certain we're going to take Ellis!!

 

[Vinnie Vegas]

If Murphy and Ellis were available at 2, would you really expect Collingwood to take Ellis?

I'm not saying that I would necessarily expect Collingwood to take Ellis over Murphy - I am just saying that I would do it if I was in charge of recruiting.

And I am not alone. There are many people who don't rank Murphy at #1...

Don't you think it's a little strange that when all of the controversy about him going to Brisbane started, Murphy was discussed as a potential Top 3 pick, and by the time it was done he was considered the unanimous #1 selection?

And that was before draft camp... He jumped to unanimous #1 without actually playing any footy - That doesn't strike you as strange?

Not to say that Murphy isn't WORTH the #1 pick, but in a draft where I would say there are 10 or so players at the top of the draft that all have the same talent levels, Ellis is the one who has those extra qualities that I like in a player.

Most years, there's a guy like Deledio or Cooney who possesses remarkable physical attributes as well as remarkable football ability. This year, there are no players that do both to the same extent. It doesn't mean that they won't be equally as good, but it means that you can't pick the ones most likely to succeed as easily.

With Ellis, I see a kid that would be that unanimous #1 pick combination of physical ability and intangibles if his body was a bit stronger.

 

[nightcrawler]

And I am not alone. There are many people who don't rank Murphy at #1...

How many of them are recruiting mangers though?

Ellis is the one who has those extra qualities that I like in a player.

What ... playing wide and being unaccountable?

Before the 2003 draft, I had almost convinced myself Walker was a better prospect than Cooney cause he had more of that "X-factor" and "upside" as well. Whilst they may yet be proved correct, if I could swap them now I'd do it in a second. It's a natural process to convince yourself you don't want what you can't have.

Having said all of that, there's not as much difference between the top prospects this year as there has been in others, and whoever said the Blues, Hawks, Pies will all walk away happy cause they're all trying to fill different holes in their list is absolutely correct.

 

[FIGJAM]

How many of them are recruiting mangers though?

We'll find out after tomorrow.

What ... playing wide and being unaccountable?

Before the 2003 draft, I had almost convinced myself Walker was a better prospect than Cooney cause he had more of that "X-factor" and "upside" as well. Whilst they may yet be proved correct, if I could swap them now I'd do it in a second. It's a natural process to convince yourself you don't want what you can't have.

Having said all of that, there's not as much difference between the top prospects this year as there has been in others, and whoever said the Blues, Hawks, Pies will all walk away happy cause they're all trying to fill different holes in their list is absolutely correct.

You make it seem like Ellis is a squib! He's a toothpick, no doubt, but he puts his body on the line.

We're not trying to convince ourselves of anything. vinnie likes Ellis the best. I like Hurn the best. You like Murphy the best. It's an even draft, so don't go assuming that we're in "denial" just because we have diffferent preferences in players!

 

[Vinnie Vegas]

What ... playing wide and being unaccountable?

Before the 2003 draft, I had almost convinced myself Walker was a better prospect than Cooney cause he had more of that "X-factor" and "upside" as well. Whilst they may yet be proved correct, if I could swap them now I'd do it in a second. It's a natural process to convince yourself you don't want what you can't have.

Having said all of that, there's not as much difference between the top prospects this year as there has been in others, and whoever said the Blues, Hawks, Pies will all walk away happy cause they're all trying to fill different holes in their list is absolutely correct.

How about being one of the smartest footy players in the draft? How about his exceptional ability to read the play? How about the ability to find space and the illusion that he always has time?

Andrew Walker's footy brain is by no means one of his better attributes, and neither are his skills superb - he is pure athlete. The comparison of he and Ellis is ridiculous.

Then again, the comparison of Murphy and Cooney is ridiculous. How many times does it need to be said that this draft is even before people stop convincing themselves that there are ANY standouts. There aren't Murphy is NOT better than every single other player in the draft - Carlton just happen to rate him the highest.

 

[Nebula1971]

I like Hurn the best. !

If Collingwood walks away with 2 of either Murphy, Ellis, Hurn or D. Thomas with picks 2 & 5 after tommorow's draft, we have started very well... The operative word is "if".

 

[FIGJAM]

I don't care if we start with Ryder and a mid!

 

[Bee Vee]

Don't you think it's a little strange that when all of the controversy about him going to Brisbane started, Murphy was discussed as a potential Top 3 pick, and by the time it was done he was considered the unanimous #1 selection?

If anyone had doubts, I'm sure the championships settled them.

 

[FIGJAM]

If anyone had doubts, I'm sure the championships settled them.

Futures market!

 

[nightcrawler]

How about being one of the smartest footy players in the draft? How about his exceptional ability to read the play? How about the ability to find space and the illusion that he always has time?

Andrew Walker's footy brain is by no means one of his better attributes, and neither are his skills superb - he is pure athlete. The comparison of he and Ellis is ridiculous.

Then again, the comparison of Murphy and Cooney is ridiculous. How many times does it need to be said that this draft is even before people stop convincing themselves that there are ANY standouts. There aren't Murphy is NOT better than every single other player in the draft - Carlton just happen to rate him the highest.

But I didn't compare Ellis to Walker, or Murphy to Cooney, I merely suggested that people's drafting position subconsiously affects their perception of the relatively merits of potential draftees. I'm not saying anyones in denial as Figjam said, but your prespective on the draftees is inherantly different from mine.

The state of ones list comes into as well, so Ellis looking good in space that he may not have at a higher level doesn't impress me as much as Murphy's ability to win clearances ... but that's because no one at Carlton can win any clearances beside Kouta. If I had Hawthorns midfield my perception would be different again.

I suppose the only way to be bias free would be if you had Brisbane's list circa 2002 (no real weekness anywhere), and you had the no. 1 draft pick (could literally have any player in the draft) ... but if you had a) then you would never have b) would you.

Anyway, just ignore my ramblings. I'm not having a go at anyone, and I don't think Murphy is the Messiah. I'd be happy with any of about 4 players in pick 1. I'm just bored and can't wait for the draft to start so the months of speculation can stop.

 

[FIGJAM]

Out of interest, and bearing in mind I haven't seen any media due to work, has Cartlon actually said they'll be taking Murphy at #1 yet??

Wasn't Deledio in the paper days before? Unusual not to capitalise on the press, or maybe they'll announce it tonight for tomorrow's papers.

 

[nightcrawler]

Out of interest, and bearing in mind I haven't seen any media due to work, has Cartlon actually said they'll be taking Murphy at #1 yet??

Wasn't Deledio in the paper days before? Unusual not to capitalise on the press, or maybe they'll announce it tonight for tomorrow's papers.

Nope. Just about everyone except Carlton has though. If the priority pick rule hadn't changed in the meantime I suppose it's even conceivable that we wouldn't have.

 

[Bee Vee]

Out of interest, and bearing in mind I haven't seen any media due to work, has Cartlon actually said they'll be taking Murphy at #1 yet??

Wasn't Deledio in the paper days before? Unusual not to capitalise on the press, or maybe they'll announce it tonight for tomorrow's papers.

Why would they announce it?

a. The AFL dont want clubs to announce picks beforehand as it takes away from the "theatre" of the event.

b. What happens if Murphy falls over and suffers a long term injury tonight. Why should a club lock themselves in?

There will be plenty of opportunity to capitalise in the media after the draft.

 

[MG77B]

Collingwood will get him at 2, no doubt.

They need a pacy outside player that can have 476 bounces in a run down the wing against Carlton. Collingwood are lost without one of those sorts!

It was 77 Bounces Knavey........hence the name McGuanes 77 Bounces (MG77B)