Preview First Pick Discussion

[Spluff]

I'm not sold on Freeman either. Sure, he's athletically impressive, but it doesn't seem to translate into damaging performances. The days of there being an open paddock in front of you to run into are over, players need to have great game sense and agility to actually make use of their speed these days. Freeman doesn't really do much with his speed, and I feel like this will get even worse when he steps up to AFL level when many of the other players are just as fast, and there's even less space to work in.

 

[Danog]

Curious Paige Cardona who is a TAC cup follower (though i think Danog doesn't rate her efforts) thinks Lennon is a strong chance to go to Brisbane.

Never said that.

Not sure what Paige thinks at the moment. Haven't caught up with her in a few weeks. Been too busy with study.

 

[tigs2010]

Remember how we were talking in the rookie draft thread about X factor types, well the more I read about Nathan Freeman, the more he sounds like that type of player. With exceptional speed and a good endurance base he seems like the perfect kid to pick up and sit on a flank for a year or 2 while he continues to develop his game to become a truly elite level midfielder. With White moving on we're really lacking that line breaking type of midfielder who can get on his bike and open up a tight game.

Looking at our potential midfield group going forward we'd have:
Cotchin Deledio Martin Jackson Ellis Conca Vlastuin Grigg S.Edwards Arnot Mcdonough & Freeman. To me that is a high quality midfield group for the future. Ball winning ability, run & carry, defensively sound and a genuine scoreboard threat.

I really hope we avoid Freeman. I've tried to like him but he's slowly sliding down my list. He's very inconsistent. There are high level mids who don't get enough footy because they don't yet have the tank to stay involved in games. Just look at Dusty at AFL level. But this kid has the tank and speed to tear games apart and he doesn't. He's not a real bull at the gate type mid like Dangerfield who he keeps getting compared to. I think he lacks footy smarts and skills to be any more than a B-grader. Currently I have him as an early 2nd rounder. He's this years BF hype kid.

Give me a Lennon, Salem, Acres, Templeton, Hewett, Dunstan, Cripps, Dumont, Wilson or Jones over him. If we want speed I'd rather go Wilson because at least when he only gets it 15-18 times in a game he will cut the oppo apart with his foot skills.

 

[tigs2010]

How so confident?

Personally I think he has all the tools to be a gun midfielder. I marked him down my ranking for awhile because of his testing being poor but really when you watch him play I don't think he looks slow or lacks a tank. I think he moves pretty well, he's 189cm, he's very strong in the air for a medium sized player, can win his own footy when he needs to and whilst only about 80kg, he has the body shape that will fill out into a big kid. He has a damaging kick and can impact the scoreboard. Has star potential and I'll back our current coaching staff to develop him into a midfielder.

 

[tigs2010]

We are not relying on Knights but its his position first lets be honest.
I agree on O'Hanlon, but he has had injuries this and played 8 games in his first year is a decent indication he is highly rated internally.
Deledio and Martin will play forward more and more as Vlastuin, Conca, Ellis and others like Helbig, Mcdonough, Arnot plus pick 12 move into the midfield.

Look i've gone and watched Lennon again and i'm not as worried as i was. But he'd still be my last choice at pick 12 but i suspect he'll be our pick. I don't even think he will be HFF, he will start at HBF and move into the midfield. But with Lennon you're more hoping he will make the step up in the midfield from HBF two positions he has barely played. Scharenberg you know can play forward and back and have a better indication he could move into the midfield. Salem and Acres i feel are similar.

Any games we get out of Knights IMO are a bonus. I don't think he holds any rights to a position in our best 22. He was solid this year but certainly no lock even if he actually stays healthy.

O'Hanlon may get some games this year. But he was getting games while we were still pretty much gifting them out. Lennon is an enormous upgrade on O'Hanlon. I've currently got Lennon 8th on my list, so he's pretty much where I've had him but he looks like being best of what is left. Salem, Scharenberg and Kelly are the ones flying up my list but none will be there from what I can gather. I think the Scharenberg dream is over unfortunately.

 

[Bird Man]

Is lenon the only real HF mid in the top 15 ?

 

[captain cotch 9]

im starting to think salem will be going to collingwood or the dees.
id be happy with acers, dunstan or even mcarthy.

 

[tigs2010]

im starting to think salem will be going to collingwood or the dees.
id be happy with acers, dunstan or even mcarthy.

We're as much chance of landing Boyd as Salem.

 

[theflea]

I really hope we avoid Freeman. I've tried to like him but he's slowly sliding down my list. He's very inconsistent. There are high level mids who don't get enough footy because they don't yet have the tank to stay involved in games. Just look at Dusty at AFL level. But this kid has the tank and speed to tear games apart and he doesn't. He's not a real bull at the gate type mid like Dangerfield who he keeps getting compared to. I think he lacks footy smarts and skills to be any more than a B-grader. Currently I have him as an early 2nd rounder. He's this years BF hype kid.

Give me a Lennon, Salem, Acres, Templeton, Hewett, Dunstan, Cripps, Dumont, Wilson or Jones over him. If we want speed I'd rather go Wilson because at least when he only gets it 15-18 times in a game he will cut the oppo apart with his foot skills.[/quot

well lets hope someone uses a top ten pick on him so the player we will slide maybe?

 

[tigs2010]

I think Freeman will go before our pick if Salem goes before Melbourne's which means the player we want didn't slide.

But it would mean we get Lennon, which we would be happy with as a guy we like and fits our 3 pillars of recruiting.

 

[THE_GUN]

I think Freeman will go before our pick if Salem goes before Melbourne's which means the player we want didn't slide.

But it would mean we get Lennon, which we would be happy with as a guy we like and fits our 3 pillars of recruiting.

What part of Acres game wouldnt fit our Pillars of recruiting, But knowing FJ he is just as likely to select Taylor or Dunstan

 

[tigs2010]

What part of Acres game wouldnt fit our Pillars of recruiting, But knowing FJ he is just as likely to select Taylor or Dunstan

I'd imagine he would fit all 3. Unless it's character (flight risk?) He won't take Taylor.

 

[Richo83]

Speed is overrated. Freeman is overrated.

 

[_kp_]

Lennon seems really popular among Tiger fans. Not knocking, just interested to know why. Group think? The fact he trained with us? List need?

 

[Ancient Tiger]

Lennon seems really popular among Tiger fans. Not knocking, just interested to know why. Group think? The fact he trained with us? List need?

You can never have enough "elite" kicks in the side!

 

[_kp_]

You can never have enough "elite" kicks in the side!

I'm sceptical about just how elite it is. He can give it a roost, I'll give him that.

 

[tigs2010]

Lennon seems really popular among Tiger fans. Not knocking, just interested to know why. Group think? The fact he trained with us? List need?

There are certainly others I prefer. But I don't think he'll be there. I have him 9th* with my top 8 likely already gone. Then the ones I have him close with I think he's a better fit.

I try base my ratings on what I'd do if it was us picking. Kind of ****s me up in PD's for other teams.

 

[tigs2010]

Speed is overrated. Freeman is overrated.

Agree. I think he's an end of first/early 2nd rounder.

 

[Richo83]

Lennon seems really popular among Tiger fans. Not knocking, just interested to know why. Group think? The fact he trained with us? List need?

I think the common consensus is that Richmond needs more small/medium forwards, and even though Lennon is a few centimeters from being KPP, he seems to fit that need. Whether he does, only time will tell. At the moment though Richmond is using A Edwards as that markup forward and King as that high up the ground pressure forward, and Richmond fans probably think Lennon would be a better forward. I agree that Lennon is a better footballer than Edwards, and he's a better player than King (although Lennon can't press like King can) I'm not sure he's Richmond's guy though.

 

[THE_GUN]

Something very Hawthorni'ish about lennon - looks like he should have tips in his hair and wearing poo & wee's colours

 

[Calcium Man]

There are certainly others I prefer. But I don't think he'll be there. I have him 9th* with my top 8 likely already gone. Then the ones I have him close with I think he's a better fit.

I try base my ratings on what I'd do if it was us picking. Kind of ****s me up in PD's for other teams.

Your order change a bit?? I thought you had Dunstan and Acres top 8?? I'd presume both would be at our pick.

 

[_kp_]

I'm still of the belief that Brett O'Hanlon will be a part of our side in the future and there isn't really much Ben Lennon can do that he can't. I also don't think Chris Knights should be forgotten.

I thought it was blatantly obvious in our final that we're still a good midfielder short. A genuine crumbing small forward is probably our second need.

 

[Calcium Man]

Lennon seems really popular among Tiger fans. Not knocking, just interested to know why. Group think? The fact he trained with us? List need?

Not a huge fan. I rate him about 15.

1. Boyd
2. Kelly
3. Sheed
4. Scharnberg
5. Aish
6. Mcdonald
7. Acres
8. Dunstan
9. Billings
10. Salem
11. McCarthy
12. Giles
13. Kolodjashnji
14. Dumont
15. Lennon
16. Freeman

Then its a bit of a free for all with Taylor, Crouch, Bontempelli, Impey, Jones, Battersby, Gardiner, Templeton and J. Kolodjashnji and probably one or two others i've missed.

 

[Richo83]

I'm still of the belief that Brett O'Hanlon will be a part of our side in the future and there isn't really much Ben Lennon can do that he can't. I also don't think Chris Knights should be forgotten.

I thought it was blatantly obvious in our final that we're still a good midfielder short. A genuine crumbing small forward is probably our second need.

DUNSTAN! I've been keen on this guy for ages.

 

[Stylo]

I'm still of the belief that Brett O'Hanlon will be a part of our side in the future and there isn't really much Ben Lennon can do that he can't. I also don't think Chris Knights should be forgotten.

I thought it was blatantly obvious in our final that we're still a good midfielder short. A genuine crumbing small forward is probably our second need.

Where do you rate Lennon kp? I still can't believe how bad his combine results were, he looks much better than that on field