Preview First Pick Discussion

[Stylo]

Deledio. He's a tall utility mid with great skills. Can play inside or out. There really aren't any glaring weaknesses in his game, the main worry is those shoulders.

 

[UpTheGuts]

Well it's official
Pies trade 11 and 31 and 49 for 6 and 44 then trade 44 for White

I wonder if they told the eagles who they don't want at 10

 

[tigs2010]

Well it's official
Pies trade 11 and 31 and 49 for 6 and 44 then trade 44 for White

I wonder if they told the eagles who they don't want at 10

WC know no one will take Sheed.

 

[tigs2010]

ok what sort of player is he?

As Stylo said he's similar in a sense to a Deledio. Can play inside or outside, uses the footy well, can run and carry and be damaging going forward.

 

[UpTheGuts]

Yep I'm on Acres now.

As an aside, we did trade down the Bock/ Tambling compo for pick 26 (Elton) and a later compo (I forget)

 

[tigs2010]

Yep I'm on Acres now.

As an aside, we did trade down the Bock/ Tambling compo for pick 26 (Elton) and a later compo (I forget)

The McIntosh pick was the other pick we got back. Port's Krakouer compo that GC had traded to get back.

 

[UpTheGuts]

Who did GC take with the Bock compo we traded down?

Found it: Henry Schade in 2011

 

[tigs2010]

Who did GC take with the Bock compo we traded down?

Found it: Henry Schade in 2011

Nah that was a trade they did with Geelong. Bock compo pick they are using this year I believe. Pick 20.

 

[UpTheGuts]

Nah that was a trade they did with Geelong. Bock compo pick they are using this year I believe. Pick 20.

Gotcha. Wouldn't trade Elton and McIntosh for 20, so have to say that trade down looks ok

 

[tigs2010]

Gotcha. Wouldn't trade Elton and McIntosh for 20, so have to say that trade down looks ok

Agree. Though we will find out roughly what we gave up in a month.

 

[petro12]

I'm sold on Crouch. Want a bloke that will impact from day one and will genuinely be a gun

 

[Rubber Hips]

I'm sold on Crouch. Want a bloke that will impact from day one and will genuinely be a gun

My thoughts exactly...reckon that's who we are going to pick up

 

[bananatigz]

there are videos of the prospects on the afl website not sure if that has been mentioned

 

[Calcium Man]

Just for those interested in Acres and too lazy to go to drafts and trading page

1. Blake Acres

Height : 190cm Weight : 84kg

Blake Acres managed 9 matches for West Perth this season, averaging 25 possessions, and a little over a goal a game. What's all the fuss about? It's the quality of the touches. I'd be struggling to recall more than 10 poor disposal from the tally of 222 at colts level.

Acres is clean, crisp and any other adjective you want to use to describe an elite ball user and here's the big one, an elite decision maker, there are no hail marys, no long bombs, no kicking for touch. Acres hates to waste the ball, think of a Pendlebury or a Mundy, these players wait that extra half second to identify a more advantageous target and have the required skill, by both hand and foot to hit these targets 9 times out of 10. It opens up the play, it's an intangible that will never show up on any stat metric, the ability to weight a foot bass, or a handball so a teammate doesn't have to break stride is gold, absolute gold.

Acres also jumps to the top of the pile on the back of his ability to play just about anywhere and impact the contest. Acres was pulling in 20+ possessions each week, despite averaging less than 70% game time. Toward the end of his 9 matches Acres pushed forward and provided West Perth with a marking target through half forward, I cannot describe how poor this side was in 2013, his last 4 games netted 9 goals. Acres also played a sweeping role across half back and simply read the play better than any who went to him to quell his influence.

The fact that he has grown a further 2 cms since testing at Arena earlier this year only heightens his standing, he is now a genuine tall midfielder, the type that clubs are happy to push forward rather than rolling off the bench, this allows the other less flexible players to rest on the bench, an important factor to consider when thinking of the upcoming cap. His aerial capabilities make him a genuine threat forward of the play, whilst definitely not in the Fyfe bracker, he is more than capable of dragging in genuine contested marks and his set shot is smooth, with an uncomplicated kicking action to match.

Now we turn to his frame, his scope for growth and the stock he has come from. There are no holes. Both parents were both very athletic, home life has been stable and he has had a sibling of a similar age to build a competitive edge. If any had noticed his brother Dan Acres and his ferocity at the man, it's fair to say Blake knows how to compete, how to take a tackle and how to shake a tag. This is crucial for me, it develops and competitive drive which holds players in great stead down the track. Look at the Selwood brothers, now look at Jack Watts, it can't be taught, the willingness and want to compete, regardless of whether there is impact.

Acres for me, is the complete package from WA, he's won the gene lottery, he has had a brother to torment and compete against, honing his skills from an early age on the field and at home, his ball winning ability is unquestionable. Decision making is elite, a capable overhead mark with an instinct for goal.


He has scope to grow into his size, is fit as a fiddle and comes from a very stable environment, the only downside to Acres is an inability to grow facial hair, he really needs to get rid of the mo.

#16 Geelong – Blake Acres (WA – Mid/Util)Height: 188cm, Weight: 84kg, DOB: 07/10/1995
Recruited from: West Perth
Style: David Mundy
Player comparison:
Range: 10-30
Profile: Acres is a high production player with some real versatility and the ability to play through the midfield, up forward or down back well. At the next level despite his versatility I see him as someone who will become a midfielder at the next level. Acres is all class and not only is he excellent by foot on both sides but he also has more time and space than the next guy making him hard to catch. He’s got a complete game as someone who is very capable of winning his own ball inside but then can also find the footy outside. He can hit the scoreboard as a midfield. He can push forward and take a mark. And he sticks his tackles.

6. West Coast - Blake Acres (188cm, 84kg midfielder - West Perth)

The fact that Blake Acres missed the majority of the U18 Championships with a shoulder injury was arguably the most disappointing thing to happen to the tournament. He was probably the one player that I really wanted to see, and he would have made the WA side so much more competitive as he adds something that little bit different to the rest of the WA midfielders - in fact, something different to most of the midfielders in the whole draft. For starters, he is a genuinely big midfielder - will still get a bit stronger, I saw someone describe him as 'rangy' and thats fairly accurate. Think his body and strength will develop as it has with Nat Fyfe. He is one of those players who just makes the game look easy, he is an absolute ball magnet, strong in the air and reads the play very well. And like Fyfe, he can play pretty much anywhere on the ground. Although, I think he'll go the opposite route and play as a half back/midfielder as opposed to going forward. He could be just as good as Birchall as a rebounding defender, with possibly a greater ability to play through the midfield. A top 10 talent, I originally had him slightly lower down due to somewhat limited viewings but his ceiling is too high to overlook for me.

# 20 - Melbourne - Blake Acres (West Perth) - Height: 188cm, Weight: 84kg, DOB: 07/10/1995

Acres is an extremely talented midfielder who I'd genuinely consider a first round selection. He's strong on the outside thanks to great running power, good height and strong marking but also a gifted player in traffic and around stoppages with soft hands and sound decision making. He plays in a classy and understated fashion, always appearing to have lots of time and giving himself plenty of margin for error.

It's a shame he didn't get to show his wares in the Championships because i get the feeling he'd be a lot higher rated around these parts if he was, Melbourne should be more than happy to get him at 20.

 

[Calcium Man]

For those interested here are the AFL Vids and small profiles of the guys we would probably be looking at (And templeton for tigerbob)

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-10-20/blake-acres

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-10-20/james-aish

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-10-20/marcus-bontempelli

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-10-20/matt-crouch

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-10-20/luke-dunstan

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-10-20/ben-lennon

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-10-20/nathan-freeman

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-10-20/christian-salem

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-10-20/dom-sheed

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-10-20/eli-templeton

Here are the rest of the profiles

http://www.afl.com.au/2013-draft/draftees/midfielders/

 

[blaisee]

Yep I'm on Acres now.

As an aside, we did trade down the Bock/ Tambling compo for pick 26 (Elton) and a later compo (I forget)

mcBean pick 33

 

[Stylo]

Hands off Salem Collingwood you filthy pack of animals

I reckon he'll be one of the best players from this draft

 

[bananatigz]

Hands off Salem Collingwood you filthy pack of animals

I reckon he'll be one of the best players from this draft

Salem, Lennon, Acres were the ones I liked from those videos

 

[Stylo]

Salem, Lennon, Acres were the ones I liked from those videos

Dunstan too has an impressive highlights package. He's one of those 'sure thing' picks, very much an FJ type

 

[Calcium Man]

Dunstan too has an impressive highlights package. He's one of those 'sure thing' picks, very much an FJ type

Yeah watching him again has me wondering why he is sliding.

His kicking is fine, better then pretty much everyone bar Sheed and Crouch on the inside, certainly better then crouch on the outside and probably the outstanding leader from this years draft. Not to mention compared to most he is bigger and taller and didn't look at all slow in that vid, just more like a Vlastuin type pace.

 

[UpTheGuts]

Yeah watching him again has me wondering why he is sliding.

His kicking is fine, better then pretty much everyone bar Sheed and Crouch on the inside, certainly better then crouch on the outside and probably the outstanding leader from this years draft. Not to mention compared to most he is bigger and taller and didn't look at all slow in that vid, just more like a Vlastuin type pace.

At least it's Dunstan's right arm that flops out - not a left handed ball drop issue
Poor draft is poor

 

[tigs2010]

Yeah watching him again has me wondering why he is sliding.

His kicking is fine, better then pretty much everyone bar Sheed and Crouch on the inside, certainly better then crouch on the outside and probably the outstanding leader from this years draft. Not to mention compared to most he is bigger and taller and didn't look at all slow in that vid, just more like a Vlastuin type pace.

He pretty much is 2013's Vlastuin. Just doesn't excite but is a very good footballer. I'd been spruiking him all year as a good pick for Melbourne at 2. He was also regarded as a top 5 pick like Floss before this year.

 

[Calcium Man]

He pretty much is 2013's Vlastuin. Just doesn't excite but is a very good footballer. I'd been spruiking him all year as a good pick for Melbourne at 2. He was also regarded as a top 5 pick like Floss before this year.

Yep. Cannot get enough of that type of player at the club.

Acres and Salem would be my first choices but Dunstan is my third preference at pick 12 (Now it seems Freeman won't be there) and i would be far from disappointed if we picked him over other the two mentioned above.

Conca, Ellis, Grimes, Vlastuin and Dunstan is a good headache to have for next Captain. Cotch could give it up at 28 comfortably and concentrate on winning brownlow 2 and 3.

I've become a strong believer in having as many Strong leaders with good work ethic and values. Its a big part of both Geelong and Sydney culture and its why guys like Hannebery and Christensen, Stevie J, Stokes go from promising talent's with some off field issues to extremely good players. Imagine if Dusty had walked into the club and instead of running into Conners and Hislop (and Pettifer) but walked into Vlastuin, Ellis and cotchin (even tho they are close) i think his work ethic and off field antics would be significantly less, not all together better but certainly much better situation.

 

[RichoLedio]

I'd be very happy with Dunstan

 

[TJTIGER]

Dunstan too has an impressive highlights package. He's one of those 'sure thing' picks, very much an FJ type

Yep seems solid from his highlights, not afraid to get in and have a crack, with some composure in traffic....could do worse. Anyone seen him play a game as opposed to highlights ?