Freo Draft Strategy

[Ysaye]

Too small for a ruckman, that seems to be his prefferd position. Dont know if he has enough strings to his bow , having said that, what he has shown down back on occasion has impressed, for a big lad he disposal by foot is pretty handy. Long arms help seem to be his feature, good for a ruckman, good for spoiling.

I'd like to see how he goes over the first 20m at draft camp.

I'd look at him later on in the draft, maybe 3rd round or even a rookie selection. Dont get to alot of West Perth games to be honest.

From what I have seen he is good around the ground and does well contesting in the juniors, at senior level a 193cm ruckman wont cut it. Has to make it elsewhere.

Agree that the closing speed will be the difference between going third round and all the way to not getting taken at all.

 

[Ysaye]

I think that one of the main attributes our recruiting staff would look for in a potential draftee is work ethic, with the belief that someone who works had at training to improve their game and will give their heart and soul for the team would be able to function better as a team, get the best out of themselves and execute a gameplan better than someone with perhaps more talent that doesn't apply themselves as well.
A common theme among players Harvey has selected is work ethic; Hill, Mayne, Palmer, Suban, Ballantyne, Broughton, Pearce etc.
Work ethic shouldn't be prioritised in front of skill or position, but I'm happy for Harvey and the recruiting staff continuing to draft players based on this manner.

Work ethic was a common theme between McManus, Cook, Parker and Bell as well, and look how far that got us.

Unless there are really strong phsycological reasons, drafting skilled players should always be the priority. I have seen more times than the other way round natural skill beat athleticism and mental non-application.

 

[dominguez]

I reckon our picks in order will be -

Morabito
Jetta
Best available KPP
Best available mid
James Thomson

 

[inferno66]

Work ethic was a common theme between McManus, Cook, Parker and Bell as well, and look how far that got us.

But it was the rest of the Team's work ethic that was the problem...

 

[theGav56]

However, that being said i would be all for the club taking a KPP next year with our first pick.

I would hate for the club to thinking along the same lines. If the club has a high draft pick then it simply must take the best player available and not get itself into a situation where it takes the best available KPP.

 

[theGav56]

I would think we will do the same again except the specific need this time will be KPPs.

The specific need for KPP's hasn't just suddenly appeared. They got Bradley because they have problems. They moved Tarrant and Grover because they had problems. They gave Murphy a new 2 year deal (for Gawds sake) because they had problems. KPP's is a much bigger problem than small forward, and we got a couple of them in the last draft.

 

[Alfonz]

I reckon our picks in order will be -

Morabito
Jetta
Best available KPP
Best available mid
James Thomson

Not sure about the last pick, but I wouldn't mind such a scenario. Imagine if we had Morabito, Jetta, Hill running around with Ruffles and Ballantyne further forward. Far cry from the days of Bell, Cook and co.

Their is no point picking the best available KPP with pick 3/4 just for the sake of it. Even if Butcher is still there and we don't rate him as highly as someone like Morabito or Trengove. Our KPP problems are mainly in the back half, and there doesn't appear to be any key defenders (e.g. someone like Hurley) who would be worthy of our first pick.

 

[yakamoto]

There is no point in trying to draft key defenders. Like massive ,slow moving ruckmen, they are rapidly becoming a thing of the past. There are hardly any of note left in the AFL even now. Get with it people - it's all about zones and applying pressure and stuff.

 

[Clay Davis]

There is no point in trying to draft key defenders. Like massive ,slow moving ruckmen, they are rapidly becoming a thing of the past. There are hardly any of note left in the AFL even now. Get with it people - it's all about zones and applying pressure and stuff.

Disagree.

 

[Moo]

Work ethic was a common theme between McManus, Cook, Parker and Bell as well, and look how far that got us.

Unless there are really strong phsycological reasons, drafting skilled players should always be the priority. I have seen more times than the other way round natural skill beat athleticism and mental non-application.

I think our recruiting team is finding the right combination of skills, natural footballing ability and hard working types, Hill - looks to have it all and even though Palmer may not have the greatest skills in the league he comes up trumps in the get the ball and break the line so he more than covers for it.

 

[yakamoto]

OK then Gravy who are the key defenders with profile in the top 8 sides?
St Kilda - Fisher and -----

Geelong - Taylor and Scarlett(doesn't often play as one though).

Collingwood - Presti and ----- Harry?

Footscray - Lake and ------ nobody I guess.

Carlton - 00000000

Adelaide - Rutten and ?

Brisbane - Merrit and ------Patfull?

Essendon - Pears and -----

 

[Clay Davis]

OK then Gravy who are the key defenders with profile in the top 8 sides?
St Kilda - Fisher and -----

Geelong - Taylor and Scarlett(doesn't often play as one though).

Collingwood - Presti and ----- Harry?

Footscray - Lake and ------ nobody I guess.

Carlton - 00000000

Adelaide - Rutten and ?

Brisbane - Merrit and ------Patfull?

Essendon - Pears and -----

There are a bunch of defenders with height greater than 190cm in all those sides. What do we have? Tarrant - turning 29, and Drum - possibly leaving. I guess we could throw McPharlin down there, but other than that, we don't have much KPP talent, and of what we do, it's mostly flaky forwards.

 

[Kickett Punches Read]

we need a key defender, but finding a defender is easier than a forward as a forward can often go back and become a good defender, it doesnt oftne work the other way. at some point our club is going to have to bite the bullet and select a KPP over a smaller player who they may rate. i dont care what you say generally to be a quality side you need a spine. the only team i can think of who didnt have a decent spine and won a premiership is west coast

 

[Alfonz]

There are a bunch of defenders with height greater than 190cm in all those sides. What do we have? Tarrant - turning 29, and Drum - possibly leaving. I guess we could throw McPharlin down there, but other than that, we don't have much KPP talent, and of what we do, it's mostly flaky forwards.

I agree. Off the top of my head

Fisher, Gilbert, Dawson (yeah I know), Hudghton, Maguire

Scarlett, Harley, Mackie, Taylor, Gillies, Egan (yeah I know he's finished)

Presti, N.Brown, Maxwell, Harry O

Lake, Williams, Hargrave, Morris

Jamison, Bower, Thornton, Waite

Whether these blokes are playing or not, or even playing as key defenders, teams still have a range of tall players who play in the backline. Generally their best 22 would be built around at least 1 (maybe 2) holding down the traditional key defender role, with extra taller but mobile players who can play on 3rd talls and/or create run.

You can see what happens to a team like Hawthorn when their thin stocks (Croad and Gilham) are stretched by injury.

Even with the modern game, I think you still need to get 1 or 2 genuine key defenders on the park, but even that will be an issue for us in the future. Right now we are OK with Tarrant (McPharlin as well, but he plays forward now) ... the problem is what happens after he is gone.

 

[Underdog]

There is no point in trying to draft key defenders. Like massive ,slow moving ruckmen, they are rapidly becoming a thing of the past. There are hardly any of note left in the AFL even now. Get with it people - it's all about zones and applying pressure and stuff.

What happens if the game evolves away from zones?

People were saying the same thing about flooding a few years back then it evolved into zone football.

 

[splendidham]

I think we'll end up with Butcher anyway. If Richmond loses this weekend, I have a feeling they will take Morabito after results come back from draft camp. I'd love Morabito because I think he'll be an out and out star. However, Butcher could be a blessing in disquise. People have been saying he hasn't set the world on fire this year, but his stats are greater then last year's per average in fewer games. Apparently he has been carrying an injury too. Either way, we're going to get a fantastic player that will help us substantially.

 

[Alfonz]

I think we'll end up with Butcher anyway. If Richmond loses this weekend, I have a feeling they will take Morabito after results come back from draft camp. I'd love Morabito because I think he'll be an out and out star. However, Butcher could be a blessing in disquise. People have been saying he hasn't set the world on fire this year, but his stats are greater then last year's per average in fewer games. Apparently he has been carrying an injury too. Either way, we're going to get a fantastic player that will help us substantially.

Don't forget there is always the chance Melbourne will take Butcher.

 

[splendidham]

Really? I hadnt thought of that. Darn

 

[Palmervich]

Really? I hadnt thought of that. Darn

Then we get Trengrove/Morabito..... Win win

 

[the doc]

A name that has not been mentioned and was previously given pretty good wraps was Brad Shepperd. He was invited to screen. What do you guys know about him?

 

[Chris25]

People who have been able to see Sheppard live might be able to offer a bit more insight, but from what I have seen he does look to be a good option. But he wouldn't add anything new to our team.

Personally, I'm not sold on whether he will be able to play in the midfield at AFL level and see him more of a half back flanker. Something we definitely don't need at Fremantle.....

Interesting to note that Aaron Black has made a big move in the pecking order in the past few weeks. Might not even be available at our third round pick anymore, and I would assume he was one we had our eye on.

I wouldn't mind a draft like this;

First Round - Morabito
Second Round - Christensen (quick, contested ball winning midfielder, good around goals - better option than Jetta in my opinion)
Third Round - Black
Fourth Round - T Taylor/Bartlett (I've already talked Taylor up a lot, as for Bartlett he is much like Christensen and was considered a first rounder at the start of the season but suffered a season ending injury before it even started)
Fifth Round - Houghton (might be pushing it a bit here )

I definitely think we need to get ourselves another third rounder at least though. And that's where I would going for a KPD, probably Grimes or Luff.

 

[bman]

People who have been able to see Sheppard live might be able to offer a bit more insight, but from what I have seen he does look to be a good option. But he wouldn't add anything new to our team.

Personally, I'm not sold on whether he will be able to play in the midfield at AFL level and see him more of a half back flanker. Something we definitely don't need at Fremantle.....

He would be a great replacement for dodd, he reminds me of Gram from st kilda a dasher with a long kick. Should be able to play on the wing at AFL level, shows alot of poise and aggression at the contest and is u/18 AA definetly a quality player that would be an upgrade on the dumbass brigade

I would be happy with a draft like this

1st morabito/buthcher
2nd jetta/duncan/sheppard
3rd black/hutchings
4th houghton
5th donaldson

I would be happy with 2 quality mids and 3 kpp

 

[SupersonicDocker]

I think you will indeed find the club goes 2 mids 2 talls 1 speculative

Im praying its one of Trengove or Morabito...

 

[MadMac]

I may sound like a broken record but I'd love to see that midget Travis Colyer being picked up by Freo, possibly 2nd or 3rd round. I only saw him in that final U18's game and he's not only lightning fast but a good ball user too. And there's a fair bit of grunt in him as well. He was close to BOG in that game.
As far as our 1st pick is concenrned, either Trengove or Morabito, even Lucas will do. I still think that we need to load up with as many midfielders as possible. If we get that right, the rest will be easier.

 

[DCFCFAN84]

I would be happy with a draft like this

1st morabito/buthcher
2nd jetta/duncan/sheppard
3rd black/hutchings
4th houghton
5th donaldson

I would be happy with 2 quality mids and 3 kpp

That draft looks pretty good though if Trengove is avaliable we have to draft him IMO. I wouldn't mind picking up Butcher if we do hopefully he doesn't do a Jeff White. Duncan would be a steal in the second IMO hopefully Panos falls it would be a great draft if we could pick up either Panos/Butcher or both