If Essendon finishes bottom...

[saladin]

irrespective of where we finish, our drafting targets will be very interesting.

a lot of it will revolve around laycock and bellchambers and whether they show much (especially laycock) in the last 14 rounds.

We need a gun midfielder with topnotch disposal. We need another key defensive prospect to accompany Pears (and perhaps Daniher), and we most likely either need another ruckman or make the decision to move ryder into the ruck, which really exposes the key defensive prospects.

so, using everyones top three opinions, Natanui solves the ruck, Rich solves the mid, but Hurley, in a way, solves both the defender AND the ruck by freeing up Ryder down the track. Purely from a structural viewpoint, Hurley perhaps offers more value - it's kinda like having two picks - and has a slight attraction in that he is a victorian. We've taken WA kids for the last three years, and will always be a little susceptible to the risk of the go-home factor.

Further into the draft, we could really use a good quality smaller defender and a goal kicking half forward.

 

[Schmick]

So you finish 14th ...Nat and Rich gone - you pass on Hurley and take a mid?

I doubt it. Pears and Ryder are our only clear talented backman, and with Ryder most likely moving into the ruck where his talent is best used soon, it'd be very hard to passs up on Hurley. Hopefully there's some quick skilled midfielders available later on in the draft (eg.2nd round).

Does anyone know if there would be any chance of Blease slipping to our 2nd pick?

 

[Colin D'Cops]

I think we should take Naitanui if we finish bottom because to be completely honest, Laycock is an absolute dud, it looks like he is travelling at 1km/h and all he can do is take a mark and a couple of smooth kicks...His tapwork is not up to scratch, his mobility is not up to scratch and he doesn't always exactly go in for the hard ball, something Hille and most good ruckmen do...Leaves Ryder floating around the ground or a free-flowing CHB like Bock which could be good so he doesn't get any injuries anytime soon...Hurley is good, though I think he is a tad overrated on these forums, Rich is outstanding but don't think we should pass up on Naitanui with our ruck worries and we could always pick up people like Matt Thompson (QLD) or Mitch Robinson (TAS) in the second round for our hard running mids that have got good disposal...

 

[Moo]

I doubt it. Pears and Ryder are our only clear talented backman, and with Ryder most likely moving into the ruck where his talent is best used soon, it'd be very hard to passs up on Hurley. Hopefully there's some quick skilled midfielders available later on in the draft (eg.2nd round).

Does anyone know if there would be any chance of Blease slipping to our 2nd pick?

This draft has a lot of potential for running deep - though it is a long way to go.

I agree BTW on Hurley - I just find it amusing when people say we should take the best X position regardless of draft position.

I mean if you got to 3rd and Hurley was there - you would be pretty darn happy.

 

[Eccles]

This draft has a lot of potential for running deep - though it is a long way to go.

I agree BTW on Hurley - I just find it amusing when people say we should take the best X position regardless of draft position.

I mean if you got to 3rd and Hurley was there - you would be pretty darn happy.

By the sound of things, if you got to 3rd and Hurley wasnt there you would be even happier... I dont hear many rating him above Naitanui/Rich.

 

[bomberstomake8]

I believe in two of those three cases your mistaking 'tanking' for just generally being terrible (much like Essendon is at the moment). Regardless whoever finishes bottom may not end up with the first pick anyway particularly considering Richmond and Carlton still haven't won enough games to get past the priority pick.

agree richmond are not included in those tanking clubs.... otherwise they wouldnt have beaten us in round 21 last year. i dont think they tank

 

[OrangeCutter]

Don't want to tank rather win as many games as possible a keep a winning culture. But if we are in a position and that includes having the no.1 draft pick where we can take Rich we have to. We really lack a gun midfielder and Rich will service that need. We can pick up a ruck late in the draft and one or two on the rookie list (F%^k of Charters and D!ck) We have We can use our second pick for a KPP but please we are crying for a quality onballer. Stanton will be better for it and Myers needs time before he can be judged. I admit I have not seen Rich but from everything i'v heard it just ays YES YES YES.

My opinion anyway.

 

[Moo]

By the sound of things, if you got to 3rd and Hurley wasnt there you would be even happier... I dont hear many rating him above Naitanui/Rich.

It is all a lottery.

I remember WC fans cursing that they missed out on Polak and took that skinny kid with bad shoulders from Victoria.

From what I know - which is not a lot until the end of July when I can see these boys play live.

Nat could be anything but is probably the biggest risk of these 3 players.

Rich looks good and comfortable at senior level but some reports have him dropping off the pace a little. I think it is safe to say he won't be a dud but he may not necessarily be Voss.

Hurley like all KPP's - tough choice but he has ticked all the right boxes ...AA U18 and plays forward and back.

If Freo got the number 1 pick at the moment - I would be hoping for Rich, however I was also hoping to hear Haselby rather than Pavlich a few years ago and that could have ended up the darkest moment of all time for us (and at Freo that is saying something!). The top 10 is shaping as another good year but lets see the champs and for me a bit of live footy.

The last draft looked to have quality stamped on it for the top 10 ....I was hoping for Palmer but would have been happy with Masten, Meyer or Ebert (in that order).

In some ways picking at 3 would be nice as you don't ahve to read hypothetical draft threads bagging your recruiting staff for the next 20 years

Myers - good player ...will end up IMHO (body willing) as a 150 player.