If N Ablett went into the draft

[skywalk750]

Without him playing any TAC, would you pick him up with your first round draft pick?

 

[theorangeapple]

nearly impossible to say. i dont think anyone of us hear will have seen him play for quite a while. especially since he has been playing amataur footy this year.

still a big question mark on is commitment u would think. could conceivalbly see him walking away from footy if it gets too much. (note to geelong fans, dont crowd him.)

 

[skywalk750]

nearly impossible to say. i dont think anyone of us hear will have seen him play for quite a while. especially since he has been playing amataur footy this year.

still a big question mark on is commitment u would think. could conceivalbly see him walking away from footy if it gets too much. (note to geelong fans, dont crowd him.)

yep, agree with you. The thing we really have going for him is that he will have his older brother there, and Geelong will have had more experience in knowing how to handle it

 

[Turbocat]

For Geelong the risk would be in not drafting him. A third round pick when you have finished high is a lucky dip anyway and its not as if we are short of young talent so for the GFC to try and fail is OK.To not draft him, him goes elsewhere and becomes a good player, or better like his brother or worse a very good player the level of a Johnathon Brown would be a huge problem. GFC would would be seemed to have stuffed it. A 3rd pick is a small price to pay for insurance.

 

[superstar]

No

 

[Stevens is Grouse]

Without him playing any TAC, would you pick him up with your first round draft pick?

The question should be would your club pick him up in the National Draft? There is no way that playing at the level he has played at for the last few years he should be considered a 1st rounder.
Anyway the answer to your question is no

 

[Deestroy]

No.

 

[skywalk750]

If Michael Jordans son played ball but never College level you wouldnt take a punt on him?

 

[Pepi]

Mark my words, Nathan will be a champion footballer. I have played against him for the last 4 or 5 years and has the most ability I have ever seen in a junior. Has height, yet has the skills of a rover, with awesome evasive skills, and brilliant kicking on both sides of his body. I liken him to Nick Riewoldt in a physical and footballing sense

 

[benrey_demons]

pepi, who do u play for?

 

[iameviljez]

Look, I'd happily take him for a third round pick. Mind you we have taken some quite reasonable third round players, I think that Hunt, Enright (Ling?) and Playfair were all third round. That said, there is no risk in taking him... but if he is availiable, and the club don't take him, they know exactly what they will get from his own supporters.
At least Ablett Jr has trailblazed, and hasn't really been compared to his father as much as he could've been. Mind you, imagine if he'd failed.

 

[WZA]

You guys must relise that the TAC Cup isn't the overall best talent in Victoria for an U18 level. I know PLENTY of players who play local U18 who could cut it in the TAC Cup and AFL (in years to come) but aren't in the TAC Cup due to A) Not being related to the right people, B) Wasn't a very good junior player or C) Injuries.

You must relise 90% of the TAC Cup players were all grade A junior players from U13 - U16. Some of the players running around in local leagues now that have matured alot, weren't good juniors but now are awesome players aren't in the system because it's basically ******ed. This is why i call for a VFL U18 comp, each VFL club would have an U18 side, thus giving the people who slipped through the holes of the TAC Cup or weren't really the greatest juniors and missed the boat the opportunity to show off there talent in another comp that would be of a high standard and reconized by the AFL.

 

[YOTC]

Jus like C.Reeve, N.Ablett has fallen off his high horse .

 

[Pepi]

pepi, who do u play for?

Played for Barwon Heads until this year, now play for north old boys

 

[Hammerfire]

God knows where he would of gone if he had played TAC.

If he wasn't father son id be saying mid to late 2nd round.

 

[Funky Colin]

You guys must relise that the TAC Cup isn't the overall best talent in Victoria for an U18 level. I know PLENTY of players who play local U18 who could cut it in the TAC Cup and AFL (in years to come) but aren't in the TAC Cup due to A) Not being related to the right people, B) Wasn't a very good junior player or C) Injuries.

You must relise 90% of the TAC Cup players were all grade A junior players from U13 - U16. Some of the players running around in local leagues now that have matured alot, weren't good juniors but now are awesome players aren't in the system because it's basically ******ed. This is why i call for a VFL U18 comp, each VFL club would have an U18 side, thus giving the people who slipped through the holes of the TAC Cup or weren't really the greatest juniors and missed the boat the opportunity to show off there talent in another comp that would be of a high standard and reconized by the AFL.

Um, if you're 16 or 17 years old, you're still a junior. Unless you're inferring that kids who aren't good enough to play U15 or U16 TAC Cup miss out on U18 (which is not always the case). If you think about it hard enough - the TAC Cup IS the VFL U18 competition.

The problem they have is with the draft age, and the junior state comp (TAC) being for U18s instead of U19s or even U20s. One of the biggest mistakes they made was abolishing the VFL U19 comp and dropping the maximum age for TAC. If you watch VFL reserves they're invariably an U21 side, pretty skilful but physically shy of full development. This is where the 'late bloomers' are expected to sprout from, progress to the VFL senior side and play against AFL-listed players.

Frankly, if the minimum draft age was 19, then pretty much every kid would be forced to study hard to get into uni and do their first year of study, or commence an apprenticeship, or work full-time for a year, before they were given the nod to play professional footy. This would assist with ensuring they had something to fall back on (if they were in the 85-90% of players who get cut within 4 years). Remember, we aren't still playing in the 1970's when Tim Watson could rock up and play senior footy at 15 years of age.

We should be looknig to create a system akin to the NBA College system where (with the odd exception of a Kobe Bryant or LeBron James) every player who ends up in the big league has spent 3-4 years at university. Given we don't have the same longevity in AFL footy, it should be reduced to 2 years post high school. That's when you know if a Hodge will be a Judd, etc.

Also - no-one would be whacking off about N Ablett until he turned 19 or 20, same as all these gun TAC juniors, several of whom will never be able to translate their game into AFL style footy.

 

[King Corey]

Um, if you're 16 or 17 years old, you're still a junior. Unless you're inferring that kids who aren't good enough to play U15 or U16 TAC Cup miss out on U18 (which is not always the case). If you think about it hard enough - the TAC Cup IS the VFL U18 competition.

The problem they have is with the draft age, and the junior state comp (TAC) being for U18s instead of U19s or even U20s. One of the biggest mistakes they made was abolishing the VFL U19 comp and dropping the maximum age for TAC. If you watch VFL reserves they're invariably an U21 side, pretty skilful but physically shy of full development. This is where the 'late bloomers' are expected to sprout from, progress to the VFL senior side and play against AFL-listed players.

Frankly, if the minimum draft age was 19, then pretty much every kid would be forced to study hard to get into uni and do their first year of study, or commence an apprenticeship, or work full-time for a year, before they were given the nod to play professional footy. This would assist with ensuring they had something to fall back on (if they were in the 85-90% of players who get cut within 4 years). Remember, we aren't still playing in the 1970's when Tim Watson could rock up and play senior footy at 15 years of age.

We should be looknig to create a system akin to the NBA College system where (with the odd exception of a Kobe Bryant or LeBron James) every player who ends up in the big league has spent 3-4 years at university. Given we don't have the same longevity in AFL footy, it should be reduced to 2 years post high school. That's when you know if a Hodge will be a Judd, etc.

Also - no-one would be whacking off about N Ablett until he turned 19 or 20, same as all these gun TAC juniors, several of whom will never be able to translate their game into AFL style footy.

Spot on funky.

 

[Nathan Ablett]

Well worth a first rounder.

 

[crazy_big_al]

He will be a good player from what i heard. but he got the gig on name thou. but well worth the insurance

 

[pumpter]

Regardless of whether the kid is any good it is fantastic publicity for the Cats and will sell a few more memberships. One this is for certain - the remaining 17 players in the Geelong VFL side may as well be invisible as no one will be going to the game to watch them play as all eyes will be on youn Ablett.

 

[cobey]

The kid will be an absolute star.

Gary Jnr is a great footballer and not only is Nathan way bigger, by all accounts he is better. Football is the winner if Nathan Ablett stays with the game.

If he were available and I were the Tigers, Hawks or Bulldogs I would take him with one of the first 6 picks: get a 'can't miss' midfielder with one and potentially the next Wayne Carey (without all the attitude) with the other.

 

[evertonfc]

I wouldn't punt above Pick 30.

 

[The Opposition]

I dont think he will last too long. Firstly, he is playing amos and although it is a decent standard, he should be playing TAC cup. Also, if he cant handle the publicity, he is going to be screwed in a few years because he sounds a bit soft (not football-wise but to all the media and as a kid generally). Hope for his sake and geelong's that he gives them good service but unfortunately i dont think he has the bottle to last in the AFL

 

[rizzo]

I dont think he will last too long. Firstly, he is playing amos and although it is a decent standard, he should be playing TAC cup. Also, if he cant handle the publicity, he is going to be screwed in a few years because he sounds a bit soft (not football-wise but to all the media and as a kid generally). Hope for his sake and geelong's that he gives them good service but unfortunately i dont think he has the bottle to last in the AFL

See how much you would like the media if you have them outside your house and in your families and your faces 24/7

 

[JUBJUB]

I dont think he will last too long. Firstly, he is playing amos and although it is a decent standard, he should be playing TAC cup.

He's too old for TAC Cup next year.