In Wells we trust

[Rosso]

From today's Addy:

Looking at Geelong Football Club in three years' time

Michael Auciello

23Nov07


AS the Cats prepare for tomorrow's national draft, the Geelong Advertiser takes a look further ahead to where the Geelong list will be in three years' time.

The Cats made seven changes to their premiership list at season's end, and will add five draftees tomorrow and four rookies next month. With a young and obviously talented list ready to mount a title defence, Geelong recruiting manager Stephen Wells spoke to Michael Auciello to analyse the current list and see where it's headed. ``We try and work on about a three-year succession plan. We don't expect players to come in and have an immediate impact,'' Wells said. ``When Joel Selwood or someone like that does, it's fantastic, but we're hoping within three to five years they've developed in such a way that they can have a positive impact.''

DEFENCE

We say: ``The part of the ground that will require the attention of Wells and his team more than any other over the next few years. In three years, Darren Milburn will be retired and Tom Harley, Matthew Scarlett and David Wojcinski will all be 30 or more. The nucleus of the ``next backline'' is already there _ All-Australian Matthew Egan will be 27 and Andrew Mackie and Tom Lonergan will be 26. A lot will depend on whether Lonergan can cement a place in a key position. The next backline will be built around Egan, and they will need to add another couple of key players as the likes of Max Rooke, Corey Enright and Josh Hunt head towards 30.''

Wells says: ``We are always doing our succession plan and with the defence we're lucky to have some fantastic, experienced players there now, but we've also got an All-Australian centre half-back (Egan) who's a young player. Andrew Mackie, who had an outstanding year as a defender and plays tall, he's very young. Tom Lonergan's back on the senior list and fully recovered and there's no doubt he can play as a tall defender, so we think we have planned our succession very well.''

MIDFIELD

We say: ``Well placed, even looking forward three years. Only Paul Chapman and Joel Corey will be over 26 by then. Gary Ablett and Jimmy Bartel will be in their prime at 26. There is speed coming through, with Nathan Djerrkura and Jason Davenport, while Joel Selwood, who will be 22, will headline the in-and-under players. Classy onballer Brent Prismall will be just 24 for the 2011 season, so the bases are covered in the engine room.''

Wells says: ``That group of midfielders will be around for a long time, but there'll be some opportunities for other players, too. When we're bringing in midfielders, we look for players that have been outstanding ball-getters, they've got the running ability required for AFL footy, and of course they should be hard, tough players. But they also need to be able to adapt to play in different positions. There's a lot of rotations and (they need) versatility, so any players that come in need those other qualities as well.''

FORWARDS

We say: It took a long time to get the forward line Mark Thompson needed to win a premiership, but it is now set up to deliver for the Cats for years to come. By then, only Cameron Mooney (who will be 31) will be over 27. Nathan Ablett and Tom Hawkins, now just 21 and 19 respectively, will develop into the key forward posts. The decision to delist VFL forward Todd Grima shows the Cats have confidence that they already have the right key talls. Mathew Stokes and Steve Johnson will be around the 26-27 mark by 2011.

Wells says: ``We've got a good forward line structure for now and the future _ big forwards and crumbing forwards, and guys that can mark and crumb. But of course, when we go to the draft and the rookie draft, we're looking to add players to our lists who can meet the criteria we set and will complement the group of players we've got.''

RUCKS

We say: ``The Cats won't be desperate to secure a fourth ruckman this Saturday, but it won't be long until it needs to address the issue. If Brad Ottens or Mark Blake go down with injury next season, it could thrust developing ruckman Trent West into the spotlight. West is an athletic ruckman, similar to a young Steven King, who could put pressure on Blake's spot before too long. Ottens will turn 28 in January, so if West can develop and push for senior selection, it will allow Ottens the chance to spend more time in the forward line, as he did in the grand final.

Wells says: ``We don't need to pick up another ruckman (at this week's draft), but if there's a ruckman we think will complement our list and match the criteria, we'll consider drafting him. But we won't just pick up a ruckman because he's a ruckman.''

 

[Whispers]

I can see Geelong securing Pears or Collier as they are tall key defenders. If Scott Selwood is around they may snatch him but due to his brothers value, I could see him going top 12 or so. So yeah... Collier or Pears to be Geelong's first pick.

Thompson.. possibly Dangerfield to be selected as well. I can't see Kangers going to Geelong as Hawthorn, St. Kilda and the Doggies have shown more interest in him.

Are Dangerfield, Kangers and Henderson the only Falcons in the mix? (excluding Barham and Donahue)

 

[Rosso]

I can see Geelong securing Pears or Collier as they are tall key defenders. If Scott Selwood is around they may snatch him but due to his brothers value, I could see him going top 12 or so. So yeah... Collier or Pears to be Geelong's first pick.

Thompson.. possibly Dangerfield to be selected as well. I can't see Kangers going to Geelong as Hawthorn, St. Kilda and the Doggies have shown more interest in him.

Are Dangerfield, Kangers and Henderson the only Falcons in the mix? (excluding Barham and Donahue)

O'Keefe from memory might be another than may come into the draft as a late pick.

 

[Turbocat]

Apparently Wells will be on SEN this afternoon talking FL.

I put SEN at work this morning.This morning I heard Mick ,"i'm so F*ing good " Turner talk about the Falcon numbers . He thought maybe 3 or 4 plus 3 or more as Rookies.

I then went out , when I came back Balmy was talking about the draft. Just reading between the lines , if Selwood was there at our pick I'd say we would take him but he sounds pessimistic about his availability at 17. For mine , I would have thought he'd be a good pick for the Roos , a tough nut to replace Archer.

Anyway , I'm not too fussed. If this year is like 2002 , the year after a super draft it may well have some hidden gems later on , for example Ryan Cowley at Freo P55.
In Wells we trust , is right. And just like when we traded to get Ottens in 04 and first pick was 32 , we still got Prismall , Nablett and MEgan.

 

[Reg Hickey]

Apparently Wells will be on SEN this afternoon talking FL.

Anyone hear it? What did he say?

 

[Turbocat]

Anyone hear it? What did he say?

He talked about the process thats followed leading up the draft. How they work thru with recruitment team , match committee etc. gathering data , towards making a choice on draft day. Quite detailed.

As far as our picks go this year...

He thinks at 17 there will be about 6 players to make a choice between. He seems to think that they would confidently be able to predict about 10 names that will be defienatley gone , that will leave about 12 names of that the club would be interested in , of which 3-4 will be gone and thus about 6 players that will be worthy P17. Of the players available , they will probably be able to play in a variety of positions , be at different stages of their footy and assessing this , they will then make a choice on which player suits our current needs the best.

This pick then effects our choice at 34 and from then on , because if we got a small forward 1st pick we go another way later , or if go mid first a tall later etc. Normally at each pick there would be around 3-5 players that one would be happy to have and one makes choice , all things considered.

Nothing startling but I found it interesting all the same.

 

[AM]

From "Footy Heads":

17. Tony Notte, 194/71, Swan Districts.
AIS/AFL Academy graduate, this Sandgroper is noted for his agility, aerial strength and, considering his size, his ability to control the ball at ground level. Believed to be targeted by Geelong as their first pick, but there’s smart money on the Eagles, Melbourne or Hawthorn taking him earlier. Steven Wells at Geelong has barely put a foot wrong in his time as head of recruiting at the Cattery (Corey, Selwood, Enright, Ling, Bartel), so wherever Notte turns up, he rates as a player to watch for the future

 

[Reg Hickey]

He talked about the process thats followed leading up the draft. How they work thru with recruitment team , match committee etc. gathering data , towards making a choice on draft day. Quite detailed.

As far as our picks go this year...

He thinks at 17 there will be about 6 players to make a choice between. He seems to think that they would confidently be able to predict about 10 names that will be defienatley gone , that will leave about 12 names of that the club would be interested in , of which 3-4 will be gone and thus about 6 players that will be worthy P17. Of the players available , they will probably be able to play in a variety of positions , be at different stages of their footy and assessing this , they will then make a choice on which player suits our current needs the best.

This pick then effects our choice at 34 and from then on , because if we got a small forward 1st pick we go another way later , or if go mid first a tall later etc. Normally at each pick there would be around 3-5 players that one would be happy to have and one makes choice , all things considered.

Nothing startling but I found it interesting all the same.

Yes, interesting, but tells us absolutely nothing. Then again, I'm sure thats what he intended.