Introducing Travis Baird...?

[Anja_Nees]

He really flew under the radar a bit. I remember Pike's comments about him and he sounds promising. I wouldn't get our hopes too high for him and in may take him a little while, but if he's quick, a decent kick, can take a mark, and has some height, then he could be very handy. He apparently also has a good attitude. Perhaps he could play a Hansen-style role across half forward.

Will at least add a little depth and stuff what Wiseby says. He once said that McGough could be another Voss.

 

[footscray1973]

He once said that McGough could be another Voss.

Michael or Brett??

 

[Cyberdoggie]

over at the wb website they have a picture and small bio on baird, monty and missy higgins under the player profiles already.

 

[SCRAY72]

193cm,89kg,can kick both feet and apparently good overhead mark.
Sounds good,can't wait to see him play.

 

[Sedat!]

My understanding is that the Pies were keen to snare him in the PSD.

Heard the same rumour from my Collingwood mates who are usually on the money re: all things Collingwood. He was bound for Lexus Centre in the PSD.

Baird's progress will be watched closely by the Dogs faithful, as pick 46 was what we ended up with out of the Rawlings trade (we traded pick 43 down to 46). I strongly suspect we would have picked Baird up at pick 43 regardless, if we didn't trade away Rawlings to North (who used pick 43 on a midfielder, Swallow). Also confirms that Eade and Clayton don't rate Pods, as we overlooked him 3 times from pick 46 onwards. No-one else did either.

 

[stefoid]

I assume baird and monty will play the most games out of our draftees.

rohan smith must be looking over his shoulder and muttering '@!#$@!$ Monty? we need another HBF? hello, remember me?'

if missy higgins plays for us next year he will have to be a good pickup - either that or our midfield will have 3 or more injured players.

 

[X_box_X]

Heard the same rumour from my Collingwood mates who are usually on the money re: all things Collingwood. He was bound for Lexus Centre in the PSD.

Baird's progress will be watched closely by the Dogs faithful, as pick 46 was what we ended up with out of the Rawlings trade (we traded pick 43 down to 46). I strongly suspect we would have picked Baird up at pick 43 regardless, if we didn't trade away Rawlings to North (who used pick 43 on a midfielder, Swallow). Also confirms that Eade and Clayton don't rate Pods, as we overlooked him 3 times from pick 46 onwards. No-one else did either.

I was actually thinking about that the other day. I wonder if we had have gone for Kasey Green at 43. If this is the case, the trade in reality was Rawlings and Green for Baird.

It will be interesting to hear what an honest Clayton says when asked if we would have taken Green ahead of Baird.

 

[Sedat!]

I was actually thinking about that the other day. I wonder if we had have gone for Kasey Green at 43. If this is the case, the trade in reality was Rawlings and Green for Baird.

It will be interesting to hear what an honest Clayton says when asked if we would have taken Green ahead of Baird.

I don't recall Kasey Green ever being in the mix with us. Swallow, who North got with pick 43, was also not part of our plans, as we are very well stocked for midfielders. There was certainly no hesitation by Clayton on draft day when he selected Baird, so I'd say he was a calculated pick by us, whether it would have been at our original pick 43 or the revised pick 46.

In the wash-up, it's ended up being Rawlings and Swallow for Baird. On paper North come out looking alright for addressing their needs (especially with Swallow, who despite his supposedly poor kicking, will bolster their midfield). Hopefully with Baird, we have a quality KPP for the next 10 years. Time will tell if we have managed to extract some future quality return out of the Rawlings disaster.

 

[X_box_X]

I don't recall Kasey Green ever being in the mix with us. Swallow, who North got with pick 43, was also not part of our plans, as we are very well stocked for midfielders. There was certainly no hesitation by Clayton on draft day when he selected Baird, so I'd say he was a calculated pick by us, whether it would have been at our original pick 43 or the revised pick 46.

In the wash-up, it's ended up being Rawlings and Swallow for Baird. On paper North come out looking alright for addressing their needs (especially with Swallow, who despite his supposedly poor kicking, will bolster their midfield). Hopefully with Baird, we have a quality KPP for the next 10 years. Time will tell if we have managed to extract some future quality return out of the Rawlings disaster.

Ah, sorry about that. Yeah, Swallow was taken at #43 and Green at #45. Either way, had we had our original pick of 43 instead of 46, we would have had the opportunity to draft either Green or Baird, so my original thought still stands true.

 

[Poptart]

It will be interesting to hear what an honest Clayton says when asked if we would have taken Green ahead of Baird.

I would have thought that it would be policy to go with youth unless going for a player that we would need such as Monty on a HB.

The fact that Clayton has been keeping an eye on Baird for the past couple of years and the fact that he has grown to KP size at 193cm, i couldn't see why we would even consider Green who comes in at 187cm, thats Cooney's height, not exactly going to help our KP stocks and quite frankly couldn't see the reasoning behind drafting Green as all he would be is a top up player, just like he was at West Coast!

 

[bulldogtragic]

What is all this talk about Rawlings PLUS Green for Baird?

With all due respect that's crap.

Clayton said he's been watching him for 2 years which means whether we had picks 43 or 46 - He was ours with the 3rd pick.

In reality it's Rawlings position on the list gone, and filled by Baird.

Baird looks okay, but even if he doesn't come on (im touching wood) we are still not any worse off.

 

[Sedat!]

What is all this talk about Rawlings PLUS Green for Baird?

With all due respect that's crap.

The official trade during trade week was Rawlings and pick 43 to North in exchange for pick 46. That basically means Rawlings and Swallow to North in exchange for Baird. Pretty self-explanatory I'd have thought.

The discussion revolving around Kasey Green, who went at pick 45, is interesting. Were we in the frame? And if we were, then our slight trading down 3 spots in the draft cost us from getting him. But I doubt very much we ever considered Green, and with North very well stocked (over-stocked perhaps) for talls, there was no real risk in trading down from pick 43 to pick 46 and risk missing out on Baird, who we obviously targeted in the 3rd round. He was Clayton's man in the 3rd round, whether it was with pick 43 or pick 46, and with Sydney and Collingwood both rumoured to be very interested in Baird, and with Sydney having 3 picks in the 50's and Collingwood ready to potentially pounce with pick 53 (which they passed on - says a lot about their interest in Baird), Clayton did the math and got his targeted player.

 

[scooter600x]

The official trade during trade week was Rawlings and pick 43 to North in exchange for pick 46. That basically means Rawlings and Swallow to North in exchange for Baird. Pretty self-explanatory I'd have thought.

But quite wrong.

We wouldn't have had enough room on the list so someone else would have had to been cut.

I'm sure we still would have taken Baird at 43, so we got rid of Rawlings to give us another spot on the list.

Effectively it was Rawlings for Michael West.

 

[bresker]

So was it Baird for Rawlings, Baird for Green, Baird for West, Baird for Swallow, or.....




I'll just stick with Baird for our 3rd round draft pick.

Since it's not fair to expect anything much of a 3rd round draft pick I won't put any pressure on the kid and won't blame him if he never makes it out of Werribee reserves. But if he makes the grade, well done to him and I will worship once again at the altar of the god Clayton.

 

[robbo3005]

But quite wrong.

We wouldn't have had enough room on the list so someone else would have had to been cut.

I'm sure we still would have taken Baird at 43, so we got rid of Rawlings to give us another spot on the list.

Effectively it was Rawlings for Michael West.

I'm enjoying this.

What everyone is forgetting is that whatever we swapped Baird or Rawlings or Swallow or Green or West or Pick 43 or Pick 46 or Pick 53 with.....it also came with a price tag of $400,000.

 

[Rocco Jones]

Hate being the person who says they know someone that knows someone but apparently we talked to Swallow more than any other club. He was of the belief that if he was still around at pick 27 he would most likely be a Bulldog.

 

[alwaysadog]

Looked up theOfficial Bris Lions site and found this

"AAPT Brisbane Lions Player Report Card - Season 2005

Travis Baird: A real recruiting boon for the Lions in 2005, after being the only non-Victorian taken in last December's rookie draft. Started the year in key defence for the Suncoast Lions, before making the transition to full-forward and eventually the midfield. It was his work as an on-baller that led to him being elevated to the senior list when Martin Pike went down with a long-term injury. Played two senior matches, kicking an excellent 45m goal on debut against Hawthorn in Round 19."

Apart from the fact that he comes from Donald in Victoria, what do we make of this?
When I did a google search for his name I came across another site with a Brizzie board and they are not at all happy that a relative of an official got a position on the senior list and Travis didn't. There is a **** fight going on up there.
I know it means nothing 'till he proves he can make it, but both pieces of evidence suggest that he hasn't been disppointing the Lions club or its fans.

 

[Captain Sensible]

Looked up theOfficial Bris Lions site and found this

"AAPT Brisbane Lions Player Report Card - Season 2005

Travis Baird: A real recruiting boon for the Lions in 2005, after being the only non-Victorian taken in last December's rookie draft. Started the year in key defence for the Suncoast Lions, before making the transition to full-forward and eventually the midfield. It was his work as an on-baller that led to him being elevated to the senior list when Martin Pike went down with a long-term injury. Played two senior matches, kicking an excellent 45m goal on debut against Hawthorn in Round 19."

Apart from the fact that he comes from Donald in Victoria, what do we make of this?
When I did a google search for his name I came across another site with a Brizzie board and they are not at all happy that a relative of an official got a position on the senior list and Travis didn't. There is a **** fight going on up there.
I know it means nothing 'till he proves he can make it, but both pieces of evidence suggest that he hasn't been disppointing the Lions club or its fans.

I think he's from Charlton. If you told someone from Charlton they came from Donald they would probably kill you where you stood.


Have you got a URL for the ********fight website?

 

[OldSchool]

I think he's from Charlton. If you told someone from Charlton they came from Donald they would probably kill you where you stood.


Have you got a URL for the ********fight website?

I posted this on the Eade comments on the draftees thread.

From the Wimmera Mail Times and article about Travis Baird. Enjoy.

Baird's a Bulldog
Megan Hustwaite
Wednesday, 30 November 2005

DONALD footballing export Travis Baird has strengthened his claim for a senior opportunity at AFL level after the Western Bulldogs selected him in the national draft at the weekend. Baird, 19, told the Mail-Times from the Donald Cup yesterday he had already identified goals for next year.
"I'm stoked, I just can't describe how happy I am," he said.
"The Western Bulldogs are a good club on the rise and I'm aiming to play 10-15 games next season and help the team to some success in the future.
"I want to hold my spot in the side and become the most consistent footballer I can be."
After a 12-month stint at Brisbane, Baird rejected a one-year contract on the Lions' rookie list to pursue senior opportunities elsewhere.
A tall utility player, Baird impressed football followers with two senior games for the Lions this year when promoted to the senior list in August.
He said playing senior football for Donald in North Central Football League had prepared him for AFL.
"It's helped a great deal because I've had that experience playing on men and bigger bodies. It certainly gives you an advantage when starting out in the AFL," he said.
Western Bulldogs media manager Scott Clayton said the club was delighted to pick up Baird, whom the club considers as a ready-made senior player.
"We have tracked Travis for 24 months and in that time he has grown five or six centimetres. His role can change as a marking player forward or back. He was a calculated selection for us at pick 46," he said.
Wimmera talent Matt Tyler, 17, will continue to work towards an AFL opportunity next season after missing out on this year's national draft.
His father Neville told the Mail-Times yesterday his son was looking to another season with the North Ballarat Rebels in the TAC Cup competition to get over the disappointment.
"He's certainly very disappointed but is lucky to have another year in the competition and is now working towards next year's draft," he said.
"Matt's preparing to knuckle down, get fit and getting back to playing the footy we know he's capable of. We have our fingers crossed for an injury-free year and if he does all the right things he should be lucky come draft day 2006."
Former Horsham footballer Jordyn Burke said he wasn't disappointed about missing out on the draft and was excited about new football opportunities next year.
"I'm not too fazed by it. I'm looking forward to re-locating to Geelong and playing footy down there," he said.
"I was really happy to see one of my Rebels team-mates Stephen Owen get drafted to Geelong."

 

[scooter600x]

In 1988, we famously took Chris Grant with pick 105. The reason Grant was taken so late was because he was just 185 cm at the time. He was also yet to have his 16th birthday.

At the time he was drafted, he was thought of as a midfielder with good skills and reasonable pace and mobility for a midfielder. Of course he ended up 193 cm with outstanding pace and mobility for a KPP.

Baird was taken as a rookie - 189 cm, tall midfielder with reasonable pace and mobility. Now he's 193 cm.

KPP height with midfielder pace is always a dangerous combination.

 

[stefoid]

defiantely the most intriguing import to the club. Monty is a known factor and the other draftees wont play.

Baird is the one that could have a real impact for us this year.

 

[Cyberdoggie]

i think i heard somewhere that he was a bit of a shrewd pickup for us.
ie the other clubs weren't aware that he nominated.

Not sure on the details but club choosing next looked a bit shocked.

 

[Sedat!]

Hate being the person who says they know someone that knows someone but apparently we talked to Swallow more than any other club. He was of the belief that if he was still around at pick 27 he would most likely be a Bulldog.

Hmmm, now that is an interesting tidbit, Rocco. Why did we pass on him at 27 then, and instead opted for a less-developed and credentialled midfielder from NSW? And why did so many clubs pass on Swallow, both in 2004 (he nominated last year) and this year. His supposedly poor kicking skills maybe put a few clubs off?

 

[Pratt_Attack]

I think he's from Charlton. If you told someone from Charlton they came from Donald they would probably kill you where you stood.


Have you got a URL for the ********fight website?

Originally from Charlton but then his family moved to Donald where they bought the pub. Pretty sure he played all his footy at donald, if he played at all at charlton it was a year or two in the u14's

 

[alwaysadog]

I think he's from Charlton. If you told someone from Charlton they came from Donald they would probably kill you where you stood.


Have you got a URL for the ********fight website?

I'd heard that there was a dispute over whether he came from Donald or Charlton, and I understand the sensitivities of our country cousins when city slickers talk too fast and show their ignorance of important details, but I didn't think a journo from up there would live long if she didn't get things right, see below

Wimmera Mail Times,
Baird's a Bulldog
Megan Hustwaite
Wednesday, 30 November 2005

DONALD footballing export Travis Baird has strengthened his claim for a senior opportunity at AFL level after the Western Bulldogs selected him in the national draft at the weekend.
Baird, 19, told the Mail-Times from the Donald Cup yesterday he had already identified goals for next year.
"I'm stoked, I just can't describe how happy I am," he said.
"The Western Bulldogs are a good club on the rise and I'm aiming to play 10-15 games next season and help the team to some success in the future.
"I want to hold my spot in the side and become the most consistent footballer I can be."
After a 12-month stint at Brisbane, Baird rejected a one-year contract on the Lions' rookie list to pursue senior opportunities elsewhere.

A tall utility player, Baird impressed football followers with two senior games for the Lions this year when promoted to the senior list in August.
He said playing senior football for Donald in North Central Football League had prepared him for AFL.
"It's helped a great deal because I've had that experience playing on men and bigger bodies. It certainly gives you an advantage when starting out in the AFL," he said.
Western Bulldogs media manager Scott Clayton said the club was delighted to pick up Baird, whom the club considers as a ready-made senior player.
"We have tracked Travis for 24 months and in that time he has grown five or six centimetres. His role can change as a marking player forward or back. He was a calculated selection for us at pick 46," he said.

I'm trying to find the URL for that other site. Was so glad that it wasn't us at each other's throats for once, left it quickly without comment.