Rumour Isaac Smith

[Boxhead_31]

Don't know how much truth is to it but AFL.com.au seems to think we are a chance to pick mature aged player Issac Smith 21 with pick 15

"GEELONG appears to be interested in taking 21-year-old Isaac Smith with pick No.15 in the NAB AFL Draft.

The rangy wingman (190cm and 79kg), originally from Cootamundra in southern NSW, began the 2010 season with Redan in the Ballarat Football League. Halfway through the season, after much ground work from North Ballarat, he agreed to try out in the VFL.

Smith played three games in North Ballarat’s reserves and then made a huge impression after stepping into the Roosters’ senior team. His ability to leave opponents stranded enabled him to play in a premiership in just his sixth senior game with Roosters.

Smith would add much-needed pace to Geelong’s line-up. He would also continue the Cats’ recent pattern of drafting mature-aged players from state leagues,"


http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/104974/default.aspx

What does everyone think about this and has anyone seen him play. seems like a stretch to be taking him with 15 to me

 

[Turbocat]

Re: Issac Smith

Ever check out Cat Scan?

 

[Boxhead_31]

Re: Issac Smith

Not as much as I should by the looks of it.

Thanks for the heads up TC

 

[TheHonestyPolicy]

Re: Issac Smith

Six senior vfl games? As exciting and appealing as any player could be Geelong tend to need more of a background for a first round pick. Varcoe seemed a gamble with the same pick, but I think his upside was the fact he had a fair bit more footy into him and was much younger.

Its not unusual for the Cats to also throw a red herring up at this time of year, but in saying that we could certainly use pace, and a guy who at that age wont take long to adapt to senior footy. I have no idea of course, but will be interesting to see how it all pans out. I cant recall the last time someone predicted our first round correctly accept maybe Emma Quayle the morning of last years draft wasnt it? So thats a late call, where the real mail might only come closer to the time.

 

[Reg Hickey]

Re: Issac Smith

Six senior vfl games? As exciting and appealing as any player could be Geelong tend to need more of a background for a first round pick.

Huh?

Mitch Brown, Harry Taylor, Andrew Mackie were all first round bolters without a traditional background at all. Of all the clubs, I would say that we seem to need that the LEAST.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Re: Issac Smith

You guys should read Cat Scan. We were already onto it.

Anyway, Smith as I said over there, is high risk high reward, but could well be worth the punt.

Elite pace, athleticism, booming kick, exceptional endurance, just needs to be refined and taught how to get more of the ball (floats in and out of games too much ala Varcoe of early days). If he could get 20 touches a game such a high % of them would be score involvements, and we desperately need the line breaking ability.

Will go top 30 so 15 is not a big reach, and Wells has shown he is happy to reach for players he likes (Mitch Brown was a reach at 15 in 08).

That said, I love Watson, and think he'll be an ABSOLUTE GUN, so I'd take Watson at 15 and gamble on Smith making it through to 23. Hopefully he will.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Re: Issac Smith

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/a...-for-isaac-smith/story-e6frf9jf-1225950335727

 

[TheHonestyPolicy]

Re: Issac Smith

Huh?

Mitch Brown, Harry Taylor, Andrew Mackie were all first round bolters without a traditional background at all. Of all the clubs, I would say that we seem to need that the LEAST.

Of the three you mention Taylor is the only 21yo as a proper comparison and he played three years in the WAFL at senior level mate finishing 3rd in the B & F in 2007. Hardly comparable to Smith's record at the same age?

What do you mean by untraditional background? Brown played for Sandringham along side Watts, Varcoe and Mackie were registered to SANFL clubs when they were picked. Varcoe was injured when we picked him up but apart from Mackie missing the draft camp what's your point?

I am not saying we should or shouldnt pick Smith, just saying as a 21yo with 6 senior matches and not a young 17/18 yo or a 21yo with 3 years senior experience its a bit more speculative than usual for our first round pick.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Re: Issac Smith

Mackie was drafted largely out of school footy.

Varcoe was the classic raw high upside player who because of that, and injury, was a punt early.

Anyway, the point Reg and others have made is that Wells has a long history of taking players in the first round that nobody else rates as being worth that high a pick.

 

[bulletproof]

Re: Issac Smith

From the vision I have seen of Watson he does not look a top 20 selection. Not agile or good enough on the ground. He'll drop like a stone on draft day.

A poor man's Tom Hawkins would be my assesment.

If you want a tall like that, wait for a later pick and take Mitchell.

I'd say we'll take Smith, unless someone like Billie Smedts falls.

 

[proboy]

Re: Issac Smith

How dare u say that about PO's man! He been walking around hard for weeks talking about Watson, I dare say once he wakes up he will unleash his Watson Love on u!

 

[DBAH0]

Re: Issac Smith

From the vision I have seen of Watson he does not look a top 20 selection. Not agile or good enough on the ground. He'll drop like a stone on draft day.

Yeah I've got similar worries over Watson's agility over the long - term also.

Sure he could play from round 1 next season, but is there a huge need for that with Scarlett, Taylor and Lonergan our 3 key defenders, with Gillies and Weston developing in the VFL?

Think Patrick McCarthy offers more upside over the long - term.

As for Smith at 15, with every day we get closer to the draft, I think it's going to happen. Wells has made that left field selection before obviously, and Smith's pace fills a definite need.

I imagine we'll go Smith at 15, and then hope for someone like Lucas Cook to drop to 23.

 

[Premiers2007]

Re: Issac Smith

The Cats are hoping to pick up a Geelong boy with their first Rounder. If available expect Billie Smedts or Jayden Pitt to be running around in the blue and white hoops next year.

 

[Hinkley29]

Re: Issac Smith

Players that can contribute from day 1 are so valuable to a club from a list management and salary cap perspective. More clubs are going to wake up to this fact sooner rather than later, and "ready made" players are going to be far more highly coveted.

Go for it Wellsy.

 

[CatTricks]

Re: Issac Smith

If we end up with Smith Smedts Pitt I will be very happy

 

[longtimecat]

Re: Issac Smith

I'm warming to this idea but it would be hard to pass up a KP player like Watson if he is still available. Would either of them be available for our second pick?

 

[Premiers2007]

Re: Issac Smith

If we end up with Smith Smedts Pitt I will be very happy

Pick 15 - Billie Smedts (Geelong Falcons) - Gets around opponents like they’re witches hats. Exceptional agility, poise and vision enables him to find angles others don't see. Sets up play across half-back and is a difficult match-up when forward.

Pick 23 - Jayden Pitt (Geelong Falcons) - Pitt’s kicking (on both feet) and decision-making are truly elite. Late-blooming wingman who knows how to get in dangerous spots in attack. Strong mark.

Pick 37 - Matthew Watson (Calder Cannons) - Strong-bodied key defender whose thumping left foot kick is one of the most penetrating and accurate in the draft pool. Uses body strength to his advantage around the contested ball and has been working on improving his speed and athleticism. Has some Brian Lake-traits. Ready to go next season.

Pick 54 - Luke Mitchell (Calder Cannons) - One for the Jonathan Brown fans. Key forward whose strength is his contested marking. Missed the national championships due to shoulder injury so could be a value pick down the order.



Yeah, I know I am dreaming but how good would these picks up be.

If Smedts or Pitt are not available I would be more than happy with Isaac Smith.

 

[TheHonestyPolicy]

Re: Issac Smith

Mackie was drafted largely out of school footy.

Varcoe was the classic raw high upside player who because of that, and injury, was a punt early.

Anyway, the point Reg and others have made is that Wells has a long history of taking players in the first round that nobody else rates as being worth that high a pick.

No arguments with Wells' track record and if he decides to take Smith as well I will be certain he has very good cause and a ready made with pace is fine with me. I think the media love to drum up the bolters every year but in reality how far would any of those guys really have fallen if we didnt pick them? Taylor, Brown and Varcoe wouldnt have lasted another 5 picks and Mackie was going to be taken by the Lions top 20 from memory, but then again we wont ever know for sure.

 

[Asty]

Re: Issac Smith

Varcoe was the classic raw high upside player who because of that, and injury, was a punt early.

Maybe a bit off topic but ...

Calling Varcoe raw is a little out there I think. He only slipped down to us because of the foot injury he sustained early in the year we drafted him.

Prior to injury
1. Was touted as a top 5 pick
2. Played senior SANFL footy in the stand out team, in SANFL, for last decade (at 17)
3. Represented Australia against Ireland in U17s

http://footy.wikia.com/wiki/Travis_Varcoe
>> Junior Career

With his wealth of talent, Travis Varcoe was on AFL scout radar's early on, building up an impressive resume as a junior footballer.

As a young, skinny 16 year old, Varcoe had helped his Central District's win the Under-17 premiership, and was already representing his state as an Under-16 player for South Australia.

His performances so impressive, that it was during that same year he was also awarded the prized AIS/AFL Academy scholarship, where young footballers are picked out early in their junior careers to be mentored in an annual program at the Australian Institute of Sport base.

As part of the Academy program, Varcoe donned the Australian guernsey with his fellow scholarship holders to tour Ireland in an International Rules series. The Australians were flogged by 40 points in the first Test and four days later, in Dublin, desperately needed to redeem themselves. Varcoe, showing courage, athleticism and strong team commitment, singlehandedly forced a draw to the series, diving to save a certain goal at a crucial moment in the second Test match. Ninety seconds later he was up the other end, his blistering pace contributing as he put the ball in the back of the net in what was effectively a 12-point play.

Varcoe returned from the tour as one of the star juniors in the land, his form such that he managed to break into the Central Districts senior side at just 17 years of age, blistering his way through packs in an exciting debut on Anzac Day in the top league in South Australia, the SANFL.

Doesn't sound raw to me just sounds like we took a punt on a player that had been injured.

 

[CatTricks]

Re: Issac Smith

Pick 15 - Billie Smedts (Geelong Falcons) - Gets around opponents like they’re witches hats. Exceptional agility, poise and vision enables him to find angles others don't see. Sets up play across half-back and is a difficult match-up when forward.

Pick 23 - Jayden Pitt (Geelong Falcons) - Pitt’s kicking (on both feet) and decision-making are truly elite. Late-blooming wingman who knows how to get in dangerous spots in attack. Strong mark.

Pick 37 - Matthew Watson (Calder Cannons) - Strong-bodied key defender whose thumping left foot kick is one of the most penetrating and accurate in the draft pool. Uses body strength to his advantage around the contested ball and has been working on improving his speed and athleticism. Has some Brian Lake-traits. Ready to go next season.

Pick 54 - Luke Mitchell (Calder Cannons) - One for the Jonathan Brown fans. Key forward whose strength is his contested marking. Missed the national championships due to shoulder injury so could be a value pick down the order.



Yeah, I know I am dreaming but how good would these picks up be.

If Smedts or Pitt are not available I would be more than happy with Isaac Smith.

Im hoping we go:

Pick 15 - Billie Smedts
Pick 23 - Jayden Pitt
Pick 37 - Isaac Smith
Pick 54 - Matthew Watson

Reason for Watson so low is because i believe Gillies will come on, and we have Weston..

It wont happen though. There is no way we will get all 4 players/

 

[Nankervis brothers]

Re: Issac Smith

Im hoping we go:

Pick 15 - Billie Smedts
Pick 23 - Jayden Pitt
Pick 37 - Isaac Smith
Pick 54 - Matthew Watson

Reason for Watson so low is because i believe Gillies will come on, and we have Weston..

It wont happen though. There is no way we will get all 4 players/

If media reports are correct, then Smith will be gone well before pick 37. Will probably have to use 15 or 23 to get him.

 

[pinion]

pick 15 is part of our ablett compensation. i'd be wanting more than this guy

 

[Selective Retention]

So GC made a big mistake not pre listing this guy and trading him off like Krakour & co? Or is he being way overhyped? Doesn't seem logical to me.

 

[hamG]

So GC made a big mistake not pre listing this guy and trading him off like Krakour & co? Or is he being way overhyped? Doesn't seem logical to me.

Pre listed players must have been on an AFL list or have previously nominated for the draft which it sounds like this kid hasn't ...

 

[Selective Retention]

Ok. Fair enough. Never heard of a lot of the guys they had picked up, so assumed it was open slather.