It's Time

[Bateman]

We are edging ever closer to the Draft and as yet I haven't seen much speculation on this board as to who we might draft with our 3 picks.
What is it that we need that is still likely to be available at 31, 52 and 79?
Personally I like the look of Blacky's brother and think that he may still be around at 31.
What do you think?

 

[newlander77]

I wont pretend to know too much about the kids coming through, but just because the media picked up on a story about Blacks brother doesn't make him a better pick than other kids.

History suggests local boys are reguarly skipped and we recruit from country Victoria. What can anyone tell us about Sandringhams young kids this season?

 

[pinkus maximus]

im hoping this guy falls to pick 31 thoough it would seem unlikely
(profile from mojo31 thread in the draft board)

14) Thomas Hislop

Midfielder

Burnie Dockers (Tasmania)
185cms and 84kgs
7/6/1988

Had a shoulder reconstruction in late May after the trip to Ireland for the U17s AIS-AFL International Rules and sat out the whole year after that

Very good clean hands under pressure. Superb reader of the player and very hard at the ball. Loves the contest and will continually put his head over the ball. Good vision and is smart with his use of the ball. Class inside player with the body and brain to dominate. Very physically developed player but it was not just that he was using to win the ball. Was genuinely smart with his movement and positioning.
Was a combination of strength and class that made him stand out.

Not that quick over the ground but definitely not slow. Reasonable agility but would not call him twinkle toes. Is tough, fearless and very hard at the ball and man. A natural midfielder who hunts the ball and is rarely caught out. Good anticipation and awareness. Very similar type to Joel Selwood. Not quite as good and more developed physically. Perhaps not exactly the midfielder we need but he is a class player and prospect. Very strong in the lower half of his body and very strong in the hips to break a tackle. Good tackler himself.
A small query on his body type for the future with being nuggety and developed at such a young age. So will have to watch how he looks this year after the shoulder operation and how he goes against grown men for the Devils to give an indication of whether how much of his game is sheer early physical development and how much is actual ability (like Shannon Hurn from last years draft).
He wont be able to run over the top of those stronger bodies and will be good to see how he handles that.
I don’t think his game is based too much around that and he is smart enough to be able to change his game according to different circumstances.

A clean, hard, physically tough inside player who does the basics well and is a natural footballer. Good skills with hand and foot and a very good size and another few cms of height would be very welcome. As it stands 185cms as a 16 year old is pretty impressive for a midfield prospect

Hislop is relocating from Burnie to play with the Tassie Mariners and should get a few games with the Tassie Devils in the VFL competition. Hard to judge him but going on tapes from the U16s back in 2004 he looked super impressive.

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more realistically we would be able to get someone like gary moss

 

[dominguez]

I'd be happy to pick up Moss at 31.

Dean Kelly, Blackies brother, will probably still be available at 52, and possibly even 79. If he is I'd be happy to use either of those selections to pick him up but there will probably be better players available at 31.

With the even nature of this draft hopefully a midfielder that Maxwell Smart expects to be selected in the top 20 will slip to 31.

 

[Wizard]

I would be dissapointed if we take kelly at 31, he is a good player but i would be surpirsed if he doesnt last to our 2nd pick. With our first i would once again be very surprised if either Hislop or Moss aren't around.

 

[blockerhall]

I hope that the unfashionable but sensational Bachar Houli falls through to 31. Unlikely everyone else will let him sink that far though. Hislop would be no chance for us, of course at a guess.

I believe we will probably take a slider with that first pick, which we are 1 from 2 on(McPhee, Copping). I have no idea if we will or should rookie Copping, it is tough to work out where he is at. Reasonable late season WAFL form. Plenty of players not on lists do that.

Kelly, well, maybe with our last pick. Irrespective of the Black link I think his style of play would still offer something to our list, even as a rookie.

I would hazard a guess we will only take one tall though.

 

[dominguez]

Coppings manager expects him to be at the club next year.

 

[Cheetah]

I'd be happy to pick up Moss at 31.

Dean Kelly, Blackies brother, will probably still be available at 52, and possibly even 79. If he is I'd be happy to use either of those selections to pick him up but there will probably be better players available at 31.

With the even nature of this draft hopefully a midfielder that Maxwell Smart expects to be selected in the top 20 will slip to 31.

If Moss is available at 31, I'd be wrapped to pick him up. I think we will rookie Dean Kelly if still available.

 

[Ysaye]

As much as I want us to get him, I don't think Hislop will be there come pick 31.

There might be a few fast smaller midfielders like Moss, Krakouer, Djerkurra. Given that we signed up Andrew Browne again though, I doubt we would go after any of them.

Of the taller options, Jarryd Morton and Hawksley could also be there. Jarryd Morton is a tall fast utility, kicked 39 goals playing mainly as a HFF/Winger. Hawksley is also a tall fast utility and an AIS Grad, but has mainly played as a defender. Whilst I would pick Morton over Hawksley on the basis that he is more of an offensive option, we have had a tendency to pick players like Hawksley.

 

[Dr Ralph Dagg]

Can we change the name of this thread? I keep having flashbacks to 1972, and that movie 'Don's Party'.