Merged Draft Threads - Part 3

[Burzum]

I heard that someone from Essendon told the West Adelaide coach that we'll draft him if Port don't. Don't know how legitimate that is though.

 

[Wahooti Fandango]

I heard that someone from Essendon told the West Adelaide coach that we'll draft him if Port don't. Don't know how legitimate that is though.

Could not complain if that was the outcome.

 

[Burzum]

Could not complain if that was the outcome.

Then again I know we haven't had any contact with him.

 

[Wahooti Fandango]

Then again I know we haven't had any contact with him.

As you have said in the past RIG, just because we have not spoken to a player does not mean that we will not draft them. I also have the feeling that we will pick up Hartlett if Rich is gone. Just seems like the type of player Knighta likes. The most likely outcome seems to be Yarran or Hartlett at 5. But then again who really knows. We will know on Saturday.

 

[Windas_Magic]

I heard that someone from Essendon told the West Adelaide coach that we'll draft him if Port don't. Don't know how legitimate that is though.

May i ask where you heard this from, and if it's reliable?

 

[Schopp]

Have a good gut feeling about Hartlett, really hope we get him at 5 and Suban at 23 (unless Mckernan, Davis or Shoenmakers are available), that would really complete the midfield for the next few yrs.

 

[Wahooti Fandango]

Have a good gut feeling about Hartlett, really hope we get him at 5 and Suban at 23 (unless Mckernan, Davis or Shoenmakers are available), that would really complete the midfield for the next few yrs.

We need a KP defender with one of our first picks.

 

[GoDons]

We need a KP defender with one of our first picks.

Not necessarily.

We're not going to take guys just for the sake of position. There's a good chance there'll be slim pickings at 23 for tall defenders if we've gone for a midfielder at 5, and in that case, I'd hope we'd dig in to some more of the midfield talent that this draft offers plenty.

In regard to pick 5, my hunch tells me we'll take Chris Yarran.

 

[Hislop200]

Not necessarily.

We're not going to take guys just for the sake of position. There's a good chance there'll be slim pickings at 23 for tall defenders if we've gone for a midfielder at 5, and in that case, I'd hope we'd dig in to some more of the midfield talent that this draft offers plenty.

In regard to pick 5, my hunch tells me we'll take Chris Yarran.

I hope you are right, but I think Freo will take him at #3

 

[Ben the Gooner]

The Herald Sun gave us Ashley Smith, and Emma Quayle rated him at 23.

From what I've read about him, he seems pretty much like another David Myers. Is that what we need?

 

[Merv]

The Herald Sun gave us Ashley Smith, and Emma Quayle rated him at 23.

From what I've read about him, he seems pretty much like another David Myers. Is that what we need?

Ben, it isn't always about needs.

To become a serious flag contender we need a lot of things.

At pick 23 we might just pick who we believe is the best player available, be him a FP, FF, HFF or whatever.

One thing we really do need is more guys who can kick and Smith is a better kick than Myers from what i have seen of them both as juniors.

Knighter loves guys who run and carry and can finish off their attacking play with goals or delivery and Smith fills that need.

I would be very happy to land him with our second pick and he is one who would be a reasonable chance to play at senior level next year.

 

[scotty4]

hey does anyone know whether you have to be a member of bombertv to watch their draft webcast thing on saturday?

 

[Colin D'Cops]

I'd be rapt if Essendon picked up Schoenmakers with pick 23, has some serious talent.

wont be there come pick 23

I wouldn't be so certain Hulld.

He looks like he has talent, certainly, but there is a heap of talent on offer in the first round. You've got Naita, Vickery, Hurley, McKernan, Trengove, Cornelius, Johnston & Watts as early, tall draftee candidates. Then you've got Rich, Ziebell, Hartlett, Sidebottom, Hill, etc who have all shown indications that they'll be real quality midfielders in the future.

I don't think he'll last beyond the second round, but by saying he's a certain first round draft pick is going a bit too far IMO.

 

[Ben the Gooner]

Ben, it isn't always about needs.

To become a serious flag contender we need a lot of things.

At pick 23 we might just pick who we believe is the best player available, be him a FP, FF, HFF or whatever.

One thing we really do need is more guys who can kick and Smith is a better kick than Myers from what i have seen of them both as juniors.

Knighter loves guys who run and carry and can finish off their attacking play with goals or delivery and Smith fills that need.

I would be very happy to land him with our second pick and he is one who would be a reasonable chance to play at senior level next year.

However, if we pick a small at 23, there's a pretty high chance that we'll have taken a tall at 5. If we take an out and out midfielder at 5, then I have no problems with Smith at 23. But we need a classy out and out midfielder, and as good as Smith may be, he doesn't look like that.

I think Melbourne may take him with a PP after seeing the success of Hodge in a half back role, but to not pick a genuine midfielder with one of our top two picks would be a mistake, in my opinion.

You say best available, but would Port take two smalls with their first two picks if there was some doubt about whether they were clearly better?

From the looks of this draft, guys like Hannebery, Beams, Robinson etc. will be available at 23, or if not, then higher rated guys (on BF at least) will slip. So it's not like Smith is the only option at his pick for a small.

Last year we didn't take an out and out midfielder. The year before we took three, one of whom is gone. The year before, we took one and he was a speculative pick. If we go tall, then take a back flanker who may be a midfielder, but may not, with our first two, I worry about the quality in our midfield.

That's the main reason I want Hartlett or Rich, but should we take Trengove, Hurley, Vickery etc., I wouldn't complain, but a genuine midfielder should be the go for the next pick.

Look at the Bulldogs drafting best available. They have no key forwards now. We don't want to have some great flankers, great talls, but a subpar midfield.

 

[Ben the Gooner]

hey does anyone know whether you have to be a member of bombertv to watch their draft webcast thing on saturday?

Nope.

http://www.essendonfc.com.au/news/news.asp?nid=6169

In an AFL first, Essendon will hold a free, live webcast on the day of the 2008 NAB AFL National Draft.

 

[scotty4]

awsome good on you essendon

 

[hulld]

just coz it's free, it doesn't mean people shouldn't sign up to bomber tv. your money goes straight to the club and it is well worth it.

 

[Merv]

However, if we pick a small at 23, there's a pretty high chance that we'll have taken a tall at 5. If we take an out and out midfielder at 5, then I have no problems with Smith at 23. But we need a classy out and out midfielder, and as good as Smith may be, he doesn't look like that.

I think Melbourne may take him with a PP after seeing the success of Hodge in a half back role, but to not pick a genuine midfielder with one of our top two picks would be a mistake, in my opinion.

You say best available, but would Port take two smalls with their first two picks if there was some doubt about whether they were clearly better?

From the looks of this draft, guys like Hannebery, Beams, Robinson etc. will be available at 23, or if not, then higher rated guys (on BF at least) will slip. So it's not like Smith is the only option at his pick for a small.

Last year we didn't take an out and out midfielder. The year before we took three, one of whom is gone. The year before, we took one and he was a speculative pick. If we go tall, then take a back flanker who may be a midfielder, but may not, with our first two, I worry about the quality in our midfield.

That's the main reason I want Hartlett or Rich, but should we take Trengove, Hurley, Vickery etc., I wouldn't complain, but a genuine midfielder should be the go for the next pick.

Look at the Bulldogs drafting best available. They have no key forwards now. We don't want to have some great flankers, great talls, but a subpar midfield.

There is so much more to drafting than is discussed on BF.

For example.

When assessing the needs of a clubs list and who they might be interested in taking with each pick, they also look to future drafts.

We could do with another ruckman but are we in a desperate need of one? my answer would be no.

So if Merv and Dodoro know that next year is expected to have a bumper crop of ruckman, they might pass on one this year and address something that might be in short supply in next years drafts.

They have been watching a lot of these kids since under 14's.

A lot of people think we need to address our midfield, others defense, others ruck but very few think our forward line is a concern.

So what happens if Essendon think that Schoenmakers is clearly the best player in this years draft and he will go on and be a 200+ game star?

Should we overlook him at 5 for Hartlett who they think has a good chance to make it but they don't rate them anywhere near as highly as Schoenmakers?

He doesn't fit the mould of what most supporters think we need but if we are right we have just recruited a gun.

At the end of the day, especially with your first pick, you just have to pick the best player available if there is a gap in ability but if the difference is very minimal and you can't really split several of them, then you can choose for needs.

This is why the first round on draft day does so quickly. Clubs have a list of their players ranked in order, one guy is drafted, they cross him off and wait for the next and so on until it gets to their pick and they choose the next available player.
How they rank them is up for debate of course.

Also when you talk about needs that isn't just limited to position played.

We need guys who are quick, can kick well, mark well, are corageous, will work hard, provide leadership, present the club in a good light and more than anything can play. They are also needs that we might deem need to be filled.

However, if we pick a small at 23, there's a pretty high chance that we'll have taken a tall at 5. If we take an out and out midfielder at 5, then I have no problems with Smith at 23. But we need a classy out and out midfielder, and as good as Smith may be, he doesn't look like that.

Smith looks like he would be a player that would be a part of the midfield rotations either off the wing or HBF.

What makes you think we don't have a classy out and out midfielder on our list already?

Houli might be it and i see him as much more than a running HBF'er and think he will be at the very least a very capable midfielder.

I agree we could do with some more but you can't get everything at once and who we pick might end up a dud.

You say best available, but would Port take two smalls with their first two picks if there was some doubt about whether they were clearly better?

I addressed that above but if there was doubt, no they probably wouldn't but if there was no doubt, they most likely would.

 

[Spikey]

awsome good on you essendon

It should be said the boardcast will be mainly Essendon focused and I doubt there will be much said about the other teams

 

[Ben the Gooner]

There is so much more to drafting than is discussed on BF.

For example.

When assessing the needs of a clubs list and who they might be interested in taking with each pick, they also look to future drafts.

We could do with another ruckman but are we in a desperate need of one? my answer would be no.

So if Merv and Dodoro know that next year is expected to have a bumper crop of ruckman, they might pass on one this year and address something that might be in short supply in next years drafts.

They have been watching a lot of these kids since under 14's.

There's plenty which needs to be considered, but position is vital as well. Let's say Hartlett and Smith are available at 23, and both are considered equal in every facet of the game. We take Hartlett, because his position is more of a need.

At 23, there'll be midfielders just as good as Smith, and we need midfielders more than half back flankers cum midfielders. I'm sure Smith will be a fantastic player, but I'd rather a gun mid and a gun HBF than two gun HBFs from the last two drafts.

A lot of people think we need to address our midfield, others defense, others ruck but very few think our forward line is a concern.

So what happens if Essendon think that Schoenmakers is clearly the best player in this years draft and he will go on and be a 200+ game star?

Should we overlook him at 5 for Hartlett who they think has a good chance to make it but they don't rate them anywhere near as highly as Schoenmakers?

He doesn't fit the mould of what most supporters think we need but if we are right we have just recruited a gun.

Agreed, if there's a definite best available, you take him. But if there's doubt, then you have to consider various factors. Obviously, if there are two players competing for our pick, who are "footballistically" (to quote Arsene Wenger) equal, but one is a HBF and one is a mid, we'd lean towards the mid. But if the mid is a real pisshead, and a chance to do a Hislop, then we lean towards the HBF. However, if it comes purely down to a positional decision, I want the mid.

At the end of the day, especially with your first pick, you just have to pick the best player available if there is a gap in ability but if the difference is very minimal and you can't really split several of them, then you can choose for needs.

Also when you talk about needs that isn't just limited to position played.

We need guys who are quick, can kick well, mark well, are corageous, will work hard, provide leadership, present the club in a good light and more than anything can play. They are also needs that we might deem need to be filled.



Smith looks like he would be a player that would be a part of the midfield rotations either off the wing or HBF.

What makes you think we don't have a classy out and out midfielder on our list already?

Houli might be it and i see him as much more than a running HBF'er and think he will be a very capable midfielder.

I agree we could do with some more but you can't get everything at once and who we pick might end up a dud.



I addressed that above but if there was doubt, no they probably wouldn't but if there was no doubt, they most likely would.

I'm willing to back the judgement of the recruiters implicitly, but my opinion is that an out and out midfielder is a greater need than an HBF.

As for Houli, I think he could be that player too, but the more gun mids, the better service Neagle and Gumby get, and the less pressure on the backs.

 

[scotty4]

just coz it's free, it doesn't mean people shouldn't sign up to bomber tv. your money goes straight to the club and it is well worth it.

yeh its a good idea a shame brisbane dont have something similar
we do however have mac&bunno.tv
http://mac-bunno.tv/

 

[Red Black and Blue]

Anyone know if we've spoken to Phil Davis and any chance he will be there at 23?

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Depends on the Hawks. If they go for need then him or Lisle will likely be taken at 16, but if they go best available, one may be there at 23.

 

[bomber69]

Anyone know if we've spoken to Phil Davis and any chance he will be there at 23?

I know we have shown interest in him, he probably won't last to our pick 23 however. Hopefully he's one of this years sliders.

 

[Yoda_]

Do Essendon really need to pick up a tall straight away, we already have both Pears, and Ryder, aswell as Fletcher if one of the forementioned gets injured, so for me, I say no, although I would like us to pick one up at some stage in this draft, although Knights has publicly stated that he sees one of Daniher/Hooker/Neagle as a defendive option, so that leaves us with, what, 5 - 6 options down back, I see that we could go after a ruckmen, as we cannot rely on Hille, Laycock and Bellchambers, as we found out last year, one goes down, we seem to stiffle our midfield influence, and get run all over, I see us going for a project back, like a Milne, or a Gaertner later in the draft, and topping up on mids,