Merged Draft Threads - Part 3

[ant555]

Solves the answer then. Didn't think he was 100%.

I heard Rockliff also went pretty good on the radio as well, did his stocks rise a bit because of today's performance? He has kicked multiple goals basically all year in the TAC Cup and definitely has a good footy brain and brilliant goal sense. A bit of a nuggety type, like Porplyzia, but he more than makes up for that with his brains for now. Kicked some nice goals from the boundary today so has definitely shown he can also lift on the big stage.

His fitness looks a lot better this year. Last year he had big questions on his athleticism and his pace. This year he is moving a lot better and has improved in the midfield as the year has gone on.
One has to wonder how much his broken leg in 2006 affected his season in 2007. His testing will tell all but i think he has shown enough improvement this year to suggest he will be looked at in the mid range picks, maybe earlier.

 

[ManWithNoName]

Steele Sidebottom in an Essendon jumper.

Make it so.

 

[Colin D'Cops]

Agree with most of that Cruiser, but I think you'll find if you have watched him most matches when he was going flat out, 100%, you'd probably realise that he'd get to most stoppages before anyone else because of his good footy brain and smarts. But in AFL, as you would know, you can't rely too much on an attribute, you have to be sound in most areas. I think his fitness isn't really up there with the likes of Hartlett & Blease as well, like you, but you could argue he uses the footy much better as well. I wouldn't really call his pace a big/major issue, as he isn't by anymeans slow, but isn't one of the quickest blokes out there - there is no doubt about that.

 

[Cruiser23]

Agree with most of that Cruiser, but I think you'll find if you have watched him most matches when he was going flat out, 100%, you'd probably realise that he'd get to most stoppages before anyone else because of his good footy brain and smarts. But in AFL, as you would know, you can't rely too much on an attribute, you have to be sound in most areas. I think his fitness isn't really up there with the likes of Hartlett & Blease as well, like you, but you could argue he uses the footy much better as well. I wouldn't really call his pace a big/major issue, as he isn't by anymeans slow, but isn't one of the quickest blokes out there - there is no doubt about that.

Totally agree with that statement, i have no issue with his pace at all, he can produce a very explosive burst of speed. I've tried many times to emphasis this when giving a run down on him because i think it's a total misconception that he's slow that leaves him struggling.

Might be a little blinded by his later season form with regards to his fitness, was alright earlier on in the season, still needs a bit of improvement though. Hopefully it's just a case of a hectic schedule coinciding with his injury.

 

[timbo3195]

So is it safe to say Sidebottom>Hartlett & Zeibell?
What sort of players in the AFL currently are similar to Sidebottom?

 

[Burzum]

He has been extremely good in all thre finals games not just one game. Obviously todays game was his best but in the final against Rangers it was his efforts early in the second quarter that got Murray back in the game and he had 29 possesions and 3 goals that day. Last week he had 21 disposals and was in the best three . He was good during the champs without dominating.
He had a steady year in the TAC Cup. He missed a few games after the champs through injury and it took him a few weeks to find his form when he came back. Becasue of his injuries he had been left out on a wing in a few games and not moved into the middle.
I really rate him which is why he was in my prefered 5 choices for pick 5 that i posted a couple of weeks ago.

I understand that he's been very good lately but my point was just because a guy has one amazing game it's not going to make them take that player unless they already rated him near or at that selection.

 

[Colin D'Cops]

So is it safe to say Sidebottom>Hartlett & Zeibell?
What sort of players in the AFL currently are similar to Sidebottom?

I'm probably in a minority here, but I still rate Ziebell & Hartlett higher. Hartlett has mixed it with the big boys playing senior SANFL footy & Ziebell uses the ball beautifully, and got rewarded for that a year ago when playing against Ireland, he won the medal for the best player in the series against the Irish. Sidebottom is right on their heals though, if he has a great draft camp which is possible, he could jump ahead of either of them.

Hmm, it's hard to pinpoint who he's like because he can play anywhere, HBF/C/HF. He uses the ball nicely on both feet and doesn't often pull out of contests, maybe a bit like Ryan Crowley, but can dispose of the ball better than him.

 

[KING-JAMES]

Steele was the player at the champs that I looked at and wanted straight away but I didnt think it was likely we would take him at top 5-6. Now If we get him i will be rapt. Apparently a big Essendon fan as well

 

[kelvin_sheedy]

Is Sidebottom doing a Rhys Palmer of 07 and flying up the charts?

I starting to think it's pretty irrelevant who we get with our first few picks - mid, back, ruck... so many good kids available.

As long as we nail our first 3 picks and get quality AFL players.... then if we get value from Pears, Daniher, Myers, Neagle, Gumbleton then we should be right.

 

[kelvin_sheedy]

Just watched some Sidebottom footage and it's a no from me for pick 5.

He's too vanilla and not athletic enough to complement what we already have.

Hartlett to me looks a much better prospect.

 

[Windas_Magic]

He has been extremely good in all thre finals games not just one game. Obviously todays game was his best but in the final against Rangers it was his efforts early in the second quarter that got Murray back in the game and he had 29 possesions and 3 goals that day. Last week he had 21 disposals and was in the best three . He was good during the champs without dominating.
He had a steady year in the TAC Cup. He missed a few games after the champs through injury and it took him a few weeks to find his form when he came back. Becasue of his injuries he had been left out on a wing in a few games and not moved into the middle.
I really rate him which is why he was in my prefered 5 choices for pick 5 that i posted a couple of weeks ago.

So if you had the choice between Hartlett and Sidebottom, who would you go for? Before yesterday i would've said Hartlett but i just can't split them now.

I'm starting to think that we should go with a midfielder at 5, then pick up a backman later on. There's just so much midfield quality that will go top 10, but not much after 20.

 

[Sigmund]

Some of the posting here over the past 18 hours or so reminds me of why I sometimes shudder reading our drafting thread. This is the first TAC cup game I have seen for 2008 (as I am sure it is the case for many posters). But posters then come on and state - "we must get Sidebottom" "he is our man" etc. Now, I have no idea if he is or not, but seeing him for 1 game on Fox Sports does not qualify for an informed opinion. Settle down people....

 

[Sigmund]

So if you had the choice between Hartlett and Sidebottom, who would you go for? Before yesterday i would've said Hartlett but i just can't split them now.

I'm starting to think that we should go with a midfielder at 5, then pick up a backman later on. There's just so much midfield quality that will go top 10, but not much after 20.

I'm starting to think this way myself Windas

 

[Hurley Bird]

Some of the posting here over the past 18 hours or so reminds me of why I sometimes shudder reading our drafting thread. This is the first TAC cup game I have seen for 2008 (as I am sure it is the case for many posters). But posters then come on and state - "we must get Sidebottom" "he is our man" etc. Now, I have no idea if he is or not, but seeing him for 1 game on Fox Sports does not qualify for an informed opinion. Settle down people....

I saw the majority of the U18 championships earlier in the year and he was a solid performer then too.

 

[Ricky]

Just a quick one..

CBF looking it up

what draft picks we got this year??

thanks in advance

 

[Windas_Magic]

Re: Just a quick one..

5
23
39
55
71

Of course these may alter after trade week

 

[stugots]

do we need a "stewie dew"?

marvelous gf from the fat bastard & i know weve got a bit of premiership experience still on the park, but no doubting that dew played a major role in getting the inexperienced (finals wise) hawks over the line

so come draft day(s) should we be on the lookout for stewie dew type & who could that be?

 

[Spikey]

Re: do we need a "stewie dew"?

Nah.

 

[The Dustbin]

Re: do we need a "stewie dew"?

No.

Maybe in a few years when we are in a similar position to what Hawthorn were 12 months ago.

For the time being it's all about kids, kids and more kids.

 

[LeeARM]

Re: do we need a "stewie dew"?

we already have experienced finals players like lloyd, lucas, fletcher, ect. they dont need to be fat to be useful.

and kind of unrelated but did mark mcveigh play in the 2001 grand final?

 

[The Dustbin]

Re: do we need a "stewie dew"?

and kind of unrelated but did mark mcveigh play in the 2001 grand final?

Yes.

 

[ant555]

So if you had the choice between Hartlett and Sidebottom, who would you go for? Before yesterday i would've said Hartlett but i just can't split them now.

I'm starting to think that we should go with a midfielder at 5, then pick up a backman later on. There's just so much midfield quality that will go top 10, but not much after 20.

Before the finals i would have gone Hartlett but now, well probably just Sidebottom. Not that i would be unhappy with Hartlett or Ziebell for that matter.

 

[Yoda_]

If we pick up Sidebottom, which seems to be the talk of the town atm, then whos position does he fill, we have enough goal kicking midfielders, to be honest, i am all for going tall throughout this draft, and picking up some smaller men later in the draft and with our Rookie picks, why did Carlton take Kruezer before Cotching last year, any one, because they need a ruckmen, Cotching IMO will become a better AFL player, but the Blues needed a ruckmen, and he was best available, what I am saying is, we need Hurley, as we are in more need of key defenders than goalkicking mids, we already have enough of them in Welsh, Stanton, McVeigh, Lovett etc. think about things people,

 

[Burzum]

It's Cotchin, not Cotching.

I for one would be happy with any of Hurley, Sidebottom, Ziebell, Hartlett.

 

[Colin D'Cops]

Sidebottom is a utility in my opinion HFF, and a very good utility at that.
Can match up on the small, shifty forwards. Can provide run off half back and set up play. Can win the contested footy in the middle and as we watched on Friday, can go forward and provide a more than handy target.

But saying all that, I'd still take Hartlett & Ziebell over him even though he has got some really good attributes. Hartlett has played senior footy in the SANFL, gets a heap of clearances when in the middle and has pace to burn on the wings. Ziebell is more of a laid back type, uses the ball probably the best out of the draft, real silky, good overhead and doesn't get flustered under pressure, takes his time and 9 times out of 10 makes the right decision.

Wouldn't be unhappy with anyone in contention at pick 5. Even Hurley I'd be happy with, uses the ball brilliantly and rarely loses a one-on-one contest.