Preview NAB AFL Draft

[LukeParkerno1]

Re: National Draft / Rookie Draft Strategy (No Trade Talk)

Our midfield is looking pretty good long term. Short term, we might have problems.

Now I have heard it all. Who are our ELITE midfielders? I can't see one, let alone the necessary 2-3 to win a flag! Our midfield is atrocious, and I am being kind there. If we were in a window, sure get a ruckman with our first pick, but we need a massive rebuild and you do that by drafting midfielders. Look at Collingwood, Pendelbury/Thomas before they took talls really.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Re: National Draft / Rookie Draft Strategy (No Trade Talk)

Id prefer a more fast outside player rather than inside. Watson and Howlett are great inside players. Melksham will become inside and Colyer has played that inside role all his career in junior days and likes to burst away from contest. I would preferably like a player who can play a bit of both. Im starting to think Atley is our man. Some having him rated as high as 5 so to get him at pick 8 would be pretty good.

I'd like another one in the inside. But I would rather get one that can play either way. But in my view speed should be a priority. I am happy with any midfielder really. Not sure Atley will be there with Brisbane having a pick 5.

 

[Tambu]

Re: National Draft / Rookie Draft Strategy (No Trade Talk)

Now I have heard it all. Who are our ELITE midfielders? I can't see one, let alone the necessary 2-3 to win a flag! Our midfield is atrocious, and I am being kind there. If we were in a window, sure get a ruckman with our first pick, but we need a massive rebuild and you do that by drafting midfielders. Look at Collingwood, Pendelbury/Thomas before they took talls really.

You have to develop your talent.

Let me ask you this... who are the elite mids we could draft with pick 8?

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Re: National Draft / Rookie Draft Strategy (No Trade Talk)

You have to develop your talent.

Let me ask you this... who are the elite mids we could draft with pick 8?

Lenny Hayes was drafted at 11..Dal Santo later than that, etc. You pick the best midfielder available at 8, pretty simple. The more midfielders you take the more chance of an elite one coming up

 

[Kong]

Re: National Draft / Rookie Draft Strategy (No Trade Talk)

Now I have heard it all. Who are our ELITE midfielders? I can't see one, let alone the necessary 2-3 to win a flag! Our midfield is atrocious, and I am being kind there. If we were in a window, sure get a ruckman with our first pick, but we need a massive rebuild and you do that by drafting midfielders. Look at Collingwood, Pendelbury/Thomas before they took talls really.

Long-term being the key to Tambu's post.

You're coming across as effectively saying we have no players on our list with the potential to become really good midfielders.

I have no doubt Zaharakis will become one, Watson already is one, Stanton is when he's up and running, Colyer looks very likely, Melksham looks better than 50/50, Myers definitely has the potential, Howlett will be servicable at worst, Jetta likewise.

Just because they're young and not there yet, does not mean that they're not going to become one.

By your reasoning, no matter who we draft at #8 will become another 'meh player' by the end of 2011 because they haven't won the Rising Star award.

It's like you seem to think players coming through the U18s are a near-certainty to become stars, yet within months of them being on lists, we need to move them on and look to the next guy.

I'm sure as hell glad you're not a member of our list management.

For the record I agree that we should take the best midfielder possible, with the best skills, but your logic makes me wonder sometimes.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Re: National Draft / Rookie Draft Strategy (No Trade Talk)

Long term I see Colyer as maybe the one with the potential to be elite. Watson will be the in an under A Grader, but his disposal by foot with stop him being elite (not saying it is bad). Melksham maybe, although he really needs to work on his disposal. Zaharakis I know has a heap of fans on here, but he won't be elite, he'll be serviceable no doubt. I see him playing a midfield/FWD role anyway. I don't give up on players after their first year, heck Myers is one of the players I really like watching.

I will say this we need a 30-40% turnover within the next 3 years.

I have said all along we should take the best midfielder with our top pick for the last 5 drafts. I see KPP and especially rucks as hit and miss too often.

 

[Tambu]

Re: National Draft / Rookie Draft Strategy (No Trade Talk)

who are the elite mids we could draft with pick 8?

Lenny Hayes was drafted at 11..Dal Santo later than that, etc. You pick the best midfielder available at 8, pretty simple. The more midfielders you take the more chance of an elite one coming up

My question was in regard to the 2010 draft, not past drafts. Apologies for not specifying. My point being, that you draft 18 yr old players to be developed into league footballers, not because you think that they'll definitely become elite. Some draftees make it, some don't and then every once in a long while you might get one that becomes an elite footballer. You seem to think that we're just going to stumble across an elite mid just like that, with pick 8 in a heavily compromised draft. I'm pretty sure one can't be an AFL list manager with the "Oh we'll just keep drafting this particular type of player until we strike gold" mentality.

 

[Kong]

Re: National Draft / Rookie Draft Strategy (No Trade Talk)

Long term I see Colyer as maybe the one with the potential to be elite. Watson will be the in an under A Grader, but his disposal by foot with stop him being elite (not saying it is bad).

'Elite'. **** I hate that word. It has been absolutely sexually molested by football players, coaches, staff, commentators and followers around Australia.

It gets thrown around willy nilly; I heard Ross Lyon say that Jason Gram is an elite midfielder.

Clearly the meaning of the word was lost some time ago. It applies to the top few players in the comp, and that's it.

Who cares if Watson isn't in that group, he's a bloody good midfielder, and arguably the best clearance player in the entire league.

Melksham maybe, although he really needs to work on his disposal.

Agreed, but with a game plan resembling that more of Sydney's than god-knows-what Knights had them doing, I think we'll see lower percentage kicks, meaning his sometimes shonky kicks will be less damaging.

Zaharakis I know has a heap of fans on here, but he won't be elite, he'll be serviceable no doubt. I see him playing a midfield/FWD role anyway.

Again with 'elite', but whatever.

What makes you so sure he won't be really good player?

And how does rotating through the forward line make him any less valuable to us? Last time I checked Judd, Swan, Ablett, Dal Santo, Montagna, Cooney all rotate forward. So did James Hird, and Mark Riccuito, and Leigh Matthews. Not a bad bunch.

don't give up on players after their first year, heck Myers is one of the players I really like watching.

Read what you've just said.

I have no doubt if we had've drafted Daniel Rich instead of Hurley, you'd be all over him in 2009, and then after 2010 you'd be saying "he's not elite. We need to draft again to replace him." You're far too fickle.

I will say this we need a 30-40% turnover within the next 3 years.

I don't disagree with you, but that's guys like Welsh, McVeigh, Lonergan, Prismall, Lovett-Murray etc, not young players aged under 21 that have shown a fair bit.

I have said all along we should take the best midfielder with our top pick for the last 5 drafts. I see KPP and especially rucks as hit and miss too often.

And yet you've just listed off why every midfielder on our list has been a miss.

Way to contradict yourself.

 

[Burzum]

Re: National Draft / Rookie Draft Strategy (No Trade Talk)

Zaharakis will be good if not very good, as well as Colyer. Melksham could go either way. Watson is a star, Stanton is consistent and will be a lot better in a good side. Myers I still have faith in and I believe Jetta will come on as a very good midfielder.

 

[Kong]

Re: National Draft / Rookie Draft Strategy (No Trade Talk)

Howlett seems to get forgotten fairly quickly, too.

In my opinion he'll at least reach the levels of somebody like Chance Bateman.

 

[BomberTime]

Re: National Draft / Rookie Draft Strategy (No Trade Talk)

Im actually really keen to see how Melksham develops this year under Hird, hopefully he has a big pre-season and bulks up a bit and Hirdy plays him similar to how malthouse played beams and sidebottom. I have hopes for him being a star and its not simply because he was a high pick.

 

[Burzum]

Re: National Draft / Rookie Draft Strategy (No Trade Talk)

Howlett seems to get forgotten fairly quickly, too.

In my opinion he'll at least reach the levels of somebody like Chance Bateman.

I think he'll be a consistent workhorse in the midfield, something we really need.

 

[eth-dog]

Re: National Draft / Rookie Draft Strategy (No Trade Talk)

Now I have heard it all. Who are our ELITE midfielders? I can't see one, let alone the necessary 2-3 to win a flag! Our midfield is atrocious, and I am being kind there. If we were in a window, sure get a ruckman with our first pick, but we need a massive rebuild and you do that by drafting midfielders. Look at Collingwood, Pendelbury/Thomas before they took talls really.

Ablett wasn't ELITE until 07. Zaharakis has all the markings that Ablett did pre-07, so why can't he be elite?

 

[GoldenboyHird_5]

Re: National Draft / Rookie Draft Strategy (No Trade Talk)

Bateman is an extremely good player when up and running. His endurance running exceeded that of Rob Harvey in 2008. Claiming that Howlett will 'at least' reach his levels is underrating Bateman severely.

Showed his tagging ability too this year.

 

[Dunn - Well Done]

Re: National Draft / Rookie Draft Strategy (No Trade Talk)

Ablett wasn't ELITE until 07. Zaharakis has all the markings that Ablett did pre-07, so why can't he be elite?

haha, lol

 

[Dunn - Well Done]

Re: National Draft / Rookie Draft Strategy (No Trade Talk)

Howlett seems to get forgotten fairly quickly, too.

In my opinion he'll at least reach the levels of somebody like Chance Bateman.

Shouldnt be comparing him to Bateman or using them in the same sentence. Bateman is a fast outside runner, Howlett are hard nut inside, clearance type midfielder.

I really like Howlett and i think every team needs a similar player in there side. I find it hard having him and Watson in the same starting square, there quality of kicking and speed just isnt good enough to have together. I think speed and outside play complements Watson alot more. Perfectly good player to have coming off the bench to help Watson, or take the rained from Watson in a few years time.

 

[Kong]

Re: National Draft / Rookie Draft Strategy (No Trade Talk)

Bateman is an extremely good player when up and running. His endurance running exceeded that of Rob Harvey in 2008. Claiming that Howlett will 'at least' reach his levels is underrating Bateman severely.

Showed his tagging ability too this year.

I knew I should've used big, bold letters when I said 'the level of'.

I'm not saying they're similar players, so bringing up Bateman's endurance is irrelevant, as is him tagging players.

If I had to rate Bateman out of 100 (assuming Ablett and Swan are around 95-100), I'd say he'd be something around 70.

So by me saying I believe Howlett can attain the levels of Bateman, that's what I'm referring to; a very handy player.

 

[Kong]

Re: National Draft / Rookie Draft Strategy (No Trade Talk)

Shouldnt be comparing him to Bateman or using them in the same sentence. Bateman is a fast outside runner, Howlett are hard nut inside, clearance type midfielder.

As above.

 

[Dunn - Well Done]

Re: National Draft / Rookie Draft Strategy (No Trade Talk)

Yeah he can become anything of what Luke Ball is IMO whilst playing the same role.

Does anyone know the way we are leaning on our first pick (pick 8). Just watched Caddys highlights on afl site and he looked a class above the rest. Would be a player that can step right into footy next year aswell and with young players getting games early usually turns out the best way to go about it, especially 1st rounders.

 

[GoldenboyHird_5]

Re: National Draft / Rookie Draft Strategy (No Trade Talk)

Bateman means to Hawthorn far more than merely a 'very handy player'.

In his prime, he's an outstanding runner who is hard, shows leadership, and can stick to a disciplined tagging job while beating his important.

Howlett is, at this stage, an average player with the potential, as I see it, as becoming a solid and like you said, a handy player.

 

[Kong]

Re: National Draft / Rookie Draft Strategy (No Trade Talk)

IMO, Bateman would be less important than Hodge, Mitchell, Sewell and Lewis.

Howlett could be the reliable support for Watson, Stanton, Zaharakis and Colyer.

We obviously rate Bateman differently, so the comparison's not really worth discussing. No problems.

 

[qwertyboy]

Re: National Draft / Rookie Draft Strategy (No Trade Talk)

What does everyone think of Jayden Pitt? Would we use our first pick in the draft on him? Seems to have endless potential.

 

[Dunn - Well Done]

Re: National Draft / Rookie Draft Strategy (No Trade Talk)

What does everyone think of Jayden Pitt? Would we use our first pick in the draft on him? Seems to have endless potential.

By god i hope not

 

[Mrs Mercuri]

Re: National Draft / Rookie Draft Strategy (No Trade Talk)

What would people think about us using one of our last picks or a PSD on Hawk premiership player Robbie Campbell??

Was overlooked by the GC in favour of Fraser. Played really well for BH in the VFL this year and could be a very handy mature and experienced ruckman to help Hille for a couple of years.

 

[Ben the Gooner]

Re: National Draft / Rookie Draft Strategy (No Trade Talk)

He'll be pre-listed, but I'd be happy to trade a very late pick for him.