Remove this Banner Ad

Discussion Our 2012 draftees

🥰 Love BigFooty? Join now for free.

Follows on from the videos (they certainly seem level headed for 18yo).

http://www.saints.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/5315/newsid/151667/default.aspx

Lewis Pierce “The shirt was getting a bit sweaty. They had to call for two minutes extra and I was sitting with my hands on my head. I knew St Kilda were looking to pick me up and they called my name out in the last 10 seconds of the four minutes,”

Pierce had the good fortune to be drafted to the club just up the road from his Mt Eliza home.

Nathan Wright “It’s brilliant, the facilities here are awesome and I’m getting used to it all. I’m rapt at the moment, it’s been a good morning and I can’t wait. The goal when you get drafted is to play a few games but for me I’d like to put on a bit of size and work on my kicking,”

Josh Saunders “All those runs you do in pre-season and all the work you do put in early with the rehab and recovery paid off. It was a really proud moment and the family loved it."

Spencer White “Just getting drafted is enough but when they tell you you’re on a flight to America, all expenses paid it is pretty exciting. It’s a great way to meet the players and get to know everyone so it should be good. I just want to get through pre-season and develop from there,”

Brodie Murdoch ... will arrive at the club on Monday after he flies in from South Australia.
 
Love the quote from Wright. Knows his weakness and is looking to work on it from day one. Fantastic attitude and shows why he was picked up.
 
After reading a bit about Wright what I like most is his attack on the ball and the man because you don't often get that from a HB/winger. One mock draft even mentioned he could be developed into an inside mid such is his attack on the ball. Is a fierce competitor as well so if he can sort his kicking out we could have a star.
 

Log in to remove this Banner Ad

hayes said:
After reading a bit about Wright what I like most is his attack on the ball and the man because you don't often get that from a HB/winger. One mock draft even mentioned he could be developed into an inside mid such is his attack on the ball. Is a fierce competitor as well so if he can sort his kicking out we could have a star.
Click to expand...

Didn't Watters refer to drafting three midfielders.
 
SaintsSeptember said:
Didn't Watters refer to drafting three midfielders.
Click to expand...
He did? Well then, should make a pretty good midfielder. He might include the wing as part of his definition of the midfield though, but either way plenty to work with.
 
I know Knightmare in his mock draft write up reckons Wright is very capable of winning his own ball and with his competitive nature, ideal inside mid build and reputation for being able to win one-on-one contests, it's hard to argue that he wouldn't be able to play a role in the guts going forward. He can use his pace and strength to burst out of packs, Jack Steven, Patty Dangerfield-style and then pump it long forward. We could probably get away with him having less than ideal kicking skills if playing in the guts more than we would if he was playing down back, where you need good, precise kicking to get you out of there.

On the other hand, he could give us another option for the "smalls" down back, to help Geary and Dempster out back there, especially with Gram gone now. He would have the speed to go with many/most of them and his extra height, strong marking and big leap would be an asset in marking contests against them.

So he does give us a bit of versatility.
 
aussierulesrules said:
I know Knightmare in his mock draft write up reckons Wright is very capable of winning his own ball and with his competitive nature, ideal inside mid build and reputation for being able to win one-on-one contests, it's hard to argue that he wouldn't be able to play a role in the guts going forward. He can use his pace and strength to burst out of packs, Jack Steven, Patty Dangerfield-style and then pump it long forward. We could probably get away with him having less than ideal kicking skills if playing in the guts more than we would if he was playing down back, where you need good, precise kicking to get you out of there.

On the other hand, he could give us another option for the "smalls" down back, to help Geary and Dempster out back there, especially with Gram gone now. He would have the speed to go with many/most of them and his extra height, strong marking and big leap would be an asset in marking contests against them.

So he does give us a bit of versatility.
Click to expand...
That's another thing I liked. Could be an option for small defender who apart from Geary we have almost none going forward.
 
hayes said:
That's another thing I liked. Could be an option for small defender who apart from Geary we have almost none going forward.
Click to expand...
Cam Shenton played the role in the Zebs line up. And played it well. But his position on the list is yet to be decided.
 
Squizzy1970 said:
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/afl/dra...rafted-to-saints/story-fngeflq8-1226522930911

Lewis Pierce is a big man who had a big wait, but it was worth it.

Seventy-four picks went by ... (and) at home the Mt Eliza 18-year-old was a nervous wreck.

"I had a weird feeling because I thought they were talking about me and it looked like Tony Elshaug was pleading my case on television.’’

Measuring 202cm, Lewis believes he has more growing to do.

"I’m trying to put the weight on. I’m 92kg now. Hopefully I’ll be 100kg in a couple of years.’’
Click to expand...
92kg thats pretty good already. some of the new ruckmen come to a club at 80kg or so
 

Remove this Banner Ad

I love the thought of adding guys like Nathan Wright and Josh Saunders to our midfield rotation if they develope well enough: imagine a midfield with those two and Jack Steven. You would have three blokes who attack the ball aggressively at top pace and then have a jet pack on them to run away from any would-be tacklers. The sort of pace you see in Steven and what it appears Saunders and Wright have is not easy to come across and what makes them all such potentially exciting and damging players.
 
NarklesHelmet said:
I love the thought of adding guys like Nathan Wright and Josh Saunders to our midfield rotation if they develope well enough: imagine a midfield with those two and Jack Steven. You would have three blokes who attack the ball aggressively at top pace and then have a jet pack on them to run away from any would-be tacklers. The sort of pace you see in Steven and what it appears Saunders and Wright have is not easy to come across and what makes them all such potentially exciting and damging players.
Click to expand...
It is exciting stuff. Throw in Ross who was born for contested ball and Ledger, Curren, Armo clearances should become a real strength in the future if Macca can improve his tap work.
 
Hey guys, the draft really played out well I your favor.

Just wanted to drop in and give a little bit of info on the rays boys.

Pierce is one I was very keen on getting for Essendon. Physically he isn't too fr away and his ruck work is actually quite good. Taps to advantage of his team mates and tries to help out on the deck.

He has a nice kicking technique for a big man and doesn't mind putting iron the boot, he can take a big grab and saw him push forward and kick goals for the rays.

He is still slight, but could develop into something pretty, whilst he could improve on his disposal around the ground. Overall, I really liked the look of Pierceand think he will be a catch for 2014 onwards.

Wright is the other one, whatever anyone says about kicking, tell 'em to **** off. The kicking ability isn't that bad, he is simply running to fast to slow balance prop and deliver, coaching him will get this out of his game. Everything else though guys he does really well. Can take a strong grab, rebounds well, reads the play well, tackling technique good, I wouldn't be worried what anyone says, he could go on and play 150+ AFL games for sure.

Goodly luck for 2013 guys and here's hoping these two in particular can go on and forge strong careers at the top level.
 

🥰 Love BigFooty? Join now for free.

SaintsSeptember said:
I wonder how McEvoy would go at full back. He has a surprisingly good defensive game for a ruckman, and if things pan out he could find himself squeezed out of the middle.
Click to expand...

Macca doesn't have any 20m burst speed, and would get chopped up on leads. And I'd expect him to keep improving as a ruckman - even more quickly now he has backup (last year he had huge responsibility which required him to conserve energy throughout the game).

Wilkes should be the one to have a few stints down back during the pre-season.

He's got enough mobility, and his fitness should be up to scratch now (he wasn't in great shape last pre-season and running around after Dean Cox at the WACA was always a big ask for a less than fully fit player).

It's looking crowded up forward, and he should be looking to show that he can provide cover at both ends (noting we have a good back 6 in the absence of multiple injuries) to ensure he can prolong an AFL career.
 
Macca's value in the backline is taking the floating mark. Contested stopping of the FF is not his game.
 
OK scratch the McEvoy thing.
My next stupid comment is, that If we could get enough decent inside ball winners, I'd love to see Dal Santo go back onto a wing. I think he could have several years left in him if he did. ( and Lenny wants to be a forward ).
 
Lenny has to be in the guts. Can't see him being anywhere near as effective in other roles at his pace.

Should be Hayes, Armitage, Dal Santo, Montagna and Steven rotating through there.

Whilst there's temptation to use Dal in a role (such as the wing or in replacing Goddard as a sweeper off half back) where his kicking skills could be maximised, winning the stoppages has to be the #1 priority - and Siposs and Dunell provide viable options for those roles (Gilbert also pushed up at times onto the wing, and watching Newnes play with more freedom in the VFL saw some wonderful 50m passes running close to full pace). Also seems UDL is expected to play on the wing (hard to see his role otherwise)?
 

Remove this Banner Ad

Discussion Our 2012 draftees

🥰 Love BigFooty? Join now for free.

Back
Top