Phantom Draft

[TheRealBuzz]

The AFL website has just posted their 'Phantom Draft'.
It's usually pretty acurate, and is definitely worth a look:

http://www.afl.com.au/thedraft/default_6.htm

So Graham Polak (yay), Steven Armstrong, Damon White and Paul Medhurst are the players predicted to join the Eagles next year.

Polak was guaranteed, but the rest are a bit suprising.

Armstrong is quality, but I thought X.Clarke or Power would go before him.

Medhurst is going to be a star, but with Fido and Merenda in the team, I thought another midfielder would be more suitable.

Still four quality players though.

Dean Buszan wasn't mentioned.

 

[GoEagles]

It looks like the Eagles want to go for a strong WA representation at this years draft. Likewise, I thought Clarke would of gone before Armstrong, although I am warming to the idea of Armstrong becoming an Eagle - he's from WA and has got some fantastic wraps this year.

In the BigFooty Phantom Draft Buszan did get picked up but in the AFL draft he didn't. I hope we either get him with our last selection or have the chance to put him back on our rookie list.

 

[TheRealBuzz]

Could you give me a link to the BigFooty Phantom Draft.

I never read the main page, and must have missed it.

 

[WA]

I've been pushing the Medhurst idea all season. I'd be happy if we get him. From memory, know one else on the board is as impressed as me (perhaps I'm easily impressed ), but being a Claremont supporter I've seen him in action alot this season and, to use the word again - he's impressive.

Medhurst & Wilson together in the forward line - interesting!

Also, like many others, I like the idea of drafting West Australian's where possible.

(I never saw the final bigfooty phantom draft either, so I would be interested to see it too).

 

[iceman]

i think the reason some ppl were a bit iffy on picking up Medhurst is due to the fact that we already have 2 small forwards in Matera and Merenda

But hey, if hes any good then im more than happy to welcome him to the club

 

[ONE EYE]

Getting Polak and White is fine. We need talls on the list to replace Cummings, Turnbull, Antonowicz, Donnelly

But Medhurst and Armstrong are too small. We have Cousins, Taylor, Kerr, Fletcher. Gee I would love to have Medhurst and Armstrong on our list. But in the Centre of the ground we have no in and under players. No physical presence. We also lack ball carriers that can deliver the ball long and accurate into the forward line such as Dean Kemp, Brett Heady or a Peter Matera Our little blokes cant get near the ball at Centre bounce downs. We are getting smashed at Centre bouncedowns.

Now I havent seen Armstrong play. If he is as good as a Don Pyke or Tony Evans or Dwayne Lamb then size doesnt matter. But we need more robust players at 181cm to 184cm.

Further, we dont need Medhurst. He may become a fine AFL Player but we already have Joey and Merenda.

Just my thoughts.

GO EAGLES!

 

[eagleskickass]

Originally posted by ONE EYE
Getting Polak and White is fine. We need talls on the list to replace Cummings, Turnbull, Antonowicz, Donnelly

But Medhurst and Armstrong are too small. We have Cousins, Taylor, Kerr, Fletcher. Gee I would love to have Medhurst and Armstrong on our list. But in the Centre of the ground we have no in and under players. No physical presence. We also lack ball carriers that can deliver the ball long and accurate into the forward line such as Dean Kemp, Brett Heady or a Peter Matera Our little blokes cant get near the ball at Centre bounce downs. We are getting smashed at Centre bouncedowns.

Now I havent seen Armstrong play. If he is as good as a Don Pyke or Tony Evans or Dwayne Lamb then size doesnt matter. But we need more robust players at 181cm to 184cm.

Further, we dont need Medhurst. He may become a fine AFL Player but we already have Joey and Merenda.

Just my thoughts.

GO EAGLES!

you stole my thunder ONE EYE!

 

[jod23]

Not sure on Armstrong as we need a taller midfielder but the other three are great. Medhurst i think could be great for us considering we dont have much goalscoring power. Fair enough we have two guys already in that mould in Merenda and Fido but he did kick 78!! goals in the WAFL this season.

Plus Merenda isnt what id call Mr Consistency. White and Polack though are excellent choices, hope it pans out for us.

 

[TheRealBuzz]

Armstrong may be on the short side, but he's a real talent.

While guys like Polak and White will need time to develop in the WAFL, I recon Armstrong could do a Kerr and step up at AFL level instantly.

The question is, do we choose purely on talent, or to try and fill positions in our side.
We lack two things in our midfield.... Someone with height, and a quick wingman with classy skills.
When it comes to height, Sam Power would be the obvious choice, while a speedy wingman would definitely be X.Clarke.
But purely on talent, Armstrong is the better choice.

Also it's interesting to note that Campbell Brown is expected to go at No.68!!! (explains why we didn't take him under F/S rule)
This makes me wonder why we only have four picks in the draft.
I dont care about contracts, I'd rather Campbell be on our list than Harding or Wooden.

Seeing Brown and Kerr fighting at the bottom of packs would be terrific.

 

[Voice of Reason]

I have been very impressed with Medhurst in the WAFL this year so I like him too - though I accept that we already have two similar players.

In the midfield we are short of quite a lot, judging by last season, especially the ability to deliver the ball accurately by foot under pressure.

I believe the game has changed such that the traditional in-and-under player is less important than they were (still quite important) so running players are the key. Pace, endurance, ability and heart.

 

[i_luv_westcoast]

Yeh have to agree with an earlier poster that players like Harding and Wooden are dead wood. I really wish West Coast had one more pick in this draft. There are so many players I want us to pick up, but we can't have them all unfortunately. I would like Steven Armstrong at the club, but is he worth our second pick? I don't think he is, but then will he be around for our third pick? I doubt he will be, so it will be a tough decison for the recruiting staff.