Pick 14

[Moo]

Change his last name to Smith, and does everyone still want Ian Hill as much?

No because other clubs would be confused and wouldn't take him ....

GWS: Where's Ian Hill?

West Coast: I don't know ...his registration number is linking to an Ian Smith?

Geelong: We were going to take Hill too but this is all a bit confusing

Freo: {Mutley laugh}

 

[Walkingwounded]

Think that's too early for Ely tbh. He'll be around our pick I reckon

I suspect Ely will be gone by 20ish.. lots of clubs looking for big body inside mids, and not that many in the draft.

Plenty of small inside mids that might not translate from U18 to AFL standard.

IMO

 

[Docker44]

Hill is clearly the most skillful player of all the WA boys in the draft, however this year failed to find the footy at both colts and u18’s. He really struggled when teams paid close attention to him and spent several colts games playing loose behind the ball.
Smallwood is a beast and is hard at it. Is a natural small foward and very good overhead for someone his size.

 

[eastfreo75]

Hill is clearly the most skillful player of all the WA boys in the draft, however this year failed to find the footy at both colts and u18’s. He really struggled when teams paid close attention to him and spent several colts games playing loose behind the ball.
Smallwood is a beast and is hard at it. Is a natural small foward and very good overhead for someone his size.

why can't we get both?

 

[Paracleet]

Prediction: both clubs overlook him at 14, 20 and 22.
His size and weight concern me for an outside midfielder. Daniel is about the only equivalent I can think of.

 

[UYD 4 Life]

He still managed 20 disposals a game and kicked 12.9 from 7 games at colts level - not the worst output for an outside mid/half forward.

 

[eastfreo75]

Prediction: both clubs overlook him at 14, 20 and 22.
His size and weight concern me for an outside midfielder. Daniel is about the only equivalent I can think of.

Fisher, Prestia and Zorko all say hi.

 

[Joao]

Hill is clearly the most skillful player of all the WA boys in the draft, however this year failed to find the footy at both colts and u18’s. He really struggled when teams paid close attention to him and spent several colts games playing loose behind the ball.
Smallwood is a beast and is hard at it. Is a natural small foward and very good overhead for someone his size.

I'm not against Smallwood but be aware he is not fast, which is generally what all small forwards have in common.

 

[Demons09]

Fisher, Prestia and Zorko all say hi.

Fisher did play the 2016 season in Perth’s league side though, no doubt would of helped with the transition to AFL.

 

[UYD 4 Life]

Players his height and shorter

5 ft 9 in
Allen Christensen, Orazio Fantasia, Jade Gresham, Billy Hartung, Jack Higgins, Malcolm Karpany, Rory Laird, Zac Langdon, Lachie Neale, Tom Papley, Cameron Polson, Cyril Rioli, Michael Walters, Sam Gray, Dylan Moore, Lachlan Murphy, Devon Smith

5 ft 8 in
Tarir Bayok, Shai Bolton, Travis Colyer, Zac Fisher, Stefan Giro, Cory Gregson, Mitch Honeychurch, Nathan Hrovat, Kym Lebois, Dion Prestia, Willie Rioli, Lewis Taylor, Dayne Zorko, Eddie Betts, Jarryd Blair, Mitch Crowden, Ben Jarman, Jack Lonie, Kieran Lovell, Darcy MacPherson, Jake Neade, Will Snelling, Liam Baker, Hayden Ballantyne, Jay Kennedy Harris, Brandon Matera, Paul Puopolo, Charlie Spargo

5 ft 7 in
Tyson Stengle, Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti

5 ft 6 in
Brent Daniels, Caleb Daniel

 

[Wigarus]

Just playing devils advocate because this board is bordering on obsessed with Ian Hill, but...

Jordan Clark is the top WA prospect this year for starters. And if anything, Hill has dropped more than any other player. So is him being available at our pick necessarily a good thing? It means he hasn't progressed like many expected.

Also, is Ian Hill really that good of a small forward? For me, he's an undersized outside midfielder who is kicking goals by being faster and more skilled than his peers. I'm not sure he's a natural forward like Walters, he's more like his cousins. And you don't take small forwards in the first round unless they're truly elite. From a value perspective, Tyron Smallwood is the better option for us. He's a more natural forward, is bigger, arguably has better skills than Hill and has performed at a higher level in the WAFL. Plus he could be had later in the draft, allowing us to draft a top line 'true midfielder' with our valuable first round pick.

I do like Ian Hill. But there might be some blinkers on based on the name.

See, the thing here is you might be good at picking footy players but you're not much good at winning arguments on the internet.

 

[Docker44]

I'm not against Smallwood but be aware he is not fast, which is generally what all small forwards have in common.

I’m not disagreeing with you, but they are very different players. If we were to take Hill at 14 I hope he would become more than a small forward. Smallwood is more like a Brady Grey.

 

[jedi mind tricks]

Lets just hope the recruitment team pick the best player at 14 and onwards

 

[Rion]

Do think there is a fair bit of risk there, reminds me a little of Jarrod Pickett who's struggled quite a bit. A genuine inside mid at 14 might be a safer punt which then enables you to use your last 2-3 picks on small forwards (who go later anyway).

Very torn though, from what I've seen of him I'd love to have his pace/skill.

 

[Joao]

I’m not disagreeing with you, but they are very different players. If we were to take Hill at 14 I hope he would become more than a small forward. Smallwood is more like a Brady Grey.

Agree they are different players and I like the sound of Smallwood, but I am struggling to see how a 179cm player that is not fast makes it at AFL level as a small forward. Even if he is a natural forward, he is going to find it difficult to get away from defenders to do damage and to pressure. Not saying he can't but he will have to be exceptional at other things to make it.

I agree that iHill should become and outside mid (pretty much what Sonny does in the middle which I guess is a little inside too) and spend time forward. From what I have seen, he needs to be the inside 50 kicker.

 

[Chris25]

Hi Chris appreciate your insight. Within reason (2-3 guys) who do you recon we will be in the market for with picks 1 and 2, more specifically who would you pick?

Cheers

Take your pick in the first round - Jordan Clark, Jackson Hately, Sam Sturt, Liam Stocker, Curtis Taylor, Xavier Duursma. Lots of different types. While I like Ely Smith, Luke Foley and Damon Greaves with our second. Maybe a Luke Valente or Tom Sparrow is available.

 

[eastfreo75]

Do think there is a fair bit of risk there, reminds me a little of Jarrod Pickett who's struggled quite a bit. A genuine inside mid at 14 might be a safer punt which then enables you to use your last 2-3 picks on small forwards (who go later anyway).

Very torn though, from what I've seen of him I'd love to have his pace/skill.

Pickett/Weller/Degoey/Lever draft was very different. Remember, Melting that De Goey didn't come to us and us not choosing Lever.

Top 3 were stand outs and the next cluster went from pick 4 to pick 15.

Pickett was a reach and then he did an ankle when he got to the Giants. Who knows what he could have done without a serious ankle.

Hill issue is his shoulder. Remember, Ball was chosen over Judd due to Judd's shoulders.


Shoulder issues on a player who won't be drafting because of his marking isn't a big issue.

Hill smells of a cross between a Judd (shoulder) and McLeod (too small).

Only Rankine can do the things that Hill can do.

 

[Purple Suit]

Lets just hope the recruitment team pick the best player at 14 and onwards

Best player available? I’m hoping for best player of the whole draft.

 

[jedi mind tricks]

Best player available? I’m hoping for best player of the whole draft.

Giddy up!

 

[mightymouse75]

Has carter have any upside? Im hoping the club has hidden his talent a bit.

 

[wayToGo_]

Why would we take Smallwood? We already have Matera, and Walters isn't fast either. I'm sure in some weird universe stacking the forward line with average speed smalls is highly effective? Oh yes, in state league it might work. AFL you need some players with speed in the mix. If we took Smallwood over Hill I would vomit.

 

[tonygeeks]

Clark is good but he is not ahead of at least seven to eight other mids - Cal has got excited only after we started touting him here on big footy...yeah sure other clubs are looking at him....but none will go past their own quality local products first. We are still a chance at 14 ...and probably would only select him if Hill is gone. Hill was talked down on the back of no terrific games at the back of the year....but injury and concussion incidence not relativised to that year end performance. Given he's put in 18 months prior of quality footy. I'm tpping Adelaide may spring a surprise - there future ready made eddie betts replacement.

There are five picks that will probably go in the first round- big guys kpp, with four of them before pick 14.

I expect Valente will get taken by one of the SA clubs if they maintain three picks each in the top 19. He would be excellent for us at 14 if there (Clark and Valente about par).

I heard Valente can kick goals from outside 50 is this true ? If so he's the man for me. I think a bit of set play trickery to get the ball in the hands of a long shot specialist when you have a mark / free outside F50 looks like it is becoming a weapon you will need to mix it up when trying to deal with flooded forward lines


On iPad using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Frigate]

Take your minds back to the 2008 draft.

This is an extract from Duffield on https://thewest.com.au/sport/afl/th...t-a-fremantle-recruiters-career-ng-b88446455z which is not a bad read, and similar discussions going around this year, only it is number 14 and not number 3. Please don't bother with the anti West etc. here. Just the discussion on track. I get tired of the chip on the shoulder tripe. Save it for other discussions - thanks.

"As the draft neared it became apparent Melbourne were going to pick Jack Watts at No.1, the Eagles were going to take Naitanui at two and it was assumed the Dockers would take Rich — until Smart made his views clear.

Others made their views of his view clear.

Externally, Subiaco coach Scott Watters declared it the sort of decision that would cost a recruiter his job.

Club heavyweights Rick Hart (president) and Ben Allan (director and the club’s first captain) presented powerful arguments for Rich.

Smart received a 10-page internal summary outlining in great detail why it HAD to be Rich.

However, he had the support of fellow recruiters John Nykyforak and Justin Longmuir, who agreed that Hill would edge Rich as a player in the long term.

“It might have cost me a few brownie points at the club at the time,” Smart laughed this week.

“We had a footy affairs group and it got very heated. I always liked guys with a bit of flair.

“I felt Hilly offered that.

“He had good speed, good evasive work, he was clean.

“He was a very good kick and he was a top-quality kid.""

Conca was pick 6, similar stats to Dustin Martin in his first year. We get him for nothing 7 years later, 102 games, and 26.
He is that big bodied midfielder. He has had injury issues lingering as a youngster.

The Eagles had their big stocks heading to last years draft and went small with speed in the draft last year. Well done them.

I am not sure what we need, but Ian Hill sounds like a good pick assuming Clark is not available, as he sounds like a good long term pick for us too.

The main reason I point out the article is, that whenever a WA lad is about to get drafted, there are heated discussions around other WA players, and it is usually around connections of that player that develop a bias point of view. It is understandable, but to me, I only look at the black and gold, and I do not care which WAFL club etc they come from or which coach, which family or which part of WA - North South East West.

14 is a good pick going into this draft, but it is not clear cut. The needs of FFC are now unclear too.
With Hogan and Lobb now we certainly do not need a tall. I think speed and skills is the key. It would be disappointing if we took someone that "has suspect kicking" or someone that is not fast enough - not elite speed, but faster than average AFL. Size to me is not an issue, as long as they can find the footy and utilize skills under pressure.

Thanks for reading, if you got to here!

 

[Docker44]

Has carter have any upside? Im hoping the club has hidden his talent a bit.

Carter did a knee last year. He was quick before this injury and looked to take the game on. This year in colts he looked slow and failed to have much of an impact at all. Was far from the best outside mid in the colts comp this year.

If they have “hidden” the talent this year there could be an Oscar in his future.

 

[Wilksyy]

Yeah, I remember the Rich & Hill arguments. There's a similar one with Harvey and Smart over Fyfe and Bastinac too.

The main reason I point out the article is, that whenever a WA lad is about to get drafted, there are heated discussions around other WA players, and it is usually around connections of that player that develop a bias point of view. It is understandable, but to me, I only look at the black and gold, and I do not care which WAFL club etc they come from or which coach, which family or which part of WA - North South East West.

That's true but I think a lot of people are on the hill bandwagon because of family sentiment, not necessarily WAFL associations. There's a lot of upside to Hill and that's what you're banking on - his potential.

As for Jordan Clarke I wrote this elsewhere.
Clark's progression in the WAFL is what you want to see for a WA player. Play Colts > Selected U/18's > Was consistent in the championships > All Australian selection > Reserves > League team selection for Claremont. Plus I lose my shit for players with poise and an ability to read the play. He just doesnt have much upside from an athletic standpoint.

I personally, don't mind both I just think Ian Hill could be Jarrod Pickett - a kid who dominated when given time and space, a luxury you don't get in AFL these days.