Pick 14

[Taylor]

Fast, creative local players in positions we have a need for.

 

[eastfreo75]

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

No.

 

[Chris25]

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.

 

[Taylor]

What if his drop has been linked to his name and the possible go-home factor to play with family? I think speed with skills is going to be higher valued in this new era of footy and he is the same size as Bradley but quicker and a better user of the ball.

He is a skinny outside mid that we would play forward for a few years.

 

[Chris25]

What if his drop has been linked to his name and the possible go-home factor to play with family? I think speed with skills is going to be higher valued in this new era of footy and he is the same size as Bradley but quicker and a better user of the ball.

He is a skinny outside mid that we would play forward for a few years.

Go home factor doesn't matter if a player is good enough and performing. Izak Rankine certainly hasn't dropped. While I would question Ian and Brad being the same size?

We could draft an equally as good midfielder in the first round (or perhaps an inside mid with more ideal size), plus a better small forward in the middle rounds.

 

[Taylor]

Brad Hill weighed 60kg dripping wet walking into Hawthorn.

Izak Rankine is the most talented player in the draft and won't go #1. Surprising.

 

[Chris25]

But Brad also has 5cm on Ian. That makes a fair difference going forward.

 

[Taylor]

But Brad also has 5cm on Ian. That makes a fair difference going forward.

That makes him the same height as Lachie Neale, ish. That doesn't bother me for an outside mid who has a primary weapon of speed. I also believe his leap is far higher than Brad's.

We need fast, clean ball users. A 185cm mid who floats a handball back off the contest to take a sideways kick thirty times a game doesn't excite me.

 

[eastfreo75]

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.

Ian Hill was talked up as a top 10 pick based on his 2017 form. I argued that not a lot of sub 178cm are not selected in the top 10.

His 2018 form has been underwhelming and him having a shoulder operation tells me that his shoulder affected production.

175cm midfielder who can play forward isn't a problem. Zorko, Fisher, and Prestia are all 175cm and do pretty good.

I do think that Hill is overrated here is because we don't want another McGovern situation.

Both Clarke and Hill might be picked before our pick 16. Clarke I think will go to GWS and Hill with the Cats and Crows.

By the way, if Hill is a reach it's not a big one.

 

[theGav56]

Recon he'd get by West Coasts picks???

Probably not, which is my point. But it is possible given they have no need for a small forward and can take Cameron as an Academy player.

 

[theGav56]

Sobering posts, and I hope internally the club has the same talk going on rather than simply look at him because he is Hill. It really looks to me like there is quite a broad range of players in our pick zone who can improve us, and Hill is definitely one of them. Speed, skill and scoring are descriptors that should be featuring in decision making.

 

[malpaso]

We need to draft a midfielder that can play 12-16 games in 2019 if not more. If the player we take doesn't contribute in 2019 I reckon that's an epic fail and please no Tommy Sheridan's again. If I read elite cross country in a bio I'm going to puke..

 

[Taylor]

We need to draft a midfielder that can play 12-16 games in 2019 if not more. If the player we take doesn't contribute in 2019 I reckon that's an epic fail and please no Tommy Sheridan's again. If I read elite cross country in a bio I'm going to puke..

Why do they need to play that many games?

We already need to fit in Hogan, Lobb, Conca and Colyer into the side.

 

[malpaso]

Why do they need to play that many games?

We already need to fit in Hogan, Lobb, Conca and Colyer into the side.

We don't need to fit Colyer at all. The right player at Pick 14 should be better than him.

 

[Walkingwounded]

At #14 I would be happy with any of the following players being available.

Hately
Clark
Sturt
iHill
Ely Smith

Picks in the 10-30 range really are a mixed bag with a few decent sorts.

 

[Joao]

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.

I'll be honest and say I haven't seen Smallwood play, but does he really have comparable, let alone better skills than Hill? If so then I 100% think we should draft him. Whenever I have watched Hill play the things that stick are the speed and the short-medium kicking, especially inside 50. Weights them beautifully. Think his hands might need work though.

Does Smallwood have pace?

Sobering posts, and I hope internally the club has the same talk going on rather than simply look at him because he is Hill. It really looks to me like there is quite a broad range of players in our pick zone who can improve us, and Hill is definitely one of them. Speed, skill and scoring are descriptors that should be featuring in decision making.

Yeah I wouldn't worry about that. None of them get pats on the back for picking family. They get packs on the back (and continued employment) from picking the best players.

 

[Bastyy]

At #14 I would be happy with any of the following players being available.

Hately
Clark
Sturt
iHill
Ely Smith

Picks in the 10-30 range really are a mixed bag with a few decent sorts.

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

 

[Chris25]

I'll be honest and say I haven't seen Smallwood play, but does he really have comparable, let alone better skills than Hill? If so then I 100% think we should draft him. Whenever I have watched Hill play the things that stick are the speed and the short-medium kicking, especially inside 50. Weights them beautifully. Think his hands might need work though.

Does Smallwood have pace?

Ball in hand, Smallwood is just as good as Hill. Good skills and excellent decision maker.

He doesn't have the same speed or midfield game, hence the lower rating. But he's the better forward I feel.

 

[Joao]

Ball in hand, Smallwood is just as good as Hill. Good skills and excellent decision maker.

He doesn't have the same speed or midfield game, hence the lower rating. But he's the better forward I feel.

Found his combine results.

​

11 Smallwood, Tyron
Vertical Jump – 59cm
Run Right Vertical Jump - 63cm

Run Left Vertical Jump - 71cm

Smart Speed 20m Sprint – 3.100 sec

Smart Speed Agility – 8.870sec

YoYo IR2 Level – 21.2

2km Time Trial – 7min 3sec



Natural forwards with skills are always useful. Bit of a concern with the speed test though. Does he "play quicker" than his test results though?

 

[Hammersoup]

Go home factor doesn't matter if a player is good enough and performing. Izak Rankine certainly hasn't dropped. While I would question Ian and Brad being the same size?

We could draft an equally as good midfielder in the first round (or perhaps an inside mid with more ideal size), plus a better small forward in the middle rounds.

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

 

[Deathly]

Just playing devils advocate because this board is bordering on obsessed with Ian Hill, but...
I do like Ian Hill. But there might be some blinkers on based on the name.

Bordering on obsessed? Nah. Last year and before this season started he was rightfully talked about being our first round draft pick come the 2018 Draft. By about the half-way point of the season - given our and his season to date, ideal choices for the selection were quickly and vastly changed by the majority, which was warranted. Only a handful of people, not even that - still wanted him drafted. Even after the season had ended, then when the Trade Period ended, the toss up then when it came to WA prospects was between Clark & Hill for some, where Clark seemed to be the one heavily favored. I've seen names like Hately & Stocker floated tenfold compared to Ian Hill.

You may of been bang on with the Strnadica infatuation but this insert by you regarding this board and Hill is wrong. The weird part is, your assessment on this exaggerated claim is a bit off. I think you may be the one being caught up with the surname.

"Jordan Clark is the top WA prospect this year for starters"

Clark is a bolter, is he the best WA prospect? I think he could be, but he isn't convincingly, which could be a negative depending on how you look at that given circumstances to that specific pool of players.

"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."

Draft year form and availability is overrated, plenty of examples out there that can prove that. I would of thought a natural footballer and athlete, who only has his frame to build on as his main objective when entering the AFL system, would be the last type of player to have this logic applied to. Injuries didn't seem to affect Cerra in his debut season for example.

"Also, is Ian Hill really that good of a small forward? For me, he's an undersized outside midfielder"

He isn't / won't be best utilized as a small forward nor does he want to be used as one after his development block anyways. Take Cerra as an example again - has clearly played and developed his junior career to be an inside bull, although played most of his time on the flanks this year to get by and develop. The same thing will happen with Hill before he resumes his ideal playing position. Hill will play Outside > Inside in a few years time whilst developing in a role we're not overly bright in. Sounds like he'll be versatile to our needs for both the short and long-term.

"Who is kicking goals by being faster and more skilled than his peers."

Is that a bad thing? Because he's playing where he shouldn't be and is getting by because of that advantage? Even so, hasn't this line literally defined Rankine these last couple of years.

To counter the "big body / inside" priority for this pick, I'm fairly certain those players do and will go deeper in this years draft, they always do - although Hill's skills and athleticism certainly will not.

If Hill gets drafted by us he won't be the shortest player on the list. His projected body-weight growth won't make him the lightest player on the list in 24 months time. So I don't get the debate and cautiousness on his dimensions. Not to mention he could be our fastest player by that time too. He will already be at the top-end of our list for natural football talent also. He's an exciting prospect who is both ready to go how he is now AND is further away from his final product compared to the other prospects in our pick range.

Hill "dropping" should be a blessing since we ended up with #14.

 

[eastfreo75]

Bordering on obsessed? Nah. Last year and before this season started he was rightfully talked about being our first round draft pick come the 2018 Draft. By about the half-way point of the season - given our and his season to date, ideal choices for the selection were quickly and vastly changed by the majority, which was warranted. Only a handful of people, not even that - still wanted him drafted. Even after the season had ended, then when the Trade Period ended, the toss up then when it came to WA prospects was between Clark & Hill for some, where Clark seemed to be the one heavily favored. I've seen names like Hately & Stocker floated tenfold compared to Ian Hill.

You may of been bang on with the Strnadica infatuation but this insert by you regarding this board and Hill is wrong. The weird part is, your assessment on this exaggerated claim is a bit off. I think you may be the one being caught up with the surname.

"Jordan Clark is the top WA prospect this year for starters"

Clark is a bolter, is he the best WA prospect? I think he could be, but he isn't convincingly, which could be a negative depending on how you look at that given circumstances to that specific pool of players.

"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."

Draft year form and availability is overrated, plenty of examples out there that can prove that. I would of thought a natural footballer and athlete, who only has his frame to build on as his main objective when entering the AFL system, would be the last type of player to have this logic applied to. Injuries didn't seem to affect Cerra in his debut season for example.

"Also, is Ian Hill really that good of a small forward? For me, he's an undersized outside midfielder"

He isn't / won't be best utilized as a small forward nor does he want to be used as one after his development block anyways. Take Cerra as an example again - has clearly played and developed his junior career to be an inside bull, although played most of his time on the flanks this year to get by and develop. The same thing will happen with Hill before he resumes his ideal playing position. Hill will play Outside > Inside in a few years time whilst developing in a role we're not overly bright in. Sounds like he'll be versatile to our needs for both the short and long-term.

"Who is kicking goals by being faster and more skilled than his peers."

Is that a bad thing? Because he's playing where he shouldn't be and is getting by because of that advantage? Even so, hasn't this line literally defined Rankine these last couple of years.

To counter the "big body / inside" priority for this pick, I'm fairly certain those players do and will go deeper in this years draft, they always do - although Hill's skills and athleticism certainly will not.

If Hill gets drafted by us he won't be the shortest player on the list. His projected body-weight growth won't make him the lightest player on the list in 24 months time. So I don't get the debate and cautiousness on his dimensions. Not to mention he could be our fastest player by that time too. He will already be at the top-end of our list for natural football talent also. He's an exciting prospect who is both ready to go how he is now AND is further away from his final product compared to the other prospects in our pick range.

Hill "dropping" should be a blessing since we ended up with #14.

this

 

[Chris25]

I'm just offering a different perspective, getting people ready in case we overlook him.

There's plenty of midfield talent in the 10-25 range, with the depth in this draft being in similar smaller types.

 

[Cobbler]

Any chance Hill falls into the 30s?

 

[Taylor]

Any chance Hill falls into the 30s?

If you can arrange for him to have a picture having a puff and a fight in Northbridge in the next two weeks.