Please don't let this article be true!

[Budda 230]

http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2006/11/23/257_geelong_sports.html

Travis Boak firming for pick 7!

 

[Rosso]

http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2006/11/23/257_geelong_sports.html

Travis Boak firming for pick 7!

Be thankful that Wells runs our recruiting and not Micky Turner!!!

 

[My5t3r10u5]

What do you know about Boak and the other draftees to make this comment? Personally I don't have a clue apart from what I read and I know enough to take what I read with several grains of salt! If Geelong drafts Boak I'll be happy because I'm confident we will have made the best choice based on the knowledge we have. If Geelong draft someone else I'll be happy for the same reason.

The drafts are littered with top draft picks who never made it, so the week after the draft or even a year after is not the time to make judgements on how good or bad a selection was. That said, I acknowledge that it is fun to speculate...

 

[Budda 230]

What do you know about Boak and the other draftees to make this comment? Personally I don't have a clue apart from what I read and I know enough to take what I read with several grains of salt! If Geelong drafts Boak I'll be happy because I'm confident we will have made the best choice based on the knowledge we have. If Geelong draft someone else I'll be happy for the same reason.

The drafts are littered with top draft picks who never made it, so the week after the draft or even a year after is not the time to make judgements on how good or bad a selection was. That said, I acknowledge that it is fun to speculate...

I've seen him play 5 times, twice at the champs and 3 times for the Falcons. In that article, Michael Turner goes on about how good his disposal is. This couldn't be further from the truth from what I've seen and heard!

He shanks kicks that are uncontested. I doubt that it was a coincidence that he did it 3-4 times in the 5 games I saw. He also chooses to sit back waiting for the easy kick. I rarely saw him at the bottom of a pack.

The biggest turn off for me though was a game he played for the Falcons at Dandenong. In this game he played on the wing. He showed his opponent (James Magner) no respect what so ever and aimlessly ran around Shepley Oval chasing kicks! Sure, Boak got 22 touches (14 handball receives ) but Magner went on to have 21 kicks, 7 handballs and 3 or 4 uncontested shots at goal (of which Magner missed 2-3)!
I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw Boak's name in the best the following day and Magner not ever mentioned!

We've got too many unaccountable players at Geelong as it is! I hate how the Geelong locals are always talked up! You don't pick a player just because he is local!

I really don't see why his rating has lifted about 30 spots in the last 2-3 weeks. I blame Turner! I really hope Wellsy doesn't fall into the trap! He is a great recruiter, I'm sure he won't. This draft rated highly due the great KPP's. I can't see Wells ignoring that fact, with or without Hawkins!

 

[year of the cat]

I've seen him play 5 times, twice at the champs and 3 times for the Falcons. In that article, Michael Turner goes on about how good his disposal is. This couldn't be further from the truth from what I've seen and heard!

He shanks kicks that are uncontested. I doubt that it was a coincidence that he did it 3-4 times in the 5 games I saw. He also chooses to sit back waiting for the easy kick. I rarely saw him at the bottom of a pack.

The biggest turn off for me though was a game he played for the Falcons at Dandenong. In this game he played on the wing. He showed his opponent (James Magner) no respect what so ever and aimlessly ran around Shepley Oval chasing kicks! Sure, Boak got 22 touches (14 handball receives ) but Magner went on to have 21 kicks, 7 handballs and 3 or 4 uncontested shots at goal (of which Magner missed 2-3)!
I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw Boak's name in the best the following day and Magner not ever mentioned!

We've got too many unaccountable players at Geelong as it is! I hate how the Geelong locals are always talked up! You don't pick a player just because he is local!

I really don't see why his rating has lifted about 30 spots in the last 2-3 weeks. I blame Turner! I really hope Wellsy doesn't fall into the trap! He is a great recruiter, I'm sure he won't. This draft rated highly due the great KPP's. I can't see Wells ignoring that fact, with or without Hawkins!

That was my opinion as well after seeing him in the U18 champs - did not go for the hard ball and only interested in the easy kick.

 

[jim boy]

All the article contains is Turner talking up Boak, understable seeing as Boak is one of his charges. All it really says about Geelong is that if Geelong was to pick him up, it will have to be with our first pick. This in itself means he will probably go second-round.

Somehow I don't think Wells will be basing his recommendation on who to select, the culmination of his entire year's work, on some half-baked article in a myopic country rag.

 

[Budda 230]

All the article contains is Turner talking up Boak, understable seeing as Boak is one of his charges. All it really says about Geelong is that if Geelong was to pick him up, it will have to be with our first pick. This in itself means he will probably go second-round.

Somehow I don't think Wells will be basing his recommendation on who to select, the culmination of his entire year's work, on some half-baked article in a myopic country rag.

"TORQUAY prodigy Travis Boak is firming as an ideal first pick for Geelong in Saturday's national draft.


The Cats are desperate for a classy outside player and have taken a strong interest in the 18-year-old Geelong Falcon."

That is a little bit more than Turner talking Boak up! That is plain concerning!

 

[jim boy]

"TORQUAY prodigy Travis Boak is firming as an ideal first pick for Geelong in Saturday's national draft.


The Cats are desperate for a classy outside player and have taken a strong interest in the 18-year-old Geelong Falcon."

That is a little bit more than Turner talking Boak up! That is plain concerning!

Nah - the article also said "Danny O'Keefe and Will Schofield are also understood to be looming large on the Cats' recruiting radar". That doesn't mean they will go first round.

Of course the cats are interested in Boak - he isn't a total hack- and they will probably select him should he be available at the time when he represents value (eg 2nd pick).

Number of quotes from actual GFC sources - none.

Its a fairly typical story of the addy.

 

[Rosso]

Gibbs, Berger, Hansen, Gumby, Thorpe, Sellar and Selwood are more than likely going to be the first 7 picked so why would you pass on one of these to grab a local boy who may still be there at pick 25???

C'mon Wellsy.

 

[Dont you hate pants?]

Typical turner talking up his chargers....as one would do if you were in his position. Dont be concered everyone, Wellsey and the team will head into the draft knowing that there is life outside of the falcons, and will pick the best talent availible.

 

[Go Hoops]

Be thankful that Wells runs our recruiting and not Micky Turner!!!

Just as a matter of passing interest, why do you think Wellsy is so good? Take out our father/sons and I'm not sure we've done that well.

 

[Rosso]

Just as a matter of passing interest, why do you think Wellsy is so good? Take out our father/sons and I'm not sure we've done that well.

Didn't say he was that good but would rather him than Micky Turner (on the basis of having an entire list of born & bred Geelong locals if MT had his way).

As for his drafting he hasn't unearthed a superstar but has got some very good players. I'm sure his stocks would rise if he had earlier picks to play with. Lets not forget that pick 7 has been his earliest effort for some time (if ever, not sure how long he's been at the helm) so players such as Judd, Reiwoldt, Hodge, Ball, Pavlich ect have been taken before we get a sniff (I know Pav was there the year before but everyone else passed on him that year too).

Players like Egan, Stokes, Prismall, Rooke ect speak volumes of what the man does with his picks.

 

[CF]

seems to me like everyone is getting predraft jitters here...let's all chill a little because we know if there is anyway to find the most highly rated dud with our 1st pick we probably will. So sit back and enjoy the comedsy of it all.

 

[catempire]

What do you know about Boak and the other draftees to make this comment? Personally I don't have a clue apart from what I read and I know enough to take what I read with several grains of salt! If Geelong drafts Boak I'll be happy because I'm confident we will have made the best choice based on the knowledge we have. If Geelong draft someone else I'll be happy for the same reason.

The drafts are littered with top draft picks who never made it, so the week after the draft or even a year after is not the time to make judgements on how good or bad a selection was. That said, I acknowledge that it is fun to speculate...

That's the most enlightened view I've read on this board about the draft all season. Well done.

People forget that guys like Stephen Wells do this for a living. He lives and breathes recruitment.

You might say you saw so-and-so in half a dozen games or whatever but Wells has probably seen them 10 times that. Not only that, he would have spoken personally to the kid's coaches, his parents, his team mates and most importantly, the kid himself.

Then there's the other personnel within the club. There are some intelligent armchair critics that post on this board, no doubt, but nobody here comes even close to the level of knowledge within the club about what the club's needs are, what the gameplan is and which players will best suit those needs and fit in at the club.

All this stuff is crucial to know who to recruit and the punters on this board can only make a guess at what is really going on in the minds of Wells and co.

Whoever we pick, I'll be confident that they were the best available for our needs (as long as there's no more Cameron Thurley type picks!)

 

[YOTC]

Someone who can't kick. Should fit in very well at Geelong.

 

[Turbocat]

That's the most enlightened view I've read on this board about the draft all season. Well done.

People forget that guys like Stephen Wells do this for a living. He lives and breathes recruitment.

You might say you saw so-and-so in half a dozen games or whatever but Wells has probably seen them 10 times that. Not only that, he would have spoken personally to the kid's coaches, his parents, his team mates and most importantly, the kid himself.

Then there's the other personnel within the club. There are some intelligent armchair critics that post on this board, no doubt, but nobody here comes even close to the level of knowledge within the club about what the club's needs are, what the gameplan is and which players will best suit those needs and fit in at the club.

All this stuff is crucial to know who to recruit and the punters on this board can only make a guess at what is really going on in the minds of Wells and co.

Whoever we pick, I'll be confident that they were the best available for our needs (as long as there's no more Cameron Thurley type picks!)

You had me CE , right up till the last line. How many games of Thurley did Welles watch before we drafted him?

I suppose Im an armchair guy CE , although I'd not put myself to the level of some of the intelligent posters that seem to have a good deal of knowledge on some of these kids. I really enjoy watching the Falcons when they are on before the AFL and around U18 champ time ( a bit peeved now cause I doubt they will be broadcast with no FoxFooty) so generally Id say the criteria im making judgements on is limited. I accept it can be a dangerious practice to use on one off games , after all even Gary Ablett Snr had bad ones.

But based on the only game I can go back and have look at (VicC V WA) , Id say there would be a couple of players that I'd pick before Boak , if not a more than a couple.
Connors , got enough of the ball to sugest he is a settled type who doesnt panic under pressure. He always seem to find time to get the ball off.Compared to another kid ,OKeeffe , who looks to be a type who knows how to run to position and get the ball but Im not sure how good his disposal is because he seems rushed when pressured.
Jetta , to my mind will be a fantatic link player. He may be small but with time he may even surpass Chappy, he got the tricks to worry a lott of the althletes that will get games these days.Collard is not quite to his level but certainly has something.

Like you said , Welles does it for a living. He should know , but every year 16 clubs say they got bargains and every year bargains from previous drafts are delisted.This is not the year for a speculative R1 pick. Who ever he picks will be expected to be very good , they will be judged against the ones that go later and are not at our club.

 

[catempire]

Turbo, the Thurley pick absolutely perplexes me. I cannot fathom what Wells was thinking. For me, it's the worst pick the club has made in the history of the draft for the simple reason that a relatively high pick was used on a player approaching his mid twenties who was just a good VFL forward pocket player.

I suppose Wells is only human. He obviously saw something but got it wrong. Very wrong.

 

[DanA]

Was also a bit silly grabing Owen ahead of Grima

 

[nananana catman]

I dont get why people are whinging about us picking up a kid who doesnt go in and get the hardball...

Thats what we need to recruit players to do, play down the wings rather than just be in and under players.

 

[year of the cat]

I dont get why people are whinging about us picking up a kid who doesnt go in and get the hardball...

Thats what we need to recruit players to do, play down the wings rather than just be in and under players.

Because he is not worth a pick 7. If we took him at 25 I think most of us wouldn't be too fussed.

 

[nananana catman]

Because he is not worth a pick 7. If we took him at 25 I think most of us wouldn't be too fussed.

How do you know that? A lot of judges rate him top 10, and no-one knows how these kids are going to fair 5 years from now. If Wells thinks he is the best fit for us, get him.

 

[mckinale]

How do you know that? A lot of judges rate him top 10, and no-one knows how these kids are going to fair 5 years from now. If Wells thinks he is the best fit for us, get him.

they rate him top ten because they know that we'll be stupid enough to pick him
much much much better choices out there

 

[answerman]

I've noticed a trend nananana catman: everytime sometime posts something even slightly dismissive of Boak (and which may not necessarily be about Boak but more about people perceive the club's needs and what type of player would suit us better) you leap right in.

You're not: a) Boak himself b) related to him? c) a mate or girlfriend are you?

 

[catempire]

I've noticed a trend nananana catman: everytime sometime posts something even slightly dismissive of Boak (and which may not necessarily be about Boak but more about people perceive the club's needs and what type of player would suit us better) you leap right in.

You're not: a) Boak himself b) related to him? c) a mate or girlfriend are you?

Right. I've noticed another trend - heaps of posters posting dribble as if they know better than Stephen Wells.

 

[jim boy]

There is now talk about Boak not being available come our first pick.