Post draft feelings

[Shinboners]

Amazing how after just a couple of hours watching Sunday TV that I'm suddenly feeling a whole lot more optimistic about our prospects last season.

The Bell deal suddenly looks a whole lot better....Sinclair, Olarenshaw, Smith, and Motlop....all from the one deal.

Sav Rocca...if you asked me pre-draft, I would've said NO WAY. When they read his name out, I thought, "What the #$#@$@$@#$ are they thinking?". But if any club can get him fit, it's ours. I said all year that we need another forward to support Carey, and hopefully Rocca will be the man.

Last thing...this injection of young midfielders will put pressure on the likes of Grant, Simpson, and Clayton to either work harder or improve their skills.

By the way, did anyone else read the Briswhine coach's comments that "Pike is the only player selected with a chance of playing in a premiership team"? I think Matthews has finally gone mad.

 

[Homer]

Agreed about Matthews going mad.

 

[Grendel]

Shinners, with Sav its a huge punt. Either he will be a god send and take an awful lot of the heat away from Carey, or he wont make it onto the park or if he does, wont chase,second efforts,endurance etc. All the things the Woods fans used to get stuck into him over.

Good luck with him, as i hate to say it, but i think its a mistake. The others picked up from the Bell trade though should more than cover his loss. So overall id say its strengthed rather than hurt the Roos.

Cheers.

 

[James2]

Having watched Rocca shred Essesndon on many occassions, I reckon he will do pretty well at North.

Obviously, it will depend on his fitness and the support he receives from the coaching panel- support he never received at Collingwood.

Many forget that he averages more then three goals a game, which is more then most players in the competition. His best year at Collingwood was 1995, in that year, he played with someone (Brereton) who could take the pressure of him. Obviously Carey, who is a better player then Dermie was in 1995, could play this role. Carey's presence will also ensure that Sav will get the secons.third best defender rather then the best defender, as he was at Collingwood.

Although it may seem a gamble considering his form in the past two years, it should be remembered that SR kicked 76 goals in 97, and more then 60 in 98, before things REALLY fell apart at Collingwood.

One thing's for sure. it will probably see the end of Pagan's Paddock.

 

[Gonzo]

The Draft:

Pleased with the youngsters (in particular little Motts!)

Sav - I'll reserve judgement till I see him play, but if anything can extend the Duck's career, then having a player that the opposition has to send a defender to look after rather than jump on Duck's back, spose it can only help.

 

[Groucho]

Nearly fell off my chair when Sav was picked (my wife said she would love to have had a picture of my face at that moment!) but came around in time after hearing the interviews with Denis and Sav. I'm told it was a fairly thin draft after the first 20 or so and we do need another tall forward option so I guess Sav fits that bill as a player who can slot right in. Most on this thread have made valid points, is he fit, has he got a heart,will he chase, second efforts?,but we all know he can kick goals so he'll be measured on that basis - I just pray he's not another Jakovich to Footscray! Very happy with the other selections particularly D.Motlop and Smith and I'm told Harris is a real goer. I don't know if they've gone overboard on mid-fielders or there just weren't any key defender types good enough to select but I do feel a whole lot better about our prospects for next year now.

 

[CURVE]

SAVs problem at Collingwood was the inaccuracy and ineptitude of the Collingwood midfield. They couldn't hit a barn door if they were leaning on it. And Buckley is such an arrogant selfish moron that anytime he was within 100m of the goals he would take the shot. With Stevens, Grant, Simpson, King, Blakey and Harvey rotating in the midfield, Rocca should have a field day.
Here's hoping anyway.
As for the other draft picks, from what I've heard, it appears we did very well, with a couple being potential first teamers next season.
Good luck to all the young joey's and to the SAV.

 

[Rooboy 96]

Wrapped absolutely over the moon... would have liked another 2 Picks... Krakouer (richmond) and Buchannan (sydney) but to get the vic country CAPTAIN, vic metro CAPTAIN, and a BROTHER at last I am over the moon...

2001 our year in the waiting... get your memberships early... before they sell out...

 

[Shinboners]

Fair points by everyone. I'd be pretty happy if Sav gets about 50 or 60 goals. But I'm pretty confident that our coaching staff can do something with him. I'm probably more confident since it appears that North went out of their way to talk to him and assess him....so it's more like a Jason McCartney situation than a David Calthorpe one where with Calthorpe we were forced to take him on.

Note to Ricky, we know that we had to take you on under the same rules that forced us to take on Calthorpe, but we know that you've always wanted to play for us. Besides, we also know you can run and kick pretty well, so you're the exception that will prove the rule. Onya Ricky!

 

[acuguy]

daniel pratt is a very good player, you must understand that he is a very good chance of playing senior footy next year, one advantage qld kids have over vic kids is that there use to playing against men, so the physical factor is not that much of a problem for them. I am dissapointed the lions did not get him, cause he is a gem.

 

[Barney]

Happy with all our selections except Rocca..dont like guys who only play one position, he will have his moments and will cause match up problems, but I can see him missing crucial kicks for goal from close in and then nailing them from 60 out when it doesnt matter..that is the way he plays.
I would have liked Luke Livingston from the Pioneers..he can really play and is like a young Glen Jakovich with more pace but slightly less bulk...but I guess he was always going to go before our first pick...sad to see Pike go to the Lions..especially when we have Olaranshaw taking up a spot on our list..the guy is a dud.

 

[The Dutchman!]

If Ricky can somehow get fit again consistently then he is anything but a dud - watch the first qtr of the 93GF - he & Long absolutely murdered the Blues in 10 minutes of brilliant skill and accuracy.

Then again, that was a while ago and he has had chronic back problems.

Anyway, good luck to him - everyone always hated Cartman at Windy Hill (for being a fat, selfish, overated, wife-stealing, mate-backstabbing hack) but we still hold Ricky O in high regard.

Dutch

 

[Zondor]

By the way, did anyone else read the Briswhine coach's comments that "Pike is the only player selected with a chance of playing in a premiership team"? I think Matthews has finally gone mad.

Agreed. What was Matthews thinking. :stern look

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

Holy ****.

A 14 year bump.

 

[Gasometer]

Yep Lethal was sure coaching a dud team back then.

 

[Egga]

Remind me not to make a rash prediction while Zondor is around.

Edit: stern look

 

[GarnerSmash]

Remind me not to make a rash prediction while Zondor is around.

Edit: stern look

Zondor + rash = standard Friday night

 

[LuvtheKangas]

Bumped 10 years late.