Potential Draftee Watch - Version 2008

[Big Nasty]

Hmm. I'll be concerned but not surprised if we pick up Lewis Johnson.

Why? Because when I watched him, he reminded me very much of Kent Kingsley

And what's wrong with that?

 

[thejester]

Missed Broadbent by that much...

 

[Redemptionin09]

Missed Broadbent by that much...

not really, we had our chance to take him at #33

 

[rizzo]

not really, we had our chance to take him at #33

Thought he was certain at #33 to us. But alas it didn't happen.

Happy with the way my mock went. Managed to nut out the Walters as a slider as well as getting a late draft prediction right.

To the poster re Davis, good stuff. You knew a lot. I just thought with his shoulders he was an outside chance. Think Adelaide made a mistake with the selection.

Sad we didn't get O'keefe. Thought he was certain to be a cat.

Happy to predict Gillies though. Didn't get the pick right, but the club mattered.

 

[Pivo]

When Trengove was still available at 12 - I got excited. Cats select Brown.

When 33 came around, Lisle, Broadbent and Smith were all still available, I got excited again. Not one of their names called.

Then, at pick 38, Port call out Broadbent's name and my world came crashing down on top of me. I'll still tell myself that the reason Geelong paused at 39 was because they thought they had Broadbent but he was snatched out from under them by Port (at least Broadbent gets to stay aligned to WWT - a )

At the end of the draft I was a bit pissed and then I thought - hang on, all I am is some arm chair "expert", a keyboard warrior whereas Wells and Co. have been doing this caper for quite a while and have found some gems over the years for GFC.

So my logic is simple, I rate Trengove but Geelong selected Brown. That must mean Brown is going to be a really good player for the Catters and that is what us members/supporters are looking for.

A big welcome to the 4 new Cats. Can't wait to see them in action!!

 

[year of the cat]

When Trengove was still available at 12 - I got excited. Cats select Brown.

When 33 came around, Lisle, Broadbent and Smith were all still available, I got excited again. Not one of their names called.

Then, at pick 38, Port call out Broadbent's name and my world came crashing down on top of me. I'll still tell myself that the reason Geelong paused at 39 was because they thought they had Broadbent but he was snatched out from under them by Port (at least Broadbent gets to stay aligned to WWT - a )

At the end of the draft I was a bit pissed and then I thought - hang on, all I am is some arm chair "expert", a keyboard warrior whereas Wells and Co. have been doing this caper for quite a while and have found some gems over the years for GFC.

So my logic is simple, I rate Trengove but Geelong selected Brown. That must mean Brown is going to be a really good player for the Catters and that is what us members/supporters are looking for.

A big welcome to the 4 new Cats. Can't wait to see them in action!!

Pivot we sound like we experienced similar emotions today!! I also reckon we have done well in retrospect - I think we were forced to take Gillies earlier than we would have normally because the hawks were likely to take him with the next pick. We needed that tall defender in his draft so we had to take him then and there.

I would love to chat to Stephen Wells to see what players they had identified for our picks today. Would be interesting to see whether we were trumped with any of our picks.

Been good fun though the last few weeks doing our own little "armchair analysis" with you, Rizzo and a few others. Thanks.

 

[Redemptionin09]

When Trengove was still available at 12 - I got excited. Cats select Brown.

When 33 came around, Lisle, Broadbent and Smith were all still available, I got excited again. Not one of their names called.

Then, at pick 38, Port call out Broadbent's name and my world came crashing down on top of me. I'll still tell myself that the reason Geelong paused at 39 was because they thought they had Broadbent but he was snatched out from under them by Port (at least Broadbent gets to stay aligned to WWT - a )

At the end of the draft I was a bit pissed and then I thought - hang on, all I am is some arm chair "expert", a keyboard warrior whereas Wells and Co. have been doing this caper for quite a while and have found some gems over the years for GFC.

So my logic is simple, I rate Trengove but Geelong selected Brown. That must mean Brown is going to be a really good player for the Catters and that is what us members/supporters are looking for.

A big welcome to the 4 new Cats. Can't wait to see them in action!!

Well said
I was exactly the same all day, miffed to begin with, but now they are growing on me

 

[Pivo]

Ha ha, I think rizzo has hooked me, clearly I meant to write pick 15 when discussing Geelong's first pick, not 12 (which was where Johnston ended up!!).

I usually think Geelong does pretty well at the draft as more times than not the players come on - the Club is extremely lucky to have Wells and his team down there.

I guess we now get to enjoy watching their progress over the next couple of years and we all get to do this again in 2009.

 

[rizzo]

Ha ha, I think rizzo has hooked me, clearly I meant to write pick 15 when discussing Geelong's first pick, not 12 (which was where Johnston ended up!!).

Haha I think I passed out when I heard LJ get drafted to Sydney

 

[Redemptionin09]

Haha I think I passed out when I heard LJ get drafted to Sydney

LOL me too

But in saying that I'm now liking the sound of Brown

 

[Reg Hickey]

I would love to chat to Stephen Wells to see what players they had identified for our picks today. Would be interesting to see whether we were trumped with any of our picks.

We took a fair bit of time with pick 39, and I noticed that both Ash Smith (36) and Broadbent (38) had just been taken - two blokes we had been strongly linked with pre-draft.

I would bet some solid $$$ that we had one or both of those blokes lined up for that pick.

I was thinking afterwards that they could have taken Smith at 33 - I think he is very similar to Taylor Hunt but without the disposal issues - and then picked up Gillies at 39. But I'm guessing they ranked Gillies a higher priority and thought he wouldn't last that long. Hawthorn at 34 perhaps. Actually, if Essendon had given us proper value for Prissa we could have picked up both by 33.

In any case, we've got some quality kids there that could be future stars of the GFC, so I'm happy.

 

[moond0g]

We took a fair bit of time with pick 39, and I noticed that both Ash Smith (36) and Broadbent (38) had just been taken - two blokes we had been strongly linked with pre-draft.

I would bet some solid $$$ that we had one or both of those blokes lined up for that pick.

I was thinking afterwards that they could have taken Smith at 33 - I think he is very similar to Taylor Hunt but without the disposal issues - and then picked up Gillies at 39. But I'm guessing they ranked Gillies a higher priority and thought he wouldn't last that long. Hawthorn at 34 perhaps. Actually, if Essendon had given us proper value for Prissa we could have picked up both by 33.

In any case, we've got some quality kids there that could be future stars of the GFC, so I'm happy.

true with us apparently being linked to smith with our first pick i was very surprised we didnt snap him up with our second. probably thought about it but the needs factor made us go for gillies then hoped one of smith or broadbent made it through to 39. unlucky for us neither made it as motlops the one that i'm a bit worried about and would much rather have had smith or broadbent in the hoops.

good point with the prismall trade too, interesting to see how we would have gone about it if we had had an earlier pick for primall

 

[thejester]

Some vague ramblings:

- While none of our favourites got picked, I think those taken pretty much matched what was expected. In Brown and Gillies we got two players who can take either end and look likely types; it essentially cements our spine for the next premiership tilt. Hunt is smaller than the guys we were talking about but still looks like playing that HBF role. Motlop is the odd one out; as has already been said, Wells reaction after Port's pick would suggest we had Broadbent in our sights. I love it already though; due to his age you'd think he was a bit of a project player, and if plays like his older brother I'll be stoked.

- Which leads me onto my next point; I think next year we can forget all the 'Geelong have been strongly linked too' stuff, because it just hasn't eventuated for the last two years. People had us all over Swift and Smith and we passed up on them, in Smith's case twice. TBH I wouldn't be surprised if the Smith rumour started purely because he was Geelong's first pick in the official BF phantom. Far better to say 'we need this type of player and player x, y and z fit the bill' than 'we're gonna take player w'.

- We still have the rookie draft, does anyone know how many picks? We only delisted two but the suggestion was it's been expanded cause of GC17. In any case, would be really interested in - though I doubt he'd last - Matt De Boer. Kevin Sheehan rated him in his top 30 and while his kicking is woeful, he racks up the possessions inside and apparently tested well for endurance. Could potentially be moulded into our next defensive midfielder - not a glamourous position but one which is crucial in the modern game, and we've got no clear replacement for an ageing Lingy.

 

[rizzo]

For anyone interested i'll be doing a phantom rookie draft this year. Not that it will be accurate

As for the rookie list. Im not sure how many picks we will have.

So far confirmed we have Moles, Laidler, Mumford and Ranga. I am thinking we will have another two picks?

 

[thejester]

I thought we only had two, but someone at D&T said we had three cause the AFL was expanding it. *shrug* Don't know, really.

Who would you want, rizzo? Sibasado?

 

[Reg Hickey]

I don't want De Boer. We've already got Taylor Hunt this year to add to Tenace, Wojcinski, Corey and some others - the last thing we need is another kid with dodgy disposal.

Sibasado might be worth a look. Absolute project player, but plenty of upside and we can sit him in the VFL for a couple of seasons with Pods as a mentor and no pressure to make the senior side.

Interested in your thoughts rizzo on who might be available for us?

 

[thejester]

I don't want De Boer. We've already got Taylor Hunt this year to add to Tenace, Wojcinski, Corey and some others - the last thing we need is another kid with dodgy disposal.

Sibasado might be worth a look. Absolute project player, but plenty of upside and we can sit him in the VFL for a couple of seasons with Pods as a mentor and no pressure to make the senior side.

Interested in your thoughts rizzo on who might be available for us?

It could improve. I know that when it comes to disposal that's generally like saying 'Elvis might come out of the trailer park', but we'd only be rookieing him.

 

[Pivo]

Grabbing De Boer as a rookie has some merit IMO. Sure his disposal isn't great but from memory Egan's wasn't flash when he first arrived and he improved.

Still, the counter argument to that is Tenace I guess.

However, De Boer finds plenty of the ball and that is something that often can't be taught - you either can or you can't. If his disposal improves then he could be very handy come next year when Gold Coast plunder the draft.

And I think I read somewhere that Geelong has 3 rookie selections which gives them some room to move. The rookie draft will be pretty important this year as well I think.

And for what it is worth - I still think Matthew Martin is worth having a look at as a rookie. Around 196cms and nearly 100kg. A big brute to plonk at CHB/FB in the VFL for a year to see how he goes.

 

[year of the cat]

I would be surprised if he was still around by our pick but Sibosado appears to be the perfect rookie pick - talented but erratic. Apparently Adelaide talked to him prior to the draft and have since called to apologise to him for not picking him up.

 

[thejester]

Grabbing De Boer as a rookie has some merit IMO. Sure his disposal isn't great but from memory Egan's wasn't flash when he first arrived and he improved.

Still, the counter argument to that is Tenace I guess.

Apparently Tenace's disposal has actually decline since he's been here. I guess it's a bit of a lottery - some guys have improved (Enright springs immediately to mind), others haven't.

As you've said tested well athletically and wins loads of ball, both at U/18s and in the seniors for Claremont. Sadly I think that means WCE or Freo will nab him earlier on.

And I think I read somewhere that Geelong has 3 rookie selections which gives them some room to move. The rookie draft will be pretty important this year as well I think.

And for what it is worth - I still think Matthew Martin is worth having a look at as a rookie. Around 196cms and nearly 100kg. A big brute to plonk at CHB/FB in the VFL for a year to see how he goes.

Chances would seem to have diminished given our first two picks, but interesting nonetheless. Another to consider is Tom Rockliff - that he was not picked is surely indicative yet again of the overemphasis placed on athletic attributes. Played an awesome game in the TAC final and was the other one of Sheehan's Top 30 not to be picked.

 

[moond0g]

tbh i dont see why all these people are saying not to take deboer because his disposal is iffy. its only a rookie spot you cant expect these kids to be great at all aspects of the game... geez even the top prospects in the draft have things to work on and improve, you cant expect him to be perfect.

and these comparisons to tenace are way off. not saying that he might have some of the same problems, but tenace was a top ten pick, deboer will be a rookie pick. very hard to compare imo

also i think a lot of these kids will be gone by the time we have a pick anyway. with 14 teams to choose before us, i think you can all but rule out the sibsados, rockliffs ect that are being talked up

 

[Pivo]

I just noticed that Jay Shannon wasn't selected either who I thought was pretty handy as a depth mid/half back. There certainly will be some very handy rookies on lists this year.

 

[rizzo]

I thought we only had two, but someone at D&T said we had three cause the AFL was expanding it. *shrug* Don't know, really.

Who would you want, rizzo? Sibasado?

I would dare say that Siba would be gone by our pick in the rookie draft. I think he will possibly go somewhere in the PSD.

I'm not sure on the age restrictions but the three I would like to see us get would be:

Gugliotta - Tall running player. Adam Goodes type in the way that he is an oversized midfielder. Can also play off half back. Maybe we could mould him into a key def.

Luke Thompson - rate this kid VERY VERY highly. 6ft 4 local falcon who was stiff not to get drafted. He played on a wing this year, but also played at CHF and in the ruck. Would be amazing to see him being an attacking wingman who can push forward and strech defences.

Aaron Varcoe - Coming off a knee reco. With out last "live" pick I think he will be here.

 

[Reg Hickey]

tbh i dont see why all these people are saying not to take deboer because his disposal is iffy. its only a rookie spot you cant expect these kids to be great at all aspects of the game... geez even the top prospects in the draft have things to work on and improve, you cant expect him to be perfect.

Of course any kid we pick up in the rookie draft is probably going to have some significant areas for improvement, otherwise they would have been picked up in the main draft. The real questions are how important those areas are, and how fixable they are.

My view is that disposal is an increasingly important part of the game, and notoriously difficult to fix. Tenace is one example, how about poor old Matty McCarthy? Its probably also the reason Chris Kangars is no longer at the club. There are plenty of them. Also worth bearing in mind that we've lost one of our best in this area in Prismall and picked up yet another one with serious question marks in Taylor Hunt.

I'm not saying that we should never rookie players who need to work on their disposal skills, but I am saying that we should think carefully before doing so because they are tough to fix and we have plenty of players already who need to work on them.

and these comparisons to tenace are way off. not saying that he might have some of the same problems, but tenace was a top ten pick, deboer will be a rookie pick. very hard to compare imo

Thats silly reasoning. Who cares what pick they were drafted - surely that has absolutely no bearing on whether they are similar players or not.

So then we can't compare Dean Cox to any player taken in the National Draft, because he was originally a rookie?

 

[Budda 230]

I think I shared the same draft day to most supporters here.

I was absolutely spewing to begin with after Geelong overlooked firstly Trengove/Swift then Smith/Broadbent. But I'm feeling alot better about the draft now.

I got the chance to see all of Brown, Gillies and Hunt late in the season. I've liked Brown ever since I saw him at Morwell. I didn't know who he was at the time, but he keep presenting and plucking marks. He missed a couple of easy shots, but impressed me much more than Watts and Butcher on the day. I've always hoped Geelong would draft Brown, but never really expected it to be with the first selction after such a late start. Really liking the decision now.

With seeing a bit of Brown obviously comes seeing a bit of Hunt. He has a lot of flair but tends to try and take too many risks. Runs really hard to become the link man, but is sometimes left looking silly when there is a turn over. It's great that he backs himself though. Never really stood out when I watched Sandringham but obviously has ability.

Gillies has an uncanny ability of taking marks when he seems out of position. He obviously has a lot of confidence that his marks will stick, but sometimes the punch would be a better option against better opposition forwards. I actually thought he was shorter than his listed 192cm, so I'm much happier about this pick than I originally was.

I don't know much about Motlop, so I have nothing to say about him. Hopefully he is as good as his brother.

Rookie draft, who really knows how we'll go? We were way off the mark with the National Draft for Geelong's eventual picks so anything could happen. My personal favourites would be Sibasado and Rockcliff. Not sure who will be around come our picks.