Rookie Draft

[SYDNEY_EAGLE]

What can anyone tell me about our rookie draft selections?

Ben Sharp - 18, 187cm, 78 kg
Beau Wilkes - 18, 194, 91
Ashley Thornton - 17, 189, 73
Aaron Edwards - 20, redrafted

Wilkes sounds like the pick of the bunch. Maybe we've finally recruited someone who can be groomed for CHB.

What's the deal with Edwards? I hear he's shown some form in the WAFL, but he doesn't sound like the kind of player we really need.

Do you think any of these guys are a chance to play senior footy in 2005?

 

[sinepari]

Well they can only play if there is an injury to a player on the senior list. I think we did really well, very happy with the results. Edwards is perhaps being groomed for the 3rd tall option either down back or up forward. Everyone sledges him, but hes had a great attitude improvement and obviously showed enough good signs last year to warrant another crack at it. I have faith in the recruiting staff, we have done well in the rookie draft over a long period of time.

 

[crazzzy_grrl]

I'm quite glad we got Beau Wilkes, i was under the impression we were thinking of drafting him in the national draft so its great that we got him as a rookie.

Now we lost one of our Chads, but collecting Beau's now instead

 

[southjoy]

What can anyone tell me about our rookie draft selections?

Ben Sharp - 18, 187cm, 78 kg
Beau Wilkes - 18, 194, 91
Ashley Thornton - 17, 189, 73
Aaron Edwards - 20, redrafted

Wilkes sounds like the pick of the bunch. Maybe we've finally recruited someone who can be groomed for CHB.

What's the deal with Edwards? I hear he's shown some form in the WAFL, but he doesn't sound like the kind of player we really need.

Do you think any of these guys are a chance to play senior footy in 2005?

Ashley Thornton is a quickish, tall, lightly framed at the moment CHF for Peel Thunder. In the finals he went down back and did a very fine job. This kid can play and is not a bad choice for Rookie drafting.

MY BIG suprise from watching most of these kids since 13yr olds is that potentially the best player in Aaron Bowers has been missed. I hope the kid has a great year next year, because unlike Priddis and Jones who are very good players. Bowers has the athletic credentials to play at the highest.
It's very funny that WA in the 16's and 18's relied on this kid as a key forward even though his hasn't the height ( 187cm isn't short though) and if he would of played as a flanker he would of had easier opportunities to shine.
I've been in the system and I can tell you that this kid is a better player than a few who got drafted/rookie listed.

 

[SYDNEY_EAGLE]

Edwards is perhaps being groomed for the 3rd tall option either down back or up forward.

3rd tall? He's like 188cm.....

What are Gardiner, McDougall, Seaby, Smith, Hansen and Gaspar going to do up forward?

And Glass, Lynch, Staker and Hunter down back?

How do you reckon he's going to fit in as a 3rd tall at either end?

 

[Bestbird]

I thought Edwards was more a HFF or HBF utility player

We do need another Heady/Lewis type HFF so keeping him was a good descision

Wilkes was also good, I thought he would have already been picked up

 

[coasting]

Should have taken Bain before Sharp. Don't really see the need for another midfielder in any event. Wilkes is OK, not a star but could be servicable and will add depth as a KP defender. Ashley Thornton was a punt on a bottom age local while Edwards was a wasted pick. Like Rudeforth they'll give him every chance to succeed but chances are he'll be delisted after one more year.

 

[Monocle]

Should have taken Bain before Sharp.

Dont agree, Sharp is a better footballer than Bain. Gets a lot more of the ball for a start and is more versatile, Bain is a good footballer its just that I believe Sharp wil be more suited to our game as he has a knack of finding space.

 

[coasting]

Dont agree, Sharp is a better footballer than Bain. Gets a lot more of the ball for a start and is more versatile, Bain is a good footballer its just that I believe Sharp wil be more suited to our game as he has a knack of finding space.

We'll see. From the little I've seen Sharp is soft, slow and very much outside. I would have much preferred the quicker Bain who although he doesn't have any real standout qualities he doesn't have some of the weaknesses that Sharp does. Sharp does have more attractive height though and I guess Neil Ross would know more about them than anyone and would set them on the right path.

 

[sinepari]

Edwards is perhaps being groomed for the 3rd tall option either down back or up forward.

3rd tall? He's like 188cm.....

What are Gardiner, McDougall, Seaby, Smith, Hansen and Gaspar going to do up forward?

And Glass, Lynch, Staker and Hunter down back?

How do you reckon he's going to fit in as a 3rd tall at either end?

Just going on what ive heard some credible sources say.If u put some time into thinking about it, it makes sense, i cant be bothered explaining right now

 

[sinepari]

Also sydneyeagle, he is a ROOKIE, meaning he wont play with those players just yet. U could say ' why would we pick up another midfielder with fletch, cousins, judd, kerr, embley, braun, butler etc', but u still pick them up. Playing as a HFF is a possibility.

 

[coasting]

Edwards won't cut it. Should have delisted him and taken a punt on another (probably WA) youngster. In the rookie draft we tend to take the BPA and then take all locals.

 

[wigboy]

coasting,
You can not compare the speed between Sharp and Bain. Sharp would beat Bain by at least one second over a 100 metres and at least a minute over 3km.

 

[coasting]

coasting,
You can not compare the speed between Sharp and Bain. Sharp would beat Bain by at least one second over a 100 metres and at least a minute over 3km.

Well I can only go with what I can see on the field. Judd wouldn't be any quicker over 100m than most players but on the field he puts on a burst and runs away from them. James Walker from Freo is lightning over 100m but on the field he often looks in slow motion. Its gamespeed that matters if Sharp has speed I would say he doesn't really use it to his advantage. Still I hope he turns out. From memory Orange Apple was more skeptical about his chances than I am.

 

[TRIGGAMAN]

Score. I didn't realise this was today. Wilkes is a good pick up hey? We were thinking he was gonna be our first national draft pick about a month ago. Gotta be happy with him right?

 

[coasting]

Score. I didn't realise this was today. Wilkes is a good pick up hey? We were thinking he was gonna be our first national draft pick about a month ago. Gotta be happy with him right?

He was never going to be our first round pick. I'll be surprised if he isn't a depth player at least although already quite physically developed so probably not a huge upside.

 

[mentalgrind]

my gfs stoked as she's a good friend of ashly.

great guy who's a good all round sportsman

 

[underthebridge]

my gfs stoked as she's a good friend of ashly.

great guy who's a good all round sportsman

is he related to the docker thornton?

 

[coasting]

is he related to the docker thornton?

Although he is also tall and gangly, no. The Dockers Thornton is originally from Victoria.

 

[Bestbird]

I'll back the eagles recruiting staff

We have done well over the last couple of years

Cox and Fletcher as examples

 

[Oddjob]

I'll back the eagles recruiting staff

We have done well over the last couple of years

Cox and Fletcher as examples

Reckon their counterparts down the road should do a stint at the WCE to see how its done.

 

[Mr Q]

To be fair, the purple ones have done quite well out of the rookie draft in recent years with the likes of Haddrill and Hayden.

 

[YAKUZA]

I've been in the system and I can tell you that this kid is a better player than a few who got drafted/rookie listed.

What system and which few who got drafted/rookie listed??

Bowers should develop into a very good WAFL player and in the eyes of those that matter he doesn't have enough to offer any AFL Club.