Rookie Draft

[prattsta]

The main reason I'm not overly phased by our future KP stocks is simply that most teams are in the same boat. When Pavlich, McPharlin and finally Sandilands are gone, Fevola, Brown, Riewoldt, Hall, Bradshaw etc will be gone along with them.

Franklin and J. Riewoldt were the only KPF's - Lecras was the only other player at all - to kick over 3 goals a game excluding a few of the guys mentioned above last season. I'm not saying the next 'big thing' isn't just around the corner but it's pretty rare that a KPF will be the difference in a side winning or losing these days.

 

[prattsta]

To think that taking Myles Sewell is simply too great a risk is ridiculous.

I think it's more low reward, than high risk which is putting teams off.

 

[Avid_Avenger]

The main reason I'm not overly phased by our future KP stocks is simply that most teams are in the same boat. When Pavlich, McPharlin and finally Sandilands are gone, Fevola, Brown, Riewoldt, Hall, Bradshaw etc will be gone along with them.

Franklin and J. Riewoldt were the only KPF's - Lecras was the only other player at all - to kick over 3 goals a game excluding a few of the guys mentioned above last season. I'm not saying the next 'big thing' isn't just around the corner but it's pretty rare that a KPF will be the difference in a side winning or losing these days.

Yep. Recruiting the odd KPP now though will smooth the transition when our ageing stars retire becoz they would've already had a few years in the system. I agree though that KPPs at the end of the draft are often useless so I'm really happy with our new players - our squad is very well balanced for replacements all over the field at the moment.

If Sibo doesn't make it or we don't recruit a KPP next year who could potentially play at either end but most probably back, then the concern will increase.

 

[Yoda_]

OK, but if he's the main midfielder for North Ballarat and they've won three consecutive flags and he wins best on ground in the GF, who's the underated mystery man doing all the damage ? If Sewell is no good then maybe it's the VFL competition that's overated.

He is one of three main midfielders that North Ballarat have had.

Yes he has done a lot of work for them, but I think the two things that stand out for him not being drafted were the fact he cannot play in a variety of positions ala Barlow, Hibberd, Broughton, does not have any one outstanding trait ala Podsiadly, Curnow now and does not have the outstanding all round abilities of a Nick Lower or hell, Ian Callinan.

As I mentioned earlier, yes he gets a lot of football, but he is hardly damaging, yes he runs all day, but you will not notice him, no he is not big, will struggle to play as a tagger or even as a midfielder.

These are the reasons why I think he has been overlooked.

essentially 4 drafts he has been over looked in now after two very good years for North Ballarat.

 

[Nickos66]

Interesting insight, cheers HFF.

 

[Scham]

The main reason I'm not overly phased by our future KP stocks is simply that most teams are in the same boat. When Pavlich, McPharlin and finally Sandilands are gone, Fevola, Brown, Riewoldt, Hall, Bradshaw etc will be gone along with them.

Essendon are the exception to that bolded bit. Guys like Hurley, Pears, Gumbleton, Hooker, Ryder all look the goods and I also think Still will join them with Carlisle and Steinberg likely also. Unlike most clubs, they're very well placed for KPP's.

 

[Yoda_]

Interesting insight, cheers HFF.

No worries bud

Would just like people to take notice that Stephen Clifton was drafted. Why?

He is a hard nosed inside midfielder who can also play outside, at 23 he has gone from a handy midfield rotation to full time midfield enforcer.

He has learnt to use his run and carry the ball away from a pack, has very good vision and is one of the best leaders going around.

He has upside!

Last year (2010) North Ballarat had Cam Richardson, Bill Driscoll, Dan Feerey (who is one of the best taggers in the caper), Marcus White, Matt Sharkey, Matt Tyler, Nicholas Peters, Stephen Clifton Stephie Dinnell, Isaac Smith and Warren Benjamin all around Myles Sewell.

So it is hardly look at Myles, he had plenty of players supporting him.

I would just like to say that North Ballarat have done an absolutely superb job in bringing people to North Ballarat, they have the best VFL talented players and have not relied too heavily upon AFL listed players like some clubs (Bendigo for one).

And for these VFL starts to be drafted is due credit to them, don't think to many other clubs around Australia have had as many state players drafted than North Ballarat.

Well done guys

 

[Yoda_]

Essendon are the exception to that bolded bit. Guys like Hurley, Pears, Gumbleton, Hooker, Ryder all look the goods and I also think Still will join them with Carlisle and Steinberg likely also. Unlike most clubs, they're very well placed for KPP's.

Would just like to say that, I think Essendon are a KPF short (unless the club plans for Hurley to play forward?)

Yes, we do have Gumbleton, Carlisle, Steinberg (who is speculatively being mooted as playing midfield) and Neagle on the rookie list.

Hille and Ryder can rotate forward, but not many ruckmen have made it as a FF in recent years, perhaps Ottens?

just my two cents.

 

[CamTinley]

Thanks HFF, that was a good wrap up.

I would say however that Myles Sewell plays for a team that has won three consecutive flags. The formula is working for North Ballarat so why would you put him in any other position. The fact is probably that he hasn't played in any other position rather than he can't play in any other position.

Guys with a huge capacity to run all day will come into their own with the new interchange rules. Players with endurance will be running out games when the 90kg+ midfielders will probably be tiring, particularly at Subiaco.

Also Myles Sewell is not as small as people think.

Dean Polo (ex Rich) 187cm + 81kg
Myles Sewell (NB) 187cm + 80kg
Xavier Ellis (Haw) 187cm +80kg
Rhys Shaw (Syd) 182cm + 80kg
Rhys Palmer (Frem) 181cm + 80kg
David Wojcinski (Geel) 180cm + 80kg
Steele Sidebottom (Coll) 182cm + 79kg
Stephen Hill (Frem) 182cm +72kg

You made some good points HFF but it's all risk and reward. Paying someone like him base salary, being ready to go and who will probably be loyal "Barlow" style was IMHO a risk worth taking. Particularly with his brother Brad being "a bit" on the outer at Hawthorn.

 

[Yoda_]

Thanks HFF, that was a good wrap up.

I would say however that Myles Sewell plays for a team that has won three consecutive flags. The formula is working for North Ballarat so why would you put him in any other position. The fact is probably that he hasn't played in any other position rather than he can't play in any other position.

Guys with a huge capacity to run all day will come into their own with the new interchange rules. Players with endurance will be running out games when the 90kg+ midfielders will probably be tiring, particularly at Subiaco.

Also Myles Sewell is not as small as people think.

Dean Polo (ex Rich) 187cm + 81kg - hard aggressive, nice skills (well was)
Myles Sewell (NB) 187cm + 80kg
Xavier Ellis (Haw) 187cm +80kg - highly skilled
Rhys Shaw (Syd) 182cm + 80kg - pace to burn
Rhys Palmer (Frem) 181cm + 80kg - ball accumulator
David Wojcinski (Geel) 180cm + 80kg - pace to burn
Steele Sidebottom (Coll) 182cm + 79kg - goal kicker, all rounder
Stephen Hill (Frem) 182cm +72kg - line breaker

You made some good points HFF but it's all risk and reward. Paying someone like him base salary, being ready to go and who will probably be loyal "Barlow" style was IMHO a risk worth taking. Particularly with his brother Brad being "a bit" on the outer at Hawthorn.

I tend to agree that he is a 'low reward' pick, especially after such success stories as Barlow and your very own Broughton.

But if you have a look, all players you mentioned have something to offer. Even Brad Sewell had a bigger body when drafted and came in and did a good job, was a real clearance player.

The player that Myles could most resemble would be Matt Pridiss.

As unassuming midfield type who just racks up numbers without you knowing.

 

[CamTinley]

Broughton, Silvagni, Ballantyne + Barlow. Why not keep a good thing going? I can hardly think of a mature age draftee who's failed recently.

Every year around 130 kids get drafted. All of them have got "upside". The reality is that four years down the track it becomes obvious that all that upside was just blind hope.

 

[Scham]

Would just like to say that, I think Essendon are a KPF short (unless the club plans for Hurley to play forward?)

Yes, we do have Gumbleton, Carlisle, Steinberg (who is speculatively being mooted as playing midfield) and Neagle on the rookie list.

Hille and Ryder can rotate forward, but not many ruckmen have made it as a FF in recent years, perhaps Ottens?

just my two cents.

Hurley should play forward.

You've got an absolute plethera of guys that can play down back so why not play him where he'll hurt the opposition the most?

Alex Browne should play next year, most likely across half back and I can easily see him develop very quickly into a true utility capable of sticking tight to the 2nd or 3rd opposition tall forward if need be also.

 

[Yoda_]

Hurley should play forward.

You've got an absolute plethera of guys that can play down back so why not play him where he'll hurt the opposition the most?

Alex Browne should play next year, most likely across half back and I can easily see him develop very quickly into a true utility capable of sticking tight to the 2nd or 3rd opposition tall forward if need be also.

Last post about Essendon it is the Fremantle board after all

At the moment, we have two real lead up CHF types in Gumby and Carlisle

Neagle is a true FF.

Steingberg I think is being looked at as a midfielder

Hille and Ryder can also play forward, but would prefer them in a pocket with a true FF there in the square.

Then we have Joe Daniher next year (who I think is being seriously wanted by Sydney, but Essendon will have him)

So, we do lack that true full forward.. as good as Hurley was in times and parts last year, I think he is a better defender than forward, but can seriously see him playing forward next year.

 

[Clay Davis]

Broughton, Silvagni, Ballantyne + Barlow. Why not keep a good thing going?

We did. We got Mzungu and Lower.

 

[Nickos66]

I would say however that Myles Sewell plays for a team that has won three consecutive flags. The formula is working for North Ballarat so why would you put him in any other position. The fact is probably that he hasn't played in any other position rather than he can't play in any other position.

Guys with a huge capacity to run all day will come into their own with the new interchange rules. Players with endurance will be running out games when the 90kg+ midfielders will probably be tiring, particularly at Subiaco.

I'll give that one a go. So that he & the club can show his diversity and improve his draft chances. State league teams do this all the time for draft hopefuls and it's definitely sounding strange that he hasn't followed suit. which could mean 1 of two things:

• He's got an issue with being played out of his perceived only position, or;
• The club & him both know he simply won't develop that other side of his game and don't want to do his draft chances more harm than good.

I was thinking he sounds like a typical Priddis clone. Slow inside mid with no hurt factor who can't play anywhere else. Heck, Priddis won the Sandover too.

 

[theGav56]

I think i have found a nickname for Gavin Roberts already...
Rod

I think "theGav" has a good ring to it. Only real question is if number 56 is available.

 

[finn]

So we have recuited the bloke with the Zoolander Blue Steel look in his pic on the afl website...
http://www.afl.com.au/News/NEWSARTICLE/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsId=104496

Quite the team of good looking lads is Freo becoming!

Seems Lower could be up there for starting 22 come round one:



http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/105980/default.aspx

weirdly the interview pegs him as a tall forward when he played mostly off the half back flank or wing.
in modern parlance, is a 75 metre player who also has the ability to close and spoil quickly.

lower is just hard - not flashy but consistent. was played often out of position as a makeshift tall backman by choco williams at port. will take a few games to adjust to pace in the middle initially but has the fitness to run all day.