Rosa, LeCras, Morton, Smith

[coasting]

Here's a thread to talk about out recruits from the 2004 draft...

Pick 29 Matthew Rosa North Ballarat Rebels 23-11-1986 189 74
Medium midfielder who is strong overhead and has great running capacity. Reads game well and has clean hands - from Warracknabeal FC and represented Victoria Country at the National Bank's AFL U18 Championships. Finished 2nd in Rebels Best and Fairest to top off impressive year.

Pick 37 West Coast Mark LeCras WEST PERTH 30-08-1986 183 74
Medium inside forward who is creative and strong overhead. Won All Australian U18 honours this year. His agility run of 8.18sec placed him in the top 7% at the National Bank's AFL Draft Camp. Made his senior debut with West Perth this year and impressed. From Whitfords FC.

Pick 44 West Coast Mitch Morton CLAREMONT 28-01-1987 184 73
Medium midfielder with clean hands, excellent disposal skills and versatile. Won All Australian honours at National Bank's Under 18 Championships, after winning Barassi Medal for Australian U17 team being the best player in the International Rules series vs Ireland in April 2004.

Pick 57 Bradley Smith SUBIACO (WAFL) 11/5/1979 193 102
Kicked 180+ goals for Subi in the last 2 years.

 

[eagleskickass]

all I can say is I am actually very very happy with those 4. Only 1 tall but an AFL ready accurate goal kicking tall, we have plenty of other tall options on the list. Morton and Lecras I know are good players and Rosa is highly rated so im quite stoked with todays results

 

[Exeter]

reasonably happy with that.

 

[coasting]

Rosa - All clubs could do with tall midfield types. We seem to love these guys so no surprise here. Not a speed demon but a great engine to run into the wide expanses of Subiaco.

LeCras - I've seen him play a few times. I like him, I'm just not sure where he fits in atm.

Morton - We've talked about him alot already. Could play in a number of places. Probably start on a wing or one of the flanks.

Smith - This is the interesting pick. I don't think we would draft him just to be a backup. This means he will be playing FF next year as I don't see him playing anywhere else. I guess the coaches got sick of McDougalls setshot kicking. I just think giving McDougall one year at FF and then demoting him for Brad Smith seems like a bit of wasted development. This pick is bad news for one of McDougall, Staker, Seaby or Hansen (probably the later). With this pick we now have an abundance of forwards, I think we need to develop a few tall defenders from the forwards who can't get a game like Hansen and Gaspar.

 

[llosis]

Rosa. Le Cras and Morton are all safe-ish picks.

Not sold on Smith. Mature age, one position player - Troy Mk II in my opinion and it seems at odds with our developments in promoting the youngsters last season.

What will temper this as with most is how we go with the rookie draft. Each year its becoming more and more important and there are some decent types available for us to nab so let's hope we do well there.

 

[BB gun]

looks like Mcdougal will struggle for a spot next year. I didn't really care either way wether freo picked up Smith. I think you will get around 40-50 goals out of him next year, which might be just enough for you guys to make the top 4.
But will have to wait and see

 

[juDDa]

brad smith will kick 150 goals next for the eagles and we'll win the premiership because he'll kick 15 in the grand final!!but seriously..
is he any good??

 

[coasting]

brad smith will kick 150 goals next for the eagles and we'll win the premiership because he'll kick 15 in the grand final!!but seriously..
is he any good??

He is a lead, mark and goal type. He is an intelligent player who knows when to lead and how to lead. He is a very good set shot. But he isn't going to out-muscle AFL fullbacks and he isn't great at ground level. He also isn't very accountable and he will have to learn to run with AFL fullbacks who will attempt to run off him.

 

[Total Package]

looks like Mcdougal will struggle for a spot next year. I didn't really care either way wether freo picked up Smith. I think you will get around 40-50 goals out of him next year, which might be just enough for you guys to make the top 4.
But will have to wait and see

McDougall struggle for a spot??

 

[cartman]

look on the bright side not bad picks and also we didn't re select trent carrol

 

[mick ryan]

McDougall struggle for a spot??

Hope someone has seen fit to check on him, I wouldn't be surprised if he's tried to do himself in! Can't see him getting a spot in front of Smith.

 

[coasting]

Hope someone has seen fit to check on him, I wouldn't be surprised if he's tried to do himself in! Can't see him getting a spot in front of Smith.

He can play more than one position unlike Smith who can only play at FF. He'll have no troubles getting a game. Its players like Hansen, Gaspar and maybe Staker who will be squeezed out of the forward line.

 

[jess-jess]

Its players like Hansen, Gaspar and maybe Staker who will be squeezed out of the forward line.

Staker was drafted as a defender, maybe the club will start to groom him for a role down back. Gaspar could also play down back if he gets right.

 

[Jabber]

Re: Smith - The obvious plan here is to move McDougall further up the ground, which IMO is where he is better for us. His year at FF wasn't wasted, he's improved his marking under pressure against some big and tough opponents, and should Gardiner be moved back into full time ruck duties at some time in the future, Doogs would find it easier to slot into full time CHF duties.

A forward line of Smith, Gardiner, McDougall & Matera should have no excuses for not producing goals, especially when there is a queue of people lining up for the other flank and pocket positions.

Not fully sold on Rosa yet, but overall very happy with what we got.

 

[Monocle]

Not fully sold on Rosa yet, but overall very happy with what we got.

Why not Jabber ? Have you seen him play and not been impressed or is it the description and write up on him that you dont like ?

For what its worth I have seen him play twice and liked what I saw. I think he will do very well at Subiaco Oval, he is a very poised player who holds his feet well , some where between Judd and Butler in style . I am not saying he is Judd like in ability but his decision making is excellent and his cool manner is very much like Butler.

IMO Cheers.

 

[coasting]

Why not Jabber ? Have you seen him play and not been impressed or is it the description and write up on him that you dont like ?

For what its worth I have seen him play twice and liked what I saw. I think he will do very well at Subiaco Oval, he is a very poised player who holds his feet well , some where between Judd and Butler in style . I am not saying he is Judd like in ability but his decision making is excellent and his cool manner is very much like Butler.

IMO Cheers.

Its a strange theory I have but personally I have trouble drafting players with feminine names. Not sure why but they usually end up being duds eg Trent Carroll.

 

[Clayton]

I'm pretty happy with what we picked up in the draft, I don't really know a whole lot about Rosa but I like to think our recruiting staff are always on the ball.

Smith is a good pick up aswell, it'll be interesting to see how the forward positions line-up next yr Smith is the likely FF maybe freeing up Doogs to play CHF... Only Gardiner is in the mix aswell.

 

[Mead]

Its a strange theory I have but personally I have trouble drafting players with feminine names. Not sure why but they usually end up being duds eg Trent Carroll.

Like that ************ty Ashley McIntosh?

 

[coasting]

Like that ************ty Ashley McIntosh?

I meant last names.

 

[Moo]

Would you think Hansen is under threat by Smith?

Gardiner is probably the risk to Hansen up forward and for the record I have some time for his work rate. Never overlook the importance of solid workhorses for the team.

Staker is interesting and a move back to take the 2nd tall is certainly an option. If Gaspar can get anywhere near fit - you are going to be a dangerous unit next year.

On the FF - why wouldn't fanbelts just say Smith - McDougall .....its on. Best man wins?

 

[Mead]

Would you think Hansen is under threat by Smith?

Gardiner is probably the risk to Hansen up forward and for the record I have some time for his work rate. Never overlook the importance of solid workhorses for the team.

Staker is interesting and a move back to take the 2nd tall is certainly an option. If Gaspar can get anywhere near fit - you are going to be a dangerous unit next year.

On the FF - why wouldn't fanbelts just say Smith - McDougall .....its on. Best man wins?

I think thats about right. There's about six possible forward options- really depends on who comes to play in the preseason, but Doogs is first in line at this stage. I think Brad Smith was probably drafted to put some pressure on McDougall (interestingly enough, McDougall only really started to play good football when Gaspar (briefly) Hansen and Seaby entered the picture last year and put his place under threat.

Personally I doubt Smith will be able to make it a AFL level- like Medhurst and Wilson I think he'll start very well, but a season or two in, opposition teams will 'figure him out'. If he did come in and dominate, the best format would be Smith as a leading full forward, Gardiner the third tall (!) and McDougall out at CHF.

As for the other options, Hansen is going to have to force his way in with good WAFL form, Seaby will probably spend more time in the ruck this year, Gaspar.. is Gaspar, and I think Staker will probably see more time in defence this year as he starts to stack on the kgs.

 

[coasting]

Would you think Hansen is under threat by Smith?

Gardiner is probably the risk to Hansen up forward and for the record I have some time for his work rate. Never overlook the importance of solid workhorses for the team.

Staker is interesting and a move back to take the 2nd tall is certainly an option. If Gaspar can get anywhere near fit - you are going to be a dangerous unit next year.

On the FF - why wouldn't fanbelts just say Smith - McDougall .....its on. Best man wins?

Who is fanbelts?

 

[theorangeapple]

doogs descerves first crack at FF but i think he could play more of a floating forward role coming up the ground to use his athleticism ala Riewoldt.

ive never seen Rosa play but from what i have read he sounds in a similar mould as Butler. neat skills, poised and makes the right choices. actually, thinking back that was almost Butlers profile when he was drafted.

 

[Deegle]

I've never seen Rosa play as im a Victorian but does anyone think he would be an embley-type player. Not overly quick, but a tall midfielder, who can go forward. If so what are his chances of getting a game next season?

 

[Exeter]

I think thats about right. There's about six possible forward options- really depends on who comes to play in the preseason, but Doogs is first in line at this stage. I think Brad Smith was probably drafted to put some pressure on McDougall (interestingly enough, McDougall only really started to play good football when Gaspar (briefly) Hansen and Seaby entered the picture last year and put his place under threat.

Personally I doubt Smith will be able to make it a AFL level- like Medhurst and Wilson I think he'll start very well, but a season or two in, opposition teams will 'figure him out'. If he did come in and dominate, the best format would be Smith as a leading full forward, Gardiner the third tall (!) and McDougall out at CHF.

As for the other options, Hansen is going to have to force his way in with good WAFL form, Seaby will probably spend more time in the ruck this year, Gaspar.. is Gaspar, and I think Staker will probably see more time in defence this year as he starts to stack on the kgs.

Hey, I was going to say that!

Spoiler.