Should we draft Brad Smith

[F-U]

I dont know if anyone has seen him play lately but after noticing that he has kicked over 100 goals this season in the WAFL he would have to be considered by the Eagles to be picked up in the draft. I know he is in his mid 20's but he seems to have very strong hands and tends to be very quick on the lead. I think he would be a good acquisition if we could get him with our 2nd round pick. After the season he has had you would expect him to be picked up in the draft but when it is will depend on how other clubs rate him.

If he is still available at pick 29 do you think we should use our pick to pick up Brad Smith?? or do you think that he would fail at AFL level because what i have seen of him i believe he could be a real gun in the making..

 

[West Coast Fan 123]

If hes in his mid to late 20's I dont think we should play him ahead of McDougall as its just a quick fix (ala Troy Wilson). This is only if he plays FF and also I dont know So if we can pick him up with maybe a fourth round pick he could be a good backup player but I wouldnt play an older player in a KP over some of our young up and comers. F-U could you give me some stats on him as well as his age, hieght etc.

 

[daddy_4_eyes]

If we're forced to use a 4th rd pick, I don't see why not. At the very least he'd be a ready made back-up FF, on minimum wage.

 

[Monocle]

What size is he and would he be able to take the physicality of AFL ?

 

[F-U]

I dont know much stats of him but i know that he is 25, 190+cm and has kicked over 100 goals this season in the WAFL. He has a good 5-6 years left in him and unlike Troy Wilson he has something called talent.

I do think with the form he has been in he will not be there when it comes to the 4th round especially with the weak draft we have. We would have to use a 2nd or early 3rd round pick if we want to pick him up. Personally i think he is worth a shot. Anyone who kicks 100+ goals in a season at WAFL level must be a fairly gifted player in my opinion.

 

[eagleskickass]

Could he handle the physicality of the AFL? Most certainly
Should we draft him? Well, i don't know. McDougall impresses me, Smith can only play FF, doubt he could play anywhere else. I've just come from the WAFL semi-final(GO SUBI!) and watched Smith ABSOLUTELY SMASH Carroll(ok, so nothing special) Booting 6(would have got 10 if the umps were any good) and also got 3 points. Took so many pack marks and strong marks in front. VERY sure hands and one of the most accurate kicks I know. If WCE thought he would be better than Doogs then draft him(hes about 23-24) if not, probably not worth it. I do expect him to be drafted however IF he nominates.

 

[West Coast Fan 123]

Does he play for Subiaco?

 

[F-U]

I cant believe how strong his hands are considering his rather slight build for a full forward. Smith does play for Subiaco and has nominated for the draft. Peter German gave him a real endorsement saying that Eagles and Dockers would be stupid not to pick him up after his good form. Im sure if we dont pick him up Dockers will be ready to swoop.....

 

[underthebridge]

i would love it if we picked up smith. doogs i rekn is suited better to chf, so it wont be taking any oppurtunities away from him. if smith comes good, imagine our forward line:

Matera Smith Seaby
Gardiner Doogs sampi

 

[eagleskickass]

well he WILL be picked up, of that I am certain. Hes strong, footy smart, built for the AFL, young but with a LOT of WAFl experience now, any team who picked him up for easily get 8-10 solid years out of him IMO. Again, i am a big fan of him but it would come down to if we want to persist with Doogs at FF or if we want to go for Smith, cause Smith would not play anywhere other than FF IMO(not that bad a thing though as he is VERY good at what he does!)

 

[coasting]

Unfortunately the one thing we don't need is more tall forwards. I can't see it happening and I'm not sure the dockers need him either. May have to go interstate.

 

[West Coast Fan 123]

Just wondering did he nominate for the draft as a youngster and where has he come from, did he just come of age this year or has he been in the waiting in the wings for a while.

 

[coasting]

Just wondering did he nominate for the draft as a youngster and where has he come from, did he just come of age this year or has he been in the waiting in the wings for a while.

Don't know but I know he nominated last year but he wasn't picked up.

 

[crazzzy_grrl]

Don't know but I know he nominated last year but he wasn't picked up.

Im not sure if i've got this right, but i think they said he was playing for subi but lost interest, went back to the country, found his passion again and came back and now is the top FF in the comp

 

[Voice of Reason]

Im not sure if i've got this right, but i think they said he was playing for subi but lost interest, went back to the country, found his passion again and came back and now is the top FF in the comp

I think that's right. His Dad, Phil Smith, was apparently a very good player for West Perth years ago.

I'm really not sure (and I've seen a fair bit of him in the WAFL). Definitely a one position player at FF - not sure Woosha picks those. Having said that, I agree that Doogs is a CHF rather than a FF, am not sure Hansen is or ever will be up to CHF and we don't yet know about Gardy's fitness.

How many goals did Paul Medhurst kick in wAFL in one season? I think it was 70+ as a small forward, so they don't necessarily make it at the next level (although I presume Smith would have to be less of a bighead).

 

[Goldenblue]

No.

Too slightly built for some of the Full Backs in the comp, his age and lack of experience in the big league will be a factor.

I think we learnt from the Wilson episode, and I would instill my faith in Doogs. Sure he went missing last night, but with his height and that sort of weather, the game was against him.

Doogs will come good. I am waiting to see him next season with a summer of weights bulking him up more. His hands are a great asset at FF and with a bigger body, this boy could do some damage.

 

[Clayton]

If Smith was still available at the 3rd or 4th round then I think we should really consider picking him up. I think it would be interesting to see what the Dockers think about drafting him surely he'd be a better option than Simmonds & J-lo.

 

[jess-jess]

I'm a big rap for Smith and i think he would be worth a punt with a late pick. He's proven he's a quality goal kicker at WAFL level and i don't see why that coudn't translate to AFL. I know not all good WAFL players are good AFL players, but i think he could be.

There is a real stigma attached to drafting players outside that 17-20 age bracket in the draft. With Key position players, they don't normally fully develop till there 23 or so anyway, i don't really see it as a big risk taking him with a late pick. He'd add depth to the side. Although he wouldn't have senior AFL experience, he has pleanty of game experience and knows how to play his position. If it's possible for some players drafted to turn out to be duds, it's possible for talented players to slip through the draft system, which i think he is one.

i think he has been on a few rookie lists and didn't get promoted early on. I think then he gave up footy for a bit, but has come back.

 

[jod23]

We dont need him, its as simple as that. McDougall IMO has made FF his own and will only get better. He would be a gamble that we just dont need to take. I would rather use the pick on a youngster.

 

[vicki]

We dont need him, its as simple as that. McDougall IMO has made FF his own and will only get better. He would be a gamble that we just dont need to take. I would rather use the pick on a youngster.

Have to agree with that. Don't need him.