Player Watch Sid Draper

[Rory Walkerfield]

Theres plenty of evidence to suggest he plays the top end kids, which is what Sid is.

The fact he's not doing that with Sid suggests we are taking more of a long term view to get him right.

So at a minimum its agreed that Nicks doesn’t look for opportunities to play young players except if they’re top draft picks?

 

[UcantCme]

Draper looks a long way off AFL ready - we shouldn’t pick him just because he is a top 5 draft pick

He’s spent almost all pre-season in rehab and struggled with his body last year

We need to show patience- let him build his strength and game

 

[Cromulant]

So at a minimum its agreed that Nicks doesn’t look for opportunities to play young players except if they’re top draft picks?

Jake Soligo, Sam Berry, Nick Murray, Jimmy Rowe and I guess it depends on whether you call Max a "top" pick.

 

[jackster83]

Draper looks a long way off AFL ready - we shouldn’t pick him just because he is a top 5 draft pick

He’s spent almost all pre-season in rehab and struggled with his body last year

We need to show patience- let him build his strength and game

The guy was playing regular senior football at SANFL level at 16. It's not like he's a skinny kid who was only playing juniors.

We haven't developed too many midfielders at SANFL level since we've had our own reserves team. Guys like Soligo were playing in the ones from very early on, while the list of busts is longer than Butters' MRP rapsheet.

If he is anywhere close to full fitness he should be in the ones.

 

[cmndstab]

So at a minimum its agreed that Nicks doesn’t look for opportunities to play young players except if they’re top draft picks?

Realistically, with Nicks it's not a case of whether you're young or not.

He decides early in the (pre)season which players are in the "only select in cases of emergency" bucket, and nothing outside of three Brownlow votes is going to shake him from that belief.

As others have noted, there are plenty of young players he's backed in from day one. And there are others who can't seem to get games regardless of form.

In terms of Draper, I'm not concerned about him as long as we continue playing him in the centre. He looked very comfortable when he came in early last year and played midfield. Then we tried to play him elsewhere and he looked lost. If we keep him in the middle and let him build back from a horror preseason, he will get back to his quality form again. Then we'll see which bucket Nicks has him in.

 

[GreyCrow]

Draper looks a long way off AFL ready - we shouldn’t pick him just because he is a top 5 draft pick

He’s spent almost all pre-season in rehab and struggled with his body last year

We need to show patience- let him build his strength and game

Chicken or egg?

Understand his injuries have curtailed his appearances but how do you then judge '' AFL ready '' - its a throwaway phrase that really means nothing

I'm not convinced 2-3 years in the SANFL is the way to make players '' AFL ready ''

Having a philosophy of waiting then being played out of position and yo-yo-ing in and out of the side doesn't work either

If we cant take the hit that 1 player will generate or not - then what are we even doing

 

[JennyTalia]

My concern is not with Sid. He has some great attributes. It is with our lack of evidence for developing midfielders via the SANFL.

I'd be inclined to throw him in and let him also learn from his peers and opposition.