Player Watch Sid Draper

[Mostyn]

The same reason we persisted with Curtin. The first 9 games of the year he averaged 9 disposals a game.

Talent is worth persisting with.

We gave Curtin a lot of games in his first year in the lower league to develop. He said himself that it helped him a lot (most recent channel 7 interview). Doing the same with Draper seems smart.

 

[Golumless]

Youve got it in for Berry it seems.

Hasnt really done too much wrong, though yesterday wasnt a great day (for most FWIW). I think Sid needs another summer in the gym to play that role at AFL level.

I'm very disappointed in Berry's run this year. Was the opportunity to bury Matt Crouch and all he could muster was a 16-17 disposal average, 4 clearances and his elite defensive profile disappeared.

Yesterday was not far off what Berry has produced all year. Only this time he couldn't hide behind the team being lights out. Dudes 70 games in and being carried as a 3rd inside mid.

 

[Cromulant]

No, I'm very disappointed in Berry's run this year. Was the opportunity to bury Matt Crouch and all he could muster was a 16-17 disposal average, 4 clearances and his elite defensive profile disappeared.

Yesterday was pretty much on par with what Berry has produced all year. Only this time he couldn't hide behind the team being lights out.

He's buried Crouch, we dont need him.

 

[Mr_Moogle]

He has yet to play a bad game a AFL level (well, arguably one weaker game at GMHBA) and has traits we sorely need, and meanwhile we're carrying proven duds like Jones in our side each week. And he has been carving it up at SANFL level.

Why bother having him on the list at all if we're not going to use him now? 40 touches and 2 goals in the SANFL, while Jones gets two touches at 0% DE in a half a football.

Oh I'd play Dowling over Jones. I'd play an inanimate carbon rod over Jones. I don't give a shit if Dowling is racking up the footy at SANFL level though. If anyone comes out of the middle, it's Draper that should come in.

 

[Cleric]

His central argument is that players are best developed in the SANFL.

Is it really worth engaging with him like he's a serious person?

Agreed. The SANFL team should be only about getting the players playing our game style, trying them in new positions, and building up a fitness base if required.
It doesnt make a player better. Theres a reason alot of new draft picks go straight into teams and play the year out.
You play your talent.
They develop quicker and better playing in the AFL than the SANFL.

Draper didnt deserve to be dropped, and for some reason his papers appear to be stamped for the rest of the year.

Dowling is also a good player who should be in the team. At the moment, Draper or Dowling aren't going to give us less than Jones or Berry.

 

[cmndstab]

Oh I'd play Dowling over Jones. I'd play an inanimate carbon rod over Jones. I don't give a shit if Dowling is racking up the footy at SANFL level though. If anyone comes out of the middle, it's Draper that should come in.

So it sounds like we agree that Draper and Dowling are the two players next in line from the SANFL, then?

With apologies to Crouch.

 

[Golumless]

He's buried Crouch, we dont need him.

That is what a silly football club would think. If we had sense, Crouch will be back this week. At least we go from getting nothing out of the position to a good ground ball winner.

As said, Sid really wouldn't have done much worse. He didn't against Gold Coast.

 

[Mr_Moogle]

So it sounds like we agree that Draper and Dowling are the two players next in line from the SANFL, then?

With apologies to Crouch.

I never want to see Crouch in the side again.

 

[cmndstab]

I never want to see Crouch in the side again.

I don't have strong feelings on this. Berry and Crouch are fighting over one spot, and I'm okay with either being there, just not both. I think that Berry has been good since coming into our side, but if he went out and Crouch went in, eh. Crouch will earn more ball and do less with it, probably get the same amount of tackles, and it'd be a wash.

 

[Cromulant]

That is what a silly football club would think. If we had sense, Crouch will be back this week. At least we go from getting nothing out of the position to a good ground ball winner.

As said, Sid really wouldn't have done much worse. He didn't against Gold Coast.

Nothing ??


Wow.

 

[AFC979810]

We gave Curtin a lot of games in his first year in the lower league to develop. He said himself that it helped him a lot (most recent channel 7 interview). Doing the same with Draper seems smart.

Curtin is a 197cm Unicorn.

Draper is a speedy midfielder who looked a million bucks in the preseason against Brisbane.

It took Curtin 22 games before his breakout game against Richmond. Imagine if we played Sid the first 20 games - maybe we would have a highly talented pick 4 ready to take on the finals.

I mean it worked with Simon Goodwin - why couldn't it have worked with Sid.

 

[Eddie Murphy]

He won't give you much less. Though we did see in the Gold Coast game that Sid didn't have the physical strength for the position at the moment. Seeing he got bullied off the ball a lot.

Small forward was the role. Low stakes and Draper is quick enough to be a menace, even without the physical strength.

That said, clear as day the big thing for Sid is an uninterrupted preseason. Well that and us not getting tunnel vision on inside midfield at this point.

I wouldn't be using his game against Gold Coast as the be-all-end-all. They're arguably the biggest and strongest midfield unit going around. In terms of matching-up on Collingwood's midfield, I don't think his strength is the big question mark. It's if he can handle manic pressure and Collingwood won't feed off his turnovers.

 

[Cromulant]

Curtin is a 197cm Unicorn.

Draper is a speedy midfielder who looked a million bucks in the preseason against Brisbane.

It took Curtin 22 games before his breakout game against Richmond. Imagine if we played Sid the first 20 games - maybe we would have a highly talented pick 4 ready to take on the finals.

I mean it worked with Simon Goodwin - why couldn't it have worked with Sid.

Its also why we persisted with Curtin

He's more physically ready to play at the level. Goody was also 20yo when he debuted.

 

[Mr_Moogle]

I don't have strong feelings on this. Berry and Crouch are fighting over one spot, and I'm okay with either being there, just not both. I think that Berry has been good since coming into our side, but if he went out and Crouch went in, eh. Crouch will earn more ball and do less with it, probably get the same amount of tackles, and it'd be a wash.

Berry at least takes the game on and can burst from stoppage. Crouch plays like a guy that knows he's going to get caught.

 

[Scorpus]

I don't have strong feelings on this. Berry and Crouch are fighting over one spot, and I'm okay with either being there, just not both. I think that Berry has been good since coming into our side, but if he went out and Crouch went in, eh. Crouch will earn more ball and do less with it, probably get the same amount of tackles, and it'd be a wash.

There is a massive difference in defensive work and two way running between Berry and Crouch

That's why an underwhelming 15 touches from Berry is more valuable than 35 from Crouch

 

[AFC979810]

Its also why we persisted with Curtin

Yeah exactly. And maybe why we should have persisted with pick 4 midfielder Draper?

Instead of people saying we managed him because of his back (bullshit) or maybe we should have selected him if he got 20+ disposals in the SANFL (looking at you).

He's more physically ready to play at the level. Goody was also 20yo when he debuted.

Goody was raw in 1997. We played him for all four finals despite him only playing 6 games in the regular season (in which he averaged 9 disposals per game).

 

[Cromulant]

Yeah exactly. And maybe why we should have persisted with pick 4 midfielder Draper?

Instead of people saying we managed him because of his back (bullshit) or maybe we should have selected him if he got 20+ disposals in the SANFL (looking at you).



Goody was raw in 1997. We played him for all four finals despite him only playing 6 games in the regular season (in which he averaged 9 disposals per game).

He was raw, but he was a very solid unit.

I'll ignore the fact you completely missed my point on Sids SANFL form. I know he was averaging 20 odd touches, its what he SHOULD be doing with his talent at that level. Noting he only had 6 touches in the 2nd half on the weekend.

 

[cmndstab]

There is a massive difference in defensive work and two way running between Berry and Crouch

That's why an underwhelming 15 touches from Berry is more valuable than 35 from Crouch

Yeah, no doubt. Different skill set. Berry is more likely to kick a goal off his own boot, too.

But an extra 20 touches from Crouch probably means a dozen more handballs going towards the likes of Dawson or Rankine. How much is that worth?

Like I said, I'm pretty agnostic on this one. If it's my choice, Berry stays in and Crouch stays out. But if the club goes the other way, I won't be getting upset over it. Berry has left his position in doubt the last couple of weeks.

 

[Mutineer]

Agreed. The SANFL team should be only about getting the players playing our game style, trying them in new positions, and building up a fitness base if required.
It doesnt make a player better. Theres a reason alot of new draft picks go straight into teams and play the year out.
You play your talent.
They develop quicker and better playing in the AFL than the SANFL.

Draper didnt deserve to be dropped, and for some reason his papers appear to be stamped for the rest of the year.

Dowling is also a good player who should be in the team. At the moment, Draper or Dowling aren't going to give us less than Jones or Berry.

Dowling deserves to get a crack at AFL though I don't see him as an inside mid, more wing/high half forward, Draper does not deserve an AFL game on the way he's currently playing in the SANFL, composure is lacking, selling himself into trouble thinking his speed has players covered which leads to rushed disposals too often when a give to a player in the clear is the better option.

 

[AFC979810]

I'll ignore the fact you completely missed my point on Sids SANFL form. I know he was averaging 20 odd touches, its what he SHOULD be doing with his talent at that level. Noting he only had 6 touches in the 2nd half on the weekend.

What should he be doing at that level to justify a call up?

Curtin played 12 games in the SANFL in 2024 and averaged 18 disposals yet has been given the unlimited opportunities in 2025 (and rightly so) and we are now reaping the benefits.

SANFL stats should have nothing to do with who we are selecting at AFL level.

James Rowe, Lachlan Murphy, and Burgess all dominate at SANFL level. That dont mean shit.

 

[AFC979810]

Draper does not deserve an AFL game on the way he's currently playing in the SANFL, composure is lacking, selling himself into trouble thinking his speed has players covered which leads to rushed disposals too often when a give to a player in the clear is the better option.

You think your boy Jones deserves a game over Sid?

 

[Scorpus]

Yeah, no doubt. Different skill set. Berry is more likely to kick a goal off his own boot, too.

But an extra 20 touches from Crouch probably means a dozen more handballs going towards the likes of Dawson or Rankine. How much is that worth?

Like I said, I'm pretty agnostic on this one. If it's my choice, Berry stays in and Crouch stays out. But if the club goes the other way, I won't be getting upset over it. Berry has left his position in doubt the last couple of weeks.

I honestly think Crouch's feeding of others is massively overrated and not that important to our other mids who can all win the ball themselves

 

[Cromulant]

What should he be doing at that level to justify a call up?

Curtin played 12 games in the SANFL in 2024 and averaged 18 disposals yet has been given the unlimited opportunities in 2025 (and rightly so) and we are now reaping the benefits.

SANFL stats should have nothing to do with who we are selecting at AFL level.

James Rowe, Lachlan Murphy, and Burgess all dominate at SANFL level. That dont mean shit.

Hitting targets by foot, showing more composure and running out games.

Sid will be fine, I just dont think he's quite there yet.

 

[weekend at bernies]

Curtin is a 197cm Unicorn.

Draper is a speedy midfielder who looked a million bucks in the preseason against Brisbane.

It took Curtin 22 games before his breakout game against Richmond. Imagine if we played Sid the first 20 games - maybe we would have a highly talented pick 4 ready to take on the finals.

I mean it worked with Simon Goodwin - why couldn't it have worked with Sid.

look at all the midfield talent brisbane have and they still decided to play Ashcroft every week. We couldn't of done that with Draper..

 

[Cromulant]

You think your boy Jones deserves a game over Sid?

If we're going by SANFL form then yes.

But you have correctly pointed out, weve seen that doesnt matter too much.