Player Watch Sid Draper

[Go the Guts]

After reading the last few pages. It seems like some think on here that he hasn't had an opportunity to really get into his career and it sounds like hes had some fair excuses.

I stand by the question, if you bring in a FA like Bailey and a returning Curtin where does it leave a guy like Draper?

It leaves him as a baby who has 12-15 years ahead of him as a crow. Fairly obvious to anyone who isn’t trying to stir crap on an opposition board. Off you go now……

 

[Go the Guts]

*Only single digit pick that will be on our list after this year.

Oh dear. Not a lot of knowledge about our list?!

 

[FR0GGY]

Oh dear. Not a lot of knowledge about our list?!

Oh dear didn’t read the full conversation before jumping in

 

[cmndstab]

I've got no real issues with us developing players in different roles, but when they show something in said role like Edwards did... then you get him in there. We chose Smith.

Its half worked with Taylor, who went forward in our SANFL side and now fills a role in the senior side. Shows a bit more composure around the ball than some more senior teammates.

But Draper is a top end midfielder, play him forward at times if we must.... but get him around the ball.

With all due respect to Taylor, he was a speculative pick who needed to develop in multiple roles to have a shot at playing AFL footy.

Edwards was a first-round selection who was picked specifically to play as a tall midfielder. I can understand trying him elsewhere if he failed in that role, but we didn't even really try. And it's not like he was doing particularly well playing off half back, anyway.

 

[Go the Guts]

He averages 8 disposals and less than a goal a game across his career.

Hes not a midfielder, hes not a small forward.... he is sadly, a bust

Yeah nah. He’s barely had a decent run at it due to injury. Quite confident he will become a good player for us yet.
A bust is someone like Chayce Jones - 100 games of being a total liability.

 

[Mutineer]

With all due respect to Taylor, he was a speculative pick who needed to develop in multiple roles to have a shot at playing AFL footy.

With due respect Zac Taylor played almost all of his draft year as a midfielder for both the Calder Cannons and Vic Metro.

Hence him winning the Cannons B & F and making the NAB League Team Of The Year.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Agreed, with the caveat that we need to let Draper build his fitness back up first.

Once he's fully fit, put him in.

No caveat on Edwards as he is fully fit, but we have preferred to play a labouring Soligo.

Can't tell me an inexperienced Edwards wouldn't have provided more.

 

[adelaidecrows]

With due respect Zac Taylor played almost all of his draft year as a midfielder for both the Calder Cannons and Vic Metro.

Hence him winning the Cannons B & F and making the NAB League Team Of The Year.

Yeah why do people make things up about players to suit a narrative. The Crows were surprised to see Taylor still on the table and traded to ensure they got him. The Crows rated Taylor. He was never speculative, not even a little bit. The only reason he was so delayed in coming on was his injury issues. Hed probably would have played just as many games as Soligo and Rachele has it been the case. And he is showing it.

 

[Cromulant]

With all due respect to Taylor, he was a speculative pick who needed to develop in multiple roles to have a shot at playing AFL footy.

Edwards was a first-round selection who was picked specifically to play as a tall midfielder. I can understand trying him elsewhere if he failed in that role, but we didn't even really try. And it's not like he was doing particularly well playing off half back, anyway.

He was playing quite well off half back to start last year.

 

[TheLeftFist8]

With due respect Zac Taylor played almost all of his draft year as a midfielder for both the Calder Cannons and Vic Metro.

Hence him winning the Cannons B & F and making the NAB League Team Of The Year.

While the majority of his teammates panic, fumble, make poor decisions, and lack execution, Taylor is a beacon of footy smarts and skill.

He must stay in the team. Sure, he probably needs another pre-season or two to finally mature that smaller frame and lesser tank but he is a proper AFL standard footballer and we sure as hell don't have 23 of them atm.

Get him in the middle at times to continue development, along with forward roles, and back this kid in!

 

[cmndstab]

No caveat on Edwards as he is fully fit, but we have preferred to play a labouring Soligo.

Can't tell me an inexperienced Edwards wouldn't have provided more.

Even if he wouldn't, I don't like the idea of us playing a clearly unfit Soligo. It would be one thing if he just needed to push through it for a game or two, but he seems no more fit now than he did at the start of the season.

With due respect Zac Taylor played almost all of his draft year as a midfielder for both the Calder Cannons and Vic Metro.

Hence him winning the Cannons B & F and making the NAB League Team Of The Year.

I'm well aware of that. However, there's also a reason he lasted until pick 44.

When you're drafting midfielders in the first round, it shouldn't be so that you can try them in other positions and see if they can make it there.

By all means, if they fail to make it as a midfielder, then try them elsewhere to see if you can salvage something out of their career.

 

[jackster83]

Even if he wouldn't, I don't like the idea of us playing a clearly unfit Soligo. It would be one thing if he just needed to push through it for a game or two, but he seems no more fit now than he did at the start of the season.

1970crow called it last year.

Soligo can’t run. But keeps the continuity credits rolling.

 

[cmndstab]

Soligo has earned some continuity credits, but not if it's going to come at the expense of his own game. We wouldn't send him out there with a broken leg, after all.

It's clear the club has made the decision to play him back into fitness, but given that we're four matches in and he still looks just as unfit as he did at the start of the year, it seems ill-advised.

 

[Daniel6]

I wonder how much emphasis the match committee put on training form compared to match day performance, especially with an SANFL game.

How does Edwards, Ryan, Dowling or Draper go against first choice younger players in the AFL side or do they put much more emphasis on the of the match stimulation at training and that is how they decide who gets picked or not.

 

[jackster83]

Soligo has earned some continuity credits, but not if it's going to come at the expense of his own game. We wouldn't send him out there with a broken leg, after all.

It's clear the club has made the decision to play him back into fitness, but given that we're four matches in and he still looks just as unfit as he did at the start of the year, it seems ill-advised.

Soligo hasn't earned shit.

He was average last year, and is even worse this year.

 

[George CantStandYa]

Soligo has earned some continuity credits, but not if it's going to come at the expense of his own game. We wouldn't send him out there with a broken leg, after all.

It's clear the club has made the decision to play him back into fitness, but given that we're four matches in and he still looks just as unfit as he did at the start of the year, it seems ill-advised.

Given how close the margins have been, his on going selection could easily have cost us a win.

What’s his max possessions 14?

 

[ABAB]

Soligo has earned some continuity credits, but not if it's going to come at the expense of his own game. We wouldn't send him out there with a broken leg, after all.

It's clear the club has made the decision to play him back into fitness, but given that we're four matches in and he still looks just as unfit as he did at the start of the year, it seems ill-advised.

Need to give him midfield minutes this week otherwise he will get 75% TOG as a forward again and shit happen down there for the 1st half of the game so his fitness improvement is very limited anyway.

 

[Pugsley]

Charlie Edwards drafted as a later 1st round bigger bodied midfielder with what was considered plenty of upside on offer spent a lot of the 2025 SANFL season toiling away off half back. Finally gets to play permanent midfielder and show us what the recruiting guys saw in 2023. It's time!!!

I think most of the board also have been saying this.

Edwards needs to play this week. There are no excuses.

 

[conVINCEd]

Given how close the margins have been, his on going selection could easily have cost us a win.

What’s his max possessions 14?

He actually had 21 v Geelong.

 

[Cromulant]

He actually had 21 v Geelong.

And according to Wheelo ratings he's out 11th ranked player for the year.

I struggle to believe that myself, but there you go

 

[VT0100]

It's among our favourite things to do

Use prime SANFL development roles for players who aren't on our list, ahead of young players who are crucial to the development of our AFL list.

Second only to bringing back players who are about to be delisted, ahead of players who are contracted and in desperate need of experience/exposure.

The other favourite is giving players who’s about to retire or in the final year of their contract, valuable game time. Why risk to see if our young draftees have it at the afl level. Much better to quadruple check to see if a spud is still a spud. “What if in their 100th game, he shows us he’s a just below average afl player!!!”

Murphy, Schoenberg, Chayce Jones, M Crouch, Brodie, McHenry….

 

[Mutineer]

Even if he wouldn't, I don't like the idea of us playing a clearly unfit Soligo. It would be one thing if he just needed to push through it for a game or two, but he seems no more fit now than he did at the start of the season.



I'm well aware of that. However, there's also a reason he lasted until pick 44.

When you're drafting midfielders in the first round, it shouldn't be so that you can try them in other positions and see if they can make it there.

By all means, if they fail to make it as a midfielder, then try them elsewhere to see if you can salvage something out of their career.

So while Taylor was drafted as essentially as a midfielder initially develops in the SANFL you would play top ups like Jay Boyle etc (no disrespect to Boyle) in the midfield ahead of a player drafted as a midfielder. I wouldn't and unfortunately this is the case with Charlie Edwards and others.
As for the speculative pick many would disagree with that #44 is just a number and the 2021 draft is right up there with one of the strongest AFL drafts in history.

Adelaide select Zac Taylor with pick No.44 in the 2021 National Draft.

Draft Report: A damaging right-foot kick and clearance beast, Taylor is an inside midfielder who is as tough as nails and works as hard as anyone. One of the top-rated players in the NAB League this season, the Cannons' ace ranked elite in the competition for disposals, marks, clearances and score involvements. He rarely wastes the ball by foot, is agile on his feet, is composed under pressure, has clean and quick hands at stoppage and has taken his work rate and leadership to new levels this season. He is also defensively-minded with a strong tackling and pressure side of his game and laid nine tackles in one NAB League game against Geelong Falcons this year. Taylor featured in one match for Essendon's VFL side this year and was one of Vic Metro's better players in its Challenge Match against Vic Country in July, logging 21 disposals, five marks and four clearances. Across his final three NAB League he averaged 168 SuperCoach ranking points to put some icing on the cake and further pique the interest of recruiters. Taylor also made his senior football debut for Oak Park in the Essendon District Football League this year.

 

[TheLeftFist8]

I wonder how much emphasis the match committee put on training form compared to match day performance, especially with an SANFL game.

How does Edwards, Ryan, Dowling or Draper go against first choice younger players in the AFL side or do they put much more emphasis on the of the match stimulation at training and that is how they decide who gets picked or not.

With the odds firmly stacked against them as they are usually in a 'First 23 vs the rest' scenario. So if the youngster doesn't dominate the established stars with a bunch of other youngsters and has-beens around them then they can't overtake the pre-ordained best 23!

 

[TheLeftFist8]

Get Zac Taylor in the mid rotations! I'm not saying he has the same elite level in him but I'm sensing Lachie Neale

9

Lachie Neale

Age

32

Ht

177cm

Wt

84kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

27.0

5star

K

11.5

4star

HB

15.5

5star

M

4.0

4star

T

3.7

5star

CL

5.9

5star

D

28.3

5star

K

13.9

5star

HB

14.4

5star

M

4.6

4star

T

4.0

5star

CL

5.9

5star

D

12.0

3star

K

4.6

2star

HB

7.4

5star

M

2.0

3star

T

1.0

3star

CL

0.4

3star

in style.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Get Zac Taylor in the mid rotations! I'm not saying he has the same elite level in him but I'm sensing Lachie Neale in style.

At least use him in bursts, particularly later in quarters when players are tiring.