Draft Watcher Slice of Pie: Draft Board and Profiles

[Bicks]

Since when has the TAC Cup being about winning games? Yes, it's a bonus, but if an AFL recruiter says we want to see a player play in X position. They play in that position. Recruiters dictate team selection/team roles to a large extent because at the end of the day, the players futures rest in their hands. They have to be comfortable picking them to play a role. The wildcard round has also taken away any notion of making/missing finals for competitive people - you can win a flag from last technically. It's all about the development.

Haven't they seen enough already?

I think he ends up at Brisbane anyhow?

 

[Pie 4 Life]

Haven't they seen enough already?

I think he ends up at Brisbane anyhow?

Well we will find out once he's back at the Rebels. But that positioning stuff is out of Greig and Parto's hands. I mean, Watts as a CHB was a perfect example of recruiters asking to see a player in a certain position. Jed Hill playing inside mid for three quarters on the weekend, another one.

Just quietly, I reckon Jed's introduction in there is preparing for when Berry returns and plays HBF.

 

[Bicks]

Well we will find out once he's back at the Rebels. But that positioning stuff is out of Greig and Parto's hands. I mean, Watts as a CHB was a perfect example of recruiters asking to see a player in a certain position. Jed Hill playing inside mid for three quarters on the weekend, another one.

Just quietly, I reckon Jed's introduction in there is preparing for when Berry returns and plays HBF.

On what I've seen of Jed he's too outside to ever play AFL midfield, if he's to play AFL it will be as a clever forward or perhaps wing. Didn't see the game on the weekend so I'll watch Jed with interest if that comes to pass. IMO Charlie Wilson would have more claims on playing midfield than Hill.

 

[Pie 4 Life]

On what I've seen of Jed he's too outside to ever play AFL midfield, if he's to play AFL it will be as a clever forward or perhaps wing. Didn't see the game on the weekend so I'll watch Jed with interest if that comes to pass. IMO Charlie Wilson would have more claims on playing midfield than Hill.

He played very well in there. His kicking was shaky because of the added pressure he hasn’t had being that outside player, but he adapted his game sense of reading the ball drop off hands to reading the taps. Won the first two clearances he was stationed at too.

 

[Bicks]

He played very well in there. His kicking was shaky because of the added pressure he hasn’t had being that outside player, but he adapted his game sense of reading the ball drop off hands to reading the taps. Won the first two clearances he was stationed at too.

Have you seen an indigenous lad from down Warrnambool way Jamarra Ugle-Hagan play?
I've heard he's a very special talent, currently schooling in Melbourne apparently.

 

[Pie 4 Life]

Have you seen an indigenous lad from down Warrnambool way Jamarra Ugle-Hagan play?
I've heard he's a very special talent, currently schooling in Melbourne apparently.

Yeah talented U16, in the Vic Country squad. He's been impressing at school footy for Scotch. He's got a great vertical leap, human highlight reel, great goal sense. A natural footballer.

 

[Bicks]

Yeah talented U16, in the Vic Country squad. He's been impressing at school footy for Scotch. He's got a great vertical leap, human highlight reel, great goal sense. A natural footballer.

So the Bulldogs would have first call on him?

 

[Pie 4 Life]

So the Bulldogs would have first call on him?

Yeah well Indigenous background, from their NGA zone, I can't see why he wouldn't be classified there. It's the region not the schooling that will count.

 

[HedgeFund]

I don’t often disagree with Pie 4 Life.....but this simply isn’t correct. I certainly haven’t heard it happen to the extent suggested. Unless the Rebels are more beholden to AFL recruiters than other clubs?

AFL Clubs may request that a particular player be played in the backline of up forward, but that doesn’t guarantee it will happen. Ultimately TAC Cup team selection comes down to the club and coaches. The only exception is if/when players get combine selections / screenings. That tends to weigh in their favour at the selection table.

 

[Pie 4 Life]

I don’t often disagree with Pie 4 Life.....but this simply isn’t correct. I certainly haven’t heard it happen to the extent suggested. AFL Clubs may request that a particular player be played in the backline of up forward, but that doesn’t guarantee it will happen. Ultimately TAC Cup team selection comes down to the club and coaches. The only exception is if/when players get combine selections / screenings. That tends to weigh in their favour at the selection table.

Fair enough, I know you know what you're talking about in this regard. I can only speak from what I've heard and from some players directly they've told me "I'm playing here because Person X/club/recruiter" wants to see me there/see if I can play there. Plus stories of where players in-form have been dropped to allow players not getting games/not getting enough time in a role to step up and see if they can play there.

I'm glad it's not a whole-competition thing, as I said, that's just what I've heard, and it's been a number of occasions, not just once. Now it could be the players having sour grapes, but it's a bit of a long bow to draw in some of the circumstances, and does makes sense.

 

[LemmingMaster]

I swear I've heard a club recruiter walk into a huddle and request a player shift positions before at WAFL colts level.

 

[Bicks]

Young Tom Berry looks to have another "easy" match up on Friday....Ian Hill FMD.

 

[eDPS]

Young Tom Berry looks to have another "easy" match up on Friday....Ian Hill FMD.

Cal Twomey refered to Berry as a defender on his podcast today, I could only help but facepalm.

 

[Pie 4 Life]

Cal Twomey refered to Berry as a defender on his podcast today, I could only help but facepalm.

DPP next year. Good value

 

[crispy creme]

Fair enough, I know you know what you're talking about in this regard. I can only speak from what I've heard and from some players directly they've told me "I'm playing here because Person X/club/recruiter" wants to see me there/see if I can play there. Plus stories of where players in-form have been dropped to allow players not getting games/not getting enough time in a role to step up and see if they can play there.

I'm glad it's not a whole-competition thing, as I said, that's just what I've heard, and it's been a number of occasions, not just once. Now it could be the players having sour grapes, but it's a bit of a long bow to draw in some of the circumstances, and does makes sense.

Very much depends on the TAC Cup region involved. Common knowledge that some TAC regions are more than happy to accomodate recruiters request whilst others less so and as such, are seldom asked to do so. State programs are the same. The more you see players thrown around positions mid game, generally the more amenable their coaching staff are to recruiters requests - sometimes to the detriment of the overall team performance.

 

[Bicks]

Cal Twomey refered to Berry as a defender on his podcast today, I could only help but facepalm.

Actually he said Tom's "A sort of a small backman", I've heard some shit in my time but that nearly takes the cake, I'd describe Tom as an inside/outside midfielder/forward with top end speed and acceleration, my only knock would be he could lower his eyes bit more and tidy up his disposal a bit, his kick is usually very penetrating when he goes for it. If he goes outside the 2nd round someone's getting a bargain.

 

[Pie 4 Life]

Actually he said Tom's "A sort of a small backman", I've heard some shit in my time but that nearly takes the cake, I'd describe Tom as an inside/outside midfielder/forward with top end speed and acceleration, my only knock would be he could lower his eyes bit more and tidy up his disposal a bit, his kick is usually very penetrating when he goes for it. If he goes outside the 2nd round someone's getting a bargain.

He should be a R1 pick IMO. Just his injuries set him back to that R2 range.

 

[M Malice]

Actually he said Tom's "A sort of a small backman", I've heard some shit in my time but that nearly takes the cake, I'd describe Tom as an inside/outside midfielder/forward with top end speed and acceleration, my only knock would be he could lower his eyes bit more and tidy up his disposal a bit, his kick is usually very penetrating when he goes for it. If he goes outside the 2nd round someone's getting a bargain.

I'd love Thomas to get to the Lions to join his brother, I hope Ambrogio, Conole and Noble see what you see, that is precisely the type of player we need. I'd take him in a heartbeat at our 2nd round selection.

 

[Pie 4 Life]

Actually he said Tom's "A sort of a small backman", I've heard some shit in my time but that nearly takes the cake, I'd describe Tom as an inside/outside midfielder/forward with top end speed and acceleration, my only knock would be he could lower his eyes bit more and tidy up his disposal a bit, his kick is usually very penetrating when he goes for it. If he goes outside the 2nd round someone's getting a bargain.

I also love the "sort of" as if it's like he's never seen him before

 

[LemmingMaster]

Cal Twomey refered to Berry as a defender on his podcast today, I could only help but facepalm.

Is that the same as calling Rozee a defender?

 

[Pie 4 Life]

Is that the same as calling Rozee a defender?

Probably just as bad if not worse for Berry. He hasn’t played in defence until the Champs.

 

[eDPS]

Is that the same as calling Rozee a defender?

Yeah pretty much, its almost been forgotten that Rozee has spent plenty of time as a midfielder, if i recall he had a huge game in the SANFL 18s last year.

 

[LemmingMaster]

Probably just as bad if not worse for Berry. He hasn’t played in defence until the Champs.

Okay, well I hope to see Berry in the midfield to justify the hype some people have put on him.

 

[Pie 4 Life]

Okay, well I hope to see Berry in the midfield to justify the hype some people have put on him.

I wouldn't say it's massive hype, his foot skills can be cringeworthy (the way he bangs it on the boot not too dissimilar to James Worpel last year), but not many inside mids have the elite acceleration and speed that Berry has, combining with sheer power and strength overhead. He's got that clear deficiency (kicking) but that's something clubs can work on over time, and he has the areas that are harder to work on, covered.

 

[LemmingMaster]

I wouldn't say it's massive hype, his foot skills can be cringeworthy (the way he bangs it on the boot not too dissimilar to James Worpel last year), but not many inside mids have the elite acceleration and speed that Berry has, combining with sheer power and strength overhead. He's got that clear deficiency (kicking) but that's something clubs can work on over time, and he has the areas that are harder to work on, covered.

Not massive, but there are a few boards that always want him picked up and I've yet to see his AFL skills.