Some interesting /strange picks

[theorangeapple]

Do we know of any club that did not pick on the basis of need

i think we did. but, having said that, Smith may have been taken because of need but also because he was theb best player availabe at 57.

 

[Macca19]

yep this was probably the biggest surprise of the draft for me. i thought he was taken at least 1 round too early. Choco said on ch10 they really wanted an SA boy but there were 2 quality SA mids available to them in Meyer and Monfries. I'm certain they could have got Thomson at 19 if not 34.

Weve got plenty of outside midfielders like Meyer, weve got our share of small inside players like Monfries, but with Carr leaving, Hardwick retired, Francous future in doubt and James being gone in 2 years time then we needed a tough player that can win the ball.

 

[jo172]

Three SA players who were basically ignored by Crows/Power.

If Monfries was avaliable at 24 we would of taken him. He was not ignored, we just found a better player.

 

[EB&W Pieman]

All recruiters said they would pick on basis of best available.

Do we know of any club that did not pick on the basis of need

Had Collingwood a top 5 pick it may have been difereent, but it appears that we selected fast, skilled players with our first two picks to cover that obvious weakness in our team. I think the club decided that picks 6-30 wre much of a muchness, and from that similarly talented group selecetd players to fill a need.

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Had Collingwood a top 5 pick it may have been difereent, but it appears that we selected fast, skilled players with our first two picks to cover that obvious weakness in our team. I think the club decided that picks 6-30 wre much of a muchness, and from that similarly talented group selecetd players to fill a need.

When you read the comments in the paper today from each club there is no doubt they all went on need.

 

[grub29]

Lewis is pretty slow, you have to be joking 3.03 for the 20 metres at the draft camp. Agree he is not super quick but pretty slow give me a break

I would rather have a kid that can get the ball than a speedy squib

Played against men in the Hampden GF and only picked up 29 possesions, not his usual 30+ perhaps you are right

Who gives a stuff whether he is slow or not? He is the toughest player in the draft and one that can win the footy and use it well. I'd love to have in my side.

 

[GOALden Hawk]

Lewis can play and I'm a fan, but pick 7 was a stretch, especially for a club that needs genuine pace.

The club that puzzled me was Sydney - I got scolded by the Swans fans for not having them picking up a KPP, Roos said they were going to take a KPP, yet they took Moore and Spriggs?

 

[Portia]

and Heath James

 

[coasting]

I think the Eagles taking LeCras at 37 was an interesting/strange pick. He would struggle to get a game atm while we could have had Michael Newton who will be a very good future tall defender.

 

[Weaver]

The club that puzzled me was Sydney - I got scolded by the Swans fans for not having them picking up a KPP, Roos said they were going to take a KPP, yet they took Moore and Spriggs?

And took Moore over Ed Clarke. Sure they can go back for Clarke easy enough and rookie list him, but to me it would be odd to carry the two of them considering how similar they are.

If Port are a club not frightened of the big units, then the Swans are rapidly becoming the club that will give rovers a go. Crouch, Schneider, Williams, Maxfield, Fosdike, Willoughby, Schmidt, McVeigh, J.Bolton, Spriggs, Fixter, Moore and Mathews are all under the 'magic' 6ft mark. That is 1/3rd of their list. Huge contrast to Melbourne and the Bulldogs in particular.

 

[FIGJAM]

When you read the comments in the paper today from each club there is no doubt they all went on need.

I doubt Brisbane had a need for a ruckman.

It's practically the law for recruiters to say they're picking the best available, but it's rarely the case.

The Hawks taking Lewis at seven is odd.

Us picking Rusling at 23 is also odd. Hope we know what we're doing!

 

[hotpie]

I doubt Brisbane had a need for a ruckman.

The fact that Keating and McDonald are ALWAYS injured, and Charman not far behind them, might have something to do with it. That and the "surplus of ruckmen" philosophy has won them three flags.

 

[liz]

And took Moore over Ed Clarke. Sure they can go back for Clarke easy enough and rookie list him, but to me it would be odd to carry the two of them considering how similar they are.

If Port are a club not frightened of the big units, then the Swans are rapidly becoming the club that will give rovers a go. Crouch, Schneider, Williams, Maxfield, Fosdike, Willoughby, Schmidt, McVeigh, J.Bolton, Spriggs, Fixter, Moore and Mathews are all under the 'magic' 6ft mark. That is 1/3rd of their list. Huge contrast to Melbourne and the Bulldogs in particular.

Not sure of exact heights but I'm guessing you could add Buchanan and Bevan to that list, and Brett Kirk can barely be 6 ft.

Roosey certainly likes them short!

 

[FIGJAM]

The fact that Keating and McDonald are ALWAYS injured, and Charman not far behind them, might have something to do with it. That and the "surplus of ruckmen" philosophy has won them three flags.

I'm not arguing with their phillosophy, just that they drafted the best player available, as opposed to addressing their needs (dunno what that is either...full forward...key defenders?).

 

[hotpie]

I'm not arguing with their phillosophy, just that they drafted the best player available, as opposed to addressing their needs (dunno what that is either...full forward...key defenders?).

There needs are plenty, ruck would be near the top of the list.

 

[Effes]

I'm suprised about Sydney too. Who will be their Key position defenders in the future?

 

[Nightwolf]

My opinion is, the Hawks were very keen on Lewis, but at pick 21 or whenever the next pick for them was, he was likely to be gone, so they thought theyd take him early, which didnt bother me, ive taken a liking to the kid...

 

[CyberKev]

Lewis can play and I'm a fan, but pick 7 was a stretch, especially for a club that needs genuine pace.

I'm not having a go, I'm just interested in who you would have ran with at 7 then?

Would you have stuck with Meesen?

 

[ThePope]

Crouch, Schneider, Williams, Maxfield, Fosdike, Willoughby, Schmidt, McVeigh, J.Bolton, Spriggs, Fixter, Moore and Mathews are all under the 'magic' 6ft mark. That is 1/3rd of their list. Huge contrast to Melbourne and the Bulldogs in particular.

Freo is challenging for the lillyput crown...
J Carr, Cook, Medhurst, Stribling, Black, Browne, Schammer, Smith, Bell & Farmer (10) all under 180, then Walker, McManus, Hayden, Hasleby, Haines and Peake (6) under 183 (6").
And even with Sandilands on the list, Freo is the shortest team on average in the league. The Saints are 2nd (probably due more to a lack of talls, than an abundance of smalls), with the Roos and Hawks close behind.
Dogs and Crows are the tallest.

 

[Bentleigh]

We, Tigers missed out on KKP early on the draft but we got some good KKP which are young. We now have a handful of good young KKP which should mature together, all under 20 yoa.

 

[GOALden Hawk]

I'm not having a go, I'm just interested in who you would have ran with at 7 then?

Would you have stuck with Meesen?

Yep, would have selected Meesen. I'm wondering what it will take for us to get a young ruckman on our list!

 

[CyberKev]

We, Tigers missed out on KKP early on the draft but we got some good KKP which are young. We now have a handful of good young KKP which should mature together, all under 20 yoa.

Time will tell...

Of course, its one thing having a number of kpp types on your list, and its another thing to get them to the level you need.

It strikes me that painfully few gun kpp were not in a very select group of gun kpp youngsters before they made the big time; and it also strikes me that painfully few elite (ie top 5 or 6 picks) young kpp types in recent times do not go on to strong careers.

Riewoldt, Kozitschke, Brown, Tredrea, Tarrant, Lynch, Grant, Leppitsch, Neitz, Richardson, Ottens & Gaspar were all considered elite young kpp options.

In earlier times, players such as Lockett, Kernahan, Carey, Langford, Roos, Pert, Jakovich & McIntosh were all marked as champions from an early age.

The value of kpp types stems from the fact that their height requirements limits the number of available options in any given year. Within this already limited pool, you get precious few who have what it takes to be guns.

There's a big difference between getting kpp types who can play solidly at best, and those who can regularly take a game by the scruff of the neck, thus taking your side to the premiership precipice.

 

[madtiger]

And took Moore over Ed Clarke. Sure they can go back for Clarke easy enough and rookie list him, but to me it would be odd to carry the two of them considering how similar they are.

If Port are a club not frightened of the big units, then the Swans are rapidly becoming the club that will give rovers a go. Crouch, Schneider, Williams, Maxfield, Fosdike, Willoughby, Schmidt, McVeigh, J.Bolton, Spriggs, Fixter, Moore and Mathews are all under the 'magic' 6ft mark. That is 1/3rd of their list. Huge contrast to Melbourne and the Bulldogs in particular.

I agree about sydney being a bit light on on the key backman area I know they flew Guy Campbell from the Bendigo Bombers up there to train for a week before the draft and gave him every indication that they were going to draft him as he is a 6'4/6'5 KPP and then drafted Spriggs??? semms odd to me

 

[CyberKev]

Yep, would have selected Meesen. I'm wondering what it will take for us to get a young ruckman on our list!

In fairness, we do have Dawson on the list and did get burnt by taking Loats and Campbell a few years back; although there is obviously a considerable difference in the potential inherent in these players and the likes of Meesen.

Taking the ruck issue out of the equation for now, do you perceive of Lewis as being surplus to need, as some are suggesting?

I've been of the view that four quality inside midfielders are required at the club, and we would have that now with Crawford, Mitchell, Hodge & Lewis (assuming the former continues to improve and the latter carries over his strong junior form).

I have, however, been arguing that Crawford would be best served by playing out his career predominantly as a dangerous floating forward, who can cover inside positions during injury crises. Ries could cover for Crawford as the extra rotatable insider for this season, but I don't see Ries as a sound long-term option because he appears to be limited with his kicking skills.

I would think that not only will Lewis be very much a required player, but we could probably do with another capable inside type as well (given I don't think Sewell is up to it).

Cheers,
Kevin

 

[bluechampion]

I personally think that Lewis at 7 is a sound move by the Hawks. You can never do too much too strengthen your midfield, as the ball spends 80% of it's time there. I'd much rather have a midfield that can get the ball and use it correctly than a bunch of champion junior sprinters chasing after the ball (albeit very quickly). Hawthorn should be applauded for abandoning their athlete-as-footballer policy and taking blokes who can actually play.

Also, Crawford has basically said he has two years left - and in two years time you'd think young Lewis would be about ready to take the competition on. About that time you'd expect Hodge to be bursting packs and Mitchell enjoying his prime feeding the ball out to Lewis, who, whilst maybe not Judd-speed, had neat skills and can deliver the ball out to the real star selections - Roughead and Franklin.

And, it must also be stated that Franklin isn't a KPP really - more of a huge wingman / half-forward. He has some pace (especially for his size) and may be used up the ground in an attacking Adam Goodes way.

And speaking of Sydney... Most footy teams end up like their coach in some way. Roos was always a small-ish key defender (a very good one, too) and so he may not see the great value in huge/tall players. All of his defenders are about the same size as he was, and the style of play Sydney adopts (pack-rugby-scrum-stoppage footy) will benefit from an addtion of further 'runners'. I think all Roos wants is a contest in the back half from undersized opponents, and his armada of smalls to prevent the ball from ever getting back there by clogging up the middle of the ground. Then, if you gain a clearance, you've got tall, fast, mobile Hall to kick it to.