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Rumour Speculation, Rumours, Lies Thread 2025 - Part 2

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It does my head in how we have used the rookie draft in the last few years, we don't uncover talent, just extend an existing player for another year before cutting them.

It goes back to my thoughts on us not being ruthless enough with our list in an attempt to have a strong SANFL side.

It’s worse than that though. When opportunity presented, Schoey got another go instead of a fit and in form second round draftee off 2 full preseasons. It’s not just bolstering the SANFL, they get games when there’s an obvious opportunity to give a deserving kid a crack.
 
It’s worse than that though. When opportunity presented, Schoey got another go instead of a fit and in form second round draftee off 2 full preseasons. It’s not just bolstering the SANFL, they get games when there’s an obvious opportunity to give a deserving kid a crack.
The look that Davis gave Nicks in the box when HS kicked it OOF against collingwood.

It said everything.
 
This is the problem in a nutshell at the AFC, recruiting the WRONG type of midfielder and then NOT developing them properly or playing them out of position etc.

Seriously - need someone to go spend an offseason to see what Brisbane do in their system to develop players.
Should send Murray Davis
 
He was one of only two forwards in the first final that fired a shot against Collingwood. Still think there's a player there with some of the things he does but I don't see it being any more than a HFF kind of role.
I think I mentioned in the game day thread that that is his role and by kicking 3 he at least did his bit
 

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Pedlar is the potential inside midfielder we need. Has the right attributes. But the guy needs to spent the entire preseason running or on the bike Neil Craig style - looks gassed every time he does anything.
I'm not sure if its recency bias but I always felt HF was his spot. With an occasional burst in the midfield rather than midfield wit HF bursts
 
I just saw Chad Warner in Victor Harbour, could be a holiday but if he's here for footy he would be talking to you guys
 
You cant really compare a guy like Signorello, I mean how many pick 60 odd midfielders actually make it
murphy interview was interesting during the week. spoke really well. he only came because he was a mate of signorello 🤣 couldn't find a way to get him here so they gave him a job in the crows shop til they have a rookie spot... then signorello got delisted 🤣
 
I just saw Chad Warner in Victor Harbour, could be a holiday but if he's here for footy he would be talking to you guys
Isnt he West Coast bound?

( as in WA )
 
To be fair, Soligo did just make the 22 under 22 side.

He just needs to start turning up against the better sides.
Imo, it's more about managing his inside midfield minutes to keep him fresh.
 

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There's more of a chance of me getting with Dua Lipa than there is of Chad Warner coming here.
 

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Agreed. Our record in the rookie draft used to be pretty good... but in recent years, we stopped even trying to find players there.

We've stopped trying to take players late in the draft at all

We've only taken two new players in the draft beyond pick 50 in the entire time Matthew Nicks has been coach: Luke Nankervis and Tyler Welsh. Hugh Bond was taken exactly at pick 50

We've taken one pick in the mid-season draft in a couple of years, none of them have come on to be AFL players yet. A couple of SSPs like Keane and McAndrew to replace departures or injuries

Other clubs have found players later in the draft, including top 10 teams, such as:

Collingwood - Jack Ginnivan
Fremantle - Josh Treacy, Michael Frederick
Geelong - Brad Close, Oliver Dempsey, Lawson Humphries
Gold Coast - Sam Clohesy, Jy Farrar
GWS - Jake Riccardi, Jacob Wehr, Harvey Thomas
Hawthorn - Ned Long
Western Bulldogs - Riley Garcia, Lachlan McNeil, Sam Davidson, Luke Cleary

Not the most amazing strike rate over 6 drafts, but one or two players is better than the zero we've found
 
Pedlar is the potential inside midfielder we need. Has the right attributes. But the guy needs to spent the entire preseason running or on the bike Neil Craig style - looks gassed every time he does anything.
Unfortunately not up to it . We know this . There’s no ambiguity here. Club needs to decide these things more quickly. He’s a half forward and that’s it and really he’s a depth player.
 
Unfortunately not up to it . We know this . There’s no ambiguity here.

Do we?

Luke Pedlar has had 90 career CBAs

Here's some comparisons to other players in the Nicks era
Rory Laird - 1882
Ben Keays - 1243
Harry Schoenberg - 564
Jackson Hately - 108
Paul Seedsman - 98
Chayce Jones - 90
Brodie Smith - 50
Darcy Fogarty - 46
Max Michalanney - 32

In 2023, Pedlar's best year, we only found room for him to have 82 CBAs. Meanwhile we gave 506 to Laird, 137 to Crouch (in just 7 games), 207 to Sloane, 101 to Schoenberg and 162 to Keays - none of these players are part of our current midfield
 
If we are being bold as a club, Pedlar is the type of player we will build up next year likely up forward and hope he gets confidence. Then when his value is high, look to include him in a trade for a quality mid where opposing clubs could geninely be keen on him.

I say this as i can't see him ever making it as a top end mid but he could become a dangerous forward in a position we are well covered in and as such a position we could trade out a player from
 

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Rumour Speculation, Rumours, Lies Thread 2025 - Part 2

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