The 2010 Draft "Late Mail" thread.

[Vinnie Vegas]

I cannot fathom the level of Gaff bashing on Bigfooty. Just because he doesnt have a standout trait doesnt make him a bad player. What made Cousins a standout player? What makes Swan a standout player? They dont have a standout charactersitic other than being incredibly smart, hard working and able to find the ball.

They both succeeded by running harder and longer than any other midfielder in the AFL when they were at their peaks (Swan still is, obviously).

They're also both extremely powerful builds - Swan currently holds the Collingwood record in the bench press, while Cousins' build was a sight to behold.

They also benefitted from an acute ability to read the game that came from having famous footy fathers and being involved in the game from a young age

It's not beyond conception that Gaff could reach that level, but don't act as though those things aren't stand out attributes, and they are things that Gaff does not yet possess (aside from, perhaps, the ability to read the game).

 

[Anjahads]

I cannot fathom the level of Gaff bashing on Bigfooty. Just because he doesnt have a standout trait doesnt make him a bad player. What made Cousins a standout player? What makes Swan a standout player? They dont have a standout charactersitic other than being incredibly smart, hard working and able to find the ball.

People talk about Polec being quicker and better skilled - well he's not actually not much quicker and if you like 55m floaters then yeh he's a good kick. Not to mention he flashes in and out of games alot. I'm not bashing on Polec, I think he will be a very good player but he has just as many question marks as Gaff and maybe even more risk given the risk you will end up with a one paced winger when he puts on weight.

And Heppell's groins might be a bigger issue than people know.

Excellent post,Cousins and Swan have no outstanding traits except they run and run and have very good skills.

 

[getthefooty]

They both succeeded by running harder and longer than any other midfielder in the AFL when they were at their peaks (Swan still is, obviously).

They're also both extremely powerful builds - Swan currently holds the Collingwood record in the bench press, while Cousins' build was a sight to behold.

They also benefitted from an acute ability to read the game that came from having famous footy fathers and being involved in the game from a young age

It's not beyond conception that Gaff could reach that level, but don't act as though those things aren't stand out attributes, and they are things that Gaff does not yet possess (aside from, perhaps, the ability to read the game).

Well, Gaff runs longer and harder than anyone I've ever seen as a junior and certainly his beep and 10k time trial results attest to this. For mine, Gaff's main attribute is his elite endurance, and those that paint him as an all rounder with no standout quality often neglect this.

 

[guruisatiger]

prestia or atley to bombers at pick 8 ,,, more likely it will be prestia

 

[Raging Bull 2010]

Any late mail on Dion Prestia? Various experts and mocks are predicting he will go anywhere from Essendon at 8, to St. Kilda at 24. Being a St. Kilda supporter, I hope he is the slider of the draft.

 

[Postman_Pav]

They both succeeded by running harder and longer than any other midfielder in the AFL when they were at their peaks (Swan still is, obviously).

They're also both extremely powerful builds - Swan currently holds the Collingwood record in the bench press, while Cousins' build was a sight to behold.

They also benefitted from an acute ability to read the game that came from having famous footy fathers and being involved in the game from a young age

It's not beyond conception that Gaff could reach that level, but don't act as though those things aren't stand out attributes, and they are things that Gaff does not yet possess (aside from, perhaps, the ability to read the game).

Gaff as super endurance for his age. Whose to say that wont project out when he's at a club?

And you dont think he's a ball magnet?

I'm not saying Cousins or Swan had no standout trait, in fact I'm saying the opposite. They had 'standout' traits in their ability to find the ball and run harder. Two traits I think Gaff has.

The point I was trying to make was that Gaff does have standout traits, its just that they are more inherant and hidden. Going off what people on Bigfooty say you'd think the only two traits that matter are pace and skill. Obviously there is SOOO much more to a player (and as I said before i think Polec's pace and skill are somewhat overstated on here).

 

[ThePuppetMaster]

They both succeeded by running harder and longer than any other midfielder in the AFL when they were at their peaks (Swan still is, obviously).

They're also both extremely powerful builds - Swan currently holds the Collingwood record in the bench press, while Cousins' build was a sight to behold.

They also benefitted from an acute ability to read the game that came from having famous footy fathers and being involved in the game from a young age

It's not beyond conception that Gaff could reach that level, but don't act as though those things aren't stand out attributes, and they are things that Gaff does not yet possess (aside from, perhaps, the ability to read the game).

Gaff has the elite attributes of a Cousins and Swan, elite fitness, very clean great readers of the game....

the fact that they are powerful builds means nothing in relation to Gaff as he is a skinny 18 year old prospect!!! He has a good frame to work with, i see him as having the potential to give very similar output on a game to what a Cousins may have had

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Any late mail on Dion Prestia? Various experts and mocks are predicting he will go anywhere from Essendon at 8, to St. Kilda at 24. Being a St. Kilda supporter, I hope he is the slider of the draft.

Gone by pick 11 at the latest, disappointing as I wanted him at 31.

 

[Silvagnis]

They both succeeded by running harder and longer than any other midfielder in the AFL when they were at their peaks (Swan still is, obviously).

Swan wasn't even fit enough to be a midfielder as a junior.

The likes of Cousins, Bradley, Judd, Crawford, Williams, Ratten, Camporeale, Koutoufides and Harvey who ran hard all day didn't take as many breaks as Swan.

Dane Swan: The illusionist

At the Calder Cannons, Swan was a low-possession forward pocket who was dropped mid-season — "poor attitude, not caring," he says — and who upon his return gained a place on the wing only because of an injury one day in Hobart.

Dane Swan: The illusionist

He also is at the forefront of the interchange revolution; no player in the competition is rotated more. Malthouse first disdained interchange theory, then adopted with a convert's zeal. The new regimen maximised Swan's strengths. ''I'm not the greatest endurance runner at the club,'' he said. ''I'm probably 10th to 15th in the two-kilometre time trial. The kind of thing I like to think I'm good at is burst running, 300 or 400 metres at top speed. I recover pretty quickly. I can have a 10- or 20-second rest, then go again.

Dane Swan: The illusionist

Gaff is fitter than Sidebottom.

I hear Gaff will hurt sides more than Swan with his kicking.

 

[Judge]

The point I was trying to make was that Gaff does have standout traits, its just that they are more inherant and hidden. Going off what people on Bigfooty say you'd think the only two traits that matter are pace and skill. Obviously there is SOOO much more to a player (and as I said before i think Polec's pace and skill are somewhat overstated on here).

On what basis do you say that?

Have you seen him play much, or is it because Gold Coast won't be taking him?

 

[Zhesty]

^^^ because polec might test quick but doesn't quite play with that speed in game situations and his kicking while powerful can be a bit hit and miss.

 

[ChipDouglas]

Gaff is fitter than Sidebottom.

I hear Gaff will hurt sides more than Swan with his kicking.

Just a couple of things, Sidebottom was winning all the time trials at the best team in the land in 2010, he's just as fit or fitter than Gaff.

And you hear Gaff will hurt side with his kicking. Spoken like a man who hasn't seen him play. Outstanding prospect is Gaff but think Scott West and not Lindsay Gilbee. And probably best not to compare Gaff to the best player in the competition in 2010 as voted by the AFL coaches AND players.

Regards

Chip

 

[Knightmare]

Outstanding prospect is Gaff but think Scott West and not Lindsay Gilbee.

Regards

Chip

Would be interested where you got the Scott West comparison from Chip.

Might develop the inside aspects of his game, but he is still as I'm sure you're aware at this stage more of an outside player while West was an in and under type.

Gaff is not anywhere near the inside player West is. Really puzzling one to come up with.

Gaff comes from a cricket+tennis+athletics while West comes from more of a basketball background which you could really see with the way he read the play before it happened.

Really struggling to see the connection.

 

[hilly]

Atley to Richmond with #6 is what I have heard.

 

[Postman_Pav]

^^^ because polec might test quick but doesn't quite play with that speed in game situations and his kicking while powerful can be a bit hit and miss.

His doesnt even test that well for pace and I know he didnt test at DC.

 

[ChipDouglas]

Gaff is not anywhere near the inside player West is. Really puzzling one to come up with.

Was refering to his ability to kick the ball hence the Gilbee reference. Would have thought that was obvious but it's not the first thing you've got wrong in the lead up to the draft. Suggest you read the entire thread to get some context.

 

[folester41]

pace in a game is completely different to a 20m sprint.

you have to know when to use that pace and still be able to have that burst of acceleration after running half a dozen km.

 

[crowsarethebest]

Was refering to his ability to kick the ball hence the Gilbee reference. Would have thought that was obvious but it's not the first thing you've got wrong in the lead up to the draft. Suggest you read the entire thread to get some context.

Gaff is a far better kick than West though- he seriously doesn't miss a target, although he does kick short more than long.

 

[ChipDouglas]

Gaff is a far better kick than West though- he seriously doesn't miss a target, although he does kick short more than long.

The last 8 years of Scott West's career featured a kicking efficiency of over 80% in large part due to hitting shorter targets. Thats just a fact and better than Gaff's kicking efficiency at under 18 level.

 

[Postman_Pav]

The last 8 years of Scott West's career featured a kicking efficiency of over 80% in large part due to hitting shorter targets. Thats just a fact and better than Gaff's kicking efficiency at under 18 level.

Kicking efficiency or disposal efficiency? I'd pay disposal because his handballing was very good. But I find it hard to believe West's kicking efficiency was over 80% myself but will stand corrected (not that it matters to this discussion)

 

[ChipDouglas]

Kicking efficiency or disposal efficiency? I'd pay disposal because his handballing was very good. But I find it hard to believe West's kicking efficiency was over 80% myself but will stand corrected (not that it matters to this discussion)

Look it up in the AFL propspectus and if you don't like the stats take it up with Champion data.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Prestia likely to go to Essendon at 8.

I d feel we are overpaying but I'll take him at 8.

 

[worsfold]

Prestia likely to go to Essendon at 8.

I d feel we are overpaying but I'll take him at 8.

Dion Prestia to Essendon

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Yep, I am happy..to a point. At least we are not going to go insane and pick up a ruckman or a key tall. But I do feel there are better options at 8.

 

[Knightmare]

Some different news outside of the commonly known late mail.


Atley might slip through to 12 if Essendon don't take him.

Cripps to Fremantle if Conca goes early will be considered.

Billie Smedts to Adelaide is another to look out for, apparently being looked at as one of the possibilities if available.