The 2013 Draft - Post Mortem

[The Bomb]

In the months leading up to the draft, like all players they have a plays like section in their profile and every right up about him compared him to Goddard. Watch the highlights reel.

Have you ever watched Goddard play? Lennon looks more like a Crameri type if anything.

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

Have you ever watched Goddard play? Lennon looks more like a Crameri type if anything.

The big question is can he run through the middle?

Pick 12 is a high price to play if he can only play on a flank.

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

I think Geelong addressed some needs with its picks and beyond that, with regards to how these players will actually transition to the AFL, I'd just be guessing (like 95% of people). Having said that, if we had one of the highly-touted drafts, like Brisbane, St Kilda, Collingwood, or North Melbourne, no doubt I would have been overjoyed.

I also like the addition of Luxford via the rookie draft. Don't know anything about him as a footballer (and as I understand there isn't much to know), but he has all the physical attributes (186cm, 92kg at 18 years old??!) and it will be an interesting project to see how a midfield-sized 'basketball background' pick (rather than a gangly 206cm, 85kg beanpole) goes without any U18 football experience (or any organised footy experience, full stop).

I think the draft could easily be more entertaining if they followed some of the examples set by the NBA. Where's the crazy suits? The 15-person entourages? The sobbing 130kg mothers? The ongoing cuts to the 'guy who was invited, but slipped to the second round, sitting all by himself after all the other invitees have been selected'? The 'guy who wasn't invited with the other first rounders, but rocked up anyway and gatecrashed the stage when he got picked in the mid rounds'? The 'must improve' suggestions, next to their club, height, weight and position?

The AFL draft only really has a bit of 'was that his sister, or his girlfriend?' discussion to keep things interesting and, considering the age of the players getting picked, you probably don't want the commentators bagging them out like they do occasionally with the NBA picks (which the players can actually hear, incidentally), but I feel there could be a lot more comedy value in the AFL draft.

 

[Dr Tigris]

Despite us having only one pick in the top 40, the player we got could easily have gone top 6 or so if not for injury rumors. Lennon joined our first full training session this week so the rumor was just that, a rumor. Top few in the draft for kicking skills and thumps it 60m and marking is elite. Goddard like player so very happy considering lack of top end picks. Lions big winners, "if they stay".

OK, he's a good player - potentially. Definitely the type fo player we need. Fills a hole in our list. Other than that we treated this draft with contempt. Couple of older mid/forwards. I see that as saying we didn't rate the depth in this draft and feel we really need mid/small goal kickers for 2014. It'll be interesting to see if the RFC was inspired or silly this year. One good players, with the ptoential to be very good in his role. Then a focus on pure depth, with no consideration toward 8 years from now. I understand why we did it, and feel that it makes sense with where our squad is. We don't need more youth and we need some list holes filled. But I cannot claim a great draft this year. Just a functional, filling list needs draft. And that is probably a good thing right now.

 

[dlanod]

I think the draft could easily be more entertaining if they followed some of the examples set by the NBA. Where's the crazy suits? The 15-person entourages? The sobbing 130kg mothers? The ongoing cuts to the 'guy who was invited, but slipped to the second round, sitting all by himself after all the other invitees have been selected'? The 'guy who wasn't invited with the other first rounders, but rocked up anyway and gatecrashed the stage when he got picked in the mid rounds'? The 'must improve' suggestions, next to their club, height, weight and position?

We had Lewis Taylor in the room sliding well into the second round, but Fox just didn't take their chance!

 

[wvass61]

The big question is can he run through the middle?

Pick 12 is a high price to play if he can only play on a flank.

Lennon was swung into the midfield in the last 5 tac cup games this year and averaged 28 touches a game and kicked goals. Adapted to midfield immediately. Macleod Football Club president Michael Lovett today said, "I rate Ben right up there with Essendon’s Michael Hurley as the best young player I have seen at both Macleod and other clubs in our area". http://t.co/WYtbnP6bJV

 

[Big Bryza]

Haha Nath Freemans a dud apparently. Turn it up. All you non pies supporters claiming that are just spewing that your club can't develop players like the pies can. Your tears are just beautiful.

 

[SizeMatters]

Freeman is seriously over rated... very happy to have Aish and Taylor at the Lions. Both are absolute steals.

 

[kenneje]

Haha Nath Freemans a dud apparently. Turn it up. All you non pies supporters claiming that are just spewing that your club can't develop players like the pies can. Your tears are just beautiful.

Nathan Freeman will be an absolute beauty, but I doubt anyone's jealous over Collingwoods development programme. It's not bad, but it's nothing special.

 

[Tiger71]

Have you ever watched Goddard play? Lennon looks more like a Crameri type if anything.

You obviously have never seen Lennon play other then the odd media release. He can play forward pocket, lead up mid size forward, High half Forward, deep forward as he has elite hands and reads the play as well as jack rewoldt. He also has great awarness which allowed him to impact when in the middile, averaged 28 possies and a couple of goals while playing as a midfielder.

Oh he can also play Half Back as well...yup goddard is a good comparasion, he just has a better kick then goddard

 

[MotleyLemon]

Freeman is seriously over rated... very happy to have Aish and Taylor at the Lions. Both are absolute steals.

This.

He's a poor man's Shuey at best, and Shuey isn't anything flash himself...

 

[Tragic sainter]

You obviously have never seen Lennon play other then the odd media release. He can play forward pocket, lead up mid size forward, High half Forward, deep forward as he has elite hands and reads the play as well as jack rewoldt. He also has great awarness which allowed him to impact when in the middile, averaged 28 possies and a couple of goals while playing as a midfielder.

Oh he can also play Half Back as well...yup goddard is a good comparasion, he just has a better kick then goddard

Goddard has one of the best kicks in the entire afl. Lennon might be good but he hasn't even kicked the ball at all in the afl so to say he is a better kick that bj is a bit rich.

 

[Zach Package]

A much, much better comparison for Lennon is Chris Knights.

 

[cotter101]

Goddard has one of the best kicks in the entire afl. Lennon might be good but he hasn't even kicked the ball at all in the afl so to say he is a better kick that bj is a bit rich.

Agreed. Remember when everyone was saying what an elite kick Sam Docherty is junior level? Certainly wasn't the case at the next level. He is now a good kick, but nothing special is those regards. I think I may have been guilty of giving him a couple of wraps about his kicking.

 

[aussierulesrules]

Lennon would also want to tidy up his goalkicking if his set shot kicking for goal in the two televised champs matches this year are any indication, as he missed set shot after set shot in those games. BJ's set shot goalkicking is generally pinpoint.

 

[Tiger71]

Goddard has one of the best kicks in the entire afl. Lennon might be good but he hasn't even kicked the ball at all in the afl so to say he is a better kick that bj is a bit rich.

Take your hate glasses off mate and use your brain for a second. Lennon has kicked the ball, a lot I would say . He has played against men in the Diamond valley league when he was 16 and also was rated the best kick in this draft on both feet. The reason I said he in my opinion is a better kick then BJ is that he is two sided not one sided.

You are right though, he has not played a AFL game yet. So let us say he has the potential to be a better kick then BJ.

 

[Tiger71]

Lennon would also want to tidy up his goalkicking if his set shot kicking for goal in the two televised champs matches this year are any indication, as he missed set shot after set shot in those games. BJ's set shot goalkicking is generally pinpoint.

Oh I agree he has tons of improvement in him, as did BJ at the same age. I also recall BJ missing set shots as well in his time . To those idiots that say Lennon is like chris knights just show you know nothing about the kid or the game frankly, or you are just trolling. Lennon assests as he showed in the champs is that he can play both forward, centre or back.

Obviously being he is still so young he needs to physically develop further but I can see him being our Goddard playing multiple positions based on need. I am not just talking the kid up because we got him. I have taken a interest in him for a few years and was hoping he would fall to us, just stoked that he did.

Oh and don't take my word for it.....


“In 2011, as a 16-year-old, he even played a few games in our seniors, when Northern Knights (Lennon’s TAC Cup team) and school footy commitments would allow.
“He didn’t take a backwards step in what is a tough competition, playing against men in Division 1 of the Northern Football League. It’s the old Diamond Valley League, so you have to earn your stripes.
“Back then, he was coached by Cristian Brandt, who just happens to be Jake King’s uncle, so there is a bit of a Tiger connection with Ben.
“I rate Ben right up there with Essendon’s Michael Hurley as the best young player I have seen at both Macleod and other clubs in our area.


http://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/2013-11-26/lennon-set-to-be-a-star

 

[Tragic sainter]

Take your hate glasses off mate and use your brain for a second. Lennon has kicked the ball, a lot I would say . He has played against men in the Diamond valley league when he was 16 and also was rated the best kick in this draft on both feet. The reason I said he in my opinion is a better kick then BJ is that he is two sided not one sided.

You are right though, he has not played a AFL game yet. So let us say he has the potential to be a better kick then BJ.

Your an idiot. BJ is an elite kick on both sides of the body. He was the best non dominant kick at the saints by a mile.

 

[Tiger71]

Your an idiot. BJ is an elite kick on both sides of the body. He was the best non dominant kick at the saints by a mile.

OK you cant read, that's OK. Lets see who is right in 24 months.

 

[aussierulesrules]

Goddard is a very long way from "one-sided". He did plenty of 50m passes on his left foot with us and was generally pinpoint with his shorter left foot passes as well, but it's just that his right is so good that he looks to use it as much as he can.

 

[Tragic sainter]

OK you cant read, that's OK. Lets see who is right in 24 months.

The reason I said he in my opinion is a better kick then BJ is that he is two sided not one sided.

Where did I err in my reading comprehension?

 

[Tiger71]

Where did I err in my reading comprehension?

You miss the IN MY OPINION. To me from what I have seen of BJ He uses his right a lot more then his left. I am not saying BJ is shit on his left, I am not saying he is a bad kick etc. All i am saying is that Lennon as a kid uses his left and right boot equally, that is why i rate him better as a two sided player at the same age.

Bloody hell, I should not have to spell out that I am comparing both as if they are 18 years old. nutters like you are going off as you think i am comparing a kid to a player who has played for 9 years and goddards form now....wow

 

[Tragic sainter]

You miss the IN MY OPINION. To me from what I have seen of BJ He uses his right a lot more then his left. I am not saying BJ is shit on his left, I am not saying he is a bad kick etc. All i am saying is that Lennon as a kid uses his left and right boot equally, that is why i rate him better as a two sided player at the same age.

Bloody hell, I should not have to spell out that I am comparing both as if they are 18 years old. nutters like you are going off as you think i am comparing a kid to a player who has played for 9 years and goddards form now....wow

Oh he can also play Half Back as well...yup goddard is a good comparasion, he just has a better kick then goddard

You clearly state that he is a better kick than Goddard. He is not. Not when Goddard was a junior and not now.

 

[L_W_P]

Great word.

 

[Tiger71]

You clearly state that he is a better kick than Goddard. He is not. Not when Goddard was a junior and not now.

Bookmarked.

lets see if you hold that opinion at the end of the season. You obviously never seen the kid play as his kicking, particularly in traffic is sublime.