The National Draft

[Capt_Concussion]

I had the privilege of playing with Griffiths a couple of games at Blackburn (U/18 Eastern Footy League team) when he was coming back from injury. I don't know if it's just that I wasn't used to seeing such talent and he stood out or because he stood out because he was bloody good, but he stood out. His possessions were so clean and crisp but the big thing which caught my eye was his contested marking. The ball was in the air, a pack had formed but out of no where Griffiths would come and pluck it out the air in ways you didn't think were possible.

I recall his goal kicking wasn't great and yes he is injury prone.

 

[easter31]

The Dees have a lot of mid-size and tall skinny kids. Teams that win premierships also have athletic big-bodies tall players. Picks 11 and 18 should be used for this type of player i.e Butcher, Carlisle, Black, Griffiths. Vardy, Temel etc. Next year the Gold Coast WILL take the best key position prospects and West Sydney after that. There will however, always be the chance to secure a good midfielder during this period. Remember GC17 have picks 1,2,3,5,7,9,11,13,15, etc next year. Any decent tall will be taken by them.
This is our one and only chance to balance our list with Key position players. I think we need a forward, a key position back that may also be able to play foward I.e Talia. There is no guarantee that Garland will get over his foot problems.
Warnock and Rivers are good but struggle on bid bodied elite forwards.
I also think we need to grab a ruckman as Spencer to me will never make it. You just can't turn a sow's ear into a silk purse. These days a ruckman must do more that just get tapouts, they have to take marks foward and in defence and kick goals. I.e Mitch Clark. Even an Adam Goodes type would be great as they become an extra midfielder. Pick 34 or 50 may get us a decent ruckman/ruckrover.

 

[The Dr]

The Dees have a lot of mid-size and tall skinny kids. Teams that win premierships also have athletic big-bodies tall players. Picks 11 and 18 should be used for this type of player i.e Butcher, Carlisle, Black, Griffiths. Vardy, Temel etc. Next year the Gold Coast WILL take the best key position prospects and West Sydney after that. There will however, always be the chance to secure a good midfielder during this period. Remember GC17 have picks 1,2,3,5,7,9,11,13,15, etc next year. Any decent tall will be taken by them.
This is our one and only chance to balance our list with Key position players. I think we need a forward, a key position back that may also be able to play foward I.e Talia. There is no guarantee that Garland will get over his foot problems.
Warnock and Rivers are good but struggle on bid bodied elite forwards.
I also think we need to grab a ruckman as Spencer to me will never make it. You just can't turn a sow's ear into a silk purse. These days a ruckman must do more that just get tapouts, they have to take marks foward and in defence and kick goals. I.e Mitch Clark. Even an Adam Goodes type would be great as they become an extra midfielder. Pick 34 or 50 may get us a decent ruckman/ruckrover.

Actually not a bad point about the GC and GWS teams coming in, if you had that many early picks you could just pilfer the draft for talls in the knowledge some of them will turn out to be guns.

I'd like to go tall with two of picks 11, 18, and 34. Or even all three if they're the best available picks.

Remember, we've got Blease and Strauss to come in as highly-rated draftees as well as Scully and Trengove.

 

[2 Dogs]

Looking at the last couple of years drafting, I'm hoping we take a punt on some players with huge scope for improvement. To be honest I really only think that we'll get 2 debutants from this years draft (Scully and Trengrove) because we have guys like Maric, Strauss, Blease, Wona, Jetta, Bennell all ready to make their mark this season. Not that I'm saying other guys from this draft won't get a gig, but that we have alot of youth that has yet to be unleashed, that the time to take a considered gamble with players may could possibly turn out to be a masterstroke.

 

[McLean_4_Captain]

Looking at the last couple of years drafting, I'm hoping we take a punt on some players with huge scope for improvement. To be honest I really only think that we'll get 2 debutants from this years draft (Scully and Trengrove) because we have guys like Maric, Strauss, Blease, Wona, Jetta, Bennell all ready to make their mark this season. Not that I'm saying other guys from this draft won't get a gig, but that we have alot of youth that has yet to be unleashed, that the time to take a considered gamble with players may could possibly turn out to be a masterstroke.

I think that's pretty short sighted. We're likely to draft at least 1 tall forward, so they're likely to play. Look how raw Watts was & he still got a few games, so that makes 3 or 4.

While we've got a developing list where like to try to play all of our young players in at least a couple of games just for experience, both Blease & Strauss probably would've played barring injury. I know the club spouts the line "we pick players based on there form", but of course young players get pushed up the order a little if even for only for 2 or 3 games