2nds WAFL 2016

[Miguel Sanchez]

Yep hasnt been seen at the club for months really worried about him.
Is suffering depression from it.

That's bad news. Explains why the club hasn't been saying anything about him as well I guess. Hope they're keeping in contact with him

 

[wraglesweb]

We'd have drafted him if he wasn't a turnover merchant.

Blakely's Kicking is fine for a inside Mid....

 

[SpaceClef]

I guess my only criticism of this point would be that putting an emphasis on drafting midfielders, in order to adress current deficiencies, undermines the broader long-term objective of developing a balanced, well-rounded list. In this sense, their is an opportunity cost associated with drafting - by focussing on one deficiency you ultimately create others down the track.

Unbalanced lists rarely ever become Premiership teams. Fremantle, more so than any other team that comes to mind, have relied immensely on their midfield to win games for long time (their defence has also been good- i'll give you that).

So back to your original point, although i agree that, in isolation, 3 good inside mids are better than two - I'd back a more balanced list e.g. 2 good inside mids and a good forward/defender/wingman etc to beat the former more often than not.

Yeah but why go for the wildcard pick in Lamb then if you're going for the balanced option?

Given Blakely was WA's best inside mid prospect in the draft, and given our list was already unbalanced with too many back flankers and little inside midfield depth, you would assume we would have gone for him.

Anyway, I'm stoked we got Lamb, the kid is a friggen star in the making.

 

[Jandamarra]

Yeah but why go for the wildcard pick in Lamb then if you're going for the balanced option?

Given Blakely was WA's best inside mid prospect in the draft, and given our list was already unbalanced with too many back flankers and little inside midfield depth, you would assume we would have gone for him.

Anyway, I'm stoked we got Lamb, the kid is a friggen star in the making.

I think you are conflating 'balanced' drafting with 'conservative' drafting. A balanced approach, in my mind, doesn't necessarily mean you avoid riskier/project type players altogether.

As to your second point, I think the rationale underpinning our decision not to pick Blakely with pick 32 is pretty evident when you look at who we took with pick 11, 51, 66 and, most importantly, 76.

We all know that Waterman was considered as having great inside midfield potential, but looking back at player profiles it's interesting to see that Jackson Nelson (who we chose with pick 51 in 2014) was also touted as a good inside mid prospect:


Jackson Nelson (Geelong Falcons)

Position: Defender/midfielder
Height: 187 cm
Weight: 80 kg
Strengths: Tackling, marking, clearances machine, contested ball-winner, versatility.
Weaknesses: Speed
Player comparison: Nick Vlastuin

Obviously the club had identified a weakness in the list and had consequently made a concerted effort towards addressing it that year. Your point about our abundance of HBF is valid, but i'd argue that it applies to most AFL sides TBH - just look at Ports list.

 

[kane249]

Didn't realise Nelson was that tall, hopefully he's grown a centimetre or two since drafting.

 

[WCE_phil]

It can vary depending on the case. It wiped out a year for Shuey in the early part of his career but he was able to make a full recovery. Going back a few years Daniel McConnell also got glandular fever when playing with us and was never the same player after.

It needs to be managed carefully otherwise it can lead to chronic fatigue syndrome.

It can be very debilitating. I guy I grew up with and played cricket with was struck down with glandular fever when he was 17. He could barely leave his bed for 12 months and regularly needed assistance in doing that. Even years later when he was over the chronic fatigue his nervous system was just shot. I'm not talking about losing the ability to compete at sport i'm talking about a guy who was an elite junior who'd regularly lose his grip on a pen, or a cup of tea or his knife and fork. A lot of people here go oh it's only kissing disease, 6 weeks and back to normal. I genuinely hope that Alec is doing better than when i last saw him.

 

[SpaceClef]

I think you are conflating 'balanced' drafting with 'conservative' drafting. A balanced approach, in my mind, doesn't necessarily mean you avoid riskier/project type players altogether.

As to your second point, I think the rationale underpinning our decision not to pick Blakely with pick 32 is pretty evident when you look at who we took with pick 11, 51, 66 and, most importantly, 76.

We all know that Waterman was considered as having great inside midfield potential, but looking back at player profiles it's interesting to see that Jackson Nelson (who we chose with pick 51 in 2014) was also touted as a good inside mid prospect:


Jackson Nelson (Geelong Falcons)

Position: Defender/midfielder
Height: 187 cm
Weight: 80 kg
Strengths: Tackling, marking, clearances machine, contested ball-winner, versatility.
Weaknesses: Speed
Player comparison: Nick Vlastuin

Obviously the club had identified a weakness in the list and had consequently made a concerted effort towards addressing it that year. Your point about our abundance of HBF is valid, but i'd argue that it applies to most AFL sides TBH - just look at Ports list.

We would have had no idea Nelson and Cavka were going to be available that late, though.

So given all this, it's likely that the recruiters
a) didn't think there would be any tall forwards worth drafting after our second pick (therefore pulled the trigger on Lamb), and
b) had a lot of faith in Waterman to address the inside mid depth deficiency (given we had already committed to him prior to the draft even starting).

It's a pretty pointless argument I'm making, I just think we might regret a good opportunity to fully complete our midfield

 

[kane249]

I think we can just leave it that Spacey has a man crush on Blakely and would turn purple for him

 

[Jandamarra]

We would have had no idea Nelson and Cavka were going to be available that late, though.

So given all this, it's likely that the recruiters
a) didn't think there would be any tall forwards worth drafting after our second pick (therefore pulled the trigger on Lamb), and
b) had a lot of faith in Waterman to address the inside mid depth deficiency (given we had already committed to him prior to the draft even starting).

It's a pretty pointless argument I'm making, I just think we might regret a good opportunity to fully complete our midfield

Good point and fair enough. It's still early, but Blakely looks the better player so far.

 

[SpaceClef]

I think we can just leave it that Spacey has a man crush on Blakely and would turn purple for him

In Ross we trust

 

[mick06]

Didn't say I rated him higher than Sheed at all. What logic are you referring to?

Sheed is a year older for starters and has an additional year of development, but that's not the point.

Point is that three good inside mids are better than two.

Just that u said barlow mundy neale are out they have a ready made player to go in.

And if we lost priddis shuey then we rely on sheed and redden.

By that i read it that you would be happy for blakely to lead a midfield over sheed and redden

 

[SpaceClef]

Just that u said barlow mundy neale are out they have a ready made player to go in.

And if we lost priddis shuey then we rely on sheed and redden.

By that i read it that you would be happy for blakely to lead a midfield over sheed and redden

Just meant that with Blakely we could spread the load better, plus Sheed will be coming off potentially a full year out of the game

 

[frenchconnection]

That's bad news. Explains why the club hasn't been saying anything about him as well I guess. Hope they're keeping in contact with him

I heard the Club gave him the rest of the year off and told him to forget about football for the time being, just to concentrate on getting better. That would explain why he hasn't been seen around the Club perhaps.

 

[WCE_phil]

Just meant that with Blakely we could spread the load better, plus Sheed will be coming off potentially a full year out of the game

Blakely has horrid kicking skills and has already been mentioned with 2 inside mids in sheed taken the year before and duggan that year as well as waterman as a father son we weren't going to take a third in that time period. For the record i was completely against drafting lamb as i thought he would be a bust pick and I wanted menadue with our second round pick.

 

[salo]

Dangerfield is no Lethal Leigh either

not much wrong with danger's ball use, unless i'm missing something here (possibly sarcasm?)

on blakely, of all the players we passed on drafting over the past few years i can't understand why he would be in anyone's top 10 regrets??

 

[2006_Eagles]

not much wrong with danger's ball use, unless i'm missing something here (possibly sarcasm?)

on blakely, of all the players we passed on drafting over the past few years i can't understand why he would be in anyone's top 10 regrets??

not sure if srs

 

[Galileo9]

not much wrong with danger's ball use, unless i'm missing something here (possibly sarcasm?)

on blakely, of all the players we passed on drafting over the past few years i can't understand why he would be in anyone's top 10 regrets??

Because he is from WA and WA is best.

 

[Bacchus]

Blakely has horrid kicking skills and has already been mentioned with 2 inside mids in sheed taken the year before and duggan that year as well as waterman as a father son we weren't going to take a third in that time period. For the record i was completely against drafting lamb as i thought he would be a bust pick and I wanted menadue with our second round pick.

With hindsight, I think McGovern the Younger would have been the best pick. I agree with you about Lamb being a bust pick, hope I'm wrong but the signs and the whispers aren't good.

 

[WCE_phil]

With hindsight, I think McGovern the Younger would have been the best pick. I agree with you about Lamb being a bust pick, hope I'm wrong but the signs and the whispers aren't good.

Personally i don't rate gov jnr all that highly either. Borderline AFL player imo and not sold on his kicking either. Could have a very solid career if he works hard and continues to improve but he's not someone worth worrying about us passing over imo. I don't think he'd be getting a game for us currently and long term would leave us too short in the forward line pairing up with darling.

 

[Chris_6678]

Yeah cannot really see Gov junior getting a game either. Happy to keep Lamb if he wants to stay as think he is a player that might take longer for things to click...but if a club is willing to pay overs for him in a trade i would be fine for that also.

 

[Bacchus]

Personally i don't rate gov jnr all that highly either. Borderline AFL player imo and not sold on his kicking either. Could have a very solid career if he works hard and continues to improve but he's not someone worth worrying about us passing over imo. I don't think he'd be getting a game for us currently and long term would leave us too short in the forward line pairing up with darling.

Valid points, but from a superficial viewpoint (mine) he seems like a player with genuine x-factor like his brother. Personally, don't like Menadue, seems too slight of build to make it.

 

[WCE_phil]

Valid points, but from a superficial viewpoint (mine) he seems like a player with genuine x-factor like his brother. Personally, don't like Menadue, seems too slight of build to make it.

Was just pointed out who i wanted with our second rounder at the time.

 

[Barney44]

Expecting this place to get angry when the team is announced tonight. Heard a few Eagles are on very shaky ground and are likely to be dropped to reserves. The only thing that could save them is West Coast holding out a few from the game on Monday so they are not playing off a 5 day break if they are needed the following week against Adelaide.

 

[Chris_6678]

Expecting this place to get angry when the team is announced tonight. Heard a few Eagles are on very shaky ground and are likely to be dropped to reserves. The only thing that could save them is West Coast holding out a few from the game on Monday so they are not playing off a 5 day break if they are needed the following week against Adelaide.

Eagles in the WAFL team getting dropped to reserves?

 

[WCErevival]

Who would be getting dropped?

Snadden is a possibility. Allen maybe.