- Nov 28, 2006
- 28,877
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- AFL Club
- Essendon
I'm quite happy we weren't that active. It seems like some supporters just want us to make a trade for the sake of making a trade. There weren't any trades out there that really could have benefited us.
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I'm quite happy we weren't that active. It seems like some supporters just want us to make a trade for the sake of making a trade. There weren't any trades out there that really could have benefited us.
For memory Hird was pick 72, Simon Black was also late. As for this year's draft, perhaps most of them are late bloomers, it just so happens that the '06 draft they were more advanced comparative to their age, maybe?
What would be your suggestions? How can we manage the list to our advantage and/or in preparation of next year's draft?
Im not saying that this years draft wont produce good players late but it will be very hit and miss. There are about 30 or so mids that played TAC Cup this year that are very similar. Average pace, reasonable skills, average height. It is going to be a bit of an art to sort out the ones who will improve most compared to other years. I base what i say on the fact that i have seen the TAC Cup sides play at least 6 games each (some sides even more). It is well known that this years draft is down a little on depth. It had nothing to do with players being more advanced for their age. Last years crop where simply better . This is the same for next season. A number of the under age kids at each TAC Cup club have performed better than the kids elagable to be drafted this year.If you look at Kyle Reimers for example .In last years draft he was considered an outside chance to be drafted but if you put him in this years draft he would be consided to be in the pick 20 to 35 range. Collier is another one. Not taken last year as an underage player. Expected to go somewhere in the top 30 this year.
As far as managing the list for next years draft it isnt that hard.
First you dont take too many junk picks this year that ties you into having players on two year deals. Yes you can delist them but it is not the best way to go having to delist 2 or 3 players and pay out their contracts.
Secondly with another year of experience we have more trade possabilities with the young players. Players will have completed their second,third and fouurth years and one or two of them are likely to be much better trade bait than what we offered this year.Knights will have had a season to groom the list a little as well. He will have a better idea of who will fit in the plan he has. Like he said when he was appointed , he wasnt going to try and change 25 things in the first year. You get the set up and get the playing plan moving in the first year and then you evaluate which players could well be surplus to your ideas.
Finally you dont sign up or trade for too many middle of the road players. Now i know Dyson has just signed and i belive that was a mistake and it goes against my rule here but no club gets it 100% corect all of the time. If Dyson is the worst singing we do then siging one player i dont rate i can live with. At least it is not going to extend past two. There are a number of guys under pressure next year. Johns and Lee to start with. They will more than likely go unless they have a big turn around.Hille and Laycock are out of contract at the end of 2008. Lonergan only has a one year deal. Mal might retire after next year. Jason Johnson will retire , he has already said it will be his last year of footy.All of last years draftee's will be out of contract. I think there will be more options for trades and plenty enough room for drafting given we have not filled the list with 2 or 3 extra speculative draft picks from this years draft.
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For memory Hird was pick 72, Simon Black was also late. As for this year's draft, perhaps most of them are late bloomers, it just so happens that the '06 draft they were more advanced comparative to their age, maybe?
I have to agree... I'm not happy with Dyson getting a 2 year contract. While I agree that he'd be better then a late draft pick, and shouldn't be traded, holding on to him for just 1 year would be more sensible.
I was kind of hoping Bradley would be traded. That's the only way I could see him kicking to an Essendon player
In the current situation, I'd give Bradley a 1 year contract (Knights hopefully knows him well enough to play him up forward). If Bradley, Johns, Lee or Dyson don't come good in the next year then we have a better draft to replace them with.