Who do we draft?

[daddy_4_eyes]

Been reading Porthos The Draft website and got thinking, who do WC target in the draft? We have picks #26, #42 and #58 (i think...). Who do we pick up?

Well, these WA fella's look likely to be around when our picks come up:
#26 Courtney Johns - 191cm 87kd CHF. Would come in handy, especially with McDougalls and Gaspar's injury proness.
#42 Nic Chidgzey - was WA captain in under-18's
#58 Kane Loxley - 175cm midfielder with good footy smarts and skills.

Others in the mix:
Michael Pettigrew - 192cm Utility
Chad Cossom - 179cm 19yr old midfielder not picked up last year

Of course, there's also players from other states available.

Anyone have any better informed opinions (my opinion is based solely on Porthos webpage).

 

[hourn]

the problem with trying to work out who our picks will be is its a bit difficult to work out who will be around when our picks are up.

but yea, i only know of Courtney Johns who is 50/50 to be around at 26 and i've heard of Matthew Pettigrew in the mix.

Not really sure to be honest who we'll get but i dont think they'll have a great impact in '03.

 

[Mead]

Picking that late is always going to be a gamble- maybe you'll get James Hird, or maybe you'll get someone who won't play a game.
Courtney Johns sounds good- basically, I don't think we should be going hunting for midfielders- realistically, what would be best would be CHF/FF type who we can develop over the next 3-4 years as a replacement for Willow.

 

[ozzult]

Originally posted by Mead

Courtney Johns sounds good- basically, I don't think we should be going hunting for midfielders- realistically, what would be best would be CHF/FF type who we can develop over the next 3-4 years as a replacement for Willow.

I think it is just best to select the best available talent that is available when pick 26 is called, whether that be a midfielder, a forward a defender or a ruckman.

 

[Mead]

Originally posted by ozzult


I think it is just best to select the best available talent that is available when pick 26 is called, whether that be a midfielder, a forward a defender or a ruckman.

Often said, and definitely a good philosophy in terms of the top ten picks, but I get the feeling that by #26 there is not really a huge amount differentiating one pick from another, at least, not anything which can be accurately picked up before they've played AFL footy? Realistically, what would be the point of selecting, eg, a ruckman? He'd have to be pretty good to steal either Cox or Gardiner's spot, and he'd be fourth in line behind three young developing rucks. Completely pointless.
I know peope said similar things when we picked up Judd, now more than ever after adding Adkins and Chick, our midfield stocks are full. If we're going to have to draft someone as a long term development option, it makes sense to do it in a position where they'd be most useful.

 

[hourn]

yep i agree with Mead. When it comes to the top picks you get the best available, but when it gets a bit lower in the order, there is very little difference between the pick 20 player and pick 35/40 players, so you should go for someone who will fit into your team.


Midfielders we need none of whether it be ruckmen or rovers.

we could definetaly go for some tall players (forward and back) and maybe a running backmen if theres one around.

 

[ozzult]

Originally posted by Mead


Often said, and definitely a good philosophy in terms of the top ten picks, but I get the feeling that by #26 there is not really a huge amount differentiating one pick from another, at least, not anything which can be accurately picked up before they've played AFL footy? Realistically, what would be the point of selecting, eg, a ruckman? He'd have to be pretty good to steal either Cox or Gardiner's spot, and he'd be fourth in line behind three young developing rucks. Completely pointless.
I know peope said similar things when we picked up Judd, now more than ever after adding Adkins and Chick, our midfield stocks are full. If we're going to have to draft someone as a long term development option, it makes sense to do it in a position where they'd be most useful.

You make a good point, but say we get a ruckman at #26, and he turns out to be up to the calibre of someone like Dean Cox in a few years, he'd be great trade bait for a good deal in the years to come.

Just look at B. French and Port for an example.

 

[i_luv_westcoast]

Who should we draft?

Someone good

 

[Voice of Reason]

Originally posted by hourn
yep i agree with Mead. When it comes to the top picks you get the best available, but when it gets a bit lower in the order, there is very little difference between the pick 20 player and pick 35/40 players, so you should go for someone who will fit into your team.

Midfielders we need none of whether it be ruckmen or rovers.

we could definetaly go for some tall players (forward and back) and maybe a running backmen if theres one around.

I suggest that the "very little difference" between such picks is most likely to be true in a physical and skills sense.

However, the ones who will be successful are those with the right mental toughness and character. People decry the fact that the Eagles did well out of late draft picks who were secret to all those except the WA side, but the reality is that the late picks who did well were outstanding characters - like Kemp and Heady.

With a low pick, go for the good kid, ideally from WA.

 

[Frodo]

I still feel we will get a top player who is out of contract with another club. Maybe from Melbourne. There are quite a few about. Pick wont matter. Room in the cap will.
We have lost Prior, Harding, Merenda, Williams and picked up Chock. We also gain half of Milli's wage. I reckon we have room to sign a good player. They only have to nominate with a $300K tag and which other club could afford them? Russell Robertson maybe...Powell??

 

[Au_Blue#24]

If we have room in the cap for 2003, we should keep it that way

so that we have some room to fit Judd in for his next contract.

To fill the cap in 2003 would be a complete "dockerism".

 

[Uncle Tony]

I think we should be looking to bolster our defence, we went for a ruckman last year with Seaby. Another tall defender would be handy.

 

[Jabber]

I reckon these guys will all be gone by the time our pick arrives ( my phantom draft )

Brendon Goddard
Daniel Wells
Steven Salopek
Byron Schammer
Stephen Gilham
Jared Brennan
Jarrod McVeigh
Blake Grima
Hamish McIntosh
Paul Johnson
Bo Nixon
Daniel Bell
Jason Winderlich
Callum Urch
Nick Smith
Jason Lay****
Kade Simpson
Tim Walsh
Jay Schulz
Anthony Corrie
David Kellett
Luke Jericho
Luke Brennan
Tom Lonergan
Troy Selwood

Courtney Johns should be a late 2nd to early 3rd rounder, so he would probably be the safest bet, If Freo don't pull a surprise at 15 we'll probably pick him at 26. Pettigrew's a chance also at 26.
Chidgzey didn't get a draft camp invite, so he probably won't go until late. (unless someone is hiding something).

 

[Mr Q]

Originally posted by Frodo
I still feel we will get a top player who is out of contract with another club. Maybe from Melbourne. There are quite a few about.

IIRC a player has to be delisted to nominate for the main draft. If they're only out of contract then they can't nominate until the pre-season draft.

I just noticed that this is my 500th post

 

[kris]

there is this one guy that i have played with named leigh gallop he is an absolute gun and could play senior football next year cos he is built like a tank and he has played for the vic metro side as well as the western jets in victoria he could b used as a small utility he is prolly about 178cm and 80kgs he absolutely slaughtered me in a tackle last year he could b a roughie with our last pick i reckon i know he has spoekn to richmond and port and has sais he would play in any state including wa

 

[WA]

Originally posted by Mead

Courtney Johns sounds good- basically, I don't think we should be going hunting for midfielders- realistically, what would be best would be CHF/FF type who we can develop over the next 3-4 years as a replacement for Willow.

You obviously see Wilson as a longer term option that the one year contracts the club keep giving him. I like it.


Even if we'd had the opportunity to get Wells (not that it's likely we'd have gotten him even with our first pick @ 10 anyway!), I wouldn't have wanted to look at him. He's openly said he only wants to play for an Eastern States club and has no interest in staying in WA. I'd rather go for a kid who was desperate to play for us, even if they weren't quite as highly rated by most people & then develop them.

Au_Blue#24 has a point in keeping some room in our cap, although, you'd imagine that we'll unfortunately have at least one or two retirements next season freeing up some $$ anyway.

 

[Frodo]

Originally posted by Mr Q


I just noticed that this is my 500th post

No it's not

ps you're right about the drafts

 

[Mr Q]

Originally posted by Frodo


No it's not

ps you're right about the drafts

Yes it was

 

[carlyp]

Originally posted by Au_Blue#24
If we have room in the cap for 2003, we should keep it that way

so that we have some room to fit Judd in for his next contract.

To fill the cap in 2003 would be a complete "dockerism".

Yep agreed! We've got a good list now so we should be trying to keep hold of them!