After reading this article I was left rather confused at to what we should be doing with our draft picks. The impression I got was that Freo aren't going for the experienced WA's and that are leaving that for WC. Anyway what do you think we should do, draft only youngsters with our top picks, use them to pick up experienced players or a combination of both?
Anyway the article from the West today:
Pricey early pickings
By Craig O'Donoghue and John McGrath
FREMANTLE and St Kilda are putting a high price on their early picks in this year's AFL national draft.
Fremantle has said it will not trade its first-round choices for anything less than one of the best players in the country.
And stand-in Saints coach Grant Thomas has declared his club will not be tempted to trade an early pick.
The Dockers officially qualified for draft concessions on Saturday night when they lost to Collingwood by 29 points at Subiaco Oval.
Clubs which fail to win 5 1/2,* games in a year automatically receive an extra choice. Fremantle is winless, with only five matches to play.
With West Coast and St Kilda locked on three wins each, three clubs are likely to qualify for concessions, which would give Fremantle first and fourth picks in the draft.
Recruiting manager Phil Smart said that as in 1999, when the Dockers refused to trade first-round picks and selected Paul Hasleby, Leigh Brown and Matthew Pavlich, the club was committed to improving its list by opting for youth.
"We'd be reluctant to trade picks one and four," Smart said. "The first seven or eight picks will be really good. To trade a first-round pick we would have to be given the absolute highest calibre player."
But the Dockers are more than happy to trade their second-round choice and clubs which finish in the top four would be tempted to part with senior players for that selection.
This season's premier will not have a selection until No. 19 and its second choice will be at No. 35. That is a major disadvantage and Fremantle knows it. "We would look at trading pick 20," Smart said. "The bargaining chip is how other clubs rate our second-round pick."
But Fremantle will have the first selection at the pre-season draft if, as likely, it finishes on the bottom of the ladder, so the club has the opportunity to gain a player without trading.
Collingwood snared Shane O'Bree from Brisbane that way and Hawthorn used the same tactic to lure Joel Smith from St Kilda.
"If we can get a player through the pre-season draft we would be silly to trade for him because we can get him for nothing. We'll trade very aggressively," Smart said.
THE Dockers are not expected to announce their new chief executive until at least the end of the week.
The Fremantle board met last night to decide whether to accept the sub-committee's recommendation that AFL Website manager Cameron Schwab be appointed to the post vacated by David Hatt on June 23.
Kangaroos football manager Geoff Walsh is the other strong contender.
August 01, 2001
Vis
Anyway the article from the West today:
Pricey early pickings
By Craig O'Donoghue and John McGrath
FREMANTLE and St Kilda are putting a high price on their early picks in this year's AFL national draft.
Fremantle has said it will not trade its first-round choices for anything less than one of the best players in the country.
And stand-in Saints coach Grant Thomas has declared his club will not be tempted to trade an early pick.
The Dockers officially qualified for draft concessions on Saturday night when they lost to Collingwood by 29 points at Subiaco Oval.
Clubs which fail to win 5 1/2,* games in a year automatically receive an extra choice. Fremantle is winless, with only five matches to play.
With West Coast and St Kilda locked on three wins each, three clubs are likely to qualify for concessions, which would give Fremantle first and fourth picks in the draft.
Recruiting manager Phil Smart said that as in 1999, when the Dockers refused to trade first-round picks and selected Paul Hasleby, Leigh Brown and Matthew Pavlich, the club was committed to improving its list by opting for youth.
"We'd be reluctant to trade picks one and four," Smart said. "The first seven or eight picks will be really good. To trade a first-round pick we would have to be given the absolute highest calibre player."
But the Dockers are more than happy to trade their second-round choice and clubs which finish in the top four would be tempted to part with senior players for that selection.
This season's premier will not have a selection until No. 19 and its second choice will be at No. 35. That is a major disadvantage and Fremantle knows it. "We would look at trading pick 20," Smart said. "The bargaining chip is how other clubs rate our second-round pick."
But Fremantle will have the first selection at the pre-season draft if, as likely, it finishes on the bottom of the ladder, so the club has the opportunity to gain a player without trading.
Collingwood snared Shane O'Bree from Brisbane that way and Hawthorn used the same tactic to lure Joel Smith from St Kilda.
"If we can get a player through the pre-season draft we would be silly to trade for him because we can get him for nothing. We'll trade very aggressively," Smart said.
THE Dockers are not expected to announce their new chief executive until at least the end of the week.
The Fremantle board met last night to decide whether to accept the sub-committee's recommendation that AFL Website manager Cameron Schwab be appointed to the post vacated by David Hatt on June 23.
Kangaroos football manager Geoff Walsh is the other strong contender.
August 01, 2001
Vis
