Yes! This is what we want from a draft thread. Bitching and recriminations. Nuke it from orbit. It's the only way to be sure.
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2021 Draft Thread
- Thread starter Rfc4Ever
- Start date
The pluses outweighed the negatives this year, Cumberland looks like an inspired pick, Miller starting to lift as well, those players don't concern me. Taranto has never been a favourite of mine, I put his disposal on par with a player like Daniel Jackson or Anthony Miles, probably good enough to finish top 5 in a B&F but not really elite in the truest sense. Would it be better to grab Crouch in the bargain bin? That's a question I'll be asking over the next few months. I did suggest Brodie last year, that looks to have been a solid call, I think there will be another opportunity for a similar cheap buy this season.
Our picks have been generally excellent, Gibcus has shown enough forward to bring a smile to my face, the fact we can mix & match with Balta brings a stack of flexilbility to the table. Judson looked all class in his brief stints & his goal at the death last week tells you we have an ice cool customer in that Jamie Elliott or David Mundy mold. Brown seems to be building which is good, I think a debut next year looks a foregone conclusion & I would hope he can impact in a similar manner to Docherty in due course.
This draft has a good spread of mids & I believe we need to stock up ASAP, I'd be holding our first as I believe there will be solid value when our pick arrives (presuming we don't finish top 4).
I also think Grundy is worth considering, I think his value at ground level has been undersold & it's a perfect scenario to have Collingwood pay 300k of his salary. Kangas probably first in line but I'm sure Grundy and his management would prefer a club that is playing finals.
The biggest plus this year has been Bolton & Dan Rioli, kudos to the coaching department for maximising their potential, MRJ has also been a revelation with his defensive work, some serious parallels with Cyril in that department. I'm generally bouyant about the direction of the club but we need to ensure there's a strong tier emerging in the event RCD, Dow & Ross don't become premiership quality mids. Ross looks the most likely from that group.
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Hmm, a cheap buy with an older player who can be a decent, if not spectacular, mid? Could work and be well worth a try. Not dissimilar to picking up a cheaper defender, like Tarrant, and that has turned out well. If we are rebuilding on the run the occasional older player as a top up makes sense.
DS
DS
Tony Braxton-Hicks
There are no stupid ideas, just stupid people
Has the draft got a good spread of key forwards as reported previously ?. I do think we need to get one without a doubt.
Bauer looks like a promising 2nd tall forward and Cumberland plays much taller than his 183cm but agree we need a developing tall power forward in the Lynch mould. Not easy to come by.
How about Sean Darcy instead of Grundy, if he's not the best ruckman in the AFL, he soon will be. He flogged Gawn & Jackson a month ago & has just turned 24.
If Jackson goes to the Dockers he might be gettable.
In our range I think it would have to be a hybrid ruck/forward but I don't see a pressing need, I think we can cobble together a competitive line up with either Balta or Gibcus playing the second tall role. Jack is good for another year. If we want to move up the order then by all means look at Cadman or Jefferson, the latter more of a project given his light frame. Realistically I think we will be looking at a midfielder like Bailey Humphrey, he seems to be a 'Richmond' type, probably undersold due to a few niggles. The Clarke rubric usually entails strong leadership & scoreboard influence, these are ticks for Humphrey.
Joshua Browne has done well in the WAFL, I wonder if he will get his chance this year, he has already racked up at 36 possession game and I think he has an outstanding work ethic.
I had my eye on Darcy all year, a little bit hot & cold but he's just about to hit his prime, no complaints if he ends up at Punt Rd. Grundy probably still my preference, his form was still good prior to getting injured, I think the Darcy Cameron love fest will be fleeting, just a gut feeling. Grundy still has some good years ahead of him, just need to make sure his body is sound.
I see your point but I'm looking at Grundy as an additional cog in the midfield, at his best he's a 20+ possession player, I think that gets overlooked somewhat. The thing with these salary cap dumps is you get the player cheaper than you might otherwise, the only complication is a potential bidding war with North, I wouldn't be throwing the kitchen sink at him but I'd be willing to offer up a first rounder if we wind up with a pick in the late teens to early twenties (similar range to Dow).
Personally I don't see Grundy suiting our style, similar to the Pies, their system (like ours) is better to put the big money in other lines and go with a weaker ruck.
Grundy would suit a very high stoppage game plan, like Melbourne, Brisbane or the Saints IMO.
Fair enough, I guess my thinking is grab the player who can match it with Gawn etc. & then look at bolstering the midfield via free agency. A-list rucks are few & far between, it's actually pretty rare a player of Grundy's calibre & professionalism becomes available below market rates. Of all the gettable players he's easily the best bang for the buck, probably has another 4-5 years of quality football ahead of him.
Others like De Goey, Bobby Hill, Taranto etc will probably be on grossly inflated prices, Jackson another who is some chance to go the way of Tom Boyd.
Yeah I understand the focus and IMO the Saints will be the ones that sniff around him. They love to go with the 2 rucks and with Ryder retiring they need a replacement. Hill to North for a nominal pick and they take his salary, the Saints give that salary to Grundy.
He was a classic early bloomer, grabbed everyone's attention because he had an early breakout but has plateaued with little improvement. Same low impact possessions, average disposal & not enough scoreboard influence. If you spend the money then you target the best in each line, Taranto ranks 3rd-4th in a premiership midfield.
His numbers were elite though. You don’t just lose that ability. Maybe he was a victim of the environment and game plan at GWS.
Of all the GWS cast offs very few have gone onto more decorated careers, the hierarchy has always been Josh Kelly, Callan Ward, Stephen Coniglio & then guys like Taranto & few others who have had a brief moment in the sun. He's hit his ceiling, he certainly won't be spearheading any midfield, he's not a like for like replacement for A listers like Cotchin & Martin, he's not even as influential as Prestia, I cannot recall too many games that he's grabbed by the scruff of the neck and been the game changer. If it was McCluggage then I would be more interested, he's the one from the 2017 draft class who has an extra gear.
He is no superstar ,but his consistent in gws best alot compared to others and that's not playing always in his natural position. I reckon get him in the Tigers environment he will thrive better coaching and environment and settle him in the midfield.
His disposal is at 69% , but let's be honest Petracca , Oliver and Cotch are similar to.
My initial viewing of Bauer I thought he was miles off it but as the VFL season wore on and watching him at training he presents to the ball super well, don't think he is as a reliable kick as many make out though.
His last VFL game roaming high to the wing and taking a crucial down the line mark late made me take notice.
Athletic traits and a full pre-season with the Tige's I give him some chance.
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2021 mid season draft
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