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2024 Draft Thread
- Thread starter Mr T.
- Start date
What was pleasing about The Jaguar's performance on the weekend was some line breaking run and some running receives on the outside. More 'go forward' to his game on Saturday. His leg speed whilst not uber quick, looked ok never the less.
Probably deserves to be the broadly expected number 1 at this stage.
We need to be careful in this draft that we don't over load on inside mids and "chuggers". We need some pace and agility going through the midfield a la Shedda, Shai etc. That's why I'm keen on Berry, Draper or whoever it's gonna be - to add some desperately needed spread from stoppages and speed around the ground.
I have days where I get compelled by FOS, Lalor and Draper,
but its emotion; its based on what might be.
jagga is science; him and Ashcroft's applications for the No.1 are quite clearly a notch above the other 3-4.
Ive said like a stuck record,
Jagga may not turn out retrospective No.1 in five years, the others might come on, reach their projected ceiling, and overtake him.
But he will be blue chip Top 5
and I dont think we are at the stage where we can take the risk.
I reckon if it was 2027, and we had a great young midfield assembled, I'd be wanting FOS or Lalor.
Some used the same logic to argue for Chris Masten over Trent Cotchin.
haha,
you got to admit though,
objectively, on exposed form, Jagga is a standout?
basically 3 years running of being the best amongst his peers at every level hes eligible to play
he's prolific, consistent, durable, and the best player on the ground most weeks, at all levels.
non-damaging BOG is an oxymoron. the damage is in getting the ball in your teams hands and heading towards your goals, 35 times every week. He will do that, and clear it from stoppage 8 times+ a week, for 15 years.
there's kind of no downside (other than FOS or Lalor pairing with Harley Reid and winning 4 premierships with WC
)Yes FOS and Lalor do look great, but there's durability and consistency question marks?
(note, Lalor looks significantly finer in his latest clip, like hes springing and reaching full fitness. interesting watch)
I'm of the school that No.1 should be devoid of question marks.
(note Josh Smilie has more question marks, posed by impartial parties in the public sphere, than a university Philosophy course)
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That would be the ultimate Richmond blunder. In the most important draft of 25 years for the club have the bloke in charge unable to participate.
He's had the best season this year. He didn't last year, or the year before. FOS was under-16 national MVP and AA captain. And FOS, Ashcroft and Draper were the only bottom-agers to be AA last year.
jagga was rover in that 2022 AA u16 side, had a ripping bottom age u18 champs, and Captain of the 24 AA side,
while FOS and Lalor and Smilie didn't make u18 AA
thats my point.
every top 5 player, other than Jagga and Ashcroft, has had a less-than-scintillating year or carnival in the last 3
Ashcroft and Jagga bring the A game every week and every year.
What if we take FOS at 1, and he's a HFF'er with hands like a hummingbird?
what if we take Lalor at 1, and he's a HFF'er who eats pies all summer?
unlikely, yes.
but there are no question marks on Jagga - he will line up on ball R1, and stay there for 15 years, getting clearance after clearance.
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I'm on the fence on FOS and Jagga. Rapt to get either. If they make it, I see Jagga as a Simon Black who will anchor the side. I see FOS as a Cotchy, enough said, but his junior form is not at the uber dominance of Cotchy. I think its highly likely they both make it, but Smith is more likely based on exposed form. I'd prefer Cotchy over Black, but would be rapt with either.
same, lalor too.
but 2 have shown glimpses in their draft year, and 1 has shown a Martin Scorsese epic.
you have to use separators,
and for me, thats a pretty emphatic separator.
but having said that,
if tigers call out FOS or Lalor at 1, I'll get over the surprise in 10 seconds and fist pump and jump around on the couch and get told off by MrsEZ for spilling her drink.
whereas if we called out Smilie, Id take a sleeping pill and go to bed
I’m with you mate. I reckon Jagga slides and is gettable around the 5/6 mark
One thing that is in Lalors favour is that he's only turning 18 years old in a couple of days, and he's outmarking players much taller than him.
With the departure of Shai, we need goal kicking mids.
Must get.
With the departure of Shai, we need goal kicking mids.
Must get.
Not a number one pick , but there's another Smith of recent years, who was also lauded as an uber professional, super fit, mega dedicated youngster who was simply gunna become a mega star. Few years later, he's had some issues over a sniff, reports of an assault incident, mental health issues,
nudged from midfield / wing to HFF. Hardly been near his current club all year while rehabbing his knee and rampant speculation all year that he's out the door to another club.
Even young Higlet had simply one life ambition, well perhaps two. Become an AFL player, then play for St Kiddenme. Not the most socially / life balanced upbringing n a bit different n exuberant in his early days, issues around the covid camp in QLD and somewhat unpopular with his former team mates compared to Geezer.
Only my random thoughts, as from all Jag has shown and done he's fully worthy of being in that range of 1 to 5 at this years draft. Just feel that perhaps he'll reach a ceiling n then flat line as a very good n consistent player for his career at AFL level without quite reaching those owning n breaking games peaks.
That's still only 5 picks in a supposed deep draft. Once we get done with all our speculated trades n stuff we could have around a dozen top 40 picks to shuffle n play around with. Looks like we'll have a fat hand to play with in this years top 25 picks and still enough to get a little future creative to bulk up our 2 early picks in next years draft.
From a far i would doubt any club has him at 5, everyone might have him at 2, but
one might prefer FOS.
one might prefer Smillie
one might prefer Draper
and one might prefer Lalor/Langford/Trainor/etc.
It looks like that could be true for any of the top 4 or 5 this year.
stating the obvious, but a 2nd pick in the top 4 to get 2 of Smith, FOS, Draper or Lalor/Smillie would be pretty nice.
