2024 Draft Thread

[bullus_hit]

Like Donut and FOS, Draper had an injury interrupted year, fb. Shin fractures. He had either one? or zero? hitouts before the Championships and was massively underdone. He was visibly sucking air first up against the Allies. And probably about square with Langford second up. Was held by Allan third up. And quiet by his standards against Metro.

Draper's 2023 carnival was better than his 2024 carnival. It's possible that he got more attention in 2024. We know he did. But it's most likely that Sid Draper's form at state level was hampered by his being underdone coming back from injury.

Draper played the back end of the season at SANFL senior level. Overall SANFL level is probably stronger than all but the top end of VFL level. South Adelaide are totes sheiser too BTW.

Draper's SANFL senior form was pretty good. But he didn't set the world on fire. He didn't get Levi Ashcroft numbers (35, 12Cl, 1G) but he was racing in stronger company than Ashcroft did that day. And yes, Draper looked scrappy at times. But he was carrying a lot of responsibility on his just 18yo shoulders while he tried to level up.

Balancing Draper's form is hard. How much was he hampered all year by the shin interruption? Was his SANFL form actually better than anybody's VFL form because he was carrying more responsibility in a stronger grade? Was he having some composure issues because he wasn't fully fit? Because he was levelling up a grade? Was he having confidence issues? Or will he always have composure issues?

I'm a huge Draper fan, fb. My queries are on his move from inside to outside. Fluency. How he gets from winning at the fall to outside the traffic. He's either inside and he's good at that or he's outside and he's good at that at U18 level. Getting outside from the fall. He is quick enough to explode out of packs. But doesn't do it much. That's the missing link atm. A lack of fluency. If he's busting out of packs at Championships level this year he goes #1 in this draft. It's a limitation not a weakness.

I do see pots occasionally on his decision making. I have seen him knock eyes out sending the ball in, even under pressure. But at this stage there is not much genius evident in his hands.

And he doesn't kick a lot of goals. He's not a natural there. He'll kick em if he plays HFF but will usually lay it off.

Lalor and FOS had injury interrupted seasons, perhaps more so than Draper. But they didn't get 27 in the SANFL seniors. Draper's SANFL form puts him very near the frame for #1 IMO.

I'm not hot on Draper and you have touched on the reasons I'm reluctant to bite with a top 6 pick. The biggest issue I see is his kicking depth, for a player with a 3 step burst there needs to be a compatible missile launching system, at times he looks like he's kicking a bag of sand and being a stickler for kicking I'm marking him harder than most. If a player only touches the ball 20-25 times a match there needs to be a higher degree of hurt factor, otherwise we enter the realm of vanilla mid. Draper impresses about as much as McCauliffe did in 2023 and that's not a jab at Kane by the way, just an observation that one player was picked in the third round and we now have a similar type being mooted for a top 5 pick.

 

[Mr Brightside]

Agree with most of that, except the A grade bit. I think his goal kicking is close to A grade, and his touch finding the bouncing ball.

I have very high gradings Linus

Not that I take much notice of mock drafts , I hadn’t noticed his name much in those , I just found he looks better then a few of the highly rated flankers to me , though I’m biased towards midfielders , again it’s the area we must fix in this draft , genuine mids and hopefully a couple are A grade to elite Linus

 

[fastin bulbous]

Like Donut and FOS, Draper had an injury interrupted year, fb. Shin fractures. He had either one? or zero? hitouts before the Championships and was massively underdone. He was visibly sucking air first up against the Allies. And probably about square with Langford second up. Was held by Allan third up. And quiet by his standards against Metro.

Draper's 2023 carnival was better than his 2024 carnival. It's possible that he got more attention in 2024. We know he did. But it's most likely that Sid Draper's form at state level was hampered by his being underdone coming back from injury.

Draper played the back end of the season at SANFL senior level. Overall SANFL level is probably stronger than all but the top end of VFL level. South Adelaide are totes sheiser too BTW.

Draper's SANFL senior form was pretty good. But he didn't set the world on fire. He didn't get Levi Ashcroft numbers (35, 12Cl, 1G) but he was racing in stronger company than Ashcroft did that day. And yes, Draper looked scrappy at times. But he was carrying a lot of responsibility on his just 18yo shoulders while he tried to level up.

Balancing Draper's form is hard. How much was he hampered all year by the shin interruption? Was his SANFL form actually better than anybody's VFL form because he was carrying more responsibility in a stronger grade? Was he having some composure issues because he wasn't fully fit? Because he was levelling up a grade? Was he having confidence issues? Or will he always have composure issues?

I'm a huge Draper fan, fb. My queries are on his move from inside to outside. Fluency. How he gets from winning at the fall to outside the traffic. He's either inside and he's good at that or he's outside and he's good at that at U18 level. Getting outside from the fall. He is quick enough to explode out of packs. But doesn't do it much. That's the missing link atm. A lack of fluency. If he's busting out of packs at Championships level this year he goes #1 in this draft. It's a limitation not a weakness.

I do see pots occasionally on his decision making. I have seen him knock eyes out sending the ball in, even under pressure. But at this stage there is not much genius evident in his hands.

And he doesn't kick a lot of goals. He's not a natural there. He'll kick em if he plays HFF but will usually lay it off.

Lalor and FOS had injury interrupted seasons, perhaps more so than Draper. But they didn't get 27 in the SANFL seniors. Draper's SANFL form puts him very near the frame for #1 IMO.

Thanks for that astute analysis investigator

 

[caesar]

Then where the bloody hell is caesar sippin on Bobby Burns Shiraz, enjoying the Melbourne sun at the “ palace “ id imagine

Just went to Dan Murphy's this morning and picked up a half dozen of Barossa Valley Grenache & Heathcote Shiraz Cleanskins, Bobby B out of my league now

 

[fastin bulbous]

I'm not hot on Draper and you have touched on the reasons I'm reluctant to bite with a top 6 pick. The biggest issue I see is his kicking depth, for a player with a 3 step burst there needs to be a compatible missile launching system, at times he looks like he's kicking a bag of sand and being a stickler for kicking I'm marking him harder than most. If a player only touches the ball 20-25 times a match there needs to be a higher degree of hurt factor, otherwise we enter the realm of vanilla mid. Draper impresses about as much as McCauliffe did in 2023 and that's not a jab at Kane by the way, just an observation that one player was picked in the third round and we now have a similar type being mooted for a top 5 pick.

Do you think his numbers and fluency could have been affected by playing in a weaker state team? I imagine lining up in the centre against a number of gun vic mids would potentially reduce output.im a fan of good juniors in bad teams punching above their weight. It remains to be seen if mcauliff will satisfy my vast expectations but I suppose I admire the standout players in weaker teams for their tenacity.

 

[TOT70]

Just went to Dan Murphy's this morning and picked up a half dozen of Barossa Valley Grenache & Heathcote Shiraz Cleanskins, Bobby B out of my league now

Can’t go wrong with either of those. BV Grenaches are usually delicious.

 

[bullus_hit]

Do you think his numbers and fluency could have been affected by playing in a weaker state team? I imagine lining up in the centre against a number of gun vic mids would potentially reduce output.im a fan of good juniors in bad teams punching above their weight. It remains to be seen if mcauliff will satisfy my vast expectations but I suppose I admire the standout players in weaker teams for their tenacity.

Possibly but his primary role is that of an inside extractor, he would be less reliant on those around him when it comes to clearances and first use. I didn't see much defensive work at state level being brutally honest but his tackle count did improve during his SANFL stints so perhaps it would be better to focus on his senior form where this is concerned. The bar I would generally set for a 20-25 possession burst player would be Luke Shuey levels, if the kicking is below par then I would focus on creativity in tight, again I'm not seeing much artistry in heavy congestion from Draper. Failing that examination we can then turn to the run and carry credentials, not much on offer here either, the word vanilla keeps infiltrating my thoughts hence he's one for the 10-20 range. I would have no hesitation picking Tauru over Draper if we were left with such a choice.

 

[Tortured Tiger]

Possibly but his primary role is that of an inside extractor, he would be less reliant on those around him when it comes to clearances and first use. I didn't see much defensive work at state level being brutally honest but his tackle count did improve during his SANFL stints so perhaps it would be better to focus on his senior form where this is concerned. The bar I would generally set for a 20-25 possession burst player would be Luke Shuey levels, if the kicking is below par then I would focus on creativity in tight, again I'm not seeing much artistry in heavy congestion from Draper. Failing that examination we can then turn to the run and carry credentials, not much on offer here either, the word vanilla keeps infiltrating my thoughts hence he's one for the 10-20 range. I would have no hesitation picking Tauru over Draper if we were left with such a choice.

There is a lot of talk that the Crows won’t take Draper at four so they may agree with you as well.

 

[123cups]

Possibly but his primary role is that of an inside extractor, he would be less reliant on those around him when it comes to clearances and first use. I didn't see much defensive work at state level being brutally honest but his tackle count did improve during his SANFL stints so perhaps it would be better to focus on his senior form where this is concerned. The bar I would generally set for a 20-25 possession burst player would be Luke Shuey levels, if the kicking is below par then I would focus on creativity in tight, again I'm not seeing much artistry in heavy congestion from Draper. Failing that examination we can then turn to the run and carry credentials, not much on offer here either, the word vanilla keeps infiltrating my thoughts hence he's one for the 10-20 range. I would have no hesitation picking Tauru over Draper if we were left with such a choice.

I like the way you're differentiating between specific midfielder archetypes here, it makes a lot of sense. Do you have labels for each archetype, or is it more like assessing them case-by-case and then clustering similar traits when you identify patterns?

 

[Steely Danzig]

I'd be surprised if our first pick was anyone outside of Lalor, FOS or Smith.

 

[Spirit of Jack]

There is a lot of talk that the Crows won’t take Draper at four so they may agree with you as well.

I can see why Blair is holding 6 - likely a very good mid is going to be there. Would love Draper.

 

[Scoop]

creativity in tight, again I'm not seeing much artistry in heavy congestion from Draper..

What? He has absolute tinkle toes. Goes inside to outside very quickly. Watch the first 90 seconds. Does it multiple times.

 

[Scoop]

I can see why Blair is holding 6 - likely a very good mid is going to be there. Would love Draper.

Same, I’d be holding everything. Draper, Langford or Jagga at six. Wow.

 

[TigerMasochist]

He has absolute tinkle toes.

Does the kid pee on his shoes Scooper. Not sure we want him if his aim is that bad.

 

[bullus_hit]

What? He has absolute tinkle toes. Goes inside to outside very quickly. Watch the first 90 seconds. Does it multiple times.

He doesn't like bouncing the ball, in one of those clips he ran 30 metres and astonishingly wasn't called for running too far. Is his outside game really that evolved? The change of direction looks ok, there would appear to be decent agility, but his finishing isn't on the same level as Langford. I can see why Adelaide are tempted to buck the trend and grab a Victorian, I think it will speak volumes if Draper is overlooked by the Crows.

 

[bullus_hit]

I like the way you're differentiating between specific midfielder archetypes here, it makes a lot of sense. Do you have labels for each archetype, or is it more like assessing them case-by-case and then clustering similar traits when you identify patterns?

It's all of the above but there's also some consideration with regards to supply and demand. In splitting Draper & Tauru I'm also considering the likelihood of another athletic tall becoming available in future drafts, I think the overall value of having a 194cm competitive aerialist much more pressing than a low yield inside midfielder. If Draper had more scoreboard influence then his ranking goes up but he's not that player as yet, at the moment he represents a 3rd-4th grade mid in a premiership 22.

 

[Don’t Argue]

It's all of the above but there's also some consideration with regards to supply and demand. In splitting Draper & Tauru I'm also considering the likelihood of another athletic tall becoming available in future drafts, I think the overall value of having a 194cm competitive aerialist much more pressing than a low yield inside midfielder. If Draper had more scoreboard influence then his ranking goes up but he's not that player as yet, at the moment he represents a 3rd-4th grade mid in a premiership 22.

Would you rank Nathan Foley the same as Draper as they seem to present as very similar types?
Foley made the Victorian team as starting mid with a not particularly lethal leg or scoreboard impact.

 

[spook]

Same, I’d be holding everything. Draper, Langford or Jagga at six. Wow.

Smillie.

 

[bullus_hit]

Would you rank Nathan Foley the same as Draper as they seem to present as very similar types.
Foley made the Victorian team as starting mid with a not particularly lethal leg or scoreboard impact.

Foley was an instinctive player who liked to bounce and break zones, Draper doesn't use his pace in the same way, he prefers to play hot potato rather than using his link man to create space and grab some metres gained. This may sound trivial but in reality if the opposition can rely on predictable disposal then there's more chance they will be manning up and repelling forward entries. From a coaching viewpoint, you could probably improve this area but bouncing at speed is probably up there with kicking at 30km/h, it's a tough one to teach if it isn't instinctive. This would probably be the fundamental difference with Draper & LDU, breaking lines also creates a critical avenue to goal, this is the main reason as to why Draper struggles to have much scoreboard impact.

 

[turk-d-tiger]

Foley was an instinctive player who liked to bounce and break zones, Draper doesn't use his pace in the same way, he prefers to play hot potato rather than using his link man to create space and grab some metres gained. This may sound trivial but in reality if the opposition can rely on predictable disposal then there's more chance they will be manning up and repelling forward entries. From a coaching viewpoint, you could probably improve this area but bouncing at speed is probably up there with kicking at 30km/h, it's a tough one to teach if it isn't instinctive. This would probably be the fundamental difference with Draper & LDU, breaking lines also creates a critical avenue to goal, this is the main reason as to why Draper struggles to have much scoreboard impact.

What i do like about Drapers game is he is instinctive and a quick decision maker, When he gets possession he moves very quickly and gets the ball foward soon as he has it and runs foward to get the next possession.
When he gets the ball you cant stand back as he is already gone and when he disposes the same thing
I think his kicking needs work and needs to get the ball to travel through the air quicker and flatter than what he does but he can kick 50 so not that bad.

I wouldn't be upset at #7 if he was our selection but prefer Jagga , Smillie , Langford