2024 Draft Thread

[Mr Brightside]

Shanahan will be better than Armstrong,Faull and Whitlock.

For me it’s way to hard to project the big doofuses into the future , however I think he looks good too Snatch , like the fact he’s held his own against senior bodies , all four appear to have a bit to work with and I’d imagine one of them at-least will be at Punt rd next year

 

[bullus_hit]

Sorry Bully but I dont think you get what I’m saying , if Berry , Hotton , whoever are the best available, then pick them , same if we have Armstrong or Faull as the best available at whatever pick then pick them , I’m not after medium forwards I’m after best available and the consensus is that this is a midfielders draft and that to me is a bonus as you don’t win Premierships without gun mids and we have landed a gluttony of high picks to pick the eyes out of the top shelf mids

We have gaping holes everywhere, I think your idea of fixing our spine in one draft where there is only 2 talls spoke of as being top 10 picks and that’s still just speculative , it’s unlikely but possible there will be only one KPP which to me says this bunch of talls have question marks ( as all players do).

I think the idea of selecting 2 or 3 talls , so we are playing the percentage is ridiculous , let’s waste 2 picks when we could have got 2 very good players who play in different positions, again we are shithouse , we have no depth in any area , yep would love to be adding a gun key back and forward but it’s crazy to take a risk on a player , particularly a tall who has questions about their physicality or competitiveness , this is not even taking into consideration basic skills and athletic ability, the draft has been littered with junior talls who were star at junior level where their competiveness was no shown up , they have then become AFL failures .

Appreciate your thoughts Bully I just disagree on this , I’m with Blair best available all the way

Sorry the reason the talls we selected that have failed is simply because they are no good , we’ve had quite a few good talls too

My impression of this draft is that it's a very strong pool from 10-40, separating position types a matter of preference and in making those calls it would be advisable to put the focus on talls for the simple reason they take longer to develop. Bare in mind that the longer you leave it, the more problematic it becomes in getting the entire squad to peak together, North a great case in point, they are still grasping at straws with washed-up players like Jack Darling.

 

[Mr Brightside]

The interesting thing for me in that list Caeser is that it includes 28 player and 8 of them are tied to either NSW or Queensland academies.

I think we may hear a bit from Edward McGuire again next year even though he is no longer the Pies Prez

 

[Mr Brightside]

My impression of this draft is that it's a very strong pool from 10-40, separating position types a matter of preference and in making those calls it would be advisable to put the focus on talls for the simple reason they take longer to develop. Bare in mind that the longer you leave it, the more problematic it becomes in getting the entire squad to peak together, North a great case in point, they are still grasping at straws with washed-up players like Jack Darling.

We’ve got all the time in the world Bully , I understand your theory, I just look at all the years wasted in developing talls , again not saying we shouldn’t draft any , however there are other ways to ad “ proven” talls later

 

[Jewell]

Valid views for and against. But when you have eight picks early in a good draft...to not grab at least two tall forwards would be criminal. By all means use the first few on mids but this is the chance. We might not get another opportunity for sometime. I recall how long the bulldogs were searching for one with their gun midfield

 

[caesar]

The interesting thing for me in that list Caeser is that it includes 28 player and 8 of them are tied to either NSW or Queensland academies.

Yes the *smile* academy situation rolls on, nothing much we can do about, they may pay a bit more but they will always be able to snare a gun if one is there.

 

[Tortured Tiger]

The interesting thing for me in that list Caeser is that it includes 28 player and 8 of them are tied to either NSW or Queensland academies.

That is very frustrating for sure but on a positive note that still leaves 20 players we can access so if we end up with a couple of extra first round picks there is still some talent to be had even if 2025 doesn’t have the depth of this year.

 

[BiddiscombeSkills]

I'm coming round to the view that with very, very few exceptions, pretty much all tall KPF types at draft age, more than any other position on the ground, are highly speculative.

Like the Sirens who lure sailors onto the rocks with their alluring song, so do junior KPFs lure keyboard warriors, media pundits and even unwary list managers with their enticing bags of goals kicked against junior defenders.

"Pick us early!" they warble alluringly from the shoals. "You have the chance to set up your spine for the next decade! Ignore those 195cm big-bodied goal-kicking mids, forsooth"

And so it happens - bewitched and beguiled recruiters dash their hopes on the rocks of statistical reality, and then spend the next few years wondering how other clubs have gone past them while they cling to the hope that the guy who looked so good beating up on skinny kids will choose this year to finally click. And put on weight. And develop some aggression. And do his job well and often enough that it makes up for everything the club could have had with a big-bodied goal kicking mid over the last 3 years of waiting.

Taking non-obvious-superstar KPFs at the draft is a luxury. And for a club whose starting midfield in 2025 could include the likes of Jack Ross or Thompson Dow, it's a a luxury that must be forgone until the absolute essentials are taken care of.

Mids, mids, mids. That's all I want to see.

 

[Tortured Tiger]

I'm coming round to the view that with very, very few exceptions, pretty much all tall KPF types at draft age, more than any other position on the ground, are highly speculative.

Like the Sirens who lure sailors onto the rocks with their alluring song, so do junior KPFs lure keyboard warriors, media pundits and even unwary list managers with their enticing bags of goals kicked against junior defenders.

"Pick us early!" they warble alluringly from the shoals. "You have the chance to set up your spine for the next decade! Ignore those 195cm big-bodied goal-kicking mids, forsooth"

And so it happens - bewitched and beguiled recruiters dash their hopes on the rocks of statistical reality, and then spend the next few years wondering how other clubs have gone past them while they cling to the hope that the guy who looked so good beating up on skinny kids will choose this year to finally click. And put on weight. And develop some aggression. And do his job well and often enough that it makes up for everything the club could have had with a big-bodied goal kicking mid over the last 3 years of waiting.

Taking non-obvious-superstar KPFs at the draft is a luxury. And for a club whose starting midfield in 2025 could include the likes of Jack Ross or Thompson Dow, it's a a luxury that must be forgone until the absolute essentials are taken care of.

Mids, mids, mids. That's all I want to see.

If we had four picks I would agree with you but with eight surely there is at least one tall who will be rated as the next best available. I understand the strategy of trading for key position players and rucks but the best strategy is to have both options in play. We can’t totally rely on kids or miracle trades, we need a balance.

 

[Little Ziggyadee]

From Code Sport,not sure if already posted.

“Carlton could swing an early draft surprise as the Blues weigh up selecting South Australian midfielder Sid Draper with their No. 3 pick.

It is understood that Draper met with the Blues on Friday, with any potential play for him set to have ramifications down the order.“

WOW…. Not surprised.

Regards,
Stan

They are playing games they want O'Sullivan

 

[Smoking Aces]

Smillie has bust potential, Draper has below average kicking and could go the same way. Tauru is now 194cm and could feasibly move forward but failing that he will most certainly find a home in defence. I think the best path forward is to ensure we get core players with 1 & 6, no unnecessary risks with oversized mids and ones with kicking question marks.

Tauru has always been touted as a pick on the early teens. It’s only this North talk that has elevated him. I don’t see how he is anymore a bust than Smillie or Draper.,if anything that have more body of work to suggest they won’t be.

 

[bullus_hit]

I'm coming round to the view that with very, very few exceptions, pretty much all tall KPF types at draft age, more than any other position on the ground, are highly speculative.

Like the Sirens who lure sailors onto the rocks with their alluring song, so do junior KPFs lure keyboard warriors, media pundits and even unwary list managers with their enticing bags of goals kicked against junior defenders.

"Pick us early!" they warble alluringly from the shoals. "You have the chance to set up your spine for the next decade! Ignore those 195cm big-bodied goal-kicking mids, forsooth"

And so it happens - bewitched and beguiled recruiters dash their hopes on the rocks of statistical reality, and then spend the next few years wondering how other clubs have gone past them while they cling to the hope that the guy who looked so good beating up on skinny kids will choose this year to finally click. And put on weight. And develop some aggression. And do his job well and often enough that it makes up for everything the club could have had with a big-bodied goal kicking mid over the last 3 years of waiting.

Taking non-obvious-superstar KPFs at the draft is a luxury. And for a club whose starting midfield in 2025 could include the likes of Jack Ross or Thompson Dow, it's a a luxury that must be forgone until the absolute essentials are taken care of.

Mids, mids, mids. That's all I want to see.

In a perfect world we land two mids & Tauru. I think it can be done with some smart trading, we have plenty of draft capital to make it happen and I would be willing to use any pick from 10 to see it over the line. Cooper Hynes is another potential mid I would consider late, that makes 3. Add two players from the Whitlocks, Sims, Faull & Mraz and we've made huge inroads into the rebuild. I'm also in the Dodson camp and would be happy with him too.

 

[year of the tiger]

Sorry Bully but I dont think you get what I’m saying , if Berry , Hotton , whoever are the best available, then pick them , same if we have Armstrong or Faull as the best available at whatever pick then pick them , I’m not after medium forwards I’m after best available and the consensus is that this is a midfielders draft and that to me is a bonus as you don’t win Premierships without gun mids and we have landed a gluttony of high picks to pick the eyes out of the top shelf mids

We have gaping holes everywhere, I think your idea of fixing our spine in one draft where there is only 2 talls spoke of as being top 10 picks and that’s still just speculative , it’s unlikely but possible there will be only one KPP which to me says this bunch of talls have question marks ( as all players do).

I think the idea of selecting 2 or 3 talls , so we are playing the percentage is ridiculous , let’s waste 2 picks when we could have got 2 very good players who play in different positions, again we are shithouse , we have no depth in any area , yep would love to be adding a gun key back and forward but it’s crazy to take a risk on a player , particularly a tall who has questions about their physicality or competitiveness , this is not even taking into consideration basic skills and athletic ability, the draft has been littered with junior talls who were star at junior level where their competiveness was no shown up , they have then become AFL failures .

Appreciate your thoughts Bully I just disagree on this , I’m with Blair best available all the way

Sorry the reason the talls we selected that have failed is simply because they are no good , we’ve had quite a few good talls too

Normally I agree 100%, the majority of time I would advocate pick best available with first rounders and over time, hopefully it covers all the key bases, but my take this time is quite different and is based on two factors

Firstly, to have basically 8 first round picks is highly unusual and we are therefore not relying on just 1 or 2 picks, and
Secondly, this draft is extremely even so people are having trouble working out the best or rankings, so the quality this draft is bunched into groups.

This gives us the opportunity to adopt a couple a strategies at once which is not what normally happens. We can go in with a mix of best available and also target some KPP at the same time.

As we enter each group of evenly matched-quality kids we can both target best available (eg definitely for #1 and #6) and then as we move through our other picks, depending on who we have already selected, we could pivot or be influenced by who we choose next eg, we may go a KPP if our first 2 or 3 picks have been midfielders for team balance (eg we don’t do a lolnorf and just load up on mids).

I’ve think over the 8 picks I would be really disappointed if we don’t end up with 2 KPF and another KP utility perhaps.

So Iam with Bully that we could fix two areas at once, ie if we land 50% of our picks as long term players, I would really hope at least we nail 2 elite midfielders and 2 A grade KPF as part of this draft. Anything else is a bonus.

Sorry, a bit of a ramble but hope it makes sense.

 

[Little Ziggyadee]

Pretty exciting in 5 years time to see who drafted best. Can't wait.

Won't need to wait that long.
Kids these days show alot more in there 1st or 2nd year

 

[year of the tiger]

I'm coming round to the view that with very, very few exceptions, pretty much all tall KPF types at draft age, more than any other position on the ground, are highly speculative.

Like the Sirens who lure sailors onto the rocks with their alluring song, so do junior KPFs lure keyboard warriors, media pundits and even unwary list managers with their enticing bags of goals kicked against junior defenders.

"Pick us early!" they warble alluringly from the shoals. "You have the chance to set up your spine for the next decade! Ignore those 195cm big-bodied goal-kicking mids, forsooth"

And so it happens - bewitched and beguiled recruiters dash their hopes on the rocks of statistical reality, and then spend the next few years wondering how other clubs have gone past them while they cling to the hope that the guy who looked so good beating up on skinny kids will choose this year to finally click. And put on weight. And develop some aggression. And do his job well and often enough that it makes up for everything the club could have had with a big-bodied goal kicking mid over the last 3 years of waiting.

Taking non-obvious-superstar KPFs at the draft is a luxury. And for a club whose starting midfield in 2025 could include the likes of Jack Ross or Thompson Dow, it's a a luxury that must be forgone until the absolute essentials are taken care of.

Mids, mids, mids. That's all I want to see.

As I just posted, with 8 picks, we can and should do both, it’s not either or imo.

 

[bullus_hit]

Tauru has always been touted as a pick on the early teens. It’s only this North talk that has elevated him. I don’t see how he is anymore a bust than Smillie or Draper.,if anything that have more body of work to suggest they won’t be.

By that logic Lalor is a mid first rounder & Lindsay is a late first rounder. But if you want to know the truth, I'm bullish on Tauru because he's still growing and his set shot kicking is much better than advertised. I also think his floor is still AFL quality defender, I can't see anyway he doesn't make it to be honest. There's a sniff of Naaughton about him and his phenomenal leap will surely get put to good use.

My contrarian thoughts about Smillie & Draper have already been posted but in summary, I think Smillie could go the way of many key position sized mids, that particular group is textbook boom/bust, the reasons range from the manchild effect, a lack of groundball game, decreased agility and a lack of contested marking ability. Draper isn't a good kick in my view so I wouldn't be risking an excellent key position prospect for a player who can't deliver with precision.

 

[Mr Brightside]

Just had a look at top 10 talls drafted between 2010 and 2020 . Excluding father sons , only went to 2020 as in fairness talls generally take a while .

2010 3 Day, 10 Gorridge
2011 1 Patton, 8 Longer
2012, Jaksch was first at 11
2013 1 Boyd
2014 1 McCartin, 6 Marchbank, Wright
2015 1 Weitering, 2 Schache, 6 Francis, 8 Weidemann, 10 McKay
2016 zilch
2017 9 Naughton
2018 2 Lukocious, 4 King , 6 Ki
2019 3 Jackson, 6 McCasey
2020 1 JUH, Thilthorpe, McDonald, Granger Barass , 8 Cox , 10 Reid

I count 1 superstar , 8 good to very good players out of 26 , that’s a poor strike rate in my eyes and a lot of wasted picks for a variety of reasons

Yes talls are important , however taking a tall for the sake of taking a tall is fraught with more danger then a midfielder, flanker or small , I don’t buy the argument of we have 8 picks atleast 2 have to be talls , yep great if those talls turn out to be very good talls , we need to ad quality at every pick , which most likely playing the averages we won’t a couple won’t make it , which makes it all the more important to pick best available, this is the method the best clubs go with , they ad via trade or draft for needs once they are in the window .

Ideal world we would walk away with 4 quality mids who can play forward or back, a key forward, a key back , a ruck and a gun goal kicking small forward , however we just have to go best available at each pick and hope they all turn out stars .

I rest my case

 

[Mr Brightside]

Normally I agree 100%, the majority of time I would advocate pick best available with first rounders and over time, hopefully it covers all the key bases, but my take this time is quite different and is based on two factors

Firstly, to have basically 8 first round picks is highly unusual and we are therefore not relying on just 1 or 2 picks, and
Secondly, this draft is extremely even so people are having trouble working out the best or rankings, so the quality this draft is bunched into groups.

This gives us the opportunity to adopt a couple a strategies at once which is not what normally happens. We can go in with a mix of best available and also target some KPP at the same time.

As we enter each group of evenly matched-quality kids we can both target best available (eg definitely for #1 and #6) and then as we move through our other picks, depending on who we have already selected, we could pivot or be influenced by who we choose next eg, we may go a KPP if our first 2 or 3 picks have been midfielders for team balance (eg we don’t do a lolnorf and just load up on mids).

I’ve think over the 8 picks I would be really disappointed if we don’t end up with 2 KPF and another KP utility perhaps.

So Iam with Bully that we could fix two areas at once, ie if we land 50% of our picks as long term players, I would really hope at least we nail 2 elite midfielders and 2 A grade KPF as part of this draft. Anything else is a bonus.

Sorry, a bit of a ramble but hope it makes sense.

No ramble yott, like Bully I hear what your saying , I just don’t totally agree as I’ve said in other posts , so I don’t get blocked by all of PRE , I’ll leave it that without going around in circles

 

[TOT70]

There will be some great top end talent in 2025, a bottom three finish would lock in another star to our list, a couple of promising talls as well as early # 1 favorite Dyson Sharp, here are the projected standouts for 2025:

Family ties, Academy guns loom large in 2025 AFL Academy squad

The Marsh AFL National Academy Boys squad has been revealed, with some familiar names among the 28 players selected

www.afl.com.au

Wes Walley?

Hope he doesn’t end up at Sydney.

 

[bullus_hit]

Just had a look at top 10 talls drafted between 2010 and 2020 . Excluding father sons , only went to 2020 as in fairness talls generally take a while .

2010 3 Day, 10 Gorridge
2011 1 Patton, 8 Longer
2012, Jaksch was first at 11
2013 1 Boyd
2014 1 McCartin, 6 Marchbank, Wright
2015 1 Weitering, 2 Schache, 6 Francis, 8 Weidemann, 10 McKay
2016 zilch
2017 9 Naughton
2018 2 Lukocious, 4 King , 6 Ki
2019 3 Jackson, 6 McCasey
2020 1 JUH, Thilthorpe, McDonald, Granger Barass , 8 Cox , 10 Reid

I count 1 superstar , 8 good to very good players out of 26 , that’s a poor strike rate in my eyes and a lot of wasted picks for a variety of reasons

Yes talls are important , however taking a tall for the sake of taking a tall is fraught with more danger then a midfielder, flanker or small , I don’t buy the argument of we have 8 picks atleast 2 have to be talls , yep great if those talls turn out to be very good talls , we need to ad quality at every pick , which most likely playing the averages we won’t a couple won’t make it , which makes it all the more important to pick best available, this is the method the best clubs go with , they ad via trade or draft for needs once they are in the window .

Ideal world we would walk away with 4 quality mids who can play forward or back, a key forward, a key back , a ruck and a gun goal kicking small forward , however we just have to go best available at each pick and hope they all turn out stars .

I rest my case

2006 Jack Riewoldt (pick 13)
2007 Alex Rance (pick 18)
2008 Tyrone Vickery (8) traded for Shai Bolton who was traded for 10 & 11 in the 2024 draft
2009 David Astbury (35)
2009 Dylan Grimes (pick 2 PSD)

That's how it's done, one or two talls a year and things start to take shape.