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2024 Draft Thread
- Thread starter Mr T.
- Start date
If it plays out as expected and North take a mid at 2, then the only two players available will be Smillie and Tauru. And we arent taking Tauru.
Stringer is a decent comparison.
But he averaged 23 touches a game at Coates this year including a 35 possession game. Had a low of 16 possessions all year. He finds the footy/
Probably never full time, but he can play mid - It's purely about developing his aerobic capacity to enable him to spend enough time there at AFL level. The other big thing to work on is his left side. He's very one sided which will be hard to fix.
Reckon he's near a lock for us if squeaks through to 18. He's a tantalising prospect and is a Toce type.
Anyway get your peepers around this to show his wares further up the ground.
Per Old Hercule's request here's my take on some players. Firstly, I'm not recruiting anymore so I've seen less this year than ever and this is based entirely off vision which is really dangerous and I would never recommend that. Vision is a complimeht to watching them live but it can be fools gold. Still, here's some thoughts -
I love Langford. Would be close to my favourite prospect. Genuine md, sIze, marking ability, ability to be dangerous forward, elite leg. Speed is the only question mark but with that endurance its not a big issue. Love, love.
FOS - Gun to my head he'd be my #1 as he has the best overall traits. Speed, endurance, agility, skills, marking, flexibility. I just wish he'd had 2 or 3 breakout games amongst his injuries this year but his 16's and bottom age form provides some confidnce. Highest upside of the draft but comes with some risk.
Lalor - I get it. He's a bull and looks like Dusty. But he's not Dusty. For a start he tackles better. Tackles to hurt which I love. And is better overhead. Dusty couldn't jump to save himself. But he also doesn't have the foot skills that Dusty had. Few do. Loops a lot of balls and set shot kicking can be average - pokes a bit. He's also raw/cricket background so upside is massive in a full time system. But he has an enormous way to go to get an AFL midfield tank. Enormous. Hamstrings off the bone are no joke either, especially for a power athlete. Plus he's had hip, thigh injuries etc. Plus midifeld craft can be really poor. Often starts stationary and from behind at stoppages which is an issue and also why his tackle numbers are good - second to the footy due to midfield smarts currently. They can work on this with him though. I think we need a bull and the forward craft is a bonus so this pick at 1 makes a fair bit of sense.
Jagga - Smartest and safest player in the draft while others have more upside. Uncanny knack of being in the right position at the right time. Outstanding hands, elite vision and awareness. Elite agility, gut runs and spreads very well. Solid but not penetrating kick - but is improving his damage here and gains would take him to another level. BUT, he's reknowned for being selfish. Calls for balls in the wrong spots all the time, only to be under pressure (which he handles ok at times to be fair). Guaranteed he's the first bloke checking his stats after the game. Plus, he's light and small. Does look very Zac Butters-ish and hope that's what he becomes but Butters is more damaging right now.
I love Langford. Would be close to my favourite prospect. Genuine md, sIze, marking ability, ability to be dangerous forward, elite leg. Speed is the only question mark but with that endurance its not a big issue. Love, love.
FOS - Gun to my head he'd be my #1 as he has the best overall traits. Speed, endurance, agility, skills, marking, flexibility. I just wish he'd had 2 or 3 breakout games amongst his injuries this year but his 16's and bottom age form provides some confidnce. Highest upside of the draft but comes with some risk.
Lalor - I get it. He's a bull and looks like Dusty. But he's not Dusty. For a start he tackles better. Tackles to hurt which I love. And is better overhead. Dusty couldn't jump to save himself. But he also doesn't have the foot skills that Dusty had. Few do. Loops a lot of balls and set shot kicking can be average - pokes a bit. He's also raw/cricket background so upside is massive in a full time system. But he has an enormous way to go to get an AFL midfield tank. Enormous. Hamstrings off the bone are no joke either, especially for a power athlete. Plus he's had hip, thigh injuries etc. Plus midifeld craft can be really poor. Often starts stationary and from behind at stoppages which is an issue and also why his tackle numbers are good - second to the footy due to midfield smarts currently. They can work on this with him though. I think we need a bull and the forward craft is a bonus so this pick at 1 makes a fair bit of sense.
Jagga - Smartest and safest player in the draft while others have more upside. Uncanny knack of being in the right position at the right time. Outstanding hands, elite vision and awareness. Elite agility, gut runs and spreads very well. Solid but not penetrating kick - but is improving his damage here and gains would take him to another level. BUT, he's reknowned for being selfish. Calls for balls in the wrong spots all the time, only to be under pressure (which he handles ok at times to be fair). Guaranteed he's the first bloke checking his stats after the game. Plus, he's light and small. Does look very Zac Butters-ish and hope that's what he becomes but Butters is more damaging right now.
Smillie - I've warmed to him a fair bit. Now happy to have him at 6 if Langford, Jagga, FOS etc, are gone, which I wthink they will be. Great size for a mid - huge point of difference. Can be a very good kick, but can be inconsistent in this area. Not overly quick and looks like he's lumbering a bit but has an extra gear and sidestep when he wants to. This can definitely improve with AFL pre-seasons under his belt. Can be tough when against smaller bodies and can fend off adult bodies (e.g. for Acamdemy vs Bulldogs VFL) but have seen him be a fraction soft against kids in traffic with panic handballs which is a red flag, especiallly with his size advantage. Don't think this is a major concern though. Forward craft improved as year went on which hurt possession rates but showed a second side to his game. He'd be very dangerous resting up forward. Good games are great but not as consistent as a few with them, sometimes due to playing more forward, but his upside is enormous. Averaged 27 (taking out illness game) in Coates League and over a goal a game. Those mids are worth gold. Good leadership skills. Huge boom potential and unlikely to be complete bust.
Allen - Tough, strong, hard runner with good pace and size. Hard Tackler with a mean streak. Kicking is up an down. When given time he is okay but can shank balls when under pressure or in tougher conditions. Midfield craft is solid. Works opponents under/off ball and moves well through stoppage. BUT, will start as a defender and has admitted he feels more comfortable there. Has a bit of the Vlastuin's about him. Good rebounding half back who "might" transition into an AFL mid but may not cut it there, like Vlastuin. Held position at WAFL Seniors against men whihc is no mean feat and something many others, apart from Draper/Jagga, haven't done/had opportunity to do. I'd like him at 10 and thinmk he's a safe bet to make it, even if its as a strong half back at worst.
Allen - Tough, strong, hard runner with good pace and size. Hard Tackler with a mean streak. Kicking is up an down. When given time he is okay but can shank balls when under pressure or in tougher conditions. Midfield craft is solid. Works opponents under/off ball and moves well through stoppage. BUT, will start as a defender and has admitted he feels more comfortable there. Has a bit of the Vlastuin's about him. Good rebounding half back who "might" transition into an AFL mid but may not cut it there, like Vlastuin. Held position at WAFL Seniors against men whihc is no mean feat and something many others, apart from Draper/Jagga, haven't done/had opportunity to do. I'd like him at 10 and thinmk he's a safe bet to make it, even if its as a strong half back at worst.
Lindsay - Solid citizen. Great, damaging kick. Best kick in the draft and opens up the ground with damaging inside 45 kicks. Pace/endurance very good. Fumbles a bit under pressure at ground level (3times in VC vs VM game) - this is actually significant concern for me but the foot skills counter this a lot. Will play outside as he's a natural damaging receiver. Spreads very well but plays loose a lot. Can tackle and bump hard (2 vs VM) and is working on this side of his game but it's not a strength. One thing is he compliments a Lalor/Smillie/Langford start at Pick 10/11. .
Reid - Silky outside runner with decent lateral movement but not blessed with great speed. Lovely, damaging kick. Can be soft. Very soft when under physical pressure. Looks like another Tyler Sonsie to me (but better as he has better attitude and workrate) but you hope he turns into Sidebottom. Has some of the same issues as Sonsie though. Happy if he's there at 18 but things haven't gone to plan if we have to look at him in top 4 selections.
Tauru - Outstanding vertical leap and marking ability is best in the draft. Elite hands overhead. Athleticism is excellent. Kicking action is good and looks solid structurally BUT he's a massive turnover merchant coming out of defense. Decision making can be diabolical. My motto for him when kicking from D50 would be "Just because you can, doesn't mean that you should". For this reason, I think he needs to make it as a forward. But, he's a 2nd/3rd tall and people are banging on about him being a big KPF. Has the leap and athleticism to play taller but he's a good 2, not 1. No way I take him in the top 2 picks. 4th selection maybe.
Didn’t seem super certain from our pick and especially what the Saints will do , one twist in those picks and the phones will be ringing
Hotton - Good movement, great agility. Keeps his feet and can be clean at ground level. Kicking is poor, especially at goal. High ball drop. Drops left shoulder on field kicks, very casual/lacks care. Panics at times with hands under pressure. Fumbles at ground level under pressure sometimes too. ACL too. Don't let stats fool you. Concerns. Not a first rounder for me.
There you go Hercule. That should keep you going for a while. Feel free to ask any questions. But a perfect draft for me, which won't happen, would be some thing like this - FOS, Langford, Allen, Lindsay, with the first 4. Then see what falls but I do like Matt ahead of Jack Whitlock. More athletic, diverse and a better decision maker form mine. And Jack's ruckwork is putrid.
Did Lalor have surgery on his hamstring tear? I heard it was a grade 3 tear but no surgery, can anyone confirm?
