Matthew Clarke

[St Kevin]

You can argue that a triumverate of gun 20 yos

Pushes you from a contender to a premier.

i think its Dees point of difference.

Rivers is my rising star. I dont really give a *smile* who the AFLs is.

has anyone got matt clarkes email address? Ive got a couple of players for him

This is why I have started to come around to the idea of holding onto our two first rounders and using our two second rounders to trade for a third one. If we can nail some elite talent (which mostly comes from elite picks), we will be in very good shape once our stalwarts retire.

 

[Bill Haverchuck]

Geelongs age mix is more stuffed than ours!

 

[Tony Braxton-Hicks]

No one should be surprised about the dees they have been getting great picks for years and years.

Before last night I thought they may have started tanking to improve their draft pick.

 

[jb03]

Geelongs age mix is more stuffed than ours!

Their older players are playing better though. I'm with @St Kevin

 

[AngryAnt]

No one should be surprised about the dees they have been getting great picks for years and years.

If we hadn't drafted well/got lucky with late-in-round picks, rookie list, PSD etc we would have been midtable for the last few years. We really did beat the system.

 

[St Kevin]

If we hadn't drafted well/got lucky with late-in-round picks, rookie list, PSD etc we would have been midtable for the last few years. We really did beat the system.

Even our recent second rounders CCJ, Bolton and Balta have been good.

Our last five rounders have been:

2019: Dow at 21
2018: RCD at 20
2017: Higgins at 17
2015: Rioli at 15
2014: C. Ellis at 12
2013: Lennon at 12

We haven't had a top 10 pick since Vlastuin (pick 9) and he's probably the last A grader we picked in the first round. Part of that is we haven't had high picks unlike Melbourne (Oliver, Petracca, Jackson, Pickett etc.).

A silver lining of this season may be we can now shopping at the higher end of the draft with multiple picks to provide a talent injection.

 

[TigerMasochist]

Im pretty happy with my Dusty/stackman/Matt Parker norm smith trifecta at 100,000,000,000/1

Just a lazy fiddy cents on that one eZy?

 

[TigerMasochist]

List demographics - i.e. the age spread of your players. With the exception of the odd precocious youngster and evergreen veteran, the bulk of a successful team fall in the 23-29 range. For example, in 2017 we had the following (I'm using the ages they turned that calendar year):
29 - probably the best 29y/o in the game at that point, Jack, plus two more of the best in Sheds and Houli, and a fourth very good one in Grigg. (Hampson in the 2s)
28 - just one, but he was the best of them, and probably the second best player in the game at the time, Rance.
27 - just one, but again the best of them, Cotch. (Lloyd in the 2s)
26 - not just the best 26y/o but also the best player, Dusty, as well as Grimes, DTLD and Lambo. (Griffens in the 2s)
25 - Prestia and Caddy. (Conca and Batchelor in the 2s.)

No one over 30 apart from 31yo Maric (2s).

That is a brilliant senior core. 12 of our premiership 22 - at least seven of them champions, all in their prime. There wouldn't be a 25-29 group close to that in the game right now. And some pretty solid depth in the 2s. Then we had:
24 - Brando, Broad, Towner
23 - Nank, Vlastuin, KMac

with
21- George, Butler
20 - Rioli
19 - Graham
making up the remainder of the premiership side, and

21 - Short
19 - Bolton

on the fringe.

Now look at today:
33 - Jack, Houli, Sheds
31 - Cotch
30 - Dusty, Grimes, DTLD, Lambo

29 - Lynch, Prestia, Caddy, Pickett
28 - Broad
27 - Nank, Vlas, KMac, Aarts
26 - NO ONE
25 - George, Short, Soldo, Parker

24 - Rioli, Chol
23 - Bolton, Graham, Baker, Egg, Garth
22 - Balta, CJ, Naish, Miller, Mate
21 - RCD, Ross, Stack, Ryan
20 - Dow, Martyn, Cumberland, Ralphy, Biggie
19 - MoJu

The equalisation measures at least half work - they drag top teams down. If not for the salary cap we'd have Brando alongside Broad, and Markov and Butler in the 25yo group. Nonetheless, we'd still be a bit thin thanks to our poor 2013-15 haul at the draft.

Good reason to get as many games as possible into the emerging youngsters this year and hit the draft as hard as possible this year and next.
Nobody stays on top forever, so sometimes it's wise when you're copping some lumps, as we obviously are this year to take a step back, refresh n go again.

 

[Smoking Aces]

Even our recent second rounders CCJ, Bolton and Balta have been good.

Our last five rounders have been:

2019: Dow at 21
2018: RCD at 20
2017: Higgins at 17
2015: Rioli at 15
2014: C. Ellis at 12
2013: Lennon at 12

We haven't had a top 10 pick since Vlastuin (pick 9) and he's probably the last A grader we picked in the first round. Part of that is we haven't had high picks unlike Melbourne (Oliver, Petracca, Jackson, Pickett etc.).

A silver lining of this season may be we can now shopping at the higher end of the draft with multiple picks to provide a talent injection.

That 2013/2014 draft period has hurt now. Just shows how important it is to ensure you nail your first round picks each and every time.

 

[spook]

Essington:
33 - Hooker
31 - Zaka (2s?), Hurley (vanished off the face of the Earth)
30 - Ambrose (2s), Phillips (2s)
29 - Heppell
28 - Tippa, Smith, Shiel
27 - Gleeson, Hind, Stewart, Stringer
26 - Merrett, Cutler
25 - Laverde, Langford, Waterman, Wright
24 - Parish, Redman, Snelling, Francis, Guelfi
23 - Draper, Ridley, McGrath, Zerk-Thatcher
22 - Ham
21 - Caldwell
20 - Jones
19 - Cox, Perkins, Reid

So even though we think they're no good, they have a critical mass in the sweet spot for age. (Which proves they're no good.) But they have some precocious kids, so in two years time they might be.

 

[St Kevin]

That 2013/2014 draft period has hurt now. Just shows how important it is to ensure you nail your first round picks each and every time.

It has. And 2017-19 may hurt too, if one of RCD or Dow doesn't really kick on. If we can get 2 picks in the top 12 or 3 in the top 16, we'll be very well placed.

 

[Redford]

Except that at the 2015 draft preview Miller was fixated on JON.

It was Frank that was fixated on JON. Not Miller. Miller just went with Frank’s view that year but I can 110% guarantee you that JON was Frank’s baby.

 

[Scoop]

Even our recent second rounders CCJ, Bolton and Balta have been good.

Our last five rounders have been:

2019: Dow at 21
2018: RCD at 20
2017: Higgins at 17
2015: Rioli at 15
2014: C. Ellis at 12
2013: Lennon at 12

We haven't had a top 10 pick since Vlastuin (pick 9) and he's probably the last A grader we picked in the first round. Part of that is we haven't had high picks unlike Melbourne (Oliver, Petracca, Jackson, Pickett etc.).

A silver lining of this season may be we can now shopping at the higher end of the draft with multiple picks to provide a talent injection.

It’s not great reading. In 13 & 14 , Matt Crouch & Lachie Weller were sitting there.

Lot rides on RCD and Dow.

 

[Tony Braxton-Hicks]

It was Frank that was fixated on JON. Not Miller. Miller just went with Frank’s view that year but I can 110% guarantee you that JON was Frank’s baby.

Were you at the 2005 draft preview, Red?

 

[Leysy Days]

I think it's also why we'd be seeking to add a free agent in the next year or two, to fill out that 26-28 group and hopefully snag another flag.

Unpopular opinion alert: Luke Dunstan

 

[spook]

Unpopular opinion alert: Luke Dunstan

Not the worst shout, Bry. He torched us. Can get the footy. Wouldn't cost a heap, although a team like Gold Coast or Norf might throw more at him. (Let them pay Matt Crabch.)

Not a lot on this year's FA market. Cam Guthrie would be great even though he turns 30 next year, but I doubt he's going anywhere. Billings, but Saints could match (probably already pay him more than we'd want to) and doubt he leaves. I'm not much of a Seb Ross fan and I think we've seen his best. A bit of talk we're into Mitch Wallis, who's unrestricted and would come pretty cheap just to get a game, but 30 next year so doesn't fit that profile. We might stop-gap him, though.

Next year there are potentially more, with Darcy Moore and De Goey RFAs and Jamie Elliott UFA. Alex Pearce RFA would be great to replace Dave. Touk Miller RFA but probably Suns skipper by then. Sicily RFA. Gunston UFA but will be 31. Amon RFA I'd be keen on but with Farrell's ACL Port will look to sign him even if TBR thinks he's a bludger. Toby Mclean RFA not getting a game, would for us.

Probably dreaming re Moore or De Goey if he avoids prison. One or three of Pearce, Sicily, Elliott, Amon, Dunstan and McLean would be a good result.

 

[Redford]

Were you at the 2005 draft preview, Red?

I was at the post draft function at John Mathies house in South Yarra with Mr Burnside on the Saturday straight after the draft. The draft was held in the morning if I recall and John had his function with players, Miller, Frank etc in attendance in the afternoon.

Greg was good enough to sit down with me one on one with his lap top and show me about 5 mins of JON highlights (which weren’t that impressive to be honest.)

Greg said that this was Frank’s boy (or something to that effect), had been tracking him for a while, and then went through what Frank saw as his strengths and upsides. Greg mentioned he thought Cwood had killed it with Pendlebury and Thomas but that Frank thought JON was every chance to be as good (if only).

Greg was more keen on Mitch Clark but both he and Frank determined Clark had a few off field issues so Greg said he went with Frank on JON.

Frank whilst only being part time, was really working full time, and soon after that draft was made full time National Recruiting manager formally. In fact I think Greg made that announcement too on the day in John’s atrium to everyone, and highlighted Frank’s work with the draft.

2005 was Frank’s draft and JON was most definitely his pick more than it was Greg’s. 110%. From the horses mouths involved.

 

[zippadeee]

There's no good free agent's.
Lets commit to kids and and try and get Cerra, Tarranto or Green and we will be busting down the top 4 again.
The players i don't mind is Seedsman and Sexton.

 

[spook]

I was at the post draft function at John Mathies house in South Yarra with Mr Burnside on the Saturday straight after the draft. The draft was held in the morning if I recall and John had his function with players, Miller, Frank etc in attendance in the afternoon.

Greg was good enough to sit down with me one on one with his lap top and show me about 5 mins of JON highlights (which weren’t that impressive to be honest.)

Greg said that this was Frank’s boy (or something to that effect), had been tracking him for a while, and then went through what Frank saw as his strengths and upsides. Greg mentioned he thought Cwood had killed it with Pendlebury and Thomas but that Frank thought JON was every chance to be as good (if only).

Greg was more keen on Mitch Clark but both he and Frank determined Clark had a few off field issues so Greg said he went with Frank on JON.

Frank whilst only being part time, was really working full time, and soon after that draft was made full time National Recruiting manager formally. In fact I think Greg made that announcement too on the day in John’s atrium to everyone, and highlighted Frank’s work with the draft.

2005 was Frank’s draft and JON was most definitely his pick more than it was Greg’s. 110%. From the horses mouths involved.

Didn't someone from Richmond laugh at the Pendlebury pick and say he was a second-rounder or something like that? Who was that?

 

[Redford]

Didn't someone from Richmond laugh at the Pendlebury pick and say he was a second-rounder or something like that? Who was that?

Dunno. But Greg thought they’d done really well and liked both him and Daisy Thomas. There were a lot of people knocking Pendlebury because at the time, he seemed more interested in basketball (hand up) and was that slow mover that we’ve now come to understand was more like a Bentley coasting past everyone all over the ground.