Draft Day 2014: First Impressions.

[Mofra]

Is McDonald that highly touted ? He did go pick 53. We were linked with highly touted key backs that went before our pick.

Lake was #71, Morris was a rookie, Roberts a PSD pick.
Key Backs are almost like ruckman in that they can be selected late. I really hope we rookie one of the guys that are left

[Go_Dogs]

Lake was #71, Morris was a rookie, Roberts a PSD pick.
Key Backs are almost like ruckman in that they can be selected late. I really hope we rookie one of the guys that are left

Who is the last really good one, selected that late?

I look at the current batch of quality key defenders such as D Talia, E McKenzie, etc and they seem to have been earlier picks.

[The Underdog]

I'm terrified about how much faith our list managers are putting into this selection. Both interviews they referred to Hamling and it's like they're ticking off the need for a KPD. I know they've got to talk up everything they do but it has me concerned. We've got Dale Morris down back as our only proven defender, that's it. How much time as he got left in him? There is far too much faith put on the shoulders of the unproven, we're going to get eaten alive down back.

How would our draft approach have changed that though? By the time we made our first pick, the top level key defenders were off the board. The ones we had access to would have largely been as speculative as Hamling and certainly no guarantee to help in the next 2-3 years. We traded our first pick to fill a long standing key forward hole, Hamling is probably as likely to be an AFL key defender as anyone picked after pick 26. Howe and McDonald are about the only ones with size who fit in with what we needed anyway. Vickers-Willis is basically Z.Cordy from what I can see but shorter. Plus there are still a couple of potential development options available in the Rookie Draft.
Would I have preferred we picked up a tall defender type? Sure. But if we didn't value any of the available options then I've got no problem with us picking the players we rated. Hamling is more chance of effecting our backline next year than a first year draftee would have been. We have no choice but to roll with Roberts, Hamling et al next year. It's a hole in our list for sure but one thing Beveridge has managed in the past is patching together back lines who cover for each other and play stronger than the individual parts so I think there is some hope there. The irony of course is that everyone was threatening to tear the place down with the offer to Tom Lonergan, yet this is precisely the short term gap he would have filled.

[G-Mo77]

I would have taken a punt on at least one of them and we still may come Rookie Draft so it could be a moot point. Our backline seems a real mess and if Robert and Talia don't take off we're are in serious trouble. (I don't hold much faith in Hamling) It will be the complete opposite of our team that were in the prelims. This time we'll have a big forward but our backline will be missing that good big man. It's a genuine concern.

Then there is our ruck stocks. Minson is still there, Campbell is a nice replacement and there is Cordy who is still a big maybe. Another ruck prospect to back them up would have been nice as well. I was really disappointed we passed on Dear for that role. I do like the look of the big lad at Footscray and wouldn't mind a punt on him in the rookie draft.

I was against throwing so much at Lonergan, that was ludicrous! I did understand why we'd want to go that way. I was advocating for big sauce from Brisbane to be that guy to fill the gap.

[Hotdog60]

I would have taken a punt on at least one of them and we still may come Rookie Draft so it could be a moot point. Our backline seems a real mess and if Robert and Talia don't take off we're are in serious trouble. (I don't hold much faith in Hamling) It will be the complete opposite of our team that were in the prelims. This time we'll have a big forward but our backline will be missing that good big man. It's a genuine concern.

Then there is our ruck stocks. Minson is still there, Campbell is a nice replacement and there is Cordy who is still a big maybe. Another ruck prospect to back them up would have been nice as well. I was really disappointed we passed on Dear for that role. I do like the look of the big lad at Footscray and wouldn't mind a punt on him in the rookie draft.

I was against throwing so much at Lonergan, that was ludicrous! I did understand why we'd want to go that way. I was advocating for big sauce from Brisbane to be that guy to fill the gap.

I think it would be a wise move in more way than one. If we can find rookie talent through Footscray and with luck claim some gems it would show to other players that got over looked that the AFL sides with their own team could be a viable option to get another crack. Closer scrutiny by the power that make the decisions. Also reward for effort. Come play for us and you may get a chance to live your dream if you can work hard enough.

[bornadog]

I was against throwing so much at Lonergan, that was ludicrous! .

That would have been the most stupid thing we would have done since the Howard pick. Stupid as in the money that was being bandied around.

[boydogs]

Who is the last really good one, selected that late?

I look at the current batch of quality key defenders such as D Talia, E McKenzie, etc and they seem to have been earlier picks.

This is all the key defenders that played 18+ games in 2014

Ted Richards - #27 2000
Tom Lonergan - #23 2002 / Rookie #50 2006
Jared Rivers - #26 2002
Daniel Merrett - #30 2002
Troy Chaplin - #15 2003
Zac Dawson - #41 2003 / Rookie #13 2009 / PSD #10 2012
Dale Morris - Rookie #19 2005
Lachie Hansen - #3 2006
James Frawley - #12 2006
Mitch Brown WCE - #16 2006
Eric McKenzie - #29 2006
Jack Grimes - #14 2007
Harry Taylor - #17 2007
Scott Thompson - #37 2007
Cale Hooker - #54 2007
Daniel Talia - #13 2009
Luke Delaney - Rookie #26 2009
Lachlan Keeffe - Rookie #69 2009
Steven May - Zone Selection 2009
Rory Thopson - Zone Selection 2009
Tom McDonald - #53 2010
Justin Clarke - Rookie #4 2012
Jack Frost - Rookie #41 2013

[Remi Moses]

Lake was #71, Morris was a rookie, Roberts a PSD pick.
Key Backs are almost like ruckman in that they can be selected late. I really hope we rookie one of the guys that are left

True, but Theres been a truckload that haven't made it in that vicinity.

[mjp]

Hamling will be awesome. Hard worker, athletic, 3 years in the system with Geelong...

[chef]

Hamling will be awesome. Hard worker, athletic, 3 years in the system with Geelong...

Do you see him filling a KP role mjp?

[Greystache]

Hamling will be awesome. Hard worker, athletic, 3 years in the system with Geelong...

But doesn't look like he could bench press his own body weight. Do you think he is ever going to be able to compete with the genuine key forward types in the AFL?

He looks to me at best a third tall.

[Ghost Dog]

EQ writes

The quirky Toby McLean owning one of the most watchable highlights packages in the draft. Caleb Daniel couldn't have played any better than he did this year, and gets the chance to prove that, at 168 centimetres, he can find a way at the next level.

Caleb Daniel's highlight reel is infinitely better. Could not have played better is an understatement. What a ripper. Shades of Shaun Hart with the helmet. Rapt to have this kid and don't think height will be an issue at all. Imagine him and Luke Dahlhaus hunting the packs. Welcome Caleb.

[stefoid]

Do we see Daniel as a forward or a mid? Im assuming he is a pure mid.

[GVGjr]

Do we see Daniel as a forward or a mid? Im assuming he is a pure mid.

It will take a little while before he is a pure mid.

[boydogs]

Do we see Daniel as a forward or a mid? Im assuming he is a pure mid.

I think he will have a career similar to Gary Ablett Jr's, start as a forward and move into the midfield after muscling up a bit