Whats our bigger issue?

[GVGjr]

Re: Whats our bigger issue?

While this has turned into a recruiting thread I'll add my bit

I don't mind Howard as a footballer and think he can still develop into a nice flanker winger however, his selection didn't make a lot of sense for us given his was not a quick running player and the following year we were always going to look at two father son selections who were also not known for their pace. We 'reached' for Howard because apparently we were more worried about Adelaide in the 2nd round taking him.
On top of that we were also heading into compromised drafts so to me it just didn't make a lot of sense to reach for a player that was always going to be a long term project and especially someone who never followed the elite pathway to the AFL.

Tutt also didn't make a lot sense to me especially with Sam Reid (Sydney) still available

And in 2011 in a draft that had it's share of speedsters we ignored that and went for hard it players. We are very lucky that Dahlhaus was available in the rookie draft.

[Nuggety Back Pocket]

Re: Whats our bigger issue?

Cross would get an absolute pasting against either quick forwards or strong and talented medium forwards. I agree that he is good at reading the ball coming in to assist other defenders and takes marks with courage, theough being accountable for a man for the entire game requires athleticism he doesn't have.

Wood needs to develop in defense. It will take a while though, and we need to bite the bullet and accept there will be some pain along the way. He needs to take more care with disposal by foot and by hand, and that's my major concern with him.

Wood makes too many errors in defence and has had plenty of time to improve in this area. His performance against WCE was pathetic. The loss of Harbrow last year and now Morris and Williams in defence tends to highlight even more the mistakes of Wood who to my mind panics under pressure. I hope you are right but I have my doubts. I have the greatest respect for Cross but as a midfielder the game is getting past him. I can well understand your concerns about playing him on the backline but with a shaky defence now, with the right match up he could provide the steadiness and experience required.

[GVGjr]

Re: Whats our bigger issue?

Skills skills skills skills skills skills.

Our skill level is at times woeful. Little point in getting the ball if you can't do any damage with it (our if you give it straight back)

Agree 100% skills cost us.

[jeemak]

Re: Whats our bigger issue?

GVGjr, surely the Tutt selection makes sense in lieu of us picking Howard with our first round selection? Sam Reid would be very handy on our list, agree.

[jeemak]

Re: Whats our bigger issue?

Wood makes too many errors in defence and has had plenty of time to improve in this area. His performance against WCE was pathetic. The loss of Harbrow last year and now Morris and Williams in defence tends to highlight even more the mistakes of Wood who to my mind panics under pressure. I hope you are right but I have my doubts. I have the greatest respect for Cross but as a midfielder the game is getting past him. I can well understand your concerns about playing him on the backline but with a shaky defence now, with the right match up he could provide the steadiness and experience required.

I understand your concerns with Wood, though I'd suggest that he needs more time to gain composure and establish how much time he has to use the ball this season. He had a pretty serious injury last year, and like most athletic players needs a bit more time than your natural footballers. If he doesn't improve in this area this year and next, then I don't think there will be a spot on the list for him either in the midfield or defense.

With Cross, I just don't think you would get too many "good" match ups for him. If he was an opposition defender, who of our guys in Higgins, Dahlhaus, Giansiracusa, Dickson or DJ would you play him on? In my mind all of them would give him a lot of grief, and Dahl is the only quick out of all of them.

[GVGjr]

Re: Whats our bigger issue?

GVGjr, surely the Tutt selection makes sense in lieu of us picking Howard with our first round selection? Sam Reid would be very handy on our list, agree.

Not really, we had already selected a longer term project player (albeit with plenty of upside) so our next selection was an undersized player who would also need plenty of time.
Howard was projected as a HBF or winger while Tutt's size limited the options of where we could effectively use him.

In isolation most picks make sense but I think we needed a KPP with our 2nd pick if we had already picked up a flanker with the first.

Menzel and Reid made the most sense to me.

[mjp]

Re: Whats our bigger issue?

More mention of the super draft huh?

Well, tell me WHO? I have watched maybe 20 games of u18 footy already this year and there is no more talent than last year out west - and as you all know, WA WILL win the national championship.

[azabob]

Re: Whats our bigger issue?

More mention of the super draft huh?

Well, tell me WHO? I have watched maybe 20 games of u18 footy already this year and there is no more talent than last year out west - and as you all know, WA WILL win the national championship.

Are people calling it a super draft only because it is in-restricted?

[Bornadog]

Re: Whats our bigger issue?

Are people calling it a super draft only because it is in-restricted?

No, supposedly a lot of young talent coming through.

[ledge]

Re: Whats our bigger issue?

I want to know how do they know its a super draft before the season starts?
Bit like TV channels put on ads saying Australias best drama this year and its only January.

[Happy Days]

Re: Whats our bigger issue?

Are people calling it a super draft only because it is in-restricted?

Unrestricted despite the best two players in it having already been taken?

[chef]

Re: Whats our bigger issue?

I want to know how do they know its a super draft before the season starts?Bit like TV channels put on ads saying Australias best drama this year and its only January.

They have been following this group of kids for a number of years now.

[Bumper Bulldogs]

Re: Whats our bigger issue?

They have been following this group of kids for a number of years now.

Is Hunter and Beasley coming up in this draft, maybe that is why we didn't go for KPP as we know these two are coming our why?

Guess wouldn't we love another Chris grant come our way.

[Greystache]

Re: Whats our bigger issue?

Is Hunter and Beasley coming up in this draft, maybe that is why we didn't go for KPP as we know these two are coming our why?

Guess wouldn't we love another Chris grant come our way.

Given Hunter is a midfielder and Beasley doesn't play football, I don't see how our KPP situation will be improved.

[ledge]

Re: Whats our bigger issue?

They have been following this group of kids for a number of years now.

Some kids are great in a small pond, get found out when they go to under 18s higher competition, i personally wouldnt be calling it super draft until the end of a season.
A lot of water under the bridge yet.

Who is calling it a super draft the media and Sheehan?
I get sick of Sheehan every year saying every kid is super, watch the state games and the under 18s gf and thats all he says about everyone.

Then 3 years later when only a few make it they call it a shallow draft.