What TYPE of players should we select in the draft?

[Dogs 24/7]

Re: What TYPE of players should we select in the draft?

Copout...

Now I know little about the players to be drafted, but have spent a bit of time reading profiles and Mock Drafts so have some idea about the players, well I know there names. So we come down to our first pick and there is Rance available who is a tall defander and Grant who is a tall forward. Now Clayton rates Rance the better player, but we need a tall forward. How does your theory stack up here?

I couldnt disagree with you more. How can picking the best player be a flawed logic?
I know every team has to be pragmatic with some of their selections in each draft but skipping over more talented players to pick position players is very likely to land us another Tim Walsh. It was wildly acknowledged that Walsh was a highly regarded key forward but most other teams rated him 10 plus in the draft. Clayton snared him with pick four and we got zero return from him acknowledging injuries had a big say in it was well.
First round picks are just to important to pass on the most talented of players just to fill a position and Claytons reputation is very shaky at the moment so he wont want to get this one wrong.
The best available principle is also something that Clayton never sticks to after his first couple of picks anyway. We always balances out our drafts selections with a mixture of key position players and midfielders.

If Clayton thought the best player was going to be a 200 game player and he a key defender or even midfielder then I will be happy with that even though I would prefer a key forward. He would then need to fix this though by being more pragmatic with his next selection.

[LostDoggy]

Re: What TYPE of players should we select in the draft?

As someone else pointed out we will miss McMahons run.

and his miskicks.......

[Mantis]

Re: What TYPE of players should we select in the draft?

I couldnt disagree with you more. How can picking the best player be a flawed logic?
I know every team has to be pragmatic with some of their selections in each draft but skipping over more talented players to pick position players is very likely to land us another Tim Walsh. It was wildly acknowledged that Walsh was a highly regarded key forward but most other teams rated him 10 plus in the draft. Clayton snared him with pick four and we got zero return from him acknowledging injuries had a big say in it was well.
First round picks are just to important to pass on the most talented of players just to fill a position and Claytons reputation is very shaky at the moment so he wont want to get this one wrong.
The best available principle is also something that Clayton never sticks to after his first couple of picks anyway. We always balances out our drafts selections with a mixture of key position players and midfielders.

If Clayton thought the best player was going to be a 200 game player and he a key defender or even midfielder then I will be happy with that even though I would prefer a key forward. He would then need to fix this though by being more pragmatic with his next selection.

Did you not read the post I replied to. Read it again and come back to me.

[Sockeye Salmon]

Re: What TYPE of players should we select in the draft?

I couldnt disagree with you more. How can picking the best player be a flawed logic?

You make it sound like every player has his clear ranking BigFooty style. At best the draft is an educated guess.

It is more likely that you will be successful picking a midfielder because they mature earlier and are not such a risk, but no-one really knows who is going to kick on and who wont.

The fact is you need KPP's and the ones who do show something go early.

You should, as a minimum, use your first rounder on a tall every second year at least.

[Dry Rot]

Re: What TYPE of players should we select in the draft?

Having to work during day, has delayed my response to the Dry Rot.

Not against the best available, as long as that player fits our needs, nor am I concerned as to what sequence we select the type of players - as long we remedy our short comings.

We must provide the mix of players needed, not purely the best available which could provide 5 mid-fielders and one tall, or visa-versa.

No probs, but you seem to have a foot in both camps?

[mjp]

Re: What TYPE of players should we select in the draft?

No probs, but you seem to have a foot in both camps?

I have a foot in both camps. You take the best player there unless you have a screaming need for someone. You pick for your needs unless there is another player who you rate significantly more who is still available...

It isn't as simple as we are all saying.

[GVGjr]

Re: What TYPE of players should we select in the draft?

I have a foot in both camps. You take the best player there unless you have a screaming need for someone. You pick for your needs unless there is another player who you rate significantly more who is still available...

It isn't as simple as we are all saying.

Fully agree. We have to stick to the principle of best available but still have an approach that covers the needs of the team.
Really the trade period should be used to address the gaps not the draft.

[Mantis]

Re: What TYPE of players should we select in the draft?

Really the trade period should be used to address the gaps not the draft.

But how is that so?

We seriously need a power forward. From what we hear we shopped around for one in the trade period, but nothing was available at the price we were willing to pay. So do we overpay for one in the trade period or do we try and develop our own through the draft?

[Sockeye Salmon]

Re: What TYPE of players should we select in the draft?

It isn't as simple as we are all saying.

Of course it is.

Just draft another Jonathon Brown.

[LostDoggy]

Re: What TYPE of players should we select in the draft?

Fully agree. We have to stick to the principle of best available but still have an approach that covers the needs of the team.
Really the trade period should be used to address the gaps not the draft.

You cant have it both ways. Its 'best available' or 'fill the gaps'. Best avialable is the only way to go. Im sure Clayton would of loved a 6'4 CHF in the 05 draft but decided Higgins was the best avialable.

[mjp]

Re: What TYPE of players should we select in the draft?

You cant have it both ways. Its 'best available' or 'fill the gaps'. Best avialable is the only way to go. Im sure Clayton would of loved a 6'4 CHF in the 05 draft but decided Higgins was the best avialable.

I have said this before - you have to be lucky when you draft. Some years, the stand-out players are mids, other years they are talls. You dont use pick 11 (Higgins) for an average tall when there is another player you believe to be of real quality available. By the same token, if there are two guys you rate on a similar level...Sticking with the Higgins example, the next kpp taken in that draft (2005) was Paul Bower (a defender) at pick 20. Then Cleve Hughes went at 24...Of course, before our pick were Paddy Ryder, Beau Dowler, Josh Kennedy, Mitch Clark, Marcus Drum...

We have experienced some interesting times in the draft, and the Griffen over Franklin argument is the only one that still bears follow-up. Cooney was clearly the best player in his draft class...and so it goes.

Picking for needs is simplistic. Picking best available is simplistic.

All that said, quality key position forwards are found early in the first round of the draft.

[The Underdog]

Re: What TYPE of players should we select in the draft?

Burgan has us getting Grant, Ward and Gaertner with our first 3 in his phantom. Gourdis then gets picked up at 36, so would be available.
Again it's just another phantom, but this'd be the sort of ideal outcome I'd reckon. Then able to pick up mids in mid 40's and maybe a late pick on a ruck or KPP.
Plus I'd like to see how many of these, , mjp could fit in one post if we got Ward.
(I know, I know, he's not going to last to 19 )

Also, it's the first place I've seen either Gaertner or Gourdis lasting pass mid 20's.

[mjp]

Re: What TYPE of players should we select in the draft?

If Gourdis and Ward slip to the levels he proposes, it will reinforce one thing to me - the recruiters are flat out guessing.

Dawson Simpson in the top 25? For goodness sakes, I would be more use as a ruckman that him right now, all 5 foot 10 of me, reconstructed knees and all - he is 3-4 years away.

If Simpson gets picked early, then why would Gaertner - an legitimate freak in terms of size/athletic ability who could turn into an absolute monster - drop to 35?

Needless to say UD, I will be very pleased if we get Ward at 19.

[The Underdog]

Re: What TYPE of players should we select in the draft?

If Gourdis and Ward slip to the levels he proposes, it will reinforce one thing to me - the recruiters are flat out guessing.

Dawson Simpson in the top 25? For goodness sakes, I would be more use as a ruckman that him right now, all 5 foot 10 of me, reconstructed knees and all - he is 3-4 years away.

If Simpson gets picked early, then why would Gaertner - an legitimate freak in terms of size/athletic ability who could turn into an absolute monster - drop to 35?

Needless to say UD, I will be very pleased if we get Ward at 19.

I think his only reason for Simpson going that high was that West Coast need a ruck and their last pick is at 22. So they'd be overpaying, but picking for needs.

I can't see us getting this lucky but hey it's nice to dream.
This and seeing John Howard out the door on Saturday night would make my month.

[LostDoggy]

Re: What TYPE of players should we select in the draft?

Whats so good about Ward? Has anyone seen him play? details?