Pick of the 2010 - 2012 Drafts

[Go_Dogs]

Ok, so it's still early days for all of these players, but I think there might be some tight competition in coming years as to which crop is our best. As it stands, based on players still on our list, we have the following.

2010:
Mitch Wallis
Tom Liberatore
Luke Dahlhaus (rookie draft)
Jason Johannisen (rookie draft)

2011:
Clay Smith
Michael Talia
Daniel Pearce
Tory Dickson
Fletcher Roberts (pre-season draft)
Lin Jong (rookie draft)
Tom Campbell (rookie draft)
Alex Greenwood (rookie draft)
Jack Redpath (rookie draft)
Mark Austin (rookie draft)

2012:
Jack Macrae
Jake Stringer
Nathan Hrovat
Lachie Hunter
Josh Prudden
Brett Goodes (rookie draft)


Based on what we have seen, the high end quality of 2010 and 2012 seems very strong, but I'm equally as excited by 2011 - Clay Smith can become a solid senior performer, whilst we appear to have done well in the key position stakes with Talia and Campbell who should both become long term players in important posts.

Crystal balling, which draft do you think will end up our best or most important to our future?

[GVGjr]

Re: Pick of the 2010 - 2012 Drafts

They are all very different but most are very important players for us in a club hell bent on developing young players.

I'd say 2010 was the best draft for us. Liberatore is one out of the box and Wallis should be a very good midfielder and spare parts player for us. Dahlhaus still has a couple of levels he can achieve and Johannisen can be a vital small defender for us.

2012 is the next best for mine as Stringer and Macrae look like being damaging players and Hunter and Hrovat very exciting ones. A good blend.

2011 has 4 solid players for us. I doubt they have a star quality about them but are all hard workers. Talia is hopefully a 10 year defender for us and Campbell the ruckman forward that we have been hoping for. Smith will hopefully be the bull midfielder we need.

Some good selections by the recruiting team

[Throughandthrough]

Re: Pick of the 2010 - 2012 Drafts

Just to be different I will say Tom Campbell. (Apart from Libba...)

[Happy Days]

Re: Pick of the 2010 - 2012 Drafts

Based on the selections you would hope 2012 would be the best draft; 2 top 6 picks and 3 top 21 picks should result in 3 very high level players, plus Hunter looks very likely.

But Liberatore's body of work almost forces me to say 2010; already the best clearance player in the game and doesn't appear to have come close to his ceiling.

[Remi Moses]

Re: Pick of the 2010 - 2012 Drafts

Libba stands out obviously.
I think we'll look at 2012 as a turning point, and if you get 3 good players from a draft you've done well.

[boydogs]

Re: Pick of the 2010 - 2012 Drafts

2012, those guys haven't had much time to prove themselves compared to the 2010 guys but 5 of them are probably best 22 already, and you haven't counted the trades of Stevens & Young

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Re: Pick of the 2010 - 2012 Drafts

What it does highlight is how astute we've been at the draft and trade table in this short period of time. As the post above says, Stevens, Young, Goodes and now Crameri aren't included but the list has dramatically strengthened in a short space of time.

Libba's work to date has been absolutely incredible and Dahlhaus is a special player too, so 2010 is ahead for now, but I think in 2 years time 2012 will be scary good.

2011 is important too, though. None of Smith, Talia and Campbell are or will be elite players but they are very, very important keys to the side moving forward.

[Doc26]

Re: Pick of the 2010 - 2012 Drafts

Just to be different I will say Tom Campbell. (Apart from Libba...)

Agree. Although Libba brings me the most pleasure to watch his progress, Campbell was the bargain pick up and possibly the most valuable of the lot. Aside from Naitanui and his freakish ability and potential, who should've been the number one selection ahead of Watts, of the current crop of ruck / forwards going around Tom is capable of matching it if not surpassing any of them based on his progress to date.

As he hits the prime age for a ruckman his stocks will be as high as any going around and keeping him may become our biggest challenge as the vultures come circling.

[Bornadog]

Re: Pick of the 2010 - 2012 Drafts

What it does highlight is how astute we've been at the draft and trade table in this short period of time. As the post above says, Stevens, Young, Goodes and now Crameri aren't included but the list has dramatically strengthened in a short space of time.

Libba's work to date has been absolutely incredible and Dahlhaus is a special player too, so 2010 is ahead for now, but I think in 2 years time 2012 will be scary good.

2011 is important too, though. None of Smith, Talia and Campbell are or will be elite players but they are very, very important keys to the side moving forward.

just goes to show by not winning many games you get to have early picks which is hard to stuff up these days. The crop of players available in 2012 you couldn't go wrong, even with the compromised draft. We were lucky in 2010 with the FS selections.

overall it's a tough question G16 has asked, but I think Macrae and Stringer are going to be outstanding. In fact I have said it before Macrae will be the big improver this year and will become elite. Libba is a gem and will prove to be even better than his dad.

[always right]

Re: Pick of the 2010 - 2012 Drafts

just goes to show by not winning many games you get to have early picks which is hard to stuff up these days. The crop of players available in 2012 you couldn't go wrong, even with the compromised draft. We were lucky in 2010 with the FS selections.

overall it's a tough question G16 has asked, but I think Macrae and Stringer are going to be outstanding. In fact I have said it before Macrae will be the big improver this year and will become elite. Libba is a gem and will prove to be even better than his dad.

He already is. More talented and almost as determined as his father.

[Cyberdoggie]

Re: Pick of the 2010 - 2012 Drafts

I think 2012 will be the best draft we've ever had, especially from the recruiters point of view. Apart from Hunter Dalrymple has had to put his neck out and select these players over other equally talented options.
In my opinion he hasn't made any mistakes, they all look like being excellent players.
Prudden will come on slower than the others and he has a lot of competition in his role now but once his body is right and he is able to compete with men, I think he'll surprise a few.
It's not often you look at draft years and see that every player selected will contribute significantly.


Hunter for a late father son selection has surprised me considerably. He showed he had some ability but I thought he may of been a little immature/naïve when drafted. What has surprised me is his cool under pressure and vision on the field. Hunter knows the right spots to be in and where to put it and he seems to be really pushing himself in training, an area where I thought he might be a problem. I can't fault his professionalism so far and I think he's set for a really big year.

This group will catapult the dogs from bottom table to top quality class.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: Pick of the 2010 - 2012 Drafts

I think 2012 will be the best draft we've ever had, especially from the recruiters point of view. Apart from Hunter Dalrymple has had to put his neck out and select these players over other equally talented options.
In my opinion he hasn't made any mistakes, they all look like being excellent players.
Prudden will come on slower than the others and he has a lot of competition in his role now but once his body is right and he is able to compete with men, I think he'll surprise a few.
It's not often you look at draft years and see that every player selected will contribute significantly.


Hunter for a late father son selection has surprised me considerably. He showed he had some ability but I thought he may of been a little immature/naïve when drafted. What has surprised me is his cool under pressure and vision on the field. Hunter knows the right spots to be in and where to put it and he seems to be really pushing himself in training, an area where I thought he might be a problem. I can't fault his professionalism so far and I think he's set for a really big year.

This group will catapult the dogs from bottom table to top quality class.

I hope you're right on best ever, if we surpass the class of 99, then Stringer, McCrae and Hunter will all be one club players around the 250 game mark and 300+ goals between them. I can live with this scenario!

[Bornadog]

Re: Pick of the 2010 - 2012 Drafts

He already is. More talented and almost as determined as his father.

Libba senior won a brownlow and is in our team of the century. Long way yo go yet for Tom

[Remi Moses]

Re: Pick of the 2010 - 2012 Drafts

Agree, ^^ I reckon Dads years of 90 and in particular 91 ( coming back from a reco he won the b+f)were outstanding.
Unfortunately Dad's latter years are what most remember.

[Bulldog Joe]

Re: Pick of the 2010 - 2012 Drafts

The real strength is the combination of 3 years together that will build a very good team.
Just like compound interest we have a chance to develop compound success by doing it right in 3 consecutive years.