Draft rear view vision.

[BornInDroopSt'54]

In 2009, the year we recruited Barry Hall and drafted Christian Howard at 15 and Jason Tutt at 31, we could have drafted Sam Reid, even without the father-son advantage, Daniel Menzel 17, Nathan Fyfe 20, Ryan Bastinac 21, Koby Stevens 23, Jake Carlisle 24, or Jack Gunston 29 instead. What were we thinking, were we asleep at the wheel?
Are there other drafts that would have bettered our selections and are worth pondering "What if?"

[Twodogs]

Re: Draft rear view vision.

We got Koby Stevens!

2009 was not our finest draft.

[F'scary]

Re: Draft rear view vision.

I think we were looking for a couple of players to pump the ball down to Barry Hall, which would not be great thinking as Hall was gone by the time they reached the physical maturity to even press for a senior spot (and ignoring the ability issue).

[1eyedog]

Re: Draft rear view vision.

When I read depressing thread topics like this I always think that we could have chosen Andrew Gribble at pick 104 in the 1988 VFL draft, but we didn't... and that makes me feel better.

[BornInDroopSt'54]

Re: Draft rear view vision.

When I read depressing thread topics like this I always think that we could have chosen Andrew Gribble at pick 104 in the 1988 VFL draft, but we didn't... and that makes me feel better.

Surely Fyfe, Gunston or Carlisle would have been both better talent and better needs fit than Howard or Tutt. Our need for a KPP must have brought Carlisle into strong consideration. How could we have got it so wrong. It amazes me and rather than depressing me, with the 2015 draft about to happen, it highlights that opportunity is in our own control in a draft, with due diligence on research. Recruiting is the most important department and deserves every support in an AFL club and now that we have a great recruiting team, this 2015 draft is one of opportunity, despite the apparent lack of depth.

[Bornadog]

Re: Draft rear view vision.

In 2009, the year we recruited Barry Hall and drafted Christian Howard at 15 and Jason Tutt at 31, we could have drafted Sam Reid, even without the father-son advantage, Daniel Menzel 17, Nathan Fyfe 20, Ryan Bastinac 21, Koby Stevens 23, Jake Carlisle 24, or Jack Gunston 29 instead. What were we thinking, were we asleep at the wheel?
Are there other drafts that would have bettered our selections and are worth pondering "What if?"

don't worry 16 other clubs missed them too.

[GVGjr]

Re: Draft rear view vision.

In 2009, the year we recruited Barry Hall and drafted Christian Howard at 15 and Jason Tutt at 31, we could have drafted Sam Reid, even without the father-son advantage, Daniel Menzel 17, Nathan Fyfe 20, Ryan Bastinac 21, Koby Stevens 23, Jake Carlisle 24, or Jack Gunston 29 instead. What were we thinking, were we asleep at the wheel?
Are there other drafts that would have bettered our selections and are worth pondering "What if?"

My understanding is that Eade wanted elite 'quick through the air' kicking skills and Howard and Tutt were identified.

[BornInDroopSt'54]

Re: Draft rear view vision.

My understanding is that Eade wanted elite 'quick through the air' kicking skills and Howard and Tutt were identified.

WOW, that's a very specific need and rather blind to other needs. Eade has let us down there if that was the directive. Hopefully there is an unknown star of the decade in this draft as there was in that one of 2009 but this time we nab him.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Draft rear view vision.

I think any club can look back and say X at 10 turned out a dud, whereas Y at 11 was a star, at some point. For every Howard v Fyfe, there is a Bob Murphy v Travis Gaspar counterpoint.

In every draft there is 100+ candidates, all of whom have outstanding capabilities in some regard. From them, a handful will be elite AFL players (in a good year) and, maybe, 20 or so will go on to have very good AFL careers.

We get 4 cracks. Our chances of nailing an elite player are slim. Our recruiters have done an amazing job of nailing a few in recent years. Even if we get a very good player or 2, our recruiters have done well.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: Draft rear view vision.

Every club has top picks that fizzle, that was our shocker but no real value dwelling in it.

Hawthorn: Mitch Thorpe
Essendon: Gumbleton, Melksham
Carlton: Angwin
Geelong: Tenace
St Kilda: Raph Clarke
Freo: Clive Waterhouse (1)
Melbourne: too many to mention
Richmond: too many to mention
Port: Jon Butcher
Adelaide: Sellar
GWS: too many to mention
GCS: ditto

The best form is recent form, and if we nail this draft again and get a few free agents and/or good trades on the way back up then that's the real conversation.

[Mantis]

Re: Draft rear view vision.

WOW, that's a very specific need and rather blind to other needs. Eade has let us down there if that was the directive. Hopefully there is an unknown star of the decade in this draft as there was in that one of 2009 but this time we nab him.

Whilst we were on the look out to replace the likes of Gilbee and Eagleton the recruiters weren't told that this was a must.

Fyfe came up in discussions, but like other clubs we overlooked him as it was thought he was only going to be a HF, who had no standout qualities.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Draft rear view vision.

My understanding is that Eade wanted elite 'quick through the air' kicking skills and Howard and Tutt were identified.

In fairness to Eade, at the time he was working on a gamestyle to breakdown oppositions heavy numbers at the stoppages type tactics, not unlike what Hawthorn have developed. The theories were okay, the application lacked finesse.

[GVGjr]

Re: Draft rear view vision.

In fairness to Eade, at the time he was working on a gamestyle to breakdown oppositions heavy numbers at the stoppages type tactics, not unlike what Hawthorn have developed. The theories were okay, the application lacked finesse.

It's actually not unfair on Eade to say that he wanted those skills in the players we were to select but it does explain we we passed over the likes of Reid for Tutt.
The players we selected didn't pan out but that happens.

[BornInDroopSt'54]

Re: Draft rear view vision.

Whilst I randomly chose the 2009 draft there are many others where the precise science of retrospection makes fools of our selections and shows we bypassed gold for mediocrity. Looking solely for needs based selections is a form of blinkered vision it seems to me, whereas best available has the benefit of being able to better trade for specific needs. Also best available is likely to improve ball movement anyhow. Axe was slow as but he enabled crisper, congestion-breaking ball movement like Greg Williams. Most good players enhance ball movement better than merely good delivery or just run.
Thanks for the discussion WOOFERS it's made me keen to follow drafts hereon in, and Tuesday can't come soon enough.

[Mofra]

Re: Draft rear view vision.

In fairness to Dalrymple, this was the only draft where he was a part time recruiter.
Since he's been full time his strike rate has been better than the AFL average - he's certainly got it all over Clayton with first round picks, even if you include Howard