2016 Draft Watch

[GVGjr]

Re: 2016 Draft Watch

Anyone know what sort of beep ESAVA RATUGOLEA ran at the combine?

11 - 6 in the Beep, 11:58 in the 3km.

Fair to say there is a lot of work to do on his endurance.

He did well in a lot of the other testing and was in the top 20% for the repeat sprints and agility test and the top 10% for both the 10mtr and 20mtrs times.

I'd back him in to get a lot better endurance over time.

[choconmientay]

Re: 2016 Draft Watch

Updated Phantom draft by TheRoar By Katfish, 17 Nov 2016:

AFL 2016 Phantom Draft 2: The top 55

#19 Western Bulldogs – Todd Marshall
Size: 198cm/87kg
Position: Key Forward
Plays Like: Jeremy Cameron
In the Mix: Will Hayward, Daniel Venables, Jordan Gallucci
Touted as a potential top 15 pick, Marshall’s inconsistency could see him slip as low as the Western Bulldogs’ pick 19. Marshall is a terrific mark on the lead, but separates himself from other key forwards with his agility and ability to make things happen at ground level. However, if Will Hayward is still available, the Dogs would find it hard to look past him.

#29 Western Bulldogs – Jordan Ridley
Size: 192cm/79kg
Position: Utility
Plays Like: Sam Reid
In the Mix: Isaac Cumming, Harrison Macreadie, Tom Williamson
Looking for height at either end of the ground, Ridley would be an excellent selection for the Dogs as a versatile tall with great mobility. Ridley is a swingman, he has the ability to take a great mark at either end and is mobile enough to play on a range of forwards. Athletic and classy medium defender Isaac Cumming would also be worth a bid here, if he was still available, as a perfect fit to a Dogs backline that contains three players over 30 in Matthew Boyd, Robert Murphy and Matthew Suckling.

#54 Western Bulldogs – Zac Fisher
Size: 175cm/61kg
Position: Midfielder
Plays Like: Caleb Daniel
In the Mix: Hamish Brayshaw, Willem Drew, Dylan Clarke
The Western Bulldogs have been known to pick natural footballers, regardless of size, and Fisher fits that description perfectly. He is not blessed with elite athleticism or kicking, but performs well week in, week out.
He has terrific hands that are clean at ground level and is extremely quick to fire off a handpass. At stoppages, Fisher attacks the ball hard, has a nice sidestep to get out of trouble and, although not lightning quick, his first couple of steps are swift enough to burst from the stoppage and find space.
A terrific leader and tough footballer, Hamish Brayshaw could also be selected here.

[choconmientay]

Re: 2016 Draft Watch

Callum Twomey’s Phantom Form Guide - November edition (November 18, 2016)



POS: Half-forward, Ht 186cm, Wt 76kg, DOB 26/10/98
From North Adelaide/South Australia

Hayward stormed home late in the season to push his case as a first-round draft choice. He kicked nine goals to put his North Adelaide under-18s side into the Grand Final and backed it up with four goals in its Grand Final loss. Had they won, many suspect he would have been judged best afield. There may be a knock on his kicking, but he has plenty of power in his boot and he likes to fly for his marks. He's a bouncy, rangey type of prospect who seems to have plenty of development left in him.
Where does he go? Hayward has been invited to the draft, which indicates he is in the mind of at least one club as a top-10 pick. Carlton, Sydney and Gold Coast have been linked to him. Port and Adelaide, outside the top 10, may also have some interest.

POS: Midfielder, Ht 183cm, Wt 75kg, DOB 3/5/98
From Eastern Ranges/Vic Metro

The former volleyballer is a damaging, ball-carrying midfielder who can break the lines with his pace. Gallucci kicked five goals in a game late in the year for the Eastern Ranges and has regularly been a presence across half-forward when not ripping the ball out of clearances. Gallucci starred at the combine last month when he broke the all-time record for the standing vertical jump and won the repeat sprints test.

Where does he go? Seems likely to fit in between pick 13 and 20. Adelaide, Port Adelaide, Brisbane and the Swans have all been mooted as possible homes for Gallucci.

.... read more here

[choconmientay]

Re: 2016 Draft Watch

ESPN Updated draft watch, Christopher Doerre ESPN AFL Draft Expert, 16 Nov, 2016

Knightmare's updated AFL phantom draft: Who goes where, and when?

Pick 18: Western Bulldogs
Who they'll pick: Todd Marshall
Why he goes here: With Tom Boyd one of the Western Bulldogs' big pillars up forward and rotating through the ruck, the Dogs may look to Marshall as a long-term compliment to Boyd. Marshall likely takes three or four years until he develops. At 198cm and 87kg, he is very athletic and agile and has rare cleanness at ground level for someone his height.

Pick 26: Western Bulldogs
Who they'll pick: Brennan Cox
Why he goes here: The Bulldogs here may look to add to their key position stocks. They may place a bid on GWS Academy player Zachary Sproule. With GWS losing several key position players during the trade period, they are likely to match the Bulldogs' offer. Cox, a 194cm, 90kg key defender, may be in the mix here and appeal with the Bulldogs' key defence stocks lean. Cox is very athletic and has good one-on-one strength. He can take intercept marks and also provide run from the back half.

[SlimPickens]

Re: 2016 Draft Watch

I really hope we don't go Marshall. Has bust written all over him.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: 2016 Draft Watch

I'd be happy with a couple of young KPFs at the high end. With Cloke having 2-3 years, Redders a question mark over his body and Adams a good chance to go home and Morris can't unfortunately play forever, then we need some kids to come in in a couple of years. Our midfield depth is good, particularly inside (add in Jong & Wallis), plus with Williams and Webb hopefully looking at midfield or wing, Roarke, Lynch, Dale, Suckling etc.

If we nailed a good KPF, a good KPD, Long (utility) and Cameron/Boulderstone type (ruck). Then with our one rookie draft pick whether we aim for the best mid available, or whether we think we need a ready to go defender in the glut of delisted KPDs.

[comrade]

Re: 2016 Draft Watch

I really hope we don't go Marshall. Has bust written all over him.

He's definitely a boom or bust type.

With our development set up at Footscray, and Travis Cloke coming into the club, we're better placed than ever to groom a long term KPF prospect.

One thing that does put me off is his narrow shoulders. Will struggle to fill out with a build like that.

[LostDoggy]

Re: 2016 Draft Watch

[QUOTE=bulldogtragic;535603]I'd be happy with a couple of young KPFs at the high end. With Cloke having 2

This looks a very thin draft for quality talls. Most top 30s have only 2 genuine KPP size (195 cm+) players - English and Marshall. Think we'll be going best available with our first 2 picks at least.

[comrade]

Re: 2016 Draft Watch

My ideal scenario is Venables slips through to our first, and Marshall drops like a stone to our second.

We then snag Long at 50.

A man can dream

[Axe Man]

Re: 2016 Draft Watch

[QUOTE=PeanutsPeanuts;535606]

I'd be happy with a couple of young KPFs at the high end. With Cloke having 2

This looks a very thin draft for quality talls. Most top 30s have only 2 genuine KPP size (195 cm+) players - English and Marshall. Think we'll be going best available with our first 2 picks at least.

Agreed that should go best available (at least with the first 2 picks) and look to trade / free agency next year to fill any deficiencies in the list.

[Bulldog Joe]

Re: 2016 Draft Watch

11 - 6 in the Beep, 11:58 in the 3km.

Fair to say there is a lot of work to do on his endurance.

He did well in a lot of the other testing and was in the top 20% for the repeat sprints and agility test and the top 10% for both the 10mtr and 20mtrs times.

I'd back him in to get a lot better endurance over time.

I have an impression that endurance is actually one of the hardest things to add. Liam Jones just could not do it.
It seems that a lot that have speed/power struggle with endurance and I have observed this through a previous background in athletics. Those with more natural endurance seem more able to improve speed, than the power athlete can develop that endurance.

[Mofra]

Re: 2016 Draft Watch

I have an impression that endurance is actually one of the hardest things to add. Liam Jones just could not do it.
It seems that a lot that have speed/power struggle with endurance and I have observed this through a previous background in athletics. Those with more natural endurance seem more able to improve speed, than the power athlete can develop that endurance.

You can test for it - VO2 Max testing and the like.
Although there have been examples of super talented players who just never developed the tank for AFL footy - Veszpremi is a perfect example.

[hujsh]

Re: 2016 Draft Watch

I have an impression that endurance is actually one of the hardest things to add. Liam Jones just could not do it.
It seems that a lot that have speed/power struggle with endurance and I have observed this through a previous background in athletics. Those with more natural endurance seem more able to improve speed, than the power athlete can develop that endurance.

I would think it was the opposite. Endurance to me has always been more a product of hard work than anything where speed was more a natural asset. Though at the elite level things like VO2 max would become a factor I guess

[Sedat]

Re: 2016 Draft Watch

Pick 26: Western Bulldogs
Who they'll pick: Brennan Cox
Why he goes here: The Bulldogs here may look to add to their key position stocks. They may place a bid on GWS Academy player Zachary Sproule. With GWS losing several key position players during the trade period, they are likely to match the Bulldogs' offer. Cox, a 194cm, 90kg key defender, may be in the mix here and appeal with the Bulldogs' key defence stocks lean. Cox is very athletic and has good one-on-one strength. He can take intercept marks and also provide run from the back half.

Brennan Cox a-go-go

[Bulldog Joe]

Re: 2016 Draft Watch

I would think it was the opposite. Endurance to me has always been more a product of hard work than anything where speed was more a natural asset. Though at the elite level things like VO2 max would become a factor I guess

I had some involvement with state level athletics and basic endurance is the natural asset. There is no doubt it is improved remarkably with training, but the improvement is in those who already possess a base level.

Unfortunately those without any natural level never seem able to meet the training requirement to reach satisfactory levels.

Speed and power can be more easily improved, although those with natural endurance struggle to develop explosive speed/power.

Over the past few years I see Liam Jones as the absolute example of a speed/power athlete who just could not (maybe would not) improve his endurance levels.