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Rocket Science: the epitaph for the Beveridge era - whenever it ends - reading 'Here lies a team that could beat anyone on its day, but seldom did when it mattered most'. 15/7/2023 -
Re: 2016 Draft Watch
Anyone know what chances Mitch McCarthy has of getting drafted? A guy at work mentioned him as a family friend so it sparked my interest.Comment
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Re: 2016 Draft Watch
Oscar Junker article from earlier in the year here
WHILE Western Jets coach Torin Baker hasn’t banned his star player from surfing, Oscar Junker says he won’t be hitting the water anytime soon.
An accident in January nearly curtailed the most important season of Junker’s career.
The Jets’ co-captain missed all of the post-Christmas pre-season and the opening two games of the TAC Cup campaign after injuring*! his shoulder falling off a surfboard.
But it hasn’t taken the draft prospect long to hit the heights expected of him.
Three games into his return*!, Junker was named best afield for the Jets.
Since then, he has produced another two stunning performances to make it three consecutive best-on-grounds.
“I’m super excited, I’m really*! enjoying playing footy as consistently as I can,” Junker said.
“I‘ve been focused on getting a little bit more fit to play midfield. The first few games I couldn’t keep up with the pace.”
A move to the middle has inspired the 18-year-old.
As a bottom ager, Junker played 16 games and was named in the best five times, hitting his straps towards the back end of 2015.
He impressed across half-back and on a wing before a move to centre-half forward helped take him to another level.
Yet, at 191cm, Junker believed*! he was capable of taking a midfield role in 2016.
The next step was adding some weight.
“I really had to focus on the gym, especially when I was 15, 16,” Junker said.
“I was only 65kg and still pretty tall. I’m just naturally skinny. That’s been the biggest improvement. Each pre-season I set a goal to put on 5kg and I did that — I was 78kg last year.
“I really focused working on my legs and core.”
With a centimetre of height on Fremantle champion Nat Fyfe, Junker sees the Brownlow medallist as a perfect prototype on which to mould his game.
“The way he plays and explodes*! through contests, the way he takes marks and kicks goals, I hope I could do the same, though maybe not at that level,” Junker said.
“Marcus Bontempelli is another, I love the way he plays. My goals as a midfielder are going forward, taking contested marks and kicking some goals.”
With Vic Metro opportunities beckoning, Junker wants to make every post a winner. But he hasn’t ruled out an extended campaign with the Jets this season.
“The biggest goal is to get the Jets to finals, I’d really like to push the team into finals*!,” he said.
“I think we’ve got a really good chance this year.
“We’re not sitting great but once we get a full team in we’re good enough. I don’t think I will be going surfing any time soon.”
The Jets sit in 11th spot on the ladder with a 2-5 win-loss record and will tackle Calder*! Cannons at Burbank Oval on Saturday.Western Bulldogs Football Club "Where it's cool to drool"Comment
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Re: 2016 Draft Watch
Reading between the lines of the various connected experts, it seems that both North and us are the 2 clubs who are keenest on Florent (interstate clubs reportedly won't take him for family reasons) and Cedric Cox (we are reportedly the only 2 clubs who travelled to Marble Bar to conduct due diligence on Cox's background). Suspect North will take one of the two and the other may be a good chance of getting to us at pick 1 or pick 2.Comment
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Re: 2016 Draft Watch
It looks to me that we are approaching this draft on a needs basis. If we are to believe any of the speculation so far we have been linked with
Key Forward - Marshall
Speedy Outside Midfielders - Cox, Florent, Cumming, Williams
Ruckman - English (and various references to recruiting one)
Medium forward - Hayward
These would be the possies we most need to fill. although I'm sure the club spin will be they were best available.
Looking forward to seeing what Twomey and Quayle present for us in their phantom draftsListening to Brahm's 3rd RacketComment
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Re: 2016 Draft Watch
Bonti's averages were low in the first half of his u18 year.
I think Florent has that "improvement" factor during the year we tend to rate more highly than other clubs.
We tend to measure ceiling more than performance.
I'm not really sold on anyone although like the sound of a Ridley type of an SPP if they slide to our second pick.
Ben Long at 50 would suit me too although he may not last that long (Essendon have pick 43). Romensky seems a value late pick too, local kid.Western Bulldogs: 2016 PremiersComment
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Re: 2016 Draft Watch
We drafted Minson at 20 in 2002. English would be a long term investment.Originally posted by choconmientay
A couple of other comments by Twoomey
Ben Long was overlooked at last year's draft but improved considerably this year and starred for Footscray's VFL side with six goals in the preliminary final. He has been linked to the Dogs with a later selection, and he can also play off half-back with his speed and run. Esava Ratougolea could be a chance later in proceedings, while Sam Simpson has also been raised as a possible pick. The Cats have forfeited any rights to match a father-son bid for the Geelong Falcon. If the Dogs don't bite at Gold Coast academy prospect Josh Williams with their opening two picks then a bid may come at No.50.Western Bulldogs Football Club "Where it's cool to drool"Comment
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Re: 2016 Draft Watch
Williams certainly has elite speed...
Feels like this is the draft we are wiling to take a few more high risk/high reward types in regards to the players we are linked with.Comment
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Re: 2016 Draft Watch
Oh Just on English he looks nothing like Ace for mine. He is quicker, cleaner and a nice kick also. I'd say he has a lot more scope than Ace ever had and I'd be happy with the selection.Comment
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Re: 2016 Draft Watch
Official: NO draft penalties to GWS.Rocket Science: the epitaph for the Beveridge era - whenever it ends - reading 'Here lies a team that could beat anyone on its day, but seldom did when it mattered most'. 15/7/2023Comment
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