Father/Son Watch

[bulldogtragic]

Re: Father/Son Watch

Media is reporting today that North may get pick 11 as part of their assistance package which would put them into the box seat to trade down for pick 4 (package 11 with 14 that they hold from Port).

If that did happen and GCS were to put 11 on the market for further picks, would we adjust and look at flipping our pick 17 into 11? That'd give us 10 and 11 in the draft and a good crack at getting two very good players in.

It'd also be a bold move for a club to bid on Croft in the top 10 and force us to eat those picks. I'd be willing to take that gamble and either miss out on Croft or get three talented kids in.

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts BT.

Great plan B.

But.

The only catch is when North get Pick 3 compo, we are 11. Let?s say there are two or three GCS bids by then. Now we are at Pick 13-14. Twomey power ranking is 11 and rookie me is 14.

So if Croft slides to our first then back to back picks is a good plan b. Although to get the GCS upgrade into 11 might cost us pick 36 and a F2. To get Croft we will need to hold our pick 36. To get around that we could think about the F1 for GCS F2.

In: 11, F2 (Croft with later points)
Out: 17, F1

Let?s say we plod again next year and have pick 11 for conversation sake. That swaps out the pick 11?s. So then it?s pick 17 (probs 22 or 23 after compo and bids) for hopefully a high second next year (maybe pick 25). Roughly similar, but GCS probably ahead unless we make it to a prelim or better. But we gain the 20% father/son discount and we use a bunch of late/later picks to get a KPP in the late first round. So it?s an overall win. So having stretched it all out, it looks pretty good if GCS were to accept the loss of 304 draft points between 11 & 17 for a F1 upgrade.

I think we all prefer the Pick 4 option, but if this came to pass, three first rounders this year at the cost of only having two seconds next year (and later) is good thinking.

[FrediKanoute]

Re: Father/Son Watch

I love the way this works. I appreciate it's maths but it is so much more than that!

[jazzadogs]

Re: Father/Son Watch

If Norf trump us for pick 4, it will almost be a relief if Croft doesn't nominate us.

[azabob]

Re: Father/Son Watch

I’m back full circle to passing on Croft. When pick 4 was an option I was ok with Pick 4 and Croft.

If Croft was in the open draft I couldn’t see us selecting him with pick 11 or 17.

[GVGjr]

Re: Father/Son Watch

I’m back full circle to passing on Croft. When pick 4 was an option I was ok with Pick 4 and Croft.

If Croft was in the open draft I couldn’t see us selecting him with pick 11 or 17.

If it comes to Croft being lukewarm about coming to us and just entering the draft we should only consider selecting him at pick 17 and on popular opinion he will be gone before that.

Based on needs, we should be more midfield focused but we should think that Croft will nominate us and we will match a bid if it makes sense to do so.

[Grantysghost]

Re: Father/Son Watch

If it comes to Croft being lukewarm about coming to us and just entering the draft we should only consider selecting him at pick 17 and on popular opinion he will be gone before that.

Based on needs, we should be more midfield focused but we should think that Croft will nominate us and we will match a bid if it makes sense to do so.

It would be highly unlikely he wouldn't nominate us, however I totally get why he would want to see where he fits first.
Not sure if that's a great vote of confidence from Croft senior about our list balance!

[MrMahatma]

Re: Father/Son Watch

I think, culturally, you wanna be taking high end F/S talent when it's available.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Re: Father/Son Watch

I am really unimpressed at the AFL potentially giving North a mid first round pick on top of what they're already going to receive.

As as been pointed out, without caveats that they must use the pick, it just is a blatant draft tampering tool, that will have repercussions for the trade market... namely on our potential suitability for securing GCS pick 4.

Even the Lion's didn't receive as much assistance from the AFL when they received help in the early to mid 2010's. I am sure they only received end of first round, and some concessions around access to local Qld kids?

I am going to trust that Power has the savvy to ensure we get the best result we can, despite the AFL's meddling.

[Hotdog60]

Re: Father/Son Watch

Bulldogs father-son prospect yet to make call on future, 'open to other clubs'

Jordan Croft could become the next father-son recruit at the Bulldogs, but he's yet to make a call on his future



JORDAN Croft was there in 2016. That famous day the Western Bulldogs ended a 62-year premiership drought at the MCG. And seven days earlier when Luke Beveridge's side secured a passage to the Grand Final in memorable circumstances in western Sydney. They are two of his favourite memories.

The 18-year-old wasn't born when his dad, Matthew Croft, played the last of his 186 games in red, white and blue in 2004, but has grown up with royal Western Bulldogs blood pumping through his veins.
Croft has enjoyed the rare opportunity to peek behind the curtains through his father's involvement on the board as football director between 2016 and 2019 and his own inclusion in the father-son program at the Whitten Oval.

The Maribyrnong College student was named at centre half-forward in the Coates Talent League Team of the Year on Wednesday night after a strong season for the Calder Cannons and for Vic Metro in the under-18 national championships mid-year.

Now it is getting close to decision time. Croft and his manager, Tom Petroro from TLA Worldwide, will meet with Western Bulldogs list manager Sam Power in the coming fortnight before making a decision whether to nominate as a father-son selection.

Father-son picks have featured at the Hollywood end of the past two drafts. Last year, Brisbane secured Will Ashcroft with pick No.2 after Greater Western Sydney opted to select Aaron Cadman rather than make the Lions match the bid. Collingwood secured Nick Daicos at pick No.4 in the 2021 AFL Draft, two picks after the Dogs landed Sam Darcy by matching a bid from the Giants.



The Bulldogs have reaped the rewards of ancestry more than any other club with three father-son recruits currently on the list ? Tom Liberatore, Darcy and Rhylee West ? following the recent departures of Mitch Wallis, Zaine Cordy and Lachie Hunter. Croft is expected to be the next young gun to follow in his old man's footsteps.

"I've barracked for the Bulldogs for so long, so I am aware of the father-son history. It's been a privilege to watch all those players come through. Other clubs don't have that many father-sons. It would be a privilege to be a part of that group," Croft told AFL.com.au this week.
"There is still quite a while to go before the draft. I haven't had a good talk with the Western Bulldogs just yet. There is more time to come with the Combine and stuff like that. I've had a few meetings with other clubs. I'm definitely open to other clubs. Wherever I am able to play footy is where I'll play."

While Croft is yet to signal his intentions ? he has until the end of October to nominate ? the club is preparing to match a bid in the teens for Croft and is in contention to trade away its two first-round picks ? No.10 and Brisbane's first pick ? to get ahead of the bid and secure pick No.4 from Gold Coast, which is looking to accumulate draft capital to allocate to four Academy prospects, including All-Australian spearhead Jed Walter.



Croft has been a member of the Dogs' father-son program since he was 12, most recently under the watch of football operations and talent pathways manager Dave Newton, who also oversees the club's Next Generation Academy. But unlike almost all of the draftees in this year's pool, Croft has benefited from living with someone who has lived his dream, someone who played with Tony Liberatore, Luke Darcy and Scott West.

"Having a dad that played AFL has been a good resource in terms of telling me of how to improve, what I've done well, what I've done wrong, those things after each game. It has been really good for my development as a player," Croft said.
"Not everyone gets that access to someone who played AFL. After games I get that insight into how I can keep improving. I think that's how he has been so influential on my footy, just having someone I can talk to about the challenges of footy. He has been a really good resource."

Croft spent a week at the start of the year training with the Western Bulldogs, learning off the likes of Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and Aaron Naughton with the forwards, observing Marcus Bontempelli lay the foundations in the heat of summer before he became a five-time All-Australian.

"That was an insight into what footy is going to be like, hopefully, if I get drafted. It was a really good experience to work on the things I didn't have or improve the things I do have," he said.
"It was good to have a look at the best players up close, like 'Bont', and how they go about their training. That was the thing that stood out the most. Their training mannerisms and how professional they were stood out. They get the job done when it is time to get to work. Marcus Bontempelli was great with us, just getting around us and making us feel welcome."

Croft grew up in a sporty family. His twin brother Mitch is a member of the AIS volleyball program. Jordan spent a large chunk of his junior career playing down back but has blossomed into a key forward across the past 18 months.

He kicked five goals against the Northern Territory early in the Coates Talent League season, slotted three against South Australia during the championships and was involved in an enthralling encounter with first-round prospect Connor O'Sullivan from the Murray Bushrangers that cemented his draft status in the eyes of recruiters.

"This year has been the biggest learning experience I've had with footy," he said. "I've developed the most as a player, not just on the field but off it as well, focusing on diet, gym, recovery and things like that. This year has definitely been the biggest learning experience for me and just balancing school and sport. That's been pretty big.

"I feel like I've improved a lot more as a player compared to last year. I've learned the role a bit more. Played backline in juniors but this year and last year forward, so just learning the craft of the position and I think I've developed a lot this year."



Standing at 200cm but weighing in at 82kg, Croft will need to add some size to his frame if he is going to step in and play at AFL level next year.

With Rory Lobb playing alongside Naughton and Ugle-Hagan ? plus Darcy fighting for a spot at either end ? the teenager who played a couple of senior games for Maribyrnong Park in the Essendon District Football League may need to bide his time at Footscray if he heads to the kennel.

"There is definitely a lot of work to do over the off-season. I need to put on a little bit of size and get used to the speed of the next level as well. They will be the big things I need to work on. But I definitely think I can play AFL footy next year," he said.

The last time a Croft was running around for the Western Bulldogs, he finished with five goals. If the stars align, there will be another father-son recruit wearing the red, white and blue in 2024, playing alongside the players he grew up supporting from the stands.

LINK

[Grantysghost]

Re: Father/Son Watch

He's coming.

[Mofra]

Re: Father/Son Watch

"Played in defence as a junior" - I really really like the sound of that.
He has a bit of Joe Danhier about his forward play and as a defender I'd guess he'd be more of a Dustin Fletcher type, minus the 80m torpedoes.

[Go_Dogs]

Re: Father/Son Watch

"Played in defence as a junior" - I really really like the sound of that.
He has a bit of Joe Danhier about his forward play and as a defender I'd guess he'd be more of a Dustin Fletcher type, minus the 80m torpedoes.

Darcy Moore type?

[GVGjr]

Re: Father/Son Watch

Father-son gun yet to nominate Dogs... but ‘unreal’ draft dream still lingers



Emerging key forward Jordan Croft has yet to officially nominate the Western Bulldogs under the father-son rule, but says it’d be “a great honour” to be drafted to the club and “unreal” to be in the same forward line as other gun goalkickers, should the stars align.

Croft, a 200cm key forward, looms as a potential first-round draftee after an impressive 2023 campaign for both the Calder Cannons and Vic Metro, which included 23 goals in the Coates Talent League.

The 18-year-old is the son of former Bulldogs utility Matthew Croft, who kicked 72 goals from 186 games across 14 seasons for the club.

In order for the Dogs to have the right to Croft and match any rival club bid on him at the draft, he must first nominate the club under the father-son rule.

Speaking to foxfooty.com.au at the national draft combine, Croft said he had always been “a mad Doggies supporter” growing up, but indicated he was yet to make an official call.

“You definitely have to nominate as father-son, but I’ve still got a bit of time to make that decision and talk with family and my manager,” Croft told foxfooty.com.au on Friday.

“I think it‘d be a really great honour to be able to play for the club that you’ve grown up supporting and loved for so long. To be able to give your all to the club, if I get the opportunity, I definitely will be able to. I think that’s what I’ll be looking forward to if I was lucky enough to get drafted to the Bulldogs.”

The Dogs are already littered with key-position goalkickers like Aaron Naughton, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, Rory Lobb and Sam Darcy, while the backline includes Liam Jones, Alex Keath, Ryan Gardner, James O’Donnell and 2022 first-round draftee Jedd Busslinger.

Rival clubs have told foxfooty.com.au the Bulldogs are in the box seat to acquire Gold Coast’s first selection (currently Pick 4) by giving away Picks 10 and 17 and, if needed, their future first-round pick. Should the Dogs land that selection, it’s expected they’ll take a smaller, hybrid player such as Eastern Ranges small forward Nick Watson or star Tasmanian midfielder Colby McKercher.w

Croft, according to recruiters, is expected to attract interest from clubs during the middle to later stages of the first round of this year’s draft. The Dogs hold Picks 37, 65, 68 and 71, which they could use to help match a Croft bid should he nominate them, but they might need to add more points to their draft arsenal should they part with Picks 10 and 17 for 4.

“Growing up as a Bulldogs supporter, I like watching Marcus Bontempelli. The way he plays his footy is always really good to watch,” Croft said.

“But even positionally, Aaron Naughton or Jamarra Ugle-Hagan – just watching the way they play their footy is probably the best thing that I look out for and hopefully model that on my own game.”

Asked about the prospect of sharing the same forward line as Naughton and Ugle-Hagan, Croft said: “It’d be an honour to play alongside those players. Learning off them would be really good.

“If I was able to get on the same list as them, it’d be unreal.”

Croft said his father had provided awesome support during his draft journey.

“I think just having my dad, who’s had that experience at AFL level, has been really good,” he said.

“It‘s really good to have feedback after games and trainings and everything like that … things like where you should be running and not going to areas where you’re not going to get the footy and how I can play at the best and highest level possible.”

The athletic goalkicker said he prided himself on his competitiveness on the field.

“I think my competitiveness has always been there. If things aren’t going well, you revert to that and you keep doing it,” Croft said.

“Kicking goals is always going to be an asset. But while kicking goals and getting touches is all well and good, that competitive nature and sticking to the gameplan is the most important thing when you’re playing footy.”

Croft said he would spend the summer focusing on putting on size to adapt to the rigours of AFL footy.

“That’ll be the goal, to get used to those bigger bodies and the speed of the game,” he said.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: Father/Son Watch

Sounds like he’s hanging out for a longer rookie contract.

[Mofra]

Re: Father/Son Watch

He's going to be a player... but I'm comfortable taking 10 & 17 to draft and passing if he's taken before our first pick.
Best available at pick 10 (probably becomes 13 after bids) and live trade 17 out to a points surplus if Croft gets a bid.

And keep our future first.