Draft Machinations

[Bornadog]

Re: Draft Machinations

Bulldogs set for Draft haul


This year’s crop of draftees has been touted as one of the best in years, and the Western Bulldogs are in the box seat to select one of the nation’s brightest talents at tomorrow night’s NAB AFL Draft.

The Western Bulldogs will begin the night armed with picks 7, 27, 32, 45 and 63.

“It’s got a really good top-end this draft, some good key positions players but also some good midfielders,” said Bulldogs’ General Manager of List and Recruiting, Sam Power.

“We’ve got a really open mind (in terms of who to take at pick 7) and so we will wait to see how earlier selections go.

“We’ll take the best player that we see at (pick) 7.”
Power said the Bulldogs had done their homework.

“There’s a lot of work that’s gone in through the course of the year,” he said.

“There’s a lot of games we’ve been watching, as well as the Draft Combine, and obviously a lot of interviews, a lot of due diligence, including calling coaches and school teachers.

“We feel really prepared going into tomorrow night.”

The Bulldogs are hopeful of landing father-son selection, Rhylee West, but with the introduction of live trading and the bidding system, Power said there is still plenty to play out.

“We’ve monitored Rhylee really closely over the year,” said Power.
“He’s had a really productive season.

“Obviously with the bidding system, it’s not as simple now as it used to be.

“We’ll have to sit tight and wait and see where a bid comes and determine whether we match it on the night.”

[chef]

Re: Draft Machinations

I thought it was Max with the knee issues, not Ben.

It is, thats who I was posting about.

And TBH I'd rather take Ben than Max if we had to chose between the two. But really I'll be happy with either of the Kings, Rozzee, Caldwell or Smith. We have a great chance to add a fantastic young player.

[Bornadog]

Re: Draft Machinations

It is, thats who I was posting about.

And TBH I'd rather take Ben than Max if we had to chose between the two. But really I'll be happy with either of the Kings, Rozzee, Caldwell or Smith. We have a great chance to add a fantastic young player.

Personally I prefer not to take a King, for similar reasons to you. Our needs are mids, and guys like Smith, Rozee fit the bill. Rankine is my most wanted player but he will be gone early.

[kruder]

Re: Draft Machinations

We are already potentially getting a 20% discount with West and Buku I’m not sure we need to have another crack value wise and trade down pick 7. We have a lot of young talent on the list, there is plenty of depth what this list needs is elite talent. If Rozee is rated higher then take him no need to give the crows what they want. We already did that in 1997, 1998 and 2015.

[Dancin' Douggy]

Re: Draft Machinations

I sort of answered that with an earlier post as per below.
I also remember most were quite bullish on the first rounder for Dunkley and Curnow

I'm more than content in taking pick 7 into the draft.

I'm one that was bullish about it at the time............but mainly due to Collins.
See how THAT worked out

[Dancin' Douggy]

Re: Draft Machinations

I am pretty comfortable with the idea of trading down. The Curnow example keeps getting thrown up - but who knows whether we would have picked him or not...plus, if we change the names on the later picks and say we took Dunks and Bailey Williams at 25/26 rather than Dunks/Collins wouldn't we all have a different feeling about the pick? As for the Melbourne/Kelly/Tyson/Salem example, well, hell. Salem is great. Tyson is traded but really filled a need for them as an inside mid whilst their kids developed and I think Melbourne would be pretty happy with how things have turned out overall...maybe Tyson played a key role in educating Viney or helping Petracca or goodness knows what else...

These things aren't as simple as a single transaction.

I agree with everything you've said. BUT......................Josh Kelly, wow what a player.

[AshMac]

Re: Draft Machinations

Am I the only one that remembers trading a plum first rounder (Curnow) for two later picks (Dunkley, Collins/delisted)? Or Josh Kelly for Tyson/traded again & Salem? Trading top picks to lower first/second round picks isn't a guaranteed good outcome, there's maybe good examples when it worked, but I'm risk adverse with pick 7. The pay off of a shithouse season is getting a top 10 pick, especially this year with a very good top 7. I'm hoping we don't get too clever.

Curnow also got done drink driving the week or two before the draft and dropped down the potential order. Apparantly his brother pleaded his case to the blues recruiters to give him a look in. Doubt we'd have picked him tbh. But I agree overall, that trade worked better for them.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: Draft Machinations

Curnow also got done drink driving the week or two before the draft and dropped down the potential order. Apparantly his brother pleaded his case to the blues recruiters to give him a look in. Doubt we'd have picked him tbh. But I agree overall, that trade worked better for them.

As an aside, they'd be pretty happy with the trade between our clubs recently. There's that trading down the order trade that netted them Curnow (netting us Dunkley whose a premiership player in his first year). Then the draft picks trade last year that also netted them pick 26 this year (yes Schache & Richards was more than worth it). Then before that Liam Jones for just pick 46 (used on Caleb Daniel, a premiership player). Also convinced Tutt to walk out on us (saving us the salary and netting pick 62, a huge win for us, in that it netted the glorious Zaine Cordy, a premiership player). Maybe we should have the premiership reunions at Princess Park to keep the Carlton importance to it alive...

I think they've 'won' the trades (for lack of a better term, sorry Mike) looking at just the transaction in isolation, but gee Simon Dalrymple turned those lumps of coal into diamonds for us. Highlights that you can have a so-so trade period, but come out way ahead after the draft if your recruiters nail their opportunities. Which I'm hoping for tomorrow and Friday nights.

[jazzadogs]

Re: Draft Machinations

I'd be very happy if we walked out of the draft with Smith or Caldwell (pick 8 or 10), Clark/Collier-Dawkins/Butters (pick 13 or 15), West (pick 32 ��), Khamis and then a bonus late.

If Smith and Caldwell are still on the board at 7, and we remain comfortable that no early bids will come for West, then I think a 7+27 for 2x1st rounds trade makes sense.

[GVGjr]

Re: Draft Machinations

This would be my top 10

1) Lukosius
2) M.King
3) Rankine
4) Walsh
5) Rozee
6) Smith
7) B.King
8) Hately
9) Caldwell
10) N.Blakey

How I think it will go

1) Walsh
2) Lukosius
3) Rankine
4) M.King
5) Rozee
6) Smith
7) B.King
8) Blakey
9) Caldwell
10) Clark

[chef]

Re: Draft Machinations

https://outline.com/RNpTtm

“Somewhere between picks five to eight is probably where I see myself,” Ben King said.

“I have been looking at those picks closely, but it’s hard to gauge what clubs are thinking; they’re quite secretive.

“I’d prefer to stay with my family in Melbourne and get to the Western Bulldogs (pick 7), but I’m really just keen to play some AFL footy and wherever I fall, that’s life.”

[choconmientay]

Re: Draft Machinations

DRAFT INVITATIONS (26)*

Link

*Known, can still change between now and tomorrow night.

Nick Blakey
Kieren Briggs
Zak Butters
Jye Caldwell
Jordan Clark
Riley Collier-Dawkins
Xavier Duursma
Jackson Hately
Ian Hill
Chayce Jones
Will Kelly
Ben King
Max King
Jack Lukosius
Ned McHenry
Isaac Quaynor
Izak Rankine
Connor Rozee
Bailey Smith
Ely Smith*
Liam Stocker
Sam Sturt
Curtis Taylor*
Tarryn Thomas
Luke Valente
Sam Walsh

*indicates late call-ups after an initial list of 24 names were released.

Like Gary mentioned in the Rhylee thread, he didn’t get an invitation which is really good news for us supporters.

[Sedat]

Re: Draft Machinations

Curnow also got done drink driving the week or two before the draft and dropped down the potential order. Apparantly his brother pleaded his case to the blues recruiters to give him a look in. Doubt we'd have picked him tbh. But I agree overall, that trade worked better for them.

Carlton were also ready to offload pick 11 for Tomlinson but GWS knocked the deal back.

[Raw Toast]

Re: Draft Machinations

I'm no expert on this year's potential draftees, but unless there's a clear drop in the quality of players available after pick 7 (as our recruiting team sees it), then turning one first round pick into two first rounders is the path of least risk (at least as I understand it).

Fans tend to over-estimate the chances of early picks becoming stars - and there's a logic to this, as they're so full of promise, and it's easy to build dreams of glory on their shoulders. But if the drop off in quality isn't major, then you're close to doubling your chances of getting very good players.

In a seemingly strong year, like this one, the early picks can appear to be certainties. They are not. Uncertainty is the joy and terror of footy (and similar sports).

I'll be excited over the next few days, like everyone else, but as we ride the wave of emotions that is draft season, it's worth looking back over the thread after we drafted Bontempelli (which I'm sure many have already done a few times), just to remember that the things that we're sure of now, will not necessarily be the things we are sure of in a few years.

[mjp]

Re: Draft Machinations

....it's worth looking back over the thread after we drafted Bontempelli (which I'm sure many have already done a few times), just to remember that the things that we're sure of now, will not necessarily be the things we are sure of in a few years.

Bont. The one player in that draft I 100% didn’t want. Soft, slowly and fumbly. How’s that call look now???