2019 Draft Watch

[Throughandthrough]

Re: 2019 Draft Watch

I’ve said this many times but I would take him
In a heartbeat (but have no knowledge of other options). The sanfl grand final was huge, 40k people there, massive media coverage , thousands and thousands at the bay after , was glenelgs first gf win in 33 years. The celebration and event was huge for all involved and he obviously got swept up. He’s the youngest in the team by far.


I’ve only really banged on about a few glenelg players over the years as future stars one was lachie Neale , one was Darcy Fogarty and another is this guy

[Bornadog]

Re: 2019 Draft Watch

From Callum Twomey

At pick 13 the Dogs have to wait and see who gets through. Fischer McAsey will be right in their sights but not sure he'll be there. One to watch for is Miles Bergman. Heading to the draft on one night & is a top-15 bolter. Bulldogs among those interested in the talented HF/mid.

[Bulldog4life]

Re: 2019 Draft Watch

Sounds like a good prospect.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/2019-11-05/class-of-2019-ned-cahill

Class of 2019: Meet the goalsneak who loves a celebration and the 'Plugger' position

GO PLUGGER."

It's a message from the coaches' box that all Dandenong Stingray players want to hear. It's also a message that Ned Cahill received quite often throughout an impressive 2019 campaign.

'Plugger' is a position the Stingrays have created for players that are running hot. Paying homage to St Kilda and Sydney goalkicking great Tony 'Plugger' Lockett, it's a licence to go to the goalsquare and an instruction not to leave.

"It's always fun when the coach tells you to go 'Plugger'," Cahill told AFL.com.au.

"You think to yourself, 'bloody oath, bugger off boys'. It's a lot of fun."

Fortunately, Cahill has the smarts and the nous around goal to make 'Plugger' the most natural position for him.

Clean and dangerous on ground level, the 178cm forward has kicked goals in bunches this season and enjoyed some of the NAB League's most dominant individual games from the forward line.

He kicked three goals from 29 disposals against the Oakleigh Chargers in April, bagged four majors from 19 touches against the Western Jets in May and helped his side win its first final against the Murray Bushrangers with three goals from 21 disposals in August.

Cahill knows where the goals are.

It's helped elevate Cahill to become one of the NAB AFL Draft pool's most attractive and intriguing small forward prospects, alongside his Stingrays teammate and close friend Cody Weightman.

The two are tight, and it's no surprise. Both are energetic and enthusiastic characters, with their blossoming partnership inside both the Dandenong and Vic Country forward lines clear to see.

"I love a celebration, but I normally plan it with a few other boys … like Cody," Cahill said.

"We've got a little handshake thing that we work on."

Cahill, a boyhood Sydney fan, has long idolised Swans goalsneak Tom Papley.

Indeed, the manner in which Papley plays is reflected in Cahill's game. He's clever inside 50, while he has the ability to burst through the midfield – averaging 18 disposals per match in the NAB League this season.

But it's not just the way they play their football that is comparable. There are also some similar personality traits.

"He's a bit crazy on the field as well," Cahill laughed.

"I wouldn't say I get stuck in like that, but if I'm going alright and if they're talking a little bit I don't mind giving a little bit back. I think I'm just up and about as a person."

Fortunately, Cahill is able to back up that spunk with his work ethic and output on the field.

His top-10 finish in the 2km time trial at the NAB AFL Draft Combine was reflective of his running ability, with Dandenong Stingrays talent manager Darren Flanigan of the belief that his aerobic capacity makes him an even more dangerous prospect in the forward line.

"He works really hard," Flanigan told AFL.com.au.

"He's got a really good 2km time trial, so he works his defender over, plus he's very good at creating turnovers in the front half and he's good finisher.

"He's got a good motor. There's no reason why, with a little bit more craft around stoppages, he couldn't spend a bit more time in the midfield. But he's just so valuable in the front half, especially with his finishing and his pressure."

Despite his stints through the midfield, it's forward where Cahill feels most comfortable and forward where he thinks he'll play his best footy at senior level.

"Last year we had such a strong midfield with the Stingrays, with three or four of them getting drafted, so as a bottom-ager I was never going to be able to get into that midfield group," Cahill said.

"I had to develop my game somewhere else and that was forward. I really enjoyed that. If I had to pick between the two, I think I'd probably prefer to play forward."

[mjp]

Re: 2019 Draft Watch

I’ve said this many times but I would take him
In a heartbeat (but have no knowledge of other options). The sanfl grand final was huge, 40k people there, massive media coverage , thousands and thousands at the bay after , was glenelgs first gf win in 33 years. The celebration and event was huge for all involved and he obviously got swept up. He’s the youngest in the team by far.

I'm (obviously) impressed with his footy.

I still wouldn't pick him at 13. There are just too many questions about his physical attributes to do that...first round is not where you take a chance on things like that. Maybe he has 'woken up' but I find it impossible to believe that the message he received from the Sydney recruiting team hadn't been ringing in his ears since age 15 or so when he first participated in a Glenelg development squad.

He is in no fit state to undergo a SANFL pre-season program, let alone an AFL one.

I don't know where he fits in the draft mate but somewhere between pick 30 and the rookie list is where he belongs. I might be proven wrong (and I hope for the sake of the kid that I am - there are a lot of benefits of being a first round pick) but there would be red flags all around his name on most draft boards. And I understand the 'zig when everyone else zags' ideology AND the Billy Beane "We're not selling jeans" recruiting mentality...but a 106kg 18year old? Who got to 106kgs whilst playing at state level of an aerobic sport (he isn't playing darts)...the off-field behaviour that has led to this, well, I can't even imagine it!

[The Doctor]

Re: 2019 Draft Watch

Article on Dylan Williams

https://www.afl.com.au/news/2019-11-07/class-of-2019-tough-year-fails-to-shake-xfactor-forward-dylan-williams-belief

Class of 2019: Tough year fails to shake 'X-factor' forward's belief
Callum Twomey

AS THE Oakleigh Chargers roared towards their NAB League premiership win over the Eastern Ranges, Dylan Williams was watching the Grand Final from the sidelines at Ikon Park.

A year earlier, he was out there for the Chargers – that time in a hard-fought Grand Final loss to the Dandenong Stingrays.

That defeat was no fault of the 17-year-old Williams, who booted four goals as part of a dazzling finals series that saw him kick 14 goals and establish himself as one of the highly rated talents for the following year.

Playing as a deep forward, the 185cm prospect took high grabs, created chances from nothing, was dangerous at ground level and nearly every opportunity he got around goal he converted. He kicked 26 goals from 16 games last season, proving himself as one to watch.

But Williams spent more time doing the watching than he would have hoped this year, making him one of the most fascinating players in this year's crop.

"I'm definitely frustrated. I had a pretty poor start to the year and then on top of that I had injuries in the middle and back-end of the year that held me out. Overall it was a pretty hard year," he told AFL.com.au.

The challenges started early. After struggling for form to begin the season, he received a knock to his leg in the first game for Vic Metro and then had a groin injury in the second game. He was limited to only two appearances in the carnival.

His championships, therefore, didn't reach the heights he had hoped for.

Following the Vic Metro carnival, Williams had another setback: a stress fracture in his back that saw him miss the final 10 weeks of the season, including Oakleigh's charge to the flag.

"They thought it was a muscular issue for a while, so I trained after I felt it and played the next week but I couldn't move," he said.

"I pushed through but then I said I thought it was something else, so I got a scan and I had the stress fracture.

"Initially I was told my season was over and we went to see a specialist and I hoped I could get back for the preliminary final or maybe the Grand Final.

"But two weeks before the Grand Final they said I was healing really well and it was better for my future to rule out a return and keep my rehab up."

It leaves Williams' draft position as a mystery. His talent is undoubted by recruiters, but they wanted to see him improve his endurance this year, run more and control games rather than dip in and out.

"I definitely have to work on it. With my back injury I've been doing a lot of rehab, so conditioning on the bike or swimming. I'm feeling the fittest I've ever been and the strongest I've ever been which is really good," he said.

"I've dropped 10 on my skinfolds since I've been in rehab so that's a result of working hard."

What Williams has is game-turning ability. Close to goal he can change a result – obvious earlier this year when, after three quiet quarters, he kicked three goals in the last term against Calder Cannons to win Oakleigh the game.

He has also spent time in the midfield, where he has impacted, and across half-back, where his vision and game sense helps sets up the play.

But after kicking more than 40 goals in the NAB League over the past two seasons, Williams is most proven in attack. He's aware of his flaws, but also believes in his tricks. He hopes clubs see and think the same.

"I think my point of difference is my X-factor," he said.

"I like the big moments and I like the pressure, when all eyes are on me and thinking 'Is he going to do it?' Or that pressure that they don't think I'm going to do it.

"I'm always still really confident in myself. At the start of the year I was playing badly but I always have the confidence that I'm the best player on the field when I'm there and I have game-winning ability."

[Mofra]

Re: 2019 Draft Watch

If it's for pick 13 I'll go best available so positional play doesn't matter.
As for our later pick I would like some speed and as it won't be elite at that pick very good disposal by foot.
People asking for a small forward we have Ben Cavarra and at this stage Rhylee West also maybe Fergus Greene.

Best available 100% for first pick, even if that means we get McAsey (intercept marking KPD).
We're flush for rebounding defenders too but the quick ones can sometimes transition to wing.

Needs with our 1-2 live picks after that. I do think we need a small forward as Rhylee is a mid, Greene a mid sizer who marks the ball and Caverra a mid who shifted forward to try and get drafted. The latter two need to show they can get through a season of senior VFL football first before we consider them regular contributors to the AFL side. Caverra has done it as a VFL lister but can he do it under AFL training loads?

[Mofra]

Re: 2019 Draft Watch

Dalrymple I'd think. He loved the bottom aged bolters

Bailey Smith was draft eligible but less than a fortnight. I guess many recruiters consider it as a factor.

[Mofra]

Re: 2019 Draft Watch

From Callum Twomey

A couple of us mentioned he seems a Bulldog 'type' a few pages ago.
Haven't seen any footage though, sounds like a HF version of Wood.

Whoever we get is unlikely to be a key contributor to the side in 2020 so hopefully they can develop with little pressure.

[GVGjr]

Re: 2019 Draft Watch

Dylan Williams is an exciting player when he is going. He could very well be in our sights despite his injuries this season

[comrade]

Re: 2019 Draft Watch

Surprised there is virtually no talk of Josh Kellett being linked to us. Hopefully that means he misses out entirely and we can snare him as a rookie because he definitely has AFL traits, IMO.

[GVGjr]

Re: 2019 Draft Watch

Surprised there is virtually no talk of Josh Kellett being linked to us. Hopefully that means he misses out entirely and we can snare him as a rookie because he definitely has AFL traits, IMO.

Do we have any rookie spots available? I guess we do if Lachie Young gets promoted

[Rocco Jones]

Re: 2019 Draft Watch

Do we have any rookie spots available? I guess we do if Lachie Young gets promoted

Even then....Khamis, Roarke, Gardner and Sweet makes 4. We HAVE to promote Lachie Young to the senior list. 2 National Draft picks and that's it.

[comrade]

Re: 2019 Draft Watch

Even then....Khamis, Roarke, Gardner and Sweet makes 4. We HAVE to promote Lachie Young to the senior list. 2 National Draft picks and that's it.

Not sure if Khamis is considered Cat B so doesn't take up a spot on the rookie list, don't think that was ever publicly confirmed either way.

[Twodogs]

Re: 2019 Draft Watch

Bailey Smith was draft eligible but less than a fortnight. I guess many recruiters consider it as a factor.

Bont was bottom age and came from the clouds from memory

[bulldogtragic]

Re: 2019 Draft Watch

Not sure if Khamis is considered Cat B so doesn't take up a spot on the rookie list, don't think that was ever publicly confirmed either way.

Sam Power told our master poster Choco that Buku was elevated into a Cat A position and that this was true (from AFEL.com.au):

WESTERN BULLDOGS
Ins to March 15: Nil

"While it was initially expected they would have one available position (SSP), the decision to add Category B rookie Buku Khamis to the senior list finalised the Dogs' position for 2019."

&

"The Dogs moved Buku Khamis from a Category B to the primary list post-draft last year"


We have five rookies for four spots. La Young has to be upgraded so that the four contracted rookies can have spots. The only way we can acquire rookies is if NGA players who haven't set the world on fire are grabbed as Cat B rookies. Hard pass from me.

We have Pick 13 & 53 at the National Draft and NO rookie draft picks and NO SSP options (God willing someone doesn't do a year ending injury soon), and that's it. Bevo said he wanted to keep the list together and that's what's happened. Whether that's a good thing is a different question.