-
-
Re: 2020 draft watch
Logan McDonald
196cm/85kg
4/4/02
Perth/Western Australia
Tall forward
The best performed draftee in the country this season has pushed himself up the order with every game he plays. McDonald is a hard-working key forward who takes contested marks and converts his chances in a similar form to Richmond gun Tom Lynch. McDonald has booted 17 goals in six games for Perth's senior WAFL side, leading the competition's goalkicking in what is an amazing effort for an 18-year-old. McDonald's run of form has seen him push right into top-three consideration.
Ummm - the kid is leading the freaking Bernie Naylor medal as an 18year old.
I do understand the love for JUH but if you can be the best key forward (and he has been) in a state level comp as an 18yo and not be considered the best player in the draft - versus a player who has NOT played all season let alone played a single game against 'men'...well, you wonder why I get so annoyed.
Admittedly, this isn't quite "Liam Ryan just kicked 70 goals in a year...TWICE and fell to pick 26" annoyed, but it is still pretty annoying.What should I tell her? She's going to ask.Comment
-
Re: 2020 draft watch
Umm - yes. Vic bias.
Pick 3: Not only has he not played all year, he tore his ACL in FEB.
Pick 6: 'Light bodied mid' who hasn't played all year.
Pick 7: Jack Henry's brother...and hasn't played all year. Medium forward.
Pick 9: Inside mid who has battled injury and hasn't played all year.
Pick 10: Noted that he HAS played some footy this year at Leongatha. And he is 202cm. And a key back. I'll pay that!
Pick 12: Fin Macrae. Noted that he had 22 touches in an u18 prelim? Playing mid in the u18's you would stumble over the footy that many times...notes he 'would have been' a high possession winner this year? Well, who actually knows...
Pick 14: Hasn't played.
...you get the idea.
Nathan O'Driscoll had 20 touches in his 2nd game of senior footy on the weekend coming off missing 16 weeks of training over COVID with an ankle injury. It is noted that he had 'a scratchier start to the WAFL season restart'...well, no kidding, he missed 16 weeks of training due to an ankle injury. He is being PENALISED for playing injured...but he is playing...and it seems you can't say it is an exciting start to his senior footy career (in his first game he did THIS with his side 1-goal in front and the game in time on in the 4th: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=59...Ni7hQFFn2BXvJi) without saying he had a scratchy start to the year.
You guys know I try to talk as honestly about the players as I am allowed too but the Victorian kids have not played. How can you POSSIBLY say they are 'gonna' be this or 'gonna' be that? I think the recruiters are basically looking into the abyss drafting kids of form shown as 16 year olds...I get that the draft is a gamble on so many levels anyway, but saying that (to use an example) Fin Macrae 'WOULD HAVE' been a high possession winner in the champs this year is nothing other than conjecture yet it is being presented as a FACT.
If the WA or SA kids weren't playing this year I 100% believe they would be tumbling down the rankings...as it stands, it seems players like Nathan are being marked down for playing league footy whereas others who - through no fault of their own - aren't playing at all...What should I tell her? She's going to ask.Comment
-
Re: 2020 draft watch
I'm not fussed about the order Twoomey has them in but I think any club drafting a player from Victoria will need to be very patient with them because arriving at an AFL club without a season of junior footy and perhaps not even National Carnival games behind them will be a huge hurdle
The chances of seeing performances like a Sam Walsh or Bailey Smith did in their first season with players drafted from the Victoria group this year is a bit unlikely.
We are somewhat fortunate that we already have our shopping list in front of us and our chances of landing the players is pretty goodWestern Bulldogs Football Club "Where it's cool to drool"Comment
Tweet
Comment