2022 Draft Watch

[Mofra]

Re: 2022 Draft Watch

Interesting that Doerre has us down for a 194cm inside mid??? Are we really likely to select an inside mid with our first pick?

He's played a fair bit of rebounding defender too.
Draft watchers vs professionals is always a crap-shoot though.

[azabob]

Re: 2022 Draft Watch

Interesting that Doerre has us down for a 194cm inside mid??? Are we really likely to select an inside mid with our first pick?

I’d be down for that type of player.

[Mofra]

Re: 2022 Draft Watch

I like the idea of some how getting Lewis Hayes at the draft, simply because he wasn't even born when Essendon last won a final.

Late birthday, still growing, brother on an AFL list - he seems like a very Bulldog pick. No Woofer would grumble too much if we picked up KPD, either.

[GVGjr]

Re: 2022 Draft Watch

I like the idea of some how getting Lewis Hayes at the draft, simply because he wasn't even born when Essendon last won a final.

Late birthday, still growing, brother on an AFL list - he seems like a very Bulldog pick. No Woofer would grumble too much if we picked up KPD, either.

He's had an impressive season as well. Hard to know where he might go in the draft but he's a good mark and can intercept.
Nice suggestion Mofra.

[Mofra]

Re: 2022 Draft Watch

He's had an impressive season as well. Hard to know where he might go in the draft but he's a good mark and can intercept.
Nice suggestion Mofra.

Projections seem to be late first round, early second.

Given we're trying to be active at the trade table this year he might fall into our range. There are a few 'tall defenders' in the pool this year but the track watchers think he's closer to playing a genuine KPD style than a lot of the other kids. It might be a case of 'less talented, but more useful when developed'

[azabob]

Re: 2022 Draft Watch

Projections seem to be late first round, early second.

Given we're trying to be active at the trade table this year he might fall into our range. There are a few 'tall defenders' in the pool this year but the track watchers think he's closer to playing a genuine KPD style than a lot of the other kids. It might be a case of 'less talented, but more useful when developed'

This algins with what mjp keeps mentioning. A lot of early choice defenders such DGB are intercept players and struggle to transition to a one on one defender.

[GVGjr]

Re: 2022 Draft Watch

Projections seem to be late first round, early second.

Given we're trying to be active at the trade table this year he might fall into our range. There are a few 'tall defenders' in the pool this year but the track watchers think he's closer to playing a genuine KPD style than a lot of the other kids. It might be a case of 'less talented, but more useful when developed'

I saw him interviewed and he appears to be a very balanced youngsters keen to make a go of it.
I know the Doctor would be open to split our first rounder this year and that might work nice into landing someone like Hayes or a couple of needs based players.

With a later pick perhaps James Van Es from Ballarat might be a candidate as a tall defender.

[Mofra]

Re: 2022 Draft Watch

This algins with what mjp keeps mentioning. A lot of early choice defenders such DGB are intercept players and struggle to transition to a one on one defender.

A lot of the top tall defensive prospects seem to be in that 'Bontempelli' height range that might have been KPPs a generation ago but less certain now.

It reminds me a bit of the Caleb Daniel stories pre-draft. Every knew he was talented, but where would he play at AFL level? We tracked his kms covered and his testing results to show he had outstanding endurance which is the only way he got onto an AFL list, to play a roaming HF role that requires a lot of running. Without a defined role, he probably goes undrafted. Maybe rookie.

If it was just about getting in players who were 'good' but had no real role for them on the field, you'd have a dozen Andrejs Everitt / Cheesy Barlows on the list.

[GVGjr]

Re: 2022 Draft Watch

A lot of the top tall defensive prospects seem to be in that 'Bontempelli' height range that might have been KPPs a generation ago but less certain now.

It reminds me a bit of the Caleb Daniel stories pre-draft. Every knew he was talented, but where would he play at AFL level? We tracked his kms covered and his testing results to show he had outstanding endurance which is the only way he got onto an AFL list, to play a roaming HF role that requires a lot of running. Without a defined role, he probably goes undrafted. Maybe rookie.

If it was just about getting in players who were 'good' but had no real role for them on the field, you'd have a dozen Andrejs Everitt / Cheesy Barlows on the list.

Just on Daniel he also backed up that endurance trait early in the season with an outstanding beep test result during the draft testing at the end of the season. I was listening to a podcast the other day and I think Dalrymple mentioned that there was a fair bit of surprised discussion between the recruiters that we had pulled the trigger in selecting Daniel despite his playing ability. His lack of height was clearly a challenge for many cubs.

Having a conviction in your selections is important and Daniel has more than repaid the faith.

[mjp]

Re: 2022 Draft Watch

It reminds me a bit of the Caleb Daniel stories pre-draft. Every knew he was talented, but where would he play at AFL level?

He wasn't just talented.

He was DOMINANT against players his age.

[Mofra]

Re: 2022 Draft Watch

He wasn't just talented.

He was DOMINANT against players his age.

Dare I mention Andrew Hooper winning the Larke medal?
He was only 5cm taller than Caleb, and just couldn't find a role in the seniors.

[mjp]

Re: 2022 Draft Watch

Dare I mention Andrew Hooper winning the Larke medal?
He was only 5cm taller than Caleb, and just couldn't find a role in the seniors.

I feel a Larke Medal story coming on!

[Mofra]

Re: 2022 Draft Watch

Weirdly, going through the Larke Medal winners Cale Morton features.
Everyone bar one draft watcher thought he'd be a superstar as he just seemed to pick up uncontested possessions at will. Years later someone ran numbers on the UP/CP ratios and there's a golden number at u18 level that seems to 'doom' top picks when it gets too high.
Aish was playing against men at SANFL level but his UP ratio was very high, retrospectively he fit the model as well.

[GVGjr]

Re: 2022 Draft Watch

Dare I mention Andrew Hooper winning the Larke medal?
He was only 5cm taller than Caleb, and just couldn't find a role in the seniors.

Hoppers problem was the way he used the ball. Couldn't fault his endeavour but he would often work so hard to get the ball then almost dribble kick it forward.

[GVGjr]

Re: 2022 Draft Watch

I thought I'd share some of the players for this years draft that have caught my eye. It's going to be largely Victorian based.


Elijah Tsatas
187cm midfielder
The most outstanding player I have seen this year. Great blend of pace, skills and ball getting abilities. Hunts the ball on the inside and devastating with the ball on long runs.
He's missed a bit of footy with a foot injury but has been impressive since his return

Harry Sheezel
184cm midfielder/forward.
A player who is more than capable of being a dominate midfielder but also has the best goals sense of a half forward I have seen.
He's a quick decision maker and it's supported by impressive kicking skills. He can take a good mark and he is very competitive when the ball is on the ground.

Aaron Cadman
194cm key forward
One of the best key position players in this draft, perhaps the best.
Cadman is strong on the lead and a terrific mark and tops that off with accurate kicks and a savvy goal sense. He has a unique ability like Ugle-Hagan of being able to mark the ball at full stretch.

Reuben Ginbey
187cm defender/midfielder
A super competitive player who brings a hard at it approach to his footy. His kicking skills can be a bit patchy but it's not a big challenge for him. To me he's primarily an inside mid who pumps out handballs to his team mates but he seems very quick and would also provide some run and carry.

Will Ashcroft
183cm midfielder
Most pundits will have Ashcroft in the top 3 players this year and he will very likely be heading to the Lions with a father son selection.
Hardworking and classy midfielder who reads the play so well and has terrific kicking skills. He really gets the ball moving forward but also does a lot of grunt work with his tackling.

Alwyn Davey Jnr
180cm midfielder/forward
Unfortunately Alwyn Davey Jnr will be heading to Essendon under a father son selection but he is an eye catching player with breakaway pace. On the run he looks a bit ungainly given he seems to bounce the ball with his left hand but kick the ball with his right foot but he is a ball magnet.

I'll write up a few more soon.