2023 Draft Watch

[Bornadog]

Re: 2023 Draft Watch

Interviews with all the draftees after the session today

https://www.westernbulldogs.com.au/video/1470114/2023-afl-draft-class-day-1-press-conference?videoId=1470114&modal=true&type=video&publishFrom=1701060589001

Also maybe people are interested or maybe not but a BF poster from another club claiming to work in recruitment for another club had this to say on Freijah:


On why he was passed on/slid:


When asked for thoughts on the rest of the draft class:


And lastly Lual:

Some interesting comments, thanks for sharing

[jazzadogs]

Re: 2023 Draft Watch

Thanks Hujsh. On these comments re Freijah

"3. Sub-par champs: Averaged 12.3 touches, 2.8 marks and 1.8 tackles at the U18 Champs vs. 19.6 touches, 4.1 marks and 2.5 tackles at Coates level. So there's a perceived issue with his ability to play well in big games.
4. Perceived lack of ceiling due to already being a good size at 190.3cm, 87.6kg
5. Inconsistency from game to game at Coates league level, tapering off in the second half of the season: He had some real boom games this year (26 touches 6 goal game, 29 touches 10 score involvements, 21 and 2 goals) but then also some real poor ones, particularly towards the back end of the year (12, 17, 18 and 9 touch games to finish the season)."

I wonder how much of that inconsistency and difference between champs vs Coates was the role. It can be really tough to be a winger in a team that doesn't use their wingers...you just sit out there, holding your width like the coach asked you to, while the mids try to be heroes and go straight down the ground.

I also think wing is a role where, within one team, it's hard to have consistency.

Basically I'm saying that those points don't faze me. I'm excited to see what Freijah can offer us.

[hujsh]

Re: 2023 Draft Watch

Thanks Hujsh. On these comments re Freijah

"3. Sub-par champs: Averaged 12.3 touches, 2.8 marks and 1.8 tackles at the U18 Champs vs. 19.6 touches, 4.1 marks and 2.5 tackles at Coates level. So there's a perceived issue with his ability to play well in big games.
4. Perceived lack of ceiling due to already being a good size at 190.3cm, 87.6kg
5. Inconsistency from game to game at Coates league level, tapering off in the second half of the season: He had some real boom games this year (26 touches 6 goal game, 29 touches 10 score involvements, 21 and 2 goals) but then also some real poor ones, particularly towards the back end of the year (12, 17, 18 and 9 touch games to finish the season)."

I wonder how much of that inconsistency and difference between champs vs Coates was the role. It can be really tough to be a winger in a team that doesn't use their wingers...you just sit out there, holding your width like the coach asked you to, while the mids try to be heroes and go straight down the ground.

I also think wing is a role where, within one team, it's hard to have consistency.

Basically I'm saying that those points don't faze me. I'm excited to see what Freijah can offer us.

All fair. TBH if those are the worst points on him I'd be fine with that. on point 4, a late birthday boy who is already 190 cm for me is a good thing. There's no guarantee a shorter player grows taller but you'd think a younger player might have more upside in general.

Consistency is generally something most draftees need to work on too.

[bulldogsthru&thru]

Re: 2023 Draft Watch

I actually like the comments about Smith. I want a ruckman who crashes in and is physical around the ground. Tap work ruckman are overrated if that's all they're really good at. How many times does a ruckman actually get to have a clean tap? Imagine English if he was no good around the ground....

[Testekill]

Re: 2023 Draft Watch

I actually like the comments about Smith. I want a ruckman who crashes in and is physical around the ground. Tap work ruckman are overrated if that's all they're really good at. How many times does a ruckman actually get to have a clean tap? Imagine English if he was no good around the ground....

Our midfield would honestly be so much better if we had prime Ben Hudson out there.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Re: 2023 Draft Watch

Interviews with all the draftees after the session today

https://www.westernbulldogs.com.au/video/1470114/2023-afl-draft-class-day-1-press-conference?videoId=1470114&modal=true&type=video&publishFrom=1701060589001

Also maybe people are interested or maybe not but a BF poster from another club claiming to work in recruitment in clubland had this to say on Freijah:


On why he was passed on/slid:


When asked for thoughts on the rest of the draft class:


And lastly Lual:

Thanks for distilling all of that into some interesting perspectives on our draftees hujsh. I'm really interested to see how Smith goes as a ruck, given the shorter vertical leap. Is there any way to train to improve that element of his game?

[macca]

Re: 2023 Draft Watch

All fair. TBH if those are the worst points on him I'd be fine with that. on point 4, a late birthday boy who is already 190 cm for me is a good thing. There's no guarantee a shorter player grows taller but you'd think a younger player might have more upside in general

Consistency is generally something most draftees need to work on too.

If Poulter can improve his marking and we have Freijah on the other wing good at marking as well, that be pretty good outlet to have them both roamimg up and down the wing, marking the ball and long kicks outa
The big question is how will he development ? Like all draftees , I hope he can fullfill his potential.

[lemmon]

Re: 2023 Draft Watch

I know a few here had Reid slipping down their boards last year, interested to hear whether that's the case? He's just so dynamic, and it seems like he's carried it into the big time

[GVGjr]

Re: 2023 Draft Watch

I know a few here had Reid slipping down their boards last year, interested to hear whether that's the case? He's just so dynamic, and it seems like he's carried it into the big time

He's done better than I expected. Thought he would come back to the field competing with so many mature bodies but he's handled that exceptionally well.

[mjp]

Re: 2023 Draft Watch

I know a few here had Reid slipping down their boards last year, interested to hear whether that's the case? He's just so dynamic, and it seems like he's carried it into the big time

20-game rule.

He's exciting though. The stiff-arms don't excite me too much - that's not gonna fly. The willingness to run, bounce and take grass with an opponent right on your tail? That's rare...

Warner doing it as well up in Sydney.

[lemmon]

Re: 2023 Draft Watch

20-game rule.

He's exciting though. The stiff-arms don't excite me too much - that's not gonna fly. The willingness to run, bounce and take grass with an opponent right on your tail? That's rare...

Warner doing it as well up in Sydney.

I think that's the thing that's surprised me most - the power in his legs has translated to the top level (along with the confidence to actually go and do it). He doesn't look 'quick' in the way Chris Judd looked quick but he's managing to do a lot of those same things in terms of coming through the front of a stoppage.

The footage of he and Petracca yesterday is interesting. Side by side at the stoppage, but Harley manages to cut an angle and get 3 metres on Petracca, even though Petracca manages to hold the distance in a straight line. He's quite bit different to early Judd who seemed like he just had more pace than everyone around him over those first five metres.

[azabob]

Re: 2023 Draft Watch

20-game rule.

He's exciting though. The stiff-arms don't excite me too much - that's not gonna fly. The willingness to run, bounce and take grass with an opponent right on your tail? That's rare...

Warner doing it as well up in Sydney.

Was Warner a similar type of player in under age footy as he is now?

[Stevo]

Re: 2023 Draft Watch

I know a few here had Reid slipping down their boards last year, interested to hear whether that's the case? He's just so dynamic, and it seems like he's carried it into the big time

A mate at work say's he's got a lot of similar traits to Tim Watson.