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Rocket Science: the epitaph for the Beveridge era - whenever it ends - reading 'Here lies a team that could beat anyone on its day, but seldom did when it mattered most'. 15/7/2023 -
Re: 2014 draft watch
Thanks for posting up the top 25. Not quite how I would have it at the moment, but it really says if we end up with 3/4 picks in the top 30 we should be able to grab some pretty handy players.
Starting to get very interesting.Have you heard Butters wants to come to the Dogs?Comment
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Re: 2014 draft watch
Could be. But I just spent 10 minutes sifting through draft combine/camp results for the last decade. Interestingly talls do very well at the 20/30 metre sprints, but most are no good despite drafting highly. For our talls, Grant is in there, but I was thinking of Austin and in deed Jesse Wells.Rocket Science: the epitaph for the Beveridge era - whenever it ends - reading 'Here lies a team that could beat anyone on its day, but seldom did when it mattered most'. 15/7/2023Comment
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Re: 2014 draft watch
Tommy Williams and Jesse Wells dominated that draft camp I've looked at for 2004. Basic analysis of the results tells me tall athletic types that do well at combine much more often than not fail. Jesse was the reason I stopped getting excited by what recruiters said, the hype and then subsequent shite was the point where I stopped.Rocket Science: the epitaph for the Beveridge era - whenever it ends - reading 'Here lies a team that could beat anyone on its day, but seldom did when it mattered most'. 15/7/2023Comment
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Re: 2014 draft watch
James Mulligan got a mid top ten result for running vertical jump. He can't be described as a footballer in any sense.Comment
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Re: 2014 draft watch
Yeah the years teams wanted to turn athletes into footballers, just get natural footballers and make them fit..
I think it's gone back to that thank god.
These combine tests mean nothing, I think player and family interviews are more important.Bring back the biffComment
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Re: 2014 draft watch
Thoughts on Lever? Big difference in being 18 to 17, so I think he is a risk.
link: http://www.sen.com.au/news/jake-seek...e-in-the-draftJake Lever may not have the highest profile in the media leading up to this year’s AFL draft, however he may still be one of the first few taken on the day – even though he hasn’t played a game in 2014.A key defender or third tall, Lever missed the entirety of this year after he required a knee reconstruction at the end of 2013.
However so impressive was he throughout that year, he has every chance of being taken within the first five picks of the draft.
Lever ruptured his ACL during an AIS-AFL squad camp towards the end of 2013, ruling him out of playing during his final, and most important, junior year.
But his determination and work ethic towards the rehabilitation may have potentially raised his credentials as a high-quality character to have at a club.
“It’s getting there,” Lever told Morning Glory.
“[It’s] probably 95 percent now, just need to get into the contact stuff.
“It’s been really good since the operation and it was good just to get involved in the draft camp.”
“Early on, especially when I found out I had to have the knee reconstruction, it took two weeks to really get my head around it, but I couldn’t sit there and swell on it.
“I had to really get out there and start my rehab as soon as possible.”
He managed to complete the 20 metre sprint, repeat sprints, and three kilometre time trial at the draft combine despite being far from full fitness, however his results won’t be what the AFL clubs will be looking at.
Already seen as a likely top-end pick, Lever’s professionalism towards his knee at such a young age already suggest he may have significant leadership potential in the coming seasons.
His junior years suggest the same.
Not many players captain their side at the Under-18 National Championship, so it stands as even more impressive that Lever did so despite being an underager in 2013.
Even with his 2014 playing year ruined by the injury, Lever has been involved with the coaching at the Calder Cannons.
“I did do some coaching, I helped out the midfield,” he told Morning Glory.
“Obviously I’m a tall key defender and just wanted to try something different and help coach in the midfield.”
At 194cm, Lever is a genuine key defender height, though he is a very good user of the ball and rebounder out of the backline, giving him some flexibility in what his role may be at AFL level.
A highly-competitive player with an impressive game nous, he plays similarly to Hawthorn defender Josh Gibson, though he has an extra five centimetres on the Peter Crimmins Medal winner.
Despite a devastating injury, Lever may just be one of the feel-good stories to eventuate from this draft.
He may also be one of the few, if only, players to have impressed without even playing a game.FFC: Established 1883
Premierships: AFL 1954, 2016 VFA - 1898,99,1900, 1908, 1913, 1919-20, 1923-24, VFL: 2014, 2016 . Champions of Victoria 1924. AFLW - 2018.Comment
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Re: 2014 draft watch
What is this difference of 17 to 18 that you speak of, apart from one year?
He's effectively spent the entire year not putting game pressure on his knee, therefore there shouldn't be any risks of coming back early. He's spent the year developing his understanding of the mental aspects of the game. At under age he was above most in his age group in terms of ability. If he'd have played this year it would have been against kids again so i don't believe he has missed much at all in terms of development. If he was from a state league development area such as SA or WA then this may have been the case.
Be all over him if he's there at pick 6.Comment
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FFC: Established 1883
Premierships: AFL 1954, 2016 VFA - 1898,99,1900, 1908, 1913, 1919-20, 1923-24, VFL: 2014, 2016 . Champions of Victoria 1924. AFLW - 2018.Comment
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Re: 2014 draft watch
That doesn't answer the question BAD. I was once 17 and i turned 18 after that. All players are a big risk. All you can do is evaluate their characteristics and output up to draft day and make an informed decision. Who would be your pick for our first selection then who's less of a risk?Comment
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Re: 2014 draft watch
An ACL on a young key position player is a big worry, but if we think he's the stand out player at that pick we've nearly got to pick him. Don't we?
Seems like he would ace the good blokes testing from the outside, as his professionalism towards his recovery has been very good. He also speaks very well, I dare say he would interview just as well as Bontempelli. All comes down to his level of talent from there which I hear is pretty good?Comment
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Re: 2014 draft watch
Clay Smith never had an injury in his life before he was picked up, in a year he has done a knee twice a shoulder and had food poisoning.
Every player is a risk with a previous injury it not.
The other example is Jake Stringer extremely bad broken leg before drafting, hasn't he come on well.
Go back further and Brian Royal had done two knees before even playing AFL.Bring back the biffComment
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