2014 draft watch

[Bornadog]

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?

I would be worried about the ACL and not playing as an 18 year old. I have seen elite athletes as juniors fail as they get older and other kids catch up, with height, weight and growing pains. Look no doubt he has talent, but a year out at his age makes a big difference.

At our selection I would pick the best performed this year.

[Bornadog]

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.

Agreed, but this is our first pick and that is more my concern.

[Mofra]

Re: 2014 draft watch

Agreed, but this is our first pick and that is more my concern.

Stringer and Smith were first round picks.

There is a risk with every selection and that will be assessed by the medicos - to simply say "too risky" from many kilometres away without diagnosis isn't the best way forward.

[Greystache]

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?

The other question is what role do we see him playing at AFL level?

He measured in at 192.9cm at the draft camp and was the slowest player tested in the 20m sprint and repeat sprints. So he's not very tall and not quick, sounds almost identical to Talia. He'll be giving away a lot of size to the next generation of key forwards and is probably not quick enough to play on the 3rd tall types.

[Bornadog]

Re: 2014 draft watch

The other question is what role do we see him playing at AFL level?

He measured in at 192.9cm at the draft camp and was the slowest player tested in the 20m sprint and repeat sprints. So he's not very tall and not quick, sounds almost identical to Talia. He'll be giving away a lot of size to the next generation of key forwards and is probably not quick enough to play on the 3rd tall types.

That puts a different perspective on him, injury or no injury.

[Missing Dog]

Re: 2014 draft watch

The other question is what role do we see him playing at AFL level?

He measured in at 192.9cm at the draft camp and was the slowest player tested in the 20m sprint and repeat sprints. So he's not very tall and not quick, sounds almost identical to Talia. He'll be giving away a lot of size to the next generation of key forwards and is probably not quick enough to play on the 3rd tall types.

That is a concern. Although his testing was always going to be bad after having his knee done 10 months ago. Takes a fair bit of training before you can get your pace back again. Highlights can be deceptive, but he looks like he moves well in them.

[ledge]

Re: 2014 draft watch

I think if your a natural footballer pace etc isn't so important depending on your position.. Greg Williams Brian Wilson anyone ?

[Bornadog]

Re: 2014 draft watch

I think if your a natural footballer pace etc isn't so important depending on your position.. Greg Williams Brian Wilson anyone ?

Not these days mate.

[Greystache]

Re: 2014 draft watch

That is a concern. Although his testing was always going to be bad after having his knee done 10 months ago. Takes a fair bit of training before you can get your pace back again. Highlights can be deceptive, but he looks like he moves well in them.

Yeah the knee is a consideration, and he didn't do the agility test probably for that reason, but there's a number of things to consider with Lever.

[mjp]

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.

People who break their leg seem to either come back well (Voss) or just don't come back at all well (Brown). So from that perspective Stringer was a risk...but at 18, with no rush on his return - and another top 10 pick in the bank - was it THAT big a risk?

If you are 60% more likely to suffer an ACL injury after already having had repair surgery, isn't that pretty compelling? Smith's situation is actually TYPICAL of people who have recons - not atypical.

[Greystache]

Re: 2014 draft watch

People who break their leg seem to either come back well (Voss) or just don't come back at all well (Brown). So from that perspective Stringer was a risk...but at 18, with no rush on his return - and another top 10 pick in the bank - was it THAT big a risk?

If you are 60% more likely to suffer an ACL injury after already having had repair surgery, isn't that pretty compelling? Smith's situation is actually TYPICAL of people who have recons - not atypical.

I did my second within 8 months of doing my first as a teenager. I don't know how the first one really affected me, but I never felt anything resembling myself after the second one. All spring and agility felt like it was totally gone, and I felt really heavy on my feet afterwards.

[Bornadog]

Re: 2014 draft watch

I did my second within 8 months of doing my first as a teenager. I don't know how the first one really affected me, but I never felt anything resembling myself after the second one. All spring and agility felt like it was totally gone, and I felt really heavy on my feet afterwards.

Was it the same knee?. or pressure on the other one?

[Axe Man]

Re: 2014 draft watch

At our selection I would pick the best performed this year.

If that was our philosophy in the last 2 drafts then we wouldn't have picked Macrae, Stringer or Bonts. I doubt any of them would have been classified as the best performed 5 or 6 in their draft year. Macrae and Bonts were picked on the their rapid late improvement - we projected their worth (accurately it seems). Stringer was picked on talent. Choosing players based solely on how they performed in their draft year is far too simplistic.

[Greystache]

Re: 2014 draft watch

Was it the same knee?. or pressure on the other one?

Same knee. The second one was just kicking the footy on the oval at school.

[Bornadog]

Re: 2014 draft watch

Choosing players based solely on how they performed in their draft year is far too simplistic.

Yes my answer was far too simplistic - agreed, I didn't explain myself well. However, a player that has had an ACL is a bigger risk for pick one.