2015 Draft Watch

[boydogs]

Re: 2015 Draft Watch

I get your point but, in my opinion, if Brown's value is to tide us over for a year or 2, I don't think that justifies burning an early pick. I would rather rookie a Watson or Grimley and get more quality kids. Perfectly happy with him at 51 though (30 at a pinch).

Yeah I think we would have to expect he would be best 22 for 5 years to take him

[boydogs]

Re: 2015 Draft Watch

BF Phantom Picks

Western Bulldogs Draft Review.

Very Happy with the draft for the Dogs got several players that I rate highly and filled important holes especially filling our need for run and carry types with elite disposal and improving our KPP depth.

Pick 24 - Ben McKay - Gippsland Power (200cm, 95kg) - KPP UTILITY

Profile: Ben came into this year not even on a TAC Cup teams list but after seeing his brother Harry succeed and put him hand up he came to play at the Gippsland Power. Ben is a very versatile tall capable of playing in many positions around the ground including as a Key Forward, a Key Defender and having stints in the ruck. To me I think he belongs in defense but having the options to play elsewhere is always good. His strength overhead is one of Ben's main strengths as he quite rarely loses his one on ones and positions his body very well. Like his brother Harry he possesses some good athletic traits too and can cover ground well however he needs to work on his consistency as he quite often goes missing for extended periods and his field kicking which can be wayward at time.

Pick 25 - Riley Bonner - West Adelaide (191cm, 80kg) - GENERAL DEFENDER

Profile: Riley is one of my favorite players in this draft. He is the modern footballer prototype, he is over 190cm, has good endurance and has a weapon - his booming left foot. He is suited as a running half back due to his ability to break lines with the combination of his run and carry and his penetrating left foot. Bonner has also played senior SANFL which will help him make the transition to AFL. Bonner does have to work on his 1v1's as he gets out positioned by his opponents too much as a defender and needs to develop his contested side to his game so that in time he can move higher up the ground if needed.

Pick 35 - Brayden Fiorini - Northern Knights (186cm, 75kg) - OUTSIDE MIDFIELDER

Profile: Fiorini's year has been one that I have really liked. Consistent throughout and towards the end of the year he showed good growth in an area that was seen as being his weakness. Capable of breaking the 30 disposal mark regularly using to his elite ability to spread from the contest, Fiorini like Bonner has a weapon of a left foot in his arsenal and has shown leadership as well as having a tough mentality. He reads the play very well, breaks lines and sets up attacks as well as getting back to help out his defense. His weakness is in his inside game though it is developing he still wins the majority of his footy from team mates.

Pick 46 - Jesse Glass-McCasker - Swan Districts (198cm, 95kg) - TALL DEFENDER

Profile: Glass-McCasker is one of the few WA players that stood out for me at the champs. Probably the most athletic of all the talls in this draft and has the ability to rebound from defense. He is also generally strong in his one on one's, I view him as one of the biggest risk reward types in this draft as with his elite athletic traits and size he has a very high ceiling if he can improve on his deficiencies. He needs to work hard on his footy smarts and his disposal by foot if he is going to make it and if he succeeds in doing so he can be a very good player at AFL level.

[LostDoggy]

Re: 2015 Draft Watch

BF Phantom Picks

Western Bulldogs Draft Review.

Very Happy with the draft for the Dogs got several players that I rate highly and filled important holes especially filling our need for run and carry types with elite disposal and improving our KPP depth.

Pick 24 - Ben McKay - Gippsland Power (200cm, 95kg) - KPP UTILITY

Profile: Ben came into this year not even on a TAC Cup teams list but after seeing his brother Harry succeed and put him hand up he came to play at the Gippsland Power. Ben is a very versatile tall capable of playing in many positions around the ground including as a Key Forward, a Key Defender and having stints in the ruck. To me I think he belongs in defense but having the options to play elsewhere is always good. His strength overhead is one of Ben's main strengths as he quite rarely loses his one on ones and positions his body very well. Like his brother Harry he possesses some good athletic traits too and can cover ground well however he needs to work on his consistency as he quite often goes missing for extended periods and his field kicking which can be wayward at time.

Pick 25 - Riley Bonner - West Adelaide (191cm, 80kg) - GENERAL DEFENDER

Profile: Riley is one of my favorite players in this draft. He is the modern footballer prototype, he is over 190cm, has good endurance and has a weapon - his booming left foot. He is suited as a running half back due to his ability to break lines with the combination of his run and carry and his penetrating left foot. Bonner has also played senior SANFL which will help him make the transition to AFL. Bonner does have to work on his 1v1's as he gets out positioned by his opponents too much as a defender and needs to develop his contested side to his game so that in time he can move higher up the ground if needed.

Pick 35 - Brayden Fiorini - Northern Knights (186cm, 75kg) - OUTSIDE MIDFIELDER

Profile: Fiorini's year has been one that I have really liked. Consistent throughout and towards the end of the year he showed good growth in an area that was seen as being his weakness. Capable of breaking the 30 disposal mark regularly using to his elite ability to spread from the contest, Fiorini like Bonner has a weapon of a left foot in his arsenal and has shown leadership as well as having a tough mentality. He reads the play very well, breaks lines and sets up attacks as well as getting back to help out his defense. His weakness is in his inside game though it is developing he still wins the majority of his footy from team mates.

Pick 46 - Jesse Glass-McCasker - Swan Districts (198cm, 95kg) - TALL DEFENDER

Profile: Glass-McCasker is one of the few WA players that stood out for me at the champs. Probably the most athletic of all the talls in this draft and has the ability to rebound from defense. He is also generally strong in his one on one's, I view him as one of the biggest risk reward types in this draft as with his elite athletic traits and size he has a very high ceiling if he can improve on his deficiencies. He needs to work hard on his footy smarts and his disposal by foot if he is going to make it and if he succeeds in doing so he can be a very good player at AFL level.

Wow. That is eerily similar to my thoughts/picks. Had a good look a Glass-McGasker too, but seems more of an athlete than a footballer to me.

[ledge]

Re: 2015 Draft Watch

We go footballers nowadays don't we?
I think Wood was our last athlete turned footballer we took.

[Throughandthrough]

Re: 2015 Draft Watch

I'm going to the draft, should be a bit of fun

[Bornadog]

Re: 2015 Draft Watch

I'm going to the draft, should be a bit of fun

Great, keep us informed.

[LostDoggy]

Re: 2015 Draft Watch

Othe than Mitch Brown,another candidate for the ready to go KPD is Marcus Adams. Some speculation we are interested.

http://wafootball.com.au/news/9043/adams-strong-west-perth-form-has-him-on-afl-radar

[F'scary]

Re: 2015 Draft Watch

Othe than Mitch Brown,another candidate for the ready to go KPD is Marcus Adams. Some speculation we are interested.

http://wafootball.com.au/news/9043/a...m-on-afl-radar

I have the feeling that a good ready-to-go KPB is out there and won't cost much in terms of a pick. It's a moneyball thing, for every fancied choice that fails, there was one passed over who should have been picked but the choosers just applied the wrong analytics, we just have to get the algorithm correct and there is a premiership winning team waiting for us that can be accommodated within the salary cap.

[Bornadog]

Re: 2015 Draft Watch

by Cal Twomey

The Western Bulldogs made the call to push back down the draft order after originally holding pick 11 and turn that selection into two second-round picks, where some good players should be available. Key defender Ben McKay is a chance in this range after an impressive back half of the season, while Darcy Tucker might also be in the mix after training with the Dogs earlier this year. Callum Ah Chee is a possibility to still be around at their picks, while I wouldn't count out Mason Redman as a possibility at this range as well. The South Australian is a classy medium forward who is pretty smart around goals, and is a nice size at 187cm.

[LostDoggy]

Re: 2015 Draft Watch

Just a little more on Marcus Adams. 22YO who has played CHF most of his career, but really thrived when sent to full back in the WAFL late last season. Regarded as a really good reader of the play, mobile, strong mark and a powerful kick (and is a serious unit - see pics in article above).

Apparently was really promising at 18, but lost interest for a couple of years after his brother was badly injured. Spent time helping out his brother until coming back to footy in 2014.

At WA state combine was #1 in vertical jump (76 cm), 2nd in 20m sprint (2.9) and 4th in repeat sprints (24.85).

Hard not to like all of that. Reads like a real Dal type (versatility, developing, good kick, mobile) and a 22YO KPD couldn't fit our list needs any better.

Think I've got a new favourite draft smokey.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Re: 2015 Draft Watch

It'd be a good story re: Adams.

Is 193cms big enough to play key post? A strong vertical jump helps, but when you think of our own TBoyd, Daniher, Hawkins, Kennedy, Franklin, Tippet, Patton, etc. they're 197-200cms.

Seems like only a handful of 'smaller' KPFs (Riewoldt, Walker, Hogan?)

[LostDoggy]

Re: 2015 Draft Watch

It'd be a good story re: Adams.

Is 193cms big enough to play key post? A strong vertical jump helps, but when you think of our own TBoyd, Daniher, Hawkins, Kennedy, Franklin, Tippet, Patton, etc. they're 197-200cms.

Seems like only a handful of 'smaller' KPFs (Riewoldt, Walker, Hogan?)

193 is slightly less than ideal, but he clearly has a great leap and looks a very powerful build. Alex Rance was All-Australian full back last year and he's 194.

MA is also 98 kgs. Often its the wrestling gorilla that troubles us, moreso than the high marker. Of course Adams won't be our KPD saviour, but does sound a damn good list addition for a low pick.

[LostDoggy]

Re: 2015 Draft Watch

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iK1WGuqQyuM

Adams looks to have some decent skills too for a 98 kg KPD. Dare I say this is almost reminiscent of one J.Stringer.

[stefoid]

Re: 2015 Draft Watch

Those stats are very high for the combines overall I think. Might be the biggest vertical leap this year, and top 5 for sprint and repeat sprint. And apparently plays angry, i.e. Redpath

But we will have to beat the WA teams to him. Not a smokey at all.

If Dal likes a player, he will pull the trigger early and I have no probs with that. Harry Taylor worked out pretty well for Geelong.

[LostDoggy]

Re: 2015 Draft Watch

Those stats are very high for the combines overall I think. Might be the biggest vertical leap this year, and top 5 for sprint and repeat sprint. And apparently plays angry, i.e. Redpath

But we will have to beat the WA teams to him. Not a smokey at all.

If Dal likes a player, he will pull the trigger early and I have no probs with that. Harry Taylor worked out pretty well for Geelong.

Stats are very strong, although he is a 22YO against mainly 18YOs.

I've looked at a few phantom drafts and haven't seen his name listed at all, so I reckon it's fair to call him a smokey.

Admittedly, the real draft is a different matter. Fortunately WCE & Freo only have 1 pick each before our 3rd, so unless they are super keen (would be a risk for either to take no kids from top 30), I'd fancy our chances at 30 (would be a big call for us to use 20/21). Hopefully 51 though.