2007 draftees

[Disco08]

It was just not done 7 or 8 years go to anything like this extent. Thats why I feel the "rookie draft" and Cox etc analogy wont hold up in the future and most of the good rucks will come from 1st and 2nd round picks and teams with a few on the list now will be able to attract a pretty decent bounty for someone in a trade.

That all makes a lot of sense. Adelaide, as usual is well ahead of the game in that area then.

 

[ModSquad]

I've deleted the posts that had nothing to do with the topic. Please only post in this thread if you have something to contribute to the discussion of potential 2007 draftees. Thanks.

 

[mojo31]

Last year it was Leuenberger with great speed and leap and height who went at 4. Big ? on his endurance though and a groin injury hampered him in his pre season and so it was thought he would improve that quickly when he got an AFL pre season in. However he has developed OP and so is being put on a modified program and so will take a while to improve his aerobic ability.

Hampson is physically pretty similar to Leuenberger. Both are superquick and athletic. Hampson avoids body contact a bit and wont power over players. Leuenberger is pretty physical for a skinny kid and showed it in the WAFL last year. But as far as physical specimens they are similar. Hampson has about 1/4 the game of Leuenberger at this stage though.

Renouf who is not as quick went later. He has superb endurance but maybe not the athleticism that can be used later on. He is more physical than Hampson and is safer. Just depends on how each develop from here.

I think its more to do with athleticism in the ruck. Anyone who is 200cms and can jump and runs a 3 sec 20m is in huge demand. New to the game is not considered much of a barrier. Some sort of kay form is all thats needed and even if its Div 2. But its to do with the athleticsm and the dreaded scope to improve that clubs want.

Even the kicking issues are not rated as important in a ruck who some clubs feel they can improve the ball drop much more with a giant than a midfielder for example. Both Hampson and Renouf are poor kicks but clubs were not overly concerned with that and feel they can improve that.

But if your a midfielder and have to kick under pressure in packs a lot then its much more of an issue where given not much time and pressure its very hard to improve a poor technique when your 6 foot. On the other hand if your 6 foot 8 and have not had as much intensive coaching on your kicking technique pre draft and also wont be kicking under as much pressure in the AFL its a slightly different story.

 

[mojo31]

It was just not done 7 or 8 years go to anything like this extent. Thats why I feel the "rookie draft" and Cox etc analogy wont hold up in the future and most of the good rucks will come from 1st and 2nd round picks and teams with a few on the list now will be able to attract a pretty decent bounty for someone in a trade.

That all makes a lot of sense. Adelaide, as usual is well ahead of the game in that area then.

Roos also used top 10 picks on Hamish and Hale and could now trade Hale if Moran comes on this year.

Brisbane swooped on Woods and Leuenberger and still have Charman and Beau and even Clark. They could trade someone in a few years (Woods for example) if others come on and expect something pretty decent.

Its a bit like money in the bank for some clubs.

But the big advantage interstate clubs have is being able to farm there young rucks out in the WAFL/SANFL/QAFL and having them first ruck for the team in those comps. Meanwhile VFL clubs have to try and fit maybe 3 or 4 rucks in 1 VFL team and develop them. Something interestae teams rarely have to worry about. Same for there other players.

No 12/10 rule for them for those who know what I am talking about.

 

[Leysy Days]

On the athleticism on the KPP.

Thats the reason Leysy reckons our Jack's game is suited to being a CHB in time.

He doesnt have that explosive pace that Mojo is talking about but is courageous, a brilliant reader of the play, good mark, excellent below his knees & uses it well.

Thats the prototype for a CHB if ever Leysys seen one.

 

[pahoffm]

On the athleticism on the KPP.

Thats the reason Leysy reckons our Jack's game is suited to being a CHB in time.

He doesnt have that explosive pace that Mojo is talking about but is courageous, a brilliant reader of the play, good mark, excellent below his knees & uses it well.

Thats the prototype for a CHB if ever Leysys seen one.

Yep, either CHF or CHB.
He'll need room to move and gain advantage by territory covered. Much like most good CHF/CHBs.

In areas that are tight for room, FF/FB, Jack's advantages will be greatly diminished.

 

[TOT70]

But the big advantage interstate clubs have is being able to farm there young rucks out in the WAFL/SANFL/QAFL and having them first ruck for the team in those comps. Meanwhile VFL clubs have to try and fit maybe 3 or 4 rucks in 1 VFL team and develop them. Something interestae teams rarely have to worry about. Same for there other players.

No 12/10 rule for them for those who know what I am talking about.

I've been reading all your stuff with interest, Mojo. You make some excellent points.

You've hit the nail right on the head with this point. This is exactly why the WA/SA teams are way ahead of the Melbourne teams. They have three and four clubs each to farm out their squads to. Every one of their younger players can get game time at CHF or Ruck or Centre-square midfield or whatever they need at the highest level possible before breaking in to the senior team.

Most of our kids are playing as third talls and flankers in their respective VFL team or they are playing senior roles in the VFL reserves. It holds them back, right across the board. You could probably also argue that the standard of SANFL/WAFL is higher than the standard of VFL. Second-raters chasing money are more likely to find it there, rather than at Coburg or Box Hill.

It always gets back to this. We need fewer AFL teams in Melbourne if our clubs are to compete on something approximating an even playing field.

 

[justice]

yep no doubt

chad jones and spaanderman are playing well in the wafl, mitch morton is a gun, houlihan and mckenzie are showing plenty, mitch brown is getting afl games, chad fletcher and sam butler are also playing wafl

its scary how far behind most vic teams are

 

[pahoffm]

yep no doubt

chad jones and spaanderman are playing well in the wafl, mitch morton is a gun, houlihan and mckenzie are showing plenty, mitch brown is getting afl games, chad fletcher and sam butler are also playing wafl

its scary how far behind most vic teams are

What is interesting about both Chad Jones & Lane Spaanderman is that they have already spent some years on other AFL Clubs' lists. Both are talls, and seem to be beginning to take off, with their 2nd clubs, in their 3rd to 4th years in the system.

 

[justice]

its clear the eagles topped up with kpp because they still feel its their weakness, with a midfield depth such as theirs they could take the risk like that

even if it doesnt work out they sure know what their doing

 

[TT33]

Just a query to those that study these things, are there any boys who missed out in LAST Years Draft that are playing in the WAFT,SANFL or VFL that are worth looking at as later picks in this years Draft.
It seems that this years pool isn't as strong as last years. Maybe some bigger guys might have stepped up a bit playing against men this year.
As Phanto says bigger guys take longer to "click"

Thanks for your replies fellas. However, what I was more interested in was any guys who were eligible for last years draft but for some reason or other were "overlooked" & who have moved on to a Senior League. Thier must be a few who have "come on/matured" in the last year. Guys like Aaron Davey, Alwen Davey, Sam Mitchell, Michael Rix etc. etc.

 

[Disco08]

Sam Fielding was a midfielder I thought was certain to get drafted playing for the Mariners last year but missed out. He's playing against Coburg on the ABC2 game this weekend. Kind of similar to Mitchell.

 

[TT33]

Thanks Disco, I note that Andy Collins rates Al Neville very highly, basically in the same level as Sam Mitchell. So highly in fact that he said if he was a coach of an AFL team he would "pay Al's salary himself".
From what I have seen of Neville he seems to be well above VFL level. Maybe he would be worth at leasty a late draft or rookie spot. IMO he would have been a better choice than Jake King.

 

[Disco08]

Agreed TT. I think Richmond use the rookie list in strange ways sometimes. Firstly Casey makes sure we can't have anywhere near a full compliment for years and then we use it on guys like King, Howat and Humm who don't appear to have much improvement in them at all. Surely it would be better to full it with more ruckmen or KPP's and the odd 18yo rover?

What's the maximum we can carry on the rookie list ATM?

I know Redford likes Sam Robertson from Coburg quite a bit as a key defender. Haven't seen him myself but you can't argue with the results so far.

 

[justice]

what are you trying to say disco, that we havent used the rookie list efficiently?

im still waiting for our cox or sandilands to come through!

 

[pahoffm]

Sam Fielding was a midfielder I thought was certain to get drafted playing for the Mariners last year but missed out. He's playing against Coburg on the ABC2 game this weekend. Kind of similar to Mitchell.

Reckon Fielding struggles to get enough of the ball in most of the games that I've recorded stats for.

Thanks Disco, I note that Andy Collins rates Al Neville very highly, basically in the same level as Sam Mitchell. So highly in fact that he said if he was a coach of an AFL team he would "pay Al's salary himself".

Great to see Andy Collins put himself on the line for his players. It seems to be working, the players are putting themselves on the line reciprocally. A great lesson in leadership.

 

[checkside]

Agreed TT. I think Richmond use the rookie list in strange ways sometimes. Firstly Casey makes sure we can't have anywhere near a full compliment for years and then we use it on guys like King, Howat and Humm who don't appear to have much improvement in them at all. Surely it would be better to full it with more ruckmen or KPP's and the odd 18yo rover?

What's the maximum we can carry on the rookie list ATM?

I know Redford likes Sam Robertson from Coburg quite a bit as a key defender. Haven't seen him myself but you can't argue with the results so far.

I think the maximum is 4 if you have 2 veterans, which we had.

There is a few 20+ year olds i am following in the SANFL and WAFL who are doing pretty well, but its not even half way through the year.

 

[Redford]

Rightly or wrongly, the knock on Al Neville is that he's too slow. (Was he ever on Hawthorn's Rookie List at one point ? Dont think he ever was, but can someone confirm ?)

Obviously they're going to have to make a decision on Angus Graham at the end of the year, and I dont think it will be a favourable one for the lad unfortunately.

Is it right that no more than 3 players can be on a club's Rookie List for the second year in a row ?

 

[Jools]

Angus could just be left on Coburgs list in that case couldn't he? See if he goes ok, re-rookie him if so.

 

[Redford]

Angus could just be left on Coburgs list in that case couldn't he? See if he goes ok, re-rookie him if so.

Yes, but that leaves him open to being selected by another club... and he has to get himself into that position before he's 23 as well, otherwise he can not be rookied as a mature age player because he's been on a rookie list before. Suppose there's plenty of time for that though given he's 20 now.