How happy are you with our drafting this year?

[pahoffm]

Any danger in looking at genuine tall key backs.

I didn't see any genuine tall backs this morning. The tallest boys were 190cms, which is 3rd tall height. From my list of undrafted genuine tall backs, all look fairly slow cumbersome types.

Unless something extraordinary happens, like Perry being taken in the PSD, which is unlikely, methinks a tall back, as well as a ruckman, maybe on the agenda for next year.

There are 4 top ruckmen, already, in next year's draft - Kreuzer, McEvoy, Sullivan & Bellchambers. They can't all go in the first round.

Peter tells me that his homework over the summer is to go through all the U16 videos.

 

[craig]

Has Kreuzer moved up from a Key Forward now Phanto i understand the kid is quite tall from memory, remember seeing him named alot as a key forward, is he a Ottens type is he or is he progressing to a primary ruck.

 

[Scoop]

Mojo has this to say about Shane Edwards for those that are intrested over at the Blue View.

Not the gospel but another point of ivew.


Shane Edwards
Midfielder


South Australian last bloomer. Bit of a draft camp special and care needs to be taken with those types.
Happy to say Edwards might have tested well in the endurance and leap but he also can play the game. He really improved as the year went on. At the U18s he was just a periphery player for SA but after some really good performances for North Adelaide late in the year he moves right up. Especially in a couple of finals in the seniors where the intensity was right up and he looked comfortable. Easy to get a kick in the normal season and the keepings off style but another thing all together to do it in a final and contested football and no time or space..

Did not look out of place and was very hard at the ball. Strong tackler and showed good decision making and poise. Skills were good and has that huge spring that allows him to play tall as a wing or a medium marking target up forward.

Smooth runner and really does run his guts out in games and present as an option. Needs a few tweaks to be a midfielder in the AFL but with his athleticism and rapid improvement it should be fine. At the moment he is a hff who can play wing. But in the AFL you might use his elite running ability to play as a shut down runner who slowly develops his knowledge to become a quality on baller. Or you could have in the open wide spaces on the wing where his marking ability and running power is suited.

Skinny body and lean and wiry and exactly the build you want at 17 to add weight to slowly and fill them out.

Pick 17/19 : Yes

 

[Scoop]

And here is Mojo on Daniel Connors, he considered him at 17,19 so at 58 we got a gift.

Daniel Connors
Midfielder/half back flanker

Connors had a very good U18 Championships. Showed some real skill and flair and the ability to win his own ball in traffic and weave through it and be creative with handball. Some real laser like kicking also stood out for me.

Unfortunately that form did not continue after the Championships and in the TAC he has struggled for a number of games. His kicking especially has been very hit and miss



Consider at 17/19 : Yes, barely

Why: Great at the U18 Championships and showed he could play well in traffic as well as deliver with precision on his left foot. Good size and a strong overhead mark. Given space and a bit of time has the ability to really punch the ball with precision. Best is very good and has talent and versatility.

Why not: His form after the Champs has been disappointing and you wonder if this is his true ability and not the hype of the Champs. Kicking especially has turned into real hit and miss of late. Did not test well at draft camp and his speed in particular was way down. Got turned inside out as a half back flanker by a few opponents who kicked bags on him.

I am going to leave him in this group but only just.

 

[craig]

Good work Scoopy but dont go wasting your mojo man

 

[pahoffm]

Has Kreuzer moved up from a Key Forward now Phanto i understand the kid is quite tall from memory, remember seeing him named alot as a key forward, is he a Ottens type is he or is he progressing to a primary ruck.

Yes, as a lower aged U18, a 16yo, he was already 199cms at season's start.

In the U18 chmps, Kreuzer played as VicMetro's 1st ruckman. He averaged 11 possies, a 78% KER & a 73% HER, he also ave'd 15 HOs too.

In the TAC, this year, Kreuzer also ave'd 11 possies with an 80% EDR, he also ave'd 17 HOs & 1 goal a game.

We may miss out on Kreuzer, in my mind he's already as good as Leuenberger. Next year he may be better. But there are still another 3.

 

[tigersnake]

yeah agree masochist.  I get constantly annoyed with the constant whining about 17y.o draftees being skinny.  What active 17 y.o isn't skinny?

I'm no juniors expert, just get whatever snippets of info I can from the mighty PRE mostly, but on the face of it this year, I'm rapt.  The bankers sound good, the smokie sounds superb.  Another tip: they breed 'em tough in Kunnunurra, no pussies in that part of the world.  Love to see somne footage, hint hint evo and rosy.

Also rapt I haven't read any compleeing criticism, at all.  Craw's McK v Edwards call is fair enough, but nothing to cry about, and the important thing is Edwards sounds like a player.  I haven't seen him at all, but what popped into my head was Ken Hunter, skinny, skilled and tough.  Who knows though.  Bloody rapt, all clubs seem pretty rapt, but my feeling is we've done well even in the context of the superdraft.

only 5 kids in this draft were below 70kg(really skinny) we took 2 of them and a third barely got there. both peterson and edwards have light frames to my way of thinking meaning it will be very hard for them to bulk up. if i have any real criticism this draft its this fact. and this is not in anyway having a go at those boys im happy to have them its just a pet hate of mine and one of the risks of the caper.

there you go again with the 'very hard go bulk up'.  Look maybe your right, I understand your concern, I just don't agree with it.  I reckon the skinny young bloke who can't bulk up is the exception rather than the rule.  I can understand the mental scarring from 2 recent examples, Fiora and Burke, but generally its not a problem.  I'd actually rather go lithe and mobile at 17 than 'big boned' if you know what I mean.  But still, I take your point.  Also, I know its bugger all to go on, but I like skinny tough players, like J Krakouer, Hunter, and also there was a player for years in the Ballarat League called Sargeant, nothing of him, built like J Krakouer but used to intimidate rucks.  

Another point I'm happy about is that TW has a clear vision and is pursuing it systematically.  Everyone might not agree with all aspects of it, I'd like anothe ruck myself, but I respect the fact its consistent and clear.

Another thing, from the photos I've seen of petersen he'll have no trouble getting enough meat on that chassis.  Looks like a young Robbie Muir.

 

[Tigerfan]

constant whining about 17y.o draftees being skinny.  What active 17 y.o isn't skinny?

The fat kid from 'hey dad!' ?

 

[tigersnake]

I said active

 

[Chiang Mai Tiger]

Not happy that we didnt take Albert Proud first up but fully understand why. Hopefully Connors will turn out to be my dream tough inside midfielder.

 

[evo]

Reiwoldt was a better pick than Proud in my view Chang Mai.

Connors was a bargain.

Edwards was about right at #26

Don't know much about Peterson so guess we have to trust Prescott on that one.

Heard some good things about Andy Collins from a mate in Bendigo.

Can't believe Benjamin fell to #51.

I ticked extremely happy.

 

[tigersnake]

I ticked extremely happy too, felt good, but also strange.

 

[FightingFury]

So did I........I think Im cleansed of the Beck post draft feeling forever

What a complete and utter unique sensation

 

[RedanTiger]

Just looking at the photos.
Peterson looks to have HUGE hands, which leans toward being a strong mark.
Note also that Edwards tested as the top vertical jump at the draft camp.
(Cross fingers hope, hope)

 

[the claw]

While he,s seen as a Fwd it wouldnt suprise me if as Phanto has said many times its much easier to turn a Fwd into a backman[hence Whitnall] than a backman into a fwd.Terry may see Jack as our future FB.If so i can see why we passed up on someone like Mckenzie.
Or i.ll take it a bit further.Versatlity is the go these days.Imagine Terry having Polak,Shultz & Jack at his disposal to whatever situation occurs during a game.

This is my way of thinking too Captain.
For those arguing we should have taken McKenzie at 26, I disagree.
Perhaps if we'd missed Riewoldt at 13 and took a midfielder(Hislop?) but this was not the case.
Riewoldt can play defence or forward. Flexibility is the key.

Our midfield needs strengthening just as much if not more than the defence in light of the Polak deal.
To get a couple of talented kids in the midfield was required just as urgently. The fact that we got two who were touted by many as potential first rounders is fantastic.
[/quotelets just assume for one moment schulz and polak fail not a hard thing to assume they have done stuff all in 5 and 6 yrs. mackenzie was one kpp who could genuinely say he can play in all 4 key posts you want flexibility you got it. the kid himself reckons he plays a bit like hunter from wce and i agree with him hes just a slightly bigger version. quality kpp players dont come around every yr and we still havent fixed our fb problem. when gaspar goes at the end of next yr we will be in the exact same position we were in this yr and the yr before andthe yr before.

 

[the claw]

Reiwoldt was a better pick than Proud in my view Chang Mai.

Connors was a bargain.

Edwards was about right at #26

Don't know much about Peterson so guess we have to trust Prescott on that one.

Heard some good things about Andy Collins from a mate in Bendigo.

Can't believe Benjamin fell to #51.

I ticked extremely happy.

yeah i mentioned earlier it was unbelievable that benjamin lasted so long along with obrien connors sheesh pick 42 houli would have been nice the big mistake of this trade draft period giving away that pick.

 

[Mr Brightside]

Reiwoldt was a better pick than Proud in my view Chang Mai.

Connors was a bargain.

Edwards was about right at #26

Don't know much about Peterson so guess we have to trust Prescott on that one.

Heard some good things about Andy Collins from a mate in Bendigo.

Can't believe Benjamin fell to #51.

I ticked extremely happy.

yeah i mentioned earlier it was unbelievable that benjamin lasted so long along with obrien connors sheesh pick 42 houli would have been nice the big mistake of this trade draft period giving away that pick.

Watched the WA v Vic Country game last night an I for one am not surprised Benjamin ended up slipping, his kicking is woeful,as Ive said on a couple of threads Polak deal or not we would have drafted the same 5 players,Polak is a bonus,a very lucky an rare situation but Reiwoldt would have gone at 8 an Connors at 42

 

[Dean3]

Very happy with the whole trade/draft period, well conceived and executed by people who know what they are doing. Would like to see us go tall with the rookie draft to finish things off.

 

[Rosy]

well conceived and executed by people who know what they are doing.

I sense a hidden "as opposed to" there Deano.

 

[BBC]

I'm very happy we went with another centre half forward in Riewoldt. We have a trend in the last 5 years to draft CHF's - Schulz, Pattison and Hughes.

I see Patto as a ruckman now given he's 6.6.

As for the others Edwards looked really good - tough and fast. Connors seems like a natural footballer.

Petersen and Collins are speculative so fingers crossed. I voted that I was reasonable happy as I wanted a ruckman with one of our picks - we only have Simmonds and Knobel now with Patto in the development category.