Draft & '09 Strategy

[Paul Gardner 6]

As I'm starting to think more about this draft period, combined with next year H & A's & the '09 draft, as our imediate future's concerned.

Not for the impatient but huge I think for our future. If we were to take, IN 2009, say with the first 2 picks, (yes, less than 4 wins), John Butcher 194ish & Jack Fitzpatrick 199cm ruck-forward, their probably better than this years combinations of Watts & say Natinui/Vickery.

I really rate Vickery but i'm unsure about Watts, it must be his fresh young face & non physical presence onfield. I'm just not sold completely, my gut instinct feels wary of him as a key posi player.

I saw Butcher & Fitzpatrick play down at Casey Fields & they caught my attention. I've also seen some footage of Butcher & Fitzpatrick & their impressive.

I've almost changed my mind on Watts who I think plays a bit like a ruck rover come tall forward, I wonder if he's imposing enough on the contest for AFL seniors?

I would just about skip Watts & take what I think will be the longer term option of NicNat, or grabbing either Vickery, Rich or Ziebell.

I think we'll still be bottom 2 or 3 next year as I can't see who will fall below us + Freo & Eagles, so I think Butcher or Fitzpatrick wil be available to us.

The quality talls are about this & next years drafts.

[Eastie Boyz 0]

tbh I don't think either of the sides you mentioned are quite as bad as what they lead us to believe this year

[Red and Blue Flame 187]

Watts won the larke medal...he must've done something?

Vickery is well worth getting..but he won't slip to 17 or 19 i dont think because good big guys are hard to get. as i've said, we need to trade a nathan jones or brad green to get another top 20 draft pick. 3 players in top 20 arent going to help..the more the better. and especially as we will no doubt trade pick 19 in trade week for a player or something

[Bring-Back-Powell 14,833]

we will no doubt trade pick 19 in trade week for a player or something

I doubt we'll do that. Bailey and Stynes have continually stated that we won't be trading picks for players.

[Bring-Back-Powell 14,833]

tbh I don't think either of the sides you mentioned are quite as bad as what they lead us to believe this year

I reckon West Coast will have another down year. They were putrid at times this year.

If Freo can learn to win the close ones next year, then I can see them pushing for the finals.

[Eastie Boyz 0]

West Coast need, as a bare minimum, Hansen, Kerr, Cox and Glass to play 20 games each.

If those 4 can do that they'll surprise a few people. If not tip them for bottom 2 again