Really genius?

Hardly short sighted and quite factual. The only ignorance would be your response.

Was Tapscott a smokey? No, he wasn't.

Cook was rated a top 20 pick at the time if I remember correctly, can't remember Gysberts but yes we took them both earlier than expected.

Cook and Gysberts were just terrible picks and the way the club developed young players at that time wasn't much better. Tapscott has had more injuries than both of them put together and was also exposed to terrible club culture and player development. If still be interested in seeing him have a full pre-season under Roos in a set position as we've never seen the bloke injury free.

If you can't see that Laverde will be a better player than Gysberts and Cook, I'm not sure what to say..

Cook was rated by some as low as third round just quietlym

Gysberts had an awesome impact at the start.

I really like laverde and i hope we take him personally.

Remember though that fyfe was drafted as a forward.

Gysberts coukd have been as goid as scotty thompson - if he'd actually enjoyed his footy.

Cook was rated by some as low as third round just quietlym

Yes, but the general consensus was that he was a top 20 pick I'm pretty sure.

Gysberts had an awesome impact at the start.

Impact. A fantastical word.

He accumulated free ball. Did he have an 'impact' though?

No. He did not.

I like the look of this kid.

So expect us to pick him, and for him to float around doing SFA for years and polarising supporters.

About a week ago I was told that we hadn't even spoken to Laverde, I assume if true we are aiming for someone else.

I can't compare to others because I don't know enough about them but it seems to me Laverde would complement Brayshaw, Tyson and Viney nicely in the midfield.

He is of good size, has balance and poise. The real points of difference seems to be his ability to take a mark with a good spring and he kicks goals.

Marking, goal kicking mids are gold and this is where the comparison to Fyffe seems apt.

agree... he is worth pick 3 & amazing if we have not considered. Brilliant skills and pace. Pendlebury like.

I can't compare to others because I don't know enough about them but it seems to me Laverde would complement Brayshaw, Tyson and Viney nicely in the midfield.

He is of good size, has balance and poise. The real points of difference seems to be his ability to take a mark with a good spring and he kicks goals.

Marking, goal kicking mids are gold and this is where the comparison to Fyffe seems apt.

Fyfe?

Wow.

He'd be one of the last I'd choose to compare him to.

Fyfe?

Wow.

He'd be one of the last I'd choose to compare him to.

Probably not a good idea to compare. I was thinking of his size, leap and ability to kick a goal as a mid. That's all.

Laverde uses his speed a lot, but doesn't have the uncanny ability to read the ball that Fyfe has.

Fyfe as a junior had that innate ability to just win the ball, much like Rockliff did.

I will leave it to the experts to use our picks. I will say that his highlight reel is probably the best of the bunch.

Anyone know what he is like defensively? Does he tackle well? Run both ways?

agree... he is worth pick 3 & amazing if we have not considered. Brilliant skills and pace. Pendlebury like.

Where does the Pendles comparison come from, Pendles is not quick, quick of mind yes, Laverde is quick but not of mind. Pendles is an inside mid, Laverde is an outside flanker. Absolutely no similarity between the 2.

Not sure on his two way running, he does have to work on his tank to become a midfielder.

What I haven’t seen from him is whether he can win a lot of his own ball in midfield. He looks like he could be a very good flanker/winger, but if I compare him to Bontempelli last year, Bontempelli spent time in the centre square for the Knights post champs.

He showed the ability to win clearances and operate very well in traffic (some of Bontempelli’s stuff last year was very much Pendlebury like) as a big bodied midfielder with pace. Laverde does appear to have good spatial awareness and that ability to create time and space, so he could potentially operate quite well in traffic, but that area of his game is an unknown (to me) at this stage.

Not sure on his two way running, he does have to work on his tank to become a midfielder.

What I haven’t seen from him is whether he can win a lot of his own ball in midfield. He looks like he could be a very good flanker/winger, but if I compare him to Bontempelli last year, Bontempelli spent time in the centre square for the Knights post champs.

He showed the ability to win clearances and operate very well in traffic (some of Bontempelli’s stuff last year was very much Pendlebury like) as a big bodied midfielder with pace. Laverde does appear to have good spatial awareness and that ability to create time and space, so he could potentially operate quite well in traffic, but that area of his game is an unknown (to me) at this stage.

Not so sure about this 'Chaser', he seems to run himself into trouble too much for me to say he has spatial awareness. Good out in the open and one on one in the air.

Anyone know what he is like defensively? Does he tackle well? Run both ways?

I can help you there - no one in the TAC is good defensively or runs both ways.

Not so sure about this 'Chaser', he seems to run himself into trouble too much for me to say he has spatial awareness. Good out in the open and one on one in the air.

He can try to do too much in taking the game on. What I have seen is that when he does run into trouble, he has the poise to hold onto the ball and either step out of it, or find a target. Don’t think he gets caught too much

The issue can be that the receiving teammate may not have a lot of time and space if he finds a handball out of trouble.

His style looks quite similar to Andrejs Everitt.

His style looks quite similar to Andrejs Everitt.

now there is a big wrap...

I can help you there - no one in the TAC is good defensively or runs both ways.

I'm sure the odd tackle gets laid and some players would be more inclined to do it than others but I see your point. I guess I am wondering if he might be the next Sam Blease or a more complete player.

I'm sure the odd tackle gets laid and some players would be more inclined to do it than others but I see your point. I guess I am wondering if he might be the next Sam Blease or a more complete player.

I read somewhere that there is an unwritten rule against tagging in the TAC.

I find this bizarre. To provide the best education for juniors, taking this skill out of coaches arsenal is to the detriment of players. I use the example of Blease who in my opinion could have benefited at a TAC level a coach telling him to forget about collecting the ball and concentrate on shutting down his opponent. Only run off when your team has the ball.

Why wouldn't you teach real 2 way running at junior level and stopping techniques when it is such a big part of AFL.

now there is a big wrap...

I think Everitt's problem was more attitude related, but after many years fart arsing around Mick Malthouse seems to be pushing the right buttons.