WELCOME TO THE MELBOURNE FOOTBALL CLUB - JOSHUA WAGNER

[DeeSpencer 24,899]

Hopefully some time in the system can improve his speed and repeat speed, but if you can create space for yourself and kick then you don't need to be all that fast to play half back.

A nice pick up for a spot we don't have a lot of depth in and a solid enough beep test that indicates he might be able to play wing as well.

In a shallow draft seems a reasonable call.

[DeeSpencer 24,899]

http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/love-of-the-game-wagner-family-grassroots-greats-in-aussie-rules/news-story/32ea24ca3b1070c7a07e433b76dfa61e?sv=18b13c69b7fb9e3a8843b27ff3c9b795

You wonder if the academies had been around earlier if Josh Wagner as well as Vanders and others would've been picked as 18 year olds.

There's no way the talent could be so much better in a matter of a couple of years in QLD and NSW, it's mainly the development that has changed to see so many academy kids picked up, including Josh's brother Corey going to the Roos.

[Biffen 12,919]

Will be interested to see if he can conduct himself properly.

[DeeSpencer 24,899]

Jason Taylor was the NSW Scholarship program scout for the Pies as one of his jobs there, they also have had a pretty good run of drafting Queenslanders, so he would know Northern state talent pretty well. Not at all surprised we looked that way again when the best juniors and state league players from the VFL, WAFL and SANFL were largely taken.

[Akum 2,660]

Thought you guys would like that

We also only changed our minds on Oliver from Parish on Monday night

Doesn't surprise me that it was a difficult choice, and that we were going to pick Parish from a long way out until just before the draft. Oliver & Parish, at this stage at least, are so close together it's a difficult decision to separate them. Neither of them is clearly better than the other, and they have different assets & question marks.

[Demon trucker 1,800]

Good one touch player, gets it disposes quickly and hits targets, I like that sort of player won't get caught often.

[Akum 2,660]

thanks

probably a silly statement, but in many ways he reminds me of hodge

Hodge in space. What he's like in close & under pressure is harder to tell.

[KingDingAling 3,749]

Looks like a good pick up.

[spirit of norm smith 15,470]

Great call by recruiters. Another mature body mid. Good skills

[reynolds46 1,112]

Will be interested to see if he can conduct himself properly.

if he stops to compose himself ever now and then he should be ok

[Biffen 12,919]

if he stops to compose himself ever now and then he should be ok

I think you are right.

When he finds his timing I think he will play the house down,

[binman 42,115]

We also only changed our minds on Oliver from Parish on Monday night

Quoting the immortal line from Rep Man - i call [censored] on that.

Listening to Taylor's interview with Burgo he is clear they rated Oliver the best player in the draft after Mills and that the strategy was always to take the best available player, noting that they didn't try and get cute by taking the weed at 3 and hoping for Oliver to fall to 9. They don't finalise their player rankings the night before the draft.

Edited November 27, 2015 by binman

[Bang Bang Bang 5,779]

Probably about the 100th young player I've seen compared to Hodge on here in the past decade.

He looks decent though, kinda like a poor man's Salem. I'd be surprised if his name doesn't pop up at some stage next year as he's a mature-aged and we don't have a lot of distributors coming out of the backline.

[dee-luded 2,959]

Lovett not picked up.

Off to casey and proves himself as a father son next year.

wonder if he can get himself up to 2nd rnd, 2016?

[MadAsHell 4,209]

Reminds me of Shannon Byrnes.

Interesting that a 187cm running half back reminds you of a small 177cm crumbing forward!?!

[CBDees 3,165]

Interesting that a 187cm running half back reminds you of a small 177cm crumbing forward!?!

We will be able to compare better when they both run around for Casey next year!

[daisycutter 29,429]

Wagner seems composed and could inspire us to rule the whole world.

and nsdap approved too, biffo

[mo64 5,597]

Interesting that a 187cm running half back reminds you of a small 177cm crumbing forward!?!

All the kicks were neat dinky 15-30 metre short passes. Didn't see any running of the lines and long penetrating kicks, nor did I see any strong contested marks for a player of his size.

He looks like a neat player, without any obvious standout qualities, hence the reason he's been selected as a rookie. Comparisons to Hodge were laughable.

[Grimes Times 1,278]

From Knightmare:

44. Josh Wagner (QLD – DEF)

Height: 189cm, Weight: 80kg, DOB: 24/06/1994

Recruited from: Aspley

Reminds me of: Adam Oxley

Brief bio: Wagner is a skilful left footer who plays off a back flank in the NEAFL and has had a strong season as one of the more damaging players in the competition. He is a fairly natural fit into an AFL club off a back flank as someone who has the vision, decision making and footskills combination to allow him to set up some meaningful play by foot from the back half. His production has been strong this season and could be an immediate fit into the back half for a team. Athletically Wagner is below average with his endurance good allowing him to cover the ground fine but his acceleration is poor so he is not a someone who will breakaway or provide meaningful linebreaking as someone who will do his damage more by foot.

From Snoop Dog

Josh Wagner (Aspley / 189cm / 81kg)

20yo who is a classy type and who has been going well in the NEAFL for a while now and has a lot of the characteristics scouts are looking for. Comes from a great QLD footy family and is a little in the mould of Adam Oxley in that he is that sleak moving wing / HB type who has a beaut foot on him. His issue is probably going to be that whilst he tests ok for endurance (14.5 beep) his speed is a concern having run 3.13s for the 20m at state combine. Older brother of Corey so lets hope they can stick together.

[jnrmac 19,928]

Wagner seems composed and could inspire us to rule the whole world.

Ride of the Valkyries?

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

All the kicks were neat dinky 15-30 metre short passes. Didn't see any running of the lines and long penetrating kicks, nor did I see any strong contested marks for a player of his size.

Watch again.

[Whispering_Jack 29,324]

We will be able to compare better when they both run around for Casey next year!

Shannon Byrnes won't be with Casey next year, at least in a playing capacity. I read that he's signed to play elsewhere.

[Return to Glory 8,394]

I think you are right.

When he finds his timing I think he will play the house down,

Music to the ears.

[hardtack 10,432]

I think you are right.

When he finds his timing I think he will play the house down,

He will run rings around the opposition.

[Biffen 12,919]

He will run rings around the opposition.

He is well rated up North.Especially by German.