By all reports was being chased by several clubs.

Son of sporting guns Bradtke set to join Melbourne

 

So pleased we landed him!  Absolute sporting royalty pedigree, and his fathers connections are worth a fortune to the club, too.

Can only be seen as a positive thing, especially with the moderate success we've had in adding Maynard and Joel Smith to the list, players who many not be best 22 but are excellent depth players.

Getting Austin Bradtke on the list will cost us nothing, and he's a tall player who could develop under the guidance of Max at Casey for a few years.  

9 minutes ago, Wiseblood said:

Can only be seen as a positive thing, especially with the moderate success we've had in adding Maynard and Joel Smith to the list, players who many not be best 22 but are excellent depth players.

Getting Austin Bradtke on the list will cost us nothing, and he's a tall player who could develop under the guidance of Max at Casey for a few years.  

Joel Smith will eventually be in our best 22 great talent.

Great to welcome Bradtke to the club. If he's anything like his old man strong, tall and agile we have a great talent on our hands.

Just now, WERRIDEE said:

Joel Smith will eventually be in our best 22 great talent.

Great to welcome Bradtke to the club. If he's anything like his old man strong, tall and agile we have a great talent on our hands.

Can you squeeze him into a possible 2022 team for us? 

Very athletic and very tall. Could be the draft bargain of the century but either way there is very little down side..

17years old, 204cm, played rep footy before choosing basketball at 15. Sounds like a likely prospect

2 minutes ago, Wiseblood said:

Can you squeeze him into a possible 2022 team for us? 

I can do better.

I can put him in the best 22 for 2020.

He will replace Lewis.

Don't tell me you don't get off with my best 22's like I do?

 Hopefully he becomes a depth player. J.Smith will eventually make our top 22.  

3 minutes ago, WERRIDEE said:

I can do better.

I can put him in the best 22 for 2020.

He will replace Lewis.

Don't tell me you don't get off with my best 22's like I do?

A 204cm ruckman will replace Jordan Lewis, a short half back flanker?

Yeah, nah.

Just now, Wiseblood said:

A 204cm ruckman will replace Jordan Lewis, a short half back flanker?

Yeah, nah.

Sorry I thought you were talking about Smith.

Put him on the bench with a bit of ruck and forward time.

Blimey, we will have a pretty good starting 5 bball team

I really like this signing. Coming from a professional sporting background is a huge advantage in terms of commitment and preparation. Should be able to take to the AFL system like a duck to water.

If he has the goods he could be big max's replacement.

43 minutes ago, FarNorthernD said:

Very athletic and very tall. Could be the draft bargain of the century but either way there is very little down side..

That's the great thing with the Category B Rookies, we have to give up very little to get them.

I think a guy who hasn't played an organised game of footy in over 3 years is a bit of a gamble, but drafting any rucks at 18 is and this has cost nothing in draft picks, doesn't take a legitimate list spot and his pedigree is first class.

My biggest issue with it is how do we get game time in to him without the VFL development league?

Do we make him the 3rd ruck next year? If he's 4th in line and there's not injuries that's a hard ask to see game time. Might be a test case to take to the AFL and see if he can play for a VAFA team.

2 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

I think a guy who hasn't played an organised game of footy in over 3 years is a bit of a gamble, but drafting any rucks at 18 is and this has cost nothing in draft picks, doesn't take a legitimate list spot and his pedigree is first class.

My biggest issue with it is how do we get game time in to him without the VFL development league?

Do we make him the 3rd ruck next year? If he's 4th in line and there's not injuries that's a hard ask to see game time. Might be a test case to take to the AFL and see if he can play for a VAFA team.

Can they play games in the local league like the Casey players do?

2 minutes ago, WERRIDEE said:

Can they play games in the local league like the Casey players do?

At this stage, no I don't think so. The AFL approved a Saints ruckman to play for Frankston not Sandringham to get him more game time and help Frankston out, so they might be willing to consider a proposal.

Let’s face it. If he was on the open market in a draft year with his pedagree and physicality he’d be drafted. To get a free hit is awesome. 

 

The other thing is that we get him like we got Hogan. Basically a year of being in an elite system while he is in year 12 and then will be able to play as of next year. I’d expect he won’t play VFL at all this year. 

 

Just looked at at his basketball highlights. The kid can jump and the write ups were all about his agility. Yep he’s not like any big man we’ve seen in the Afl. NicNat like in his agility. If he can kick we might be on to something here. 

Edited May 23, 20187 yr by Dee-licious

Petracca Maynard Joel.Smith. Bradtke. Gawn. 

Starting 5 

Jesse H also a star baller

Looks about 5-6 cms smaller than his dad, so at 17 may still grow. Could get to Max's size.

Good opportunity to learn from the best ruck in the competition. One day we will need to replace Gawn. 

6 minutes ago, Jaded said:

Good opportunity to learn from the best ruck in the competition. One day we will need to replace Gawn. 

don’t swear 

41 minutes ago, spirit of norm smith said:

Petracca Maynard Joel.Smith. Bradtke. Gawn. 

Starting 5 

Jesse H also a star baller

What about TMAC & OMAC, Aren't they related to DMAC? 

Edited May 23, 20187 yr by John Demonic

1 hour ago, binman said:

Blimey, we will have a pretty good starting 5 bball team

As long as he doesn’t get CP5 to play basketball with him ?

And can’t wait for Titus O’Reilly to get on to the fact that  “he has a basketball background”.?

1 hour ago, DeeSpencer said:

I think a guy who hasn't played an organised game of footy in over 3 years is a bit of a gamble, but drafting any rucks at 18 is and this has cost nothing in draft picks, doesn't take a legitimate list spot and his pedigree is first class.

My biggest issue with it is how do we get game time in to him without the VFL development league?

Do we make him the 3rd ruck next year? If he's 4th in line and there's not injuries that's a hard ask to see game time. Might be a test case to take to the AFL and see if he can play for a VAFA team.

Not really much of a gamble at all  — all potential gain virtually cost and risk free.