I might be easily impressed, but I like that the last four letters of his surname are the same as the four letters of his first name.

What’s with all the whinging? Did you lot all think the next saviour of the footy club was going to come from the the mid season rookie draft?

good luck to the kid, hope he does well

Does he know how to take an important packmark when it matters most?

1 hour ago, TheoX said:

"ample similarities between Dunkley and his brother Josh"

So slow with poor footskills? But probably not as good. Sweet.

Good luck to him though.

can mark which too many of our players can't do. Both goals on highlight reel were from 50 plus from goal. The set shot goal ball carried close to 60 metres. OUtside 50 and easily 5 metres past goal

12 minutes ago, monoccular said:

Does he know how to take an important packmark when it matters most?

At 187. Not his job. But he can mark, kick long and pass all accurately

2 hours ago, hells bells said:

Some of you guys are incredible.

Need: Fast outside runner with silky skills, good overhead and can kick goals.

How many players match this description in the whole AFL? A dozen? Most would have been top 10 national draft picks. 

This is a draft that’s the best of what’s left.

Take the best of what is available. Dunkley looks solid, comes from a strong football family and is 19. He isn’t going to be Josh Kelly or Lachie Whitfield or Tim Kelly or Hugh McCluggage or Ollie Florent. 

But he might turn into a good player like his brother.

 

 

Campbell Brown believes he will be a 10 yr player. That's great. Jetta is not lightning fast. I was a very very slow believer but eventually came round because his other skills found their spot

 

23 minutes ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

I might be easily impressed, but I like that the last four letters of his surname are the same as the four letters of his first name.

Brilliant

Welcome Kyle!

Comes from good pedigree and was probably the best option available. He could become a decent player for us in the front half.

3 hours ago, Jaded said:

Can he kick?

Yeah but by the time we finish with him and train him he won’t be able to hit a target. 

2 hours ago, Elegt said:

Does Jason Taylor have a fetish for slow inside mids or something ? Has he not heard of the 6-6-6 rule that requires players to cover the ground  rapidly. Does he understand that AFL is a step up from park football and that athleticism is a non negotiable to be able to make the cut. Good luck to Dunkley but Taylor needs to watch some demons games and see how slow the whole team is. Frost and hunt are the only players who have any sort of pace at all.

Please provide the names of your preferences.

Can't have too many quality mids.  As Bernie, Jordan and now Jones have pulled out of our midfeild, I think we have actually looked a little lean there at times, when an Oliver, Viney or Harmes is rotated out of the midfield.  Doesn't hurt to have the extra depth in case of injury or form slump either.

Vanders made a huge difference to our game late last year as a powerful forward and impact midfielder.  Who know if Vanders will be back or if Dunckley can be as good, but if he gives it a crack, then you never know.

Chasing that classy outside mid,  we could just have easily ended up with another Sam Blease or Jimmy Toumpas outcome if the right player wasn't available.

3 hours ago, chook fowler said:

He’s 19 for Gods sake so must have a big upside and by the look of him no backside. Let’s leave the judgements be and give him a go.

On Demonland, absolutely no chance of that, the experts have spoken  as per the norm, some of the posts, absolute twaddle

So you’re telling me drafting a reserves player in the middle of the season hasn’t solved all of our problems? God we are hopeless. 

3 hours ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

Can't have too many quality mids.  As Bernie, Jordan and now Jones have pulled out of our midfeild, I think we have actually looked a little lean there at times, when an Oliver, Viney or Harmes is rotated out of the midfield.  Doesn't hurt to have the extra depth in case of injury or form slump either.

Vanders made a huge difference to our game late last year as a powerful forward and impact midfielder.  Who know if Vanders will be back or if Dunckley can be as good, but if he gives it a crack, then you never know.

Chasing that classy outside mid,  we could just have easily ended up with another Sam Blease or Jimmy Toumpas outcome if the right player wasn't available.

We'll be able to grab a couple of sleek centreline'rs,  come November.   I think we went best available, and ready to go.

Campbell Brown on Dunkley

Quote

 

Brown said he was mightily impressed by Dunkley’s performance for Footscray against Box Hill at the MCG on Sunday, booting three goals from 11 disposals.

“He’s a footballer, there’s no doubt about that,” Brown said Tuesday night on SEN’s Time On.

“There’s plenty of good talent floating around in all state league competitions. I think if you’re Carlton and you’re looking position-specific, you might be looking for a small forward in Sam Lowson or something like that, but he (Dunkley) would be a guy I’d go for.

“You could potentially have a really good footballer for the next decade.”

The 18-year-old has returned to the NAB League competition with Gippsland Power and had a strong start to his over-age year, playing four matches and averaging 18.5 disposals.

 

By what has been written, I think he’s been playing as a half forward, I know anyone can look good in highlights, but it looked like he at least lowers his eyes and hits leading forwards, unlike the rest of our mid field. Also looks like a better kick for goal then nearly all of our current team? 

Personally, sight unseen I’d still play him over Spargo or Jeffy from last weeks effort.

Good luck KD

dear football department please don’t play his first game against Collingwood on QBW

a Monday twilight match against freo at mallanganee would be a better easing in 

One thing I would say, is that I think it somewhat makes more sense to pick up a player in this mid season draft where I think you get a better opportunity to track development post U18 level, than it does taking a pick in the 80s in the national draft or last pick of the normal rookie draft.  Those late picks, you could be taking more of a prospective stab at who might be any good out of what's left.

Regards how good Dunkely may turn out to be, would we have used this same opportunity to pickup Freitch, Hannan, Vandenberg or Hore in past years?  I think we probably would have and so, I believe there is every likelihood that Dunkley could end up best 22.

It seems to me that recruitment works something like this:

1.  The top end tallent both football wise and athletic stand outs go in the national draft;

2.  Those with average athleticism, but good work ethic, commitment and good football brains and/or combined with a bad draft year go in the rookie drafts.

Good footballers might not shine through at U18s level, because it's 'all about me' with the guns trying to show off their wears to recruiters and the good footballers team players are less valued, because the recruiters are by nature of the marketplace looking for the stand outs.  Time at senior level post U18s gives those second teir players the time and opportunity to differentiate themselves from one another.

From what I understand, the success rate of rookies once drafted in terms of senior AFL games played is pretty high and there have been a number of premiership teams with a high makeup of once rookie listed players, so no way am I writing off what Dunckley could be for us.

Edited May 27, 20196 yr by Rodney (Balls) Grinter

13 hours ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

His dad didn't look too happy...very slow and low key in congratulating his son.  Maybe they were hoping he would slip thru to Sydney.

His mother seemed pleased though an that's what counts.

People in this thread writing off a teenager who hasnt even walked in the door.

That's the spirit!

 

 

Edited May 27, 20196 yr by DSP

Spoke well on SEN this morning when driving to training for an 8am start. Sounded happy with a bit of country in him. Said it was 'bloody terrific' (or something like that) to being recruited by Melbourne. Let's reserve judgement and hope for the best

Lets give the kid a chance for gods sake looks to have better skills than Viney who can only tackle, slow as a snail and no football awareness and cannot kick over a jam tin anyone will do for me.

Edited May 27, 20196 yr by demon3165

Welcome to the Demon family dunks?

He's already been promoted to our leadership group.

11 minutes ago, Clint Bizkit said:

He's already been promoted to our leadership group.

Heard him on SEN this morning, he speaks well and seems to be very level headed.

Welcome young fella!