Touted as a possible top 3 draft pick:-

AFL Draft Wrap: Hints of a Dees defender in pinpoint kick Hayden Young

I have come to the conclusion now that we will miss out on Anderson.

For me now you cannot lose out with either Ash or Young. Absolute gem of a footballers and will make an impact straight away next year.

Young kicking is an absolute delight to watch.

I coached against this young fellow when he played juniors at Somerville. Also know him from representative cricket.  He's a cracking young man and a real winner.  Skills are outstanding, pace is good and he's a hard worker.  His brother is at the Bulldogs. I'd be pretty happy if he became a Demon. I'd liken more to Whitfield than Salem to be honest.  He's quicker and a better mark than Salem.

I'd rather we draft Young over Ash, if Anderson goes @ pick 2 to GC.

We lack both pace and foot skills, but when looking at Hunt and Frost, their foot-skills detract from their pace badly.

Foot-skills ftw.

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has explosive speed and showed composure and precision kicking both from kick-ins and when he received the ball on the move.

So he has the two things we know we need to bring into the side.  I'd prefer Anderson, but if we can't have him, this guy looks like a good pick up. 

This is our guy for sure. We are not getting Anderson. we need to take Young, get langdon, and chase Cutler as well. That takes us from a slow side with out outside run and skill to a side that has that. 

3 minutes ago, Demon3 said:

This is our guy for sure. We are not getting Anderson. we need to take Young, get langdon, and chase Cutler as well. That takes us from a slow side with out outside run and skill to a side that has that. 

100% agree.

Add in a couple of electric small forwards and another key forward marking option and we are away.

2020 flag here we come.

1 minute ago, Collar-Jazz-Knee said:

100% agree.

Add in a couple of electric small forwards and another key forward marking option and we are away.

2020 flag here we come.

That is spot on about Small Fwds. We are only  a smart trade and draft period from a real refresh on the playing list and adding things we didn't have this season.  Then the rest is up to the players and teh coaches to make it work.

"Young has a similar style to that of Melbourne's Christian Salem; as a similarly reliable user from defence" 

Salem has become a specialist at 20 metre passes somewhere in the back pocket/ flank area  that gives us a mark and slows down the play. He may be reliable but second half  of the season I saw him as protecting his stats and part of the problem.  I think we really do need something more creative than that. So, Im Hoping if its young we go for then he has a bit more vision and flair in his ball use than Salem.

What is Young's pace like?

I know it's not anywhere near Lachie Ash's (but no others are in this draft). If he is deemed as 'quick' or 'fast', then with his laser boot he is our guy.

2 hours ago, Wells 11 said:

"Young has a similar style to that of Melbourne's Christian Salem; as a similarly reliable user from defence" 

Salem has become a specialist at 20 metre passes somewhere in the back pocket/ flank area  that gives us a mark and slows down the play. He may be reliable but second half  of the season I saw him as protecting his stats and part of the problem.  I think we really do need something more creative than that. So, Im Hoping if its young we go for then he has a bit more vision and flair in his ball use than Salem.

Salem became a liability in the last 8 weeks of the season. A season that started with so much purpose and promise. 

As I said, he's not really like Salem at all.  He's a better mark, a bit taller, covers the ground better and kicks well over 40 metres rather than Salem's 20 metre chip kicks. He'll pull the trigger and kick in board with great accuracy. Whitfield like, maybe how Grant Birchall played a few years back when the Hawks had all those blokes who never missed with a kick. We'd be better with him for sure.

When I watch his highlights on the NAB app I can see his kicking skills but I'm not seeing much pace.

Now that it looks like we are thinking about splitting the pick to get 2 picks in the first round id imagine if we do this Young will be gone by the time our first pick comes around.

Its a smart move if there is good depth in the top 20. Im not sure if there is. I will be angry if we miss out on a really highly skilled beautiful kick though, its what we desperately need.

3 hours ago, Demon3 said:

This is our guy for sure. We are not getting Anderson. we need to take Young, get langdon, and chase Cutler as well. That takes us from a slow side with out outside run and skill to a side that has that. 

And still better if KK can get himself right.

Young would be a good pick but imo Ash is a better fit right now.  His pace is the standout.  

Hayden Young on Road to the Draft

If we wind up with pick 3 and take it to draft, it seems Young is the likely choice going by reports.

He has elite kicking, so big tick there. Pace is average, and he’s more a defensive 50 player than a midfielder. Personally I’d prefer a pure midfielder, but I guess when you have high draft picks you draft best available not on need.

37 minutes ago, Lord Travis said:

If we wind up with pick 3 and take it to draft, it seems Young is the likely choice going by reports.

He has elite kicking, so big tick there. Pace is average, and he’s more a defensive 50 player than a midfielder. Personally I’d prefer a pure midfielder, but I guess when you have high draft picks you draft best available not on need.

Pace or more importantly burst speed is so essential at AFL level. You can have the most sublime skills at junior level but if you get caught in  a tackle or get caught flat footed while your opposition turns you that's the end.

Hard decisions.

37 minutes ago, Lord Travis said:

If we wind up with pick 3 and take it to draft, it seems Young is the likely choice going by reports.

He has elite kicking, so big tick there. Pace is average, and he’s more a defensive 50 player than a midfielder. Personally I’d prefer a pure midfielder, but I guess when you have high draft picks you draft best available not on need.

Agree 100% with the last part of your post - always take best player available.

Of course the flow-on benefit of this could be Salem making the move to the midfield, or simply a significant improvement in our ball movement when exiting the back half.  Both of these would be a huge improvement for us. 

 

9 minutes ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Pace or more importantly burst speed is so essential at AFL level. You can have the most sublime skills at junior level but if you get caught in  a tackle or get caught flat footed while your opposition turns you that's the end.

Hard decisions.

Agree that pace (and power) is essential at the top level, but I've never heard Young being described as 'slow'.  I've only really heard this being focused on when he is compared with Lachie Ash, who has blistering pace.

i hope we dont split the pick. we need a gun while we have the chance. these blokes lift other players around them, two 'possible', good players could end up just average, and just average is the last thing we need. our list is chockers with 'just average'

Edited August 31, 20195 yr by demonzz

12 hours ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Pace or more importantly burst speed is so essential at AFL level. You can have the most sublime skills at junior level but if you get caught in  a tackle or get caught flat footed while your opposition turns you that's the end.

Hard decisions.

☝? this ... if he doesn't have it his sublime kicking skills at junior level might end up being run of the mill outside of Casey.

Burst speed is something that's given Frosty the space / time to steady and improve his kicking efficiency slowly from approx 64% earlier in the year to approx 68% latterly (68% being roughly  the AFL average but still below defenders' averages).

Edited August 31, 20195 yr by Rusty Nails

Young topped the agility test at the combine.  That's often a good indicator.

Good call. He is not just a stand and kick type.  Outstanding disposal but can also aerobically cover the ground.

prefer Ash for his speed and Serong as a midfield/goalkicker