Deven Robertson (Drafted by Brisbane)

[Adam The God 30,261]

I'm still trying to work out why this guy isn't a top 5 rated prospect. He's a nice kick on both sides of his body, he can win it in close, get it on the outside, does the 1%ers and has the leadership to influence in the big moments. The guy looks like a Selwood clone and an absolute gun that could play Round 1, 2020. Am I missing something with him?

Edited November 26, 2019 by A F

[fr_ap 2,488]

4 minutes ago, A F said:

I'm still trying to work out why this guy isn't a top 5 rated prospect. He's a nice kick on both sides of his body, he can win it in close, get it on the outside, does the 1%ers and has the leadership to influence in the big moments. The guy looks like a Selwood clone and an absolute gun that could play Round 1, 2020. Am I missing something with him?

You're not missing anything. 

There is a slight knock on his kicking and I suppose his doesn't have any stand out athletic attributes - but good at everything to a good level. 

The Selwood comparisons are very apt. Selwood also isn't the world's greatest kick but knows his value and his limitations. I get that vibe with Deven. 

The interesting thing about him for me is that although he gets tons of the footy and is usually constructive, it's his off the ball work - bumping, tackling and smothering that reminds me of Selwood the most. 

Long term in the system i expect him to be one of the best players from this draft. Jackson at 3 with his running mate Deven at 10 will be hard to pass up. Let's hope kozzie is worth it if that's what we do! 

[Adam The God 30,261]

41 minutes ago, fr_ap said:

The Selwood comparisons are very apt. Selwood also isn't the world's greatest kick but knows his value and his limitations. I get that vibe with Deven. 

The interesting thing about him for me is that although he gets tons of the footy and is usually constructive, it's his off the ball work - bumping, tackling and smothering that reminds me of Selwood the most. 

I'm going purely on highlights, but the 1%ers seem very Selwood and remind me too of the sorts of desperate things he does in game.

41 minutes ago, fr_ap said:

Long term in the system i expect him to be one of the best players from this draft. Jackson at 3 with his running mate Deven at 10 will be hard to pass up. Let's hope kozzie is worth it if that's what we do! 

Will be fascinating to see if Freo pass him up twice. I doubt it. You don't average 30 touches in the Championships if you're a mug.

[Ted Lasso 19,518]

He's got a decent burst of speed which i'm not sure the highlights really show. 

reminds me a lot of Jack Viney to be honest. 

someone you know who'd give you 110% every time he took the field. 

[DeeSpencer 25,713]

40 minutes ago, A F said:

I'm still trying to work out why this guy isn't a top 5 rated prospect. He's a nice kick on both sides of his body, he can win it in close, get it on the outside, does the 1%ers and has the leadership to influence in the big moments. The guy looks like a Selwood clone and an absolute gun that could play Round 1, 2020. Am I missing something with him?

Selwood's been an absolute champion but I think the way the Tigers have changed the modern game is challenging recruiters and coaches on just what the value of a Selwood type player is worth. An absolute champion is clearly great but a lesser imitation might not be all that valuable.

At 183cm Robertson isn't a big body, he's a good all round athlete but not off the charts in speed or fitness, isn't a great or maybe even a good kick, can't really play more than 1 position well. 

Richmond are rolling out midfielders who are mostly faster and more skilful, therefore also more versatile. Or bigger bodies like Caddy.

As I said in an earlier thread if he's Selwood you have to take him, but if he's closer to an Andrew Swallow with the way the game is going you look elsewhere.

 

 

[fr_ap 2,488]

47 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

Selwood's been an absolute champion but I think the way the Tigers have changed the modern game is challenging recruiters and coaches on just what the value of a Selwood type player is worth. An absolute champion is clearly great but a lesser imitation might not be all that valuable.

At 183cm Robertson isn't a big body, he's a good all round athlete but not off the charts in speed or fitness, isn't a great or maybe even a good kick, can't really play more than 1 position well. 

Richmond are rolling out midfielders who are mostly faster and more skilful, therefore also more versatile. Or bigger bodies like Caddy.

As I said in an earlier thread if he's Selwood you have to take him, but if he's closer to an Andrew Swallow with the way the game is going you look elsewhere.

 

 

He's a far more natural footy player than Andrew Swallow, who was one of the most robotic unnatural footballers I have ever seen. How he made a career for himself as well as he did I will never know. 

[Pennant St Dee 13,185]

2 hours ago, A F said:

I'm still trying to work out why this guy isn't a top 5 rated prospect. He's a nice kick on both sides of his body, he can win it in close, get it on the outside, does the 1%ers and has the leadership to influence in the big moments. The guy looks like a Selwood clone and an absolute gun that could play Round 1, 2020. Am I missing something with him?

You're not missing anything AF,  his most outstanding feature is the leadership.

Hard to gauge and see in testing or underage level. I see him as a player who will stand up in the big occasion. I don't see him as one whose going produce moments of magic or brilliance that wins games.

I see more of a player who will refuse to lay down and will throw their body at anything and make those desperate 1%ers that win games.

He'll lift those around him who are the icing on the cake players 

[spirit of norm smith 16,462]

I’m definitely a wrap in this kid.  Great skills. Pace.  Hard edge.  Leader. I’d put the house on him as a 200 gamer.
 

 I thought Freo would  draft him at their 1st available pick without doubt. Twomey has Freo taking Young and Serong. 
 

if Deven Robertson was available at our pick 10 or whatever it is, he’d be a fantastic get ... imo.  

[DeeSpencer 25,713]

2 hours ago, fr_ap said:

He's a far more natural footy player than Andrew Swallow, who was one of the most robotic unnatural footballers I have ever seen. How he made a career for himself as well as he did I will never know. 

Absolutely, but I just used Swallow as an example because he really faded down the stretch as the game adapted and he was also a WA captain with excellent leadership skills and selfless play.

One dimensional players are certainly on the decline if you look at Green also dropping down the order.

[Skuit 10,031]

9 hours ago, A F said:

I'm still trying to work out why this guy isn't a top 5 rated prospect. 

Amateur-hour contribution but I sense a go-home factor in Deven which may be limiting the commentary. 

(Same for Henry, but he's already being marketed by Freo, so there's no way they will let him slip regardless). 

For whatever reason, I don't have the same feeling re. Jackson. Maybe it's his previous exposure to the world? 

That raises an interesting point regarding Jackson though -  which only just occurred to me now:

Kid was on a lucrative path toward the NBA. Called his mum while on camp and gave it up. 

It doesn't scream mental fortitude to continue through the hard times . . . (No serious aspersions intended). 

[Mondê 525]

1 hour ago, Skuit said:

Amateur-hour contribution but I sense a go-home factor in Deven which may be limiting the commentary. 

(Same for Henry, but he's already being marketed by Freo, so there's no way they will let him slip regardless). 

For whatever reason, I don't have the same feeling re. Jackson. Maybe it's his previous exposure to the world? 

That raises an interesting point regarding Jackson though -  which only just occurred to me now:

Kid was on a lucrative path toward the NBA. Called his mum while on camp and gave it up. 

It doesn't scream mental fortitude to continue through the hard times . . . (No serious aspersions intended). 

Absolutely no evidence that he was NBA standard. If anything a kid of that age being decisive about the path he wants to take shows plenty of character imo

[Skuit 10,031]

3 minutes ago, Mondê said:

Absolutely no evidence that he was NBA standard. If anything a kid of that age being decisive about the path he wants to take shows plenty of character imo

Fair enough. I have no idea of his basketball credentials - but evidently they were decent. So being willing to back out of a potential but unfulfilling career at a young age could also indicate a high level of maturity. 

[fr_ap 2,488]

7 hours ago, DeeSpencer said:

Absolutely, but I just used Swallow as an example because he really faded down the stretch as the game adapted and he was also a WA captain with excellent leadership skills and selfless play.

One dimensional players are certainly on the decline if you look at Green also dropping down the order.

Fair observations. 

Robertson has a bit more natural agility and flow to his game than Swallow did though, so I'm not sure he's quite as one dimensional. However, you're probably right in this being the concern with him given he's not spoken about as top 5/10 despite his amazing statistics. 

I wouldn't consider Selwood one dimensional. Whilst off the ball selfless acts are his MO, he can still deliver the ball accurately and he can kick goals. 

Swallow couldn't do anything but run in a straight line and put his body on the line. Had no agility, no skills, no overhead prowess. 

[Accepting Mediocrity 1,418]

12 hours ago, DeeSpencer said:

I think the way the Tigers have changed the modern game is challenging recruiters and coaches

They certainly have - the game continually evolves (stating the obvious I know). 10 years ago it was all about trying to emulate geelong - midfielders, midfielders and more midfielders. Then collingwood won a flag, and the 'Leigh Brown Role' became a thing, which resulted in average players becoming seriously overrated because they could play forward and ruck (see Kurt Tippet). 

I'm cautious of following the Richmond trend - I still think drafting good footballers first and foremost is a more sound strategy than trying to fill positions with first round picks. On that basis, I wouldn't be disappointed if we drafted Robertson. 

Also, Andrew Swallow is being seriously underrated here - sure, he was a limited footballer, but you don't captain a club and win 3 B&F's by being an average player. He dropped off a cliff because he was cooked, not because the game changed IMO.

[Adam The God 30,261]

I'd be happy to look further afield (ie not another mid) if we land Green at 3, otherwise I'd be okay with Robertson or Kemp at 10 if we select Jackson at 3. But at the end of the day, you should always select best available IMO.

[poita 3,902]

Seems a much better prospect at pick 10 than any small forward - I'll be disappointed if we overlook he or Kemp to take Pickett.

[JakovichScissorKick 771]

Could still be there at pick 28.

[Lord Travis 10,730]

Will be a steal to whoever gets him. He’s a great young leader and good footballer to boot. I hope we can land him!

[Ron Burgundy 8,584]

7 minutes ago, JakovichScissorKick said:

Could still be there at pick 28.

Can’t believe he hasn’t already been picked up. But surely he won’t be there at 28 (or 30 or whatever pick we now have).

 

[Wiseblood 24,637]

7 hours ago, poita said:

Seems a much better prospect at pick 10 than any small forward - I'll be disappointed if we overlook he or Kemp to take Pickett.

I'm so glad you're disappointed.

[fr_ap 2,488]

I am absolutely flummoxed as to why he hasn't been taken. Pray to the drafting gods overnight that he lasts to our pick (and we pick him of course). 

Doubt he gets there, every team will be trying to jockey up and get him I think. 

Poor kid was the only one in the room that didn't get picked I think? Must be tough to see all your colleagues get picked up with polos, interviews while you still sit there

[Clintosaurus 7,849]

Farewell Deven, we near knew ye.

[Lord Travis 10,730]

Has he still not been picked up?!

[1 red eye 1 blue eye 771]

First pick of the night LT

[1 red eye 1 blue eye 771]

Pick 22 listed under the first round, Brizzy did a pick swap with Port and grabbed him.