Jump to content

Featured Replies

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 by A F

 
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! 

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.

 

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. 

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.

 

 


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. 

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 

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.  

 
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.

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). 


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

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. 

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. 

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.

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.


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.

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!

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).

 

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.


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

Farewell Deven, we near knew ye.

Has he still not been picked up?!

 

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


Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
Reply to this topic...

Featured Content

  • FEATURE: 1925

    A hundred years ago today, on 2 May 1925, Melbourne kicked off the new season with a 47 point victory over St Kilda to take top place on the VFL ladder after the opening round of the new season.  Top place was a relatively unknown position for the team then known as the “Fuchsias.” They had finished last in 1923 and rose by only one place in the following year although the final home and away round heralded a promise of things to come when they surprised the eventual premiers Essendon. That victory set the stage for more improvement and it came rapidly. In this series, I will tell the story of how the 1925 season unfolded for the Melbourne Football Club and how it made the VFL finals for the first time in a decade on the way to the ultimate triumph a year later.

      • Love
      • Thanks
      • Like
    • 0 replies
    Demonland
  • PREVIEW: West Coast

    Saturday’s election night game in Perth between the West Coast Eagles and Melbourne represents 18th vs 15th which makes it a tough decision as to which party to favour. The Eagles have yet to break the ice under their new coach in Andrew McQualter who is the second understudy in a row to confront Demon Coach Simon Goodwin who was also winless until a fortnight ago. On that basis, many punters might be considering to go with the donkey vote but I’ve been assigned with the task of helping readers to come to a considered opinion on this matter of vital importance across the nation. It was almost a year ago that I wrote a preview here of the Demons’ away game against the Eagles (under the name William from Waalitj because it was Indigenous Round).  I issued a warning that it was a danger game, based on my local knowledge that the home team were no longer easybeats and that they possessed a wunderkind generational player in Harley Reid who was capable of producing stellar performances playing among men a decade and more older than he.  At the time, the Eagles already had two wins off the back of a couple of the young man’s masterclasses and they had recently given the Bombers a scare straight after their Anzac Day blockbuster draw against the then reigning premiers.

      • Thanks
      • Like
    • 1 reply
    Demonland
  • NON-MFC: Round 08

    Round 08 of the 2025 AFL Season kicks off on Thursday with a must-win game for the Bombers to stay in touch with the top eight, while the struggling Roos seek a morale-boosting upset. Friday sees the Saints desperate for a win as well if they are to stay in finals contention and their opponents the Dockers will be eager to crack in to the Top 8 with a win on the road. Saturday kicks off with a pivotal clash for both sides asthe Bulldogs look to solidify their top-eight spot, while Port seeks to shake their pretender tag. Then the Crows will be looking to steady their topsy turvy season against a resurgent Blues looking to make it 4 wins on the trot. On Election Night a Blockbuster will see the ladder-leading Pies take on the Cats, who are keen to bounce back after a narrow loss. On Sunday the Sydney Derby promises fireworks as the Giants aim to cement their top-eight status, while the Swans fight to keep their season alive. The Hawks, celebrating their centenary, will be looking to easily account for the Tigers who are desperate to halt their slide. The Round concludes on Sunday Night with a top end of the table QClash with significant ladder implications; both Queensland teams are in scintillating form. Who are you tipping this week and what are the best results for the Demons?

    • 145 replies
    Demonland
  • PREGAME: West Coast

    The Demons hit the road in Round 8, heading to Perth to face the West Coast Eagles at Optus Stadium. With momentum building, the Dees will be aiming for a third straight victory to keep their season revival on course. Who comes in and who goes out?

      • Thanks
    • 563 replies
    Demonland
  • REPORT: Richmond

    The fans who turned up to the MCG for Melbourne’s Anzac Day Eve clash against Richmond would have been disappointed if they turned up to see a great spectacle. As much as this was a night for the 71,635 in attendance to commemorate heroes of the nation’s past wars, it was also a time for the Melbourne Football Club to consolidate upon its first win after a horrific start to the 2025 season. On this basis, despite the fact that it was an uninspiring and dour struggle for most of its 100 minutes, the night will be one for the fans to remember. They certainly got value out of the pre match activity honouring those who fought for their country. The MCG and the lights of the city as backdrop was made for nights such as these and, in my view, we received a more inspirational ceremony of Anzac culture than others both here and elsewhere around the country. 

      • Love
      • Thanks
      • Like
    • 0 replies
    Demonland
  • CASEY: Richmond

    The match up of teams competing in our great Aussie game at its second highest level is a rarity for a work day Thursday morning but the blustery conditions that met the players at a windswept Casey Fields was something far more commonplace.They turned the opening stanza between the Casey Demons and a somewhat depleted Richmond VFL into a mess of fumbling unforced errors, spilt marks and wasted opportunities for both sides but they did set up a significant win for the home team which is exactly what transpired on this Anzac Day round opener. Casey opened up strong against the breeze with the first goal to Aidan Johnson, the Tigers quickly responded and the game degenerated into a defensive slog and the teams were level when the first siren sounded.

      • Clap
      • Thanks
      • Like
    • 0 replies
    Demonland