If a quality key position player is available I would think we would have to look long and hard at them. Amiss and Van Rooyen in particular.

Otherwise there seems to be a plethora of mids/half backs that will be around the mark. One that caught my attention was Matthew Johnson from WA. Tall midfielder with great decision making and skills. Also loves the contested stuff which we know the dees value highly. Might go before our pick though.

 

 

 

5 minutes ago, Nascent said:

If a quality key position player is available I would think we would have to look long and hard at them. Amiss and Van Rooyen in particular.

Otherwise there seems to be a plethora of mids/half backs that will be around the mark. One that caught my attention was Matthew Johnson from WA. Tall midfielder with great decision making and skills. Also loves the contested stuff which we know the dees value highly. Might go before our pick though.

 

 

 

Watched this the other day, feels like he's just James Jordon 2.0?

17 minutes ago, adonski said:

Watched this the other day, feels like he's just James Jordon 2.0?

More impressive to my eyes. Seems stronger and harder at the ball as well as having greater agility and has the strength to stand up in a tackle and get an effective disposal away. At 192cm he could be a beast.

Maybe @Pennant St Dee will have some insights into him and how he is rated over in WA?

1 minute ago, Nascent said:

More impressive to my eyes. Seems stronger and harder at the ball as well as having greater agility and has the strength to stand up in a tackle and get an effective disposal away. At 192cm he could be a beast.

Maybe @Pennant St Dee will have some insights into him and how he is rated over in WA?

Haha yeah I'm underselling him a bit, he looks class but didn't wow me to be honest, not that it means much!

45 minutes ago, Nascent said:

More impressive to my eyes. Seems stronger and harder at the ball as well as having greater agility and has the strength to stand up in a tackle and get an effective disposal away. At 192cm he could be a beast.

Maybe @Pennant St Dee will have some insights into him and how he is rated over in WA?

He’s rated extremely high, easy to see why good size who plays through the middle and is a good user of the ball, which isn’t common for a player of his size. He has strength in congestion and can hit the scoreboard.

He’s going in the first dozen picks for mine and the only thing I see him not going to Freo is they IMO will take Erasmus and possibly Amiss with 6 and 8. Although I wouldn’t be surprised if they took Johnson and Erasmus and backed Van Rooyen or Jack Williams to be available with their 3rd pick 

3 hours ago, adonski said:

Haha yeah I'm underselling him a bit, he looks class but didn't wow me to be honest, not that it means much!

Fair enough, to be honest he's probably not what we need anyway. I'm genuinely curious to see how this first round plays out and who we end up with.

14 hours ago, Action Jackson said:

Interested to hear people's thoughts on Toby Conway as a potential option for pick 17?

Feel like it would be perfect timing to bring him in and develop for 3-4 years under Gawn before taking the number 1 ruck role once he retires.

Watching highlights he seems pretty mobile for a 204cm player.

Jackson will take the number 1 ruck role.

18 hours ago, Deestroy All said:

I herd he was going to Adelaide to play with Billy Frampton. 

Ah... Frampton comes Alive!!?

"I WANT YOOOU DAY AFTER DAAAYY"

Edited October 13, 20213 yr by picket fence

Ah the mystery of pick 17. I doubt we are simply hoping someone will drop down the order. I assume we think there is someone a bit lower that we rate as a good prospect. 

Best available at 17. However we seem to be ok for small and tall forwards. With Dunstan coming in and the likely pick up of F/S  (Woey) and Academy player mids seem to be ok.

A back up ruck is a need. Could be one available at our next pick. Fortunately unlike other clubs we did not have to trade for a ready made. Could use 17 or our next pick.

A back up developing KPB is also a need.

Always 'left field' draft possibilities. Can't wait till draft night!!!

 

 

10 hours ago, manny100 said:

Best available at 17. However we seem to be ok for small and tall forwards. With Dunstan coming in and the likely pick up of F/S  (Woey) and Academy player mids seem to be ok.

A back up ruck is a need. Could be one available at our next pick. Fortunately unlike other clubs we did not have to trade for a ready made. Could use 17 or our next pick.

A back up developing KPB is also a need.

Always 'left field' draft possibilities. Can't wait till draft night!!!

 

 

We already have a developing key back and that is Turner. We need a developing ruckman a lock down back pocket player and 2 mids.

1 hour ago, WERRIDEE said:

We already have a developing key back and that is Turner. We need a developing ruckman a lock down back pocket player and 2 mids.

I would argue that we need a developing tall forward more than a ruck but I would like to get 1 of each.

You can always pick up a component ruck at trade time if we need decent depth later on.

It’s worth remembering we also have both our category B rookie spots and in the past this has been where we have tried out developing rucks. I think we will draft best available at 17 most likely a combination of multiple mids or a developing KPF if one slides.  Beyond that I think we go for mids/wing with the other two 2nd and 3rd rounds picks and aim to get a developing ruck as a B rookie. Unless Mac Andrew slides, then all bets are off.

35 minutes ago, deejammin' said:

It’s worth remembering we also have both our category B rookie spots and in the past this has been where we have tried out developing rucks. I think we will draft best available at 17 most likely a combination of multiple mids or a developing KPF if one slides.  Beyond that I think we go for mids/wing with the other two 2nd and 3rd rounds picks and aim to get a developing ruck as a B rookie. Unless Mac Andrew slides, then all bets are off.

Was going to say something similar. We tried Bradtke in a cat-B spot for a few years. It didn't work out. But let's not go and blow all our draft cookies on a developing ruck, or give up on the concept. There have been some amazing finds and a lot of failures bringing people into our sport. We were the pioneers, and scored a Brownlow and club champion from it. Maybe scour the American college basketball leagues for our next prospective ruck? 

With no glaring list needs, we’ll be going best available at 17 if we still hold that pick come time. Draft watchers, who’s likely to be around this mark that fits the new Melbourne model of competitor with class?

17 hours ago, BAMF said:

I would argue that we need a developing tall forward more than a ruck but I would like to get 1 of each.

You can always pick up a component ruck at trade time if we need decent depth later on.

one thing against picking up a developing key forward is that - with a few exceptions - their role has become as much about being a link in the chain / bringing it to ground / gut-running as anything

long gone are the days of key forwards being the 'stars' of the competition - now it's all about those powerhouse mids who can hit the scoreboard (trac, neck tatts, etc.)

 

31 minutes ago, Lord Travis said:

With no glaring list needs, we’ll be going best available at 17 if we still hold that pick come time. Draft watchers, who’s likely to be around this mark that fits the new Melbourne model of competitor with class?

Campbell Chesser

11 minutes ago, Goat said:

Campbell Chesser

Had a quick dig. Outside line breaker with good skills. Could be what the doctor ordered. I’m partial to these types to help compliment our awesome inside mid brigade. Langdon has been a revelation in that regard.

5 hours ago, Skuit said:

Was going to say something similar. We tried Bradtke in a cat-B spot for a few years. It didn't work out. But let's not go and blow all our draft cookies on a developing ruck, or give up on the concept. There have been some amazing finds and a lot of failures bringing people into our sport. We were the pioneers, and scored a Brownlow and club champion from it. Maybe scour the American college basketball leagues for our next prospective ruck? 

Did Bradtke really get enough of a chance?  There was very little VFL footy since 2020...even that season  was limited.

Melbourne has been a breeding ground for ruckmen the last 20 years, and Jackson is the first to develop so quickly. (think Jamar, Jolly, Gawn, McInerney,Martin....any others?)

I was hoping Bradtke would eventually prosper,having had the advantage of a top class mentor in Gawn. Perhaps he was proven not to have the hardness,or willingness to attain fitness of the necessary standard.

20 minutes ago, Jumping Jack Clennett said:

Did Bradtke really get enough of a chance?  There was very little VFL footy since 2020...even that season  was limited.

Melbourne has been a breeding ground for ruckmen the last 20 years, and Jackson is the first to develop so quickly. (think Jamar, Jolly, Gawn, McInerney,Martin....any others?)

I was hoping Bradtke would eventually prosper,having had the advantage of a top class mentor in Gawn. Perhaps he was proven not to have the hardness,or willingness to attain fitness of the necessary standard.

we took a punt, gave him a chance, it didn’t work out.

Maybe it’s also a timing issue- we may look at a younger ruck prospect who is further back and has a longer development and higher ceiling, given the current Gawn Jacko combo with Daw as 3rd wheel?  Bradtke had a number of years, and it would probably be at least another 2 before he got his shot.  

The problem with ruck prospects is that the cupboard is bare. There’s Mac Andrew who is viewed as a longish term fix as a ruckman at best and there’s the Geelong Falcons’ Toby Conway and very little else. If clubs are desperate to infuse  ruck talent, they’re going to have to pay overs. Otherwise, wait till next year.

Is pick 17 too early for Leek Alleer?

He just broke Nic Nat's jumping record at the combine and has held his own in the SANFL at 19/20 years old.

Intercept defender is far from our biggest need but just like Jackson was doubling up on a strength imagine if we could train this guy up under May and Lever and have an absolute wall down back. And no other team gets him! 

His game needs rounding out but he's clearly tough going back with the flight and he can just jump clear above his SANFL senior opponents. I'm not worried that he's a year or two older given he's doing this against men.

 

 

He’s the clone of Allir Allir in style of style and physical capabilities.  A year or two in the gym will mean he’s able to match up on big forwards.  Perfectly suited to a future CHB role. He smashed the vertical leap record at the combine and perhaps could play round 1 2022 with a big preseason.  A serious talent.  Not sure he’s on the Dees list but you never know.  

Any chance Josh Sinn will drop this far? Saw an article about him sliding due to injuries and covid lock down.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theage.com.au/sport/afl/on-the-slide-from-top-five-sinn-could-be-an-afl-draft-bargain-20211017-p590o3.html

The hightlights are impressive