Melbourne and the 2021 National Draft

[dazzledavey36 54,889]

13 minutes ago, Demons11 said:

I’m heating we are trying our hardest to find a way to get GWS’s 2nd pick to try and get Wilmott

Pretty sure we are trying to get West Coast pick 12 as they are happy to move back a few spots if it means they get Chesser.

[dee-tox 4,835]

3 hours ago, DeeSpencer said:

We need taller flanker depth ideally with speed. 

Our forward depth is either talls, smalls or Melksham. Someone with some height would be handy. Even in the grand final side we had Sparrow and Harmes mostly play half forward and JJ as sub. They’re our first line of midfield cover and a more pure forward flanker to compete or fill in for them would be ideal. 

Same for the wing and even down back to a lesser extent where the depth is skinny. 

I think this is spot on. 

 

[Demons11 7,009]

14 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Pretty sure we are trying to get West Coast pick 12 as they are happy to move back a few spots if it means they get Chesser.

👍 I did hear it was pick 12, I thighs GWS had that pick 

[Nascent 9,212]

So possibly 10 for 17, 37 & 49 perhaps?

With bids would look something like

In: pick 12

Out: pick 19, 40, 43(ish)

If we're getting as high up as 12 then that could bring players like Erasmus or Sinn into calculations as well. 

Despite the phantoms I reckon we'll see a lot of "surprises" tomorrow evening.

[Grimes Times 1,278]

14 hours ago, Nascent said:

So possibly 10 for 17, 37 & 49 perhaps?

With bids would look something like

In: pick 12

Out: pick 19, 40, 43(ish)

If we're getting as high up as 12 then that could bring players like Erasmus or Sinn into calculations as well. 

Despite the phantoms I reckon we'll see a lot of "surprises" tomorrow evening.

Could be tempting for WCE as they have 2 very late picks at 67 and 82 which could back our way and WCE would be picking at 40 & 43 instead of 67 and 82 for a slide of 7 picks in first round. We could use 67 on a Taylor slider and 82 for Woey or 67 for Woey and leave 82 open??

Edit, and still have 57

Edited November 23, 2021 by Grimes Times

[Grimes Times 1,278]

18 hours ago, DubDee said:

Developing ruck/tall fwd is our number 1 need imo.  hard to trade in these blokes.  When Max is gone in a few years Jacko will be solo. depends if there are good prospects available

then a winger/outside mid with skill

then best available i reckon

I suspect JT is playing games and we have our eye on a specific target which is why we traded up.  hopefully he pulls off another young gun (so to speak!)

Bailey Laurie

[Lucifers Hero 39,758]

What a wonderful draft result for us! 

Particularly that we started with just picks 37, 49 and 57 to which we added 17 before the draft started.  We went out to fill 'needs' and that we did with:

• Jacob van Rooyen
• Blake Howes
• Taj Woewodin 
• Andy Moniz-Wakefield (will automatically become a B Rookie)

That Howes (and so many others) slid down the order shows the draft was, as predicted by observers, very even and it shows that many clubs went very early into 'fill needs' mode than 'best available' mode.   All the better for us!

Given we (and others) were strongly linked to Howes with our first round pick, one could say we drafted two first rounders for the price of one!  How (no pun intended) valuable was that pick swap of our 2022 first for pick 17 this year!

And, as a bonus we collected two 2022 picks by trading out what started out as picks 49 and 57 which otherwise would have gone unused:

• 3rd round from Adelaide (and I think tied to Adelaide; low 40 to mid 50 range)
• 4th round from St Kilda (but not sure which team it is tied to; mid 50 to mid 60 range).

Some might think they are 'lowly' picks but they are not something to be sneezed at.  They will be valuable currency next year.  I can't see us using either pick as Taylor just doesn't do low order draft picks very often.  More likely deal sweeteners for trades, help F/S, Academy teams, help us get back into the first round or move up the order.

And we traded in Dunstan.  

Given that the majority of our Premiership Team is contracted for quite a few years, I hope we can find room in the 22 to get these (and prior draftees) games.

First class off-season list management for the reigning Premiers🏆🎏

Edited November 26, 2021 by Lucifers Hero

[BAMF 4,351]

So happy with the way it's turned out.

I was surprised how relieved I was once we picked JVR. I really wanted a KPF in this draft and am happy we picked up one earlier rather than later.

No way did I think Howes would be available at pick 39. We were linked to him in most phantom drafts at pick 19. Very glad we picked a taller midfielder with versatility. 

Adding Woewodin with our last pick is just the icing on the cake. This kid has gone from a potential rookie to a really promising talent in the last 12 months. His old man got the best out of himself and it seems Taj has the same attitude. No limits on this kid now he is in the system. He could be the best of the lot.

A developing ruck is the last thing on my shopping list, but with the ruck merry go round that happens each year its not critical need.

[durango 2,007]

Next year it will be harder for 1st to 4th year players to be gifted games they will have to earn the spots unless we have a horror run of injuries.

It will be a year of development, playing various roles and getting VFL games into these players who will slot into the teams when they are ready to do the job.

We are no longer a team which rushes recruits to fill holes in our AFL team as there are players like Melksham, Dunstan, Daw, Hunt, Tomlinson, Smith, Weideman, Chandler, Jordan, Baker, Bedford and Mitch Brown who have tasted AFL football and are itching to be a part of the 23 who will lineup for our next Premiership.

So recruits like Laurie, Rosman, Turner, Von Rooyen, Woewodin, Deakyn Smith and Howes who will have to fight and scratch in the VFL to even get recognised as AFL players.

Edited November 25, 2021 by durango

[Whispering_Jack 30,054]

2021 AFL Draft review: Melbourne

[adonski 12,109]

Melbourne held its pick 19 and drafted Jacob van Rooyen, with Howes, as well as ruckman Toby Conway, also a contender for that spot. That the Dees got Howes the next night at pick 39 was a bonus for the premiers.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/689980/inside-the-draft-the-tension-tactics-and-trades-that-didn-t-come-off

[Nascent 9,212]

Really interesting article.

We offered 19 and 39 for Giants 15 allegedly to target Wilmot.

Also interesting to note that the Bombers had Howes in the mix for their pick 13.

[DeeSpencer 25,687]

Does show how conservative teams are with trading back. They really prioritise the guys on their board rather than having multiple decent picks. 

GWS should’ve taken a deal from us or Sydney I reckon and moved back 3-4 places. They are one team that doesn’t really need future picks though.

And there’s a fair case to say Hawthorns deal of 23 and a future 2nd would’ve worked out nicely for us. The other side of that is that we clearly were keen on JVR.

In terms of the players I think the age factor of Wilmot is fascinating. He could take a huge leap forward as he catches up to his cohort. Or he could be an early bloomer already up to his age group. I’m not sure how recruiters adjust for that in any scientific way. But I can see how clubs were thinking this guy could’ve been a top 5-10 pick next year if he was born a week later.

Conway doesn’t really surprise me. A young ruck is a need and JT hasn’t had any luck with late ruck picks. He’s got the size and physicality we seem to like. 

 

[adonski 12,109]

2 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

Does show how conservative teams are with trading back. They really prioritise the guys on their board rather than having multiple decent picks. 

GWS should’ve taken a deal from us or Sydney I reckon and moved back 3-4 places. They are one team that doesn’t really need future picks though.

And there’s a fair case to say Hawthorns deal of 23 and a future 2nd would’ve worked out nicely for us. The other side of that is that we clearly were keen on JVR.

In terms of the players I think the age factor of Wilmot is fascinating. He could take a huge leap forward as he catches up to his cohort. Or he could be an early bloomer already up to his age group. I’m not sure how recruiters adjust for that in any scientific way. But I can see how clubs were thinking this guy could’ve been a top 5-10 pick next year if he was born a week later.

Conway doesn’t really surprise me. A young ruck is a need and JT hasn’t had any luck with late ruck picks. He’s got the size and physicality we seem to like. 

 

Apparently Brisbane had Wilmot as their 11th rated player for this draft, and given his age (a couple of days off being in next years draft), they projected he could have been a possible top 5 pick in 2023