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2023 AFL National Draft prospects: The next batch

Whispering_Jack
Whispering_Jack
in Melbourne Demons

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On 9/16/2023 at 5:24 PM, BW511 said:

This is my pet peeve with our side. Half of our forwards are defenders first and it’s left to too few generating scores.

The balance is not quite right

Its our game plan - Forward half territory. 

Its why a forward line like Collingwood, which on paper is "No Frills", can prosper.

When you play with 3/4 of oppositions defense in the forward 50, what is the expectation? We take a contested mark? We have one of the shortest lists going around. 

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    4 minutes ago, Gawndy the Great said:

    Its our game plan - Forward half territory. 

    Its why a forward line like Collingwood, which on paper is "No Frills", can prosper.

    When you play with 3/4 of oppositions defense in the forward 50, what is the expectation? We take a contested mark? We have one of the shortest lists going around. 

    It's all about ball movement, opposition teams know our kick inside 50m is terrible so they sit back wait for the turnover kick and attack from there.

    Until we address the teams kicking we have to play this way.  Kick the ball better you can hit that dangerous through the corridor kick and open up your forward line, whilst we kick poorly we are stuck with the predictable kick.

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    42 minutes ago, drdrake said:

    It's all about ball movement, opposition teams know our kick inside 50m is terrible so they sit back wait for the turnover kick and attack from there.

    Until we address the teams kicking we have to play this way.  Kick the ball better you can hit that dangerous through the corridor kick and open up your forward line, whilst we kick poorly we are stuck with the predictable kick.

    100%. Said it last year that we have to evolve. Frankly didn't see any improvement in a ball use.

    I also notice that our inside-to-outside chains are non-existent. We never try to clear the contest to the outside, just win-it and hack it forward. 

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    1 hour ago, Gawndy the Great said:

    Its our game plan - Forward half territory. 

    Its why a forward line like Collingwood, which on paper is "No Frills", can prosper.

    When you play with 3/4 of oppositions defense in the forward 50, what is the expectation? We take a contested mark? We have one of the shortest lists going around. 

    Understand completely, I just don’t agree with it and think our balance and game style is not quite evolved enough yet.

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    4 hours ago, Gawndy the Great said:

    Its our game plan - Forward half territory. 

    Its why a forward line like Collingwood, which on paper is "No Frills", can prosper.

    When you play with 3/4 of oppositions defense in the forward 50, what is the expectation? We take a contested mark? We have one of the shortest lists going around. 

    That is why Goody is happy if our talls in a pack situation can get the ball to ground in a good spot for our smalls to work from. Its get the ball in and keep it in.

    Petty is smart on the lead and good in a one on one up forward.

    Petty, Melksham injuries JVR suspension and Brayshaw concussion stuffed our chances - luck does play a part. You need a pretty healthy list going into and during finals.

     

     

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    23 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

    His kicking action is eerily similar to Steven May.

    mckercher, regarded as the best kick in the draft has said that he thinks schoenmakers is top tier, would be a real weapon from deep defence to release pressure if he can spot up targets outside d50

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    On 9/14/2023 at 8:24 PM, spirit of norm smith said:

    Interested to see Charlie Edwards rise up into Cal’s listing. He’s at Melbourne Grammar and got better and better as the year progressed.  His last few games at Sandy Dragons were hugely impressive.  The dragons are a breeding ground for quality Mids.

    If the Dees have a second round pick around the 22-25 range, he would be hopefully on JTs list.

    190cms. Strong. Good pace. Inside or outside. Skills. Can kick 45+ metres.

    I’m putting him into JTs list. 

    @DeeSpencer@ChaserJ

    Charlie Edwards had another good game in preliminary final.  Looks like he’d fit into the Dees midfield like a glove.  He might be the Demonlanders one to watch in this years draft. 
     

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    18 minutes ago, spirit of norm smith said:

    @DeeSpencer@ChaserJ

    Charlie Edwards had another good game in preliminary final.  Looks like he’d fit into the Dees midfield like a glove.  He might be the Demonlanders one to watch in this years draft. 
     

    Yep, looking forward to watching Edwards on Sunday!

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    I missed this, in an article by Cal Twomey, 4 days ago:

    " Sanders, who has an Indigenous background, is yet to be added to the AFL's Next Generation Academy list. Under NGA rules, clubs can't match bids on prospects inside the first 40 picks of the draft, but there has been a view that the Roos could be given access to match a bid at any point for Sanders as part of their assistance package.

    However, with just over a week to go before the AFL Commission meets, there is a growing feel among rivals that Sanders, a certain top-10 pick, will more likely be in the open pool. "

    Hopefully this happens, as it would be good news for us, as he may end up being the one we draft with our first pick.

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    On 9/19/2023 at 10:29 PM, 2021 said:

    I missed this, in an article by Cal Twomey, 4 days ago:

    " Sanders, who has an Indigenous background, is yet to be added to the AFL's Next Generation Academy list. Under NGA rules, clubs can't match bids on prospects inside the first 40 picks of the draft, but there has been a view that the Roos could be given access to match a bid at any point for Sanders as part of their assistance package.

    However, with just over a week to go before the AFL Commission meets, there is a growing feel among rivals that Sanders, a certain top-10 pick, will more likely be in the open pool. "

    Hopefully this happens, as it would be good news for us, as he may end up being the one we draft with our first pick.

    That would be good. Ridiculous if the supposed NGA process is manipulated to gift Sanders to the Roos.  

    Sanders reminds me of Sam Walsh in his draft year.  

    Whilst Sanders and Mckercher are a long term risk due to being from Tassie, they are both high quality Mids that have class and are the elite type Mids we desperately need.  Both would be ready to debut within the 1st half of 2024 imv. Either would be great with pick 5/6.  

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    On 9/19/2023 at 10:29 PM, 2021 said:

    I missed this, in an article by Cal Twomey, 4 days ago:

    " Sanders, who has an Indigenous background, is yet to be added to the AFL's Next Generation Academy list. Under NGA rules, clubs can't match bids on prospects inside the first 40 picks of the draft, but there has been a view that the Roos could be given access to match a bid at any point for Sanders as part of their assistance package.

    However, with just over a week to go before the AFL Commission meets, there is a growing feel among rivals that Sanders, a certain top-10 pick, will more likely be in the open pool. "Hopefully this happens, as it would be good news for us, as he may end up being the one we draft with our first pick.

    North are really going to shape this draft eh. If the above does happen they would be in the box seat for the Suns pick 4. Package up 10&14. Giving them 2,3&4

    Alternatively they could split 3 with us and still get Sanders. You would think they would be keen to bring in some established player rather than 3/4 first round picks. 

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    This draft is compromised to the ridiculous. North should not get a 1st round in this draft. How are middle of the range clubs supposed to improve if they are pushed back to far in the draft.

    Crikey, if Northern clubs get a free hit at Academy picks below 40 they should be paying a 20% points premium for getting the player they want (at least for the top 10). 20% discount on top of getting a potential gun player. - stupid.

    We will need to go 'hell for leather' to get GCs pick 4. If not at least a good move up the order. It will cost a mint in points though!!!

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    With our game plan we need forward players who can find space in a crowded phone box. Petty and Fritter can do this but another would be handy. If we can get 2 or 3 of this type on the field at once it makes them hard to cover.

    Petty was a bigger loss than it was given credit for.

    Watson or Caddy?

    Better delivery to inside 50 would be handy as well. We need another player who is a ball collector as well as a good distributor?  Hard to find these types. 

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    Potential (available) A graders - excludes the father-son and Academy gift boxed players

    Mids.   Reid, Mckercher, Sanders, Curtin

    Mid runners. Wilson (Darcy), Windsor, Edwards (Charlie), Freijah

    Med-small forward. Caddy, Watson, Duursma 

    Key forwards  Reid, Morris, 

    Running defenders. Hardeman, Roberts , Philactides 

    Key defenders. O’Sullivan , Murphy , Schoenmakers, Dawson

    Rucks. Green (Will) 

    Wildcard.   Ashton Moir. 

    Edited by spirit of norm smith
    O

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    Agree @BaliDemon

    Mckercher is exactly the type of player that the Dees need. 


    Skills. Pace. Excellent Decision maker.  Goalkicker.  He’s a gun.  

    Doubt he gets to pick 6 because Kangas, Hawks and Suns pick (whoever gets it) will be seeing Mckercher as a key target to pick.  We need to somehow get that GC pick.  

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    On 9/19/2023 at 9:11 PM, spirit of norm smith said:

    @DeeSpencer@ChaserJ

    Charlie Edwards had another good game in preliminary final.  Looks like he’d fit into the Dees midfield like a glove.  He might be the Demonlanders one to watch in this years draft. 

    Cal Twomey’s reckons Edwards is jumping into first round contention with performances like this:

     

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    9 minutes ago, ChaserJ said:

    Cal Twomey’s reckons Edwards is jumping into first round contention with performances like this:

     

    Skills seem meh

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    2 hours ago, spirit of norm smith said:


    Agree @BaliDemon

    Mckercher is exactly the type of player that the Dees need. 


    Skills. Pace. Excellent Decision maker.  Goalkicker.  He’s a gun.  

    This is the guy🔥🔥🔥

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    15 minutes ago, RedLegs23 said:

    This is the guy🔥🔥🔥

    McKercher’s terrific, think he’ll have a similar impact to Gulden and Butters at AFL level. Don’t see him getting to our pick unless Roos reach for Sanders. Even then it seems unlikely.

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    On 9/20/2023 at 10:15 AM, manny100 said:

    This draft is compromised to the ridiculous. North should not get a 1st round in this draft. How are middle of the range clubs supposed to improve if they are pushed back to far in the draft.

    Crikey, if Northern clubs get a free hit at Academy picks below 40 they should be paying a 20% points premium for getting the player they want (at least for the top 10). 20% discount on top of getting a potential gun player. - stupid.

    We will need to go 'hell for leather' to get GCs pick 4. If not at least a good move up the order. It will cost a mint in points though!!!

    If it wasn’t for the AFL handing GC Anderson on a platter, we’d be in a far better position. Now they hand GC Walters, and North appear to be getting more than they deserve. The player we should’ve landed we probably won’t. I hope one of these players comes out and says I’ll only play for the Dees.

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    39 minutes ago, ChaserJ said:

    McKercher’s terrific, think he’ll have a similar impact to Gulden and Butters at AFL level. Don’t see him getting to our pick unless Roos reach for Sanders. Even then it seems unlikely.

    Yeah no doubt. Pick 4 looks to be the key

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    From media reports, looks like 

    1-Eagles  Harley Reid

    2- Suns (Academy match)  Jed Walter

    3-Kangas  Coby Mckercher 

    4- Kangas (Mckay gift compensation 🤬) Daniel Curtin

    5- Hawks  Zane Duursma 

    6- Bulldogs (trade from Suns) Ryley Sanders 

    7- Dees … options left would be … bid on Ethan Read (Suns to match) … then choice of Caddy, Watson, Wilson or O’Sullivan.  Right now I’d be picking Darcy Wilson as a running creative goalkicking mid.  
     

    Love to see how we can grab that Suns pick. 

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    34 minutes ago, spirit of norm smith said:

    From media reports, looks like 

    1-Eagles  Harley Reid

    2- Suns (Academy match)  Jed Walter

    3-Kangas  Coby Mckercher 

    4- Kangas (Mckay gift compensation 🤬) Daniel Curtin

    5- Hawks  Zane Duursma 

    6- Bulldogs (trade from Suns) Ryley Sanders 

    7- Dees … options left would be … bid on Ethan Read (Suns to match) … then choice of Caddy, Watson, Wilson or O’Sullivan.  Right now I’d be picking Darcy Wilson as a running creative goalkicking mid.  
     

    Love to see how we can grab that Suns pick. 

    Bulldogs will grab Watson 

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    On 9/20/2023 at 11:13 AM, spirit of norm smith said:

    Potential (available) A graders - excludes the father-son and Academy gift boxed players

    Mids.   Reid, Mckercher, Sanders, Curtin

    Mid runners. Wilson (Darcy), Windsor, Edwards (Charlie), Freijah

    Med-small forward. Caddy, Watson, Duursma 

    Key forwards  Reid, Morris, 

    Running defenders. Hardeman, Roberts , Philactides 

    Key defenders. O’Sullivan , Murphy , Schoenmakers, Dawson

    Rucks. Green (Will) 

    Wildcard.   Ashton Moir. 

    A grade is a bit of a reach for 22 players

    it’s a term thrown around too often to describe players. There’s no harm building a list with hard working competitive B graders who play 200+ games and having four to half a dozen A graders to ice the cake.

    Hardeman is a great worker, runner and foot skills are pretty good but can’t ever see him being A grade

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    16 hours ago, spirit of norm smith said:


    Agree @BaliDemon

    Mckercher is exactly the type of player that the Dees need. 


    Skills. Pace. Excellent Decision maker.  Goalkicker.  He’s a gun.  

    Doubt he gets to pick 6 because Kangas, Hawks and Suns pick (whoever gets it) will be seeing Mckercher as a key target to pick.  We need to somehow get that GC pick.  

    He’s definitely what we need as a quick skilled midfielder, but will be gone before our picks it seems. 

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