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Ed Allan

DeeSpencer
DeeSpencer
in Melbourne Demons

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Posted

Ed Allan isn't just the best choice for us at pick 13, I'm starting to think he's the best player in the entire draft.

I didn't really want to start a thread because Hawthorn or Geelong will probably take him with picks 6 or 7, if not, the Eagles will pounce at 8 or worst case 12 - hence their trade down. But maybe, just maybe, clubs will be worried about the small sample size, lack of representative or highly level footy and injury and he'll slide to 13.

Here's the case:

1. Size:
He's a 195cm - that's Bont, Cripps, Goodes kind of stuff. At 82kg's he'll fill out well too.

2. Athleticism:
He just ran a seriously quick 2.81 20m sprint, one of the quickest times ever recorded and has very good endurance too.

3. Production

Off an interrupted preseason with stress fractures in his back he averaged 25 disposals from 5 games in the WAFL colts

4. Pedigree
Son of Hawthorn B+F winner and Freo captain Ben Allan.

5. This video.

 

I just can't stop watching it:
a. Lovely right foot set shot
b. Weighted left foot kick on his non preferred
c. Quick hands under pressure, gets the ball well clear of tackler, receiving player makes it look worse
d. Weaves on to his left and puts it right on his tall forward
e. Hits up a forward, or 2 forwards really, who can't seem to get the ball
f. quick play on through the corridor
g. makes his decision on the run for a lovely diagonal kick
h. plays on, lowers eyes for the hit up 
i. regulation handball, whatever
j. I love this one, pulls a handball once, then fires it again on his left to hit the runner in stride

I watched the full WA v SA state game that he played in, as well as the WAFL Colts grand final last year. Both games he played on a wing and was fine. He's not a natural wingman IMO. He holds position well but is fairly passive in waiting for the ball to come to him (think James Jordon) rather than looking for those Langdon type moments to really insert himself in to play.

He's also not a great mark for his size. Gets a bit flummoxed in loose ball situations too. 

But look at this, Claremont stuffed up their rotations at one stage and he ended up in the ruck, look at the vision and execution of this handball on his non preferred at 1:28:57 

He'll need some time to fill out and round out his marking and contested work but those things can be taught by good coaches. It's much harder to teach high level decision making and skills. And you can't just create gun athletes either.

Want to replace Luke Jackson with a big bodied midfielder (not ruck) who can do special things - this is the guy.

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    Yes when the stats from his sprint at combine came out I was on board and agree he'll keep climbing up the charts - maybe well past 13, although his elevation could mean someone like Phillipou slips to 13.

    Ben Allan was a very good hard-working player, so there's no doubt Ed has huge upside.

    And his pace would compensate the loss of our fastest player over 50m in Jayden Hunt and our fastest player over 400m in Luke Jackson.

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    ...and with the 'learnings' from the Jackson experience, might our recruiting and coaching staff be better equipped to assess and counter 'go home' tendencies?

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    • Author
    2 hours ago, Neil Crompton said:

    Didn’t we just let go one of these athletic “models” in Rossman?

    Rosman couldn’t kick or win the ball. Didn’t play in any offical games in his draft year due to covid. Was drafted on the back of 1 preseason game.

    Allan’s played 5 Colts games this year averaging 25 touches and a decent champs game on the wing. It’s a far bigger sample size 

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    Close the thread, keep a lid on it 

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    If he's available at Pick 37 (likely 35 on draft night) then absolutely.  Don't think I'd risk 13 however.

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    3 hours ago, Pennant St Dee said:

    Close the thread, keep a lid on it 

    Too late - every other club's recruiters surely read this site several times an hour for inspiration!  😊

    Edited by monoccular

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    10 minutes ago, monoccular said:

    Too late - every other club's recruiters surely read this site several times an hour for inspiration!  😊

    Jeelong have already grabbed pick 12 to jump ahead of us I've heard

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    10 hours ago, Deespicable said:

    Yes when the stats from his sprint at combine came out I was on board and agree he'll keep climbing up the charts - maybe well past 13, although his elevation could mean someone like Phillipou slips to 13.

    Ben Allan was a very good hard-working player, so there's no doubt Ed has huge upside.

    And his pace would compensate the loss of our fastest player over 50m in Jayden Hunt and our fastest player over 400m in Luke Jackson.

    It'd be kinda funny to use the 1st round pick we got from Freo on the son of Freo's inaugural AFL captain.

    Could reunite him with his old Claremont teammate in JVR to boot.

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    2 hours ago, adonski said:

    Jeelong have already grabbed pick 12 to jump ahead of us I've heard

    Gee  they have done well to trade pick 7, 58 & 64 for pick 12🤔

    Edited by Pennant St Dee

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    6 minutes ago, Pennant St Dee said:

    Gee  they have done well to trade pick 7, 58 & 64 for pick 12🤔

    Bundled up pick 58 and 64 for Oscar Allen and pick 12 (taking on half his salary).

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    Yep, he, Ginbey and Sheezel will be the best players from this draft. Bookmark it.

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    Ashcroft is an accumulator who hurts through sheer weight of possessions. Much like the same way Neal does and Swan did.  

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    Argued with such authority! I like that. Something very appealing about a dual-sided 194cm kid that is quick and has a football pedigree.

    Missing so much football this season may be a good thing for whoever picks him up.

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    • Demonland changed the title to The Ed Allan Thread

    7 minutes ago, Redleg said:

    Surely we wouldn’t consider a WA kid, who’s dad was a Freo Captain, given this year’s events.

    It would probably be safer to draft a kid from Alaska.

    Back yourself the Covid free unrestricted world is a small place again and the players drafted now aren’t likely to be separated from friends, family and living out of suitcases in the Covid bubble anymore 

    Edited by Pennant St Dee

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    1 minute ago, Pennant St Dee said:

    Back yourself the pre Covid world is a small place again and the players drafted now aren’t likely to be separated from friends, family and living out of suitcases in the Covid bubble anymore 

    I am not as confident as you, as I would imagine Freo would be in his ear now, about a return home to them.

    However, if he rises to above our first pick, that makes another good player available at our pick.

    I like the look of Mattaes, Jefferson who I am not as enamoured with, could be our needs pick, or another talented mid maybe and then 37 to come and maybe even Emile-Brennan as a rookie.

    Whatever happens at the draft, we will have a better list than last year.

    I have said it before, a good run with injuries should see us contending again.

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    34 minutes ago, Redleg said:

    I am not as confident as you, as I would imagine Freo would be in his ear now, about a return home to them.

    However, if he rises to above our first pick, that makes another good player available at our pick.

    I like the look of Mattaes, Jefferson who I am not as enamoured with, could be our needs pick, or another talented mid maybe and then 37 to come and maybe even Emile-Brennan as a rookie.

    Whatever happens at the draft, we will have a better list than last year.

    I have said it before, a good run with injuries should see us contending again.

    Freo can be in his ear, I’m still backing my culture. 
     

    I agree we will contend, we will for another 3 to 4 years IMO.

    I don’t mind Phillipou, Hollands, Hewett, Hustwaite with our pick, I’m like you not as keen on Jefferson because he’s listed as the next best forward, I would rather use on of next year’s 2 first or second rounders on a forward.

    Knowing the kid and watching him closely for 2 years I would love Ginbey but it isn’t happening 

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    1 hour ago, Redleg said:

    Surely we wouldn’t consider a WA kid, who’s dad was a Freo Captain, given this year’s events.

    It would probably be safer to draft a kid from Alaska.

    Given his father was lured back west from Hawthorn (even as a premiership player, B&F winner and All Australian), it would be a massive call to draft Ed. I certainly wouldn't do it with pick 13 - you'd maybe take the risk in the  20s.

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    On 10/20/2022 at 12:06 PM, spirit of norm smith said:

    Will Ashcroft says “Hi”

    Nope. Won't be the best player from this draft 

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