Welcome to Demonland: Jack Billings

[Diamond_Jim 12,687]

Just now, binman said:

The top ten in the 2013 draft makes for interesting reading:

1. Tom Boyd - Giants 
2. Josh Kelly - Giants (pick traded from Melbourne)
3. Jack Billings - Saints
4. Marcus Bontempelli  - Bulldogs 
5. Kade Kolodjashnij - Gold Coast
6. Matthew Scharenberg - Collingwood 
7. James Aish  - Lions
8.  Luke McDonald - Roos
9. Christian Salem - Dees (mid first round compensation pick from 2010 traded from Giants)
10.  Nathan Freeman - Collingwood 

Dees end up with tow top 10 picks!   

Shows that top 10 picks don't mean much.. Even stranger how much clubs now value picks over proven players

[binman 44,530]

3 minutes ago, FTB said:

Three, actually.

Billings, Salo and ? 

Edited October 18, 2023 by binman

[FTB 298]

2 minutes ago, binman said:

Billings, Salo and ? 

KK

[DistrACTION Jackson 10,207]

6 minutes ago, binman said:

The top ten in the 2013 draft makes for interesting reading:

1. Tom Boyd - Giants 
2. Josh Kelly - Giants (pick traded from Melbourne)
3. Jack Billings - Saints
4. Marcus Bontempelli  - Bulldogs 
5. Kade Kolodjashnij - Gold Coast
6. Matthew Scharenberg - Collingwood 
7. James Aish  - Lions
8.  Luke McDonald - Roos
9. Christian Salem - Dees (mid first round compensation pick from 2010 traded from Giants)
10.  Nathan Freeman - Collingwood 

Dees end up with two top 10 picks!   

(note: we picked up hunt and traded in Dom Tyson as part of the pick swap that saw Kelly go to the Giants and Salo to us. A Paul Roos call)

IF I was to re-rank them (not including the rest of the draft), I'd go:

1. Bontempelli

2. Kelly

3. Salem

4. Luke McDonald

5. Jack Billings

6. James Aish

7. Tom Boyd

8. Kade Kolodjashnij

9. Matthew Scharenberg

10. Nathan Freeman

[The heart beats true 18,183]

I like this a lot. He’s different to the guys we lost, who were contest focused - but not as talented as the contest players we have in the middle at the top level.

It’ll be a chance to add more skill if we feel we need it.

[Jaded No More 68,975]

7 minutes ago, FTB said:

Three, actually.

I knew it. We are getting Bontempelli aren’t we?!

Edited October 18, 2023 by Jaded No More

[binman 44,530]

1 minute ago, FTB said:

KK

Oh yeah - good call.

Completely forgot we picked him up. Couldn't get on the park because of bad concussion issues IIRC.

Such a shame for the young bloke -seemed a really nice youg fella

[DistrACTION Jackson 10,207]

1 minute ago, Jaded No More said:

I knew it. We are getting Bontempelli aren’t we?!

Tim Lamb must've used Jedi mind tricks on the Dogs list manager...

[titan_uranus 25,174]

1 hour ago, Slartibartfast said:

I think the attraction of Billings is for mature depth and to pressure Langdon and Hunter, both who didn't finish in the top 10 of the B&F whilst playing 49 games between them out of a possible 50.

That indicates to me that the FD didn't rate their performances this year given the B&F strongly favours players who play games. Some will say "they play their role" but if they did then they'd have finished higher in the B&F.

I agree. For this reason alone, I think Billings could be a good pick up (on the assumption, as appears to be the case, that we don't spend much draft capital and get St Kilda chipping in some of his salary).

[waynewussell 6,899]

18 minutes ago, poita said:

If I were any of Spargo, Chandler, Laurie and Moniz-Wakefield, and Melbourne were bringing in McAdam and potentially Billings this trade period, I would be getting my manager to find me a new home as soon as possible.

Most of this lot are considerably younger than Billings, so I wouldn't be offloading just yet!

[DeeSpencer 26,273]

9 minutes ago, binman said:

The top ten in the 2013 draft makes for interesting reading:

1. Tom Boyd - Giants 
2. Josh Kelly - Giants (pick traded from Melbourne)
3. Jack Billings - Saints
4. Marcus Bontempelli  - Bulldogs 
5. Kade Kolodjashnij - Gold Coast
6. Matthew Scharenberg - Collingwood 
7. James Aish  - Lions
8.  Luke McDonald - Roos
9. Christian Salem - Dees (mid first round compensation pick from 2010 traded from Giants)
10.  Nathan Freeman - Collingwood 

Dees end up with two top 10 picks!   

(note: we picked up hunt and traded in Dom Tyson as part of the pick swap that saw Kelly go to the Giants and Salo to us. A Paul Roos call)

All 10 had talent, I think it shows the impact of injuries and how you have to be really careful with the development of highly rated youngsters.

4 players completely ruined by health and fitness. Scharenberg and Freeman never got started due to injuries. Boyd ruined by injuries and the pressure of being pick 1 and having a fat contract. KK concussions.

And Billings especially, Salem and Kelly have all struggled at various times with health. Salo had a slowish start and an awful last two years. Kelly had some wasted years before this year.

Add in Luke McDonald being thoroughly Northed and there’s very few who have had a clean run of it.

[spirit of norm smith 16,615]

Billings - hmmm. I’m a No. but if we had an appetite , surely only for a future 4th rounder and they pay half his wages  

We are helping the Saints like we helped the Pies and Dogs last year with salary dumping   

it’s another spin of the roulette wheel 

[FTB 298]

Some long-time players of AFL Fantasy and/or SuperCoach will have strange feelings about this signing. The popular Billings was a massive thorn in the side for season 2018 for me and was on the ‘never again’ list for Fantasy after that.

At his best, he is an exceptional player but he hasn’t been at his best for some time now. Hopefully the change of scenery is what he needs to get back to his best. Certainly fills a need with his delivery inside forward 50. 

[DubDee 26,304]

Let’s be honest the Saints are terrible at developing players. 

A new environment will do will good

i hate the sub but he is perfect for that. midfield wing HB or HF and some speed 

[Bang Bang Bang 5,839]

Those crazy enough to have read 2013 pre season training reports would remember that Billings trained with us prior to being drafted. We would have taken him at 2 (glad we didn't) and there's the Alan Richardson connection. I'm not surprised we were the mystery club. Interestingly all three of our new players didn't have much noise in the weeks prior.

I personally don't rate Billings all that highly, but we need depth and he offers a point of difference. Low risk and we are likely to get games out of him. 

 

 

[Demonland 73,482]

 

[binman 44,530]

3 minutes ago, Demonland said:

 

Doesn't meet the Ross Lyon glass muncher threshold.

Curious, because Goody has much the same threshold yet in Schache and Billings we have traded  in two players who are far from being competitive beasts. 

[Pennant St Dee 13,389]

48 minutes ago, poita said:

If I were any of Spargo, Chandler, Laurie and Moniz-Wakefield, and Melbourne were bringing in McAdam and potentially Billings this trade period, I would be getting my manager to find me a new home as soon as possible.

Of course, it's possible that there won't be any interest because none of them are particularly good, but I certainly wouldn't be expecting those four to be playing regularly next year.

If we were you , we’d spend our time wondering why the glass was never half full 

[Fat Tony 5,306]

I could see Billings being used off half back if Salem cannot regain form next year.

[Gator 17,972]

If you got his best every week he'd be a staple in the best 22 and a valuable player on your list. 

Right age, experience, skills, etc.

Up to him. 

[Demonland 73,482]

 

[binman 44,530]

6 minutes ago, Fat Tony said:

I could see Billings being used off half back if Salem cannot regain form next year.

Or perhaps free up salo to play as a mid/high half forward/utility type?

[Rab D Nesbitt 8,770]

Don’t know about the change of scenery angle. He’s a footballer not a landscape painter. Although it looks like he’ll save us a bit of Monet. 

Edited October 18, 2023 by Rab D Nesbitt

[Nascent 9,320]

1 minute ago, Rab D Nesbitt said:

Don’t know about the change of scenery angle. He’s a footballer not a landscape painter. 

[Fat Tony 5,306]

Just now, binman said:

Or perhaps free up salo to play as a mid/high half forward/utility type?

I think Salem is a high half back only. It is the easiest position on the ground and suits his exceptional ability to read the play and hit targets.

He does not have the engine required to play ANB's role or play wing and I don't think he is big enough or quick enough to play inside midfield.