Part 9: Jason Taylor - Visionary or Over-rated - 2021

[Deespicable 2,880]

2021

Draft: 8/10 Trades: N/A Pick swaps: 6/10 

Another tricky year for recruiters with many games cancelled or made off limits and the new world of Zoom meetings altering how things were done in October. 

What was clear though was that Jason Horne-Francis was the best live pick after a stunning SANFL finals display for South Adelaide and that Nick Daicos and Sam Darcy were huge father-son choices – part of what is shaping as a super draft year.

While we were caught up in an amazing season, a rule change on academy picks resulting from Jamarra Ugle-Hagan being gifted to the Dogs, meant our athletic Academy talent Mac Andrew was no longer guaranteed to be taken by us if he fell in the first 20 picks. A few strong showings for Dandenong and some impressive combine stats, meant that Andrew ended up going pick 5 and if you’ve seen him play this year, you will know why and what we were robbed of.

All that didn’t seem to matter once we won the flag with an incredibly youthful list, but Andrew’s height would be a huge bonus now. Nor did we get involved in player trades. We were not alone in this regard, presumably getting players and their agents to talk in the COVID was tricky as well.

But we did engage in a key pick swap.

Having given away our top pick for ostensibly Bailey Laurie in 2020, Tim Lamb again decided to offload our top pick of 2022 to Sydney via Adelaide and in so doing received back pick 17 belonging to the Bulldogs. This time however it worked a treat with the player we had earmarked staying around that level, although at one point, fearing JVR would go, we did ask about swapping it for the Giants pick 15.

Only 65 kids were taken at the draft and less than a dozen untried kids at the rookie draft as clubs struggled with the new dynamics, but thanks to rookie magic with Judd McVee it will actually go down as one of Jason Taylor’s best efforts, even if we are only just three seasons in with these players. The Cats would also be toasting plucking Oliver Dempsey via the rookie draft, while Essendon struck gold in the pre-season supplemental picks snaring Claremont quick Nic Martin. The Gold Coast Academy would also bear fruit with Broadbeach local Bodhi Uwland taken as a rookie by the Suns. And it now appears we may have nailed one via the NGA system with Andy Moniz-Wakefield starting to look the part after being nabbed from Nightcliff in Darwin. 

And earlier in the year, Taylor had already plucked a bit of a gem from the mid-year draft, which proved to be quite fruitful for several clubs. The Hawks were able to tie up Box Hill star Jai Newcomb, Gold Coast got a good ruck back-up with Ned Moyle, Essendon got a warrior with Sam Durham. We snared a young defender in Daniel Turner who has become a handy forward this season. 

19 Jacob van Rooyen Who do you add to a list that is regarded at the time as the best in the comp? The best available. The Zimbabwe-born Roo had impressed enough for Claremont Colts to train with Fremantle mid-season where he was a little starstruck with idol Nat Fyfe. The question was would Freo take him and thankfully they used their first pick (8) on East Perth forward prospect Jye Amiss  star. They also liked another Subiaco prospect Matthew Johnson who they took at pick 21. But Sydney did call a Claremont kid with pick 18 – Angus Sheldrick. JVR has been developing nicely and has the key element of physicality that I reckon makes him a better long-term bet than Amiss and certainly one that can cope with the ruckwork buffeting. Almost played finals in 2022 and his absence via suspension from our second final last year was mega costly.

39 Blake Howes We are starting to see just how deep the 2021 draft was with guys like Sydney’s Matt Roberts (pick 34) and Crow Jake Soligo (36) now stepping up, not to mention Marcus Windhager (47). Howes showed a bit as a half-forward with Vic Metro and Sandringham and was expected to go mid to late twenties but slipped through to 39. He had a stressie in his foot in 2022, but showed enough on the wing at Casey in 2023 for Goody to trial him as a defender this season. He wasn’t overawed in round 1 up in Sydney, but still needs to work on his body-strength to play on the bigs, which he will have to be given since we are keen on playing up to four smalls down back and at 191cm he’s a giant by comparison to Bowey, McVee, Moniz and Salem.  
65 Taj Woewodin Another West Australian, but this pick was a no-brainer for Taylor given his dad Shane was a Demon great with a Charlie and we got him automatically at the end of the draft. He’s got good foot skills and enough size to graduate into our midfield like his Dad did after starting as a defender. But whether he has the determination to make it there is questionable, given he hasn’t got amazing pace. Will be an interesting watch to see how he goes in next two seasons.  

Pick 16 rookie draft Judd McVee Most clubs baulked at taking kids in this draft, but Taylor’s love affair with the west meant he liked the looks of another East Fremantle prospect – McVee being a teammate of Woewodin’s. He spent a year muscling up and learning his trade in the VFL and a few eyes were raised when he played round one in 2023, but he’s become a key down back, often minding the quickest and most dangerous forward. What’s impressed most onlookers is the cleanness of his ball movement – it’s a little like late 80’s/early 90s back pocket Alan Johnson – just so deft and precise. Unearthing great rookies hadn’t been Taylor’s forte. But it was this year.

NGA Andy Moniz-Wakefield We haven’t had much luck via this method until now. M-W had impressed with his dash as a high half-forward for NT Thunder in his draft year and we had listed him as an Academy kid, presumably spotted via one of our last Darwin trips before Gold Coast took over that region.  He was only 18 when we took him and many felt he couldn’t kick far enough to make it in his first few games at Casey. But this year he has developed as a running defender and eventually his weight of big possession numbers forced Goody to elevate him. And he’s been a great find in just four games so far, providing defensive spark and looking for all the world like a Matty Whelan 2.0.    

[Cranky Franky 2,089]

Recent  trades are looking a bit sick.  Hunter, Schache, Billings, McAdam & Fullerton haven’t fired a shot this year. Hawthorn have added Meek, Amon, Chol & Ginnivan who are all contributing.

If  2 or 3 of the trades were in the side & playing well it might have been a different story for us.

 

[Little Richard 6,265]

2021 has the makings of an exceptional draft year for us, but our trading has been deplorable.

[Demonstone 22,792]

1 hour ago, Deespicable said:

The Zimbabwe-born Roo

Is this correct?  I know his family has a Zimbabwean background, but thought Roo was born in Australia.

[Wrecker46 3,006]

1 hour ago, Deespicable said:

 

NGA Andy Moniz-Wakefield We haven’t had much luck via this method until now. M-W had impressed with his dash as a high half-forward for NT Thunder in his draft year and we had listed him as an Academy kid, presumably spotted via one of our last Darwin trips before Gold Coast took over that region.  He was only 18 when we took him and many felt he couldn’t kick far enough to make it in his first few games at Casey. But this year he has developed as a running defender and eventually his weight of big possession numbers forced Goody to elevate him. And he’s been a great find in just four games so far, providing defensive spark and looking for all the world like a Matty Whelan 2.0.    

AMW might attack the footy like the great Matthew Whelan, which is the highest of compliments but you you wont see him taking kickouts like the wrecker did. 55m metre bullets to the best option

[Jibroni 5,008]

The net result of this draft has been great considering we did not have a Top 10 pick. Moving forward I would we just trade players for Picks and allow JT to keep working his magic.

[Ollie fan 3,468]

1 hour ago, Cranky Franky said:

Recent  trades are looking a bit sick.  Hunter, Schache, Billings, McAdam & Fullerton haven’t fired a shot this year. Hawthorn have added Meek, Amon, Chol & Ginnivan who are all contributing.

If  2 or 3 of the trades were in the side & playing well it might have been a different story for us.

 

You can't help yourself, can you; you must complain - this time, in a thread about Jason Taylor's recruiting in 2021 you talk about Tim Lamb's trades in various years. 

[Nascent 9,280]

I thought we were keen on Wilmot who went to the Lions at pick 16?

Edited July 29 by Nascent

[Jaded No More 68,972]

Two absolute stars in a draft post a premiership win is a 10/10 result. Roo and McVee are 200 gamers. 

Also worth nothing that we had Cerra all but ready to come to us but we didn’t have the capital to make the deal happen having just won a flag. 
So it’s not as if we didn’t try to improve via trading. It’s much harder to do post a flag tho. 
Look at the Pies. Traded their first rounder for Shultz for goodness sake. 

Edited July 29 by Jaded No More

[Cranky Franky 2,089]

2 hours ago, Ollie fan said:

You can't help yourself, can you; you must complain - this time, in a thread about Jason Taylor's recruiting in 2021 you talk about Tim Lamb's trades in various years. 

I'd thought you might want to comment on the matter of 5 traded players who are delivering SFA to the team. 

Maybe compare that to some of Hawthorn's traded players - Amon, Meek, Chol, Ginnivan.

I look forward to your objective assessment.

[Demonsterative 3,020]

2 minutes ago, Cranky Franky said:

I'd thought you might want to comment on the matter of 5 traded players who are delivering SFA to the team. 

Maybe compare that to some of Hawthorn's traded players - Amon, Meek, Chol, Ginnivan.

I look forward to your objective assessment.

The club does not have free rein to bring any player into the club. Contract length and cost (salary cap), trade cost and overall list management play a big part in decisions being made. 
 

The first point is a player wanting to come to the club in the first instance. 
 

Too hard to make comparisons in this discussion 

[Ollie fan 3,468]

24 minutes ago, Cranky Franky said:

I'd thought you might want to comment on the matter of 5 traded players who are delivering SFA to the team. 

Maybe compare that to some of Hawthorn's traded players - Amon, Meek, Chol, Ginnivan.

I look forward to your objective assessment.

My comment was directed at your constant carping, this time in a totally unrelated thread.

 

However: would Meek have been happy to come to Casey? (Because that is all we can promise a backup ruckman). Ginnivan apparently played a great game last week but in general terms I don't see him replacing either Kossie (who is far more brilliant) or Chandler (who is far more disciplined in the role he plays).

 

I certainly can't comment on what we had to offer ANY potential trade player in terms of money, contract length, an almost guaranteed place in the team etc etc etc

[Cranky Franky 2,089]

7 minutes ago, Ollie fan said:

My comment was directed at your constant carping, this time in a totally unrelated thread.

 

However: would Meek have been happy to come to Casey? (Because that is all we can promise a backup ruckman). Ginnivan apparently played a great game last week but in general terms I don't see him replacing either Kossie (who is far more brilliant) or Chandler (who is far more disciplined in the role he plays).

 

I certainly can't comment on what we had to offer ANY potential trade player in terms of money, contract length, an almost guaranteed place in the team etc etc etc

The carping balances out the starry eyed fan boys & girls who see any criticism of the Club or its coaches as disloyalty.

The trades go hand in hand with the drafting & so far the last 2 years have been disasters & are part of the reason that we have blown 2024.

[Ollie fan 3,468]

1 hour ago, Cranky Franky said:

The carping balances out the starry eyed fan boys & girls who see any criticism of the Club or its coaches as disloyalty.

The trades go hand in hand with the drafting & so far the last 2 years have been disasters & are part of the reason that we have blown 2024.

If you really think that we have had the money and contract availability to attract a topline trade, tell us the facts and figures. Instead of this CONSTANT carping. Where in your posts is there one line of SUPPORT for the club, or its staff, or its players. You are a classic example of, with friends like this, who needs enemies.

 

One problem the club does have is that we don't have a lot of contract space because the coaches - who you also consistently revile - manage to get our good players to commit to the club long-term.  I can't imagine why, given that our coaches, like our staff and our players, are no good (according to you).

[samcantstandya 1,057]

7 hours ago, Cranky Franky said:

Recent  trades are looking a bit sick.  Hunter, Schache, Billings, McAdam & Fullerton haven’t fired a shot this year. Hawthorn have added Meek, Amon, Chol & Ginnivan who are all contributing.

If  2 or 3 of the trades were in the side & playing well it might have been a different story for us.

 

McAdam might still work out. Billings is miss. Schache and Fullerton aren't physical enough. I'd delist 3 of he them asap, which means Fullerton & Billings play in 2025 as they have contracts and delete them after that.

[Cranky Franky 2,089]

1 hour ago, Ollie fan said:

If you really think that we have had the money and contract availability to attract a topline trade, tell us the facts and figures. Instead of this CONSTANT carping. Where in your posts is there one line of SUPPORT for the club, or its staff, or its players. You are a classic example of, with friends like this, who needs enemies.

 

One problem the club does have is that we don't have a lot of contract space because the coaches - who you also consistently revile - manage to get our good players to commit to the club long-term.  I can't imagine why, given that our coaches, like our staff and our players, are no good (according to you).

Maybe you should set up a committee to hunt down traitorous supporters

ANYHOW the issue is 5 dud trades have cost us big time this year.

And that's not counting Goodwin totally stuffing up with Grundy & James Jordon so arguably 7 disastrous trades.

[Ollie fan 3,468]

27 minutes ago, Cranky Franky said:

Maybe you should set up a committee to hunt down traitorous supporters

ANYHOW the issue is 5 dud trades have cost us big time this year.

And that's not counting Goodwin totally stuffing up with Grundy & James Jordon so arguably 7 disastrous trades.

Great. Completely ignoring my request that you actually suggest what we should have done, but just returning to your absolutely mindless c..p bagging everyone in sight.

 

Well done.

Edited July 29 by Ollie fan

[DeeZone 10,074]

9 hours ago, Deespicable said:

2021

Draft: 8/10 Trades: N/A Pick swaps: 6/10 

Another tricky year for recruiters with many games cancelled or made off limits and the new world of Zoom meetings altering how things were done in October. 

What was clear though was that Jason Horne-Francis was the best live pick after a stunning SANFL finals display for South Adelaide and that Nick Daicos and Sam Darcy were huge father-son choices – part of what is shaping as a super draft year.

While we were caught up in an amazing season, a rule change on academy picks resulting from Jamarra Ugle-Hagan being gifted to the Dogs, meant our athletic Academy talent Mac Andrew was no longer guaranteed to be taken by us if he fell in the first 20 picks. A few strong showings for Dandenong and some impressive combine stats, meant that Andrew ended up going pick 5 and if you’ve seen him play this year, you will know why and what we were robbed of.

All that didn’t seem to matter once we won the flag with an incredibly youthful list, but Andrew’s height would be a huge bonus now. Nor did we get involved in player trades. We were not alone in this regard, presumably getting players and their agents to talk in the COVID was tricky as well.

But we did engage in a key pick swap.

Having given away our top pick for ostensibly Bailey Laurie in 2020, Tim Lamb again decided to offload our top pick of 2022 to Sydney via Adelaide and in so doing received back pick 17 belonging to the Bulldogs. This time however it worked a treat with the player we had earmarked staying around that level, although at one point, fearing JVR would go, we did ask about swapping it for the Giants pick 15.

Only 65 kids were taken at the draft and less than a dozen untried kids at the rookie draft as clubs struggled with the new dynamics, but thanks to rookie magic with Judd McVee it will actually go down as one of Jason Taylor’s best efforts, even if we are only just three seasons in with these players. The Cats would also be toasting plucking Oliver Dempsey via the rookie draft, while Essendon struck gold in the pre-season supplemental picks snaring Claremont quick Nic Martin. The Gold Coast Academy would also bear fruit with Broadbeach local Bodhi Uwland taken as a rookie by the Suns. And it now appears we may have nailed one via the NGA system with Andy Moniz-Wakefield starting to look the part after being nabbed from Nightcliff in Darwin. 

And earlier in the year, Taylor had already plucked a bit of a gem from the mid-year draft, which proved to be quite fruitful for several clubs. The Hawks were able to tie up Box Hill star Jai Newcomb, Gold Coast got a good ruck back-up with Ned Moyle, Essendon got a warrior with Sam Durham. We snared a young defender in Daniel Turner who has become a handy forward this season. 

19 Jacob van Rooyen Who do you add to a list that is regarded at the time as the best in the comp? The best available. The Zimbabwe-born Roo had impressed enough for Claremont Colts to train with Fremantle mid-season where he was a little starstruck with idol Nat Fyfe. The question was would Freo take him and thankfully they used their first pick (8) on East Perth forward prospect Jye Amiss  star. They also liked another Subiaco prospect Matthew Johnson who they took at pick 21. But Sydney did call a Claremont kid with pick 18 – Angus Sheldrick. JVR has been developing nicely and has the key element of physicality that I reckon makes him a better long-term bet than Amiss and certainly one that can cope with the ruckwork buffeting. Almost played finals in 2022 and his absence via suspension from our second final last year was mega costly.

39 Blake Howes We are starting to see just how deep the 2021 draft was with guys like Sydney’s Matt Roberts (pick 34) and Crow Jake Soligo (36) now stepping up, not to mention Marcus Windhager (47). Howes showed a bit as a half-forward with Vic Metro and Sandringham and was expected to go mid to late twenties but slipped through to 39. He had a stressie in his foot in 2022, but showed enough on the wing at Casey in 2023 for Goody to trial him as a defender this season. He wasn’t overawed in round 1 up in Sydney, but still needs to work on his body-strength to play on the bigs, which he will have to be given since we are keen on playing up to four smalls down back and at 191cm he’s a giant by comparison to Bowey, McVee, Moniz and Salem.  
65 Taj Woewodin Another West Australian, but this pick was a no-brainer for Taylor given his dad Shane was a Demon great with a Charlie and we got him automatically at the end of the draft. He’s got good foot skills and enough size to graduate into our midfield like his Dad did after starting as a defender. But whether he has the determination to make it there is questionable, given he hasn’t got amazing pace. Will be an interesting watch to see how he goes in next two seasons.  

Pick 16 rookie draft Judd McVee Most clubs baulked at taking kids in this draft, but Taylor’s love affair with the west meant he liked the looks of another East Fremantle prospect – McVee being a teammate of Woewodin’s. He spent a year muscling up and learning his trade in the VFL and a few eyes were raised when he played round one in 2023, but he’s become a key down back, often minding the quickest and most dangerous forward. What’s impressed most onlookers is the cleanness of his ball movement – it’s a little like late 80’s/early 90s back pocket Alan Johnson – just so deft and precise. Unearthing great rookies hadn’t been Taylor’s forte. But it was this year.

NGA Andy Moniz-Wakefield We haven’t had much luck via this method until now. M-W had impressed with his dash as a high half-forward for NT Thunder in his draft year and we had listed him as an Academy kid, presumably spotted via one of our last Darwin trips before Gold Coast took over that region.  He was only 18 when we took him and many felt he couldn’t kick far enough to make it in his first few games at Casey. But this year he has developed as a running defender and eventually his weight of big possession numbers forced Goody to elevate him. And he’s been a great find in just four games so far, providing defensive spark and looking for all the world like a Matty Whelan 2.0.    

Thanks Deespicable another great read which bring back a lot of fond memories.

[Cranky Franky 2,089]

35 minutes ago, Ollie fan said:

Great. Completely ignoring my request that you actually suggest what we should have done, but just returning to your absolutely mindless c..p bagging everyone in sight.

 

Well done.

It's about dealing with the facts not a hypothetical flight of fancy. 

Fact - we traded in 5 players who are offering nothing and it's had an impact (never mind Grundy & Jordon)

[Demonsterative 3,020]

33 minutes ago, Cranky Franky said:

It's about dealing with the facts not a hypothetical flight of fancy. 

Fact - we traded in 5 players who are offering nothing and it's had an impact (never mind Grundy & Jordon)

What would have you done Cranky? Provide everyone with a solution. 

[Ollie fan 3,468]

13 minutes ago, Demonsterative said:

What would have you done Cranky? Provide everyone with a solution. 

Precisely. But Demonsterative, he won't. It's easier to just criticise.

[Cranky Franky 2,089]

46 minutes ago, Demonsterative said:

What would have you done Cranky? Provide everyone with a solution. 

I don't deal in hypotheticals just facts.

You & Ollie should get a room.  You're obviously happy with the 5 dud trades (or is it 7). 

 

[Adzman 2,154]

This draft was 10/10. All players we drafted will go on to have AFL careers, and we drafted at the back end of the early rounds.

To find McVee in the rookie draft also is outstanding.

Can't fault this draft given where our picks were and what we got.

 

 

[Hawk the Demon 1,028]

8 hours ago, Nascent said:

I thought we were keen on Wilmot who went to the Lions at pick 16?

We were, but scooping up Judd via the rookie draft was almost a Wilmot lookalike and we got Roo as a consolation prize - not bad!

[Demonsterative 3,020]

6 hours ago, Cranky Franky said:

I don't deal in hypotheticals just facts.

You & Ollie should get a room.  You're obviously happy with the 5 dud trades (or is it 7). 

 

Personality of a gnat! An angry little gnat 😜