This might be a bit of a hail mary this thread given as it stands, we don't have another first round pick in 2024. However, I wanted to give this guy a thread of his own for discussion. I really like his x factor and physicality. He's a very JT type player IMV.

190cm mid/forward who plays alongside Harvey Langford and Riak Andrew at Dandy Stingrays.

To me he's got a bit of Chad Warner's burst of power and physicality from stoppage and even Jack Steven (of St Kilda and Geelong fame), and if I was being really kind, around goal, he's a bit Stevie J-ish.

Apparently, we've interviewed him, he's expected to go mid to late first round.

Cal's latest phantom form guide has him at 18, so if we can trade up our future first into the first round in 2024, we should be able to nab him.

Here are two glimpses of what he can deliver.

 

Kicking 19.9 from 11 games when also mostly a midfielder? I'll take two, thanks!

Trying to estimate which draft picks we'll have is like trying to predict the roaming of the wildebeests. General direction, sure, but only the wildebeests know which grass will be green over the horizon. 

Most of the players we have been linked with at pick 5 are goal scoring mids who I assume will start as half forwards for us same as the Kolt has this year and Sparrow often rest there. 
I wonder if we do go for a second mid if we would be better with someone suited to half back with good kicking skills? Lindsay would complement our team better I think. 

35 minutes ago, Colm said:

Most of the players we have been linked with at pick 5 are goal scoring mids who I assume will start as half forwards for us same as the Kolt has this year and Sparrow often rest there. 
I wonder if we do go for a second mid if we would be better with someone suited to half back with good kicking skills? Lindsay would complement our team better I think. 

Good point - I’d still love to grab Langford or Lalor at 5, and a player like Lindsay if we can trade for another first round pick 

But if Langford and Lalor go before 5, and a Smith or O’Sullivan falls to us, Hynes could be a great addition in that mid fwd mould 

Edited September 3, 2024Sep 3 by demoncat

Who?

I must get out more.....

Hynes looks a safe bet to be an AFL player. Big, powerful and skilled. I approve this message!

Like Langford, he offers a point of difference but in his case with his size and physicality.

If we miss on Lalor then I'd be keen, can control the 50 a lot like Lalor and hits the scoreboard. 

Edited September 4, 2024Sep 4 by layzie

Skills look a bit messy and decision making is haphazard at times.

But genuine forward/mid versatility and can win the ball in a lot of ways.

I’m thinking more early second than late first at this stage.

The highlight reel isn't selling him.

2 hours ago, Biffen said:

The highlight reel isn't selling him.

Sorry about that, Biff.

1 hour ago, Adam The God said:

Sorry about that, Biff.

Proof that even God makes mistakes Adam,.

Edited September 4, 2024Sep 4 by Biffen

On 03/09/2024 at 22:21, Adam The God said:

 

 

The round 6 video at the 1.50 mark: very Malcolm Blight-like, but not in a good way.

11 minutes ago, Tim said:

The round 6 video at the 1.50 mark: very Malcolm Blight-like, but not in a good way.

Haha, yep, not a good moment.

Thanks to @layzie for providing me full article of draft propsect from The Age.

When I was reading through this one pricked my ears.

27. Cooper Hynes
Dandenong Stingrays/Vic Metro
Midfielder/forward, 190cm, 28/2/2006
Talent League stats (avg): 23.7 disposals, 4.7 clearances, 1.5 goals
The Age’s August top 30: N/A
Hynes makes his debut in our rankings after an eye-catching season where his powerful and aggressive playing style drew comparisons with ex-North Melbourne captain Jack Ziebell and current Roo Cam Zurhaar. West Coast and Melbourne are two of his biggest fans, but there are other clubs that would not consider him in this draft range. Hynes’ endurance will need to improve if he is to play any meaningful midfield minutes in the AFL, but his forward craft and clearance work are rated highly. He and Langford provided a strong one-two punch for the Stingrays.

@Adam The God This would make sense if we're trying to get an early pick in the teens as Hynes would be our clear target.

A combination of a O'Sullivan/Langford/Lalor and Hynes would be mouth watering.

Edited October 4, 2024Oct 4 by dazzledavey36

Yep, would be brilliant @dazzledavey36. 👏

Your main midfield is Viney, Oliver, Rivers, O'Sullivan/Langford/Lalor, with pinch hitting support from Kozzy, Trac, Hynes, maybe even McVee, and defensive role players like Sparrow. That's a powerful and dangerous midfield.

1 minute ago, Adam The God said:

Yep, would be brilliant @dazzledavey36. 👏

Your main midfield is Viney, Oliver, Rivers, O'Sullivan/Langford/Lalor, with pinch hitting support from Kozzy, Trac, Hynes, maybe even McVee, and defensive role players like Sparrow. That's a powerful and dangerous midfield.

I'd add Tholstrup to that mix also.

Hynes and one of those other elite junior mids keeps us contending for another few years.

The more I see Hynes the more impressed I am. If we were to miss on Lalor I reckon he'd be the cut price version.

Physical, aggressive types but would add dynamism to our midfield and also forward line when up there. If we get a 15-20 pick it's going to be interesting. 

I've seen nothing of this Hynes character, but I like what I'm hearing from the faithful 

Is Cooper Hynes an elite kick though?

We need better kicks at the Demons.

Would much rather Xavier Lindsay.

 

If we land Draper or O'Sullivan or another quick/skilled mid at pick 5, then Hynes is the perfect balance with our second pick if available. That gives you the quick skilled mid paired with the big bodied ball winning mid. Add them to Windsor, and it's an exciting trio to build our future midfield around.

Good point of difference that he's capable up forward too and hits the scoreboard. He's a marking matchup nightmare like Petracca and Cripps. I'm onboard the Hynes train depending on our first pick.

 

Edited October 4, 2024Oct 4 by Lord Travis

If we do draft Hynes, I hope he wears number 57.

Like that “5” should get us an high quality youngster likely a midfielder.
 

Agree that Hynes will be sought after given his physical style of play, good size, pace over 5-15 metres is excellent.  His kicking can be wayward so that’s why he’s in the 18-25 draft range and not 3-8 range.  

Strategy could be in the mix (if we get “25” for ANB) to package up some picks to try to pickup say “18” off the Lions (lions want points to bid on Ashcroft & Marshall).  

1 hour ago, Supreme_Demon said:

Is Cooper Hynes an elite kick though?

We need better kicks at the Demons.

Would much rather Xavier Lindsay.

 

Agree that Xavier Lindsay is an elite kick and I think he will be very popular choice given he’s an inside/outside mid that can easily also play the half back distribution role.
So he’s probably going to be around live pick 12/13 so much harder to get clubs to trade in or fall back at this pick.  It might take a lot of courage to trade out the MFC future 1st to get 12/13 off say Gold Coast.  But you never know … !!!

16 hours ago, Lord Travis said:

If we land Draper or O'Sullivan or another quick/skilled mid at pick 5, then Hynes is the perfect balance with our second pick if available. That gives you the quick skilled mid paired with the big bodied ball winning mid. Add them to Windsor, and it's an exciting trio to build our future midfield around.

Good point of difference that he's capable up forward too and hits the scoreboard. He's a marking matchup nightmare like Petracca and Cripps. I'm onboard the Hynes train depending on our first pick.

 

Could not agree more. Our first pick absolutely needs to be the quick, skilled mid field type to balance up the list. We need to go away from the “Melbourne type” of contested ball bull. Every player should be expected to go when it’s their turn, Windsor despite his frame a classic example. We need speed and elite disposal to sort out our mid to forward line connection issues. Taken way too long to address, this draft with it’s depth is the perfect opportunity to do so and imperative that we do now before Tassie comes in otherwise we are treading water.

Budget LDU sort of vibe, has something