I prefer Langford over Smillie, no doubt.  However some foreboding that Langford may be on the Eagles radar.  
If so and he’s gone, it’s then a choice of Smillie or Lalor, which I am more 50/50 on the choice.  

Smillie has excellent foot skills and can kick 50metres easily.  He wins the contested footy.  He can distribute.  All of these are demonstrated.  The challenge is his defensive skills. He has been so good at winning the footy through his junior years, the AFL challenge is how you manage against other stars and “defend the footy”.  Will he work hard without the ball.  That’s his unknown for me. 

Do not want. His surname alone is far too optomistic.

If it was Josh Frownie I wouldn’t have an issue

 

 

 

 

 

 

  On 30/08/2024 at 06:32, Demon Disciple said:

If it was Josh Frownie I wouldn’t have an issue

I imagine you'd be in favour of us trading for Adam Saad.

He's got a lot going for him and really gets onto those kicks. I just don't buy into a lot of commentators saying he's a ready made AFL player, I don't know what it is because he has the size, maybe we'd just need to see him up against AFL sized bodies.

Looks like he could be a gun.  I'd certainly not.be dissapointed at all if we picked him up at 6

 

  On 28/08/2024 at 21:46, spirit of norm smith said:

Coates League games this year.   Plays like Patrick Cripps.
 

He's a Facsmillie of Paddy Cripps?

Not for my money.

  On 01/09/2024 at 06:55, Demon Dynasty said:

 

I’d kill for Smilie but hope seems lost as of right now — pick 2-4 seems the range for him now after a killer month, right when we landed pick 5 it was on cards but he’s dominated since and [censored] ahead of Langford, Reid.. Armstrong the one for me who now seems to sit right where we are in draft. Then a mid target if we get that other top 15 pick (14 the one we’re chasing atm)

  On 01/09/2024 at 15:15, John Demonic said:

He's a Facsmillie of Paddy Cripps?

MUCH better kick not even close in that area but has a similar look and attack on the footy for sure!

  On 13/09/2024 at 00:06, Tolstoys Nudge said:

MUCH better kick not even close in that area but has a similar look and attack on the footy for sure!

His talent is unquestionable. His grit and determination is the thing to assess. He’s dominated junior footy. His defensive side is the query.  

  On 13/09/2024 at 00:08, spirit of norm smith said:

His talent is unquestionable. His grit and determination is the thing to assess. He’s dominated junior footy. His defensive side is the query.  

Yep — that can be developed where kicking is generally set bar 5-10% lifts in good programs 

Josh Smillie was probably in the top 3 most likely as the (available) number 1 pick for the 2024 draft … alongside Jagga Smith & Finn O’Sullivan.  At 194cms and an imposing midfielder, his ability to burst clear and kick it easily 50-55 metre was very appealing.  

He had an excellent year at Coates League level , with 12 games showing avg disposals 27, avg tackles 4, avg marks 5 and avg goals 1.33.   He’s was certainly impressive in 10 of the 12 being named either best or best 3 for Eastern.  

However, his star has waned as he under performed during the U18s national championships.  I think his defensive game was lacking as he battled against similar star midfielders and it showed that a dominant junior who wins the footy so much, does have it adjust given the competitive scenario against other talented players. 

No doubt in my mind that he is top 10 and will be seriously in JTs mind on draft night  

Interesting article from the Code sports

THE ‘BORN LEADER’ LEANING ON ADVICE FROM CRIPPS 

Big-bodied midfielder Josh Smillie has revealed he leant on advice from a two-time Brownlow Medal winner this year as he battled “some challenges” after entering the season as a highly-touted No. 1 draft pick contender.

Smillie met with Carlton star Patrick Cripps earlier in the year and made notes from the conversation, which he continually went back and reflected on. 

A 195cm onballer, the 18-year-old has drawn comparisons to Cripps and Greater Western Sydney midfielder Tom Green, two players who he watches closely. 

“I’d want to be half the player Patrick Cripps is now,” Smillie said.

“He’s the best player in the game at the moment. I really look up to those two (Cripps and Green) just because they’re big-bodied midfielders and I watch all the work that they do and try and implement it in my game.”

Smillie’s form was a little up and down at times this year, not helped by some minor injuries and illness.

He was required to spend significant time outside of the midfield during the under-18 national championships with Vic Metro, including roles in attack and defence.

“I’m very versatile so I can play any position and I grew up playing any position,” Smillie said.

“I can go forward or play across half back, but the midfield is my primarily position.

“The year’s done and you reflect on your year. You take out some negatives but you also want to look at the positives. If you said last year I’d be in the position I am now, I’d be pretty proud of this year so far.”

Smillie captained the Eastern Ranges in the Coates Talent League this year as well as serving as skipper of the AFL Academy team in two exhibition matches earlier this season.

Alongside his power and ball-winning abilities, leadership is another key trait that he prides himself on.

“I was raised from my parents being a real leader and a careful person to others,” Smillie said.

“Leadership is something I take pretty seriously. I’m a very caring person that likes to put others before me and see them succeed. It’s just something I’ve grown up with and it just comes natural.”

 

 

I've dropped off him a little due to his poor second half of the year and lack lustre championship series against higher level peers. Perhaps he was carrying an injury of sorts as some players do after a long campaign.

Looked an absolute star in the making and top 3 lock at the start of the year. 

What I do like is his ability to hit targets by foot and lower his eyes out of stoppages. Sometimes gets too cute with it but looks to attack the game with his kicking.

  On 23/10/2024 at 00:37, Nascent said:

I've dropped off him a little due to his poor second half of the year and lack lustre championship series against higher level peers. Perhaps he was carrying an injury of sorts as some players do after a long campaign.

Looked an absolute star in the making and top 3 lock at the start of the year. 

What I do like is his ability to hit targets by foot and lower his eyes out of stoppages. Sometimes gets too cute with it but looks to attack the game with his kicking.

Apparently was managing injury and illness at times through the year. 

I like his height. 

Pick 5 i'm not so sure, may be better to go with someone less spectulative there. With pick 9, absolutely.

The height of 194cm makes him pretty tempting.

He is definitely a "Unicorn" as they say....

Could he be the next Marcus Bontempelli?

My question is, can he also play as a tall forward as well as a midfielder?

  On 23/10/2024 at 06:42, Supreme_Demon said:

My question is, can he also play as a tall forward as well as a midfielder?

The answer there is yes, he has proven he can play forward and back.  Thus he has more going for him than Tauru, who people are considering for pick 5, so I think he should definitely be considered a high prospect if the expected top 5 are gone.

  On 23/10/2024 at 06:42, Supreme_Demon said:

The height of 194cm makes him pretty tempting.

He is definitely a "Unicorn" as they say....

Could he be the next Marcus Bontempelli?

My question is, can he also play as a tall forward as well as a midfielder?

I do have questions on his contested play. When the ball is in dispute on the ground, against men, I think he may struggle, but when he puts on the frame, if he can hit the contest harder he'll be okay. That's the question mark for me at this stage.

  On 03/11/2024 at 22:51, LittleDemon said:

The answer there is yes, he has proven he can play forward and back.  Thus he has more going for him than Tauru, who people are considering for pick 5, so I think he should definitely be considered a high prospect if the expected top 5 are gone.

I agree.

I am not all that enamoured with Taura to be honest and pick 5 is a ridiculous reach for an intercept 3rd tall intercept defender who's a poor kick of the footy. I do love his competitiveness though.

Even if it's not Smillie at 5, to me it's gotta be a elite young midfielder whether that's Langford, Draper or Smith.

Edited November 3, 2024Nov 3 by dazzledavey36

Like the look of Smillie surprised he's not being talked up more

There's a contest in one of the Draper reels where the ball is in dispute on the ground. Draper vs Smilie. Draper wins it easily, and Smilie ends up looking like Jack Watts (sorry Jack, contest was never your strong suit).

  On 04/11/2024 at 00:53, Adam The God said:

There's a contest in one of the Draper reels where the ball is in dispute on the ground. Draper vs Smilie. Draper wins it easily, and Smilie ends up looking like Jack Watts (sorry Jack, contest was never your strong suit).

Draper is like Joel Selwood/Jack Viney to me. Absolute animal that will do whatever he can to win a contest and beat his opponent. Love his intensity around the ball. Him being mentored by Viney would be the dream scenario. 

I would be genuinely shocked if Adelaide passed him by and even more shocked if he slipped right through us.