7 minutes ago, Roost it far said:

Great so he can tackle, I guess that’s an improvement on most of our list…..

Maybe a new club might be on the cards mate, if you don’t think we tackle 

5 minutes ago, Ungarieboy said:

Could this pick be influenced  by Mentha now likely being a Cat B Rookie - essentialy giving us an extra list spot (taken by a small).

 

I would never write off a JT selection.  I for one believe there are many country footballers who, on talent alone, are superior natural footballers to plenty on AFL lists, they just lacked the drive and dedication to get themsleves to the level of fitness required to compete with the elite juniors at draft age.  I played with and against plenty of guys who went on to be drafted, and there were guys who would be every bit as good, or better, but just liked the good times a bit too much to drive themselves to that level.

If this bloke has discovered that drive slightly later, there's no reason to think he can't have an impact at AFL level.  The recruiters have obviously seen something in him, and I'm here for it.  Go well young man.

How tall was Nick Riewoldt again?  Not comparing the two but sugestions 193cm is too small for an effective forward are misguided.

 

He’s had to toil and battle and scrap.  Seems to love the contest.  Goody seemed genuinely excited to get him on board.  

Has he ever been tried as a defender? He is the same size as May, and being a competitor sounds ideal as a May backup. He’s had 1 season at VFL with 1 pre season and played well enough to make an AFL list. His footy growth should still be going up. Good luck to him! 

Welcome AJ. Our tall forwards were about to be led in age by 22 year old Disco Turner. Selecting a mature in body and age tall with a touch of mongrel and upside I can see the sense in it. Also as others have said I doubt now he has his chance  he’ll die wondering. 

Edited November 21, 2024Nov 21 by Lil_red_fire_engine

Haven't folks noticed the average age of our tall fwds is about 21!  Even with Petty and Turner it isn't much older.

They get pushed around a bit. 

Having Johnson will support the team in so many ways. 

Get behind folks; he is now a Demon!

3 minutes ago, Lil_red_fire_engine said:

Welcome AJ. Our tall forwards were about to be led in age by 22 year old Disco Turner. Selecting a mature in body and age tall with a touch of mongrel and upside I can see the sense in it. Also as others have said I doubt now he has is chance  he’ll die wondering. 

 

Just now, Lucifers Hero said:

Haven't folks noticed the average age of our tall fwds is about 21!  Even with Petty and Turner it isn't much older.

They get pushed around a bit. 

Having Johnson will support the team in so many ways. 

Get behind folks; he is now a Demon!

Snap!!

1 hour ago, Roost it far said:

Surely you take Riak Andrew ahead of this guy. Will never play an AFL game

Riak WHO??

1 hour ago, Roost it far said:

Surely you take Riak Andrew ahead of this guy. Will never play an AFL game

Riak was already gone a couple of picks earlier.

I trust JT but this pick reminds me of Tim Smith. Feels very weird to take him in the AFL draft as we can't even delist him next year if he's not up to it.

Edited November 21, 2024Nov 21 by Guest

2 minutes ago, seventyfour said:

I trust JT but this pick reminds me of Tim Smith. Feels very weird to take him in the AFL draft as we can't even delist him next year if he's not up to it.

In recent years we've had some talls cycle through our list that didn't like the contest. To the extent that we either wouldn't select them, or in one instance didn't play them when selected as sub.

I wouldn't be surprised if the thinking around this pick is as much around providing an assist to the development of some of our younger talls via Casey as well as being a senior footy-ready body if we cop some injuries.

I'm thrilled with this one. For a good 1-2 years I've hoped (and proposed on here) that the Dees target who they deem the best forward across the state league competitions so at minimum we have more tall forward depth.

I hope he promptly adapts to the AFL environment and can step straight into the main lineup for an immediate impact to help us contend another premiership while we have the likes of Gawn, May, and Viney still making an impact.

Play him on the HBF. Can't wait till we play Horethorn. Anyway - if he doesn't work out, trade him to Essenscum for a future first rounder.

Edited November 21, 2024Nov 21 by Queanbeyan Demon

1 hour ago, Roost it far said:

Surely you take Riak Andrew ahead of this guy. Will never play an AFL game

Obviously, JT thinks that AJ is a better fit for the club than RA. Its that simple. As for your second sentence, your declaration makes you look ridiculous.

10 hours ago, Demonstone said:

A mature aged (turns 25 in March) 193cm muscled up assassin.  Play him on Maynard on KB!

Encouraging. Has some toe to complement marking, mongrel, kicking distance and clearing opposition droppings from the pursuit of the ball. Nice maturity, too ... done the rounds in good leagues. 

1 hour ago, pitmaster said:

Riak was already gone a couple of picks earlier.

I understand we could have matched the bid with our pick - seems we were focussed on taking "AJ" at that pick no matter where Riak landed.

3 minutes ago, Hawk the Demon said:

I understand we could have matched the bid with our pick - seems we were focussed on taking "AJ" at that pick no matter where Riak landed.

Thanks. Interesting. Maybe he'd have been the "dud brother" in the tradition of Jay Viney, Tom Flower and numerous other good but not quite good enough footballers.

Obviously targeted by JT. Goody was so happy he visited AJ at home.

A crash and bash enforcer with athletic ability and raw but natural country footy skills. Sort of going back to the Dee's 'take no [censored]' of the mid/late 80's.

We are obviously looking to toughen up the forward half.

Edited November 21, 2024Nov 21 by manny100

Some of the criticism of this pick is a bit much IMO.

He might be a bust and never play a game? No [censored]. It’s pick 68. That’s an inherent issue with any pick at this point of the draft. We could have picked a runner, a flanker, anyone, and they could easily have never played.

We don’t need to prioritise Casey with our list management? I hope, if you’ve said this, you weren’t someone who was bemoaning Casey’s lack of competitiveness in 2024. 

Mongrel/competitiveness not enough to constitute a pick? Possibly. But Schache and Fullarton copped it this year for lacking this trait. 

I don’t have high hopes for Johnson, but I don’t really care at all that the club’s given this a go with pick 68.

Feels similar to the Disco Turner pick, a player who hits ball and opposition hard and has natural power and timing that’s never been refined in a professional environment. 
I was a fan of the physical impact and presence Vandenberg had for us when injury free. Would create havoc and give us momentum in games…

1 hour ago, pitmaster said:

Riak was already gone a couple of picks earlier.

We didn't match the bid.  He was able to be taken by the Dees as an NGA pick.

11 hours ago, Demonstone said:

A mature aged (turns 25 in March) 193cm muscled up assassin.  Play him on Maynard on KB!

aka The Jackal.

1 hour ago, DEE32 said:

Has he ever been tried as a defender? He is the same size as May, and being a competitor sounds ideal as a May backup. He’s had 1 season at VFL with 1 pre season and played well enough to make an AFL list. His footy growth should still be going up. Good luck to him! 

How's AJ's pace and agility @dazzledavey36? It would be a bonus if he has the closing speed to be a key back option in future too.

I like this draft pick. Sure it is speculative, but so is any pic at #68. At least you know he won't flinch in a contest. If he can get solid senior game time and make a contribution, could become a cult hero.