SFebes

Can he though? He's pushing aside undersized opponents and Taylor is grabbing him with a KPF position in mind, yet from what I've read he struggles overhead and his kicking is not the best, not to mention he hasn't played a lot forward. I just wish there was more footage

Gysberts went well with that theory.

Maybe, Ryan I think averaged 3 goals a game in the WAFL beforehand and went mid/high 20's in the draft? He also just averages 1.3g per game, I'd take his premiership though and that mark that won it for them.

Draft experts. You'd have to think/agree that the top 2-3 (Rowell, Anderson, Young) are all tier ones, then you have a group of guys from 4-11ish who are the next group then comes the lucky dip. I love what Pickett brings to the table don't get me wrong, but as an investor you don't buy a house at the most expensive price because you like it. He's 67kgs, think of how easily Spargo gets pushed off the ball and players of similar size. With Jackson at 3, which I think is a punt, taking Pickett at 10 is flirting the edge a little. As I've said before, none of us are experts, but from afar it just doesn't feel right, it's the vibe of it I suppose! If I were to put up or shut up, I'd take Young at 3 and was thinking Kemp/Ash/Stephens at 8, unsure now at 10 whether that mid bunch will surprise and where they'll go, dropping two spots in this draft could prove costly. History shows that some of the best small forwards of the modern era dont average many goals a game and everyone is trained to apply pressure these days, try and turn one of our resting mids into that role, Oliver seems to be the most natural who could snag a couple a game. It's a real shame Garlett deteriorated later in his career also.

at 67kg he won't be doing much bone crunching for a few years at AFL level. We gave up a bit to get pick 8 which is potential A grade territory, not sure I'd be giving that up and moving into the teens for a couple of tier 2/3's. Especially taking into account the possibility of Jackson at 3.

Better not miss out on Kemp, Stephens, Ash or a slider for the sake of picking up midgets.

28 in January, let's hope this doesn't continue. Showed some grunt late in year.

I'm surprised Norm Smith wasn't mentioned as a reason?

Nah the criticism of Weid is warranted, he was terrible last year and I was a big fan however he would want to show some form and consistency this year, age is on his side though. It would be nice to see a bit more footage of Jackson up forward. Thanks and yes everyone seems to be just talking about his ruckwork and comparisons to nic nat. I don't want to pick up a "ruck" at pick 3. Gawn dominates in the ruck and around the ground and we still get smashed in the middle. The only issue I have re KPF is I haven't seen much footage of him clunking marks and nailing goals? Surely if there was a bit of that footage around it would be pumped out by now? I guess it's this kind of unknown that doesn't sit well with me.

Is there any possibility that he is being considered as a KPF and not as a ruck? A 10 year mobile CHF?

All good mate, to be honest I don't follow the juniors closely these days. I saw his highlights package but didn't do much for me but that may be bias also. I think we are all nervous! I just wish we could snag our next Buddy, Roughy, Dusty, Bont, Cripps, J Cameron.... we are due a bonafide star, we may not be back down here this far for a while, I just hope we don't draft a project. As you say, better judges out there than me anyway, I'll wait anxiously!

So my next question, seeing as he's more an athlete than a footballer with good skills, would a comparison to Blicavs be close? Or more Nic Nat? Who I think is a bit over hyped also.

Bloody oath I hope so 55. All this drafting and trading is is a bunch of what-ifs and hindsight really. I do like Jake, know his dad through family friends, just think we coughed up too much that's all. I like him for his leadership traits and age profile.

I will refrain from judging those players you have mentioned, I like the last two in the list. We haven't had anymore first rounders as we sold the farm for an injury prone player with ACL history, a fat guy whos getting old and came to preseason under prepared and a bloke GC didn't even want. By the way, I do like the ACL guy, but think we paid too much for him. Also you like Jackson and that is OK, I don't want him at pick 3 and that is also OK. Don't get your knickers in a knot.

Not keen on Jackson at 3 or 8 for that matter. Very hard to judge big bodied guys against tiny teens IMO. The ruck position is a very overrated position, how many times did Gawn dominate the ruck last year and we were still smashed in clearances. He's a big boy playing against kids and comparisons to colts games are even worse. Plus we don't need a ruckman, Tigers won a flag with Nankervis and Grigg. When was the last time a dominant ruckmen helped their team win a flag, you'd probably have to go back to Ottens at the Cats and Keating before that? We do need a KPF goalkicker (that I'm shocked we didn't try or be linked to one), unsure if this guy can fulfill that role? What we do need is clean kickers (not handball machines), fast decision makers, strong overhead and can hit the scoreboard. Who that leaves I'm not sure. Taylor needs to pull a rabbit (a grade star) out, not impressed by his recruiting so far, he fluked Oliver, but jury is still out on him IMO. On the limited vision I've seen, perhaps Young and Kemp? Also could Anderson be a chance with pick 3 somehow?

Haven't read the thread but the big factor for me is, IF this year was just a one off we'd be mad not to swoop on top end talent/A graders....we may not be back down this far again for a while. Future picks don't do it for me. Just a thought.

If he's unlikely to play in 2020 then what's the point? Would like some more info on his expected return now. Any doctors here that know the surgery details and likely recovery times? I'd just assumed he was ready to start training and play round 1?

So can he not play until July/August next year?

Good post, it's for that exact reason I'd play him in the F50 as a goal sneak, he knows where they are. I cant see him getting back to his best in the midfield, it's been too long. He's talented enough to maybe boot 40 as the X-factor/small forward option.

Possibly, without knowing the GPS data for all small forwards across the league I wouldn't know, the biggest shift is possibly defensive pressure rather than km output? Couldn't imagine Eddie Betts racking up too many kms?

Err, there's been a fair bit of info come out re his injury status since early September.....wouldn't you agree? Sounds like a fair bit of risk has been taken off the table.

I'd be happy to just use him as the small forward/X-factor option in the F50 rather than expect him to pump out 14kms of gut running in the midfield, worth a shot, will cost us SFA really.

I was also not pro for getting Yze, he had been in the role for just a year and Hawks played just as bad as anyone this year. I'm all for getting people in, but I think we should be aiming for a lot better. Maybe all they had to do was get rid of one person, we shall see by round 6. I struggle to see what Tomlinson adds besides maybe overhead marking around the wing, Langdon is also a butcher but both upgrades on Stretch and JKH. We need a star, but in the box and on the field.

And how did Port perform with him in the role? Massive underachievers. Yawn from me.

From memory came 2nd in Cats VFL BnF, have been watching him all year, a yes for me, even if it's depth.