seventyfour

A lot of talk of replacing Nibbler with someone else on the list, but we might not be looking to do that. Firstly, we don't really have anyone like him on the list, and secondly, to steal a term from Moneyball, we might replace him 'in the aggregate' i.e. multiple players filling his role throughout the game.

First round picks are a gamble. You're trading an established, AFL-ready player for a kid who could be a bust. We traded Luke Jackson for picks that drafted Jefferson (2022) and Windsor (2023). If we had Luke Jackson in 2023 I am convinced we win the flag. Neither of the finals losses would've happened. But we lost him, and had Jefferson instead, who so far has contributed nothing. It may turn out in the end, but for now, we may have one less flag because of Jackson's wish to go home.

Kentfield is one of the youngest players in the AFL (until draft night), positive he is stacking on size so early.

Would be nice to have another pick in the top 20~ that we could use on a slider, or a tall. Someone like Trainor if he slides, or maybe one of the Whitlocks? Would Richmond take 5 for 10 and 20? So we'd have 9, 10, 20. The draft points don't match but if Richmond are really keen to get in on a few of players before the Saints, they would have 5 and 6 to do so. 9 and 10 would likely still leave us with options of Smillie/Reid/Travaglia/Lindsay.

Have read that he doesn't really get moving much as a forward, more of a stay at home option. In another draft where other forwards were available it sounds like he'd drop out of the first round? Don't want us to reach, take the best available at 5 and 9 which doesn't seem to be Armstrong.

Required depth. Good for him as a person too, would've been rough if he got dumped again after one year (in terms of his ability to build a different career outside of footy etc).

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

19yo 203cm forward. Only 2 years in the system then dumped. Kicked 20 goals from 18 games for Port SANFL this year. Not great but Port won the wooden spoon so it's not all his fault. Interesting prospect for a rookie spot?

I'm not sure exactly but the VFL salary cap for AFL-aligned clubs is $110,000. 26 players on Casey's squad this year= $4,200~ each. I assume match payments as well. Could easily double that taking $500 a game at local footy. Had a mate who played VFL, left it to get paid $250 a game at a local club and his agreement was that he didn't have to train during the week. Was still BOG almost every week.

Not sure why you would at his age. AFL list or go take local club money instead.

When Melbourne and Essendon needed him most, he couldn't deliver. He's 27 years old. It'll never click.

Couldn't make it at 2 clubs before, including Geelong who have proven to be incredible at identifying and developing talent. No reason to think he would work here.

Langford & Smillie thanks, starting at the 2029 Grand Final centre bounce alongside Windsor. Toughness, height and speed.

Soooo...... If Petty and Turner are forwards...... And May gets injured next year...... Who plays on big forwards? Tomo was far from perfect but sometimes you just need a body to temporarily fill a role. And we've shown no interest in Denver Granger-Barras or any other defenders?

Not sure about picking up a player who is always injured as a depth replacement for injuries. He has definitely shown talent but can't stay on the park. Rookie list option at the most.

Feels a bit like the kid at school who finally gets a C instead of an F

Issue I see with Tauru - and lots of other defenders in mock drafts - is they're all rated as intercept defenders. 'Third man' types. We don't need another Lever, we need a replacement for May, both as injury cover next year and long term replacement.

Hoping we acquire a pick for Tomlinson departing, either this year or next year. The cupboard is bare and i'd really like us to draft a tall defender to grow at Casey for a few years.

Hoping Collingwood get desperate now and do something silly to get 13 from Gold Coast, then trade their F1 too.

Collingwood massive losers in that. Sure it gets them one step closer next year but they're really giving up depth and the future.

Never ever thought Jones was coaching material but happy to be proven otherwise. Interesting that our culture fell apart after he left though.

I am not as stoked about this as we were before. If we trade pick 49 for Sharp, we are left with pick 5 and 9 and nothing else. Surely we still need to build for the future, especially key position depth (defendrs), by drafting in later rounds. We won't be able to do that now? Unless something is coming back for Tomlinson.

With the brilliance of Jason Taylor, surely two shots with picks 5 and 9 is far better than one shot with pick 2... hope we don't trade with North.

Hope that Derksen is still on the cards too. Both of them could wind up failures like Fullarton, but at least it'd be positive to get in some players that are young but not 18yo.

Sure we have Langdon and Windsor already but there's no guarantee they'll be fit for all 23 games. You need depth at every position. Many bemoaned the loss of Jordon and Harmes, it's about time we recovered some depth. He's still young but has 4 years in the system so physically he should be ready to play AFL footy, if not, at least he improves Casey. Victorian too so who knows if being back home might help.