Lord Travis

If you've got an iPhone, the NAB League app has footage of every player from every match. Not sure if it's available on Android. Probably the best way for general punter to see footage of these kids for now until the AFL website starts putting up highlights close to the draft.

Here's Knightmare's write-up for Young for last month. He seems like he's top 5 worthy and I'd be happy with him at 3. "Provides consistent drive from defence with his work by foot a highlight. Rises ahead of Ash due stronger form over the latter part of the season and a better contested side to his game. Strengths: Versatility to play defence or midfield, precise and damaging kick, vision, decision making under pressure, aggressive attack on the ball, contested ball winning, stoppage work, run and carry, agility, leap, one-on-one defence, defensive accountability, reading of the drop of the ball, intercept marking Weaknesses: Sometimes too accountable, needs to provide a marking target more often around the ground rather running around the back for cheap handball receives"

Seen him play two games live. Answers to your questions below. Does he get his own ball? Yes. He can definitely win his own ball, and played a few games inside midfield. Is his kicking overall elite? Yes. His kicking overall is elite. He's unquestionably the best kick in this draft class. His kicking is very accurate and well weighted both long and short. His long kicking has good punch and penetration. To compare kicking to a current AFL player, think Shannon Hurn or Daniel Rich with his ability to punch the ball forward. Marking ability? Intercept marking is one of his strengths. He's very competitive in the air, uses his body well and times his marking/spoiling well. He reads the play very well. Doesn't have an enormous leap, but more than adequate. Is he teachable? He seems a smart kid, often directing traffic out of the backline. He seems very teachable. Leadership? He shows genuine leadership. As above, he is often directing traffic across halfback. He also takes responsibility in key moments as evidenced by 'the kick' in the tweet in this thread. If I had to compare him to an AFL player it'd be Luke Hodge from early/late in his career where he played as a general across halfback. Young has shown he can play midfield, but he's best suited across halfback. Strengths are kicking and marking and he has great gamesense and composure. He's the best option at pick 3 IMO.

Surely Keays is worth a look! Still only 22 years old and has showed a bit at AFL level the past few years. Kicked 43 goals from 16 games in the NEAFL this year. IMO he'd be an upgrade on all our depth forwards at worst.

Would take Josh Walker and Ben Keays from Brisbane. Both would be depth upgrades at least.

After 4 seasons he’s been delisted to make way for a 30 year old Josh Jenkins. He’s a pretty low chance of making it. Maybe for a rookie spot, but I doubt he’ll make it.

Pass. Has not shown anything at AFL level to suggest he will make it.

Either we draft him and he plays for us or we draft him and he has a sook and sits out for a year. We should nominate him regardless of his dealings with Carlton. It's time for the club to start playing hardball. [censored] Carlton getting a freebie. They've had more than enough!

If we can't afford him financially, then we're in real strife. A team that finished 17th should not have salary cap issues. It's a win-win situation. Get a good player, or get compensated for letting him slide to Carlton. We improve either way if we play hardball and are smart about it. Time to see what Mahoney and co are made of.

No they can't be traded. We should be taking him with pick 2 in the PSD. Gold Coast won't take someone who has refused to sign a contract and walked out and moved to Victoria. If he is set on Carlton, then we hold them over a barrel and make them compensate us for not taking him ahead of them. We are in a win-win situation here. We either land a good footballer who fits our needs for no trade cost, or we negotiate compensation with Carlton for not taking him. If the club doesn't stand firm and make the most of an advantageous position, then nothing has changed and we're still a weak feeder club. Surely we've grown some balls now?!

3 - bid on Green (matches by GWS) 4 - Young 9 - Weightman or Stephens 97 - project tall

Clearly not rated highly. Was given away for an upgrade of a future 4th round pick to future 3rd round pick. Massive bust for a 19 year old first round pick!

Take him in the PSD. Would be the perfect end to a successful offseason if that occurred! Play him at half forward as the kick inside 50 and stealing a few goals. Perfect fit for us with a bit of agility, pace, and great kicking skills. Make it happen Dees!

Correct. Hopefully we get a deal for 6 + a good player before 7:30 tonight. Pick swap shouldn’t satisfy us IMO so it’s deal now, or no deal.

Hoping for pick 6 + a good player before the deadline. Pick swap shouldn't satisfy us IMO.

Young played a bit inside midfield, more so to show recruiters he was capable and versatile. His clear best position is in defense as the distributor with a huge boot - think Shannon Hurn type. While he can boot it long, he definitely doesn’t bomb it. He can pinpoint kicks 50+ meters and is the best kick in the draft by a fair way. His kicking skills are the main reason he is rated a top 5 pick. Those skills are exactly what we’re lacking, so he’s probably the best fit at pick 3. Won’t be unhappy with any of the other names thrown about though, as they’re all elite talented youngsters.

De Koning is 200cm utility. Named All Aus fullback, but hasn’t really found his best position. Could become a KPF/2nd ruck type we’re lacking perhaps. Will go anywhere from 20-50. There’s not many talls in this draft so not many other options.

That would be ideal. Then use pick 25 on a tall of some sort such as De Konig.

Serong played inside midfielder all season though. He played forward when he was younger, but now is an inside midfielder, so I'm not sure he fits that need. He's definitely a talented player though, so wouldn't be unhappy to have him in red and blue. Weightman was rated between 20-25 during the year, but has risen recently as a bolter. I was keen on him a few months back and posted about him in the threads about other potnetial small forwards for future such as Kobe Farmer, Ksiah Picket etc. We're apparently keen on him, so pick 8/9 might be where he bolts to. He's a good small forward. Has pace, has a good leap, hits the scoreboard, provides pressure. He'd walk into our team round 1 IMO. I'd be very happy to have him in red and blue!

They’re not wrong ?

I love the idea of trading into the first round of this year draft. next years draft is compromised. But why are giving up 26 and 50 as well? Seems lopsided. Surely we don’t give it all up for 8.

Anyone but Oliver. I really rate Caldwells potential as either an inside mid or outside mid. He’s well rounded and could be versatile if needed. I’d be pouring games into him and adding him to the midfield rotation, maybe stints in the wing and stints on ball. I think Viney is the one who needs to add more strings to his bow, potentially rotate up forward. Oliver has already started playing stints up forward, though was more effective there in 2018 when getting cleaner delivery. Brayshaw can play wing, half back or half forward. Harmes can tag or play forward and use his marking skills and leap. Viney is the one who needs to find another position he can play that’s not around the ball. Defensive forward is probably the most likely.

Yes but only picks, so if a player is potentially going to be involved then the trade needs to get done by Wednesday. I’m still hoping for 6+Caldwell personally!

I think we'll need to add later picks/swap this years later picks for next years to give them the points they need to match the Green bid. It won't be as simple as 3 for 6+whatever. It'll need to be more like 3+3rd round pick+4th round pick for 6+teen pick/player.

Nietschke did his knee and missed the season, so no idea about how he'll progress yet. I didn't mind Sparrow at underage level, but I was disappointed with his first year at both levels. I didn't expect anything at AFL level, but I expected him to show good form or bursts of his key traits at VFL level and was left wanting. He didn't show any burst of pace, his skills were sloppy, his agility seemed average and he struggled to read the play. Jordan looked good towards the end of the year playing more inside midfield in the VFL. Down back as a half back flanker, his kicking was decent but he often struggled to read the play and would get caught in no mans land guarding space while his opponent got off the chain. He was moved on ball later in the season and definitely showed he reads the play better there as someone who can just hunt the ball instinctively without having to think about setups. I believe he may become a decent player for us as he matures over the next few years. His kicking skills and ball finding ability through the middle seemed good to me at VFL level.