DeeSpencer

Who says he’s not skilled? Did you watch the video? We don’t need to abandon our love of big aggressive bodies if we can make sure they can run and kick. If all those players are gone before pick 11 then who do we take?

He’s clearly playing a team role at WAFL seniors but is he that dynamic a goal kicker? 7 goals in 10 games? WAFL Colts averages: 9 games | 16.3 disposals | 11.0 kicks | 5.3 handballs | 4.4 marks | 2.7 tackles | 3.9 inside 50s | 2.4 goals (22 total) Tholstrup started the season like a house on fire up forward, booting 14 goals in the first month with four consecutive bags of multiple majors. His season-high of five came against East Perth in Round 4, and he also clunked a high of eight marks in that game. Looks like he was more of a goal kicker at Colts level before moving on ball. Zurhaar to me is a goal kicker who can rotate on ball, but one of his weaknesses is he doesn’t find the ball or chase/pressure as a high half forward. From what I’ve seen of Tholstrup he seems willing and able to play up the ground. Pat Lipinski would be another comp. A guy who’s willing and able to do the running and play a connecting role across half forward is the type of player coaches love.

The Pies fixture last year had a run of prime time exposure early followed by the biggest gift of day games through the back end of winter. Allowed them to do big training blocks and rest players. Obviously we won’t get that same gift but with the creation of another prime time game in round 0 I hope we aren‘t shafted out of another day game. The Swans were one team we played twice in the day last year.

Pros: - Big body and agile - Hits the contest, enjoys the niggle - Clean overhead marking - not the most natural kicking action but can penetrate and seems to have poise to choose his targets inside 50 especially after marking across half forward. - versatile mid/forward and possibly wing? (6:17 2km) - Country kid with personality! Cons: - Not a huge ball winner - Might lack breakaway pace or explosive leap that can be handy for a forward - Preferred position? It’s hard work being an afl half forward. Are we spending a first round pick on Nibbler2? And is he up for it? Shades of: Daniel Lloyd, Cam Rayner, Tom Sparrow, Cam Zurhaar

Ahhh, no no they are not. I mean, for away games they are nice, especially if we win and don’t ruin the weekend! But for home games it would be nice if we can have some family friendly time slots. Sunday 1:10 please! Feels like since the flag we’ve barely played in the day time. My niece and nephew went to two games last year. I’m sure parents had similar issues. And all the night footy isn’t great for players routines either.

I wonder if this pick is influenced by the first pick. If Curtin and we see him as KPS, 11 is unlikely to be O’Shllivan or Murphy If Sanders, 11 in unlikely to be a genuine on baller like C Edwards If Watson or Caddy then less likely to take another forward in Tholstrup

Not sure about that, one of the reasons I said Paddy Dow in that example was due to the teams drafting between those picks.

I wouldn’t be sure of that. Rookie minimum pay is still pretty good but Marty’s had plenty of time grinding it in the VFL and was reportedly due to head back to the farm. I think we’d have to make a case to why he’d be in line to play. With Petty forward and potentially Riv or Salem in the midfield mix that certainly opens up opportunities. Our backline depth is Turner, Howes and then nothing. The selling point for Hore would be he’s either best 22 or really close.

From the moment I first saw a clip of him I said that’s a first round pick based on the huge upside. And the type of player we like so was always going to get linked to us . But it certainly would be a risk given his form only came late in the year with limited midfield exposure in a stacked team. Id say his strengths are mostly that he’s a great size and athlete, with some ability to find and use the ball creatively in traffic. Has to tidy up his handballing and his kicking certainly isn’t fluent. You’re risking 50% chance he’s Paddy Dow for a 10% chance he’s Paddy Dangerfield.

Today was the culmination of the poor form and bad habits many of our players have built all year. I know I’m a broken record on a few of them but they simply weren’t improving parts of their game and it came back to haunt us. Mick’s shuffled the magnets all year and we’ve had injuries but it’s alarming that he hasn’t found an accountable ball winning midfield and forward structure that works. After the awful start we got right back in the contest and had the better of the 2nd and start of 3rd but the execution was deplorable and that indicates too much doubt and not the first fortitude to fight.

But a huge disadvantage to anyone who doesn’t live in the outer south east. Big Melbourne finals deserve a proper ground, so I’m fine with it. We’ve moved home games to IKON and had no issues winning their last year. But it certainly highlights our lack of proper home ground in the demon heartland.

You make your own luck in footy but geez we haven’t had a good bounce all day

Did she just take her kick without her boot on?

No crumbers, top heavy with weak pressure, poor entries and bad execution when they’ve had chances.

If you’re Birch there do you reach for the hamstring, get a limp going as you head to the pine?

Oh Zanker, what a display of where they are at

Oh yeah, she’s doing great

Alyssa Bannan do something without melting under physical pressure please.

I’d kick 12 on Birch out there today.

Sad to say we have become a soft and disorganised footy side.

He’s one of those players who’s too good for the VFL, but the issue I have is his best footy comes as an intercepting 3rd tall and we already have Lever as well as developing Disco Turner for that role. He’s not going to keep up with nippy smalls in a back pocket. He’s not going to man good key forwards one on one deep. And he doesn’t provide the run we need as a back flanker.

The Eagles will offer it for every spot that Curtin is available, but I’m not convinced we take it. Especially not straight up. That said, if there’s no one left that we rate in the elite crop we have a choice to make between: 1. Moving back the prized part of the Jackson trade back one year further 2. Taking Curtin who seems to be increasing his flight risk level to a fairly high level, which means he could be gone inside 3 years. Could all be rubbish, but the player manager played his cards strongly. Im always of the belief you draft interstate talent unless you think it’s inevitable. Curtin could be flirting with it. Only those with inside knowledge would know. I’m hoping JT and Co have someone else in the top bracket they want instead and take the pick.

Reid, Walter, McKercher, Duursma Hawks: Watson Dogs: Sanders Dees: Caddy or Curtin GWS: Windsor, (Caddy taken) or Curtin Geel: Curtin/(Caddy taken)/ O’Sullivan/ Wilson/ Leake Ess: O’Sullivan/(Windsor, Caddy taken)/Wilson/Hardeman Adel: Wilson/O’Sullivan (taken) With an Ethan Read bid some where. Rough attempt at amalgamating your mail with Cal Twomey’s. If the Hawks and Dogs picks start to filter through before the draft the focus will switch towards our choice. Curtin seems the hardest to place, could go 5, 7-13. Us and GWS might prioritise needs, so my guess is the Cats grab him.

I’ve watched a couple of the full allies game replays as well as the video compilations that aren’t just highlights but are every touch and most involvements. Obviously I’m not a recruiter or an expert and it’s not the same as watching live. He’s a really good zoning player who gets to the right spots but in terms of true aerial work he’s got a lot to improve on. Junior talls are rarely great at it and some figure it out from a low base like a Harry McKay. For a top 10 pick on a key defender I’d like someone who displays really natural top end marking like a Gibcus or Jake Lever. Just go through the videos and chart every time he’s involved in a pack or one on one under a high ball and the number of times he takes a mark or gets a clean spoil on the ball.

I can see some parallels with Kossie with Collard rising up draft boards despite limited output in his draft year. Genuine goal kicking X factor is hard to find and Collard had a big finish to the year. Kossie was quiet in the national champs, but was playing his role in SANFL ressies and even had a go in the seniors. Plus school footy. Collard couldn’t catch a cold in the national champs and took a while to put it together at WAFL Colts level. That’s a level that any top draft pick should really dominate at. He looks to have a good spread of attributes - clean skills, pace, decent size for a small and overhead ability. But is there one standout ability? I think he’s good but not quite good enough for a top 15 pick especially if there’s doubts on his maturity and ability to relocate.