DeeSpencer

Jared Polec, Shane Edwards, Brodie Smith, Wayne Milera, Hamish Hartlett and could make an argument for a young Shaun Burgoyne. Stephens’ is a country Victorian who’s played senior footy - in the Bush and at league level, did he suddenly get soft because he boarded in Adelaide not Shepp like Clayton Oliver or Caulfield like James Jordon? The height is a valid concern, I like mids who are 6’2 rather than barely 6’. Makes an important difference for versatility and ball winning, but if you play like Richmond and run run run it doesn’t matter. Why did Toumpas and Trengove fail - because they couldn’t run. This kid can seriously run and the tackles and contested ball percentages are good. He’ll start on the outside but he’s 18! Let him win more contested ball when he’s 23.

Which players would you have pulled out of 2018 on route to a prelim purely because they needed end of season surgery? Harmes, Hunt, Oliver, Petracca all were fine for 2019. Taking out Jetta? Taking out Tommy Mc or Melksham? Really pulling out Viney who finally got a chance at finals? Or Hannan and his match sealing goal. We had too many self inflicted injuries at the start of 2019 and didn’t manage post surgery guys back to form and fitness. But there’s no way we should’ve rested guys. Imagine if the Dogs did that in 2016?

I remember how good his first season was at half back. Then in classic Melbourne style we started playing him forward and in and out of the side rather than just develop him in his preferred position. Yeah he was probably short a standout attribute in terms of size, strength or pace but he was a natural half back flanker. Managed a good season for the Eagles as well. Always nice to hear about former demons doing well post footy.

Assuming the club knows the likely result with Martin I can't see the others on that list impacting our draft plans. Bennell's almost no chance to play games, Murray's a slim chance to play well enough to hold down a spot, Tomlinson will be useful for 3-4 years as a role player which leaves only Langdon as a long term player. Whilst he locks down a wing spot we still have long term needs of run and class off half back, half forward and the other wing.

I wanted to check if he met the magical 30% contested ball percentage and he does National champs: 32 of 94 = 34% SANFL: 80 of 244 =33% SANFL ressies: 38 of 64 = 59% Apart from that I think at 182cm - ok but not anything useful for the air, good but not great pace and a nice kick but maybe not Whitfield style lasers on both sides is he just below the top 5 in the draft? And then is he the best of an even bunch that rate from 5-15? Would be very happy to get him at pick 8 but he might be gone and there might be other options that help us more.

I think those stats are a little unfair. He kicked 14 goals in 7 games at SANFL reserves level - so already up 1 level from his peers. And averaged 17 disposals at Colts level last year. As with a lot of kids he's had to split time between school footy, SANFL reserves, SANFL seniors and the National champs. 14 disposals and 3 tackles at the Champs from 3 games - even with only 2 goals - shows he's a guy who gets involved in games. The comparison I'd make for him would be Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti. I do agree he's not one I'd have in the frame at pick 8 but with a pick from 15-25 I'd have a good look.

Dan Rioli was pick 15 and in a redraft would probably stay at around 15-20. Willie might be about to miss the next 1-4 seasons and was a fat older draftee, great talent, not sure how high he'd be picked again. Liam Ryan's already crashed his car in to a tree and can do some wonderful things but isn't perfect as a player, not sure he goes much higher than his draft spot, maybe 15th at best. Pickett looks to have a lot of talent but at 170cm he's smaller than the guys you've named, I'm not sure I'd be grabbing him in the first round.

Football training is such a chaotic and unpredictable activity with the movements and stresses on the body you'd be mad to include anyone with even the slightest niggle in to ball work in early November. The benefit just isn't worth the risk. From that list Weid and Nev had surgeries, AVB and KK are dealing with long term issues. I'd like to see May, Petty and Joel Smith back in full training sooner rather than later but let's wait until the main group is back before being too concerned. The thing that undid us last year was the numbers in rehab all the way through until the start of the season (and beyond). A few guys on light duties in November isn't the same thing.

I'm conflicted because I've made my thoughts on Lewis clear but I also don't mind the idea that he's kept inside the tent so can't lob potshots in and that (even if he's untested as a coach) we've finally bought someone in to focus on kicking.

Honestly I'd split both picks and get 4 high quality top 20 kids in. Maybe you end up with 1 star, 2 solid players and 1 bust. But.... If you can get 1 elite player then you have to do that. Young's kicking is special Jackson's movement at his size is special Kemp's movement and skills for his size are special (bearing in mind the ACL) Tom Green's clearance work is off the charts. The argument against trading pick 3 is to get a great player with rare abilities. Pick 8 I'm more for trading as I'm not sure there will be a special player left on the board for us to pick, but again it's a matter of how deep the list of high quality players on our board goes.

Was mostly watching Robertson and Jackson at the stoppages but nothing really leapt out at me. The other thing I noticed was Weightman is an animal with his chase down tackles, should've had 2 or 3 holding the balls. Flies in to tackles with great intensity.

Finally got around to watching this game and whilst it's wrong to draw conclusions from one game my thoughts were: Robertson - in everything but his best plays were smothers or clearances when Jackson put it down his throat, probably would've liked to have seen more creativity and class with the ball Jackson - had some lovely taps and moves really well, but stands or walks around packs which I hate and then just doesn't get down the line to useful spots to get marks - both ahead of the ball and behind the ball. Marking in general looks suspect. Can get outreached at ball ups when he bodies up rather than jumps. Young - rough first half when he was caught inbetween defensively and under the pump with the ball but his kicking really looked great in the second half and he broke open the game Kemp - similar to Young, nothing early then in everything in the 2nd half up forward Serong - has some special moments with quick hands and quick feat and a nasty tackler Henry - pure class as a mid, I think we'd bid for him with pick 8 Sharp - the combination of size (height/strength) and athleticism make him a lock on the wing, but kicking is hot/cold and contested game does not look strong. 2nd round pick. Elijah Taylor - wow. Didn't touch it often but when he did it resulted in scores. So much class. Would be a huge gamble at pick 8 but you could talk me in to it. He cuts through traffic like a hot knife through butter and is a beautiful kick. Trent Rivers - thought he was best on ground, particularly for the first half. Impeccable half back ball winner and user. Should he be in the conversation for top 10?

Swallow had an excellent career but he never had the talent of an elite mid, hence was never AA. We have plenty of guys right now with a similar skill set. Brayshaw, Oliver, Viney etc Unless he has injuries/awful development I'd say the floor on Robertson's talents - Larke medalist, by all reports excellent leader and hard worker is about the Swallow level in terms of talent. Might not captain a club, win B+F's and play 190 odd games but that's about the level and if he's a scrubby kicker and lacks athleticism like Swallow did then no thanks.

Not sure what Brayshaw you watched but it certainly wasn't 2019 Gus. Clarry's been in great shape since he copped a flogging heading in to year 2, but having both shoulders done last year meant he was restricted in preseason. He became addicted to the hot potato handball that our coaches love, it worked in 2018 as we flooded the contest but teams got too quick and too good at midfield pressure last year. He needs runners to dish too - Langdon on the outside or someone like Petracca on the inside and he needs to start trusting his legs and running the ball himself. He does it when he gathers the loose balls in general play but at stoppages our lack of speed, structure and smarts makes it hard to take the game on. Plus having a tagger tackling him before he's got it doesn't help. The best part of the vision above was Jordon and Baker working a bit of weaving handball, drawing a man and releasing forward. Basic stuff but it was entirely missing from our game last season.

Who's meant to be there: 2016: Oliver, Weideman (hip surgery), Corey Wagner, Josh Wagner, Joel Smith (groin) 2017: Hannan 2018: Spargo, Fritsch, Petty, Baker 2019: Sparrow, Jordon, Nietschke (knee), Hore, Bedford, Chandler, Lockhart, Dunkley, Bradtke So Preuss, Gawn, T Mc the 3 voluntary additions so far.

Jason Taylor touched on this on RTTD. I get the feeling he was originally in draft them later camp but has seen the success of Dan Rioli and Shai Bolton (amongst others) taken in the first or early 2nd rounds and being incredibly valuable to the team. I'm not convinced there's one worth taking for out top picks this year but I'd have no issue taking one early if the talent was there. The best small forwards kick goals, create goals with skills and create goals with defensive pressure. There's a lot of value in that role. Unfortunately I think we'll be looking at our late pick/s in the draft to pluck a smokey and hopefully we find the right guy.

So forget about the go home factor and just ask if this kid is the next Joel Selwood or the next Andrew Swallow. That's the likely range of his talents and if he's the next Selwood then sign him up, if he's the next Swallow then thanks but no thanks.

Certainly a decent chunk of WA's best players either play in the state or return home. From that team: Hamling, Jetta, Hill*, Kelly, Jamie Cripps, Josh Kennedy, Yeo have all gone home. The first 4 names there are Indigenous players who I think it's fair to say have stronger community/family links than most players. Cripps and Yeo were at very ordinary clubs when they went home. Kennedy didn't want to leave Carlton and was packed up for Judd. O'Meara moved to Victoria, Coniglio came close to doing the same, Buddy went to Sydney and Charlie Cameron went to one of his original homes. Deven Robertson looks tough, resilient and no fuss, the type of kid who will stay loyal if you give him a strong club. Shuey, Gaff, Hurn..plenty of non West Aussies stick it out in Perth. I wouldn't be too worried even with uncle Darren at the Eagles. In fact I reckon it would be hard if not impossible for Glass to excuse himself from list management decisions involved in trading for his nephew, in many ways it makes a trade less likely.

Sure would, but given he's probably only 50% chance of joining us, then has to get through preseason to get on the park he'd be about 1% chance of being out there in round 1. If we have 1 of 3 of Vanders, KK and Bennell out there and playing well it would be a good result.

Nic Nat 10 games in year 1, 22 in year 2. Grundy 7 games in year 1 including a final as the number 1 ruck. 15 games in year 2. With Burgess and a maturing midfield group including Tomlinson and Langdon on the wings the idea would be to play Jackson something like 65% game time, 35% forward, 30% ruck from very early in his career. That’s enough to ease the load over the next 2 years before really extending Max when he’s 30+

There's a lack of refinement to his skills but I don't think Jackson is as raw as people think, the stats and the way he plays looks like a footballer. Nic Nat, Stef Martin and Grundy are still unrefined at times, doesn't hurt their value. And it's hard to disagree about the ruck not being a need with Gawn right now but I'm looking at the current Melbourne side and I see a lot of needs and not a lot of strengths. Maybe we'd be well served to lean in to the ruck as a real strength and have 120 minutes of quality in there. We need to add more run and skill but we're unlikely to ever beat Richmond playing open fast footy. Stoppages, contested ball, own the aerial contests might be our best game plan. Gawn also works his backside off to break even at ground level against the more mobile rucks, I'm not sure how much longer he'll be able to do it at a high level for 100 minutes a game. He tore his hammy tendon chasing a midfielder a couple of years ago, as he gets towards 30 he's going to struggle in the centre square. Gawn with heavier slower inside mids isn't a great centre bounce combination. How often do you see Gawn chasing a mid from the centre or a handball go to him flat footed which forces him to lob an ineffective kick forward. Adding a mobile ruck to do a share of the centre bounce work would help Max do what he does best - control games as an around the ground force. Interstate players? We burnt a decade of young talent no matter where they came from, I don't think we can be concerned about that. Same with the go home factor.

Because if you had that draft again Grundy would go pick 1 or maybe pick 2 after Whitfield. He has: O'Rourke, Plowman, Toumpas, Mayes, Menzel, Jaksch, Corr, Garner, Thurlow, Simpson and everyone after pick 18 clearly covered. You can make an argument for Macrae, Wines, Stringer, Vlastuin I guess but it's Grundy right? If you think Jackson is even remotely similar to Grundy then he has to be in the conversation for at least pick 8.

Not drafting Jackson because we have Bradtke is about the equivalent of not drafting Hogan because we had Jack Fitzpatrick. Irrelevant. Plenty of valid reasons not to draft a ruck with a high pick and that they take time is one of the most valid ones but Jackson is one of the best performed players in this draft crop, he's not in the same postcode as Bradtke who by definition couldn't play footy for years to qualify as Cat B.

How many players turned up slightly underdone to their clubs last season? Off the top of my head: Wingard, W Rioli, Dusty Martin, Motlop, Stringer and I'm sure a stack more. How many players have done an ACL and taken time to get back to their best. How many players of lesser or equal talent as Harmes signed a 4 year contract in this recent trade period? Tomlinson is one. Cam Ellis-Yolmen (3 years, maybe 4)? Josh Bruce. Was Zak Jones 3 or 4 years? The reality is with anything like the last couple of seasons Harmes would play himself in to a juicy 4 year extension, we've gone early and likely got A) a discount and B) significant cap flexiblity for doing so.

https://player.whooshkaa.com/episode?id=454539 from 6;31