DeeSpencer

Nairn’s been one of my favourites. As I said in an other thread. Who has 16 marks in a game, even if it’s sanfl colts? My main comparison for him as a half forward is Tom Lynch (Adel). High endurance, really smart on the lead, beautiful clean hands and a super quick decision maker including kicking inside 50. The difference to Lynch is he played 2 excellent games on the wing at the end of the SANFL colts season and racked the ball up for fun. (I was so intrigued by him I watched these 2 games on the sanfl website). He looked every bit the natural wingman. A little taller and left footed but kind of plays the way Sidebottom does by constant movement to dangerous spots. Can he play on ball? I haven’t seen contested ball from him. But I have seen super clean hands around the pack from the wing. Downsides: not overly quick, not key tall size, doesn’t jump up in packs, doesn’t provide much pressure or tackling at ground level. A fairly one paced linking player with a top 10(ish) pick. Seems a risk. But a JT risk is often worth taking.

5:13 in this video. They spend all year ranking the 50-60 most draftable players they have, because they never know where there picks will fall. That’s the job. I’m sure in practice they do zero in on guys around the range of their picks. Especially extra research on the top ones and then getting some likely targets at later picks. But the smartest thing to do would be to keep true to the order be flexible about moving up or down when opportunity to maximise talent presents.

PSD Do you have a read on Koby Evans? Obviously has to get his body right and most likely the eagles match any bid but in terms of upside I’m not sure they’ll be another big body explosive mid who will go late in this draft.

He has burst, that’s evident in his sprint time, jumping measurements and he takes good overhead marks for his size. And he has forward and mid ability. But he’s both shorter and less bursty than Rayner. Or Heeney. Or any of the 6’2+ really explosive big mids. I’m trying to think of a mid/forward of a similar size around 6’ and good but not great burst traits. Toby Greene would be similar, but Toby is one of one as a player. Elijah Hewett might be similar, he’s slightly taller but has the same midfielder who can go forward balance and has some decent burst without being a top liner.

Hogan will be 31 soon and aside from Cadman those other guys are all 3rd tall options at best. Would be an ideal time to get a Hogan replacement

He’s a more natural forward than Schubert, much better set shot action too. Missed a lot with injuries and somewhat underperformed after a strong bottom age year and being the star of under 16’s. At times you see the talent, at other times he looks like a chest marker who doesn’t always launch and isn’t a huge threat on the deck. The interview and off the field stuff is always super important (as with every player) for a talented APS kid to work out if they really have the competitive juices for afl footy. And a medical too to see that he’s over his injuries. But I’m not surprised the recruiters aren’t scared away by a down year. Certainly GWS who have a super list and a lot of other talent in reserve makes a lot of sense. We don’t need to draft another young key forward but we better be kicking the tyres on every option because we do need a star key forward and the drafts the best place to look.

How do you think the ruck rules help CDT? I actually think if anything they slightly hurt him. Slightly fewer boundary throws in around the ground probably doesn’t mean much either way. The not crossing the centre line might help a young ruck who can jump early in their career but medium/long term it just increases injury risk, and at 200cm without a great leap he probably ends up as a push and shove ruck more than a jumper.

If he gets to us I bet we snap him up in a flash because the coach will pound the table for a guy who plays the most like Tom Stewart that I’ve seen from a junior defender.

My concern is there’s seekingly plenty of times where he could just give a first option or go more direct. And if the only way he knows is to take everyone on he might end up getting in trouble a lot more than once or twice a game. I understand it’s nitpicking.

I’ve seen reports saying he is 194 but generally reported that he’s 198cm with a December birthday so every chance he ends up 200cm+. Basketball background with a late focus on footy. Pros: He’s not afraid to bang bodies in the ruck, he jumps confidently and extends his big long arms at the ball and he moves very well for his size with a big tank. Finds the pill - 17 disposals in champs, 19 in sanfl 18’s Cons: the decision making with the footy needs plenty of work, his hands look nice but not amazing and his kicking is somewhat effective but looks hideous. To me he fits in the range of super athletic big guys from other sports: Ethan Read, Shannon Neale, Sam Day. Long odds to become a champion goal kicker but can become a crucial part of how a forward line functions. Pick 12 in a normal draft - unlikely. Pick 12 in this years, I wouldn’t be overly enthused but I can see him being a useful player.

I’d much rather a player who tries too much than one who doesn’t try enough and it often works for Butters but is anyone concerned his cuts and steps won’t work nearly as well at afl level? Especially when he goes back in to traffic? Good talent, lots of ticks including the way he tackles and that he kicks goals. Just looks a little bit like he’s running around in the under 10’s at times.

How early is too early for Max Kondogiannis? 7/8 seems too early but no way he gets to 37. Just looks a rock solid footballer.

Similar build, athleticism and baby face as Sparrow but I don't think their games compare. Sparrow's plodder-ness at afl level isn't due to his lack of athleticism, it's caused by his lack of game sense to move proactively both with and without the ball. Sparrow came through with the last great crop out of SA which gave them more options but the SA junior coaches knew this and played him half back in the national champs. I don't think he progressed to SANFL seniors either. With Cumming I see a much more proactive mover at stoppages around the ground, a way better decision maker especially when on the run and whilst not perfect he kicks the ball far smoother than Sparrow. And that greater ability has been showcased by making an impact mid/forward at the champs and at senior sanfl level.

Anyone can still nominate, they've worded this change poorly. Really what it's about is giving the umpire freedom to just ball it up if the rucks are too far behind the play. Rucks will have the freedom to jump, it will help those who do although it's up to each ruck to decide if they wish to risk injury and risk taking themselves out of follow up play by leaping or not. I suspect most of the rucks, most of the time won't bother with too much jumping, the risk isn't worth the reward unless you're Nic Nat.

My reply was to a comment saying we don't need nominations. There's still a need for nominations to top teams getting creative about who the ruck is and drawing free kicks for 3rd man up or blocking players at stoppages.

Imagine this though, round 1 next year, Melbourne vs Collingwood. Throw in deep in the Pies forward line. Gawn's ready for the throw in. Darcy Cameron is hovering about 5m away, not quite committed to the contest but not out of it either. Just as the ball is about to be thrown in Dan McStay runs from the side straight towards Gawn. Disco Turner is tracking McStay because that's what defenders do at stoppages. At the same time Darcy Cameron takes a step away from the contest. McStay's momentum takes both himself and Disco in to the drop of the ball where Gawn is waiting. Disco hasn't actually had any intention to ruck but he's kind of any up there by accident. Umpire penalises him for 3rd man up. Free kick Collingwood. Goal. Players will exploit any rule they can, so even if it sounds a bit farcical it won't be. And whilst nominations look a bit silly I don't think they're sillier than players effectively playing musical chairs about who goes out for the ruck.

I agree it’s tricky but the league had to do something about players manipulating tackles to draw high contact. Apart from it being unfair it’s also very dangerous to keep encouraging players to take high hits.

It's last disposal not last touch. Kicks and handballs. Makes it easier for the umps, keeps the game moving and punishes players who blindly bomb the ball to the boundary line. It will be fine

This is to punish the duckers. Peatling, JHF, Daicos, half of Hawthorn. If they keep trying to draw free kicks they run the risk of giving one away. Some players will be unfairly punished but mostly it should just be targeted at the players who stop playing moving by chasing free kicks. They aren't attempting to break the tackle, they're attempting to get a free. It bring it in line with guys who dive on the ball, fend, lead with the head or raise their arms.

Explain how you determine who the 3rd man is without nominating of having one very confused and bumped over main ruck?

There's still ruck nominations, it's just the umpire doesn't have to wait if both rucks are a mile away. There will always be a need for some form of nomination or designation for rucks whilst 3rd man up is (rightfully) banned.

That’s where I disagree and think we’ve gone wrong with Weideman and JVR picks. Strongly built pack crashers who haven’t been able to get any space in the air or on the ground at afl level. Ideally you want guys with some pack crashing but I want a quality athlete so when they come up against athletic defenders they’re at least on a level playing field, if not still maintain a small edge. I also see enough strong marking and leaping with a big jump and reach in his game. Not a lot of push and shove forward craft but junior footy doesn’t have that. What I also see is the ability and willingness to push, shove and use his hips when he’s in the ruck. Also when I say I like him I think as long as he works on his kicking and decision making he should have a decent afl career that’s closer to a Shannon Neale, Amartey, Mabior Chol level player than anything special like Thilthorpe. He’d probably be good value at about pick 20 in this draft and we’ll likely look elsewhere but I suspect we consider him.

I’m a fan of both Schubert (see above) and Mitch Marsh (who I think clubs are trying to talk down to steal him in the teens) but just through needs and weight of numbers we go 2 midfield type players. If King brings a more Geelong approach to our drafting I’d expect we consider most of the top prospects as some form of midfield option and aren’t too worried about who plays in the centre square early in their careers. Chances are we take a forward/mid (Robey, Sharp, Dovaston, Cumming, Phillipou) and balance it out with a back/mid (Farrow, either Taylor, Grlj, Lindsay, Barker)

Aidan Schubert will come in to calculations for that reason. 198cm and born in December so probably ends up 200+ and you can see he enjoys rucking. It will mean a glut with JVR, Jeffo and Kentfield but they’d be competing for 2 tall forward spots just as they probably are this year besides Mihocek.

Twombstone on Get Table Eagles; Duursma and maybe CDT or a mid. Richmond: bid like mad, CDT doesn’t get past them, mids and Taylor. Essendon: sit back and take the remaining out of Duursma, CDT, Taylor, Robey, Sharp, Cumming. Maybe Farrow Melbourne: Robey probably doesn’t get to here, midfielders, maybe Farrow, maybe Cumming, maybe Sharp. Have to consider X Taylor if available. Or do they go one mid and Schubert/Dovaston. Really not a lot of mail from Cal at this stage. Maybe a hint of suggesting Cumming and Farrow are towards the top 10 and not as high on Grlj.