DeeSpencer

I’m not sure Brad suggesting we’ll add new players to the midfield is tipping our draft hand - there’s players on the list who are going in to the midfield already, and we’ve long been linked with Tauru. Either North don’t care or they’re willing to call our bluff. For all we know North’s real target might be Armstrong and they’re crying out for us to pick Tauru.

The age had him at 19 but I think as long as clubs tick off his endurance concerns it will be higher. I suspect if the draft broke perfectly for us we’d target a mid and an attacking player (likely a forward of some sort). A trade back could be possible if it’s a small slide. It would be a bold decision to turn down talls or another proven mid but I love the talent.

Played a couple of classic Jagga games, high on disposals, low on impact. He might’ve had only 1 impactful kick against Collingwood

Can you learn to read dates if you’re quoting stuff from months ago.

Agree entirely on Draper. His feet to win the ball are great but he doesn’t have the physical strength to break tackles or the fast hands. But probably still have him just over Smith because of the issues I have with Jagga and most of Smith’s best work is in the Coates league. Draper came back from injury underdone in to the champs then pretty much straight in to SANFL. The other concern with Draper is he had a shin stress fracture then a back stress fracture at the end of the year. I wonder if teams are dinging him for injuries.

Yeah that was the rumour heading in to this season, and whilst it could work well it could also end badly. If she’s open to it I’d think about it. But given how competitive aflw list management is I could see her going to a 4th club to play forward and the Dees finding Hill was ok too. We might stick with her and Colvin and target mids and quick forwards. Ideally we have the midfield depth so Hore can be more 70:30 forward than the other way around.

The intercept defender might be the second most valuable position in footy, only behind gun forward half mid. I’d love it if Tauru kicked the ball a little smoother and he does have a few howlers, but he also takes the game on with quick attacking run and decision making. If you thought you could smooth out the kicking he’d be an attacking weapon. Midfielder is such a priority but I find it hard to believe JT would rate them all equally and ahead of the talls and flankers.

Why? Endurance is a big concern, but the talent stands out and from the moment he flipped forward he was dominating games then added an on ball element. Guys with speed, skill and hardness just don’t come along all that often.

I originally dismissed Hannaford thinking the goals were a bit flukey and his 2km time in the 7’s is a worry. But watching more of him I just can’t get enough. I’d love him at pick 9. Skills - beautiful penetrating kick and nails set shots from 50, functional left foot, handballs really well on both sides Physicality - he competes in the air, tackles to hurt and speeds up as he attacks the contest Speed - bursts from contests and lays run down tackles. He smothers, he keeps his feet with really nice balance, he uses his hips. Might take him a few preseasons but that’s why strength and conditioning coaches make the big bucks. He went in to the midfield against 3 top 20 picks and beat them all at times.

I'm happy to have another shoddy ball user if he's a freak athlete and ball winner. My issue is the ball winning isn't near the Oliver/Tracc level. They have to be confident his ball winning will develop as well as his ball use.

Chargers Saints Rams

Watt was very good but Loz Pearce when fit is great and it’s time to commit to Campbell so I don’t mind that. Similarly we might commit to the Gall and be happy to move Harris on. Hopefully get Beasley and A Mackin back next year. Is it time for Paxy to call it? Plus Colvin. Small forward, midfield depth, key backs remain the top priority. Be nice to add experience in those spots whilst keeping an early pick in the draft.

Free running from a stoppage out of the backline, put it on the boot. But yeah, it’s harsh, but I want to see more than the very occasional special things and a few nice things a game. We’re talking about pick 5 here!

Going backwards with pick 8 is the rumour, possibly to GWS or Richmond. I think that’s sensible if get a premium for it. I’m sure we are thinking the same with 9 but I suspect it will take a monster deal to move more than a few spots.

Yep they got Carlton’s future first. Next year teams can trade two years in advance and I think less restrictions on the rounds of picks. I don’t mind the way it keeps teams from selling too much but it’s too restrictive as is

I like Lalor, FOS, Langford and Tauru for 5, unfortunately we might come up one pick short. I don’t mind most of the rest of the top rated mids if available at 9, am intrigued by Armstrong and Shanahan and a few others.

Lack of content and engagement. I’d be surprised if we aren’t 18th on the list of content produced.

No, he might be the greatest coach there is but he’s still been with us for a while now. Not exactly a new voice

No guarantees that we’ll pick one but I think it’s safe to say we’ve done a good hard look at the key forwards in this draft, and the medium forwards like Hynes too. I don’t want to use a top 10 pick on him but Whitlock/s (both of them really) forward/ruck versatility would be handy.

Sam Radford an internal promotion to midfield coach is a bit meh, but they’ve had him at the club for a while so he’s clearly valued. Jones stoppages coach. Not sure Nath was ever a stoppage guru but it’s pretty clear he’s there to sort Viney, Tracc and Oliver’s BS out. Chappy back to the future swung forward. Don’t mind that. Had to get him away from the backs. Fred Bassett down back, hmmmm, think he did his best work as a forwards coach but our backs need a fresh voice and someone who will challenge them to run and take the game on.

Author? Nah, you have to say masthead to make yourself look super important. Also, whilst I appreciate a bit of gossip there’s a fair bit of character critiquing about some of these kids in the middle of the school exam period. Bit of a no no. Media are meant to keep their heads down for the next week or so to at least let the kids get the bulk of their exams done.

My initial thoughts when I saw his 20m sprint time was he plays fast don’t worry about the time. But now when I watch him the feet are pumping but he doesn’t actually move all that quickly. Still a nice player, but probably won’t be a line breaker at afl level. Given the skills and decision making are a bit iffy too I’d be a little surprised if he’s our guy at 9.

Why didn’t he do that more often? Some nice runs from the middle (but the midfield defending is absolutely awful). Otherwise more of the same low impact stuff.

If we pick him at 9 it’s fine. I doubt it will happen but if we use 5 he’ll be ok and I will too. Vanilla can be ok. But people have lost their minds seeing things that just don’t exist.

I didn’t go to a single junior game live this year but I watched some of the champs and a few Coates league games. Yes, there’s things you get a better handle on live but if you watch enough you can piece together what the camera doesn’t show. There’s something like 20 different Jagga Smith games uploaded to YouTube with just about every possession and major moment recorded. I’m not cherry picking highlights or lowlights. My opinion is pretty simple: Strengths: game running+++, very good reading of the play Clean enough without perfect hands to gather the ball. Decent but not special evasive skills. Everything else is needs a lot of improvement and whilst he has the character and work ethic by all reports he’s also spent the year as a full time footballer giving him a significant advantage of those who had school (studies and footy). Kicking, speed, over head marking, aggression and natural flair are hard things to teach too.