spirit of norm smith

Thanks DS. Didn’t know that intel.

Yes agree that would be a better scenario for us to get Laurie. Another footballer type who uses the footy. That’s what we are after. Youngsters who can execute with the footy and not create turnovers that kill us.

Yes firstly he’s got all the AFL qualities. Then the East Freo connection to LJ and Riv. That’s the plan. Wait and see now.

Agree. Eddie Ford was excellent in 2019 and NAB league as an underager. Perhaps he is underrated in the system as other youngsters are athletes and Ford is a footballer first. Obviously this years lack of any under18s matches hurts his chances. But I’m sure he will get drafted. My view is that given the lack of footy, some are resting on combine results for getting excited by those stats. It’s a tough year for recruiters. Importantly I’m glad we have JT on board.

If only! I agree we should potentially bid on Gulden if he’s available. He would be an excellent pickup for the Dees BUT imv I think Swans will definitely match (they still are redfaced over not matching the Dogs pick on Josh Dunkley father son). Coleman too. Lions will definitely match that.

Great work. Trade swap with Pies makes sense. Readymade replacement for JT imv.

He wasn’t in any Vic underage rep teams and cannot remember him in the under 16s squad or even in the Sandringham Dragons program. Was never a choice between elite footy or elite athletics. He got a look in 2019 with the Dragons following his school footy year and his pace and endurance showed real potential. Only the one game in under 18s. Tough break this year with no Vic under18s footy.

Sydee, I saw the 2019 AFL under 17s futures game last year at MCG. I know there is footage of him still on YouTube from that games which you should be able to access. I saw some further WA Colts games which you may locate for East Freo. He is a highly skilled left footer with good pace (3sec 20m time) and evasive skills. Can win his own footy but ideally suited to a wing position imv. Needs a year or two in the gym as most 17/18 year olds.

Well done @Nascent that’s well thought out predictions. Seems that Carroll is now a populace choice on DL.

National level athletes who decide to focus their talent on footy. That’s the comparison. As I stated, tough year for recruiters to take a punt on such kids. This year with reduced lists, recruiters might go with players who have come through underage rep teams such as the 2018 under 16s and through u17 futures squad from 2019.

Yes primary school in Malvern East. He was a star athlete even back as a young boy. Well trained by Lee to run and he had motor and definitely highly motivated. He’d present like a Blicavs type experiment to turn the athlete into a footballer. It’s a shame he didn’t get the U18s league this year to develop more. I think for Holmes , like Fraser Rosman, it will be interesting to see if any clubs takes up the challenge.

Understand. I see Carroll developing into a classic wing player. He ran a 3.0sec 20 metre sprint. He’s not a Trengove style player at all. Classy with the footy. Has skills by foot and hand. It’s his skill, vision and decision making that I see as a big win for us, to link with our midfield bulls.

? Max Holmes. He’d be a bigger bolter than ever given he’s hardly played any footy. A very gifted athlete, following in his mum Lee’s footsteps. He’s a nice kid who went to school with my daughter. Little Max has grown in the last few years to over 6foot. But he’s skinnier than a Grgic and a Morton and we’d have to tell Vdberg not to kill him in the tackle. He’s a late draft smoky or rookie pick likely imv. That’s the punt. Again it’s a debate about turning an athlete into a footballer. I wouldn’t use a late first round pick around 21-22. He’s probably more around our pick 50 interest still as a punt at that pick. Behind Carroll, I’m still thinking and hoping for Cook ?or Laurie, and then potentially Poulter, Ford, Winder etc at our “28”.

✅ Jack Carroll. I’ve been pushing his name for the Dees for a while now. I always have seen him as an outside mid. Skilled and evasive. Left footers have that style. Half back or wing. Suited to our needs and wouldn’t have to match it with inside mids. We have plenty of those. A touch of a young Simon Black imv. He can kick 50 metres easily and likes to kick but also creative with handball. East Freo boy like Jacko and Riv.

I agree. Jackson Callow has showed enough to warrant a top 20-30 pick and has the versatility missing from other key forwards. Interesting to see where he goes. Probably not to the Dees but you never know in this years draft.

Yes. But I thought the budgets were cut right back and he’d probably not get replaced. Big win here for the Dees.

Fair point. I think it’s because they sometimes don’t have the options. I agree they will win the footy and then look for the runners. Not try to take on 2-3 tacklers. To a degree I think the free man / runner wasn’t there. Langdon’s recruitment showed our need and hopefully our intent. Viney Clarry Trac Harmes Gus will win the footy. That’s unquestioned. In 2021, with (1)outside 1-2 more runners like Langdon and (2)Ben Brown as the #1 target, Goody will finally need to convince our midfield bulls to win, burst/distribute to handball to our runners or kick to our big leading forwards.

I go back to the Bulldogs game where they matched us in the inside contest and it was about even for clearances. But they killed us out wide where their runners and rebound like Crozier and JJ and Bailey Smith were able to outrun us. It’s midfield runners that are the priority!!

I think after the combine, it’s always interesting to understand the difference between footballers and athletes. You cannot separate the two, but understand that players need to have footy IQ and the ability to get the footy. Lachie Neale would probably have been a very average draft combine performer. Not sure how Dusty went. Sure you need 20m speed and endurance but it’s not everything. Decision making and footy skills are equally crucial if not mandatory. Can you teach an athlete to play footy? Yes perhaps some good examples but many of no cases as well. Can footy players become better athletes? Yes but they need to right mindset and mental strength. This is the skill of JT and his team. Perhaps it’s character, maturity and internal desire that is the key. Get the kid who has talent who is willing to run through the “wall” (physical or mental) to get their AFL dream.

@gawndog. Great work again. The players are the types clubs are after and fairly ranked. Well thought out and researched. I’d say very optimistic for the Dees picks. ???Finlay Macrae ⭐️ and Jack Carroll ⭐️. That would be Merry Xmas!!! (O’Driscoll dropping that far is a big call as he is a strong kid not unlike Clarry). Bowey - ok - but as you probably know, I am a fan of Maher, and also Ford and Winder because of their X factor. Baldwin can be that punt that sometimes clubs take. If we got him, he could take his time to get his body right and fitness back. Thanks again for the read and predictions. Whatever happens, it’s a great night for 55-60 young blokes whose first step of an AFL dream comes true.

LJ will be a weapon in the future. Just needs to remember two things - 1- get a decent haircut and 2- to stay at the Dees and never go back to a WA team

I agree that Cal Twomey is finding it harder himself this year but usually he gets good mail, especially close to the draft night. His phantom draft is due on Monday so it’ll be interesting to see who he finally thinks that the Dees will take. I’d say JT is a good poker player and probably not giving too much away. Hopefully the Giants do pick a smokey or two with their picks.

Close that WA border !!

Get on board Brown for the 2021 Coleman medal. With a full 22 rounds and fitness , he will be a 70ish goal a season man.

Dwayne Russell. “Built like Tarzan and played like Jane”. He was projected himself as a superstar but was a bit of a dud. Can’t believe his opinion gets any credit. Jackson will be one of the most exciting players to watch in the next few years. He’s raw but you can see his energy. Perhaps the most athletic ruckman since Natanui/Grundy with his follow up work. My only knock on Jackson is “he is from WA” and the “go home” offers on big $$$ from the Eagles and Freo will come sooner rather than later.