spirit of norm smith

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.

Yes we might “defer” the rookie pick and keep the spot for a later SSP sign in post summer training ie. February 2021 signing. That way we can potentially invite players to “train on” and then give an opportunity, like we did with Lockhart, cWagner and Bennell over the last few years.

Yes I think we’ll go with 4 draft picks, leaving one rookie spot available for the SSP selection. Likely invite a few to the “train on group” over the summer.

Yes if Jack Carroll was available at 18/19, we wouldn’t or shouldn’t let him fall through the Saints. He ticks all our needs and his East Freo connection with LJ and Riv would help retention of the lads.

Yes AFL Draft Central was interesting reading and very comprehensive. Amazing coverage ! The Fox Sports “bargains and steals” highlighted a few youngsters highlighted through our DL posts. Isiah Winder and Zavier Maher are two youngsters who fit into our needs. Winder has impressed in 2020 and has that Tim Kelly ability to evade players and move at pace constantly. Maher is like a Luke Shuey type. Good inside but damaging with pace and disposal. The 2019 Futures mcg game last year showed he is as good as any and disappointing that he missed 2020. Might be a good pick for us if available.

It was interesting listening. Actually they had Dees making a bid on Reef Mcinnes. Nonetheless hoping Jack Carroll does find his way to the Dees. Aligns perfectly with our needs and I’d reckon he’d be a definite chance to get senior footy in 2021.

Thanks @DeeSpencer That mid point of the combined primary and rookie cat A list at 42 wasn’t in the article from Mitch Cleary on the AFL Website

AFL website says maximum 44 players being between 36 to 38 on primary list, 4 to 6 on rookie A list and up to 2 on rookie cat B list. So presume we can have 44 being 38 primary list, 5 rookies and Bradtke as cat B.

To clarify. Don’t clubs get 44 players all inclusive with max 6 rookies. So you can have 38 primary listed players, meaning we can still add 5 new listed players. Rookies would be mBrown, Chandler, Nietschke, Jordan and then a further 2020 rookie draft pick.

I thought he was very good at Northern Blues in 2019 and competed strongly against AFL listed opponents. I thought he could have earned himself a spot on an AFL list. Definitely was a good move to the WAFL in 2020 and from the YouTube games I saw this year, he’s got AFL standard skills, build and running power. One of our options for pick 50 ish imv alongside Mansell or Wehr if we opted for a potential ready to go type player.

Sorry @goodoil to clarify the reference was around youngsters with pace and skill, particularly for picks 18,19. Carroll and Bowey were your two nominated phantom choices. It’s the type of player I was drawing reference upon for @640MD. Perhaps I should have referenced Baldwin as a separate paragraph. He’d be a risk but someone will draft him imv. not particularly us.

AFL website featured a story on Jacob Wehr. He’s a good story and reminds me of Bailey Fritsch’s story. Some youngsters take a few years but their core skills and footy IQ is strong. Interesting to see where he ends up. His teammate Rhyan Mansell is also a great story and hopefully JT has him on his sights.