How COVID will effect Club Draft Strategies

[Vortex]

I found it interesting to hear Adam Simpson discuss candidly in an interview how COVID is altering their drafting strategy towards becoming significantly more risk adverse with the type of players they select. This coming from one of the previously wealthiest and resource-rich clubs in the competition. The WCE are also one of the 6 "unassisted" clubs too so that is fascinating in itself and it's difficult to know how much of this type of emerging drafting strategy is based on reduced budgets or reduced talent pools, I hazard a guess to say it's probably a little bit from column A and a little bit from column B.

The reduced talent pool is arguably the issue that will be the greater challenge for the poorer clubs like ours especially in terms of where our own current list build is at. I'd say we are somewhere between 6 and 8 on the premiership clock and 2 to 3 years away from having a sustainable top 4 side. If we can't find our required players to complete the build in this time then we could be looking at stsrting another complete rebuild at the end of that time frame.

The issue with the size of the talent pool is how COVID has effected the grass roots and AFL feeder competitions. The AFL has canabilised these comps to keep its self on the TV and it has also been harder for recruiters and scouts to get a look at what talent is percolating. Combine that with the fact development at AFL clubs has been decimated due to the 2nd tier comps being reduced to a fraction of what they were pre COVID and development budgets being slashed it's hard to see where 18 AFL clubs are going to find a full compliment of AFL quality players. Expect the quality gap to increase between the top 4 and bottom 4 sides is my guess as well as a larger middle of the road group of teams.

Some really important decisions for the club and I think we will see some head scratchers when viewed through the prism of pre COVID draft strategies but one thing is for sure, the recruiters are about to earn their money like never before.

[Yorkeys]

it might make the Swans no d**khead policy universal. Be nice if it extended to appointment of recruitment personnel as well.

The other impact may be to pick shy introspective teetotal guys with no social life and BO to maximise distance from others.

[magnifisaint]

Simpson is an arrogant tosser. He should look in his own backyard.

[The_Dud]

It’s a pity, because we were so good at nailing the draft pre-COVID.

[B.M]

Our draft strategy should be taken from George Costanza

Do the opposite of what your thinking

[Wayne42]

It’s a pity, because we were so good at nailing the draft pre-COVID.

And we have the flags to show for it.

[Wayne42]

I found it interesting to hear Adam Simpson discuss candidly in an interview how COVID is altering their drafting strategy towards becoming significantly more risk adverse with the type of players they select. This coming from one of the previously wealthiest and resource-rich clubs in the competition. The WCE are also one of the 6 "unassisted" clubs too so that is fascinating in itself and it's difficult to know how much of this type of emerging drafting strategy is based on reduced budgets or reduced talent pools, I hazard a guess to say it's probably a little bit from column A and a little bit from column B.

The reduced talent pool is arguably the issue that will be the greater challenge for the poorer clubs like ours especially in terms of where our own current list build is at. I'd say we are somewhere between 6 and 8 on the premiership clock and 2 to 3 years away from having a sustainable top 4 side. If we can't find our required players to complete the build in this time then we could be looking at stsrting another complete rebuild at the end of that time frame.

The issue with the size of the talent pool is how COVID has effected the grass roots and AFL feeder competitions. The AFL has canabilised these comps to keep its self on the TV and it has also been harder for recruiters and scouts to get a look at what talent is percolating. Combine that with the fact development at AFL clubs has been decimated due to the 2nd tier comps being reduced to a fraction of what they were pre COVID and development budgets being slashed it's hard to see where 18 AFL clubs are going to find a full compliment of AFL quality players. Expect the quality gap to increase between the top 4 and bottom 4 sides is my guess as well as a larger middle of the road group of teams.

Some really important decisions for the club and I think we will see some head scratchers when viewed through the prism of pre COVID draft strategies but one thing is for sure, the recruiters are about to earn their money like never before.

Another reason why Tony Cochrane doesn't want a Tasmanian team, the talent pool is already stretched too far without trying to find an additional 40+ AFL quality players and expect the other AFL clubs
to be able to recruit for their needs as well.

[CURLY]

No secret the private school kids get a far easier pathway than other kids. Money and personal agendas dictate TAC cup football.

[ausfatcat]

No secret the private school kids get a far easier pathway than other kids. Money and personal agendas dictate TAC cup football.

Also there is the factor they give out a lot of scholarships to get the best players at their school as well. Even the afl will give scholarships to country kids to goto boarding school.

Because of that there is larger percentage of the better prospects in private schools than non private schools.

[CURLY]

No secret the private school kids get a far easier pathway than other kids. Money and personal agendas dictate TAC cup football.

Also there is the factor they give out a lot of scholarships to get the best players at their school as well. Even the afl will give scholarships to country kids to goto boarding school.

Because of that there is larger percentage of the better prospects in private schools than non private schools.

They do although for some kids access isn’t possible due to location. Did everyone know that the more money you pay at TAC level the better training and development you receive.

[ausfatcat]

Didn't know that Curley but not surprised

[Impatient Sainter]

The travel & financial restrictions of the bigger clubs recruiting teams, probably makes for a more even playing field for clubs like ours. We have always run on a shoe string so have learnt to adapt, perhaps it puts us at an advantage?

The TAC players paying for coaching & development is an interesting one - surely there is talent identification in the mix?

[CURLY]

The travel & financial restrictions of the bigger clubs recruiting teams, probably makes for a more even playing field for clubs like ours. We have always run on a shoe string so have learnt to adapt, perhaps it puts us at an advantage?

The TAC players paying for coaching & development is an interesting one - surely there is talent identification in the mix?

Kids get given a list more you pay the more extra sessions you get.

Personal trainer sessions
Masseuse sessions
Weight classes
One on one sessions like tackling forward craft and so on.

More you pay more you getz

[minneapolis]

Our draft strategy should be taken from George Costanza

Do the opposite of what your thinking

I am gonna do that, not once but twice!