Manson

[st_Trav_ofWA]

reckon the way the tahs have been dominating, my grandma could kick at least five a game. kid will probably go at too early a pick due to the hype.

There is a bit of dejavu about this kid and the hype/risk/romance about him .... I remember Rioli having a similar draft stigma attached to him .... Funny Pelchen took the punt on him and reaped massive rewards

If we do take the risk, i would spend pick 60 on him.

There is no way he will last to pick 60 the hype alone in the way of marketing the "excitement" machine will see him go well before that

[saintsfreak]

Probably 40 at the latest.

[Kilda]

I would love to Waylen to be drafted to the club.

The 'hype/risk/romance' label is well justified (he'll either become known as Waylen Wizardry or Wayward Waylen) but I think he's the potential X-factor that the team sorely needs. Especially if the club can mount another tilt at the flag.

[gringo]

There's a bit of a whisper around the "go home" threat is some what of a ploy by a WA club wanting to pick him up later in the draft then what he is worth ...

There are rumours about shielding by WCEs and that has added to the whole excitement around him. He played well was sent home had name changes and moved clubs. A bit like Steven Icke of the footy world.

I would love us to uncover a new Jurrahcain. Maybe his mysterious hight change is his slower shorter cousin stepping in.

He isn't from Perth either so go home is like melbournians going home to Canberra.

[dragit]

I would love to Waylen to be drafted to the club.

The 'hype/risk/romance' label is well justified (he'll either become known as Waylen Wizardry or Wayward Waylen) but I think he's the potential X-factor that the team sorely needs. Especially if the club can mount another tilt at the flag.

If he whinges for frees he could become Wailin' Waylon?

[st_Trav_ofWA]

There's a bit of a whisper around the "go home" threat is some what of a ploy by a WA club wanting to pick him up later in the draft then what he is worth ...

There are rumours about shielding by WCEs and that has added to the whole excitement around him. He played well was sent home had name changes and moved clubs. A bit like Steven Icke of the footy world.

I would love us to uncover a new Jurrahcain. Maybe his mysterious hight change is his slower shorter cousin stepping in.

He isn't from Perth either so go home is like melbournians going home to Canberra.

He is from halls creek (otherwise know as Wolf creek ) the name change is a cultural thing out of respect of a person on the sme name who died recently in his community ... West coast defiantly have been aware of him for some time honestly I would rather roll the dice and pick him early .. Draft picks are hit and miss and if we can pick up an excitement machine to continue the run of positive news storys about the club the we should take the chance ...

[st_Trav_ofWA]

...

[St Ick]

There's a bit of a whisper around the "go home" threat is some what of a ploy by a WA club wanting to pick him up later in the draft then what he is worth ...

There are rumours about shielding by WCEs and that has added to the whole excitement around him. He played well was sent home had name changes and moved clubs. A bit like Steven Icke of the footy world.

I would love us to uncover a new Jurrahcain. Maybe his mysterious hight change is his slower shorter cousin stepping in.

He isn't from Perth either so go home is like melbournians going home to Canberra.

He is from halls creek (otherwise know as Wolf creek ) the name change is a cultural thing out of respect of a person on the sme name who died recently in his community ... West coast defiantly have been aware of him for some time honestly I would rather roll the dice and pick him early .. Draft picks are hit and miss and if we can pick up an excitement machine to continue the run of positive news storys about the club the we should take the chance ...

What do you consider early? 25, 35, 37 or 42? Considering our drafting record outside of last year, I very much doubt we'd use our first couple on a speculative kid who has played very little elite junior football.

[St Ick]

Double post... again...

[st_Trav_ofWA]

Let's be real about it every pick is a speculative kid hindsight would we have taken xman with a first round pick ? Pick 25 is our first pick it's hardly a "sure thing" pick and in what is described as a shallow draft rolling the dice on some one with that X factor that can be used as a marketing tool to bring members back after what has been a hell of an end of year could be worth it .. You think hawthorn have regrets for rolling the dice early on Rioli ?? I reckon go for it the risk is no greater then picking qnyother kid

[St Igmata]

I think you will find he is 195cm tall!

I think youll find hes 190 cms or there abouts

[AnythingsPossibleSaints]

Wow, I want him.
I hadn't really heard much at all about him and hadn't really read anything about him, until I saw him on the back page of the paper today and had a read. About the only thing I had heard was that he'd been doing well in Fev's team and that he kicked 9 or 10 in one of the games Fev played in, but now I read that he actually kicked 42 in 4 games there and that, more importantly, he kicked 15 in two games (in a brand new team) for Claremont, in the WAFL Colts. Unless that sort of thing happens all the time, then that is a fair eye-opener. He just seems to kick bags of goals wherever he plays and they reckon he takes screamers like they're going out of style and very importantly, stands up in big games, at crucial times.
With this being considered such a thin draft and every pick virtually being a fair sized punt (especially where we have our picks) there would have to be a VERY VERY good reason not to take him, if he's still around when we have our picks, especially our 2nd, 3rd, or 4th.
Obviously the "go-home" factor is a major concern, but, as they suggest in the article, if you stagger his arrival and let him go home on a very regular basis, early days, then he could turn out to be one of the best bargain picks of all time. Our new development academy could also be just what he needs to settle in to an AFL team.
Going on talent alone there's every chance he's a top 6 pick, so if we snare him with a pick in the 30's (if not 25) he could be very well worth it, in the long run.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/w ... 6204211599

[Moccha]

IMO a waste of a draft pick.

I can't see how he could settle living in Melbourne.

As talented as he is, he may struggle with all the demands

[St Loxton]

Only wants to play in WA. Big big risk drafting him. Would maybe have to move some of his family to the big smoke to live with him for support.

Just cant see us taking him.

[AnythingsPossibleSaints]

He could settle in the way most of those who have been drafted from very remote regions of the outback settle in. Gradually. I doubt there would be many, if any, who have come from the sort of area he's come from who haven't taken a while to adjust to the major changes, but with patience and persistence there are plenty who have done it successfully. Why can't he be another?

[Dr Spaceman]

He could settle in the way most of those who have been drafted from very remote regions of the outback settle in. Gradually. I doubt there would be many, if any, who have come from the sort of area he's come from who haven't taken a while to adjust to the major changes, but with patience and persistence there are plenty who have done it successfully. Why can't he be another?

It's a risk no doubt but it can be done.

Liam Jurrah is a perfect example.

[Junction Oval]

Whilst all Draftees are "risks," I don't think that we are in a position where we can afford to take a "big risk" on him.

It's catch-up time for us, for a few lean years at the Draft.

[andolater]

I would soooner have Fev than this bloke.

The guy himself said sometimes hev gives matches and training a miss beacuse he couldnt be bothered, although he loves footy.

We do not need these types at the saints. We now need types who will push our bottom players ala Stanley, Archer, Simpkin to the next level.

The Saints players should not have to watch a bloke get mothered just to get him to training and play because he can take a screamer and has some freakish natural ability.

Not enough committment oozing from the bloke I'm afraid

[Dr Spaceman]

Whilst all Draftees are "risks," I don't think that we are in a position where we can afford to take a "big risk" on him.

It's catch-up time for us, for a few lean years at the Draft.

That of course depends on whick pick we would need to use.

If he's still there towards the end, what's the big risk?

[AnythingsPossibleSaints]

Whilst all Draftees are "risks," I don't think that we are in a position where we can afford to take a "big risk" on him.

It's catch-up time for us, for a few lean years at the Draft.

If a "big risk" pays off, this is how you can undo a lot of the "bad work" much more quickly. "Fortune" favours "the brave". I think we just need to focus on every option put in front of us and back ourselves, not worry about what has happened in the past.
We ought to go hard or go home.

[saintsfreak]

Only wants to play in WA. Big big risk drafting him. Would maybe have to move some of his family to the big smoke to live with him for support.

Just cant see us taking him.

He has gone on record saying he'll play anywhere in Australia as long as he's drafted.

[Old Mate]

Im hoping freo pick him and kersten slides to pick 25

[AnythingsPossibleSaints]

I would soooner have Fev than this bloke.

The guy himself said sometimes hev gives matches and training a miss beacuse he couldnt be bothered, although he loves footy.

Which matches was he referring to, though? Are they just local matches, or what? If so, it's not like he's abandoning his post in a war or anything. I take it local footy for them up there is mostly about having some fun with your mates. Does anyone take it as seriously as you're suggesting he ought to?
And he doesn't actually say that he "gave them a miss", anyway. He was quoted as saying he sometimes "couldn't be bothered and sometimes wants to quit, but for the love of the game I keep trying", which could just as easily mean sometimes he just doesn't feel like playing or training, but he does anyway, because he loves it.
I'm sure there are plenty in the AFL even, who at times, for whatever reason, "couldn't be bothered playing or training", because they're sick of it, or whatever, but do it anyway. It's not ideal, but this is not a perfect world where everyone you get on your list is perfect in every way. Some will take more work than others, but that doesn't mean they're not worth the extra investment in time. You reap what you sow.
I just hope we've given the idea due diligence. It's not every day you get the opportunity to get someone with his sort of natural ability (that has been shown on minimal training) with a relatively low pick.
I'd rather we put the time and effort into getting the best out of someone like him (with a lower pick), who could be a "superstar", and could help us stay near the top of the ladder, than slip down the ladder and get someone else with a top 5 pick, who also could be a "superstar", but would require less effort.
We kind of did that with Tommy Walsh, but seemingly made a bit of a mess of it, so maybe we could learn from any mistakes we made with him and apply what we've learned with someone like Manson.

[st_Trav_ofWA]

IMO a waste of a draft pick.

I can't see how he could settle living in Melbourne.

As talented as he is, he may struggle with all the demands

From what I hear the home sick thing is a major beat up he is no more risk of wanting to go home than any kid leaving home tonight ...

[IluvHarvey]

IMO a waste of a draft pick.

I can't see how he could settle living in Melbourne.

As talented as he is, he may struggle with all the demands

From what I hear the home sick thing is a major beat up he is no more risk of wanting to go home than any kid leaving home tonight ...

Well said!

Some major stereotyping in this thread!