Eli

[Con Gorozidis]

Probably due to his size. Clubs can outsmart themselves sometimes. Aussie Jones slipped through to the70s because he was considered too small.

Agree with this - Recruiters obsessed with height. I watched GWS reserves on Sat night and they were pretty much all tall. Hardly anyone under 185cm.

[BigMart]

Except Toby Green... Who is a good player for them

Aussie was Pick 48... And I agree, recruiters obsessed with qualities overlook the obvious... Can he dominate a game of footy

Check out the draft history of
Brent Harvey
Tony Liberatore
Sam Mitchell
Allen Christianson
Matthew Stokes
Stephen Milne
Adam Schnieder
Daniel Kerr
Ben McGlynn
Eddie Betts
Ian Callinan
David Rodan


All either slid or were overlooked... Stupidly

There are heaps more

[bergholt]

Except Toby Green... Who is a good player for them

Aussie was Pick 48... And I agree, recruiters obsessed with qualities overlook the obvious... Can he dominate a game of footy

Check out the draft history of
Brent Harvey
Tony Liberatore
Sam Mitchell
Allen Christianson
Matthew Stokes
Stephen Milne
Adam Schnieder
Daniel Kerr
Ben McGlynn
Eddie Betts
Ian Callinan
David Rodan


All either slid or were overlooked... Stupidly

There are heaps more

Jacob Chisari
Ben Cavarra
George Cameron
Alex Benbow
Jackson Sketcher
Anton Woods
Farran Priest
Fortunato Caruso
Mungara Brown
Derek Murray
Paul Hood

[BigMart]

So small players don't make it?!... Just like Tall Ones... Josh Dicketts, David Gourdis, Luke Molan?!

My point was missed

It's that small players can make it... And have a huge impact

Most of those players have been drafted below their junior achievements and proven beyond doubt they could be elite AFL footballers

[bergholt]

I understood your point. You were saying that players who have a proven ability to dominate footy should get a chance, regardless of their size. The list of names I posted were Morrish Medal winners - proven ability to dominate - who are less than 180cm and just not big enough to make it at the highest level. You said recruiters overlook the obvious, well, sometimes they're right to do so.

[BigMart]

Just not big enough to make it?

What does it have to do with size? Brent Harvey is 168cm... Being a gunAFL footballer is just something few are capable of... Dominating at Junior level doesn't at all make it a certainty, but is just an indicator they can play footy?
But it is not size that is the quality that allows them to take the step.

Or Morrish Medals?

Some players just don't make it.... Same with Tall gun athletes, like Steven Gaertner. And Jarryd Grant (pick 5)

There is one commonality.... Stars were all guns...regardless of size

[SaintPav]

Harvey is 172 cm.

[Old Mate]

Eli would be wasted being played as a small forward his whole career. He's got elite endurance. 15.3 beep test and 10m5s 3k time trial at last years draft combine. Partly explains why he's playing senior footy and was upgraded. His fitness was ready to go.

Why was he effectively pick 75 odd in the draft?

Obviously clubs didn't rate him or at least rated others higher. It's not only footy talent that clubs look at. Perhaps he didn't interview well? That aspect may have been overlooked for top end talent however with someone like Templeton, who was likely rated as a mid range selection, it may have made all the difference in considering him as draftable.

[Dave McNamara]

I've heard that our mob did rate Eli... top 25(!)

However, we didn't have another pick after 18. We couldn't believe it that he was still there in the rookie draft.

Can any of the Saintsationalists confirm that?

[Old Mate]

I've heard that our mob did rate Eli... top 25(!)

However, we didn't have another pick after 18. We couldn't believe it that he was still there in the rookie draft.

Can any of the Saintsationalists confirm that?

Our head recruiter, Tony Elshaug was quoted in the media saying it (top 30 prospect). It's been mentioned numerous times on here as well as BF.

Just on my previous post, obviously other clubs rated him differently and our draft wound up early on at pick 19.

[doggerel]

There's a bit of Daisy Thomas about him.

Absolutely.

[Beekay]

What I like about him is that he looks determined. Almost unsatisfied, even when he's done well.

I don't think he's at all happy to just be a handy player....

[stinger]

I've heard that our mob did rate Eli... top 25(!)

However, we didn't have another pick after 18. We couldn't believe it that he was still there in the rookie draft.

Can any of the Saintsationalists confirm that?

yep true,...

[plugger66]

I've heard that our mob did rate Eli... top 25(!)

However, we didn't have another pick after 18. We couldn't believe it that he was still there in the rookie draft.

Can any of the Saintsationalists confirm that?

Every club who got a player rated them better than what they got them at. Even pick one was rated better than that.

[Dave McNamara]

Thanks Old Mate, and thanks Sting, for the confirmations.

Thanks Pluggs for the contrarian POV... can always count on you. (But I still reckon, pop out to Moorabbin airport... and look up. )

&

[Dave McNamara]

Thanks Old Mate, and thanks Sting, for the confirmations (and corrections ).

Thanks Pluggs for the contrarian POV... can always count on you. (But I still reckon, pop out to Moorabbin airport... and look up. )

&

[Dr Spaceman]

I've heard that our mob did rate Eli... top 25(!)

However, we didn't have another pick after 18. We couldn't believe it that he was still there in the rookie draft.

Can any of the Saintsationalists confirm that?

Our head recruiter, Tony Elshaug was quoted in the media saying it (top 30 prospect). It's been mentioned numerous times on here as well as BF.

Just on my previous post, obviously other clubs rated him differently and our draft wound up early on at pick 19.

And I don't think too many on here rated him that highly either.

As I recall, on the day of the Rookie Draft there was a lot of panic regarding rumours going around that Melbourne were going to gazump us by taking Maverick Weller at pick 1. Don't seem to recall many sweating on Eli lasting; it was all about the Mav.

Luckily it looks like those at the club knew what they were doing.

[plugger66]

Thanks Old Mate, and thanks Sting, for the confirmations.

Thanks Pluggs for the contrarian POV... can always count on you. (But I still reckon, pop out to Moorabbin airport... and look up. )

&

It was obviously a joke. maybe a poor one. You need to explain Moorabbin airport thing. Been past it many many times but dont have clue what it has to do with footy. great place to catch a plane to Barnboogle though.

[Dave McNamara]

Thanks Old Mate, and thanks Sting, for the confirmations.

Thanks Pluggs for the contrarian POV... can always count on you. (But I still reckon, pop out to Moorabbin airport... and look up. )

&

It was obviously a joke. maybe a poor one. You need to explain Moorabbin airport thing. Been past it many many times but dont have clue what it has to do with footy. great place to catch a plane to Barnboogle though.

Hi Pluggs, I'm not a Saintsationlist who has an issue with poor jokes nor contrarian PsOV... in fact, to the contrary...


Moorabbin airport? Ok, I'll play along. If you look up, you will see that humans can fly. However, when that belief was originally expressed by Wilbur and Orville...

Now, building on that theme of everything's impossible... till it becomes possible...

Junction Oval... dare to dream... patience... watch that space...

Very different topic, but some parallels too... take it away Kev, Paul and the Tiddas...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... WK2lrNuND8

[plugger66]

Thanks Old Mate, and thanks Sting, for the confirmations.

Thanks Pluggs for the contrarian POV... can always count on you. (But I still reckon, pop out to Moorabbin airport... and look up. )

&

It was obviously a joke. maybe a poor one. You need to explain Moorabbin airport thing. Been past it many many times but dont have clue what it has to do with footy. great place to catch a plane to Barnboogle though.

Hi Pluggs, I'm not a Saintsationlist who has an issue with poor jokes nor contrarian PsOV... in fact, to the contrary...


Moorabbin airport? Ok, I'll play along. If you look up, you will see that humans can fly. However, when that belief was originally expressed by Wilbur and Orville...

Now, building on that theme of everything's impossible... till it becomes possible...

Junction Oval... dare to dream... patience... watch that space...

Very different topic, but some parallels too... take it away Kev, Paul and the Tiddas...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... WK2lrNuND8

Simple answer. 200 million and the AFL dont want it. Dave jump on something else. it seems you are contrary one on this topic.

[The Fireman]

Junction oval it is then.

[remboy]

I've heard that our mob did rate Eli... top 25(!)

However, we didn't have another pick after 18. We couldn't believe it that he was still there in the rookie draft.

Can any of the Saintsationalists confirm that?

Every club who got a player rated them better than what they got them at. Even pick one was rated better than that.

Yep, our recruiters really stuffed up. Can't believe they let Boyd go through to pick one.

[mick13]

I've heard that our mob did rate Eli... top 25(!)

However, we didn't have another pick after 18. We couldn't believe it that he was still there in the rookie draft.

Can any of the Saintsationalists confirm that?

Every club who got a player rated them better than what they got them at. Even pick one was rated better than that.

This is always the case. But I do believe one of our recruiters made this statement prior to the rookie draft. As in just after the NAB Draft they mentioned they had their eyes on someone who slipped through and they rated him highly.

Makes sense that they were talking about Eli. Now they could have said that because they were certain they could grab him at RD #3 anyway. But the fact he mentioned it before we actually drafted Eli makes me think this is one of the more honest 'we rated him much higher' comments.

[saint6709]

How impressive is this kid?? - surely our next rising star nominee

http://www.saints.com.au/news/2014-04-0 ... ap-for-eli

“And it’s partly Templeton’s exceptional running ability that makes him a highly valued member of St Kilda’s line-up and appreciated by his teammates. His aerobic capacity allows the Tasmanian to get to more contests than most, a fact that was illustrated in the data collected following St Kilda’s game against the Eagles.

He was the hardest worker on the weekend and ran 18kms,” Richardson said. “His high intensity stuff was really strong which is great for a young kid. It was a big ground and slightly warmer, but it doesn’t seem to faze him.”

[FQF]

How impressive is this kid?? - surely our next rising star nominee

http://www.saints.com.au/news/2014-04-0 ... ap-for-eli

“And it’s partly Templeton’s exceptional running ability that makes him a highly valued member of St Kilda’s line-up and appreciated by his teammates. His aerobic capacity allows the Tasmanian to get to more contests than most, a fact that was illustrated in the data collected following St Kilda’s game against the Eagles.

He was the hardest worker on the weekend and ran 18kms,” Richardson said. “His high intensity stuff was really strong which is great for a young kid. It was a big ground and slightly warmer, but it doesn’t seem to faze him.”

That is a phenomenal performance for a second game rookie. Once this kid adds that little bit of know-how to his game that will only come with experience, he could be elite. He's quick, clean disposal, incredibly fit - has all the tools.