Final Thoughts ahead of the Draft

[older saint]

Reality is we are in a hole IMO and therefore should pick the best available player. Whoever we pick is not going to send us to finals in 2019. Let's say it is King that gives us 12 months of auditions for McCartin, Bruce, and maybe others for next season trade period. Yes we have plenty of talls but perhaps if we do pick King we commit to Marshall as a ruck forward and look at a future rotation of Marshall / King ruck forward for the future.

Needs are mids with class and X factor - Rankin if there must be taken. Smith seems next obvious pick for mid with really good head and can find the footy.

If port offer 5 & 10 then grab it but wouldn't do 5 & 15 - we hold the power position on this one.

[sendmehomehappy]

Take Pick 4 to the draft and try to select our next Cazaly, Mohr, Baldock, Ditterich, Barker, Lockett, Winmar or Riewoldt.
Despite having a lot of high picks this past six years, apart from Gresham and quite possibly Long (yes, I really rate him that high), we haven't grabbed that real elite A+ drawcard crowd pleaser.
Rankine for mine.

Heck, I'd even settle for out next Banger.

[saintbob]

Take Pick 4 to the draft and try to select our next Cazaly, Mohr, Baldock, Ditterich, Barker, Lockett, Winmar or Riewoldt.
Despite having a lot of high picks this past six years, apart from Gresham and quite possibly Long (yes, I really rate him that high), we haven't grabbed that real elite A+ drawcard crowd pleaser.
Rankine for mine.

Heck, I'd even settle for out next Banger.

Bailey Smith is that man

[skeptic]

I’m working on the assumption that Walsh, Luk, and Rankine are gone.
I’m hoping for one of Smith or King

[guitars4]

I’m working on the assumption that Walsh, Luk, and Rankine are gone.
I’m hoping for one of Smith or King

Yeah me too . I would prefer Smith but as I have said before I wouldn't be disappointed with Max King.

[Vazelos]

Best available talent don’t get cute with strategy and best inpact for 2019 think 10+ years these boys are rare talents this year..
As much as Bailey Smith is a big requirement for us I’m going on people I know in the industry and it has to be Max King. This kid probably would have been No 1 before knee injury.

[dragit]

This kid probably would have been No 1 before knee injury.

That doesn't make me feel any more confident after McCartin, Boyd, Patton, Weitering, Schache etc

The bust rate on key forwards picked in the top 5 is massive, it will be a huge move to go for another one for us, I hope it's the right one.

[Ghost Like]

If what Cairnsman is saying is indeed bankable, that St Kilda is only looking for a player to impact the midfield, it is Bailey Smith. Cannot see anyone else unless Walsh or Rankine are not selected in the first 3 which appears highly unlikely.

[silverhalo]

Best available talent don’t get cute with strategy and best inpact for 2019 think 10+ years these boys are rare talents this year..
As much as Bailey Smith is a big requirement for us I’m going on people I know in the industry and it has to be Max King. This kid probably would have been No 1 before knee injury.

+1

[skeptic]

I’m going to change my vote...

Get Caldwell. Have read a bit on him as of late and have really taken to him

Will be the next Dusty

[beebarry]

I'm hoping that Gold Coast go the option of bringing in both of the Kings with their first two picks and given the fact that they lost two bookends in May and Lynch, it would make plenty of sense. Even though Ben perhaps would be more in the 6-10 range, if it helps with retention then I think they'd be mad to pass it up.

If this were to be the case and both SA boys are left then things would get pretty spicy on draft night with Crows/Port!

agreed - I think this is not completely out of calculations myself. Draft them together to keep them together and you've ideally got 2 almost interchangeable bookends ....I hope they do as this leaves us with Rankine, Lukosious and Smith to choose from .....watch the offers come in then ....take 6 and 13 for 4 and still get Smith plus another good one at 13 ??? yes please ....

[Raph Goat Clarke]

6 and 13 isn't an option
8 and 13 is but we would miss out on smith most likely
6 would be with 24.

[stonecold]

I’m going to change my vote...

Get Caldwell. Have read a bit on him as of late and have really taken to him

Will be the next Dusty

Big Call!!!!!

There's only one Dustbin!!!!!

[Dave McNamara]

Take Pick 4 to the draft and try to select our next Cazaly , Mohr, Baldock, Ditterich, Barker, Lockett, Winmar or Riewoldt.
Despite having a lot of high picks this past six years, apart from Gresham and quite possibly Long (yes, I really rate him that high), we haven't grabbed that real elite A+ drawcard crowd pleaser.
Rankine for mine.

Cazaly!!!???!!!

That hurts sam'saint.

[fugazi]

Maybe we should trade with Adelaide.
Picks 8 and 13

Will get us Ben King Smith or Caldwell.
Plus another potential gun.

I'm not sold on Max King at 4, would almost prefer to get his brother and get Max on the rebound in a couple of years once he has demonstrated his knee is up to AFL.

[fugazi]

Maybe we should trade with Adelaide.
Picks 8 and 13

Will get us Ben King Smith or Caldwell.
Plus another potential gun.

I'm not sold on Max King at 4, would almost prefer to get his brother and get Max on the rebound in a couple of years once he has demonstrated his knee is up to AFL.

[fugazi]

Maybe we should trade with Adelaide.
Picks 8 and 13

Will get us Ben King Smith or Caldwell.
Plus another potential gun.

I'm not sold on Max King at 4, would almost prefer to get his brother and get Max on the rebound in a couple of years once he has demonstrated his knee is up to AFL.

[fugazi]

Would we be happier at the end of this draft to walk away with Max King or Caldwell and Zac Butters?
I'm thinking the latter...

[samoht]

Here is a list of Norm Smith medallists - 90% plus are midfielders. Where are all the key position forwards? - I notice a couple of key position backmen - Brian Lake recently, and Bruce Doull in the 80's.

I don't see one key forward.... unless we regard Gary Ablett senior a key forward at 1.85 cm - and that was 30 years ago, or Steve Johnson more recently, who was a half forward flanker.

We need elite-skilled A grade midfielders. Full stop. And, unlike the better teams, we don't have any at the moment.

Bailey Smith is elite-skilled on both sides, I notice - is very quick, and has the right build for AFL. We'd be mad to overlook him, or any other elite-skilled highly regarded midfielder in this draft.

Our unhealthy fascination with tall key forwards needs to stop - in fact, Membrey is more likely to be our match-winning forward at 188 cm, if history is any indication.

We need quality inside 50s - hence elite-skilled midfielders. Our recruiters need to realise this.

1979 Wayne Harmes Carlton [2]
1980 Kevin Bartlett Richmond [16]
1981 Bruce Doull Carlton [17]
1982 Maurice Rioli^ Richmond [18]
1983 Colin Robertson Hawthorn [19]
1984 Billy Duckworth Essendon [20]
1985 Simon Madden Essendon [21]
1986 Gary Ayres Hawthorn [22]
1987 David Rhys-Jones Carlton [23]
1988 Gary Ayres (2) Hawthorn [22]
1989 Gary Ablett Sr.^ Geelong [24]
1990 Tony Shaw Collingwood [25]
1991 Paul Dear Hawthorn [26]
1992 Peter Matera West Coast [27]
1993 Michael Long Essendon [28]
1994 Dean Kemp West Coast [29]
1995 Greg Williams Carlton [30]
1996 Glenn Archer North Melbourne [31]
1997 Andrew McLeod Adelaide [6]
1998 Andrew McLeod (2) Adelaide [6]
1999 Shannon Grant North Melbourne [32]
2000 James Hird Essendon [15]
2001 Shaun Hart Brisbane Lions [33]
2002 Nathan Buckley^ Collingwood [34]
2003 Simon Black Brisbane Lions [35]
2004 Byron Pickett Port Adelaide [36]
2005 Chris Judd^ West Coast [37]
2006 Andrew Embley West Coast [38]
2007 Steve Johnson Geelong [39]
2008 Luke Hodge Hawthorn [40]
2009 Paul Chapman Geelong [41]
2010 Lenny Hayes St Kilda [42]
Scott Pendlebury Collingwood [43]
2011 Jimmy Bartel Geelong [44]
2012 Ryan O'Keefe Sydney [45]
2013 Brian Lake Hawthorn [46]
2014 Luke Hodge (2) Hawthorn [47]
2015 Cyril Rioli Hawthorn [48]
2016 Jason Johannisen Western Bulldogs [49]
2017 Dustin Martin Richmond [50]
2018 Luke Shuey West Coast

[suss]

Maybe we should trade with Adelaide.
Picks 8 and 13

Will get us Ben King Smith or Caldwell.
Plus another potential gun.

I'm not sold on Max King at 4, would almost prefer to get his brother and get Max on the rebound in a couple of years once he has demonstrated his knee is up to AFL.

I wouldn't have entertained this a couple of weeks ago ... and then I saw the footage of Caldwell. If he can get over his injuries he looks like a gem.

[DJ Higgins]

The norm smith. Medal list is silly. It's like the Brownlow as it is for the mids. I am not obsessed with getting a tall forward I want the best talent on offer.

Imo the top 4 have been set for a while now by most experts, pundits, fans etc and most have max king
at 4. Potentially higher if he didn't do his knee. Not the first player to do an acl won't be the last but every year the surgery improves so not too concerned.

We are years away and the rebuild didn't work so we start again, so get key position players now.miss can come later in the draft like Seb Ross and, Steven and Steele, none first round selections but 3 of our best.

Plus if we suck next year we canget get a gun mid then

[magnifisaint]

Maybe we should trade with Adelaide.
Picks 8 and 13

Will get us Ben King Smith or Caldwell.
Plus another potential gun.

I'm not sold on Max King at 4, would almost prefer to get his brother and get Max on the rebound in a couple of years once he has demonstrated his knee is up to AFL.

Didn't hurt Selwood

[desertsaint]

whilst it's a bit of fun to try and select the best future talent from a few minutes of video and coaching anecdotes, i can't see how people get emotionally involved. it's all just educated guesswork (or not so educated for the casual fan). good luck to who we pick. statistically the club should stick to pick four and maximise their chances of getting a gun. but i won't be tearing my hair out if they trade down. at least not until the cake is baked.

[samoht]

whilst it's a bit of fun to try and select the best future talent from a few minutes of video and coaching anecdotes, i can't see how people get emotionally involved. it's all just educated guesswork (or not so educated for the casual fan). good luck to who we pick. statistically the club should stick to pick four and maximise their chances of getting a gun. but i won't be tearing my hair out if they trade down. at least not until the cake is baked.

I agree with keeping pick 4 to maximise the chances of getting a gun.

I also agree that it is an educated guess - as no-one can tell which draftee will prove to be the star and the pick of the crop.

So recruiting to a team's needs, focussing on the type of player that is needed to balance and improve the list and on drafting the best player that is likely to do that (which is still a guess, I realise), is the only way we should go about it - and that's what I'm hoping the recruiters will do this time.

Which player and what type of player is likely to give us the most bang for our buck/pick 4 - that's what the recruiters need to focus on.

It's our recruiting approach that I will be judging more so than who we actually recruit.

[saintadamski]

Take Pick 4 to the draft and try to select our next Cazaly, Mohr, Baldock, Ditterich, Barker, Lockett, Winmar or Riewoldt.
Despite having a lot of high picks this past six years, apart from Gresham and quite possibly Long (yes, I really rate him that high), we haven't grabbed that real elite A+ drawcard crowd pleaser.
Rankine for mine.

Heck, I'd even settle for out next Banger.

Bailey Smith is that man

Agree - Bailey Smith will be a superstar IMO