Our Draft Strategy

[Armoooo]

Before I begin I must admit I don't have the best base of knowledge about this years crop as I have in past years but I have seen quite a few games, seen a lot of highlights (I know, every player player looks good in a highlights package) and I've read quite a lot of comments throughout the year, especially from the players coaches and people who are actually paid to scout these blokes (not the geniuses on bigfooty). Also I am working off of the assumption that Luke Ball will stay.

A lot of people have been suggesting we should take a 'best player available' policy however I don't agree with this, what if the best player available at our pick happens to be a key forward with little versitility, how on earth could he possibly get a game whilst having to compete with Riewoldt, Kosi, McEvoy, Lynch, Walsh etc. so I think we have to adress our list before we even begin to look at this years crop.

For me there are basically 9 player types
Small Defender
Medium Defender
Tall Defender
Inside Midfielder
Outside Midfieler
Small Forward
Medium Forward
Tall Forrward
Ruckman

However things get more difficult when you take into account that small defenders, medium defenders, inside midfielders, small forwards and medium forwards can all be attacking or defensive players.

Another thing that must be taken into account is our football department's philosophy of bringing in tall, athletic and VERSATILE players such as Gilbert, Goddard, Fisher and even Andrejs Everitt who we targeted during trade week.

IMO we are set for a while when it comes to Tall Forwards, Small Forwards, Ruckman, Inside Midfielders, Outside Midfielders.

In order of preference I would say we should be targeting

1. Medium Defender - This may surprise a lot of people as we already have so many medium sized defenders, however this is where the attacking/ defensive distinction comes into player, Goddard, Gilbert and co. are fantastic players, they set up so much run and create countless opportunities, however I believe that we may eventually face the threat of not being accountable enough in our defensive 50, Gilbert's performance on Mark Williams in the 2008 Preliminary Final shows what I mean. I feel we need a player who can play on smalls or talls when needed and most importantly shut them down. Yes he needs to be able to use the ball, we don't want him to become a liability but his role in the team should be to keep a dangerous small/ mid sized/ third tall forward quiet. The sort of guy who can play on players like Brett Burton, Jason Porplyzia, Russell Robertson, Mark LeCras. I am looking for a player like Josh Gibson or Campbell Brown.

2. Small Defender - This has been brought up in a few other threads, who do we have as a small defender once Baker calls it quits? The obvious option is Jarryn Geary, but is it wise to put a natural goal kicker who can win the contested and loose ball so deep in defense, especially when he hasn't shown anything fantastic when playing as an accountable defender. Clinton Jones is a tagger but he is too easily lost when the ball is in the air (eg. The Geelong game in round 14, GAJ allowed CJ to run under the ball and he took an easy mark). The perfect example of the type of player I am looking for here is a young Baker.

3. Key Defender - Zac Dawson had a fantastic year, but I am still not sold on him, and if he were to fall by the wayside we don't have a great deal of cover for key defenders, especially with the loss of Maguire and Hudghton.

4. Medium Forward - We need a real lead up forward who is strong over head but can also crumb and kick some opportunistic goals. I would kill to have a Jason Porplyzia or Mark LeCras running around for us, unfortunately it's unlikely we'll get a player like that with our picks but it is worth keeping an open mind, would be handy to have back up just incase Lynch and Walsh don't come on as they're expected.


Some players I think it is definitely worth keeping an eye on are (In my order of preference)

Marcus Davies (Medium Defender) - For some reason has rarely been mentioned, he seems to be a player who can find the ball, use it and beat his opponent in the air or on the ground.

Anthony Long (Medium Defender) - He is a very good runner and is very agile, got some good skills, he has a leap that would help him compete against the bigger boys, would need to put on some meat first.

Mitchell Duncan (Medium Forward) - Unlikely to be available at any of our picks, and even if he was there at pick 32 I think I'd rather Davies or Long. He is a lead up forward who looks quite lively, can mark and kick.

Dylan Grimes (Medium/ Tall Defender) - Brother of Melbourne's Jack. Taller and more defensive than his brother, is very quick, from the little I've seen he reminds me of a young Max.

[borderbarry]

We should also take into account the players we have waiting for their chance. I think Simpkin would fall into the Medium Defender category, and we have Lynch and Heyne in the medium Forward category, or would Lynch be more of a tall Forward?

[borderbarry]

Other players who may still be around at Pick 32 that are worthy of consideration would be,,
Callum Bartlett, 179cm fast Mid.. from Vic.
Troy Taylor. 188cm, Fwd/Def from N.T.
Roland Ah Chee, 184cm fast Mid from N.T.

I still feel we need to add pace into our squad, especially now X.Clark has gone.

[big_mac_evoy5]

i think that the analysis was spot on. only critcism i have is the medium forward. we have a fantastic medium forward in nick heyne is 188cm (steve j 189) heyne could play a simular role to that but he would not be as good stevie j.

i think we need a tall back. first of all. which i thought allen would have taken but unfortunately had to retire( showed alot of potential btw) and goose and hudgton gone i think this is our tip priority. we need depth in this area.

small defender is what i would be targeting next. so i hope that is wat we chase.
and hopefully another john beveridge special. the smokey.

[Enrico_Misso]

Like always with threads on the draft - it will make perfect sense in about 4 years time.

[JABBER]

I like Ryan Harwood as a first pick he might go before pick 32 .A midfielder who can play down back about 185cm from Tassie.

pick 60 if available Sam Shaw (Tall Back) Nicholas Winmar or we seem to re draft players so dont rule out goose or LJ (conners)

[goodie]

Wouldn't rate medium defender as a priority, we've elevated Miles who couldn't get a game this year anyway.

Other than that I agree, a small defender, key back and mid-size forward should be on our shopping list. If we hadn't signed Walsh I would've said key forward would be first or second priority

[Rice Paper]

The Grand Final outcome and potential grand final opponents have and will dictate our trade and draft strategy.

Let's not forget we were very lucky to be even in the grand final, the Bulldogs (potential grand finalist in 2010) beat us in every statistical category in the prelim and it took one of the best finals ever played by a saint to get us over the line. That's why I believe Ross traded for Lovett and Peake, it was the Essendon loss and Bulldogs prelim that showed us to be very slow and vulnerable in the mid field and in the backline.

Then in the Grand Final, we dominated Geelong, they have some pace in the mid field like Ablett but it wasn't crucial. Where we were found out was by Shannon Byrne in the 2nd half, we had no one to go with him. In the Essendon loss Monfries destroyed every opponent he got that night. Baker showed some signs of vulnerability in 2009, he played a great Granny but we need to recruit another Baker type. Miles has been promoted becasue he has quick leg speed and may be the one to play on Byrne, Brad Johnson, Monfries etc. We have quite a slow backline that relies on the mid field to drop back all the time to help, it was only found out by quick ball movement during the year.

[Armoooo]

Wow, can't believe Heyne is that tall, I thought he was in the low-mid 180's, might have to knock medium forward off that list, because surely at least one of Lynch/ Walsh/ Heyne will come good.

[ace]

This draft makes me salivate too.

Pick 32 - the player the other clubs rejected with the first 31 picks.

Pick 60 - one of last players to be picked in the draft, a pig in a poke worthy of pick 90 in an uncompromised draft.

The players I salivate over are ALL going to be playing AGAINST us.

[Armoooo]

This draft makes me salivate too.

Pick 32 - the player the other clubs rejected with the first 31 picks.

Pick 60 - one of last players to be picked in the draft, a pig in a poke worthy of pick 90 in an uncompromised draft.

The players I salivate over are ALL going to be playing AGAINST us.

Let's say that pick 32 is worth a pick in the mid 40s in an average year, that still could get us a Rhys Stanley or Nick Heyne.

[Armoooo]

I just read on the AFL site that Jesse Smith has agreed to train with Hawthorn, this would probably mean that they will be using pick 39 on him.

I wouldn't be too upset if we secured Smith with pick 32, whilst I would have much preferred Scott McMahon from the roos, Smith could be a very handy player.

[Milan Faletic]

We have a sensational list. Why the panic?

[bigcarl]

Like always with threads on the draft - it will make perfect sense in about 4 years time.

yes, by the time these guys are playing senior football (if they make it) the entire landscape may have changed and our needs will be different. i just think pick guys who look like they will make it as footballers, rather than trying to fill a specific spot. you can always trade for that.

[Armoooo]

We have a sensational list. Why the panic?

Complacency leads to failure, I would be disgusted if the men in charge weren't looking for every possible way to improve our list.

[plugger66]

We have a sensational list. Why the panic?

Complacency leads to failure, I would be disgusted if the men in charge weren't looking for every possible way to improve our list.

I have a feeling every club is doing that.

[clarky449]

Always look to improve the list.

[sax]

Now that Ball has gone,
1. Pick 32- Joel McDonald (if he's nominated)
2. Picks 60 & 64- Best young players available
3. Don't take part in PSD
4. Use ALL rookie picks.

Pick for our premiership window IMO!

[xander]

I think we should try and go for a young project tall forward for our first pick that way in 3-4 years we will have someone ready to takeover from kosi & roo. Picks 60 i'd go for a mid just because you can never have too many. 64 would be either a discard or a medium forward. Rookie picks i think we should take a small defender (they seem to last this long in most drafts) and if any decent are available maybe another ruckmen or a tall defender.

[Armoooo]

Now that Ball is gone, I would love to snag McDonald, however I get the feeling he will go PSD instead...