Best of 2003 Draft

[Scottee]

Just wondering as a matter of interest if anyof the avid reserves watchers would at this stage like to rank our draft selections in terms of ability/promise.

Does the position in the draft still reflect the relative strengths of the players or has there been a change?

Seems to me for instance (from reports) that the player showing the most promise at the moment it Schmidt?

[liz]

Re: Best of 2003 Draft

Originally posted by Scottee
Just wondering as a matter of interest if anyof the avid reserves watchers would at this stage like to rank our draft selections in terms of ability/promise.

Does the position in the draft still reflect the relative strengths of the players or has there been a change?

Seems to me for instance (from reports) that the player showing the most promise at the moment it Schmidt?

All four (excluding Monty) are very different types of player and were probably drafted with different expectations of when they'd be ready to play senior football.

Over the whole season. Willoughby has probably shown the most and I'd expect him to be the first to make his debut. He's managed to bulk up quite a bit already and is pacy and skilfull.

Schmidt hadn't really shown much until the past month, although he's been hampered with an injury. He looks "smart" but also looks like he needs to lose a fair bit of weight.

Erikson was always a gamble for the club and it's probably still to soon to tell if he'll make it. But his development has been tangible as the season has worn on. Can't see him being ready next year.

Davis was the big unknown but I really like the look of him. It is hard to tell how far away he could be, but he could be capable of coming with a surge over the pre-season to maybe be in contention next year. He'd probably be competing with Dempster to force his way in - you could see them playing similar kinds of role - though Dempster is more advanced.

[Rod_]

Once again thanks Liz and others for the informed updates.

I used to like getting to the prematch games to witness the up and coming, however the last couple of years work and time is against me. Hence I do follow the stable few that write footy facts Vs personal preferences.

Looking forward to more update in the future

Thanx

Rod_

[DST]

Re: Re: Best of 2003 Draft

Originally posted by liz
All four (excluding Monty) are very different types of player and were probably drafted with different expectations of when they'd be ready to play senior football.

Over the whole season. Willoughby has probably shown the most and I'd expect him to be the first to make his debut. He's managed to bulk up quite a bit already and is pacy and skilfull.

Schmidt hadn't really shown much until the past month, although he's been hampered with an injury. He looks "smart" but also looks like he needs to lose a fair bit of weight.

Erikson was always a gamble for the club and it's probably still to soon to tell if he'll make it. But his development has been tangible as the season has worn on. Can't see him being ready next year.

Davis was the big unknown but I really like the look of him. It is hard to tell how far away he could be, but he could be capable of coming with a surge over the pre-season to maybe be in contention next year. He'd probably be competing with Dempster to force his way in - you could see them playing similar kinds of role - though Dempster is more advanced.

When you add in a few more names that are slightly older and further advanced:

Malceski
Thewlis
Dempster
LRT
Powell
Sunquist
Scheinder
Bevan

It shows that we do have a good group of youngsters to work with. Not all of them will make it, but for people to say we need to tank it for draft picks or start again and rebuild are way off the mark.

The rebuliding process started two years ago, and will continue again at this years draft (although if the right young KP defender comes along then trading a first pick will be acceptable).

DST

[Scottee]

Thanks Liz for your comments.

I would have thought from the reports on the recent games that Schmidt was showing more, thanks for correcting that impression.

It appears that the player rankings in tems of the draft have held fairly true.

[tombomb83]

I saw malceski play in a practise game against collingwood and he looked quite good, pacy left footer, bit like brad green from melbourne