Rioli (vs Vez)

[caj23]

The 'gun recruiter' who overlooked Chris Judd... he'll have less job offers than you think.

Huh???

Pick 1 Luke Hodge Hawthorn
Pick 2 Luke Ball St Kilda
Pick 3 Chris Judd WCE

Got the wrong guy Hammo.

He did however select Deledio and Tambling above Buddy

[Industrial Fan]

Tambling will be a better player than Lance anyhow.

[hammo]

Huh???

Pick 1 Luke Hodge Hawthorn
Pick 2 Luke Ball St Kilda
Pick 3 Chris Judd WCE

Got the wrong guy Hammo.

He did however select Deledio and Tambling above Buddy

You're right. Was thinking of Buddy - my mistake.

[573v30]

Tambling will be a better player than Lance anyhow.

That joke never gets old.

[liz]

I've just finished reading Emma Quayle's "The Draft" (which I quoted some comments from a few days ago). It's seems evident that the Swans were never going to pick anyone other than Vez with pick 11 - unless another club got there first and if Quayle is to be believed, none of the clubs with picks above (or even those with picks just after) seriously thought about him with a pick around this range.

Quayle talks about how Maxfield was mesmerised by him back in 2006, when he was underage to be drafted. And how he'd have drafted him in June 2007, if he'd had to make the decision then, despite Vez being ruled out of last year's U18 championships.

[alison.z]

i've been thinking of buying the book - is it worth it??

[liz]

i've been thinking of buying the book - is it worth it??

I really enjoyed it. It gives you some insight into what the clubs look for when they're evaluating underage players, and the pressure some of them put on themselves, especially playing with injury.

It might have been more interesting had the five selected represented a broader cross-section of draftability. The five they featured were drafted at 2,9,11,12 and 13. Would have been interesting to read the thoughts of more borderline draftees and what they went through. Though there are some snippets about Dawson Simpson, who was a friend of McEvoy at the Bushrangers, and who started the year as real draft roughie. He played a substantial amount of the season with a broken wrist, not telling his Bushrangers coach because he was so desparate to keep playing and give himself a shot to get picked.

I think it is fair to say that Cotchin, McEvoy and Ebert never suffered under the illusion they weren't going to get drafted or even that they weren't going to be first round picks. Those three come across as having 30 year old heads on 17 year old bodies. The other two sound like they were far less confident and also come across as being far younger for their age, especially at the start of their final underage year- though in Vez' case in particular you can sense a gradual maturing as he began to realise what he had to do to give himself the best shot at getting drafted. Not so much in terms of how he went about things on the field but more the off-field preparation and trying to keep himself in decent shape when he was injured, plus being aware of his demeanour around other people.

[alison.z]

sounds good ... thanks - i think i'll give it a look

[bennyfrou]

I like what Tadhg said about this issue:

I can see Patty playing a similar style of football to Brad Johnson from the Bulldogs. Very powerful player who is great over head, just as good on the ground and has the confidence of Micky O. Cyril has had a great year, the draft always throws up these questions but get back to me in five years and we will have the answer. From http://blogs.news.com.au/dailytelegr...lly_live_blog/

Yes Rioli may be the second best newbie this year, the results of choices like Roos' / Maxfield's to pick Ves won't be seen in full for another 5 years. So while it may look stupid not to have picked Rioli theres no point wondering what might have been! The players like having Ves in the team so we should support them and him and quit wondering what might have been.