2010 Draft/Trade Resource & Discussion

[Primmy]

Oh good for you satch, a bit of unsubstantiated gossip to liven the discussion.....he looks like he could have been a P.A. I always found it confronting to see him as married and a dad to boot. A boot up the bum to Melbourne would have been very sobering, and its great to see how he has taken his sideways relegation and made a new name for himself. However, apropo nothing at all, I do rather miss the other hobbit, Buchanan. However he doesn't get a gig all that often with Brissy.

Flipper (Phillips) was a vry good ressie player who had the expression of Great Expectation on his dial at all times. Very lively, very small and skinny, total ball magnet, and then gattling gun disposal - it could go anywhere. He only had a game or two, one in W.A. where he is from, and if I remember correctly was dealt with by being picked up and thrown aside by a wiggle. Not the best start to AFL. MickyO referred to him after the game as The Jockey. Was not surprised to see him delisted, and am now a bit surprised to see he had stuck it out in S.A., and his application may now match his ability. Good on him.

[ShockOfHair]

I think Bucky was injured for a lot of this year, Prim. They certainly need him.

I saw Philips play for Norwood a few weeks back where they smashed Glenelg(perennial Colliwobblers) in a QF,. He was one of their best -- beat one of their biggest players in a one on one and stole a goal.

[liz]

If this lack of physical condition was due to his lack of drive or work ethic than I'd say it has everything to do with what's between his ears.

If its because of injuries, this certainly wasn't made public and would make the reason to trade him even more baffling

I'd have thought his various injury issues, from his final U18 year (and even before that, courtesy of Emma Quayle's book), through his initial season and the past two seasons were well known - certainly not a state secret. It seems likely that there have been application issues too - for instance why, by his own admission, he came back underdone from a 10 week finger injury at the start of 2009.

It may just be that the club assessed that regardless of how hard he works and however much luck he has with future injuries, he is unlikely to ever gain a good enough engine to play the modern AFL game, at the intensity it is currently played, due to his genetic make-up. Or maybe they and he decided a fresh start at a new club would increase his chances of obtaining the necessary fitness base, or maybe he did just think he'd be better off close to his family.

Just dismissing all these very plausible possibilities as "attitude issues" is a little simplistic.

It is also pertinent that when Roos had his little dummy spit towards the end of last season, which most of us assumed was aimed at Veszpremi amongst others, his observation was that these unnamed players weren't doing what the development coaches were asking them to do, and were using excuses like "too many top-ups". Watching Vez during his reserves games this year, he was frequently guilty of trying to do too much - like play on after a mark when he didn't have room or the ability to evade an opponent, taking on two or three tackles running through the midfield, taking speculative pings from long range rather than looking for a team mate in a better position. All these were consistent with a player who knew his natural talent was significantly better than most of his team mates, especially the top-ups, and he was probably right. But presumably what the coaches were trying to get him to understand was that he couldn't break team rules at senior level and needed to demonstrate he could play within team rules at reserves level, even if doing so was likely to create a turnover because a team mate wasn't good enough. I strongly suspect that he is a player who will be more effective when surrounded by better quality players, but the question mark of his endurance will remain if he can't address that. I agree this is a "between the ears" issue, but further goes to illustrate that "attitude issues" can cover a wide range of sins.

His onfield work ethic was pretty good in almost every reserves game I watched him in this year - but he did tend to become far less effective the longer games went because he simply wasn't able to get to enough contests or lacked the energy to use the ball well when he got it.

[Auntie.Gerald]

jnr aka will probably flourish at the Dogs

[Primmy]

Good precise liz.

Wish him a good career, and as we know its sometimes just about the right mix for the right personality.

Gerald. I have to say that that comment is somewhat uncalled for, possibly because I can't stand Akka. Ves has never slagged anyone, or blamed anyone else for his woes.

[aardvark]

Matty Nicks to Port Adelaide as assistant coach.

[Primmy]

Matty Nicks to Port Adelaide as assistant coach.

WHAAATTTT!!!!!! My Gorgeous God Son!!!!! (God I wished he was son!) I love that man. Gone to the dark side.....on the other hand BRILLIANT! Oh Aar, do tell me its true and not a figment of red wine or beer? Im all come over flushed and thrilled.

OK, just checked the Port website, and there he was in all his smiling glory. YadaYadaYada, yes, other than Stuey he is my all time favourite bloke. Ever.
Coaching now, and a stockbroker. My Godson is doing me proud.

[unconfuseme]

I'd have thought his various injury issues, from his final U18 year (and even before that, courtesy of Emma Quayle's book), through his initial season and the past two seasons were well known - certainly not a state secret. It seems likely that there have been application issues too - for instance why, by his own admission, he came back underdone from a 10 week finger injury at the start of 2009.

It may just be that the club assessed that regardless of how hard he works and however much luck he has with future injuries, he is unlikely to ever gain a good enough engine to play the modern AFL game, at the intensity it is currently played, due to his genetic make-up. Or maybe they and he decided a fresh start at a new club would increase his chances of obtaining the necessary fitness base, or maybe he did just think he'd be better off close to his family.

Just dismissing all these very plausible possibilities as "attitude issues" is a little simplistic.

It is also pertinent that when Roos had his little dummy spit towards the end of last season, which most of us assumed was aimed at Veszpremi amongst others, his observation was that these unnamed players weren't doing what the development coaches were asking them to do, and were using excuses like "too many top-ups". Watching Vez during his reserves games this year, he was frequently guilty of trying to do too much - like play on after a mark when he didn't have room or the ability to evade an opponent, taking on two or three tackles running through the midfield, taking speculative pings from long range rather than looking for a team mate in a better position. All these were consistent with a player who knew his natural talent was significantly better than most of his team mates, especially the top-ups, and he was probably right. But presumably what the coaches were trying to get him to understand was that he couldn't break team rules at senior level and needed to demonstrate he could play within team rules at reserves level, even if doing so was likely to create a turnover because a team mate wasn't good enough. I strongly suspect that he is a player who will be more effective when surrounded by better quality players, but the question mark of his endurance will remain if he can't address that. I agree this is a "between the ears" issue, but further goes to illustrate that "attitude issues" can cover a wide range of sins.

His onfield work ethic was pretty good in almost every reserves game I watched him in this year - but he did tend to become far less effective the longer games went because he simply wasn't able to get to enough contests or lacked the energy to use the ball well when he got it.

Spot on liz (although I will testify that I saw him kick it to a a toppie once!) ... and to simplify it "not Bloods material" ... should go well elsewhere, and hope he does!

I recall one of his first senior games (maybe his first?), I think the writing was on the wall then, when he chased, stopped, and fell to the ground gasping for air and had to be assisted from the field by a runner ... he had not really done that much in the game, nor had that much game time ... not a great look for a 19 y.o. elite athlete.

But he wasn't the only listed player not carrying out the ressie coaches' instructions this season either.

[707]

5th November will be an interesting day when those clubs holding compensatory picks for losing players to the Gold Coast will have to declare if they intend to use those picks at this years National Draft.

There are eight of these picks in existence that could be exercised before our second round pick which is currently pick 39. The rumour mill suggest Gold Coast which holds three of those picks (that they accumulated from other clubs by trading on pre listed players) will not use theirs until 2012 but the other clubs will use their picks totally five at the end of the first round.

That means our picks this year are likely to be 21, 44, 61, 78 - ouch! Should get a good player at 21 but by pick 44 it is starting to get a bit lottery'ish. Be really nice if Everitt can step up to fill the void in this years draft selections.

[-Doogs-]

....That means our picks this year are likely to be 21, 44, 61, 78 - ouch! Should get a good player at 21 but by pick 44 it is starting to get a bit lottery'ish.......

Amon Buchanan - 52, Ryan O'Keefe - 56, Adam Goodes - 43, Adam Schneider - 60

You just have to know how to pick them :-)

[707]

Amon Buchanan - 52, Ryan O'Keefe - 56, Adam Goodes - 43, Adam Schneider - 60

You just have to know how to pick them :-)

You don't want me to name all the picks we've had in the 40s and 50s in those 12 years that haven't made the grade do you?

I get your point but successful selection from 44 out is a lot less than 50/50 I would have thought. I'll do some research from the Goodes ND until 2009 ND and confirm.

[DST]

If this lack of physical condition was due to his lack of drive or work ethic than I'd say it has everything to do with what's between his ears.

If its because of injuries, this certainly wasn't made public and would make the reason to trade him even more baffling

Or what about that Vez was just not up to it physically no matter how hard he worked on or off the field.

Read between the lines in both Liz's posts and what was written in Emma Quayles book when he was drafted, he has endless amount of talent , the question has been and still is whether he has the physical capacity to play AFL standard football.

After three years on our list the club has determined that no matter what they did with him that it was unlikely his physical capabilities would allow him to consistently play senior football.

DST

[Bleed Red Blood]

After three years on our list the club has determined that no matter what they did with him that it was unlikely his physical capabilities would allow him to consistently play senior football.

DST

This will be proven considerably overstated in the coming years.

[DeadlyAkkuret]

If Stewie Dew can do it...

[Primmy]

No matter how they choose player, it turns into a lottery. Low picks getting the odd Browlow, two of ours being B&F, one now with two grannies, one of them kicking the winner at the GF who who was delisted by the club and picked up again.

Higher picks, some turn out to be crackers, some never get a go.

Some players turn up from nowhere, like Canada for instance, and surprise everyone.

Sometimes its just how much work the selectors have done, and they turn up with Rohan, Jetts, TDL, with us sitting up and saying "well that was unexpected"! I mean how many times have we played first year Swans?

How many times have they relegated a player as not being suitable to playing AFL.....sending them back home even.... and eventually being made to look like gooses ???

Its a lottery my friends, and a scientifically "I got the forumula here" lottery...