2015 academy discussion thread (with some FS thrown in for good measure)

[Mug Punter]

They'll take Josh Shache with the number 1 pick who has already stated publicly that he'd to love to play for Brisbane, I believe his dad may have played some games there or something?

Good for them, I thought I'd read about someone from interstate actually saying they'd like to play for the Lions...

With him plus three good academy draftees you'd hope they can start to turn things around.

You'd think they would also offer a compelling case for a prioirty pick this year too...

[Conor_Dillon]

Good for them, I thought I'd read about someone from interstate actually saying they'd like to play for the Lions...

With him plus three good academy draftees you'd hope they can start to turn things around.

You'd think they would also offer a compelling case for a prioirty pick this year too...

I'd love to see the look on Eddie's face if they received a priority pick

[troyjones2525]

For all the Victorian Swans fans, Young Dunkley is playing for Richmond's VFL side on channel 7 right now!

[Melbourne_Blood]

Thanks Troy, do you know what number he is ?

[troyjones2525]

He was in 73.

[ugg]

Dunkley finished with 4 kicks 2 handballs 3 marks 8 tackles and 6 inside 50s

A few ex-Swans in this game - Dick, Barlow, Wall and Rowe

[Mug Punter]

I'd love to see the look on Eddie's face if they received a priority pick

If ever a club was deserving of one, surely it must be the Lions with the combination of their lost players and sustained poor on field performances.

Also the fact they have tried to get their house in order should help.



If they took Shache with Pick 1 and traded Pick 2 (Weitering effectively) for whom you'd hope they'd get a decent player plus a late first rounder (say 10-12) and an early second rounder (say 20-22)

Assuming they trade Aish for a mid to late first rounder (Port should be prepared to offer a straight swap for the first round pick) then you'd hope they could get Shache, a good first rounder such as a Weideman, an experienced player traded in and three academy picks. You'd even hope they could avoid going too far into deficit and that would be a decent crop for them to try and rebuild their list.

I see from their comments that they see a local content at other clubs as being about 75% so it really does show what the NSW and QLD clubs are up against

[707]

Only bright spot from last night's disaster against the Hawks is, that as we slide down the table, we'll have more points to use on Mills and Dunkley!

A lot of the scenarios we've been running have us as Premiers/runners pick 18/17 up but we could actually be looking at pick 14/15, a lot more points.

[ugg]

Dunkley played for Richmond VFL again today

8 kicks 5 handballs 3 marks 5 tackles 4 inside50s 1 rebound50 2 frees for 2 frees against 1 goal = 65 DT points

[aardvark]

I'd be very surprised if Dunkley nominates for father son. The lure of home is strong.

[Jimitron5000]

I'd be very surprised if Dunkley nominates for father son. The lure of home is strong.

It is a gamble for him though. 8 non-Victorian clubs in the competition means he has a near 50% chance of being drafted away from Victoria.

[aardvark]

It is a gamble for him though. 8 non-Victorian clubs in the competition means he has a near 50% chance of being drafted away from Victoria.

If he declines to nominate because he prefers to stay in Melb the interstate sides would be wary of selecting him.

[i'm-uninformed2]

So, just to pose a question, rather than a firm view, but:

Everyone says Mills is at least the equal of a player to Heeney, which would make him special. But it does strike me, even if we finish four or five or six, we are still going to have to sacrifice two or three further draft picks to get him - and a fair bit for Dunkley too if he nominates.

But none of the scouting reports on either player suggest they are elite kicks, which is an area we are very deficient, and obviously neither are KPPs, where we are just as deficient.

So, would you pass on Dunkley (as the lower rated of the two) if available, or dare I say it, Mills - and instead focus on building some depth into the list - perhaps by trading back into the second round with an extra pick or two? (The obvious argument against this is take what you know, and the draft is perceived as weak overall, so picks down the order aren't worth much).

Anyway, just one to pose for debate...

[mcs]

So, just to pose a question, rather than a firm view, but:

Everyone says Mills is at least the equal of a player to Heeney, which would make him special. But it does strike me, even if we finish four or five or six, we are still going to have to sacrifice two or three further draft picks to get him - and a fair bit for Dunkley too if he nominates.

But none of the scouting reports on either player suggest they are elite kicks, which is an area we are very deficient, and obviously neither are KPPs, where we are just as deficient.

So, would you pass on Dunkley (as the lower rated of the two) if available, or dare I say it, Mills - and instead focus on building some depth into the list - perhaps by trading back into the second round with an extra pick or two? (The obvious argument against this is take what you know, and the draft is perceived as weak overall, so picks down the order aren't worth much).

Anyway, just one to pose for debate...

I'm 100% certain we will take Mills - I can't see us not, given our focus on the academy and his clear qualities - kicking deficiencies aside.

Dunkley I'm not so sure of. Its made hard by the ridiculous trading restrictions we have to deal with as well - its hard to come up with a recruitment strategy when you have your hands tied behind your back.

[ugg]

With the discount, from a pure valuation point of view, it would be foolish not to take them (assuming you trust the points system the AFL has allocated to the draft picks). I would treat it as the same as the draft: Take the best available players and then if need be you can adjust the list later on via trades.