2016 trading and drafting (merged thread)

[RogueSwan]

I would also add a roughy of Veneables..suppose to be a real burst power midfielder (i.e Dangerfield) that really gets in a bursts out of packs...which is something i think we do lack in our a midfield..I think Logue will definitely be handy but hard to see him possibly around our pick from his combine results....

Agreed. We need someone who can take 3-4 quick/evasive steps to move from inside to outside. They don't have to super fast, just quick out of a pack with an ability to hit an open teammate cleanly.
Kinda like a Tom Mitchell?

[liz]

Agreed. We need someone who can take 3-4 quick/evasive steps to move from inside to outside. They don't have to super fast, just quick out of a pack with an ability to hit an open teammate cleanly.
Kinda like a Tom Mitchell?

I think we already have two very young players on our list with that ability - Mills and Heeney.

I think the club's willingness to lose Mitchell (and I believe if they'd really wanted to keep him, they would have found a way, given it sounds like he would have preferred to stay all other things being equal), reflects the fact we have been fortunate to snare two absolute top-notch youngsters in the last two drafts as much as it does the salary cap squeeze created by the Buddy/Tippo contracts.

[waswan]

Can see Towers packaged with 39 for GC 26 or 30 or Bris 21, whichever team was into him

[Ludwig]

The strength of this draft is in the midfield, the area where of our greatest strength, even without Mitchell. Not to be overlooked is that Foote has developed well and we will almost certainly be drafting academy player Jake Brown, who I rate as a solid prospect, especially given our excellent development record.

I think we will go for the best player available, but should be favouring players who can play on the outside or key positions and provide speed ans skill. Breaking into our midfield will remain a difficult task for some years to come.

[Mug Punter]

I really hope we don't do that as it does appear to be a fairly deep draft, especially into the 2nd round and we could add a couple of nice pieces to our list with the 2 first rounders. As I said before I would love to add a player like Griffin Logue to our backline with our first pick and then why not go with the W.A. double and draft Sam Powell-Pepper with 17! As stated in a previous post, Venebles could add something we need also. If people haven't already, check out AFL Draft Central on youtube and check out their videos and tell me that those mentioned (amongst others) wouldn't look good in Red and White next year and give us some attributes we most definitely need!

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I think there is a real risk, and one that is consistently validated, in recruiting WA boys. They are pretty parochial over there and the go home factor just seems a big pull.

Overall our backline looks much more solid going into 2017 than any of us could have considered but we do really rely on Reg who probably only has a couple of years (he is 30 now) so if Logue was available at 14 we'd be wise to take him though from his combine results, which were truly outstanding, I'd think we'd need pick 10 to have nay chance at all. I think this year we'll just go for the best available player but at our pick level they are more likely than not to be mids just because it is a very midfielder heavy draft

[cruiser]

Reading about Griffin Logue this morning I think he would be an ideal draft selection. A big, strong, agile 18yo key defender ready to play AFL next season, allowing Mills to go into the midfield and the perfect replacement for Grundy when he retires.

[goswannies]

Tom Harley suggested they are talking to Sam Reid's management about a contract extension.
It actually surprised me a little he's only 24 & that (despite his injuries) he's almost played 100 games.

[KTigers]

Re the go home factor that has been mentioned on this thread a few times.
Seriously, people migrate to Australia after surviving god knows what in the countries they come
from, and young people in the country move into a capital city for work, study and opportunities by the thousands every
year. All without a guaranteed income, somewhere to live and a player welfare manager to make sure their socks
match. Man, some of these aspiring footballers are soft. If they are not prepared to move interstate and stick it out
they shouldn't put themselves into the draft in the first place and waste everyone's time.

[Maltopia]

The go home factor. Seriously, people migrate to Australia after surviving god knows what in the countries they come
from, and young people in the country move into a capital city for work, study and opportunities by the thousands every
year. All without a guaranteed income, somewhere to live and a player welfare manager to make sure their socks
match. Man, some of these aspiring footballers are soft. If they are not prepared to move interstate and stick it out
they shouldn't put themselves into the draft and waste everyone's time.

Whilst frustrating for fans, the AFL allows it so you can't blame the players for trying to get the location of their employment changed.

[Mug Punter]

Re the go home factor that has been mentioned on this thread a few times.
Seriously, people migrate to Australia after surviving god knows what in the countries they come
from, and young people in the country move into a capital city for work, study and opportunities by the thousands every
year. All without a guaranteed income, somewhere to live and a player welfare manager to make sure their socks
match. Man, some of these aspiring footballers are soft. If they are not prepared to move interstate and stick it out
they shouldn't put themselves into the draft in the first place and waste everyone's time.

0/10 for empathy here, pretty bloody heartless actually. You're probably the sort of person who say people with should just "man up" and to compare AFL players to a refugee's is just horrendous. I have no idea what you do or did for a living but I'd be pretty damn sure you got to pick and choose pretty much where you worked and lived - the AFL workplace would fail any law in terms of restraint of trade and yes it is for the greater commercial good of the league that we get to treat these kids like cattle.

On one hand we support the Academy and the advantage we get for producing our own (amongst other benefits for the game) and on the other side we demean any player who wants to be close to their family a sook, I find that attitude quite disgusting as if these players are just here for our enjoyment and are not allowed to have feelings.

These "soft" draftees are 18, I'm not sure what you were like at 18 but I sure as hell wasn't all grown up then. Being an AFL is a good life, and I'm sure all AFL players agree they are very lucky, but it is also very brutal (have a look on here to how critical we all are) and somewhat harsh environment where kids are put under enormous pressure that their peers don't cop. And for every superstar there are 10 kids that have been delisted having played less than 10 games (maybe more). I think having your family support network around you, people that care about you regardless of how you play, would be incredibly important.

They're human being with feelings like anyone else and they are 18 years old and allowed to miss their families. And if they get an offer similar or larger than their present employer and get to live back with their friends and family then who can blame them.

Yes, living away from home is a reality of life for many draftees but I hope our clubs don't view them as some sort of commodity for their usage like you

[Mug Punter]

See that GWS now have Pick 2 and a swag of later picks which they have traded for Picks 3 and 16.

Not in line with my crystal ball but a good deal that pretty much outlines their strategy. They'll get an elite pick at 2 (McCluggage or McGrath) and then secure all their elite Academy talent which they should have enough points for. You'd think the Bombers won't be dumb enough to Phantom Bid but I expect to call any bluff. And I expect that Perryman and Setterfield will attract top 10 picks so they'll need these points.

[bloodspirit]

I think Kinnear Beatson has said it best that when it comes to drafting it mostly depends on who's available when our pick comes around. You never know, someone like Taranto might be there at pick 14 (if we still have it). Looking at Cal Twomey's phantom form guide today - Callum Twomey?s Phantom Form Guide - October edition - AFL.com.au - there is a real chance that Logue could still be available (if we don't already have enough depth in that department: AJ, AA, Reg, Talia, X, Reid?, Davis?). It is impossible for me to predict (although Twomey has a good track record by draft eve) but, if Logue has been taken, maybe that means English or Marshall will be available. So, we just see who's available and 90% pick the best available with maybe a 10% loading according to our needs. Overall I agree with Ludwig that we want skill and ball use (and maybe speed). I'm less convinced that the players Ludwig nominates are the best candidates to deliver those qualities although they seem like very promising players.

MP, I'm doubtful that there have been problems with phantom bids to date. The Melbourne bids for Heeney and Mills may have been unfortunate for us but were completely legitimate and I'm sure that the Dees would have been happy to get either of them ahead of Petracca or Oliver. Likewise the bids for GWS' Kennedy and Hopper last year seemed fair enough. Ditto for the Brisbane academy players. Where have the problems been?

BTW: love the way you are so on to GWS salary cap rorting, Liz, and the likely double standard we can expect to encounter for Buddy in future. Thanks for highlighting that.

[Markwebbos]

0/10 for empathy here, pretty bloody heartless actually. You're probably the sort of person who say people with should just "man up" and to compare AFL players to a refugee's is just horrendous. I have no idea what you do or did for a living but I'd be pretty damn sure you got to pick and choose pretty much where you worked and lived - the AFL workplace would fail any law in terms of restraint of trade and yes it is for the greater commercial good of the league that we get to treat these kids like cattle.

On one hand we support the Academy and the advantage we get for producing our own (amongst other benefits for the game) and on the other side we demean any player who wants to be close to their family a sook, I find that attitude quite disgusting as if these players are just here for our enjoyment and are not allowed to have feelings.

These "soft" draftees are 18, I'm not sure what you were like at 18 but I sure as hell wasn't all grown up then. Being an AFL is a good life, and I'm sure all AFL players agree they are very lucky, but it is also very brutal (have a look on here to how critical we all are) and somewhat harsh environment where kids are put under enormous pressure that their peers don't cop. And for every superstar there are 10 kids that have been delisted having played less than 10 games (maybe more). I think having your family support network around you, people that care about you regardless of how you play, would be incredibly important.

They're human being with feelings like anyone else and they are 18 years old and allowed to miss their families. And if they get an offer similar or larger than their present employer and get to live back with their friends and family then who can blame them.

Yes, living away from home is a reality of life for many draftees but I hope our clubs don't view them as some sort of commodity for their usage like you

Being an AFL player is one of the few careers where you don't have any choice where you live... and having a family seems to be a big element for some in wanting to go home.

[Levii3]

I think Kinnear Beatson has said it best that when it comes to drafting it mostly depends on who's available when our pick comes around. You never know, someone like Taranto might be there at pick 14 (if we still have it). Looking at Cal Twomey's phantom form guide today - Callum Twomey?s Phantom Form Guide - October edition - AFL.com.au

After the academy bids our 14 will move back at least 4 places. So possibly looking at Oliver Florent or Shai Bolton and Josh Battle with the next pick.

Florent is quick and a good user by hand or foot. Unfortunately he lost his father this year so he may not want to leave Victoria.

[WauchopeAnalyst]

How about just a very skilful midfielder or 2.
Just average pace is OK. Picks 14 and 17.

Otherwise select some more of the "Bomber Squadron" and they cant hit a barn.????

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