2018 trading, drafting and list management: players and personnel

[YvonneH]

Just watched the 'past draftees' video on the Swans website.
Was quite amused when Adam Goodes name was read out. It was pronounced as Adam Goodies.

[AnnieH]

Just watched the 'past draftees' video on the Swans website.
Was quite amused when Adam Goodes name was read out. It was pronounced as Adam Goodies.

...and didn't he deliver them!!!

[wolftone57]

Well tonight all the speculation will be over....Oh @@@@ sorry. it won't be over until tomorrow night. bugger. I bet lots of kids will be saying that too. I don't understand the need to draw this out. Just get on with it and let the kids stop hyperventilating.

[Boddo]

Well tonight all the speculation will be over....Oh @@@@ sorry. it won't be over until tomorrow night. bugger. I bet lots of kids will be saying that too. I don't understand the need to draw this out. Just get on with it and let the kids stop hyperventilating.

National draft will be over before tomorrow night, It’s on in the morning/afternoon n most will either be at school and most adults at work when it’s on. Another well thought out idea. Lol

The kids can hyperventilate at school.

[liz]

Dubious world of AFL's Next Generation Academies

So Jake Niall has taken swipe at the NGA system, mostly making points that have already been raised on this forum over the last few years (ie that the clubs entitled to these players have done absolutely nothing to contribute to their development).

His support for the "necessary evils" that are the Northern Academies is somewhat lukewarm and misses most of their point. I wonder if he realises just how broad in scope the Northern Academies are, and how many boys participate in them every year. To me that is the absolutely critical difference between them and the NGAs - they are about far more than just cherry picking elite talent just as it is about to be drafted.

[707]

Good on Jake Niall for calling NGA's out and pointing out that clubs are just cherry picking high level talent already embedded in good football development systems.

I like the fact he correctly called them a sop to the 14 southern teams which is exactly what they were and are. The hasty creation of NGA's and the extremely loose nomination criteria smacked of just that.

I reckon the AFL has to tighten rules on eligibility (need to convince Eddie and cohorts) and, for all teams, stop the manipulation of draft picks when a team knows they have a high draftee tied to them. This year we did it but North and Pies were much worse in trading away high picks for gun players and accumulating picks in the 40s. 50s and 60s to pay for additional first and high second rounders.

If they make you pay for tied kids with appropriate picks then a lot of the advantage is taken away, as it should be.

[bloodspirit]

Yes, I read that article with interest. Does make the blood boil a bit. It's not so much that Eddie & co. use their power to pull strings and advance their own club's interests at the expense of the game (I guess that's their remit) as the fact that the AFL doesn't have the strength or ability to stand up to them and hold the line as they should.

While I was on the site I also took the opportunity to listen to a podcast with Emma Quayle about the draft: https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/...15-p50g4y.html. Worth a listen. She suggests that in her experience (at GWS) clubs ARE less likely to bid on player tied to another club, but not to the point that it gets ridiculous.

[Mr Magoo]

Yep NFA in respect of the "Northern Academies".

Melbourne Journos like Niall still have no idea how small the game is in Sydney compared to Rugby league, union and soccer. Its growing for sure and the academy really in my view has helped give kids that arent 100 kilo wrecking balls another solid option if they are talented.

Before the academy , the pathway for any kid of talent in NSW aussie rules was very difficult and heavily biased to the traditional albury/ riverina kids.

[bloodspirit]

An excellent guide to the draft: AFL Draft Central's Comprehensive Guide to the AFL Draft - AFL Draft Central.

[bloodspirit]

And a handy and comprehensive guide to the potential draftees: https://www.afldraftcentral.com.au/w...ft-Guide-1.pdf.

[Auntie.Gerald]

Afternoon all
I’ve been away a bit

The draft is on tonight ?

Can we watch it live on the afl website ?

[bloodspirit]

I think that even though we are well placed for inside mids in our best 22 we don't have much in the cupboard after that after focusing on more outside type players in recent years. For this reason I expect us to target at least one inside mid with our ND picks. Promising options include: Ely Smith, Jack Bytel, Tom Joyce and even Sydney Stack.

Other names that have we have been linked to like Tom Sparrow, and Jack Ross, I'm less keen on. Will Hamill *might* be worth a try.

Bailey Williams looks like a good pick if he slides as far as our picks but then again he's got a bit in common with Tom McCartin so perhaps we don't need him. I'd probably take him if we wind up having three consecutive picks at the end of second round and he reaches that far down.

Tonight will be interesting (if the AFL don't totally stuff it up) but I'm much more looking forward to finding out who we pick tomorrow.

[undy]

While I was on the site I also took the opportunity to listen to a podcast with Emma Quayle about the draft: https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/...15-p50g4y.html. Worth a listen. She suggests that in her experience (at GWS) clubs ARE less likely to bid on player tied to another club, but not to the point that it gets ridiculous.

That was quite good. She reckons that Blakey is top 7 from memory.

[Auntie.Gerald]

The Draft will be broadcast live on Fox Footy (channel 504) from 6:30pm (AEDT), with the first round expected to commence about 7pm. Day two will be broadcast live on Fox Footy (channel 504) from midday.

Why is there a day2 tomorrow for the draft ?

[dimelb]

Dubious world of AFL's Next Generation Academies

So Jake Niall has taken swipe at the NGA system, mostly making points that have already been raised on this forum over the last few years (ie that the clubs entitled to these players have done absolutely nothing to contribute to their development).

His support for the "necessary evils" that are the Northern Academies is somewhat lukewarm and misses most of their point. I wonder if he realises just how broad in scope the Northern Academies are, and how many boys participate in them every year. To me that is the absolutely critical difference between them and the NGAs - they are about far more than just cherry picking elite talent just as it is about to be drafted.

Thanks for the link liz, I enjoyed reading the article, even with the provisos you mention.

The most serious omission I'd pick up is the so-called "necessary evils". This is a dopey slur on a vital contribution the Northern clubs are making, helping to enlarge the reach of Australian Rules (damn the AFL and their self-appointed Melbournians) and fighting for their lives in a very difficult setting. We have fortunately, and with the generosity of many locals and a lot of plain hard work, created a solid position. GWS is doing OK while still struggling to broaden there fan base, but Brisbane will have to work hard to stay afloat, while GC needs a lot more help simply to survive and could probably do with a partial restoration of the housing benefits we used to have. Reviving and spreading Australian Rules in Queensland will be a long term job, and I don't get the impression that the AFL is even aware of the task.