2020 trading, drafting and list management: players and personnel

[Odysseus]

I’d have to agree, I don’t think any of Henry’s best performances have come when he’s spent the majority of the game on ball. I’ve seen some serviceable play from him on ball but nothing that makes me think he should spend more time there than he does forward. He doesn’t do anything Dusty or Danger like on ball, not that I’ve seen. But he can do some special things in the forward line, and his aerial ability is ridiculous.

He does get moved around an awful lot though, so I’m not writing off that he could turn out to be a very good mid, but I wouldn’t class him as one currently.

It's been thought-provoking listening to the debate about Heeney and his role. Before our one and only game so far this season I was hoping we'd play him at full forward and let him become the John Coleman of our era. However that may be, I do think Melbourne_Blood's comment, "He does get moved around an awful lot though", is spot on. I know it shows how highly Horse regards him, but I am inclined to think it doesn't help Heeney develop the special talent that he has, as it inhibits his applying it to one role for an extended period. For mine, at the moment, that talent might best be utilized up forward and allowing him to develop his craft for long enough to allow a longer-term judgement call on his greatest utility for the team.

[TheBloods]

I see, so Heeney is a dud midfielder, whose reputation as a potential superstar of the competition, is based entirely on his forward output? Can't say that I'm convinced.

You're now putting words in my mouth. I never said Heeney was a dud midfielder, just that he's not a great one and hasn't shown whatever talents he may possess as a midfielder yet. He has not had a single elite game as a midfielder. Dud? Absolutely not. But not elite.

Compare it to the number of elite performances he's had as a fwd.

[dejavoodoo44]

I'm with you all the way, deja. Noting that "very talented" does not mean "superstar" and noting also that Heeney's best lies in front of him (I trust) and that he has spent a fair part of his career so far dealing with injury. Just because Heeney stands out in the forward line is no reason to say he is "wasted" in the midfield (nobody seems to be suggesting this about Mills incidentally and he likewise has not yet demonstrated any star midfield quality at AFL level). Also, it is great if Heeney can relieve someone like Parker, or JPK, or Hewett, and allow them a spell forward.

Yes, I thought he was a touch disappointing last year, some really good games, but some where he was quite anonymous. But as you say, he probably was playing with niggling injuries. And probably just hanging around the forward line, when the ball wasn't getting up there.

In contrast, during this winter of our discontent, I've been watching the wins that I taped in 2016 and a
couple so far, from when we got going in 2017. Here he looked every bit the rising midfield star. Including a couple of games, where he racked up 20 possessions in a half. His poise under pressure, for a second year player, was also really noteworthy.

Hopefully, we'll see a totally fit and firing Heeney later in the year; who fully live up to his great potential.

[Blood Fever]

I'm in favour of recruiting JD, with a couple of caveats: 1. he's fit; and 2. the price is right. He should come relatively cheap both in draft and salary terms given both his recent injury history and the cuts with the pandemic etc. It's a gamble but a gamble worth taking. Can also structure the contract to reflect the amount he actually plays.

Report today that JD is a fair way off training at the right intensity to play. Wouldn't touch him with a forty foot pole!

[Melbourne_Blood]

Report today that JD is a fair way off training at the right intensity to play. Wouldn't touch him with a forty foot pole!

Agree, makes me ill thinking what we were potentially offering up for him last year.


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[707]

I wonder if the uncertainty around this year's draft will work in our favour slightly. Most clubs will be flying pretty blind in regards to the draft pool except for the really pointy end. The second - fourth rounds will be more of a lottery than ever before and so us using our picks/points on the relatively known quantities of Gulden/Campbell means we don't have to worry about entering that lottery.

Kinnear Beatson was one quoted a few weeks ago supporting the draft age staying at 18 and that there should be a full draft this year.

That to me suggests that KB & SD already confident in who we have our eye on. Ideally we get a pick before the bid for Campbell. BTW, Gulden was referred to as an "endurance beast" by Campbell in his interview with Cal.

Good reports on Daniher still not into full training and Worsfold quoted as saying he's not sure if JD will play this year. Wonder what Dododoro is thinking now?

[AB Swannie]

I'm sure KB & SD are as well prepared as possible. I think, unless Campbell has grown significantly*, it is highly likely that we will have a selection before him and/or Gulden. That will mean that we have the opportunity to draft 3 players with the most known ability based on underage performances at the 2019 championships.

With list sizes possibly/likely being reduced as a cost saving measure, it may mean that we only take these 3 selections. If we take a 4th it would also be likely to be the other academy prospect (Marco Rossman) who we would also know well enough.

In regards to Daniher, surely this is the biggest "buy low" opportunity? Worth the risk.

*Don't get me started on height. For me, it is a metric, especially for midfielders, that is highly overrated in drafting/recruiting. Campbell is listed currently at 178cm which would ensure he drops to mid-late first round. Gulden could go into the 2nd round at 171cm. If Campbell was to grow 3cm he would be rated top 10 even though his performance numbers would be exactly the same.

[Mel_C]

Report today that JD is a fair way off training at the right intensity to play. Wouldn't touch him with a forty foot pole!

And yet Dodoro wanted 2 first round picks plus a player! And what about all the media backlash for not trading for him? We knew exactly what we were doing ????.

[dejavoodoo44]

I'm sure KB & SD are as well prepared as possible. I think, unless Campbell has grown significantly*, it is highly likely that we will have a selection before him and/or Gulden. That will mean that we have the opportunity to draft 3 players with the most known ability based on underage performances at the 2019 championships.

With list sizes possibly/likely being reduced as a cost saving measure, it may mean that we only take these 3 selections. If we take a 4th it would also be likely to be the other academy prospect (Marco Rossman) who we would also know well enough.

In regards to Daniher, surely this is the biggest "buy low" opportunity? Worth the risk.

*Don't get me started on height. For me, it is a metric, especially for midfielders, that is highly overrated in drafting/recruiting. Campbell is listed currently at 178cm which would ensure he drops to mid-late first round. Gulden could go into the 2nd round at 171cm. If Campbell was to grow 3cm he would be rated top 10 even though his performance numbers would be exactly the same.

Yes, while height does make a difference, I'm not sure how much? I suspect that there's some obscure analysis somewhere, but I haven't read it. In my semi-educated opinion, if Gulden stays that height, he'll probably drop to the second round. Which would be a bonus for us, as having seen a fair bit of him last year, I definitely think that he's first round talent. Campbell's 178cm may not make that much difference. The stand out pick of last year's draft, Matt Rowell, is 178cm. As is the 8 pick, Caleb Serong.

[dejavoodoo44]

And yet Dodoro wanted 2 first round picks plus a player! And what about all the media backlash for not trading for him? We knew exactly what we were doing ????.

Yes, our recruiters got a pasting, for not moving heaven and earth, to secure an injury prone footballer, who didn't seem all that interested in playing football.

[Blood Fever]

Yes, our recruiters got a pasting, for not moving heaven and earth, to secure an injury prone footballer, who didn't seem all that interested in playing football.

Reckon we went through the motions and were never serious about getting him. He approached Harley.

[707]

Really wanted the 178cm Caleb Serong in last year's draft but I was probably influenced by the fact he was a Swans supporter.

Gulden 171cm doesn't worry me, a lot of high tackles whilst buzzing around near goals at that height :-) From what I've read he can play.

[dejavoodoo44]

Reckon we went through the motions and were never serious about getting him. He approached Harley.

An attitude, which if I remember rightly, greatly irked Matthew Lloyd. Which left me wondering, that just maybe, Lloyd had some sort of pro-Essendon bias?

[Blood Fever]

An attitude, which if I remember rightly, greatly irked Matthew Lloyd. Which left me wondering, that just maybe, Lloyd had some sort of pro-Essendon bias?

Lots of agendas and conflicts of interest in Melbourne footy media. Eddie McGuire leader of the pack.

[dimelb]

*Don't get me started on height. For me, it is a metric, especially for midfielders, that is highly overrated in drafting/recruiting. Campbell is listed currently at 178cm which would ensure he drops to mid-late first round. Gulden could go into the 2nd round at 171cm. If Campbell was to grow 3cm he would be rated top 10 even though his performance numbers would be exactly the same.

Height can be overrated. Here's a reminder of what Kieren Jack could do:

Kieren Jack 2016 Highlight Reel - YouTube