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An interesting discussion on the machinations of the first round of this year's draft: Bids, bluffs and frantic calls: Inside 2020's first-round draft frenzy
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"Unbelievable!" -- Nick Davis leaves his mark on the 2005 semi final -
It was impossible to say because the draft process was doctored to allow the TV network five minutes between each of the picks - especially in the first round - so the panel could gab with each other, gush how each draftee is going to change the game of footy and win 25 AA guernseys, and maybe grab an interview with them. Regardless of when each club actually entered their pick, it appeared that they made the selection with just seconds left on the clock.Comment
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Just like Masterchef where, in a 90 minute time test to make something, all contestants are putting the final touches to their dish with 10, 9, 8, 7 - step away from your plates!
A friend got to the last few contestants one year and his stories about the amount of post production that goes on was very interesting. In those timed contests, lots of the contestants are finished with minutes to go but when it goes to air, those same contestants are shown putting the last garnish on as the buzzer goes :-)
You have to chuckle at the draft, as many have noted previously, every draftee is talked up so highly, even out in the 40's, "Billy Blogs is a great pick up for the Woodpeckers at pick 46, he's got good size, he's got great pace, an accurate kick" etc, etc, (just can't find the ball and few footy smarts not mentioned), yet so many of those highly talked up draftees will be delisted in 2-3 years. We know it's an inexact science and we know it's a production for TV but the "gushing" as Liz correctly called it, is a bit over the top.
With Covid taking hold in Sydney, it's going to be very interesting to see what happens with our preseason resumption. Will it have to be moved to an interstate hub?Comment
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Hopefully the NSW Government contact tracing team can get on top of the infections very soon, but alas when they do, it will to late for Christmas festivities.Comment
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I think we return to training Wednesday January 6th. Then first preseason game vs GWS is on Saturday 20th February, then Collingwood on Wednesday 3rd March and then round 1 in Brisbane on Saturday 20th March.
So I am guessing we would want to remain in Sydney for our preseason. We will have 8 weeks of preseason training before we need to play the first interstate side Collingwood and 10 weeks of training before round 1. It would be tough on the players to already be in a interstate hub that long before the season starts.Last edited by SeanM; 21 December 2020, 12:20 AM.Comment
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It does not surprise me that the Crows would have a dabble at Stephens. We need to re-sign him in the new year to avoid the go home syndrome.Comment
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I'm posting this purely to see if RWO is still online.....no posts for 5 days. Every time I come on there's nothing....I know it's Xmas but it seems unusual. Here goes....
Post edit: Yep, still going! Hope everyone had a great Xmas!
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I also wondered the thing, glad to see someone else had the same thought.Comment
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Yes, and happy new year to you.
I was vaguely working up to write an optimistic post on our season's prospects, just to get discussion going again, but so far, lethargy has got the better of me.Comment
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Merry Xmas and Happy New Year to all! Lets hope our boys have an excellent and uninterrupted pre-season.Comment
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I'm actually quite interested in how we go in the preseason. I think we're due for one where everything goes smoothly? If things go faultlessly, we could finish much higher up the ladder, than many people think.
By faultlessly, the main thing that I'm thinking of, is Buddy getting through fit and rearing to go. A season of him, at say 90% of his old capacity, would go a long way, to turning close defeats into close victories. I'm also hoping to see some of the younger players develop significantly. For instance, Stephens and McInerney already have huge tanks, and they both get to plenty of contests. But if they can add a bit more strength, then they should be more able to exert defensive pressure or win fifty/fifty balls. Which could see them well on the way to becoming elite footballers.
On the other hand, if youngsters like Blakey and McLean could develop more of a tank, then they should become very dangerous attacking threats. I actually think McLean might surprise a few people. In both his seasons, he had an extended injury break early, and only really started to hit form later in the year. Injury free; we might all be wondering how he slipped through the draft.
I'm also curious about our VFL squad. As in: will we see the resurrection of a few ex-players, who were unlucky to be delisted? Or will we be going for other club's discards: like Paddy McCartin? Or will we be concentrating on ex-academy players? Though of course, we could go for a combination of all three?Comment
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Will we be able to train normally with Covid around Sydney or will we have to go into a bubble somewhere.Comment
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