west coast draft rookies

browny_wce · November 17, 2010, 02:16:18 PM

this is mainly going out to eagles fans, but not exactly happy with our "predicted" pickups in the draft (see link)
http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/105263/default.aspx

i know Jack Darling may turn into a Buddy Franklin type, but the last we need is another bad attitude kid a West Coast
we go for Gaff at pick 4, he is a no-fuss trooper, but i think we need some spark in the midfield, would like to target someone with a bit of spark and speed like Atley, Heppell or Conca(WA boy).
Also at pick 29 their suggestion Kirk Ugle, no real numbers in the Combine, only played a handful of Colts games with Swan Districts, when theres actually real midfield talent around that pick (Hallahan, Green and Cripps)

Hopefully Eagles recruiting staff pull their finger out tomorrow as I have not been that impressed with their efforts the last few years

Brisbane look to have targets on a lot of quality kids

Jozz · November 17, 2010, 05:48:13 PM

On the jack darling thing he's exactly what we need to win a flag

being sumwhat realistic i dont think we (wce) will b in flag contention for at least 5years in those 5 years we need to devolop another foward (and bigger blokes take longer to devolop) for lecars and kennedy as i think wilson will play the hunter role of swinging b/w fwd and back

in 5 yrs time i rekon our fwd line would b like this if we got him

Lecars, darling, midfielder
strijk, kennedy, future draft crumbing/pressure fwd

if he is a "bad boy" wce didnt have ne indiscresions this year so i think our culture is changing and we wont have as many off-field issues as we did in the past so i think the club can pull him in2 line

basically if we can get him take him

browny_wce · November 17, 2010, 09:31:20 PM

I know he is a talent! Just needs to change his attitude I think
I do believe he will develop into a great player though
he isnt exactly the biggest forward, but its good as theyve trialled him in the midfield
just want another decent midfielder/forward to go with Gaff
Jed Lamb or Reece Conca would be nice

elephants · November 17, 2010, 09:39:18 PM

I am not entirely sure darlings baad reputation is fully warranted. he got in trouble on leavers but it was only fully publisized due to the fact he was then touted as a top 5 draft pick. i would prefer we looked at mitch hallahan and conca/jacobs with our 20ish picks :) should be exciting tomorrow :) anyone know if the draft is televised and when it starts? thanks

popedelio · November 17, 2010, 09:46:06 PM

to answer your question its on foxtel at 6pm est

ummm i wouldt be too disappointed if we get gaff because he is a hard running mid that plays his role...being a ball magnet. But at that pick i would prefer polec, some games he is inconsistent but he has some great skills, reasonably tallish winger, line breaking, pace, according to reports similar to hill, which sounds good.

If we can get darling at 26, why not get him?? dont think darling would get picked mabe a lil earlier, but i do agree with everyones thoughts on conca and hallahann etc.

elephants · November 17, 2010, 11:28:15 PM

awesome thanks popedelio,

i assume that is about three perth time :) i like hallahan strong leader :)

nillation · November 18, 2010, 12:00:23 AM

I agree somewhat about Gaff. He could turn into another Masten which isn't what they need. It's hard to ignore his stats though.

A line breaker, forward pocket and half forward flank is what the Eagles really need. Kennedy and LeCras are long term players to build around. I think Strijk has cemented his spot on the half forward flank too and he looks the goods. Callum Wilson will likely be a serviceable tall forward playing either FF or HF but won't be dominant.

Eagles desperately need another flanker and forward pocket in the mold of Rioli though.

I imagine the forward line will look a lot like this over the coming years;

Strijk Kennedy HFF

LeCras Wilson FP

I think Darling could fill that HFF flank role well. He is already a big kid which means that he won't develop much further in terms of stature so he won't be big enough to play down the spine but provide another leading option on the flank. With experience in the midfield he could also push up the wing so although he is an awkward inbetweenish size he actually fits the mold of what the Eagles are looking for quite well.

The Eagles will need one of their small forward picks from last year to pop up or if they don't think they will cut the mustard then draft for a better one this year. Urgle seems like a likely type to slot in that position. In the meantime I think Kerr can fill that forward pocket role really well for them. He would be really dangerous around goals, provide plenty of defensive pressure on rebounding backman and can rotate through the mid as the year progresses. It will free up another midfield spot to trial some more young guys and finally see who is ready to step up.

Eagles have a lot of mediocre midfielders at the moment and more time in the middle would make it easier to tell the diamonds from the rough. Then it would be easier to see whats best to do with Ebert, Masten, Swift, Shuey, Selwood and Selwood since none of them stand out as wingmen, rebounders or finishers. Since Kerr's had a couple of injury stricken seasons putting him in the forward pocket would be a good stepping stone because he'll be fairly raw.

If the Eagles pick Gaff then I won't be too disappointed since he's still likely going to be a Cross type accumulator but they really need to add some dangerous midfielders or else hope that one of the young blokes comes good. It's a tricky situation... do you look at the stats or do you pick the guy that will fit your needs but has a higher risk?

Jozz · November 18, 2010, 03:37:11 AM

I agree on masten he has been a massive letdown i know hes had injurys and such but still other early picks that havent preformed in my mind r

Weedon - we were crying out for a an extra small fwd this guy fits the bill top30pick FAIL

Swift,S.Selwood,ebert,m.brown,masten - allneed to show more

so far all above have been bad picks in my mind either coach or recurting ppl have dropped the ball

also think it was wrong to drop macnamara and cockie in recent years thought they showed something but neway hopefully the experts know what they r doin

popedelio · November 18, 2010, 03:57:24 AM

agree with you jozz but i reckon s.selwood pulled out pretty well this season and will improve again this season, and i believe ebert does well, just he cant dispose correctly, i actually know the guy and he is working hard coz he knows its his downside.

sorry elephants 4 pm perth time, not 3 pm, so dont get confused

but yes i will stick with my opinion with me wanting them to get polec over gaff, polec just seems more exciting in his highlights compared to gaff, who nillation said be more of cross power type of player that is boring, and we hope not that if we do get him and he sutterly lets us down like masten did.

i can already see the eagles improving on their game, with rookie promotions such as stevenson, which i am excited about because i thought he had the most efficient kick in the side and played well of the HB flank or wing.

Lads lets hope that the choices they make this draft will help the team and that the rookies start showing some consistent form, because they have shown the good side of there game, just not consistently, which happens to all young kids...seriously no one thought jack riewoldt would turn out the way he did this season, i thought he was retarded last season, now i think everyone agree he is such a big spark at richmond.

enough of my talk im excited to watch the draft tomorrow and im hoping they get polec.

Holz · November 18, 2010, 05:06:24 AM

Pity GC didnt come in next year, than you would have been able to pick up swallow. The entrance of the new teams over these 2 years, i blieive will sadly keep the bootom teams like the eagles there for a while.

browny_wce · November 18, 2010, 10:45:26 AM

yeh players like Swallow or Bennell wouldve been vital at West Coast,
then again we wouldve still probly gone for someone else, our recruiting the last few years hasnt really been that great
Ive only got one thing against Gaff (i actually really rate the kid), its the fact that we already have plenty of no-nonsense accumulators, as mentioned: Mastern, Ebert, Selwoods, Swift, Koby Stevens, etc.
we need some kids with spark, blistering pace and cheek, and exactly what was said, a Rioli or Ballantyne type, some one whos gonna take the game on like Kerr used to back in the day (not just slowly rack up 30+ touches that are "in-effective") we need...
GAMEBREAKERS!!!too many ordinary joes are the Eagles atm
hopefully then can give Stevenson, Houlihan, Weedon and/or Broome more of a run next year
again if Lynch, Hansen or Schofield get another run I'm gonna defect to Gold Coast!

ossie85 · November 18, 2010, 10:50:13 AM

I'd classify Daniel Kerr as a game-breaker. Given up on him?

browny_wce · November 18, 2010, 10:57:15 AM

Quote from: ossie85 on November 18, 2010, 10:50:13 AM

I'd classify Daniel Kerr as a game-breaker. Given up on him?

Nah I havent mate, but hard to dominate from the stands
someone to go with Kerr would be nice... think i mentioned that

nillation · November 18, 2010, 11:07:20 AM

I agree with McNamara. He took some great marks for someone of his size and was unlucky to be delisted.

As far as I know Houlihan has been delisted too which is also unlucky because he showed promise last year but couldn't get out there because of injuries this year. I'd like to see him picked up again as a rookie.

popedelio · November 18, 2010, 08:39:22 PM

Gaff, Darling and Lycett.
Not to suprised with first 2 picks but with Lycett coming to us I think that was a but lucky for us, i understand why they got a ruckman, you can't see coxy lasting and only having nic nat we'll struggle, so i thought it was a smart choice.
Other then that we didnt get many fast players, lets hope these kids prove their wroth