Was it a win with the draft?

Magpietothemax · magpietothemax Joined: 28 Apr 2013

I am really happy with the orientation now, which seems to be to place the priority on strengthening the midfield. We have two great KP players in Travis, and Ben Reid, and I think we are developing the depth and capacity to play Jamie Elliott mostly in the forward line. Hawthorn and Port Adelaide are both benchmarks now, and both teams have many players who can play in any position which gives them enormous flexibility. Port adelaide has a team virtually of midfielders. I think that Buckley is heading in this direction by massively strengthening the midfield, thereby allowing unpredictable rotations across the ground. I really like these draft selections: I think they are in line with the current "best practice" model.
I think we are also anticipating the continued rapid improvement of Jarrod Witts, who has shown great potential as a second tall target in our forward line.

ronrat · Joined: 22 May 2006 Location: Thailand

I am very bullish about Maynard. Seems a pick and play kid.

Neil Appleby · Joined: 11 Feb 1998 Location: Melbourne

De Goey and Maynard may play in 2015 according to Hine so that means they are ready to go. Moore looks the pick of the crop to me, but will probably take longer; 2016/2017 should see him ready.

I'm still of the opinion that we are taking a big risk not recruiting a tall KPP. We are putting our faith in 2 blokes who can barely play a game between them in Reid and Brown. If they play to form in 2015 they'll spend a lot of time in the medical room and Frost, Keeffe and Langdon will have to repeat their brave performances of this year.

At the other end White was a fail, Karnezis couldn't play and Cloke played injured.The injury front would have to improve one would think, but our spine looks vulnerable. There were plenty of talls in this draft but we ignored them.

I've been pushing for big-bodied mids and now we have plenty; but unless lady luck smiles on Reid and Brown then we are in for far more pain with no replacements in the wings.

neil · Joined: 08 Sep 2005 Location: Queensland

^ Neil due to the TPP and list restrictions we will never be able to cover all scenarios. All recruiting decisions basically rob Peter to pay Paul.

All the clubs have the same problems unless they have a COLA/Player Retention Allowance and/or larger lists.

Or do a Carlscum and pay outside the TPP

yin-YANG · Joined: 03 Oct 2011

HAL · Posted: Sat Nov 29, 2014 8:25 am

If I am ever looking for them enormous flexibility are, I will ask him

thompsoc · Joined: 21 Sep 2009

Dr. Jinx · Joined: 21 Oct 2014

35forever · Posted: Sat Nov 29, 2014 3:57 pm

Well I wasn't overly thrilled with the way the cards fell, as we didn't get any of the players I was hoping we'd get. I'd have preferred LaVerde at 5, Boekhorst at 30 and Jack Lonie at 48, but unfortunately Carlton and StKilda jumped on the last two. The 'good' judges had those last two struggling to get picked at all, but I'm sure our interest in them fixed that. DeGoey is surely going to be an excellent player, especially if the last ten #5s are any indication, but I really wanted footballers rather than athletes this time.
Bloody Essendon must've thought it was xmas come early with LaVerde and Langford still sitting there for them to snaffle. That REALLY pissed me off! StKilda were probably the biggest winners, but of course we did well to get Moore at 9, but if Footscray weren't such bitchez we coulda used pick 30 on him, and had an extra top ten pick.

That said, I'm not at all concerned about KPPs, or a lack thereof, we currently have Cloke, White, Cox, Moore, Gault, & Witts and I think our big forwards will be Moore and Cox. I'm amazed at how well the Big Seppo is developing, could be a real bonus. Besides, we have the rookie draft still to come and another couple of Main drafts before Cloke retires.
Our midfield has got all kinds of wheels now with Pendles, Sidey, Swan, Greenwood, Degoey, Crisp, Adams, Freeman, Maynard, Sweeper, and even Karnezis, Blair, Marley, Armstrong, Thomas and BenKen to think about. If the future model is having 20 utility players we are definitely covered.
People are saying this or that guy won't be any good, but sides that make big leaps do so because they are working as a team and the whole unit makes big strides. Looking at how our boys are training really amazes me, the attitude and camaraderie we didn�t have last year seems to be all over the place now. I don't think its back at 2010-11 levels, but its certainly better than 2014, and no one wants to be left behind, the guys are supporting each other and a couple are looking huge.
We have several guys who know they have to perform this year, including Fas, Varcoe, Dasher, Sinclair and others, and they are getting support for their hard work. Levi is already something of a favourite I gather, and I'm really excited about what Crisp might become, he certainly has the skills.

My question is about the leadership, but with almost no players left who played with Bucks, we have a very young group keen to play for each other. I'm certainly more encouraged than I was at the end of 2014, and while I'm not predicting a minor premiership, if everything falls into place with the young guys I suspect a top four slot is a bit of a chance.
Obviously no one knows how the drafted kids will turn out, but the way the new blokes are being welcomed makes me feel like we might play as a team again. Nothing is more important.

The Boy Who Cried Wolf · Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2014 2:11 am

Would be interested to know how many top ten draft picks in the last 20 years or so have left immediately after their 'mandatory' initial draft contract was concluded for another club then the club who drafted them, and of these, how many left for the club they supported as a kid???

Piesnchess · piesnchess Joined: 09 Jun 2008

Moore, these kids, freeman, scharenberg, will all be a vital part of our next premiership team, circa 2016 !