List Mgmt. 2015 Draft Thread - Pre-Season & Rookie Draft Friday 11:00am AEDT

[Matt_19]

Ryan Clarke is one who I believe has flown under the radar completely. He was never really hyped up at all so whenever he enters current discussions most 'experts' construct nonexistent deficiencies in his game to justify a preconceived notion of his ability/value due to a lack of hype.

I rate him very highly and struggle to find any reasons for us not to take him with 12. Some will see it as a reach (a bit like Ellis last year), but in my opinion he is a very complete midfield prospect with a very impressive set of traits;
- good frame @ 186cm and 84kg
- ability to find the footy (29.75 ave. possessions in 12 TAC games)
- elite work rate and huge running base (>15 beep), something that is becoming increasingly important
- pace (runs a 3s 20m sprint) and ability to use it, regularly breaking lines
- balanced inside/outside game
- strength at the contest (I have found he is usually underrated in this respect)
- damaging outside game
- ability to kick goals from the midfield (18 in 12 games at TAC level), often on the run
- tackling (ave. 4.7 at TAC level) and defensive efforts

Oliver and Mathieson are both viable midfield options at our first pick, either of which I would be quite happy with, however Clarke is my pick of the three. FWIW, he reminds me a lot of Treloar.

 

[Bishop]

Ryan Clarke is one who I believe has flown under the radar completely. He was never really hyped up at all so whenever he enters current discussions most 'experts' construct nonexistent deficiencies in his game to justify a preconceived notion of his ability/value due to a lack of hype.

I rate him very highly and struggle to find any reasons for us not to take him with 12. Some will see it as a reach (a bit like Ellis last year), but in my opinion he is a very complete midfield prospect with a very impressive set of traits;
- good frame @ 186cm and 84kg
- ability to find the footy (29.75 ave. possessions in 12 TAC games)
- elite work rate and huge running base (>15 beep), something that is becoming increasingly important
- pace (runs a 3s 20m sprint) and ability to use it, regularly breaking lines
- balanced inside/outside game
- strength at the contest (I have found he is usually underrated in this respect)
- damaging outside game
- ability to kick goals from the midfield (18 in 12 games at TAC level), often on the run
- tackling (ave. 4.7 at TAC level) and defensive efforts

Oliver and Mathieson are both viable midfield options at our first pick, either of which I would be quite happy with, however Clarke is my pick of the three. FWIW, he reminds me a lot of Treloar.

Yeah if Clarke could kick the ball he'd be handy...

Kicking efficiency: 56.37% at the TAC Cup. His national champs were just as bad.

No thanks....

 

[Matt_19]

Yeah if Clarke could kick the ball he'd be handy...

Kicking efficiency: 56.37% at the TAC Cup. His national champs were just as bad.

No thanks....

Fair opinion.
Personally I don't believe KE is really an accurate reflection of a player's practical kicking skills, and I think that Clarke's footskills are actually quite good. Also, I don't believe our alternatives in Mathieson and Oliver are better kicks.

 

[_RT_]

Yeah if Clarke could kick the ball he'd be handy...

Kicking efficiency: 56.37% at the TAC Cup. His national champs were just as bad.

No thanks....

What are Clarkes contested possessions/clearance averages? Might justify the 'poor' kicking efficiency. Lets not forget that Cotchins kicking efficiency wouldn't be much better than that most of the time.

 

[Tomnat Tigers]

Sorry but using KE% to judge whether a draftee at U18 level is a good kick is pointless. Mainly because there are so many variables like wind, rain and incompetent teammates at U18 level that can impact a players percentages.

The only way to truly judge whether they're a good kick is to watch them and rather then see which targets they hit, see which targets they miss. If they miss easy targets generally speaking they will only ever be a horrible kick.

For what its worth Corey Ellis last year had 100 kicks, of those 100, 49 hit the target. Is anyone going to tell me Corey Ellis is poor kick of the football.

 

[THE_GUN]

We need to accept and value of good kickers and how important they are to our team, Turnovers have killed us on so many occasions in the past that im hoping that we have moved on from players that dont have 'ELITE" Disposal.

Im just sick of saying 'WTF'

 

[Frustrated Tiger]

Ryan Clarke is one who I believe has flown under the radar completely. He was never really hyped up at all so whenever he enters current discussions most 'experts' construct nonexistent deficiencies in his game to justify a preconceived notion of his ability/value due to a lack of hype.

I rate him very highly and struggle to find any reasons for us not to take him with 12. Some will see it as a reach (a bit like Ellis last year), but in my opinion he is a very complete midfield prospect with a very impressive set of traits;
- good frame @ 186cm and 84kg
- ability to find the footy (29.75 ave. possessions in 12 TAC games)
- elite work rate and huge running base (>15 beep), something that is becoming increasingly important
- pace (runs a 3s 20m sprint) and ability to use it, regularly breaking lines
- balanced inside/outside game
- strength at the contest (I have found he is usually underrated in this respect)
- damaging outside game
- ability to kick goals from the midfield (18 in 12 games at TAC level), often on the run
- tackling (ave. 4.7 at TAC level) and defensive efforts

Oliver and Mathieson are both viable midfield options at our first pick, either of which I would be quite happy with, however Clarke is my pick of the three. FWIW, he reminds me a lot of Treloar.

Does he have a poster of Deledio on his wall?

 

[Rubber Hips]

Really hoping we go for Ah Chee at 12

Fulfils a gap in our list as dynamite small forward ( that can also eventually play mid)
Ah Chee is a game changer....
Will be perfect at the feed off Ty Jack and Griff...our forward line will cause so much grief to opposition teams

And with Cellis, Menadue, Lennon and Drummond all ready for big 2016 and beyond with us, it's a no brainer to go with Ah Chee...

 

[Ancient Tiger]

Really hoping we go for Ah Chee at 12

Fulfils a gap in our list as dynamite small forward ( that can also eventually play mid)
Ah Chee is a game changer....
Will be perfect at the feed off Ty Jack and Griff...our forward line will cause so much grief to opposition teams

And with Cellis, Menadue, Lennon and Drummond all ready for big 2016 and beyond with us, it's a no brainer to go with Ah Chee...

Look I agree with you BUT what he is up against are the new interchange rules. These mean teams will not be picking specialist small forwards as frequently. Mids will rest up forward and forwards will be playing midfield in rotations more often.
He looks like a gold nugget that'll get polished into a jewel and if it was up to me I'd take him before most other choices around our pick. However the club may feel that another inside mid is more important and thus go for someone like Oliver or Mathieson.

 

[con undrum]

We are massive on Ryan Burton club has fitness program for him he has even been using the clubs gym will be our man if there at our pick

 

[Bishop]

What are Clarkes contested possessions/clearance averages? Might justify the 'poor' kicking efficiency. Lets not forget that Cotchins kicking efficiency wouldn't be much better than that most of the time.

Good question. I'll dig up R.Clarke, Mathieson & Oliver's stats later in the week- might be a good way to compare them.

 

[Ancient Tiger]

We are massive on Ryan Burton club has fitness program for him he has even been using the clubs gym will be our man if there at our pick

I watched the vid too.
Interesting that he has been at Punt Road Oval for his rehab though.

 

[con undrum]

I watched the vid too.
Interesting that he has been at Punt Road Oval for his rehab though.

There's a video where I'd love to watch it

 

[Ancient Tiger]

There's a video where I'd love to watch it

Sure......

http://www.afl.com.au/video/2015-11-04/going-places-ryan-burton

 

[Bobby Sands]

We are massive on Ryan Burton club has fitness program for him he has even been using the clubs gym will be our man if there at our pick

Gun. Tipped by many to go 1 prior to injury.

 

[Ancient Tiger]

Gun. Tipped by many to go 1 prior to injury.

Similar story to Stringer.....

 

[Bojangles17]

We are massive on Ryan Burton club has fitness program for him he has even been using the clubs gym will be our man if there at our pick

Interesting as his profile reads much like Ben Lennon, I'd reckon they're more likely to go either a clever small forward like ahchee or a hard at it inside mid such as Oliver. Lead up forward ain't a missing link for us

 

[Bishop]

We are massive on Ryan Burton club has fitness program for him he has even been using the clubs gym will be our man if there at our pick

Ty Vickery, Tom Lynch & a few others in the past have done rehab for their injuries (ACL in those two) at Punt Road because of our great medical staff & facilities. Geez would be a big risk for me if we took Burton, was a horrible injury but the kid can play. No doubt in my mind that he'd be top 3 in the draft if he played the whole year.

 

[ohhhBigMalcho]

Bonner and Oliver look like very good prospects, Bonner being your K Kolo type, his left foot is exquisite and has a good turn of pace whilst Oliver reminds of Vlaus crossed with Nathan Jones. Saw a bit of Ah Chee as well and he is another exciting prospect however he would take longer to come on and could be risky with the go home factor i feel

 

[Infamy]

Ty Vickery, Tom Lynch & a few others in the past have done rehab for their injuries (ACL in those two) at Punt Road because of our great medical staff & facilities. Geez would be a big risk for me if we took Burton, was a horrible injury but the kid can play. No doubt in my mind that he'd be top 3 in the draft if he played the whole year.

I take it he wouldn't slide to our 2nd pick?

 

[Ancient Tiger]

Ty Vickery, Tom Lynch & a few others in the past have done rehab for their injuries (ACL in those two) at Punt Road because of our great medical staff & facilities. Geez would be a big risk for me if we took Burton, was a horrible injury but the kid can play. No doubt in my mind that he'd be top 3 in the draft if he played the whole year.

Well Ty came to Richmond and Lynch was gone after we picked Conca who FJ was probably eyeing off. Might still be something in it.

 

[Bobby Sands]

I take it he wouldn't slide to our 2nd pick?

Nope. Nada. Notachance.

 

[THE_GUN]

Ty Vickery, Tom Lynch & a few others in the past have done rehab for their injuries (ACL in those two) at Punt Road because of our great medical staff & facilities. Geez would be a big risk for me if we took Burton, was a horrible injury but the kid can play. No doubt in my mind that he'd be top 3 in the draft if he played the whole year.

Wgat would be the risk ? If the injury was last year our medical staff would be all over it and would have intricate knowledge of his current condition.

If as you say he would be top 3 and we are confident with his injury concerns then its a no brainer

 

[Juke]

After viewing all the highlight vids, Oliver and Gresham look the standouts to me.

If Gresham was even 5 or 6 cm taller, he'd be a definite top 10 pick creeping up to top 5. Height is by far the most overrated midfielder attribute, especially in draftees that can play forward.

 

[RobsJourney]

So would everyone here walk away happy if we selected one of Oliver, Bonner, Gresham, Clarke, or Ah Chee?
Im not hugely keen on Ah Chee but any one of those would be very solid for us.