Review 2017 AFL National Draft - Friday 24th November

[shinboner magic]

We should trade

How would anyone know we're not trying to get additional picks?

Because Barrett the parrot said so

 

[Route57]

Was Wallet saying St.Kilda would most likely be into Stephenson? Expecting him to be top 5 and that he is also similar to a Kelly type? Should he be of high interest to us too?

 

[giantroo]

Was Wallet saying St.Kilda would most likely be into Stephenson? Expecting him to be top 5 and that he is also similar to a Kelly type? Should he be of high interest to us too?

He wont be going past 7 or 8.

 

[Route57]

He wont be going past 7 or 8.

You're right, he was saying they would potentially be trying to go higher up the order.

What do you think GR - in terms of the type five picks, who would we be hoping for?

 

[Snake_Baker]

He wont be going past 7 or 8.

It's a pity we don't know what Freo are thinking.

I would do the 7&8 trade with StK for 4&22, if they assured us they weren't interested in Stephenson.

 

[giantroo]

You're right, he was saying they would potentially be trying to go higher up the order.

What do you think GR - in terms of the type five picks, who would we be hoping for?

Here was my tweet back on Sep 11.

It's a pity we don't know what Freo are thinking.

I would do the 7&8 trade with StK for 4&22, if they assured us they weren't interested in Stephenson.

Word is they will go for a tall. Hayes, Allen, Naughton, Coffield, Constable, Brander are the names being dished around for picks 5 and 6.

 

[Snake_Baker]

Word is they will go for a tall. Hayes, Allen, Naughton, Coffield, Constable, Brander are the names being dished around for picks 5 and 6.

Hmmmmm. I would be VERY tempted if the 'aints came a knockin'

I can't see too many complaints if we strolled out of the draft with Stephenson & Brayshaw/Bonar/Coffield/Higgins in our shopping bag.

 

[Donkey Chop]

In Cam Joyce's words " we are going to aggressively hit the draft".

For mine, pick 4 and 22 is not enough to "aggressively hit the draft" - especially considering the shape of our current list.

Can someone please explain why we are not looking at getting additional picks in the top 30?

2 picks in the top 22 is not enough to rebuild.

He also said we would like to acquire more picks.

 

[Donkey Chop]

I’m also warming to Cerra. Our midfield is going to look very different over the coming years with Garner, McDonald, Cunners, Higgins, Dumont, Clarke, Mountford & Ahern, Simpkin, Williams on the outside and eventually we’ll add T. Thomas. With Ziebell playing more forward, it’s not the slow inside brigade we’ve been rolling with for a while.

 

[Donkey Chop]

On the other hand I wouldn’t be disappointed if we drafted Stephenson. With the high pressure game style at the moment, his pace, agility, tank and goal scoring ability could be perfect for the modern game.

 

[giantroo]

http://www.footyology.com.au/the-draft-bright-prospect-could-have-suns-shining-again/

The Draft – Bright prospect could have Suns shining again
Bede Briscomb


Trade period is a time when even poorly-performed AFL clubs can afford a little optimism about the season ahead. Well, most of them.

In the minds of many seasoned football observers, the prognosis for Gold Coast remains grim, even after the appointment of new coach Stuart Dew. Take, for example, the comments of Terry Wallace during the week.

“They have sold less hope than any other club in the AFL,” Wallace said.

“This game is brutal, and teams must be tough and strong to win their own footy and disciplined enough in the efforts and structure to pressure the opposition. The Gold Coast either don’t, or can’t, do that.”

With four-time best and fairest winner Gary Ablett set to leave the club, things could get even worse.

But there’s one kid in the upcoming AFL draft that can help the Suns, who have the No.2 pick, turn things around. Enter Luke Davies-Uniacke (pronounced u-nee-ack).

At 187 centimetres and 85 kilograms, the big-bodied midfielder averaged 24 disposals at 73% disposal efficiency, one goal, four marks and three tackles in the 2017 TAC Cup for Dandenong Stingrays.

And according to AFL Talent and Development Manager Kevin Sheehan, Davies-Uniacke is capable of doing that in an AFL senior environment right now.

“I’d bring it back to a game that was played at Etihad Stadium, where the Under 18s played against the VFL team Northern Blues,” Sheahan says.

“The kids played against a dozen or so AFL-listed players and Luke Davies-Uniacke was very good in that game. He showed his ball-winning ability out of the midfield, he set the play up and used it really, really well. He’s strong in the body, attacks the ball, is fearless and skilful.”

Davies-Uniacke has an excellent endurance base and covers the ground with a cruising speed akin to Scott Pendlebury. He may not have the silk of the Collingwood great yet (who does?) but he plays with a poised game sense that would suggest one day he might.

And perhaps the most tantalising aspect of the Dandenong Stingray is his potency as a goal kicker.

“I think I’ve modelled my game after Nat Fyfe,” Davies-Uniacke tells Footyology. “I like to go up forward and jump at the ball. I want to be that versatile kind of player.”

He’s also a complete midfielder – a rarity in this year’s draft class and, according to Wallace, on Gold Coast’s list.

“I’m always aiming to get the right balance of contested possessions and uncontested possessions,” Davies-Uniacke says.

“When I played against Eastern [Ranges] I had 33 touches and 21 contested, so that’s what I love seeing, just that good balance. And also just having a good mix of tackles and clearances.”

Many AFL scouts will tell you the intangibles of a footballer are just as important as the on-field attributes. Well, Davies-Uniacke ticks most boxes there, too.

Listening to the 18-year-old speak is like listening to a young Lenny Hayes: he emphasises respect in almost every interview he gives.

“My first priority will be to earn the respect [of teammates and coaches]”, Davies-Uniacke stressed at the AFL Draft Combine.

“It’s like [Rising Star winner] Andrew McGrath last year,” Sheehan tells Footyology. “He wants to start by earning respect. That’s a great starting point for any young man; a great mindset to have as you go into a club and try to earn your stripes.

With a handsome head on his shoulders, Davies-Uniacke is marketable.

He’s the type of rooster you slap on billboards and membership campaigns to get the turnstiles ticking over. For the AFL team that comfortably sits dead last in attendance, it’s all the more reason to draft him.

As a junior, people sometimes questioned Davies-Uniacke’s commitment to the game. “They say: ‘Do you love football? Is it what you really want to do’?” he told the AFL website’s Callum Twomey in July.

“And I say it definitely is. I always say that surfing is one of those laid-back things I do in my off time. I think there may be a perception I’m too laid back, but that’s just the lifestyle I live coming from Rye.”

The Suns face a lot of growing pains in the future, something that may heap stress on their young playing group, which is all the more reason to take a level-headed guy like Davies-Uniacke.

On paper, Gold Coast’s list isn’t a complete disaster, it’s just extremely young and light on midfielders.

Pick four in last year’s AFL draft Ben Ainsworth is a Jamie Elliot clone, silky runners Jack Martin and Kade Kolodjasnij will provide plenty of class, David Swallow, Aaron Hall and Jarryd Lyons are about to hit their prime, “two-metre” Peter Wright is a top five prospect under 22 and co-captains Tom Lynch and Steven May are both elite at their position.

The Suns will also get another pre-season into Jack Scrimshaw, Jack Bowes and Will Brodie, plus a few nice picks (or players) for Adam Saad and Ablett.

They also have Dew, a two-time premiership player known for his toughness and skill on the field and, as a coach, according to Gold Coast chief executive Mark Evans, an ability to “band [people] together to chase down success”.

That leadership in the box, in tandem with the future leadership of a prospect as good as Davies-Uniacke on the field, would certainly see Gold Coast start heading in the right direction.

 

[Wild Bill]

Stephenson foot skills have me really worried. Cerra would be my pick if Raynor, Dow and LDU are gone.

 

[shimaburnsgrieg]

How would anyone know we're not trying to get additional picks?

He also said we would like to acquire more picks.

I'm sure every club would like better picks - the issue is as we sit here in the bottom 4 of the ladder with a major rebuild ahead of us what are we doing to 'aggressively' improve our draft position and player list? It seems that we are happy to 'passively' watch matters unfold, take our turn in the order, hope we pick up a decent player or two and hope some players make some returns from serious injuries.

We had a real crack at some big fish pre draft but it appears not landing them has seen us go straight back into our shell.

 

[Thewlis Dish]

I'm sure every club would like better picks - the issue is as we sit here in the bottom 4 of the ladder with a major rebuild ahead of us what are we doing to 'aggressively' improve our draft position and player list? It seems that we are happy to 'passively' watch matters unfold, take our turn in the order, hope we pick up a decent player or two and hope some players make some returns from serious injuries.

We had a real crack at some big fish pre draft but it appears not landing them has seen us go straight back into our shell.

Are you saying this because you have inside knowledge or just because we haven't been linked to things in the media?

 

[shimaburnsgrieg]

Are you saying this because you have inside knowledge or just because we haven't been linked to things in the media?

Based on what the club told us via the podcast, us not being involved in the bigger trades so far and not wanting to be involved for players like shache.

We seem to like to use the term 'aggressive' but i just don't see it now - yes our pursuit of the big fish was aggressive/bold - but i think 'passive' best describes our approach now.

 

[remfan101]

He's one of the mature agers I'd be looking at, and I think a few will consider Kelly this year.

Strengths: Genuine goal kicking mid. Good pace. He's a ball winner at stoppages. Really clean at ground level and wins it at pace. Good tackler.

Weaknesses: Consistency - has his big games but also has his quieter games.

He reminds me top of mind, of Jaeger O'Meara. Has a similar dynamic game and hurt factor at times while still be sound as a ball winner and tackler.

I think Kelly goes national draft. He may feature around the 3rd round. Haven't heard anything on his draft range yet, but that's my best guess at this point. Could go anywhere.

Knightmare's thoughts on Tim Kelly. He has some seriously impressive highlights in the WAFL this year:

 

[Donkey Chop]

Based on what the club told us via the podcast, us not being involved in the bigger trades so far and not wanting to be involved for players like shache.

We seem to like to use the term 'aggressive' but i just don't see it now - yes our pursuit of the big fish was aggressive/bold - but i think 'passive' best describes our approach now.

What elite players do you think the we could target and convince to come join our rebuild?

 

[tiltraise]

We had a real crack at some big fish pre draft but it appears not landing them has seen us go straight back into our shell.

One reason we didnt make it all the way with the last rebuild is we didnt have enough elite talent. It appears we have learnt from this experience. We had our elite targets but failed to land them so we move onto value targets (if any) and save our bullets for next year.

 

[Jindrrk]

So can someone explain to me what happens with Hamish Brayshaw since he didnt nominate last year? Does that mean he goes into the pool this year, according he is nominating? Looks like his bro will go earlier than our pick, as will Constable and Bonar and I do like Hamish.

 

[tiltraise]

So can someone explain to me what happens with Hamish Brayshaw since he didnt nominate last year? Does that mean he goes into the pool this year, according he is nominating? Looks like his bro will go earlier than our pick, as will Constable and Bonar and I do like Hamish.

He nominated last year just wasnt selected. IIRC nominations last for 3 years thus he will be available.

 

[shimaburnsgrieg]

What elite players do you think the we could target and convince to come join our rebuild?

The more high value picks we have the better chance we have of snaring this elite talent - picks 4 and 20 odd this year and next is just not enough to replace the players we are losing let alone improve our position remotely close to the 8.

Hence the need for us to 'hit the draft aggressively' - the point that is being made is that we are talking about being aggressive but we are being the opposite of that - we have made a conscious decision to be passive.

 

[Groin guru]

If we are certain to get dow i would keep pick 4. If not get 7,8. It could allow us to get 2 of bonar, higgins, brayshaw, Stephenson. Get another pick in the 20's and get petrucelle (kid could be anything. Pace to burn and pure excitement).

 

[shintemaster]

Based on what the club told us via the podcast, us not being involved in the bigger trades so far and not wanting to be involved for players like shache.

We seem to like to use the term 'aggressive' but i just don't see it now - yes our pursuit of the big fish was aggressive/bold - but i think 'passive' best describes our approach now.

Yeah, call me naive but I'm pretty sure we're not going to advertise our entire strategy in a podcast.

 

[Passmore]

The more high value picks we have the better chance we have of snaring this elite talent - picks 4 and 20 odd this year and next is just not enough to replace the players we are losing let alone improve our position remotely close to the 8.

Hence the need for us to 'hit the draft aggressively' - the point that is being made is that we are talking about being aggressive but we are being the opposite of that - we have made a conscious decision to be passive.

I'd love to see us get another pick of 2 inside 20. Unfortunately I think we'd need to put Brown, Cunnington or Tarrant on the market.

Goldstein would have been the obvious one, but given his form over the last 18 months, the market may not be there.

 

[sootyfive]

I expect those who criticise the club for not being active enough with stuff like this are also the ones who think Thomas, Mullet, Swallow etc are going to get us more picks inside 30.

Heard that foxtel sport mentioned north and GC in disussion re andrew swallow joining his brother