McDonald beginning his career in the AFL as a Swan defender has a certain merit about it. He can become the third man up. He reads the ball well in the air. He becomes the receiver for the kick out from a behind, just like the role played by a lead up forward. It allows Dawson to play higher up the ground as a rebounder receiver. It also gives his body time to grow and fill out. I would prefer him to learn in our senior backline rather than spend a season in the forward line of the magoos. Putting him in the senior forward line as a KPF next season is high risk high reward. Would not want the young man to be torched because we were not patient in his early development. But if a prodigy...he could quite simply prosper, and we shall see those early signs in his playing down back too.
2021 - Best 22
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Bear31
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No. I reckon he is ready and willing. Sounds driven. He is a FF. Let him go. There are plenty of players around him that will guide him. When he is ready to go he will be ready to go in the forwards.
- Nov 11, 2012
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Imo McDonald will surprise a few
Year in the WAFL and what an awesome impact he had had set him up to make an impact straight away.
Just watch what senior footy already does to there development
Year in the WAFL and what an awesome impact he had had set him up to make an impact straight away.
Just watch what senior footy already does to there development
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McDonald as a skinny teenager can hardly be worse than what Sinclair or Reid would offer us
If he is ready to go, then FF is fine by me...although in the absence of Buddy, if Mac is good to go, then CHF is where we tend to breakdown and where we need him to ply his craft.If he can run all day, there will be few CHB's who will be able to keep up and so he is likely to get replacement CHB's - and they will be fresher, but they will also be second raters. We can hope. High risk but high reward. Gotta love it.
No chance draftees will be dropped straight into the first 22 round 1. Horse has a track record of making players earn it.
RobbieK
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Blakey was selected Round 1 in 2019. Florent was selected Round 1 in 2017. Hayward was selected Round 2 in 2017. Mills was selected in Round 1 2016. Papley was selected in Round 1 2016. Heeney was selected in Round 1 2015. So... not sure what track record you are thinking of.
There is every chance that one or both of McDonald and Campbell are lining up in Round 1 next season. McDonald in particular, he has been playing against men this year in the WAFL already and holding his own, I can definitely see him named.
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Papley says hi.
But you're right, it is rare.
RobbieK
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No, it isn't. 5 draftees have debuted in Rd 1 of their first season in the last 6 years, one more debuted Rd 2.
Jewelsbon
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I think that thinking is a holdover from 5/6 odd years ago when we only ever had late draft picks.
Wheresbuddy
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I'm backing Gould in to take Fox's spot as general defender to play on tall or small forwards. As indicated by KB, wasn't so much his fitness but learning our structure was what held him back in 2020. Another off season under his belt, he will be ready to go. Too much talent.
Also love to see Campbell off half back. He's the guy with the dash and vision to ignite things for us there. He could be our version of Whitfield, Johanneson, Saad, Rich, Williams etc.
Can't see how Logan McDonald doesn't play. He's actually pretty solid physically and his endurance is first rate, allowing him to push up the field to provide a target on the wing coming out of defence. He's also good when the ball hits the ground and will provide way more forward pressure than Reid or Buddy.
Also love to see Campbell off half back. He's the guy with the dash and vision to ignite things for us there. He could be our version of Whitfield, Johanneson, Saad, Rich, Williams etc.
Can't see how Logan McDonald doesn't play. He's actually pretty solid physically and his endurance is first rate, allowing him to push up the field to provide a target on the wing coming out of defence. He's also good when the ball hits the ground and will provide way more forward pressure than Reid or Buddy.
Kirkswan
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In one of his interviews he said that he had followed Kennedy's training regime. Said that one of WCs assistants gave it too him. Used it for the 2020 pre-season and credits that regime with giving him the confidence to trust his body and his skills to enable him to have such an impactful season in the WAFL.
If he's right, then perhaps body-wise he's a year in front of the other draftees...
Kirkswan
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I'd like to have an injury free pre-season...
2016: Round 1
2017: Round 1 (Injury list AFTER round 1)
Aliir Aliir (ankle) — 1 week
Dan Hannebery (calf) — available
Alex Johnson (groin/hip) — 1-2 weeks
Sam Naismith (knee) — season
Sam Reid (hamstring tightness) — test
Gary Rohan (personal reasons) — TBC
2018: Round 1
2019: Round 1
2020: Round 1
2016: Round 1
| Player | Injury | Estimated Return |
|---|---|---|
| Alex Johnson* | Knee | Season |
| Ben McGlynn | Hamstring | Test |
| Jarrad McVeigh | Knee | 1-2 weeks |
| Sam Reid | Hamstring | 1-2 weeks |
| Ted Richards | Calf | Test |
| Gary Rohan* | Hamstring | 3-5 weeks |
2017: Round 1 (Injury list AFTER round 1)
Aliir Aliir (ankle) — 1 week
Dan Hannebery (calf) — available
Alex Johnson (groin/hip) — 1-2 weeks
Sam Naismith (knee) — season
Sam Reid (hamstring tightness) — test
Gary Rohan (personal reasons) — TBC
2018: Round 1
| Player | Injury | Estimated Return |
|---|---|---|
| Aliir Aliir | Ankle | Test |
| Dan Hannebery | Calf | Test |
| Alex Johnson | Groin/hip | 2-3 weeks |
| Jarrad McVeigh | Calf | Test |
| Sam Naismith | Knee | Season |
| Kurt Tippett | Retired |
2019: Round 1
| Lance Franklin | Groin | Test |
| Matthew Ling | Toe | Indefinite |
| Jack Maibaum | Knee | Season |
| Daniel Menzel | Groin | 1-2 weeks |
| Sam Naismith | Knee | 4-6 weeks |
| Nick Smith | Illness / hamstring | 2-3 weeks |
| Durak Tucker | Knee | Indefinite |
2020: Round 1
| Robbie Fox | Ankle | Test |
| Lance Franklin | Knee | 2-3 weeks |
| Lewis Melican | Hamstring | 1-2 weeks |
| Sam Reid | Calf | Test |
that is a 22 that would be highly competitive. we were one or 2 quality players away from beating a lot of the good teams this year. I get the sense that we'll surprise many this year. good depth now in most parts of the ground, excluding inside midfielders.. i would like to see kennedy and parker spend more time rotating through the forwards and give the likes of rowbottom, blakey more responsibility in the midfield.
One thing for sure, we have a lot more dash around the wings now, we have some pretty speedy players who will take the game on - blakey, florent, mcinerney, campbell.. we may even lose the ugly duckling tag!
injury free pre-season will never happen but lets hope we have a healthy list and big buddy back in the fold this time. we have a genuinely exciting list - the season can't come around soon enough!
- Nov 11, 2012
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Imo we need 2 small pressure forwards minimum
Keep that ball in
Look at watch Richmond's smalls do even if some don't hit the score board
Castana looks like a dud but pressure wise
Keep that ball in
Look at watch Richmond's smalls do even if some don't hit the score board
Castana looks like a dud but pressure wise
I'm hoping the return of Heeney will allow Papley to stay forward a lot more
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I think I agree with this and hence have Wicks in my 22. But it really is a hard 22 to pick.
Self selecting....
Backs: Rampe Mills McCartin Lloyd
Mids:Naismith/Hickey Kennedy Parker Rowbottom
Forwards: Franklin Reid Heeney Papley
Utilities: Dawson Hayward Blakey
Then somehow from last year there’s: Florent McInerney Stephens Wicks O’Riordan Melican McLean Ling Fox Cunningham Sinclair who all have a good claim.
Then from the draft: McDonald Campbell Gulden.
14 into 7 spots.
- Nov 11, 2012
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Still need the 2 imo
I'd add Cunningham to the self selecting backs. 5th in the Skilton playing BP all season. Check out his work in the best tackles.
Reid probably OK
Naismith no chance so it's Hickey vs Sinkers. My money on Hickey.
Not so sure about Hayward.
Lots of people think McDonald will start. He was leading goalkicker in the WAFL Seniors.
I doubt Gulden will start but Campbell is a chance. So is Gould.
Nice problem to have.
St Kilda gave him more time and he still struggled to play.
Bonz
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Agree that we need two pressure forwards in our team.
But how about you take a pint at trying to make a best 22 for next season? With our youngsters it's actually a fair bit harder than you would expect.
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