Player Watch 2022 AFL National Draft Discussion - read the pinned post

[Strapping Young Lad]

National AFL draft Monday November 28(first round only).
All other selections to be held on Tuesday November 29.
The pre-season and rookie drafts will then take place at 3pm (AEST) on Wednesday November 30.

 

[Blackhawk42]

Took him for us in a Bigfooty phantom. Love him.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

Nailed it.
We need ball winners right now, who are ferocious at the contest. We can't have Wardlaw, so Clark is next in line.

I think back to the Dees. They chose the polish of Toumpas, over the grunt of Wines. They were the worst contested footy side in the history of the game. And passed on Wines. Set em back years - until they picked up Oliver, Trac and Brayshaw.

Must nail these picks based on weakness at the time. Our midfield, Newk aside, is flimsy at best.

We’ve got Worpel, Newk, Ward, Nash, Stephens and Finn as inside types, so I don’t see the necessity for more over class, and elite talent.

Tsatas, Humper and Poo would be higher on the list of needs and “best available” for mine.

 

[HODGEYROAD]

Sheezel will be a Hawk in his career

Bank.

I suppose we can lock this one in like Whitfield a couple of years ago.

 

[RIOLINWITPUNCHS]

Twomey says we are currently putting more work into Clark.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

Twomey says we are currently putting more work into Clark.

We’d be negligent not to.

This way, even if we like someone else more the Cats might feel like they need to trade up to get him, and we profit.

Imagine if they love him so much that they offer their Pick 7 and future 1st for 6 and our future 2nd. We have to show interest in him.

 

[BIGHAWK23]

I suppose we can lock this one in like Whitfield a couple of years ago.

Mine is more of a commentary on how shit Norf is and the theory that nothing at North lasts except for their want to be recognized as a shin bone

 

[KermitJagger]

We’ve got Worpel, Newk, Ward, Nash, Stephens and Finn as inside types, so I don’t see the necessity for more over class, and elite talent.

Tsatas, Humper and Poo would be higher on the list of needs and “best available” for mine.

Don't agree with what you're saying here. Ward and Newc are more outside than inside, or at least have greater impact there, and Worpel, Stephens and Finn are still speculative as inside midfielders. I see Ward as being more along the lines of Gaff, and Newc being along the lines of a Petracca / Martin type who are both at their best when attacking and not necessarily stuck at the bottom of packs. Worpel might yet recapture some form but even at his best he still struggled with his awareness and going to ground in contests, and we can't be relying on that sort of player.

At the very least I'd be hoping for someone who really specialises inside, in close, but still has reliable foot skills. Clark is going to be the best player available at our pick for those qualities, and probably the player with the least bust potential. Having worse players at a particular skillset isn't an argument against drafting a (potentially) much better player with the same skillset.

 

[Davo-27]

As far as talent from what I've seen over 2 years of underage footy with this crop of youngsters, it seems like this is where we are at heading into the draft

Top 4 clear best talent - Ashcroft, Wardlaw, Sheezel, Cadman, if these aren't the top 4 talents picked then the recruiters that make that error should be fired, pretty simple

Next group of talent which is where our pick lands is very even

Mackenzie, Phillipou, Clark, Tsatas, Ginbey, Humphrey, Busslinger, Hayes (Hewett, Hollands and Hotton are a bit stiff missing out)

I would prefer we go Mackenzie because from all the games I have watched over the years he has been the most consistent match winner, but I don't mind Phillipou who has star qualities even though he has the "I'm the greatest human to ever live" attitude that could be an issue, Tsatas gets a heap of it and is a runner, Clark is a great mark and in and under player, Ginbey is a great athlete and contested beast, Humphrey is a powerful first receiver mid and a inconsistent poor goal accuracy forward, Busslinger and Hayes are good counter attacking interceptor KPDs

 

[Davo-27]

Don't agree with what you're saying here. Ward and Newc are more outside than inside, or at least have greater impact there, and Worpel, Stephens and Finn are still speculative as inside midfielders. I see Ward as being more along the lines of Gaff, and Newc being along the lines of a Petracca / Martin type who are both at their best when attacking and not necessarily stuck at the bottom of packs. Worpel might yet recapture some form but even at his best he still struggled with his awareness and going to ground in contests, and we can't be relying on that sort of player.

At the very least I'd be hoping for someone who really specialises inside, in close, but still has reliable foot skills. Clark is going to be the best player available at our pick for those qualities, and probably the player with the least bust potential. Having worse players at a particular skillset isn't an argument against drafting a (potentially) much better player with the same skillset.

Ward and Newc are more outside first receivers, in fact Ward was a winger who has only recently taken up the inside mid position which he has had good success in those roles out playing Daicos when they both played inside mid for VM and looking comfortable in the AFL aside from a few big hits he copped in his 1st season.

Although I am curious if we get Ely Smith who was delisted by Brisbane to train with us and see if he can fulfill the in and under midfielder position?

 

[KermitJagger]

Ward and Newc are more outside first receivers, in fact Ward was a winger who has only recently taken up the inside mid position which he has had good success in those roles out playing Daicos when they both played inside mid for VM and looking comfortable in the AFL aside from a few big hits he copped in his 1st season.

Yeah, I think it would be a waste to have someone with the endurance and athletic talent of Ward on the bottom of packs.

Newcombe on the other hand can be so damaging and so strong exploding away from contests. It would be better for him as a player to have someone like Clark to take the Cotchin / Selwood role of digging the ball out of the contest and getting it in his hands.

 

[burner1]

Nailed it.
We need ball winners right now, who are ferocious at the contest. We can't have Wardlaw, so Clark is next in line.

I think back to the Dees. They chose the polish of Toumpas, over the grunt of Wines. They were the worst contested footy side in the history of the game. And passed on Wines. Set em back years - until they picked up Oliver, Trac and Brayshaw.

Must nail these picks based on weakness at the time. Our midfield, Newk aside, is flimsy at best.

If you’re purely looking for an inside beast - is ginbey a better prospect than clark? Clark may be a better decision maker and more footy smarts but if you’re looking for pure power, hardness and grunt ginbey has to be ahead.

 

[KermitJagger]

If you’re purely looking for an inside beast - is ginbey a better prospect than clark? Clark may be a better decision maker and more footy smarts but if you’re looking for pure power, hardness and grunt ginbey has to be ahead.

You still want a player who has balance to their game. I'd take decision making and footy smarts ahead of pretty much every other available quality.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

Don't agree with what you're saying here. Ward and Newc are more outside than inside, or at least have greater impact there, and Worpel, Stephens and Finn are still speculative as inside midfielders. I see Ward as being more along the lines of Gaff, and Newc being along the lines of a Petracca / Martin type who are both at their best when attacking and not necessarily stuck at the bottom of packs. Worpel might yet recapture some form but even at his best he still struggled with his awareness and going to ground in contests, and we can't be relying on that sort of player.

At the very least I'd be hoping for someone who really specialises inside, in close, but still has reliable foot skills. Clark is going to be the best player available at our pick for those qualities, and probably the player with the least bust potential. Having worse players at a particular skillset isn't an argument against drafting a (potentially) much better player with the same skillset.

I don’t think you overlook elite talent for specific roles inside the top 10.

If what you say is true and we need an another inside player, but really we need a clearance specialist, of which Tsatas, Humphrey and Phillipou could all prove to be.

 

[Davo-27]

Yeah, I think it would be a waste to have someone with the endurance and athletic talent of Ward on the bottom of packs.

Newcombe on the other hand can be so damaging and so strong exploding away from contests. It would be better for him as a player to have someone like Clark to take the Cotchin / Selwood role of digging the ball out of the contest and getting it in his hands.

If Worpel can't fill that role, also Stephens is more run and gun like Newc, so we might look at Clark or even maybe Ely Smith delisted by Brisbane as an option? Not as sure on Ely Smith but he was good as a junior and people were positive about him at Brisbane so could be a diamond in the rough?

But I would still prefer those more damaging midfielders.

 

[KermitJagger]

I don’t think you overlook elite talent for specific roles inside the top 10.

If what you say is true and we need an another inside player, but really we need a clearance specialist, of which Tsatas, Humphrey and Phillipou could all prove to be.

I'll be optimistic regardless of who we take, but probably happiest with Tsatas, Clark or McKenzie mostly. Tsatas because he genuinely is more talented, despite having maybe some attitude issues, with Clark and McKenzie being the most balanced inside / outside players that I can see playing 200+ games. They all have elite talent, but what do you value?

Humphrey strikes me as the type of player who may never graduate into a midfield role, which is a concern with his goal kicking, and Phillipou could be a star but it seems other clubs recognise it and he's probably going to be gone.

 

[bigmaxi]

I'm still trying to figure out who the 2022 Ned Long could be. The player rated around the 25-40 mark who ends up almost missing out completely. Was stoked when we picked him up in the rookie draft.

Really excited to see next year, him and tank, I have in my Santa wish list that they really step up '23 to be 22.

 

[Baz_hawk]

Just me or does he look like Tom Mitchell with long hair?

 

[bigmaxi]

Will I be super surprised if we take 5 players in the draft, loaded with picks to move up but........?

 

[TylerDurden]

Twomey says we are currently putting more work into Clark.

Jungle drums are beating louder now.

 

[Ned Ryerson]

Clark comes with the benefits of him being compared to midfielders who you'd have go into battle for you any day of the week in Sewell and Selwood (let's forget the ducking and presume the kid won't do that). He comes with the fringe benefit of irking Cats folk who are wedded to the idea of getting him.

 

[Teamwork Talks]

I heard Sam Mitchell say that with such a young team we needed to recruit self starters of high work ethic and good character to lead the others.
From what I gather Clark is that type of player.

 

[Gollum]

You still want a player who has balance to their game. I'd take decision making and footy smarts ahead of pretty much every other available quality.

But then don't you think McKenzie would suit decision making and footy smarts a bit better than Clark? Clark just seems to be consistently good at most things but the trait which puts him apart is his leadership. I think we're better off looking at someone who has bigger weapons in the top 10, and fix the in and under part later with D'Aloia later, if we don't think any of our other mids can play in and under.

 

[KermitJagger]

But then don't you think McKenzie would suit decision making and footy smarts a bit better than Clark? Clark just seems to be consistently good at most things but the trait which puts him apart is his leadership. I think we're better off looking at someone who has bigger weapons in the top 10, and fix the in and under part later with D'Aloia later, if we don't think any of our other mids can play in and under.

No, not really.

 

[cryptor]

Just me or does he look like Tom Mitchell with long hair?

Looks more like Mitchell than he does Sicily.

 

[Blackhawk42]

Ward and Newc are more outside first receivers, in fact Ward was a winger who has only recently taken up the inside mid position which he has had good success in those roles out playing Daicos when they both played inside mid for VM and looking comfortable in the AFL aside from a few big hits he copped in his 1st season.

Although I am curious if we get Ely Smith who was delisted by Brisbane to train with us and see if he can fulfill the in and under midfielder position?

Ely signed with a SANFL club before the DFA period had even finished. Not sure he had the desire to play at the top level.