Preview 2023 National Draft Preview Thread [currently: #2, #14 (PA), #19 (PP) #40, #52, #60]

[Better Loosen Up]

Depends what you consider elite?

The ability to cover ground per game (Hollands)

or

The ability to win the ball and then be damaging with it? (Wardlaw)


FWIW:

Wardlaw - 600
Tsatas - 680

Were their YoYo tests in pre-season last year.

So Reid is only slightly behind Wardlaw's pre-season YoYo tests.

Generally the insanely powerful types like Wardlaw and Reid don't have the tanks as well as the power.


I doubt Wardlaw will ever be better than just an average endurance runner, however I don't think that will prevent him from being one of the best midfielders in the game and even one of the most impactful defensively either.

It's much more important in the outside types and half forwards than the contested ball winners imo.

Reid plays in a number of positions to an elite level, I don't think his game will be endurance based anyway. The coach will park him in the goal square or behind the ball for periods of the game imo.

How many of these average endurance runners can you have before it becomes a team balance issue. Especially since the game seems to be heading in the endurance running direction?

 

[Sphynx]

I reckon GWS will 100% take O'Sullivan iv hes there for when ever they pick

And I think Caddy or Murphy goes to the Bombers. Given they are the anti-North and always seem to draft talls.

Geelong would like Darcy Wilson I reckon, but will take Caddy as well if there imo.

 

[Better Loosen Up]

You can see it with concern or you can see it as 's**t he's as good as he is with that sort of endurance base? Imagine when he builds it in a full-time AFL environment'.

I look at it the second way

Cunnington by his own admission never really managed to build his tank to the level it needed to be. I think it's one of those natural abilities people are born with. You can only build it to a certain extent.

 

[joegreen]

Cunnington by his own admission never really managed to build his tank to the level it needed to be. I think it's one of those natural abilities people are born with. You can only help it to a certain extent.

I actually think you can but you need a lot to go right, i.e., you need to be able to handle the high load endurance and speed endurance work, combined with the rigours of a contact sport. That is very hard to do.

You're right that without those natural abilities it is much harder and the niggling injuries along the way have a big impact on this type of fitness. But many people don't realise how much better they can be. There is a fitness wall/plateau that many hit and think that's it. If you really commit to an elite program you can push through that self imposed barrier (what I like to call it) and reach levels you didn't think possible. Of course this is all relative. Not saying you could have turned Cunners or Ziebs into Blicavs but they could have been far better runners than they were.

I've seen it happen enough times with different athletes.

So bringing that back to AFL - the practical reality is few ever can put in the work to do this so natural endurance and speed plays a big part.

So I guess you can only help to a certain extent but I think it has more to do with the limitations of training load due to the nature of the game and less to do with natural abilities. Again relatively speaking.

 

[pupstar]

I wouldn't be upset with Reid, Curtin and O'Sullivan.

But it's still the same scenario, trying to secure O'Sullivan without diluting the Curtin pick.

Maybe the only option is trading down and still trying to secure Watson.


As I said on a previous page. IF, the final draft whispers indicated O'Sullivan might get to GWS' pick at #8, I'd offer up our F1 for trade for their #8 and #10 picks.


Take Reid, Watson/Curtin, Sanders, O'Sullivan & Caddy/Murphy.

Do you think GWS would go for that though not sure i would. Be great if they did in saying that i am always weary about trading a future 1st round pick for a number of reasons.

 

[Better Loosen Up]

I actually think you can but you need a lot to go right, i.e., you need to be able to handle the high load endurance and speed endurance work, combined with the rigours of a contact sport. That is very hard to do.

You're right that without those natural abilities it is much harder and the niggling injuries along the way have a big impact on this type of fitness. But many people don't realise how much better they can be. There is a fitness wall/plateau that many hit and think that's it. If you really commit to an elite program you can push through that self imposed barrier (what I like to call it) and reach levels you didn't think possible. Of course this is all relative. Not saying you could have turned Cunners or Ziebs into Blicavs but they could have been far better runners than they were.

I've seen it happen enough times with different athletes.

So bringing that back to AFL - the practical reality is few ever can put in the work to do this so natural endurance and speed plays a big part.

So I guess you can only help to a certain extent but I think it has more to do with the limitations of training load due to the nature of the game and less to do with natural abilities. Again relatively speaking.

I'm just scarred from a whole decade or so of being burnt by opposition teams at stoppages as soon as they got the ball to the outside because we didn't have enough legs to go with them.

Especially since endurance running is already an identified weakness of our current team and the direction the game seems to be heading, why would we knowingly add to this problem when we have another option there to address it?

 

[Sphynx]

Do you think GWS would go for that though not sure i would. Be great if they did in saying that i am always weary about trading a future 1st round pick for a number of reasons.

Potentially Pick 8 and 10 for Pick 1 or Pick 2?

It's a reasonable deal.

From our perspective it would be the year to do it, because there's some talls at the back end of this years top 10, vs currently mids next year.

 

[Better Loosen Up]

Potentially Pick 8 and 10 for Pick 1 or Pick 2?

It's a reasonable deal.

Do GWS need to do a salary dump on Haynes or not?

If they do, could it be Pick 8 and Haynes for our F2?

 

[kangatragic]

Anyone else get "Neilson and Durdin" flashbacks after reading that?

 

[pupstar]

Potentially Pick 8 and 10 for Pick 1 or Pick 2?

It's a reasonable deal.

From our perspective it would be the year to do it, because there's some talls at the back end of this years top 10, vs currently mids next year.

Yeah its a fair deal for sure just think that they are feeling the same way us and can fill a couple of needs in one draft. Interesting times ahead.

 

[Colby Cheer Squad]

As we are eligible for a PP which should be after our 1st pick that would mean that we will have 1 Reid, 2 Curtin PP , 3 Watson/ McKercher "McKay compensation" and Sanders as our NGA pick....

I look into your immediate future and I see disappointment.

 

[Hojuman]

Anyone else get "Neilson and Durdin" flashbacks after reading that?

 

[Brewfish]

If we match , a trade will happen as he wants out of the joint !

I'm not sure we would trade him. I think this exercise may be as much as getting his market value as it is leaving (if it is correct that we haven't tabled an offer to him). If we turn down end-of-first-round and match then I'm not sure where a better offer will come from.

I think Brad Scott said they would be taking their picks to the draft. Sydney may be interested if he is willing to travel but would we settle for 12? Even if we did then it means we have #1, #12, Sanders and maybe some late picks.

Unless if someone does a three way with Gold Coast to get us #4 but I don't think GC need McKay.

 

[noobermensch]

Seems unlikely this kid will slide to the Port pick but you never know.

Darcy Wilson's Bushrangers squad found themselves on the wrong end of a hiding from the Stingrays, but Darcy himself managed to shine in spite of that. His typical elite work rate and running capacity were on display, and his disposal was mostly solid in spite of the pressure he and his teammates were under.

 

[giantroo]

View attachment received_200826306326631.mp4

 

[Ligma]

 

[hoffseason gains]

Personally I’m still not a massive fan of Dan Curtin. Whilst I appreciate his performances and adapting to multiple positions and competitions, I feel that some will expect him to come in and be a dominant number 1 or 2 key defender. I just don’t see that. He is a nice player, very natural footballer, silky skills and all the time in the world. But I don’t see the level of intercepting, athleticism or size that I’d want to pull the trigger on a defender with a pick 2.

I see a large spectrum for the results of Dan Curtin’s career. Henry Hustwaite was a player last year who divided opinions, wasn’t physically big enough to play key defence, wasn’t athletically gifted enough to be a pure midfielder, but an elite overall footballer. I see the exact traits that drew me to Hustwaite drawing me to Curtin when I watch him, but the exact same drawbacks. Hustwaite went at Pick 37. I think Curtin is overall a better prospect and has much better reps as a key defender and arguably as a midfielder too for WA - but I don’t see him as the number 2 (or 3 or 4, etc.) player in this draft. I thinks somewhere in the 5-10 mark is better suited for Curtin, and that’s okay, and also just my opinion.

 

[Better Loosen Up]

Personally I’m still not a massive fan of Dan Curtin. Whilst I appreciate his performances and adapting to multiple positions and competitions, I feel that some will expect him to come in and be a dominant number 1 or 2 key defender. I just don’t see that. He is a nice player, very natural footballer, silky skills and all the time in the world. But I don’t see the level of intercepting, athleticism or size that I’d want to pull the trigger on a defender with a pick 2.

I see a large spectrum for the results of Dan Curtin’s career. Henry Hustwaite was a player last year who divided opinions, wasn’t physically big enough to play key defence, wasn’t athletically gifted enough to be a pure midfielder, but an elite overall footballer. I see the exact traits that drew me to Hustwaite drawing me to Curtin when I watch him, but the exact same drawbacks. Hustwaite went at Pick 37. I think Curtin is overall a better prospect and has much better reps as a key defender and arguably as a midfielder too for WA - but I don’t see him as the number 2 (or 3 or 4, etc.) player in this draft. I thinks somewhere in the 5-10 mark is better suited for Curtin, and that’s okay, and also just my opinion.

Looks like a better tall midfielder to me from what i have seen of him.

 

[GoRoos2023]

Out of curiosity what you reckon is going to be the forum reaction if we win on the weekend?

 

[Sphynx]

Out of curiosity what you reckon is going to be the forum reaction if we win on the weekend?

 

[Brewfish]

Lol mate. Come on. It's not timing, they're reluctant because it is North Melbourne - if this was Collingwood, GWS or a bunch of other clubs struggling to beat an egg for 4 years they'd be falling over themselves to offer priority assistance.

Haha! I was referring to back when it was just automatic based on performance rather than up to someone's discretion since 2012. These are the START of first round priority picks handed out. Can you imagine the crying from the supporters of these teams if we were given a start of first round pick? They are already crying that we might be allowed to bid on our own academy player.

 

[FootySmartSimpson]

Yo-yo results:
Sanders 840
Mckercher 960
Reid 520

For context, a couple of elite runners from last year:
Sheezel 1040
O.Hollands 1080

We have been pantsed on the outside for way too long.

Sheezel was just about the only thing that half kept us in games with his guy running, defensive application and possession retention.

The other player is Scott who continues to present and do the fundamentals well.

Having three elite runners in our midfield would make a huge difference.

I feel we should trade 1 of the top 2 for another top 5 pick+ and get Kerch and Watson, while picking up an O’Sullivan or Caddy.

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

We simply don’t need any more poor endurance midfielders with the caveat of ‘wait till they’re in an AFL environment’.

 

[Better Loosen Up]

We simply don’t need any more poor endurance midfielders with the caveat of ‘wait till they’re in an AFL environment’.

Yep. It never plays out. People who make this call seem to completely ignore the fact that the other naturally gifted runners are also going to improve in an AFL environment. The gap only widens. We've seen it enough times for ourselves already.

No speed or no tank is a no go.

And if you can't kick, you can get suffed too!

 

[The Filth Wizard]

View attachment 1782569

I’d say we go back to where we were a week ago slightly stung for going the early crow.

The judgement day gif will be if we end up with band 2 for McKay.