Resource 2024 AFL Draft discussion thread (Wed Nov 20 to Fri Nov 22)

[Crow till I die]

The jungle drums are certainly beating ams

That being said there’s still almost three weeks to go. The consensus from the media can change quickly as we get close.

If Draper is gone and Langford or Smith are there on the board, whom would you be taking?

 

[Hodgy]

Is the difference between Langford and Draper similar to Danger and Ebert?

Its going to have to be that big for us to overlook a quality SA mid for a Vic kid.

It’s the opposite actually. danger was a fast burst player with average rushed disposal, Langford is very slow but composed and a beautiful kick. Draper, Like Danger, is more that burst, speedy player with average kick, so the comparison would be Danger to Draper and Ebert to Langford.

Danger wasn’t a Hamish pick though, and I doubt he would have taken Dangerfield.

 

[Big Dub]

I think Welsh might struggle to catch either

Promise him a hamburger for every tackle laid. He'll catch them!

Just won't chase them for 2km to do it.

 

[rankine13]

It’s the opposite actually. danger was a fast burst player with average rushed disposal, Langford is very slow but composed and a beautiful kick. Draper, Like Danger, is more that burst, speedy player with average kick, so the comparison would be Danger to Draper and Ebert to Langford.

Danger wasn’t a Hamish pick though, and I doubt he would have taken Dangerfield.

Got a feeling if our pick is Draper or Langford we take langford

Suspect higher on our board with our list

Rankine Rachele playing more midfield time have speed to burn

While Langford not overly quick good decision maker damaging metres gained elite goal kicker great mark up forward so versatile

Based on that I think Langford ahead of Draper on hamishes list

Anyone think different ?

Just my view

 

[Big Dub]

Got a feeling if our pick is Draper or Langford we take langford

Suspect higher on our board with our list

Rankine Rachele playing more midfield time have speed to burn

While Langford not overly quick good decision maker damaging metres gained elite goal kicker great mark up forward so versatile

Based on that I think Langford ahead of Draper on hamishes list

Anyone think different ?

Just my view

I think Langford was all the talk when West Coast had pick 3 and were allegedly going to take Draper, leaving us with Smith or Langford.

Now that Carlton are at 3, we are hearing Draper.

I think that this makes it sound like we will take Draper if he is there, but Langford over Smith if not.

Or maybe we think Carlton will take Langford over Smith and Draper, but think that this is less likely.

 

[GameofSloanes]

I think Langford was all the talk when West Coast had pick 3 and were allegedly going to take Draper, leaving us with Smith or Langford.

Now that Carlton are at 3, we are hearing Draper.

I think that this makes it sound like we will take Draper if he is there, but Langford over Smith if not.

Or maybe we think Carlton will take Langford over Smith and Draper, but think that this is less likely.

It's hilarious that we are seen as being too slow with rankine and rachele in the team, and yet we are even considering taking a slow(er) player with pick 4 over a burst speed local talent. Burst speed is literally the thing we need most, and if you have 2 of them in the midfield (rankine and draper), opposition can likely only shut down 1 of them, so we retain this ability against tagging teams. Our current plodding midfielders get exposed every single time we play fast teams. Why would we not try to rectify this?

I'll be livid if we pick Langford ahead of any of Lalor, FOS, Draper or Smith.

 

[Cromulant]

It's hilarious that we are seen as being too slow with rankine and rachele in the team, and yet we are even considering taking a slow(er) player with pick 4 over a burst speed local talent. Burst speed is literally the thing we need most, and if you have 2 of them in the midfield (rankine and draper), opposition can likely only shut down 1 of them, so we retain this ability against tagging teams. Our current plodding midfielders get exposed every single time we play fast teams. Why would we not try to rectify this?

I'll be livid if we pick Langford ahead of any of Lalor, FOS, Draper or Smith.

Peatling isnt slow either.

You dont need all your mids to have breakaway speed.

 

[Crow till I die]

Peatling isnt slow either.

You dont need all your mids to have breakaway speed.

If they can football AND have breakaway speed, I am going that combo every day.

 

[Cromulant]

If they can football AND have breakaway speed, I am going that combo every day.

Of course, but it's rare.

As are tall midfielders who can go forward with good effectiveness. Langford is that.

 

[Crow till I die]

Of course, but it's rare.

As are tall midfielders who can go forward with good effectiveness. Langford is that.

We have Dawson and Curtin who are already in that boat - Curtin will gradually become a main mid imo. I'd rather this pick 4 to have express break away speed and be a good footballer - Draper fits that bill. If we are then not able to get him and Lalor and FOS are also off the board, I am going smith every day of the week as he really can football and doesn't stop.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

I do think people are underrating Jagga, he may be a victim of his own weight of possessions with the 'not damaging' label. No he doesn't run blindly through the stoppage and boot the ball as far as he can - he gets the ball, considers his best option for how to find a teammate and then finds them. His disposal efficiency was over 80% at the champs, that is wild for a guy who gets a ton of the ball and a lot of it in very tight spaces. Has Pendlebury like qualities with his composure in heavy traffic.

Got 50 touches in a Coates league game. His first game against men against a very good VFL team he got 31 touches inc. 18 contested. He's been durable, never plays a bad game and will play rd 1 next year. If he falls to us, we should not 2nd guess, thank our lucky stars and draft him.

Absolutely!

Would be stoked with Jagga if we missed out on Draper.

Either will be an awesome addition to our side.

 

[Mr MysteryGuest]

It’s the opposite actually. danger was a fast burst player with average rushed disposal, Langford is very slow but composed and a beautiful kick. Draper, Like Danger, is more that burst, speedy player with average kick, so the comparison would be Danger to Draper and Ebert to Langford.

Danger wasn’t a Hamish pick though, and I doubt he would have taken Dangerfield.

Hamish was scout in victoria when we draft Dangerfield, he definitely would have had a say in picking him.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

If Draper is gone and Langford or Smith are there on the board, whom would you be taking?

I would take Smith but worried we will take Langford.

What will be interesting is how we prioritise the 3.

I hope we are thinking Draper then Jagga for pick 4, based on who will likely be available.

 

[Mutineer]

Disappointing, related to our Doc Clarke is he not ?

Yep nephew from memory.

 

[Danger in Texas]

I would take Smith but worried we will take Langford.

What will be interesting is how we prioritise the 3.

I hope we are thinking Draper then Jagga for pick 4, based on who will likely be available.

Yeah this, I’d be okay with Jagga then Draper too

But the Langford rumours are definitely growing

 

[WeeBlake]

Have watched as much football as I can so thought I’d put this out there so people can make fun of me in a couple years time, got 2-8 extremely even where we will pick from


1. Sam Lalor
Gap
2. Jagga Smith
3. Tobie Travaglia
4. Finn O’Sullivan
5. Levi Ashcroft Brisbane
6. Leo Lombard GC
7. Sid Draper
8. Harvey Langford
Gap
9. Alix Tauru
10. Xavier Lindsay
11. Harvey Armstrong
12. Luke Trainor
Gap
13. Josh Smillie
14. Izak Kako
15. Joe Berry
16. Jobe Shanahan
17. Sam Marshall
18. Cooper Hynes
19. Ollie Hannaford
20. Bo Allen
21. Murphy Reid

Kudos to you for putting your cards on the table

 

[Crow till I die]

I would take Smith but worried we will take Langford.

What will be interesting is how we prioritise the 3.

I hope we are thinking Draper then Jagga for pick 4, based on who will likely be available.

To me, Langford in a lot of ways reminds me of Caldwell leading into the 2018 draft. I know he was injured but late in the piece there was talk that some sides inside the top 7 (we of course were just outside that magic top 7) may take him and one of the big 7 players may have slipped to us. Didn't happen as they top 7 clubs took the top 7 players...and I nearly fell over when we passed on Caldwell and took Jones.

This time we are in that so called top 4 and Langford has been lately spoken of as possibly breaking into that. I say play it with a straight bat and whoever from the top 4 is left at our pick - take them and don't get cute. If we want Langford, then trade down to 6 and get a future 2nd and take him them. DON'T use 4 on him IMO.

 

[Jeffcrowe]

Yeah this, I’d be okay with Jagga then Draper too

But the Langford rumours are definitely growing

You’ll love him one day I think , spoke to a recruiter at another club who has him top 3 but I get the speed concerns , just reckon he’s got so much more to help overcome the speed thing

Looking at stats from champs he averaged 7.5 score involvements and 2 direct score assists per game and he’s playing against some great mids in this years champs . Highest metres gained too ( unofficial stat ) so he has large impact on games

Still got Jagga and Draper ahead ( just )

 

[Jeffcrowe]

To me, Langford in a lot of ways reminds me of Caldwell leading into the 2018 draft. I know he was injured but late in the piece there was talk that some sides inside the top 7 (we of course were just outside that magic top 7) may take him and one of the big 7 players may have slipped to us. Didn't happen as they top 7 clubs took the top 7 players...and I nearly fell over when we passed on Caldwell and took Jones.

This time we are in that so called top 4 and Langford has been lately spoken of as possibly breaking into that. I say play it with a straight bat and whoever from the top 4 is left at our pick - take them and don't get cute. If we want Langford, then trade down to 6 and get a future 2nd and take him them. DON'T use 4 on him IMO.

I think some clubs have him top 5 and some top 3

 

[Jeffcrowe]

Peatling isnt slow either.

You dont need all your mids to have breakaway speed.

Rankine and Peatling give us express speed

I think we’d have Draper if he is available before Langford but can understand taking Langford if Draper is gone even though I’d go smith

With these top few picks I feel clubs will want the highest impact per possession players which might see smith slide

I just think smith is too good to ignore though and have him rated 2

 

[Danger in Texas]

You’ll love him one day I think , spoke to a recruiter at another club who has him top 3 but I get the speed concerns , just reckon he’s got so much more to help overcome the speed thing

Looking at stats from champs he averaged 7.5 score involvements and 2 direct score assists per game and he’s playing against some great mids in this years champs . Highest metres gained too ( unofficial stat ) so he has large impact on games

Still got Jagga and Draper ahead ( just )

I think he can be a good player in time, he has genuine AFL traits (marking, long kicking, composure, endurance). I’m just unsure if the ceiling on him is A or A+ grade like we need, as well as whether he can play in the middle at AFL level (wing I can see)

I kinda see where you’re coming from with the Dawson comparisons, but don’t think Langford has the same laser boot. How did Daws test for speed back in the day?

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

To me, Langford in a lot of ways reminds me of Caldwell leading into the 2018 draft. I know he was injured but late in the piece there was talk that some sides inside the top 7 (we of course were just outside that magic top 7) may take him and one of the big 7 players may have slipped to us. Didn't happen as they top 7 clubs took the top 7 players...and I nearly fell over when we passed on Caldwell and took Jones.

This time we are in that so called top 4 and Langford has been lately spoken of as possibly breaking into that. I say play it with a straight bat and whoever from the top 4 is left at our pick - take them and don't get cute. If we want Langford, then trade down to 6 and get a future 2nd and take him them. DON'T use 4 on him IMO.

We need to take a gun midfielder at #4- not trade down for next tier.

 

[Jeffcrowe]

I think he can be a good player in time, he has genuine AFL traits (marking, long kicking, composure, endurance). I’m just unsure if the ceiling on him is A or A+ grade like we need, as well as whether he can play in the middle at AFL level (wing I can see)

I kinda see where you’re coming from with the Dawson comparisons, but don’t think Langford has the same laser boot. How did Daws test for speed back in the day?

He’s got more natural ball winning and ground ball stuff / contested stuff than Dawson

Definitely less polish , way less

Not sure re testing but suspect similar

 

[Jeffcrowe]

We need to take a gun midfielder at #4- not trade down for next tier.

Correct .. not a year to get cute and fancy . Take the best mid on our board

 

[Big Dub]

We have Dawson and Curtin who are already in that boat - Curtin will gradually become a main mid imo. I'd rather this pick 4 to have express break away speed and be a good footballer - Draper fits that bill. If we are then not able to get him and Lalor and FOS are also off the board, I am going smith every day of the week as he really can football and doesn't stop.

I still don't know where I sit on Smith v Langford.

Smith gets a heap of it and hits his targets. Agile as any player and can get separation in a phone box. Never plays a bad game.

Langford won the carnival b&f over Smith and has improved more over this year than Smith (or just about anyone) and so likely keeps significantly improving. No breakaway spead, but really good on the outside. Super damaging. Never plays a bad game.

I hope we get Draper (as we won't get Lalor or FOS), but I could live with any of the big 5.