2024 Draft Thread.

[Mat Mann]

Draft Period, November 20–21

• Round 1 of the National Draft: Wednesday, November 20
• Round 2–end of the National Draft: Thursday, November 21
• Rookie Promotions: Thursday, November 21, after the National Draft
• Delisted Free Agency Period (3): Thursday, November 21, after the National Draft
• List Lodgement 3*: Friday, November 22, 10am (optional; required for those participating in the PSD)
• Pre-Season Draft: Friday, November 22, 3pm
• Rookie Draft: Friday, November 22, 3.20pm

 

[Barrels]

With Gross, Ough both available, there is still hope yet.

Ough is the same size as Smilie, but a full seven month younger than him, younger than Tauru and Travaglia, and only 3 days older than Levi Ashcroft…

Pulled a handy 21 disposals, 7 marks, 5 tackles, and 5 clearances up against the stacked Sandy midfield in the CTL Grand Final, despite a head knock in the third quarter.

I’d be delighted with him.

Edit: Just FWIW, was in the Vic Country side with Trav and the Viking too…

 

[gringo2011]

Based on our selections, one of the following must be bound for the midfield/wing sooner rather than later:

• NAS
• Hastie
• Travaglia
• Schoenmaker
• Hoffman.

Play Wood as a high half forward.

On Pixel 6a using BigFooty.com mobile app

Our best 22 midfield should have Steele, Macrae, Phillipou as the starting mids. Wood, Hill, Henry, Wilson on the outside wings/ f flanks and running HBs in Nas and Sinclair. Then have Dow, Garcia, Windhager, Clark and Jones in the reserves or bench.

Spots are going to be super tight if we don't have many injuries. Also would like to feed in Schoenmaker and Hastie a bit more off HB and a big bunch of new kids needing games.

 

[luca77]

Is Macrae a sugar hit or long term player helping develop youngsters?
I'd like to think it's the latter but we have had history doing the former

He's a Crouch replacement. The midfielder we need (and could get) now, to be competitive.

I don't think a sugar hit is the right term for giving ourselves a winning chance. Without that, we might lose or stunt players, and guys like LDU/Callaghan won't even consider us.

 

[gringo2011]

It must be just a newer generational thing - but Tobie Travaglia doesnt lack any confidence or self belief. I guess that is a good thing given we are constantly calling for alpha male types. Where as Tauru was the complete opposite humble and under stated.

I also notice Alix had a bit of a paunch when being interviewed, Im sure the club will soon work that off. Plenty of room for physical development with both kids, hopefully they arent allegic to the gym like other top 10 lads at the club.

I reckon we are a club with high standards now. That era of half arsed training looks like a relic now.

 

[gringo2011]

He's a Crouch replacement. The midfielder we need (and could get) now, to be competitive.

I don't think a sugar hit is the right term for giving ourselves a winning chance. Without that, we might lose or stunt players, and guys like LDU/Callaghan won't even consider us.

I call them bridging players. Guys that can come in and fill the gap until the next lot are ready to take over.

 

[Kildonan]

While we see the top 6 available picks as specialist midfielders, (in fact 8 of the top 10 picks in total), there is no guarantee that this is where all of them will play. This is an highly compromised draft due to the number of F/S and academy picks as well as the lop-sided distribution of picks to one club.

While we did miss out on obtaining one of the ready made top end mids, I look it as St Kilda gained THE TOP TWO PLAYERS IN THE DRAFT who were not specialist midfielders. Given the depth of this draft, most of which is not specialist midfielders, having the two best options in a spread of players this deep is remarkable.

 

[gringo2011]

Nothing like Sheezel.

The will day comparison is right… long bow comparison if EVERYTHING went right….

Dangerfield.

He reminds me of those mobile HBs from Geelong's golden generation. Moves well through traffic, marks above his height and plays a hard tackling brand of footy and then also has a turn of pace and mobility. He looks slick AF in the Metro Country match. Probably second best on ground behind Lindsay but played a much prettier brand.

 

[Joffaboy]

I’m suggesting a large factor in the selection was game plan, not absolutely best available, which to be fair the club publicly stated a few days ago. Best suited to the game plan of transitioning off half back. So in some ways, yes, I am suggesting that there is the potential of that.

You don’t need to be so patronizing of an alternative position, unless you want this forum to just be an echo chamber.

Wasn't trying to be patronising, however I have seen lists where everyone is a mid in the top 15 except the Saints like putting a label on a player makes them
1. An actual mid
2. Somehow better than the two players we selected.
So as I said I have seen Travaglia described as a mid on both the AFL app and Fox Footy. So is he a mid or not? And if not are any of the other on that list as a mid a mid or not?
Personally I don't think he is a pure mid yet, but to suggest as some have we should have taken a mid the recruiting team deemed to be a lesser talent than the two we selected is a very weird take.

Would have loved 2 of the top 6, I don't think anyone disagrees, but to somehow bash the club because they were unavailable and didn't take mids the club thought were lesser talents is a curious position to have in my view ( that is not pointed at you directly btw).

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[St Kilda Death]

I think “genuine mids” should be classified as: can they operate at the centre bounce and at stoppages.

As there is a craft to that.


Which is why every midfielder - and I classify wingmen here. Aren’t genuine mids.

They are versatile players who can play plenty of roles.

Fair call.
Travaglia looks to have a bit of craft about him to me.
Would it be worth the 2 players we got to get 1 smith or Draper?
That’s what it would have cost.
Im not sure they are that far ahead.
The top 6 hyped to the max but not elite.
Question marks over all of them.

 

[Armoooo]

Hypothetically, if Higgins didn't kick that goal would we have taken Langford and Smillie or Langford and Trav?

Personally I wouldn't have minded Langford and Tauru. Went cold on Smilie towards the end.

 

[stavro#4]

He reminds me of those mobile HBs from Geelong's golden generation. Moves well through traffic, marks above his height and plays a hard tackling brand of footy and then also has a turn of pace and mobility. He looks slick AF in the Metro Country match. Probably second best on ground behind Lindsay but played a much prettier brand.

I was more leaning into the fact he moves like a powerful leopard and should be able to go through traffic. Like Danger.

Those Geelong era half backs like Enright would tear you apart on the 45 angles and cut off passing lanes.

He looks a blue chip talent. It’s just the need for us isn’t there in my eyes. But if the club was happy to sit where it was. Let’s just take the talent and hope they work themselves out.

 

[TheJackal]

Ough is the same size as Smilie, but a full seven month younger than him, younger than Tauru and Travaglia, and only 3 days older than Levi Ashcroft…

Pulled a handy 21 disposals, 7 marks, 5 tackles, and 5 clearances up against the stacked Sandy midfield in the CTL Grand Final, despite a head knock in the third quarter.

I’d be delighted with him.

Due to previous services to the draft watchers community, I'll allow you to share my boy.

Everything you said mirrors my opinion. He showed in the second half of the year in the midfield that he can find it a lot and he has great quick hands. He always finds himself in the right spot, his late birthday/development has him with just as high of a ceiling as Smillie I reckon.

I liked him before this game, but that final at RSEA (vs Oakleigh I think) when he just took control of the game in the final 10 minutes (including kicking the game winning goal) was enough for me to be all in on him.

Conversely, FOS had two chances to win it for Oakleigh and butchered both chances. I'm not saying that he is better than FOS or anything - but the kid showed he can be a big game player.

If we draft Ough, then get Cole and Hofmann tonight for bugger all - then we've had a great night at the draft table.

Whether we try to trade back in I don't know, there's still talent like Shanahan and Boxshall there - but if we don't and just get Ough then we've killed it tonight.

 

[saintmike65]

The biggest thing I've learned in life is that talent only goes so far.

Getting the development program and training standards at the club to an elite level is far more important than loading up on the "top" players.

 

[Diehard Saint]

Perfectly acceptable view point right now.

Mission on Monday saying we want mids.

Steele pre draft last night saying he wants a mid next to him next year.

We didn’t do that.

Nothing to do with the players selected. Face value the club was clear this week alone what it wanted.

Pretty sure the club would have done all they can to try and get one using picks we had BUT without being totally irresponsible. They wouldn't have just sat back in hope. We would all have been ropeable to give up 7 and 8 for pick 2.
No doubt they would have offered one of them with a F1. The Dees and Blues really gave up a lot.

End of the day you also need a club willing to trade with you. We were basically hoping for a miracle with a mid slider. We all knew the likelihood of that happening was slim, so the hue and cry is ridiculous.

Tbh I'm very happy with our haul of T&T and not waking up a Norf or Bombers supporter after the trade/draft period they had.

 

[The Cobra]

Really like these boys - confident, almost a touch cocky!

We have an outstanding coaching panel - if these boys want to listen and do the work they are every chance!

 

[Joffaboy]

Woah slow down, you and Barrels said this was bullshit and group think prior to the draft.

That’s some impressive mental gymnastics.

The only gymnastics is you
throwing your toys out of the cot last night.
Always said there were plenty of mids but was settled weeks ago there we 6 top mids then the likes of Lindsay, Reid, Hotton, Travaglia etc.
Nice try champ. Go back crying into your beer sweet cheeks.

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[Barrels]

Due to previous services to the draft watchers community, I'll allow you to share my boy.

Settle down son…

 

[sauce_head]

Berry Kako Faull Oliver All not mids and taken in the first 20

Failed call. Few forwards as well.

 

[TheJackal]

Hypothetically, if Higgins didn't kick that goal would we have taken Langford and Smillie or Langford and Trav?

Personally I wouldn't have minded Langford and Tauru. Went cold on Smilie towards the end.

Would've been a great problem to have had. As Mr Platinum has alluded to from his sources, we probably wouldn't have gotten band 1 if we had pick 5. So the double pick may not have even been available to us. Would've had the same players who are available in round 2 and missed Armstrong by a pick.

If we did have 5 & 6, I'd say Langford & Smillie. However, we're now in front of Suns (Tigers) & Dees, so pick 6 and F1 for Pick 2 and FOS would've been in play.

Do you really want to go down that rabbit hole???

 

[Judd2Sewell]

Love Travaglia and Tauru, they are probably the two most exciting players to watch.

IMO Travaglia looks like a potential long-term dashing midfielder too.

 

[St Kilda Death]

Hypothetically, if Higgins didn't kick that goal would we have taken Langford and Smillie or Langford and Trav?

Personally I wouldn't have minded Langford and Tauru. Went cold on Smilie towards the end.

Hypothetically the afls secret herbs and spices wouldn’t have coughed up pick 6. They copped enough backlash for giving us 8.
Would have been end of first round so choose someone still undrafted as of now for the Langford pairing.

No Higgins goal, no flying Viking.

 

[sauce_head]

Wasn't trying to be patronising, however I have seen lists where everyone is a mid in the top 15 except the Saints like putting a label on a player makes them
1. An actual mid
2. Somehow better than the two players we selected.
So as I said I have seen Travaglia described as a mid on both the AFL app and Fox Footy. So is he a mid or not? And if not are any of the other on that list as a mid a mid or not?
Personally I don't think he is a pure mid yet, but to suggest as some have we should have taken a mid the recruiting team deemed to be a lesser talent than the two we selected is a very weird take.

Would have loved 2 of the top 6, I don't think anyone disagrees, but to somehow bash the club because they were unavailable and didn't take mids the club thought were lesser talents is a curious position to have in my view ( that is not pointed at you directly btw).

On SM-S908E using BigFooty.com mobile app

Fair enough. Not saying you are wrong at all, I just think game plan came into “best available”. The good part is that we will all be behind these kids and the club 100% once the season starts, and the kids already!

 

[Joffaboy]

You triggered angry ants do realise what a pisstake is don't you?

I was taking the piss based on everyones ability to become a draft expert and form an everlasting opinion based on watching two minutes of hand picked footage.

You have people, including myself, writing pages and pages of crap based on such a small sample set - then melt when they are selected by guys who watch them in person over a period of 4 or 5 years, interview them dozens of times, interview their schools, family, check if their beds made, etc etc.

Apologies for having a nuanced opinion, perhaps I keep it a bit simpler next time.

As a fellow track watcher, I may get more personal info from actually watching players but am still an absolute amateur like everyone here.
Everyone wants a genuine mid when the coach wants two way running transition. Macrae will help at the centre, and he, Steele and Clark are absolute ball pigs at stoppages.
Get it to the outside and we can outrin any team.

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[HeavenlySources]

Don't agree with the 'draft based on the game plan' model. What happens post-Lyon ? We have a new coach who comes in and wants to play a different way (higher emphasis on contested ball) and has a team full of outside runners..

 

[stavro#4]

Fair enough. Not saying you are wrong at all, I just think game plan came into “best available”. The good part is that we will all be behind these kids and the club 100% once the season starts, and the kids already!

The fact Travaglia was getting targeted by clubs as far back as GWS probably says it wasn’t just Game plan focused