2024 Draft Thread.

[Mat Mann]

 

[MOLTEN GANGLANDS]

Or he’s another Luke Dunstan

does he have a big ego and a killer loopy helicopter punt? an ability to turn it over at inopportune times? does he spread like frozen butter? I don't think he's like dunstan, his bust profile would be more josh caddy or matt kennedy

 

[ScrappyDo]

Langford showed he is a very good aerobic runner in the 2km trial finishing in the top 10. His 20 metre sprint times werent great, but by comparison they were no different to Cripps or Bontempelli in their draft years. It would be interesting to see what Langford's top speed is like as he doesnt seem to struggle running opponents down or getting separation on his opponents when leading during games. He is not a burst player speed wise, but his grunt and willingness to win the ball put him ahead of others. In reality he was only a 0.15 of a second slower than Smillie, I dont think you can write him off on that.

Ive said it before but his competiveness reminds me of a Josh Dunkley, with Langford being a bit stronger over head. I would be happy with either Langford or Smillie but I dont think we need both big bodied midfielders.

I'm basically of the same view. Though l lean (not heavily) toward Smillie as he can just become a battering ram if he doesn't develop into a high level player. Looking at balance with Pou, Windy, Hugo it seems a better fit imo.

 

[SteeleSaints]

I'm basically of the same view. Though l lean (not heavily) toward Smillie as he can just become a battering ram if he doesn't develop into a high level player. Looking at balance with Pou, Windy, Hugo it seems a better fit imo.

I agree. I have come around to the thinking that Smillie might be a safer pick and have a greater upside. Its great to be able to be having these discussions though!

 

[HeavenlySources]

I agree. I have come around to the thinking that Smillie might be a safer pick and have a greater upside.

Early in the year prior to the champs he was pretty well locked in at number 1. He bounced back after his underwhelming performance and looked good to finish the year. Decent combine result for his size. If we can learn to use his size and leap in marking contests he will be a weapon.

 

[akaifu]

Langford showed he is a very good aerobic runner in the 2km trial finishing in the top 10. His 20 metre sprint times werent great, but by comparison they were no different to Cripps or Bontempelli in their draft years. It would be interesting to see what Langford's top speed is like as he doesnt seem to struggle running opponents down or getting separation on his opponents when leading during games. He is not a burst player speed wise, but his grunt and willingness to win the ball put him ahead of others. In reality he was only a 0.15 of a second slower than Smillie, I dont think you can write him off on that.

Ive said it before but his competiveness reminds me of a Josh Dunkley, with Langford being a bit stronger over head. I would be happy with either Langford or Smillie but I dont think we need both big bodied midfielders. It might be that RTB is wanting raw burst speed in the new mids if thats the case we might over look both.

I’m still taking Smillie over him purely because Smillie has a clear specialisation and role at AFL level

Hard to read where Langford plays his footy, a bit slow for midfield and isn’t an absolute contested beast so does he get pushed out to a wing to leverage his aerobic running? Or half forward as another marking target. Plays a LOT like Mason Wood with a bit more midfield craft

Not ruling out midfield, he could certainly succeed there, but just think Smillie is more likely to be the guy we need going forward as the inside beast to feed the ball out to Pou, Wilson, Henry etc

 

[Tommy Wigs]

quick update:
we had a long interview with Dattoli last week. Good to see the team doing due diligence on all potential prospects.

Like him. Clever AF

 

[akaifu]

quick update:
we had a long interview with Dattoli last week. Good to see the team doing due diligence on all potential prospects.

Heard Cal Twomey say a few weeks ago that Dattoli has arguably the highest footy IQ in the crop

Feel like he has a high floor but low upside in comparison to others

 

[Dr Spaceman]

Or he’s another Luke Dunstan

Does he have Dunstan’s renowned accuracy?

We really need to nail our selections!

 

[Tommy Wigs]

The Demons know we're not a real threat to take Armstrong. King, Sharman, Caminiti, even Membrey if he stays are all our tall forward options. Not to mention Ro pushing forward after we trade for Soldo. The Dees will know there's no list need for us to draft Armstrong at 7/8/9, we need mids and we'll pick at least two, then probably a versatile mid/defender or a key defender as the third.

However, I did completely forget that Richmond will have pick 10 after the Bolton trade, and Armstrong seems a pretty good target for Richmond, as they'll get two excellent mids at 1 and 6 and their tall forward options are grim.

There's a lot to play out, but we can only cross our fingers and hope 1) Melbourne don't get pick 11 and 2) they rate Armstrong highly and want to reach a bit instead of taking a mid

Marshall, Soldo and Membrey are no spring chickens. Hammer may go back as hinted. That creates the space for Armstrong. If we had 7,8,9 we should be taking a tall. We will have very few other picks this year and next.

 

[Tommy Wigs]

Two things we’ve lacked for a long time is leadership and alpha.

 

[MOLTEN GANGLANDS]

Two things we’ve lacked for a long time is leadership and alpha.

I hear what you're saying, but I didn't nominate this year sorry

 

[Ads734]

To be a mid you genreally need to have a way to get in an out of stoppages, or be really really strong ie cripps, where you can break through and handball. If not you usually won't make it. The best mids are usually a comibination of 1/2

In and out of stoppges (Mids)

• Hunter Clark
• Pendlebury
• Daicos
• Gouldon

Burst Through

• Dangerfield
• Andrew Brayshaw
• Trac
• Warner

Strength mids

• Steele
• Cripps
• Oliver

Looking at the top line of mids

Smith - In and out
Levi Ashcroft In and out
Osullivan - In and out
Reid - In and out
Smilie - Burst
Lalor - Burst
Draper - Burst
Travaglia - In and out
Allen - Strength

My concern with Langford is I don't think he fits in any of these very well. Now does that mean that all these other guys will be great and Langford won't. Of course not. It just reminds me a bit of Aiden Bonnar.

 

[RWB4life]

To be a mid you genreally need to have a way to get in an out of stoppages, or be really really strong ie cripps, where you can break through and handball. If not you usually won't make it. The best mids are usually a comibination of 1/2

In and out of stoppges (Mids)

• Hunter Clark
• Pendlebury
• Daicos
• Gouldon

Burst Through

• Dangerfield
• Andrew Brayshaw
• Trac
• Warner

Strength mids

• Steele
• Cripps
• Oliver

Looking at the top line of mids

Smith - In and out
Levi Ashcroft In and out
Osullivan - In and out
Reid - In and out
Smilie - Burst
Lalor - Burst
Draper - Burst
Travaglia - In and out
Allen - Strength

My concern with Langford is I don't think he fits in any of these very well. Now does that mean that all these other guys will be great and Langford won't. Of course not. It just reminds me a bit of Aiden Bonnar.

Just noting you didn't list bont. Not saying Langford will be him but you've listed the best mids of each type and left off arguably the best player and midfielder of the last few years. I can see Langford being a bit in and out and Strength long term. Combined with really high aerobic ability he could turn into an elite mid.

 

[Tommy Wigs]

Just noting you didn't list bont. Not saying Langford will be him but you've listed the best mids of each type and left off arguably the best player and midfielder of the last few years. I can see Langford being a bit in and out and Strength long term. Combined with really high aerobic ability he could turn into an elite mid.

Langford could absolutely be excellent but he just doesn’t have that class (tbf no one has the combo of Bont traits!).

 

[Remboy]

There is no way Essendon can trade-up into the top of this draft. They don’t have the draft capital.

Surely Gresham and their first would get it done?

 

[Dr Spaceman]

Surely Gresham and their first would get it done?

Well that would surely raise a few eyebrows!

 

[Ads734]

Just noting you didn't list bont. Not saying Langford will be him but you've listed the best mids of each type and left off arguably the best player and midfielder of the last few years. I can see Langford being a bit in and out and Strength long term. Combined with really high aerobic ability he could turn into an elite mid.

Very fair I should mention Bont as being a burst strength type.
I just don’t know if Langford has the kind of separation.

 

[akaifu]

Just noting you didn't list bont. Not saying Langford will be him but you've listed the best mids of each type and left off arguably the best player and midfielder of the last few years. I can see Langford being a bit in and out and Strength long term. Combined with really high aerobic ability he could turn into an elite mid.

Bont is incredibly clean and skillful

Can’t say the same about Langford - he needs to be elite in those areas to be considered a similar ‘type’ to Bont

I’ve said this all year, Langford doesn’t have a standout trait that indicates he’ll succeed in the midfield. He’s great overhead and has elite running capacity. That sounds like a Mason Wood-type winger to me

 

[Joffaboy]

I hear what you're saying, but I didn't nominate this year sorry

 

[The Jack]

There's no way in the world Melbourne don't draft a midfielder with 5.

Viney -
Brayshaw - gone
Jordon - gone
Hunter - gone
Neal-Bullen - gone
Sparrow - Average at best
Petracca - ?
Oliver - ?
Dunstan - gone

 

[akaifu]

There's no way in the world Melbourne don't draft a midfielder with 5.

Viney -
Brayshaw - gone
Jordon - gone
Hunter - gone
Neal-Bullen - gone
Sparrow - Average at best
Petracca - ?
Oliver - ?
Dunstan - gone

Murphy Reid or Harvey Langford hopefully

 

[kyrgios]

There's no way in the world Melbourne don't draft a midfielder with 5.

Viney -
Brayshaw - gone
Jordon - gone
Hunter - gone
Neal-Bullen - gone
Sparrow - Average at best
Petracca - ?
Oliver - ?
Dunstan - gone

is there any way we can trade for their future first? It could be pick one next year.

 

[From 45]

There's no way in the world Melbourne don't draft a midfielder with 5.

Viney -
Brayshaw - gone
Jordon - gone
Hunter - gone
Neal-Bullen - gone
Sparrow - Average at best
Petracca - ?
Oliver - ?
Dunstan - gone

Melbourne will draft the best player available not on need. They may well draft a mid if they see that player as best available at their pick or they may go with a tall

 

[triggering bro]

There's no way in the world Melbourne don't draft a midfielder with 5.

Viney -
Brayshaw - gone
Jordon - gone
Hunter - gone
Neal-Bullen - gone
Sparrow - Average at best
Petracca - ?
Oliver - ?
Dunstan - gone

I agree but they did also pick two mids with their two FRPs in last years draft. Windsor is highly rated and Tholstrup is suppose to be their version of the next Petracca as a medium forward that can impact in the midfield. But still think they go a mid.

 

[SteeleSaints]

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/afl-draft-2024-october-rankings-top-60-prospects-ranked-full-scouting-report/news-story/4f0863aa22dd67a0b4cf872b6526eb3c

Both Cole and Hofmann made their top 60, but gees there are a lot of players who could still be included in that group.