List Mgmt. 2024 Draft & Trade Hypotheticals

[Ticky009]

 

[LukeParkerno1]

If Trainor is available at our first pick, should we take him? Means he would have slid a bit (e.g. Cal Twomey rated him as 7th best player just 4 months ago). The main reason for the slide appears to be concussion concerns but perhaps not only. Locking down on his opponent is not his strength - he's more of an interceptor and rebounder - but he's also versatile and could be swung forward.

I'm pretty keen on good lockdown KPDs which is why I'm interested in Mraz, Cole and Dennis. Mraz in particular has the height but also comes with injury baggage - a navicular injury in his foot, and they are a big deal of ACL proportions. Not necessarily as long to recover but I think they can recur. Isn't that what did for Matt Ling? I also like Barratt.

Despite myself and my decision to avoid wasting too much time thinking about the draft, as it gets closer, I'm weakening.

Personally probably wouldn’t use a pick on a defender in the first round as good as Trainor may be. Don’t go near guys with foot issues Geelong found out first hand with Matthew Egan it’s the hardest injury to not have complications

 

[Adnico26Parker]

If Trainor is available at our first pick, should we take him? Means he would have slid a bit (e.g. Cal Twomey rated him as 7th best player just 4 months ago). The main reason for the slide appears to be concussion concerns but perhaps not only. Locking down on his opponent is not his strength - he's more of an interceptor and rebounder - but he's also versatile and could be swung forward.

I'm pretty keen on good lockdown KPDs which is why I'm interested in Mraz, Cole and Dennis. Mraz in particular has the height but also comes with injury baggage - a navicular injury in his foot, and they are a big deal of ACL proportions. Not necessarily as long to recover but I think they can recur. Isn't that what did for Matt Ling? I also like Barratt.

Despite myself and my decision to avoid wasting too much time thinking about the draft, as it gets closer, I'm weakening.

No

Four concussions in his draft year is a massive

 

[Bloods86]

If Trainor is available at our first pick, should we take him? Means he would have slid a bit (e.g. Cal Twomey rated him as 7th best player just 4 months ago). The main reason for the slide appears to be concussion concerns but perhaps not only. Locking down on his opponent is not his strength - he's more of an interceptor and rebounder - but he's also versatile and could be swung forward.

I'm pretty keen on good lockdown KPDs which is why I'm interested in Mraz, Cole and Dennis. Mraz in particular has the height but also comes with injury baggage - a navicular injury in his foot, and they are a big deal of ACL proportions. Not necessarily as long to recover but I think they can recur. Isn't that what did for Matt Ling? I also like Barratt.

Despite myself and my decision to avoid wasting too much time thinking about the draft, as it gets closer, I'm weakening.

No to Trainor. Concussions and not entirely sure what sort of KPD he'll be.

If we grab another (along with Cochran), then lockdown type for sure. I'd throw Harry O'Farrell in there as preferred over Mraz, but Barrat or Dennis would be ok too.

Cole is NGA so he won't be coming to us.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

No

Four concussions in his draft year is a massive

Not so much that but if we are committed to Cochran we don't need another defender

 

[Adnico26Parker]

Not so much that but if we are committed to Cochran we don't need another defender

Bedford did mention we were looking at Will Hoare, and there’s always McCartin #3 - maybe they're considering a more mature bodied key defender, rather than a skinny 18 year old that will take 4-6 years to develop?

 

[Bloods86]

Not so much that but if we are committed to Cochran we don't need another defender

Yeah. While I think we do need another lockdown type, given our stocks in 2026 might be TMac, Melican, Snell, Edwards, Cochran, I don't know how we give everyone adequate time in VFL, especially if we bring in a KPF (means Hamling might return to defence) and with retaining Francis.

Would maybe look at a KPD in the MSD or both a mature ager and a draftee next year to offset our outgoing players.

Still, wouldn't be opposed to it. Maybe someone like Matt Whitlock who can play both ends (maybe plays forward for a year, then goes back) or Harry O'Farrell who can also swing forward. At least while we have Rampe, Francis and Hamling on the list.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Bedford did mention we were looking at Will Hoare, and there’s always McCartin #3 - maybe they're considering a more mature bodied key defender, rather than a skinny 18 year old that will take 4-6 years to develop?

We have those types, if we go that way that's fine, we shouldn't match Cochran till a rookie draft selection then. We already had a VFL side stacked last year playing keys out of position why are we getting more?

 

[Kiama Chris]

If Trainor is available at our first pick, should we take him? Means he would have slid a bit (e.g. Cal Twomey rated him as 7th best player just 4 months ago). The main reason for the slide appears to be concussion concerns but perhaps not only. Locking down on his opponent is not his strength - he's more of an interceptor and rebounder - but he's also versatile and could be swung forward.

I'm pretty keen on good lockdown KPDs which is why I'm interested in Mraz, Cole and Dennis. Mraz in particular has the height but also comes with injury baggage - a navicular injury in his foot, and they are a big deal of ACL proportions. Not necessarily as long to recover but I think they can recur. Isn't that what did for Matt Ling? I also like Barratt.

Despite myself and my decision to avoid wasting too much time thinking about the draft, as it gets closer, I'm weakening.

The problem with a strong draft is that there are a lot of potentially good players to get excited about.
I agree that we need a good, preferably big, strong lockdown KPD. I hope Edwards will be that by the end of this season. Certainly has the physical attributes.
A draftee will take a number of years to develop the physique unless they already have a good head start. We have a potential replacement for Rampe in Snell though he seems more a medium type despite his height.
With Cochran coming in and Francis and Hamling staying we have a lot of defensive height, if not quality.
Given our mediocrity and paucity up front I would think that will be our highest priority aiming for a KPF, medium or small with our first two picks. After that who knows and the Rookie Draft.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Yeah. While I think we do need another lockdown type, given our stocks in 2026 might be TMac, Melican, Snell, Edwards, Cochran, I don't know how we give everyone adequate time in VFL, especially if we bring in a KPF (means Hamling might return to defence) and with retaining Francis.

Would maybe look at a KPD in the MSD or both a mature ager and a draftee next year to offset our outgoing players.

Still, wouldn't be opposed to it. Maybe someone like Matt Whitlock who can play both ends (maybe plays forward for a year, then goes back) or Harry O'Farrell who can also swing forward. At least while we have Rampe, Francis and Hamling on the list.

Rather just take the key forward and then the small defender and there are a million variations of that. I'd actually trade our f1 into this year the club won't

 

[Bloods86]

The problem with a strong draft is that there are a lot of potentially good players to get excited about.
I agree that we need a good, preferably big, strong lockdown KPD. I hope Edwards will be that by the end of this season. Certainly has the physical attributes.
A draftee will take a number of years to develop the physique unless they already have a good head start. We have a potential replacement for Rampe in Snell though he seems more a medium type despite his height.
With Cochran coming in and Francis and Hamling staying we have a lot of defensive height, if not quality.
Given our mediocrity and paucity up front I would think that will be our highest priority aiming for a KPF, medium or small with our first two picks. After that who knows and the Rookie Draft.

If there's a lockdown type we think is going to be a gun, I'm fine with it. Otherwise, we've brought in Edwards, Snell and likely Cochran over 3 off seasons. Edwards the bigger type, Snell probably that half/half lockdown and intercept like Melican. Cochran probably more a tall half back/wing, maybe more defensively minded than Blakey, without the speed.

The worry is Rampe, Francis and Hamling could all be gone next year. At which point we'd have to pick up at least 1 mature ager, maybe 2 depending on Snell and Edwards progress, and a draftee (a year behind).

But yeah, we do have more options already than up front in the tall/medium department, so that's the higher priority.

 

[bedford]

Personally probably wouldn’t use a pick on a defender in the first round as good as Trainor may be. Don’t go near guys with foot issues Geelong found out first hand with Matthew Egan it’s the hardest injury to not have complications

What a surprise

 

[Callipygian]

From what I read, people shouldn't get too locked on to Cochran playing as a defender. Could play anywhere. Hard to tell what he'll turn into. His main outstanding trait is his athleticism, especially his ability to run. He's also meant to be a reasonable interceptor. Apart from that I haven't heard much except that he's a project and will (have to) learn.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

What a surprise

Hey I loved Trainor, but if we want Cochran don't see the point and that's considering I don't rate Cochran much. If we aren't completely lay down Sally getting Cochran not against it.

 

[Bloods86]

From what I read, people shouldn't get too locked on to Cochran playing as a defender. Could play anywhere. Hard to tell what he'll turn into. His main outstanding trait is his athleticism, especially his ability to run. He's also meant to be a reasonable interceptor. Apart from that I haven't heard much except that he's a project and will (have to) learn.

Yeah, could end up on a wing etc.

Even with that though, we've got 7 other KPDs on the list plus Fox.

Only issue is that 3 experienced KPDs could well be gone next year.

So do we pull the trigger on another now, as well as Cochran, and juggle things as best we can in VFL without getting flogged at ground level (worsens everyone's development), or wait a year and focus more on mature agers to replace the outgoing KPDs.

 

[Kiama Chris]

Yeah, could end up on a wing etc.

Even with that though, we've got 7 other KPDs on the list plus Fox.

Only issue is that 3 experienced KPDs could well be gone next year.

So do we pull the trigger on another now, as well as Cochran, and juggle things as best we can in VFL without getting flogged at ground level (worsens everyone's development), or wait a year and focus more on mature agers to replace the outgoing KPDs.

I'll be interested to see what we do in the Rookie Draft regarding defenders.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

I'll be interested to see what we do in the Rookie Draft regarding defenders.

lockdown defender is a priority

 

[Callipygian]

I think people saying we shouldn't draft a KPD because we'll have too many talls in our VFL team are allowing the tail to wag the dog. (And I'm someone who follows and cares about our VFL team.)

Also, as has been pointed out, in another year at least two of those KPDs (Rampe, Hamling) will be gone. Francis and Edwards may or may not be retained. Melican has rarely been durable and McCartin has concussion issues. We're going to need KPDs sooner rather than later, and they take a while to develop. Of course, we could trade them in.

I found Adnico26Parker's comment about Trainor having had FOUR CONCUSSIONS THIS YEAR extremely off putting. When they said concussion issues, I didn't realise they were that significant! Thanks for the heads up.

 

[Adnico26Parker]

O’Farrell, or even Tom Bell

Tom Bell

Age

33

Ht

188cm

Wt

102kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

17.0

4star

K

10.4

4star

HB

6.6

4star

M

3.4

3star

T

3.5

5star

G

0.8

4star

No current season stats available

D

14.0

4star

K

9.0

4star

HB

5.0

4star

M

2.4

3star

T

4.2

5star

G

0.6

3star

from Shifter’s defenders overview?

Kevin Sheehan’s 2024 Telstra AFL Draft top prospects: Tall defenders

 

[Bloods86]

I think people saying we shouldn't draft a KPD because we'll have too many talls in our VFL team are allowing the tail to wag the dog. (And I'm someone who follows and cares about our VFL team.)

Also, as has been pointed out, in another year at least two of those KPDs (Rampe, Hamling) will be gone. Francis and Edwards may or may not be retained. Melican has rarely been durable and McCartin has concussion issues. We're going to need KPDs sooner rather than later, and they take a while to develop. Of course, we could trade them in.

I found Adnico26Parker's comment about Trainor having had FOUR CONCUSSIONS THIS YEAR extremely off putting. When they said concussion issues, I didn't realise they were that significant! Thanks for the heads up.

I'm not saying we shouldn't outright. And I come from a place where I don't think anyone has been more vocal about drafting KPPs in recent years, for the reasons you mention.

But, if we bring in a KPF, a KPD and Cochran, even with an injury or two, and an emergency occasionally not playing, we've got quite a tall reserves team.

If we decide to not play our tall emergencies and if we get some injuries, bound to happen, we can probably make it work. You just don't want to be in a position where you're stifling development (by gametime in preferred position or by getting flogged) because there's too many talls to fit in at either end.

If we think there's a gun KPD available at a pick, sure, go for it, and just make it work. Otherwise you could look at a mature ager next year. Relying on trades isn't realistic.

Part of it also depends on whether we change forward structure. If we go to 2 KPFs, then maybe we stick with the 4 we have on the list, focus on drafting some medium types (187-192cm). That then gives you space to play someone up forward in the VFL (keep Hamling there, rotate Francis etc) and bring in another KPD without sacrificing development.

 

[dosser]

From what I read, people shouldn't get too locked on to Cochran playing as a defender. Could play anywhere. Hard to tell what he'll turn into. His main outstanding trait is his athleticism, especially his ability to run. He's also meant to be a reasonable interceptor. Apart from that I haven't heard much except that he's a project and will (have to) learn.

Sounds like he would be a good man for the water bottles, then.

 

[Dubai Quacker]

Two skinny flankers.

And hand me some popcorn.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Two skinny flankers.

And hand me some popcorn.

You forget one being ranked at like 70 odd and we've reached for at 20

 

[Ruben Grubarb]

From what I read, people shouldn't get too locked on to Cochran playing as a defender. Could play anywhere. Hard to tell what he'll turn into. His main outstanding trait is his athleticism, especially his ability to run. He's also meant to be a reasonable interceptor. Apart from that I haven't heard much except that he's a project and will (have to) learn.

i think people nailed it when they said, "potential Blicavs type".

 

[caesar88]

Two skinny flankers.

And hand me some popcorn.

 

[Bloods86]

Two skinny flankers.

And hand me some popcorn.

I'd allow it for Angus Clarke