Analysis 2024 National Draft

[Aphrodite]

 

[Arr0w]

FOS in the championships last year was as good as Duursma, didn’t go on with it this year (with well documented disruptions) but is a point that leans into supporting that the 2-5 range is pretty similar across the two years.

FOS does have very good hands, along with Langford and Hynes in this draft

But wasn't really comparing player v player, more the collective

 

[BlueTongue]

Speaking of which, I watched Langford's video package on Cal Twomey's form guide on.the AFL website....OMFG!!!!

He could step straight into a side as a 3rd marking forward his hands are so strong....and the fact that he's a 30 possession, goal and a half midfielder with a bullet left peg on him makes him a genuine weapon.

The fact that he can legitimately play in multiple positions at the highest level gets the nod from me. Reckon the kid is going to be a superstar.

He's shot to my favorite at #3 - but whoever does get him will be extremely happy....

First time I watched his highlights I was sold on him.
Way to good to overlook. Not to mention he has worked hard for it and is serious about training.
Ticks every box IMO.

If we don't pick him, whoever gets him is going to have the 2025 rising star I reckon.

 

[macky99]

After moving from 12 and 14 to 3 - trading back to 6 and 11 (for example) isn't a backflip. It's an upgrade on both the original picks, and one that could potentially still get us a player we rate top 3.

That being said, I don't think Richmond do that particular deal. If it were to happen, I think it would only be if Richmond were prepared to gamble on FOS being our main target and Lalor being of less interest to us. They take FOS at 1, North take Tauru at 2 - leaves us next to pick with Lalor, Draper, Smith and Langford still available. Richmond clearly like Lalor, if we like all of Draper, Smith and Langford somewhat equally, then trading 3 and 38 for 6 and 18 or 20 is a good deal.

Tigers take Lalor at 3, Crows take Draper or Smith, Melbourne take Armstrong or Langford - leaves 1-2 of Draper/Smith/Langford for us at 6.

12 was never getting us one of the top tier mids - 6 does.

Austin had clearly made the decision to trade 12 & 14 for 3 knowing very well there would be three very good options at that pick, so by trading down would possibly only leave 1 left at 6-7 and losing control of who you are actually select, so really defeats his original intention of accessing quality in the 1st five selections of the draft.

l don't see any intention from our side to do this, we have put the due diligence into 3-4 players, also highly unlikely Tigers are interested in that deal.

 

[swuzzlebubble]

so really defeats his original intention of accessing quality in the 1st five selections of the draft.

I tend to agree however the original talk at the start of trade week was about looking to get an extra pick between the 12 & 34 we started with - IE upgrade 34. Of course talk is cheap and things change but we don't know for sure if 3 was an original target or just an opportunity that presented itself due to the WCE/Haw standoff.

 

[FitzroyBlueBagger]

Yeah I really dont get the logic why we dont have one developing and have a recycled Defender and a Swingman as support to Weiters. Critical we get someone soon, but time for Drafting has long passed, he needs help NOW.

We still need to draft in a few because that’s mainly how all teams should be developing their own, it’s usually the best way to pick the best long term talent yourself…

Without relying on trades with other teams to cover a position that other teams don’t give away cheap and you normally pay up way overs on picks and salary…

Young looked good in his first year as a cheap pickup, but has struggled at times since with form and selection, Durdin’s body looks like it’s just not up to the physical demands at the level, has struggled with injuries at reserves level…

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

This is all very intriguing.

There are credible vibes that we want FOS, Draper, Smith and Langford. We'd be linked to Lalor too, if people thought it might be available.

There have been reports that Crows want to leap over us to get Smith, so they think that's who we want.

Geez, I'd like to find a way to get them to trade 4 up to 3.

Reading that Taj Hotton is still hoping for a way to get to Carlton, I'd love for Adelaide to trade 4 and their future 1st for 3 and 38. We trade their future 1st for 16 from GWS and put ourselves into the Hotton range. I do love the passion to get to us.

One can only dream I guess.

I think we are open to 5 players at our pick. Can we bluff the Crows that we want who they want though?

 

[HereComesJuddy]

This is all very intriguing.

There are credible vibes that we want FOS, Draper, Smith and Langford. We'd be linked to Lalor too, if people thought it might be available.

There have been reports that Crows want to leap over us to get Smith, so they think that's who we want.

Geez, I'd like to find a way to get them to trade 4 up to 3.

Reading that Taj Hotton is still hoping for a way to get to Carlton, I'd love for Adelaide to trade 4 and their future 1st for 3 and 38. We trade their future 1st for 16 from GWS and put ourselves into the Hotton range. I do love the passion to get to us.

One can only dream I guess.

I think we are open to 5 players at our pick. Can we bluff the Crows that we want who they want though?

I hope Hotton gets taken by an interstate team and he wants to get to the Blues over the next few years. Think he is going to be one hell of a player

 

[Blue__Balls]

Austin had clearly made the decision to trade 12 & 14 for 3 knowing very well there would be three very good options at that pick, so by trading down would possibly only leave 1 left at 6-7 and losing control of who you are actually select, so really defeats his original intention of accessing quality in the 1st five selections of the draft.

l don't see any intention from our side to do this, we have put the due diligence into 3-4 players, also highly unlikely Tigers are interested in that deal.

Austin traded for 3 because its a bloody good pick and it was available. North weren't selling Pick 2, Adelaide weren't selling Pick 4, Melbourne weren't selling Pick 5. We don't know how many players amongst that top group we'd be thrilled to draft - could be 2, could be 5.

Since we traded up, it's become a genuine possibility that North reach for Tauru at 2, or trade back to 4 via Adelaide and select him there.

If circumstances change, and we can draft one of 2-3 players we rate really highly, while upgrading 38 to 20, we will 100% do it. To not do so would be, quite simply, idiotic. If Draper/Smith/Langford are still there and we would be thrilled with any of them, losing the "choice" of which one is trivial compared to securing an extra top 20 pick, ahead of any Campo bid shenanigans.

But ultimately, it comes down to who goes at 1 and 2, and how we rate the next few. And as I said, this is simply the only scenario I see where we trade down - if the cards fall in a way that leaves 3 players we really like still available after Pick 3. If we love one player and are ambivalent on the others, we'll use our pick.

 

[Sharks On A Plane]

Badly want Langford!!!

 

[FlowersByIrene]

How old is Cripps. We could park Smillie in the reserves for the next 2 seasons giving him a run when we need to rest Cripps. That's the thinking some people have. And in 2 years when Cripps is in the twilight of his career (aged 31ish), we would start playing Smillie more.

Yeah **** that. You don't pick a player at #3 to play reserves. Show me one elite player who took 2+ years in the reserves to crack into the team.

 

[Jacks Seething Rage]

Badly want Langford!!!

A lot to like. Best size, best hands, best peg of the top tier mids.

If his sprint and agility results weren't in the public domain he'd surely be 1 or 2 on most lists.

I'd be thrilled to come away with he or O'Sullivan.

 

[bmaurizio]

Badly want Langford!!!

Yup beautiful set of hands and a lovely kick of ball too. At 191cm may grow a few more cms too, solid build, great size, Harvey will impact early in his afl career. Great all round attributes , a well balanced midfielder. One really can’t go wrong with selecting him in the top 5 picks.

 

[GoBlues!]

Austin traded for 3 because its a bloody good pick and it was available. North weren't selling Pick 2, Adelaide weren't selling Pick 4, Melbourne weren't selling Pick 5. We don't know how many players amongst that top group we'd be thrilled to draft - could be 2, could be 5.

Since we traded up, it's become a genuine possibility that North reach for Tauru at 2, or trade back to 4 via Adelaide and select him there.

If circumstances change, and we can draft one of 2-3 players we rate really highly, while upgrading 38 to 20, we will 100% do it. To not do so would be, quite simply, idiotic. If Draper/Smith/Langford are still there and we would be thrilled with any of them, losing the "choice" of which one is trivial compared to securing an extra top 20 pick, ahead of any Campo bid shenanigans.

But ultimately, it comes down to who goes at 1 and 2, and how we rate the next few. And as I said, this is simply the only scenario I see where we trade down - if the cards fall in a way that leaves 3 players we really like still available after Pick 3. If we love one player and are ambivalent on the others, we'll use our pick.

Trading down to say #6 only works if Richmond is keen on a particular player and see value in trading up to 3.

They are virtually in full rebuild mode - and therefore are as likely, if not more than us, to be interested and open to several players such as FOS, Smith, Draper or Langford and happy to choose whoever is available at pick 6.

 

[mrkyuss]

Smith or FOS will be available at 3 . That should be the only discussion now .

 

[Jimmae]

So Harley Reid would be obvious number 1 this year too, as he was last year?

Reid and McKercher would go ahead of this draft pool, Walter would probably do so as well.

Where this draft shines is that after pick 10, it barely tapers off until maybe 30, which is why I was happy with 2 picks, and would like to see us generate at least this again if Smith is off the board.

 

[zeeCFC]

Reid and McKercher would go ahead of this draft pool, Walter would probably do so as well.

Where this draft shines is that after pick 10, it barely tapers off until maybe 30, which is why I was happy with 2 picks, and would like to see us generate at least this again if Smith is off the board.

Agree. 12 and 14 was only just under ideal position. If were in the 6-10 range with two picks it wouldve been amazing to get Travaglia and Reid/Allen.

 

[HarryFlashman]

Watching that documentary series "show me the money".

The agents seem to leak a fair bit of info on who likes who. Pass on whos showing interest and how many times clubs are interviewing certain players. I reckon thats where the likes of Cal get their best info. More reliable then asking the clubs.

Also, interesting how focused agents and players are on getting picked at the highest possible number and pushing that. Not as much focus on best fit (at least from whats being shown). Seems most guys just want to go as high as possible (aside from a few who'd prefer not move).

It’s a good point, agents give zero ****s about anything other than getting their players picked as high as possible.

Makes the most money for all involved and gives them the best opportunity to create a career.
A lot more latitude is given to high picks & the opportunity for 2nd or 3rd chances.

 

[HarryFlashman]

After moving from 12 and 14 to 3 - trading back to 6 and 11 (for example) isn't a backflip. It's an upgrade on both the original picks, and one that could potentially still get us a player we rate top 3.

That being said, I don't think Richmond do that particular deal. If it were to happen, I think it would only be if Richmond were prepared to gamble on FOS being our main target and Lalor being of less interest to us. They take FOS at 1, North take Tauru at 2 - leaves us next to pick with Lalor, Draper, Smith and Langford still available. Richmond clearly like Lalor, if we like all of Draper, Smith and Langford somewhat equally, then trading 3 and 38 for 6 and 18 or 20 is a good deal.

Tigers take Lalor at 3, Crows take Draper or Smith, Melbourne take Armstrong or Langford - leaves 1-2 of Draper/Smith/Langford for us at 6.

12 was never getting us one of the top tier mids - 6 does.

I really like this take, 6&11 is a big upgrade on 3 & huge upgrade on 12&14.

The deal also wasn’t done in a vacuum- it wasn’t some master planned scheme.

We saw/helped create an opportunity & took it - it was great work.
I don’t see us getting 6 & 11 thou, IMO it would be 18 at best and that will be a stretch.

I think it would be well worth it if it was available, 6 still gets a class mid & 18 could be anything, I’d be hedging that way if the opportunity was there

 

[CrippaTheGoat9]

Smith or FOS will be available at 3 . That should be the only discussion now .

And Langford

 

[lukep_86]

Still so much to play out. No matter what happens, Austin did a great job to get pick 3 and has plenty of options with it.