List Mgmt. 2024 Young Talent Time (Drafting)

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I also assume Richmond will move up to 2 and/or trade a pick into next year. It's just too many picks and kids at once
I'm not sure it is. I've always felt our run through 13-15 was built off the back of the huge Draft hauls we took in 08-09.

2008:
Stephen Hill - win.
Hayden Ballantyne - win.
Nic Suban - decent role player, win.
Zac Clarke - not the best ruckman, but had a career, win.
Ben Bucovaz - first dud, slow and from memory injury prone.
Michael Walters - took a minute, but became a star, win.
Tim Ruffles - looked good, but made of glass.
Chris Hall - small and didn't last long, dud.
Casey Sibasado - the man, the myth, the legend.
Matt De Boer - good soldier, win.
Hamish Shepheard - longshot KPF, dud.
Clancee Pearce - in the white shorts, if you don't mind.
Jay Van Berlo - looked alright for a bit but ultimately didn't cut it.
Greg Broughton - supercoach stud, probably a win tbf.

2009:
Anthony Morabito - still hurts.
Nat Fyfe - modest win.
Joel Houghton - didn't have the drive for AFL footy, we were tossing up him and Sam Reid and went local. Sliding doors moment.
Jesse Chrichton - had a mullet before they were cool, didn't have a tank though.
Dylan Roberton - was a good player, we just couldn't hold onto him.
Justin Bollenhagen - could play but apparently an unbearable flog.
Michael Barlow - huge win.
Alex Silvagni - very solid roleplayer.

22 players drafter over two years.

Obviously not all of them can make it, but you get a core group coming up at the same time. 2008 in particular, we walked out with 7 AFL quality players, and that's being conservative and not including the likes of Broughton. If Richmond can do the same thing without going past the second or third round? That's a huge foundation to build on, especially if the draft is even enough for them to pick and choose based on position.
 

AFL Draft 2024: Fremantle list boss David Walls says Dockers ‘love’ Bo Allan but unsure if he fits their needs​

Mitchell WoodcockThe West Australian
Thu, 17 October 2024 6:00P
Fremantle list boss David Walls says they would “love” to have top WA draft prospect Bo Allan on their list but conceded they already have a lot of similar type players on their list.
The Dockers got a close-up look at Allan after he played 11 league games for their WAFL-aligned side Peel Thunder, including a key role in the midfield in their premiership victory.
Allan is considered the best prospect out of WA and is set to be a first-round pick, with the Dockers likely to be circling around their top selection which currently sits at No.14.
The under-18 All-Australian has been closely monitored by both the Dockers and West Coast this year, with the Eagles holding pick No.12 if he is still on the table.
Walls said Allan was a popular figure already within the four walls at the Dockers but he was unsure if the 191cm Halls Head product was what they needed to add to their list.
“Our guys down at Peel love playing with him and a lot of our coaches do as well. He is very highly regarded. He’s well and truly in our thoughts. We love what he brings,” Walls told The West Australian.
“He’s probably not a need for us in terms of our list management and the type of player that he is in that we’ve got a lot of that type so that would probably be the one thing that wouldn’t go in his favour.
“We love his competitiveness, we love his athleticism, he’s a super character and like I said the guys on Freo’s list that play with him week in, week out they love him.
“We’d love to have him at Fremantle but we will have to weigh a lot of things up when it gets to that point.”

West Coast list boss Matt Clarke said Allan was a player they could potentially draft with pick No.12.
“We’ve got some bands of players and Bo is probably in those first 20 to 25 players,” he said.
“He’s shown a lot of promise at carnival level and at league level. He’s a player with strong interest but we’re obviously mindful of not confining ourselves just to Western Australian players.
“We need to continue to pick the best players across the country and we’ll look to do that in the draft.”
 
Will Hayes is an intriguing talent who hasn't always found consistent form this year but has more than enough about him to have clubs interested come the November draft. This was one of his best performances for the season showing his lovely turn of pace, agility to dodge and weave around opponents, strong disposal skills and the moxie to take the game on with attacking and decisive play.

 

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Will Hayes is an intriguing talent who hasn't always found consistent form this year but has more than enough about him to have clubs interested come the November draft. This was one of his best performances for the season showing his lovely turn of pace, agility to dodge and weave around opponents, strong disposal skills and the moxie to take the game on with attacking and decisive play.


The commentator: "Hayes comes through like a Gazelle...Falls over"

Freo:"Perfect we'll take him"
 
Will Hayes is an intriguing talent who hasn't always found consistent form this year but has more than enough about him to have clubs interested come the November draft. This was one of his best performances for the season showing his lovely turn of pace, agility to dodge and weave around opponents, strong disposal skills and the moxie to take the game on with attacking and decisive play.


One of my favourites for a late/rookie pick imo. Him or Angove would be perfect as a project small forward and I'd honestly have higher hopes for one of them making it over Delean
 
Maybe it is from him being super tiny (~170cm) while also not being in the upper echelon of talent like Watson or Pickett. He is in Joel Western territory.
Yeah what’s this weird recent talk about champion? He’s borderline to be drafted at all I would say.
Seems a pick in the 60s or a rookie selection at best if you look at any mock drafts
 
One of my favourites for a late/rookie pick imo. Him or Angove would be perfect as a project small forward and I'd honestly have higher hopes for one of them making it over Delean
If we could get him with that pick 60/70ish (or whatever our last pick in the ND is) that we have that would be great IMO.

I have to say though that the things I like about him are also the same things I liked with Conrad Williams.

I also wonder if Bizzell is still of interest to us as a Cat B rookie?
 
If we could get him with that pick 60/70ish (or whatever our last pick in the ND is) that we have that would be great IMO.

I have to say though that the things I like about him are also the same things I liked with Conrad Williams.

I also wonder if Bizzell is still of interest to us as a Cat B rookie?
Given our interest in the Irish cat-b's and the lack of noise around Bizzell I'm thinking that it's not happening
 
I don't want Champion just because he's from WA, though admittedly it does help; he's probably not getting a game too early in his career, and a WA boy will stick around. From the games I've watched, Champion has a much bigger impact than his stat line. I didn't watch all that much of the u18s (I watched more the year before; I remember looking up the kid with bleached blonde hair to see if we could draft him in 2023, and he was a full year too young.)—but in the games I've watched he'd regularly get the ball and kick produce a goal that made you go "wtf where did that come from". Agility through traffic is something special, very Switta-ish.


(the extraction at 1:40 case in point)

The Watson comparison falls apart a little because Watson 1) has always got a lot of goals from free kicks which just isn't really in Champion's game, 2) Watson might have been very short, but he was always really built, which is a huge advantage in u18s because physical development is very staggered at that age. Champion still needs to pack on some muscle.

The Conrad Williams comparison might end up apt—I was also really keen on Williams but he just never managed to bulk up even to an acceptable AFL winger level. That goes on to hurt tackling, marking, contested ball, durability, explosiveness. Some people just can't put on the muscle you need to play AFL at the level. Champion doesn't need to bulk out heaps (probably aiming for a Shai-type build), but he certainly needs to get a bit stronger across the shoulders for marking and tackling. At that age, it's impossible to predict: it could go like Williams or it could go like Fyfe.
 

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AFL Draft 2024: Fremantle list boss David Walls says Dockers ‘love’ Bo Allan but unsure if he fits their needs​

Mitchell WoodcockThe West Australian
Thu, 17 October 2024 6:00P
Fremantle list boss David Walls says they would “love” to have top WA draft prospect Bo Allan on their list but conceded they already have a lot of similar type players on their list.
The Dockers got a close-up look at Allan after he played 11 league games for their WAFL-aligned side Peel Thunder, including a key role in the midfield in their premiership victory.
Allan is considered the best prospect out of WA and is set to be a first-round pick, with the Dockers likely to be circling around their top selection which currently sits at No.14.
The under-18 All-Australian has been closely monitored by both the Dockers and West Coast this year, with the Eagles holding pick No.12 if he is still on the table.
Walls said Allan was a popular figure already within the four walls at the Dockers but he was unsure if the 191cm Halls Head product was what they needed to add to their list.
“Our guys down at Peel love playing with him and a lot of our coaches do as well. He is very highly regarded. He’s well and truly in our thoughts. We love what he brings,” Walls told The West Australian.
“He’s probably not a need for us in terms of our list management and the type of player that he is in that we’ve got a lot of that type so that would probably be the one thing that wouldn’t go in his favour.
“We love his competitiveness, we love his athleticism, he’s a super character and like I said the guys on Freo’s list that play with him week in, week out they love him.
“We’d love to have him at Fremantle but we will have to weigh a lot of things up when it gets to that point.”

West Coast list boss Matt Clarke said Allan was a player they could potentially draft with pick No.12.
“We’ve got some bands of players and Bo is probably in those first 20 to 25 players,” he said.
“He’s shown a lot of promise at carnival level and at league level. He’s a player with strong interest but we’re obviously mindful of not confining ourselves just to Western Australian players.
“We need to continue to pick the best players across the country and we’ll look to do that in the draft.”
Character tick
Competitive tick
AFL body tick
From WA tick
Need cross

Doubt he will get to our pick anyway but if he is there it's a no brainer pick.
 
I don't want Champion just because he's from WA, though admittedly it does help; he's probably not getting a game too early in his career, and a WA boy will stick around. From the games I've watched, Champion has a much bigger impact than his stat line. I didn't watch all that much of the u18s (I watched more the year before; I remember looking up the kid with bleached blonde hair to see if we could draft him in 2023, and he was a full year too young.)—but in the games I've watched he'd regularly get the ball and kick produce a goal that made you go "wtf where did that come from". Agility through traffic is something special, very Switta-ish.


(the extraction at 1:40 case in point)

The Watson comparison falls apart a little because Watson 1) has always got a lot of goals from free kicks which just isn't really in Champion's game, 2) Watson might have been very short, but he was always really built, which is a huge advantage in u18s because physical development is very staggered at that age. Champion still needs to pack on some muscle.

The Conrad Williams comparison might end up apt—I was also really keen on Williams but he just never managed to bulk up even to an acceptable AFL winger level. That goes on to hurt tackling, marking, contested ball, durability, explosiveness. Some people just can't put on the muscle you need to play AFL at the level. Champion doesn't need to bulk out heaps (probably aiming for a Shai-type build), but he certainly needs to get a bit stronger across the shoulders for marking and tackling. At that age, it's impossible to predict: it could go like Williams or it could go like Fyfe.



Two of U comparing Champion to Williams are in serious need of recalibration of Your measuring units...Those two bodies built have nothing to do with each other...Champion is 172cm/66kg and would be on stocky side for his age...While Williams is around same weight but 15 cm toller means he is waaay slimer...
 
Two of U comparing Champion to Williams are in serious need of recalibration of Your measuring units...Those two bodies built have nothing to do with each other...Champion is 172cm/66kg and would be on stocky side for his age...While Williams is around same weight but 15 cm toller means he is waaay slimer...

And both would have the same problem holding their ground against a guy 20kg heavier. The taller guys do need to put on a looooooot more muscle to look as buffed out as the smaller guys but size wins.
 
And both would have the same problem holding their ground against a guy 20kg heavier.


As 20 kg heavier guy would find it very difficult to keep up with smaller guy zigzaging thru the traffic isn't it?
It is not all about size I think...It is more about balance of height and strenght(bigger players) and skill,speed and stamina(smaller guys)...By the way Richmond premiership side had 1 player taller than 195cm
 
I think our Biggest list need currently is genuine Wingers. Sharp showed enough last year to suggest he should be a long term solution for one wing but I'm not sure who is the obvious candidate for wing #2.
I see a plenty of Best 22's have NOD listed but I think if not for finding some form late in the season he was a potential delist candidate. His excellent form during the wafl finals was playing inside mid which doesn't count for much. To be clear I Like NOD, he shows potential and is good for a regular mercurial goal, but I feel like it's honestly 50/50 he's even on the list after another couple seasons.

Johnson, Erasmus & JOM are inside Mids. Maybe Simpson..? Although he hasn't played the role either. Who else? Banners? (No).

I'd say our next biggest need is that small FWD position that everyone here seems to be wanting, and I agree it's a need. As much as I'd love more quality guys to create depth in the position I think we actually have enough guys on the list to hold it down for now with potentially Simpson to grow into he role also.

Based on phantom drafts getting around lately and our current pick #14 I'm hoping for Lindsay/Berry/Hotton.
 
I think our Biggest list need currently is genuine Wingers. Sharp showed enough last year to suggest he should be a long term solution for one wing but I'm not sure who is the obvious candidate for wing #2.
I see a plenty of Best 22's have NOD listed but I think if not for finding some form late in the season he was a potential delist candidate. His excellent form during the wafl finals was playing inside mid which doesn't count for much. To be clear I Like NOD, he shows potential and is good for a regular mercurial goal, but I feel like it's honestly 50/50 he's even on the list after another couple seasons.

Johnson, Erasmus & JOM are inside Mids. Maybe Simpson..? Although he hasn't played the role either. Who else? Banners? (No).

I'd say our next biggest need is that small FWD position that everyone here seems to be wanting, and I agree it's a need. As much as I'd love more quality guys to create depth in the position I think we actually have enough guys on the list to hold it down for now with potentially Simpson to grow into he role also.

Based on phantom drafts getting around lately and our current pick #14 I'm hoping for Lindsay/Berry/Hotton.

I'm not sure how those 3 draftees will solve our wing issue. I.agree our wings aren't the strongest.

I'd like Berry for his defensive forward pressure and ability to kick goals
 
Given our interest in the Irish cat-b's and the lack of noise around Bizzell I'm thinking that it's not happening
Bizzell not getting a state combine invite would seem quite telling. I think bottom line is if we don't list him it's because he's not rated.

List spots for this season at least wouldn't be the reason we can't do it. You can only get 1 Irish Cat B, and we have 2 spare Cat B spots. But thinking about next year, our 3rd best NGA (Joshua Nomlatyu) is a better prospect than Bizzell. And if the NGA over the next few years has depth as well as top-end quality, you'd rather not list someone who didn't impress enough to get a state combine invite just to delist them a year later to make room for others.
 
Character tick
Competitive tick
AFL body tick

From WA tick
Need cross

Doubt he will get to our pick anyway but if he is there it's a no brainer pick.

Lots of other players around that mark that have the first three. In terms of crosses, the lack of possession winning would count against him a fair bit - you are just not getting a AFL ready midfielder compared to a lot of others out there. Also he is not the most useful kick right at the moment; more just a bomber rather than someone that can consistently hurt on the outside (say on the half back or wing). The players that I believe that we are looking at for this pick have better skills and are better at their likely AFL roles, whilst still having the other characteristics.

Don't get me wrong, Allan is a good prospect but I think he is more a pick 18 than a pick 14 when everyone is ordered, and as I have said before, Hamish Davis I think is just as much if not more a prospect that Allan if we are picking WAs (I hope we don't prioritize WA boys for no good reason).
Why is he not projected higher?

Looking at those highlights I'm leaning more towards him over Berry...
Lots of reasons why Berry is rated higher and in a different bracket:
  • Positioning - Berry kicks more goals regularly through putting himself in better positions; I don't think Berry is that much better kick than Champion (I think both are average kicks, Champion was pretty inaccurate this year kicking more points than goals 8.11 at Colts level) but Berry gets himself in spots to have easy shots at goal, Champion often finds himself taking shots outside his range or on difficult spots. Berry's work-rate to get to the right spots is top notch. Berry rarely goes a game without getting a goal, Champion went lots of games where he was just missing.
  • Size - Champion is 172cm, Berry is 181cm; before anyone goes on about Pickett, remember that Pickett is an exception rather than the rule. At 172cm you are at a distinct disadvantage in congestion, marking contests and most importantly for small forwards, tackling opponents. From what I saw generally Champion played as a half forward; playing that as a 172cm is difficult because you will constantly be at a disadvantage in marking contests and you also need to put pressure on in the forward half. Berry is a good tackler so that will appeal to recruiters.
  • Versatility - Berry has played midfield as well as half forward and forward pocket and been effective in all roles. To be fair I think Champion has had stints but doesn't rack up the possessions when he plays as a midfielder.
 

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List Mgmt. 2024 Young Talent Time (Drafting)

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