Bradley on Crows radar

[PinCushion]

Bradley on Crows radar
20 October 2007 Herald Sun
Andrew Capel
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,22616525%255E19742,00.html

A PLAYER that Adelaide was desperate to secure four years ago is suddenly being offered to the club. And he will cost no more than a low draft pick.

Kepler Bradley, the discarded Essendon tall the Crows wanted to take at pick No. 14 in the 2003 national draft, wants to reignite his career at Adelaide.

"We think Adelaide would be a good fit for Kepler," Bradley's manager Colin Young said yesterday.

"You look through its list and there is a shortage of talls and pace, and we think Kepler can offer both of those ingredients to the Crows. Certainly it is a club which appeals to him."

Drafted by Essendon with pick No. 6 in the 2003 draft, West Australian Bradley was delisted by the Bombers on Monday after 49 games in four seasons.

The 199cm Bradley was unable to hold down a regular position at Windy Hill. His kicking and decision-making also let him down.

However Young said Bradley, 21, had worked on his kicking with a biomechanic since the end of the season and that his best football was in front of him.

Fremantle attempted to trade for Bradley in the exchange period. However the deal, for a fourth-round draft pick, collapsed when the clubs could not agree terms in the final 15 minutes.

The Dockers remain interested in Bradley and will consider him at the national draft next month.

CROWS chairman Bill Sanders was yesterday reappointed to the club's board for another year.

 

[jumpman5]

Kepler Bradley

A PLAYER Adelaide was desperate to secure four years ago is suddenly being shopped to the club.
And he will cost no more than a low draft pick.
Kepler Bradley - the discarded Essendon tall the Crows hoped to take at pick No. 14 at the 2003 national draft - has identified Adelaide as one of his preferences to reignite his once-promising career.
"We think Adelaide would be a good fit for Kepler," Bradley's manager, WA-based Colin Young, said. "You look through its list and there is a shortage of talls and pace and we think Kepler can offer both of those ingredients to the Crows.
"Certainly it is a club which appeals to him."
Drafted by Essendon with the No. 6 selection at the 2003 draft - before Adelaide could get its hands on him - Western Australian Bradley was surprisingly delisted by the Bombers on Monday after 49 games in four seasons.
Named the best division one player at the 2003 National U18 AFL Championships and a Rising Star nominee in 2005, the 199cm Bradley fell victim to former coach Kevin Sheedy's inability to play him in a regular position. His kicking and decision-making also let him down.
But Young says Bradley, 21, has worked on his kicking with a biomechanic since the end of the season - they identified a problem with his hips - and that his best football is in front of him. "I think any club that plays Kepler in the right position will reap the rewards," Young said.
While Essendon played the mobile Bradley mainly as a key defender, Young believes he is at his best on a wing or a half-forward flank where he can outsize and outmark opponents.
"He played his best football there as a junior but Essendon rarely gave him that opportunity," Young said, adding he would speak to Adelaide football operations manager John Reid about his client.
"The fact he is young, tall, versatile and can play a key position certainly should interest the Crows."
Reid said the Crows would give Bradley due consideration when formulating their draft policy.
Fremantle attempted to trade for Bradley in the exchange period but the deal - for a fourth-round draft pick - fell over when the clubs couldn't agree to terms in the final 15 minutes. The Dockers remain interested in Bradley, saying they will seriously consider taking him at the November 24 national draft.
CROWS chairman Bill Sanders was yesterday reappointed to the club's board for another year, tying him to the club until the end of 2008.






Picking up Kepler Bradley would be an absolute nightmare....he's nominated us a preferred destination but surely Craig and Reid wont buy it...



i'd seriously cry i reckon, in devastation if the crows pick up this pleb...



any other player on an AFL list >>>>> Kepler

 

[CaptainDangerfield]

Re: Kepler Bradley

So that would have been another 1st rounder we *****ed up against the wall. It should be strict policy that this club only use 1st round picks on GENUINE MIDFIELDERS. We should be banned from using 1st rounders on talls. Our hit and miss rate with 1st rounders and KPP's/ruckman is appalling.

Angwin
Watts
Carey
Meesen.

 

[bus24]

Why?

The dude is a crab.

What is our fascination with picking up other clubs rubbish?

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Re: Kepler Bradley

I'd seriously think of taking this guy with say pick ....what is it 43?

As is normally the case people look at what he has done in the 4 years at Essendon and "labelled" him a dud.

But seriously Essendon have been a very ordinary club in this time and they tried to turn him unsuccessfully into a CHB.

So at 22 and obviously a talented tall who played as a junior on a wing ....he is "used goods"

I don't subscribe to that .........Mark Stevens was an out & out dud at North Melbourne as a FF ........Scott Stevens in the same category at Sydney.

That does not mean if Bradley goes into a different club, different culture and obviously different role that he does not have a long career in front of him.
I seriously doubt those that WILL bag him have watched him much other than when the Crows have played Adelaide or an occasional game.

The Question IMO would be that you would not gamble 10, 27 or 30 .....thereafter particularly in this draft it gets seriously thin ......it would also depend in list management terms whether what we need (another tall) is what Kepler would provide.


But hell ....he's no hack!

 

[J-Ro-20]

In a very shallow draft. Kepler is worth considering late in the Draft.

He's only 21 could have a good ten years at a club if he turns his form around.

 

[hugecannon]

I wouldn't rule out using our last pick on him, if the draft is as shallow as people are saying then the chances of us getting anything worthwhile is pretty slim, Kepler's only 21, has been in the system for 4 years and is ready to play we could do alot worse, and our record with getting the best out of other clubs discards is pretty good - Stevens x 2, Massie, Torney.

 

[MickyCrow]

Re: Kepler Bradley

So at 22 and obviously a talented tall who played as a junior on a wing ....he is "used goods"

A 199cm wingman

Could you imagine it

 

[NikkiNoo]

I wouldn't rule out using our last pick on him, if the draft is as shallow as people are saying then the chances of us getting anything worthwhile is pretty slim, Kepler's only 21, has been in the system for 4 years and is ready to play we could do alot worse, and our record with getting the best out of other clubs discards is pretty good - Stevens x 2, Massie, Torney.

Torney wasn't a discard but was a quality player they had to give up in order for us to release Kane Johnson to them. Most Richmond supporters still lament the loss of Torney.

 

[Macca19]

Re: Kepler Bradley

Hes the second coming of Mark Pitura.

He isnt a key defender. THat much is sure. I will always remember Sheedy starting him on Tredrea in Round 1 2004 in his debut game. Tredrea kicked 6 goals.

I dont see why you'd want him to be honest...even to play him as a wingman.

 

[jmorg1]

Re: Kepler Bradley

Really? We wanted to pick him at pick 14?

But we got Fergus Watts instead. Heh.

 

[bus24]

Re: Kepler Bradley

Really? We wanted to pick him at pick 14?

Must've.

I guess any interstate crab-like tall would've done though.

 

[Freddy Bassett]

Grab him with pick 43. Worth a gamble. Its easy for tall kids to lose there way. Id take him over Watts, Meesen or Obst thats for sure.

 

[brown30]

 

[swanfan]

Most Richmond supporters still lament the loss of Torney.

As we do now, Nikki.

 

[- PC -]

Ok so how is he on the Crows radar?

There was not one quote from a Crow official


This is manager spin for a player that quite frankly I would be happy to pass on.

 

[SM10]

Alright guys, Kepler has been played out of position by Sheedy for his entire career. He has played two games as a lead up forward which he has easily held his own, also won our VFL sides B+F playing in that CHF lead up role.

It may not look like it he is a strong mark and quite a good kick for his size (although that all changes when you put him anywhere near the backline...), but he is only a 50/50 set shot for goal.

IMO is just what you guys need at the moment if you play him at CHF/HFF and if you take him at pick at pick 40-50 he will be one you look back on and wonder how you let him slide until then, especially in this years draft.

 

[- PC -]

but he is only a 50/50 set shot for goal.

.

Please not another one

 

[-WWJD-]

Please not another one

Come on PC 50-50 would be an improvement on our current stock.

 

[SM10]

Please not another one

Which is why you would probably want him to be a linkman type and not let him to close to the big sticks

 

[Freddy Bassett]

Alright guys, Kepler has been played out of position by Sheedy for his entire career. He has played two games as a lead up forward which he has easily held his own, also won our VFL sides B+F playing in that CHF lead up role.

It may not look like it he is a strong mark and quite a good kick for his size (although that all changes when you put him anywhere near the backline...), but he is only a 50/50 set shot for goal.

IMO is just what you guys need at the moment if you play him at CHF/HFF and if you take him at pick at pick 40-50 he will be one you look back on and wonder how you let him slide until then, especially in this years draft.

I agree, worth a punt!

 

[hayden sumner]

I am from Bendigo, and i went and watched alot of Bendio Bombers matches this year, and Kepler was very very good in all those matches. He won the Best and Fairest at Bendigo, and he kicked over 30 goals i think it would be. Was a lead up Centre Half Forward for the whole season, for his size, he is rather quick.

Might help him as a change of scenary, but i wouldnt give up more then a 4th rounder on him.

 

[Stiffy_18]

Re: Kepler Bradley

I'd seriously think of taking this guy with say pick ....what is it 43?

As is normally the case people look at what he has done in the 4 years at Essendon and "labelled" him a dud.

But seriously Essendon have been a very ordinary club in this time and they tried to turn him unsuccessfully into a CHB.

So at 22 and obviously a talented tall who played as a junior on a wing ....he is "used goods"

I don't subscribe to that .........Mark Stevens was an out & out dud at North Melbourne as a FF ........Scott Stevens in the same category at Sydney.

That does not mean if Bradley goes into a different club, different culture and obviously different role that he does not have a long career in front of him.
I seriously doubt those that WILL bag him have watched him much other than when the Crows have played Adelaide or an occasional game.

The Question IMO would be that you would not gamble 10, 27 or 30 .....thereafter particularly in this draft it gets seriously thin ......it would also depend in list management terms whether what we need (another tall) is what Kepler would provide.


But hell ....he's no hack!

I agree!

Its amazing how quick people are to write off a player without taking everything into the consideration. You don't go from a gun underage footballer to a dud. The talent is still there but something else is missing. I never liked him as a key defender.

We have a good history in picking up other club's junk and making them into solid to very good AFL players. Massie, the 2 Stevens boys.....

If we look at the weak drafts from years gone by, clubs start re-drafting delisted players after about 30th odd pick. I suspect we will see a LOT of that this year as well.

So we have picks 10, 27, 30, 38 and 59. I very much doubt he would be there at pick 59 because I can see Freo drafting him.

I am more than happy to give Kepler a shot at a reasonable price. We really have absolutly nothing to lose. At worse, he doesn't work out. At best he gets to be a good player for us. He is still only 21/22 so its not like we are picking up a 28 year old.

And before people start sticking the boots in how we would have ****ed up again if we used the pick on Bradley, lets not forget that this kid was widely considered as a top 5 pick in that draft. Many had him as a #1 pick so maybe you need to take that into consideration before you go on bag the club. A lot of clubs thought he would have been worth a top 5 pick. Its not just our club. And seriously, when you look at this kid as an 18 year old what is there not to like?! A 199cm player that runs like a wind, can find the footy and was playing just about every position under the sun in the underage footy. He was playing WAFL seniors before being drafted.

 

[treeman]

Re: Kepler Bradley

If we pick him up i'll back the crows to make him a good player.

-Ben

 

[sinepari]

Re: Kepler Bradley

Play him as a lead-up HF, NOT AS A DEFENDER, and you'll be sweet. I've said this since he was drafted from WP