List Mgmt. Christmas comes early (Nov 28 - 19 sleeps) - Draftee discussion
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Whilst I agree with your sentiment if I was to agree with your argument entirely I think I would need to pre-suppose a number of critical things:
1. Sheezel is the best player available - I would argue that he's about equal with Wardlaw and Cadman;
2. Sheezel is the best option for us - I don't think he necessarily is. On a "needs" basis I would have a pure mid (i.e. Wardlaw) or a KPF (i.e. Cadman) as more important for us; and
3. The quality of West Coast's culture - I think that West Coast has done a fantastic job of retaining players over their history (with only small outliers). However, the culture of any organisation is often hard to properly analyse and keep tabs on. The larger the organisation the harder it is to ensure everything is as it should be. I do worry about the playing group after what was our worst on-field season to date, and while I am hopeful that we will put player (and staff) welfare as priority one I'm not naive enough to believe that we are immune to being affected in similar ways to other AFL clubs recently. A lot of organisations (including the one I work at) makes tokenistic statements about the value of mental health, families and work-life balance but such platitudes are often skin deep.
My proposal was simply that the club is responsible for doing it's homework. IIRC the rumblings re. Horne-Francis were there prior to NM's selection of him last year. They obviously grew during the season and in the latter rounds it was quite clear that he wanted out. As fans we only get fed very basic information on these situations. The club would by privy to substantially more information than what we have available to us on Sheezel (and all other players who would be around our picks, both now and what they will be in November). I'm not suggesting that they make a decision on what the general public knows (and the rumblings and wild interpretations of Sheezel's interviews), I'm suggesting that our recruiters should be making necessary inquiries (like whether all his teammates came to his birthday party) so they are aware of this likelihood.
Of course, if he is the best player by far available then you might still be inclined to take him, however, if there are legitimate reservations about the "go-home" factor I think what is now occurring with Horne-Francis is very detrimental to North Melbourne. Now you might say "well that's reflective of their culture" and to a small extent that might be true, however, it seems blatantly obvious that we'd be in a similar situation for the vast majority of the 16 non-SA teams given Horne-Francis' propensity.
If we select Sheezel and then he wants to bail within 12 months, that's either:
1. a failure by the recruiters to properly identify a strong desire to return home (which I in no way am attributing as a character flaw, as family is important); or
2. a failure by our club (and its culture) to retain Sheezel.
Either way it results in us losing momentum in our rebuild (as we lose a year of development for our highest rated 18-19 year old) and a likely failure to be properly reimbursed from the team trading with us for the player returning home.
For the record, I wouldn't hold the same standard if a player wanted to leave 3-5 years after joining the club, simply the first year (or two) where it should be identified (through draft interviews etc), avoided (by not selecting the player) or practices put in place for retention (ala your post of proactively ensuring the player stays).
keep in mind if we're looking at a splitting strategy we need to represent the willingness to select anybody. no good trying to fleece an extra pick out of a club wanting to trade up for someone like sheezel if they know we are no threat of actually selecting him.
I concur, but I would suggest that nobody outside of the inner circle of the West Coast recruiting team (and probably the head coach) should know our intentions (certainly not at this point a couple of months out from the draft) and they should be on a strict code of silence.
At times it does feel that the press (and Twomey) somehow have a finger on the pulse of teams, however, in this situation it would be prudent to play our cards close to our chest (particularly if we intend to split our pick 2).
Perhaps, I think that the Sheed selection was fairly telegraphed IIRC.
Looking at the draft list sticky at the top of the thread GWS have an absolutely stacked draft hand.
They’ve still got the Hopper deal but assume they’ll want 2023 draft capital as part of that trade. Richmond have sweet FA to offer this year in any event.
Shame they’re only one spot behind us. They’d have to be really keen on someone to trade up one spot and give us something worthwhile in doing so.
They’ve still got the Hopper deal but assume they’ll want 2023 draft capital as part of that trade. Richmond have sweet FA to offer this year in any event.
Shame they’re only one spot behind us. They’d have to be really keen on someone to trade up one spot and give us something worthwhile in doing so.
Clubs are going to find it hard to trade out excess picks in the 50's and 60's this year, particularly after the player trade period is over.
Not many teams needing to match second round bids on academy or father son kids.
And if I was a club needing to use my later picks at the draft, I'd just wait until the predraft list lodgment, that determines the final draft order, and watch my pick/s in the 70'sand 80's move up 20 odd places as the AFL takes away those picks that clubs can't use at the draft, and then on draft night, they'll move up further, as cubs pass on their last pick/s.
Not many teams needing to match second round bids on academy or father son kids.
And if I was a club needing to use my later picks at the draft, I'd just wait until the predraft list lodgment, that determines the final draft order, and watch my pick/s in the 70'sand 80's move up 20 odd places as the AFL takes away those picks that clubs can't use at the draft, and then on draft night, they'll move up further, as cubs pass on their last pick/s.
This is absolutely true, take the best player. Once they get to the club, form friendships, bond they are likely to stay.
Good post CC
Keys
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That was more a result of lazy journalism though - if there’s a highly rated WA prospect then he’ll be linked by West Coast. Sheed was a natural link
Oscar Allen was linked to us with our first pick in 2017 but we took Brander
Last year with Chesser being linked to us just before the draft was one time when it got out
Just to add to your comment, remember when everyone thought we’d take Powell-Pepper?
We definitely automatically get linked to every decent WA prospect
If we’re playing the hindsight game… we should’ve taken Shai Bolton
Aren't we currently linked to Cadman and Jye Clarke?
Other than Hewett, that's it for us. Wouldn't surprise me if North take Cadman leaving us Wardlaw and O'Brien pulls something random and goes Clarke instead. Or Ginbey.
Other than Hewett, that's it for us. Wouldn't surprise me if North take Cadman leaving us Wardlaw and O'Brien pulls something random and goes Clarke instead. Or Ginbey.
Would have been classified as an almighty reach though.
Hope so.
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Humphrey could go on to be the best Mid in this draft. Damaging mid who can go forward take a clunk and kick off both feet he is also hard as nails.
Think his stock will just continue to rise from here.
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Good to hear. Read somewhere or someone on here mentioned him but only once. Sounds like a pie man move given the usual hush hush about us. Might be a clever slide back…well here’s hoping anyway and fingers crossed we nail this draft
If the Hawks or Dons get pick 7 from the Suns we should be trying to get both of their firsts for 2 and our 2nd/s
Would love Phillipou and Humphries or McKenzie
That's the dream but there's a large spanner in the way goes by the name of ROB
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I like everything about his game except his kicking.
I think he is one of the worst kicks, in the touted top 15.
He is as hard as nails, great leader, has a swagger and takes the game on, decision making is good too, however the disposal accuracy is a concern for me and consequently I have him in the second half of the first round.
Conversely I have Mackenzie higher because he has very neat and tidy foot skills, as does Hotton.
Just saying.
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Doesn't have the best penetrating kick but seems tidy enough.
I like how he is dual sided and won't be a player who gets stuck on the wrong side.
His handball is bloody impressive and is one of his best weapons.
Feel if he tests well he will go top 8
kane249
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Case in point
Eagles eye midfield gun Elijah Hewett ahead of 2022 National Draft
West Coast are set to hold one of the opening two selections this year.
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