Competition: The Draft by Emma Quayle

[Jean Claude Vas Deferens]

Most inspired: 1988 National Draft. Chris Grant. Pick 105.

A true champion in every sense. Skill, courage, loyalty and heart. 341 magnificent games and a class act on and off the field. Respect!



Least inspired: 1994 National Draft. Pre-draft selections. (These guys were selected in bulk, one after the other.)
Daniel Bandy, Luke Toia, Jay Burton, Brad Cassidy, Antony Ljubic, Neil Mildenhall, Peter Miller, Nathan Mourish, David Muir and Craig Nettlebeck.

Early Fremantle drafting. Bear in mind that these are some of the players that Freo hoped to build their first team around. Nothing's really changed.

 

[Beckers]

Most inspired: 1988 National Draft. Chris Grant. Pick 105.

A true champion in every sense. Skill, courage, loyalty and heart. 341 magnificent games and a class act on and off the field. Respect!



Least inspired: 1994 National Draft. Pre-draft selections. (These guys were selected in bulk, one after the other.)
Daniel Bandy, Luke Toia, Jay Burton, Brad Cassidy, Antony Ljubic, Neil Mildenhall, Peter Miller, Nathan Mourish, David Muir and Craig Nettlebeck.

Early Fremantle drafting. Bear in mind that these are some of the players that Freo hoped to build their first team around. Nothing's really changed.

25 words or less FAIL

 

[Jean Claude Vas Deferens]

25 words or less FAIL

Early Fremantle drafting. Bear in mind that these are some of the players that Freo hoped to build their first team around. Nothing's really changed.

That's the 25 word part Becks... surely I can name them.

 

[happy_eagle]

Most Inspired
Nick Natinui- Pick 2.

Who would have thought that this guy could bag two brownlows in a row, and captain 3 premierships. One of the great moves by WCE.

Least Inspired
Daniel Rich- Pick 3.

What did the dockers do to this promising youngster. After turning him into a full-back, and trying to make him ruck, he was delisted.

 

[JohnD]

Just wanted to say thanks guys for all the nice feedback the book has received on this site so far (not that I have looked ... or that any family members have ). It's a bit scary to send a book out into the world, especially after working on it for so long, so it makes me feel good that people seem to be liking it!

Look forward to seeing what comes up in this thread and giving a few copies away.

I already have your book ... bought it pretty early after release on the back of the promise of some Junior Rioli background info.

I've always thought that any woman daring to publish opinions on a game played only by men at the elite level was taking a pretty big risk. There's always going to be a chorus of critisism from men who think that women lack the understanding or the right to base any comment upon.

So, firstly, congratulations on your decision to write this book.

Secondly, congratulations on absolutely nailing it. Your portrayal of each player's backgrounds and families was really well done. It's one thing to talk football and write-up on-field performances and physical attributes, but the real depth in this story came from being able to uncover the fears, self-doubts, parental concerns and sacrifice, levels of determination and personal investment, and the struggles of youth in developing leadership attributes. That was the real stand-out stuff for me in the book. Having read it, I came away feeling I knew a lot more about the men that these boys would become.

Anyone who wins one will enjoy it. Anyone who's interested but doesn't win should buy it. You won't regret it ... but it is hard to put down once you start.

Good stuff Emma.

 

[Warsaw]

Most Inspired
Pick 79 1990 AFL Draft - James Hird

In a draft that produced 998 games, Hird accounted for 253. Brownlow, Norm, Premiership he achieved it all, immortalising him as one of Essendon's greats.

Least Inspired
Pick 4 2002 AFL Draft - Tim Walsh

Sad case. Dogs held him in high regard but it wasn't to be. Strung by injuries played one game in 05 and delisted in 07.

 

[chadleverington]

Does anyone know if the 2008 AFL draft on Nov 29 will be on tv? fox sports (in SA) ?

 

[Bonz]

Does anyone know if the 2008 AFL draft on Nov 29 will be on tv? fox sports (in SA) ?

Its always on sen and broadcast over the afl site.

As for actual tv it sometimes is but its always delayed.


and btw the entries are now closed so hopefully we see some results soon.

I personally like reading everyones opinions about this.

 

[emmaq]

Thanks everyone for all your thoughts, looks like there is some good stuff in here. I'm a bit busy today, but will have a decent read through in the next day or so and figure out some winners. By the way I forgot to mention that I do accept cash bribes.....................................................................

only joking

 

[emmaq]

Sorry everyone for the delay, been a bit crazy busy in the past few days.

I have some winners for you.... PM me your details and I will send the books out.

1. Sasquatch09 (Daniel Pratt/Gary Moorcroft)
Moorcroft. Got plenty out of himself at Essendon, but a third round pick for a peripheral player who only played 3 more games. Ouch.
And Daniel Pratt - not often a club even gives a guy a third shot, let alone makes it work. He's an awesome story. Credit to Neville Stibbard for being so determined to get him back...

2. Macca19 (Josh Mahoney/Lawrence Angwin)
I liked this one mostly for Mahoney - it's on thing for a delisted AFL player to look the goods at a second club, but for Port to take a chance on Mahoney at the age he was and with so long out of the system was pretty bold. Angwin just makes you wonder what could have been.

3. Quixote. I wanted to pick someone who chose more purely from national drafts - ie, untried players. Simon Black was well known before the draft but Brisbane jumped in the second round. And Vance makes you shudder when you think Bolton, McVeigh, Rama, Hayes and a few others were lingering so close.

Hope people are happy with that! Thanks for all the entries, it was a good read...

 

[__aria__]

daniel pratt what a gun

 

[JohnD]

daniel pratt what a gun

.....

 

[__aria__]

why did you make that post? this is not bay 13

 

[Ron The Bear]

Hope people are happy with that!

If you mean happy as in "I'm happy I lost on the races today because my money will go towards helping sick people in hospitals", then no.

 

[Warsaw]

Thanks for all the entries, it was a good read...

That last bit almost smells of sarcasam!