Competitions Draft Prediction - 23 & 28

[Obeanie1]

1) Everybody improves their disposal when they enter the AFL - how can you not when you have so many coaches around and thats what you practice. i did say this.
2) WC's improvement in 2011 came mainly from the change in game plan and the introduction of players who could kick, rather than any dramatic change in players kicking ability. Certainly I cant remember thinking Ebert's or swifts kicking improved out of sight.

If we were to break down kicking ability into 4 groups for convenience being poor, average, good and elite - can you please tell me a player who has moved from one group to the next (in comparison to the list they're part of)

I'd say Priddis has improved from poor to average.....good may be reaching a tad.

I still remember him just throwing the ball on the boot uder pressure, at the back of a pack he'd blindly throw it on his boot with a blind chip kick 15m up field only to be marked by the opposition. In space he'd just bomb it high and long.

Now he is not only kicking better he is making much better decisions on when to kick and when to hand off. He doesn't blindly kick it over his shoulder, he runs back and hands off. Going forward you can see he is lowering his eyes and his kicks, not so many rain makers.

This all comes from coaching and experience, reviewing tapes and learning what to do and that becoming second nature.

This is how and why recruits do improve there kicking in an AFL environment.

This isn't directed at you Bond as I know I'm 'preaching to the converted' but some people on here put a players skills down as poor and never to improve.

EMac is another who has improved, Glass of 18 v now is the same. How much is technique and how much is experience and poise is really the issue in many cases.

 

[spEKTre]

I predict we will grab one Victorian and one WA boy, Boseley for a replacement defender for Glass and perhaps this Newman as a replacement for Broome because he is tiny

Seriously though I wish we had a lower pick to get that Patton lad, I could see him and Kennedy working well together with Lynch seeing less game time.

 

[free at last]

1) Everybody improves their disposal when they enter the AFL - how can you not when you have so many coaches around and thats what you practice. i did say this.
2) WC's improvement in 2011 came mainly from the change in game plan and the introduction of players who could kick, rather than any dramatic change in players kicking ability. Certainly I cant remember thinking Ebert's or swifts kicking improved out of sight.

If we were to break down kicking ability into 4 groups for convenience being poor, average, good and elite - can you please tell me a player who has moved from one group to the next (in comparison to the list they're part of)

Dean cox , Kerr have gone from average to good.
Sandi has gone from poor to avg.

 

[Matera92]

Cox's kicking is better than good..

 

[DivideandMultiply]

Dean cox , Kerr have gone from average to good.
Sandi has gone from poor to avg.

When has Cox's kicking ever been an issue?

He has the occasional brain fade when injured/fatigued but his kicking is a hell of a lot better than average or good.

 

[Prem87]

So is Kerr's at full tilt. Kerr's 2006 GF was a joy to watch - that left foot pass to lynch on the run after running at full pace towards the ball drop tapping the ball with his left hand into his right was insane.

 

[Icanwalk]

A lot of this is basically empty rhetoric. You could just as easily say that we wont be able to compete with the best clubs if we're short and slow. Likewise, athleticism is as important now as ever.

Yes I admit this is true, although it is only empty when backed up by nothing as in my earlier post. Didn't have the time to construct an argument as I had exams.

Drafting Talia and Hill to lesser extent would introduce two more poor kicks of the footy into a team with an abundance of em, and whose biggest weakness is a lack of polish and pace.
In a midfield that consists of Priddis, Scooter, McGinnity, Masten, Embley, Naitinui and a defense of MacKenzie, Schofield, Waters, Glass etc, do we really need a player whose first option will always be to hand it off to a cleaner disposer of the ball.

The reason I say that field kicking is now more important than ever is due to the evolution of zoning whose function is to coerce these poor disposers into turnovers. We saw enough of this in 2010 so no need to explain the mechanics behind it.
The transition from defense into attack has become a teams main avenue for success, with teams even playing midfielders at HBF to ensure that the ball can move from defense seamlessly. Teams like Hawthorn and Carlton have specifically targeted classy users for this reason.

Talia's kicking is as close to irrecoverable as you can get. Why when we have other options such as Newman, Brad McKenzie, Lockyer and Murdoch are we fixated on these player.
In a team like the Hawks or the pies who chip it round the field with ease, Talia may be a good addition considering his defensive capabilities. For a team like us, not so much.

 

[Monocle]

22871124Talia's kicking is as close to irrecoverable as you can get.

Talia may be a good addition considering his defensive capabilities. For a team like us, not so much.

I am just curious, how much of Talia have you actually seen and watched ?

 

[kane249]

1) Everybody improves their disposal when they enter the AFL - how can you not when you have so many coaches around and thats what you practice. i did say this.
2) WC's improvement in 2011 came mainly from the change in game plan and the introduction of players who could kick, rather than any dramatic change in players kicking ability. Certainly I cant remember thinking Ebert's or swifts kicking improved out of sight.

If we were to break down kicking ability into 4 groups for convenience being poor, average, good and elite - can you please tell me a player who has moved from one group to the next (in comparison to the list they're part of)

Rosa has definitely improved his kicking since he first started with us, Glass as well

 

[SwiftforPM]

I hope I'm wrong but I can't see Lockyer being available at 23, if he is I think we will grab him.

 

[keviewiggle]

So is Kerr's at full tilt. Kerr's 2006 GF was a joy to watch - that left foot pass to lynch on the run after running at full pace towards the ball drop tapping the ball with his left hand into his right was insane.

Kerr's handball is elite.
His kicking is only average.
Quite offen when he runs forward he runs too deep and end up in no mans land.

 

[BOND 007]

Obeanie - what you described about Priddis is probably the best example one could make on decision making. Priddis was never a poor kick - you cant win a Sandover in recent times with a poor kick.

Obviously I'm on the same side of the argument as Insane - WC have too many poor to average kicks in their best 22 to be of major threat to a flag. Obviously TW & the boys know better than any here but from what I've seen of Hill (& I've seen a bit) there seem to be better kicks out there.

Just a question to ponder -

If you could get the best 22 of each of the top 5 teams from this year & ask thwm to run 20 m & then add together all the times thereby creating a team 20m sprint time if you like - in what order would the teams finish?

I would bet Carlton & Hawks would be the quickest followed by WC pretty close behind, then Geelong one step back then the Pies. Then look where the teams finished

 

[beatlesmith]

Kerr's handball is elite.
His kicking is only average.
Quite offen when he runs forward he runs too deep and end up in no mans land.

I disagree. His kicking is at times erratic but he had a higher kicking ability than Judd or Cousins. Has excellent feel and weighting to his kicks. Well above average.

 

[sTeeL]

I think you have forgotten how good Cousins was. I would put him well in front in terms of kicking comparing those 3.

 

[Icanwalk]

I am just curious, how much of Talia have you actually seen and watched ?

Only a few games for Vic Metro in the U18's. But apart from that just the limited highlights I've been able to access.

Never professed to be an expert or anything just giving my opinion. And I'm of the opinion that we don't need any more inadequate kicks in the team. Would rather us target class users is all.

Got nothing against Talia of course, just think that his deficiencies far outweigh his strengths and would rather see us target a Schade, Bosely or Lockyer if we go down the KPD path.

 

[beatlesmith]

I think you have forgotten how good Cousins was. I would put him well in front in terms of kicking comparing those 3.

I don't think i explained properly what I meant.
What I meant was that Kerr has the highest ceiling in terms of kicking of those three. In the sense that he was capable of simply outstanding kicks, kicks beyond the capabilities of Cousins and Judd.
Cousins was a more consistent kick and that consistency probably makes him a better disposer by foot overall, but Kerr's ability in terms of weighting and feel off either foot was superb.

 

[Eastern Rangers]

Did anyone know that Rob Wiley and Michael Brennan are both uncles of McInnes...

 

[Masto]

Did anyone know that Rob Wiley and Michael Brennan are both uncles of McInnes...

Yes its been mentioned several times. I hope we don't take him because if Masten is anything to go by, the posters on this site will go nuts about nepotism.

 

[shooshka]

I saw someone mention Varcoe when speaking of B.Hill.

I'm not sure how they compare as players - but if what has been said is true (electrifying pace and turns back inside) then they share some traits.

I would say Varcoe isn't the best kick - but he adds a lot to Geelong, in a similar way that someone with pace to burn but not elite kicking would still add a lot to WC.

it also depends a lot on whether it is technique or decision making. the first can be taught, the second is more about experience and game time (i.e. you have to carry them in your team for 30-50 games).

 

[pantskyle]

The thing with Talia is if we grab him then that would mean this is Glass's last year. Talia although an erratic kick is a big boy and ready made. I can't see him waiting two years to get he FB role.

 

[pantskyle]

AFL Website fantasy draft has us taking Lockyer at 23 and Newman at 28
Also has Port getting Manson at 51 and Hill going to Freo at 58. Tunbridge to Freo at 71.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/126378/default.aspx

 

[idmfts]

Atm I would be happy with a combination of the Jordans (Lockyer or Murdoch), Newman or a slider (hopefully Devon Smith, Markworth or Crozier) at 23 and 28.

Interesting that the afl.com.au phantom didn't have Hutchings or Gilligan, still a rookie chance perhaps?

 

[INSANE]

Atm I would be happy with a combination of the Jordans (Lockyer or Murdoch), Newman or a slider (hopefully Devon Smith, Markworth or Crozier) at 23 and 28.

Interesting that the afl.com.au phantom didn't have Hutchings or Gilligan, still a rookie chance perhaps?

A few weeks ago I was hoping/thinking he could slide due to height, but he should be a top ten pick. Tay Adams, another Falcon I held a smidgen of hope for, should also be no chance of making it to us.

 

[Ambrose Burnside]

AFL Website fantasy draft has us taking Lockyer at 23 and Newman at 28

Exactly what I predicted a fair few pages ago now

When has the AFL website ever been correct when it came to predicting our picks though?

 

[sTeeL]

God I hope its not Crozier as well.