Toast Fremantle's 2nd 2018 National Draft Pick: Luke Valente [Pick #32]

[Joao]

We win the draft. So pumped about this pickup.

 

[yakka man]

This is a great get!!!!

I feel this is the guy who will don the #29
Leadership qualities and obviously talented, speaks really well

And is South Australian!

 

[Dockernut]

So, after much trepidation about this draft, somehow the Valente pick makes it all right. Just like everything about this pick. Leadership, skills, hardness. Cannot beat an MVP Captain. Give him the 29.

 

[mightymouse75]

Yes. Great footballers, leaders & good blokes. Getting in some great stock. Building a great side. A champion team.

 

[mightymouse75]

Getting carter for free is a good move. I think he is also showing the sort of professionalism & drive that we have been recruiting.

 

[yakka man]

https://www.footyalmanac.com.au/luke-valente-elite-leader/

Luke’s influences in footy have been from his manager Michael Doughty, where Luke makes the point that Michael’s honesty has been fantastic explaining the areas he needs to improve in. One of these is Luke isn’t blisteringly quick – good mate Stefan Giro, who is now at Fremantle, has helped in this area getting Luke to join the fast twitch gym which specialises in athletic development. Luke feels he is now running and getting across the ground far better (why not learn off Stefan in this area he is in the top few in the game).

 

[Righteo]

Thunderstruck's comments;
There is no shortage of SA talent this year, Valente the best skills of the SA lads and dual sided, very hard running and extremely strong defensively when needed, he's the consumate captain and extracts maximum effort and impact out of his talent which whilst not as high as say Rankine, Lukosius, Hately and Rozee, is still worthy of a late first round pick but he prob slides into the second round. Similar player to Liam Shiels.

and also;

Very pleased to grab the SA Under 18 captain with #19, his range is probably late first round to mid to late second round depending on who you talk to but he is for mine an extremely low risk player who will develop into a very solid AFL footballer.

Valente is a consumate professional midfielder, ticks just about every box from ability to leadership (school captain, state football captain, AA Under 18 vice captain) as well as SA MVP for the tournament eclipsing the likes of Lukosius, Rankine, Hately and Rozee which is no mean feat. His professionalism will make the transition and step up to AFL football much easier for him than for others and I think he will quickly slot into any AFL midfield and play good football in his first year.

Skills wise he is good of both feet, and his kicks can be penetrating, perhaps not always perfectly weighted but he has no trouble in hitting most of his targets. Can win his own ball, strong clearance numbers, very good inside/outside midfielder, has a little pace but nothing what I'd call quick or explosive. Strong in the contest, will burrow into packs and extract, be it first hands or quick kick out, great running patterns and fantastic defensive pressure, one game I think he had 14 tackles. Overhead ability probably only average and perhaps his scope for improvement might be a tad less than some of his peers, jack of all trades master of none but still very solid and could well be an AFL captain one day, just a no fuss all round midfielder.

I see him playing to a similar level of say a Liam Shiels or possibly if he really develops James Kelly from Cats/Ess a few years ago but that maybe be a reach.

Not the sexiest name out there but if he ends up like Liam shiels it'll be a massive win

 

[DeanS]

Is it pronounced Valentee or Valentay?

 

[Mr Fonebone]

Is it pronounced Valentee or Valentay?

Its spelt V-A-L-E-N-T-E but is pronounced "throatwobblergreen"

 

[serial_thrilla]

Luke Valente vs. Luke Foley

Will this be another Blakely vs. Lamb? The Eagles BF fans certainly do...they even have a dedicated thread for it already!

 

[One_Wing]

Luke Valente vs. Luke Foley

Will this be another Blakely vs. Lamb? The Eagles BF fans certainly do...they even have a dedicated thread for it already!

You aren't joking, they actually made a thread comparing two late second round picks that haven't even started training with their respective clubs. Very strange lads those Eagles fans. Think they are a little obsessed with us.

 

[Righteo]

For a bloke they had a collective hard-on for earlier today they've been very quick to dismiss Valente as a 'cokehead plodder' lolololol

 

[Taylor]

Hip operations suck.

 

[ImperialPurple]

Can I just reiterate how FARKEN stoked I am to get Valente!!

(Pronunciation is like the "e" in "egg", which doesn't come naturally to us as English speakers, so I reckon the commentators with go with "Valentay". Just a hunch).

 

[Clems Knee]

Hip operations suck.

Relevance?

 

[Taylor]

Relevance?

In the comparison to West Coast's selection, but I was thinking of Joyce - who went to Brisbane.

 

[Jezzitizle]

Gee they are worried they have missed one on the toast board, a lot of false brovado comparing their draftees to him.

Now I really hope he is a gun.

 

[Bicco]

I think Im happier with this pick than our 1st. So much about him is what a footballer should be. Love it. Very Happy.

 

[Rion]

Love this pick, he's every bit the safe inside mid with good disposal I was hoping for with our first. Yet we managed to snag him at pick 32.

 

[Wally Walpamur]

Leader
Racks up possessions
Kicks on both sides
Wins clearances
Kicks goals
Sets up scores
Tackles

Is there anything he can’t do? I though Sturt might end up being the steal of the draft but I think Valente takes it so far.

 

[theGav56]

He'll be a regular best 22 in no time I reckon. Perhaps never going to be an out and out star, but to me he projects as a reliable contributor, every game, every training session.

 

[Wilksyy]

Im stoked with this pick. He's a classic "moneyball" type. His highlights package isn't sexy to the naked eye but his stats show he's a reliable player.

 

[jackster83]

Combine Results:

Height: 186.5
Weight: 81.95
Skinfolds: 56.6 (36th percentile)

That's all I've got. He mustn't have tested. Injured maybe?

He had a knee problem late in the year which kept him out of testing.

Think we might live to regret not picking him.

 

[theGav56]

Crowden will be nowhere near best 22 if Freo are close to injury free.

Injury free? Crikeys, that is the ultimate in optimism.

We have some candidates now, but small forward is still unsettled, and that is the position I think Crowden could find an opening, but it would be a long shot. Physically he has some power and he has a powerful kick. But he could very easily find himself back in the pack in terms of getting an opportunity.

 

[FD2646]

He had a knee problem late in the year which kept him out of testing.

Think we might live to regret not picking him.

I honestly couldn't believe you blokes didn't select him with any of your picks!