List Mgmt. Geelong at the 2013 AFL National Draft - overall review and general discussion

[Turbocat]

With respect Turbo.

Your question ...can effort , training and input from club develop his tank?

It always does!!!.....just like weights put on muscle and bulk, heck we've got a couple of ordinary selections running around in the two's with nothing like the CV of this kid.
After his Carnival was considered by some to be the best big fwd in the draft with the exception of Boyd.

Needs to get in a professional system, after all he's come off a farm, but good enough to play senior SANFL at age 15, the kid is obviously a born player.

Meto , Im not adverse to him but Im not sure of this 100% confidence that its always happens.
Is Mackie big and bulky? For years they said Rocca could not get a tank no matter how much he worked.

Id be very hopeful that within our system , he would gain stamina and would prove your right but I cant agree on 100%..

But if we assume a very good chance of that happening , and if we then gave him a very good chance of developing on ball skills like we did with Ling , then he could be a huge bargain. Your right about him at the champs, he made more athletic types look like ninnys. The fact is I go to watch sport at Kp not Landy field. This kid can play footy. Would not be a bad Rookie bet.

 

[meto]

Meto , Im not adverse to him but Im not sure of this 100% confidence that its always happens.
Is Mackie big and bulky? For years they said Rocca could not get a tank no matter how much he worked.

Id be very hopeful that within our system , he would gain stamina and would prove your right but I cant agree on 100%..

But if we assume a very good chance of that happening , and if we then gave him a very good chance of developing on ball skills like we did with Ling , then he could be a huge bargain. Your right about him at the champs, he made more athletic types look like ninnys. The fact is I go to watch sport at Kp not Landy field. This kid can play footy. Would not be a bad Rookie bet.

I guarantee he would improve immensely because the kid is a natural, undeveloped but nevertheless a natural football athlete, as country kids are, all they want to do is play footy.

For this kid it's been U18's one week, seniors the next, then playing for his State, in between working as a landscape gardener, the kids had a full book!
No wonder, he's either to tired or got no time to go running, probably does all his running at training
But what a talent, and he's a big bruiser isn't he! .....I think we've got to remember he pulled out the big efforts for SA to win it's clutch games, he's the 'X' Factor boy.

I just read an article on Patrick Cripps WA midfielder, as you know went P13 to Carlton, at Combine testing was bottom 13% in the 3km Time Trail Run, nothing said about that but didn't deter Carlton.

I reckon we'd be doing a smart thing grabbing him, because as you and Strangled Cat said, the kid can play.

 

[year of the cat]

At about the 25 min mark of this youtube clip from earlier in the year is an interview with Stephen Wells.

 

[FromDawn2Dark]

He's a kid himself!! playing on the biggest and best in Aust, he already plays against men in the SANFL!, he can handle that already!
Way ahead of where Kersten was before he came to us, that's why Kersten's taken years, he was the one just playing on kids, not Hourigan!

I maybe wrong but I'm fairly sure Kersten played a bit of senior footy in the WAFL for South Fremantle before he came to us. Even then was considered the best kick for goal at the club which he has since showed at VFL. I think the main knock on him was he was considered too small to play as a pure KP forward at AFL level. Probably still is, more a forward pocket/3rd tall role.

Hourigan does have some talent but some question marks too by the sounds of it. Quite likely nothing he probably won't be able to overcome in time, but there's no sure things in footy. A bit of a surprise he went undrafted but seems like a probable rookie pick up somewhere. I'm not sure we're in the market for a key forward but on his profile page it does say he could potentially play down back too. If that's the case he's definitely worth looking at, and as a rookie the risk is minimal. Plus Wells does like the guys who seem to be natural footy players, so we'll see.

On a side note, now that we have 3 Taswegians on our senior list, does anyone know if that's a club first? If not when and who were the others out of curiosity?

 

[sarah.13]

I guarantee he would improve immensely because the kid is a natural, undeveloped but nevertheless a natural football athlete, as country kids are, all they want to do is play footy.

For this kid it's been U18's one week, seniors the next, then playing for his State, in between working as a landscape gardener, the kids had a full book!
No wonder, he's either to tired or got no time to go running, probably does all his running at training
But what a talent, and he's a big bruiser isn't he! .....I think we've got to remember he pulled out the big efforts for SA to win it's clutch games, so he's was the 'X' Factor boy.

I just read an article on Patrick Cripps WA midfielder, as you know went P13 to Carlton, at Combine testing was bottom 13% in the 3km Time Trail Run, nothing said about that but didn't deter Carlton.

I reckon we'd be doing a smart thing grabbing him, because as you and Strangled Cat said, the kid can play.

It's obvious your a rap for the kid do you know of any knock on him for all 18 clubs to have passed on him?

 

[meto]

It's obvious your a rap for the kid do you know of any knock on him for all 18 clubs to have passed on him?

The main 2 knocks I think is the reported, hasn't got a tank and the other poor handling of the ball below the knees, maybe height, but I know he's now at least 192cm.

Watching his video he looked pretty quick and agile to me, I'm sure some of his opponents would vouch for that, some of the match reports read he was irrepressible no matter what they tried.
His marking is a highlight and body work second to none. The upside is pretty high I would think and given the brittle state and inexperience our 2014 forwardline, we could do a lot worse than give him a go.
If you think about it logically, if his deficiencies were that serious he never would've be made an All Australian, and he won the goal kicking at the Carnival as well. He proved to be no average player and worthy of that honor.

Check out the articles page 9, he's a great natural talent who's only really just starting, but these experts would rather write him off, he's an example of "the glass half full" metaphor.

In the write ups there were question marks on all of them, including the stuff I read on Lang, going by some you'd never have picked him with 16.

 

[Strangled Cat]

I've watched Hourigan play a number of times this year, including when Gardiner played on him when Vic Country played SA at Richmond oval (West Adelaide's home ground) earlier in the year. Gardiner did win that battle, but Hourigan wasn't disgraced though. Gardiner is actually a very good defender who happened to beat Tom Boyd as well.

But as for Hourigan playing in defence, I've stated it before but he played almost all of his junior football for Strathalbyn and South Adelaide as a defender. It wasn't until he was playing in the under 16's for South Adelaide, where he was put up forward due to a real need for a big forward. Following on from that, he played for the senior SANFL Panthers side from the age of 15 as a forward, and continued from there playing as a KPF who roamed up the ground then and when, both for the U/18 South Adelaide side and for SA in the champs.

The boy is a born footballer. He's not overly flashy, he's just a good honest footballer. He kicks like a mule, and is deadly accurate especially from outside 50. He has very strong hands, as well as a big frame which would develop massively once in an AFL system. His knocks are his fitness - or tank - with question marks on how he'd develop that long term, and possibly his ball handling skills at ground level.

I couldn't ever see him as a midfielder, he just doesn't have that string to his bow IMO, although having said that, who would have thought Cameron Ling would develop from a chubby ranga playing forward for St. Joeys into the superstar midfield tagging machine that he became? All I know from having watched Hourigan play a few times is that he's too good to not be drafted, and I would absolutely love if he got a chance to be rookied by us. IMO which ever club rookies him will promote him to the senior list before his 3 years are up. I really hope that will be us at some stage.

 

[BIGANT]

On looking thru all post's/views on the cats 3 new draftee's, I do like what I see. Once they develop and grow into the geelong way CS's game style I see a lot of positivity; you can already see that w mass & tone trained into there program that w out losing any of there ability and pace that any of 1-2-3 of them will add to this already promising side looking ahead.
With our team over the past two to three years being like market day at ballarat saleyards, out w the old and in w the new breed.
One may can understand the inconsistencies w our form thru the finals the past two seasons, being soooooo close to a premiership or gf berth but now w the 70/30 split of youth/experience maybe a mid table finish next season may fall our way unfortunetly but fortunate w neeext seasons ND being a big man's draft.

 

[dazbroncos]

I maybe wrong but I'm fairly sure Kersten played a bit of senior footy in the WAFL for South Fremantle before he came to us. Even then was considered the best kick for goal at the club which he has since showed at VFL. I think the main knock on him was he was considered too small to play as a pure KP forward at AFL level. Probably still is, more a forward pocket/3rd tall role.

Hourigan does have some talent but some question marks too by the sounds of it. Quite likely nothing he probably won't be able to overcome in time, but there's no sure things in footy. A bit of a surprise he went undrafted but seems like a probable rookie pick up somewhere. I'm not sure we're in the market for a key forward but on his profile page it does say he could potentially play down back too. If that's the case he's definitely worth looking at, and as a rookie the risk is minimal. Plus Wells does like the guys who seem to be natural footy players, so we'll see.

On a side note, now that we have 3 Taswegians on our senior list, does anyone know if that's a club first? If not when and who were the others out of curiosity?

I know game has changed but Kersten is the same size as Dunstall. Im not sure that based purely on size measurements Im gonna put a line through him as KPF until the kid has played 30 games in the spot at the senior level and failed each week.

Till then, I reckon I'm gonna back him in. Im not having a go at you btw but I have heard this sentiment expressed as few times based purely on size and i just think it;s too early to make that assumption.

That said, after reading a lot in the last 3 days, there seems to be some MASSIVE assumption being made..

Go Catters

 

[dazbroncos]

On looking thru all post's/views on the cats 3 new draftee's, I do like what I see. Once they develop and grow into the geelong way CS's game style I see a lot of positivity; you can already see that w mass & tone trained into there program that w out losing any of there ability and pace that any of 1-2-3 of them will add to this already promising side looking ahead.
With our team over the past two to three years being like market day at ballarat saleyards, out w the old and in w the new breed.
One may can understand the inconsistencies w our form thru the finals the past two seasons, being soooooo close to a premiership or gf berth but now w the 70/30 split of youth/experience maybe a mid table finish next season may fall our way unfortunetly but fortunate w neeext seasons ND being a big man's draft.

Nailed it here for mine. It seems that the expectation of some is that while the Pies are trying to plug holes NOW an get instant gratification we are a lot happier to wait the patient course and put the time and effort into the raw talent we have drafted and reap the rewards in 3-4 years time.

The Cats method is perhaps a little old fashioned ( my age old) in that one has to work for results and put int he time to see the best come to fruition. Other clubs seem to want the youth of today's society opinion of "I want it all and i want it now."

Different approaches but thus far, the Cats path seems to be producing the fruit as we go.

This draft seems to be for 2015- 2016 - not immediate impact. Anything before then is a bonus yield.

Go Catters

 

[Strangled Cat]

Nailed it here for mine. It seems that the expectation of some is that while the Pies are trying to plug holes NOW an get instant gratification we are a lot happier to wait the patient course and put the time and effort into the raw talent we have drafted and reap the rewards in 3-4 years time.

The Cats method is perhaps a little old fashioned ( my age old) in that one has to work for results and put int he time to see the best come to fruition. Other clubs seem to want the youth of today's society opinion of "I want it all and i want it now."

Different approaches but thus far, the Cats path seems to be producing the fruit as we go.

This draft seems to be for 2015- 2016 - not immediate impact. Anything before then is a bonus yield.

Go Catters

 

[meto]

WHO? WHO? HOURIGAN!!!!

 

[rocker_oz33]

Heres something on the 3 picks/kittens>
http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au...alcon-darcy-lang/story-fnjuhrxq-1226765590748

 

[FromDawn2Dark]

I know game has changed but Kersten is the same size as Dunstall. Im not sure that based purely on size measurements Im gonna put a line through him as KPF until the kid has played 30 games in the spot at the senior level and failed each week.

Till then, I reckon I'm gonna back him in. Im not having a go at you btw but I have heard this sentiment expressed as few times based purely on size and i just think it;s too early to make that assumption.

That said, after reading a lot in the last 3 days, there seems to be some MASSIVE assumption being made..

Go Catters

Well I did say perceived lack of size by probably most other teams looking for a key position forward. I agree that size isn't everything, he is strong overhead, has a big leap and good pace to help make up for a few cms he may lack. But if he can play as a pure KP forward, how many can we fit in the side? Most are pretty agile so that's not the issue for me, more their work at ground level. That's where I think as a 3rd tall/forward pocket I personally think he's best suited to. Somewhere between what Chappy gave us and Pods lead up work further up the ground. And I think it may not be too long before he's giving opposition defenders a few things to think about.

 

[AM]

Interesting conversation with McCartney tonight on the way clubs are going about recruitment. During the conversation it was said that SW spends around a third of his time on background checks on potential recruits. McCartney regarded that as so important that the Bullies have upped that to around half. I guess one take home message from that for future recruits is be careful how you use facebook, instagram, twitter and other social media.

 

[bulletproof]

Clearly from our trading, drafting and rookie draft we see Blicavs and Vardy as ruckmen. Very odd that we did not add another genuine ruck to the list but I am at least encouraged they have faith in the fitness of Mcintosh, Vardy and Simpson.

 

[Vdubs]

Clearly from our trading, drafting and rookie draft we see Blicavs and Vardy as ruckmen. Very odd that we did not add another genuine ruck to the list but I am at least encouraged they have faith in the fitness of Mcintosh, Vardy and Simpson.

There's the next draft to look fwd to if not.

 

[thejester]

Interesting conversation with McCartney tonight on the way clubs are going about recruitment. During the conversation it was said that SW spends around a third of his time on background checks on potential recruits. McCartney regarded that as so important that the Bullies have upped that to around half. I guess one take home message from that for future recruits is be careful how you use facebook, instagram, twitter and other social media.

Where was that AM? SEN?

 

[AM]

Where was that AM? SEN?

During the interview on Sports Today.

http://www.3aw.com.au/blogs/3aw-foo...regain-their-bite-in-2014/20131127-2ya9u.html

 

[Catatonic Shock]

Pity isn't it!

One thing we do know is the Saints are delirious!

They are also a shit club with a worse culture and couldn't develop a digital photo.

I'm not concerned.

 

[dazbroncos]

They are also a shit club with a worse culture and couldn't develop a digital photo.

I'm not concerned.

I think the Doggies are getting better and will do so this year again. They have some very nice pieces gathering down there and they have the right people in place to teach them.

Not saying they will be top 4 or anything but id not be surprised at all if they make the 8 and take some scalps in the process.

GO Catters

 

[meto]

They are also a shit club with a worse culture and couldn't develop a digital photo.

I'm not concerned.

This new bloke they have seems to be having an instant effect, their drafting has been spot on imo.
They do need big change as we know.

 

[Catatonic Shock]

I think the Doggies are getting better and will do so this year again. They have some very nice pieces gathering down there and they have the right people in place to teach them.

Not saying they will be top 4 or anything but id not be surprised at all if they make the 8 and take some scalps in the process.

GO Catters

I agree the doggies are building a decent side but they aren't the saints Daz!

I still think the dogs will have the same weakness as the did when they played in those prelims, a lack of big power forwards.

 

[Catatonic Shock]

This new bloke they have seems to be having an instant effect, their drafting has been spot on imo.
They do need big change as we know.

They'll sack him 2 days before the pre-season draft knowing them.

 

[Spemonie]

I'd love to know what their actual heights and updated. I hear so many different heights for players. Jade has been said to be 192 or 194. Would also love to know how tall Hamling is now if he has grown.