Rumour GFC 2021 Player Trading, Drafting FA, Rumours and Wish lists... Part II

[D BRIDGE]

I'm kind of happy we don't have a pick around #15ish mark.

Wells has missed so many times around that spot (Harry Taylor the exception).

Misses from memory between 15/20 are:

Lang
Smedts
Brown
Thurlow - think Grundy went a couple of picks later
Menzel
Clark
Stephens (early but It's not tracking great).

There might even be more, that's just of the top of my head.
Maybe the only other pick we had that was earlier than those was #10 of which I remember we traded up from probably 15ish and we took Cockatoo.

Basically what I'm getting at is that our first picks in the draft haven't been overly solid... although I do admit that due to being so competitive on the field, we never get the cream selections.

Anyway, I guess I'm just thinking out loud and happy with picks in the 20s/30s (from Wells' history) and trading up to get a few spots earlier doesn't guarantee anything.

P.S this is all off the top of my head so If I missed someone or got one wrong, don't come at me.
Feel free to add to the list.

 

[cat_shack]

I'm kind of happy we don't have a pick around #15ish mark.

Wells has missed so many times around that spot (Harry Taylor the exception).

Misses from memory between 15/20 are:

Lang
Smedts
Brown
Thurlow - think Grundy went a couple of picks later
Menzel
Clark
Stephens (early but It's not tracking great).

There might even be more, that's just of the top of my head.
Maybe the only other pick we had that was earlier than those was #10 of which I remember we traded up from probably 15ish and we took Cockatoo.

Basically what I'm getting at is that our first picks in the draft haven't been overly solid... although I do admit that due to being so competitive on the field, we never get the cream selections.

Anyway, I guess I'm just thinking out loud and happy with picks in the 20s/30s (from Wells' history) and trading up to get a few spots earlier doesn't guarantee anything.

P.S this is all off the top of my head so If I missed someone or got one wrong, don't come at me.
Feel free to add to the list.

Little bit rough on Wells, Menzel would of been a superstar, Thurlow was tracking great until his pre season ACL, Stephens way too early to call, and Clark was a solid pick until he decided that hard work isn’t his jam. Think it speaks more to Wells feeling the pressure of never having high picks and needing to pull a rabbit out of a hat. That pressure is alleviated this draft though, just go out pick 3 of the best kids available at those spots and save 1 for a ‘Wells special’

 

[Kitcat]

What about giving Matt Ling a rookie spot as he had an injury free season? Local. Left footer.

 

[Jhye Clark 13]

What about giving Matt Ling a rookie spot as he had an injury free season? Local. Left footer.

He's another Jordan Murdoch.

 

[Sire of Claude]

A recruiter from another club said Duncan was "the most efficient player" in his draft year. Not far off the mark. He was a great selection at 28.

Shifter likes Tom Brown a lot and also Lewis Rayson; in fact he described them as "future stars". I note that Rayson is a late pick in some phantom drafts I've seen - I'd be very happy to get a quick fellow with a lethal left foot kick. I also like another SA fellow called Beecken - I think that's right.

(I see the mind-reading character assassins are still taking pot shots at Clark!)

 

[Kitcat]

He's another Jordan Murdoch.
Have you seen much of him at senior level? Ling was a first round pick.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

A recruiter from another club said Duncan was "the most efficient player" in his draft year. Not far off the mark. He was a great selection at 28.

Shifter likes Tom Brown a lot and also Lewis Rayson; in fact he described them as "future stars". I note that Rayson is a late pick in some phantom drafts I've seen - I'd be very happy to get a quick fellow with a lethal left foot kick. I also like another SA fellow called Beecken - I think that's right.

(I see the mind-reading character assassins are still taking pot shots at Clark!)

I mean shifter pumps up everyones tires hes all sunshine and rainbows with draftees but re brown i agree with him.
I do rate cooper beecken.
Raysons like a few in this draft a team could reach early and take him in the r2/3 or he might not get drafted at all. Clubs will have varying views on a lot of these high upside type players.

 

[Partridge]

Little bit rough on Wells, Menzel would of been a superstar, Thurlow was tracking great until his pre season ACL, Stephens way too early to call, and Clark was a solid pick until he decided that hard work isn’t his jam. Think it speaks more to Wells feeling the pressure of never having high picks and needing to pull a rabbit out of a hat. That pressure is alleviated this draft though, just go out pick 3 of the best kids available at those spots and save 1 for a ‘Wells special’

Personally I hope I never hear the term 'Wells special' ever again.

The most basic task of a recruiter is getting the best player possible. I'm convinced sections of this board are more excited about the pick being unusual than just going for the best possible player.

The club can't bitch about not having picks - they've given so many away to get mature age players. You can't have it both ways.

 

[Jhye Clark 13]

Ling was a first round pick

So was Kane Tenace

 

[year of the cat]

Personally I hope I never hear the term 'Wells special' ever again.

The most basic task of a recruiter is getting the best player possible. I'm convinced sections of this board are more excited about the pick being unusual than just going for the best possible player.

The club can't b*tch about not having picks - they've given so many away to get mature age players. You can't have it both ways.

I think Wells started drinking his own bathwater after '99/'01 when he nailed Enright, Ling etc with late picks and thought he was some kind of oracle. Fortunately, in more recent years, he's been far more conventional.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Personally I hope I never hear the term 'Wells special' ever again.

The most basic task of a recruiter is getting the best player possible. I'm convinced sections of this board are more excited about the pick being unusual than just going for the best possible player.

The club can't b*tch about not having picks - they've given so many away to get mature age players. You can't have it both ways.

Yes we can on the last bit-we've had less top 5 picks since the draft started than basically every other club and this isnt likely to change. The picks we have traded for mature players in almost all cases have been outside top 10 as have been our draft picks. Unless you think theres no quality difference between top 10 picks and the next 30 (if so fair enough but i disagree) then its apples and oranges comparing our list strategy to other clubs.

 

[CatToTheFuture]

Well now then.
I was at a Mayo Club championship match today here in Ireland, and a neighbouring club of Oisin Mullins was playing. A guy beside me told me he was talking to Oisins mother yesterday evening and he hasn’t decided at all yet whether to take up the offer to go to the AFL.This guy reckoned that he was leaning towards not going to Australia at all!
I must say it’s strange that it was just one journalist (Maurice Brosnan), an Irish guy based in Melbourne but working for Irish media outlets, that ran with this story. Geelong have not confirmed it at all. Did old mate Maurice take a leaf from the sam Edmund/tom Browne trade week playbook, and pull the trigger too early??

County championships are playing finals now right? Could just be keeping tight lipped until after finals to minimise distraction

 

[CharacterFirst]

I think Wells started drinking his own bathwater after '99/'01 when he nailed Enright, Ling etc with late picks and thought he was some kind of oracle. Fortunately, in more recent years, he's been far more conventional.

I think Wells is about as far away from someone who would drink their own bathwater as you could possibly find.

 

[BORIS332]

A recruiter from another club said Duncan was "the most efficient player" in his draft year. Not far off the mark. He was a great selection at 28.

Shifter likes Tom Brown a lot and also Lewis Rayson; in fact he described them as "future stars". I note that Rayson is a late pick in some phantom drafts I've seen - I'd be very happy to get a quick fellow with a lethal left foot kick. I also like another SA fellow called Beecken - I think that's right.

(I see the mind-reading character assassins are still taking pot shots at Clark!)

Duncan has an elite kick, running capacity and can find a lot of the ball. They’re good foundations for a successful career and Rayson seems to have them.

 

[BORIS332]

I think Wells started drinking his own bathwater after '99/'01 when he nailed Enright, Ling etc with late picks and thought he was some kind of oracle. Fortunately, in more recent years, he's been far more conventional.

I see it very differently. Wells backs his own judgement and his own scouts. He doesn’t read the puff pieces in the media. Sometimes it has worked, sometimes he’s been unlucky through injuries, sometimes it’s been a flop. It’s a tough game.

 

[Kitcat]

So was Kane Tenace

Murdoch was pick 48 and played 122 AFL games.

 

[Partridge]

Yes we can on the last bit-we've had less top 5 picks since the draft started than basically every other club and this isnt likely to change. The picks we have traded for mature players in almost all cases have been outside top 10 as have been our draft picks. Unless you think theres no quality difference between top 10 picks and the next 30 (if so fair enough but i disagree) then its apples and oranges comparing our list strategy to other clubs.

They had no top 5 picks when they built a premiership winning team and it didn't seem to be a problem then. Now it's called out beforehand and is one of a few ready made excuses for finals failures.

I've never believed in the inherent, rock solid infallibility of early picks. Sure some superstars absolutely do come from there; but plenty of very good footballers if not absolute guns continue to come from later on. I want to grab as many picks as possible - if not top 10, then in the 20s, 30s, 40s. As many as possible. Not all will make it - apparently there are no guarantees (real revelation right there) - but the more you keep the more likely you are to find some nuggets.

 

[Nankervis brothers]

Personally I hope I never hear the term 'Wells special' ever again.

The most basic task of a recruiter is getting the best player possible. I'm convinced sections of this board are more excited about the pick being unusual than just going for the best possible player.

The club can't b*tch about not having picks - they've given so many away to get mature age players. You can't have it both ways.

They had no top 5 picks when they built a premiership winning team and it didn't seem to be a problem then. Now it's called out beforehand and is one of a few ready made excuses for finals failures.

I've never believed in the inherent, rock solid infallibility of early picks. Sure some superstars absolutely do come from there; but plenty of very good footballers if not absolute guns continue to come from later on. I want to grab as many picks as possible - if not top 10, then in the 20s, 30s, 40s. As many as possible. Not all will make it - apparently there are no guarantees (real revelation right there) - but the more you keep the more likely you are to find some nuggets.

I hate to put facts in the way of your 'feels', but Melbourne had seven top 10 picks (most of those top 5) playing in last year's GF. One-third of Melbourne's team is a top 10 pick, and we are not counting first-round picks here—top 10 only. Do you honestly believe this played no significant role in Melbourne's rise and dominance?

By comparison, Geelong has only had four top 10 picks across the entire 21st century. That Geelong has remained so competitive after a dynasty with such shit picks is evidence of deft recruitment decisions.

As for our only rebuild, you conveniently neglect to mention that we got the best midfielder of all time, the second-best fullback of all time, and one of the clubs best forwards all for free. We also had three top 10 picks through that period. Not a lot by Richmond or Melbourne standards, but an embarrassment of riches by Geelong standards.

 

[Big little cat]

I mean shifter pumps up everyones tires hes all sunshine and rainbows with draftees but re brown i agree with him.
I do rate cooper beecken.
Raysons like a few in this draft a team could reach early and take him in the r2/3 or he might not get drafted at all. Clubs will have varying views on a lot of these high upside type players.

Brown would be my first pick for the Cats in this year's draft, assuming no other team has picked him up!

 

[Partridge]

I hate to put facts in the way of your 'feels', but Melbourne had seven top 10 picks (most of those top 5) playing in last year's GF. One-third of Melbourne's team is a top 10 pick, and we are not counting first-round picks here—top 10 only. Do you honestly believe this played no significant role in Melbourne's rise and dominance?

Of course it played a factor. But it wasn't the only one. And those same players were there when they weren't winning flags and weren't a threat, and it wasn't an issue then. Just like it wasn't for Richmond until they dared to start winning things.

By comparison, Geelong has only had four top 10 picks across the entire 21st century. That Geelong has remained so competitive after a dynasty with such sh*t picks is evidence of deft recruitment decisions.

Seeing as you're fond of facts - our Prelim final team actually had 4 top 10 picks on the field - Dangerfield, Selwood, Henderson and Rohan.

As for our only rebuild, you conveniently neglect to mention that we got the best midfielder of all time, the second-best fullback of all time, and one of the clubs best forwards all for free. We also had three top 10 picks through that period. Not a lot by Richmond or Melbourne standards, but an embarrassment of riches by Geelong standards.

None of them were free. They cost us a list spot each. No spot at an AFL club is free. One of the greater misnomers out there.

I'd further say, Geelong deserved every one of those players. The club invested in their fathers - Scarlett, Ablett, and Hawkins. So they deserve to get the benefits IF they have sons and IF they happen to be any good and IF the club is patient enough to persevere with them.

 

[Nankervis brothers]

Of course it played a factor. But it wasn't the only one. And those same players were there when they weren't winning flags and weren't a threat, and it wasn't an issue then. Just like it wasn't for Richmond until they dared to start winning things.

I'd say those top-end picks, won through years of abject performances, were a significant factor. I don't believe Melbourne 'dared' to win or that something changed in spirit. It is more concrete than that: Melbourne's list hit its sweet spot development-wise. The Demons now have various elite draft picks coming into or in that window of 100+ games.

Seeing as you're fond of facts - our Prelim final team actually had 4 top 10 picks on the field - Dangerfield, Selwood, Henderson and Rohan.

Fair enough, but that is still significantly less than the Dees.

None of them were free. They cost us a list spot each. No spot at an AFL club is free. One of the greater misnomers out there.

I'd further say, Geelong deserved every one of those players. The club invested in their fathers - Scarlett, Ablett, and Hawkins. So they deserve to get the benefits IF they have sons and IF they happen to be any good and IF the club is patient enough to persevere with them.

This misses the point somewhat. I agree we deserved these players, and they cost us a spot but had they gone to the draft 'market', we most likely would not have got them, certainly not Hawkins or Ablett. And clubs rarely get three champions as F/S at the one time. Geelong did plenty right with that rebuild but also had some luck in that regard.

 

[Jhye Clark 13]

Murdoch was pick 48 and played 122 AFL games.

My mistake ... He's better than Ling will ever be.

 

[CatToTheFuture]

They had no top 5 picks when they built a premiership winning team and it didn't seem to be a problem then. Now it's called out beforehand and is one of a few ready made excuses for finals failures.

I've never believed in the inherent, rock solid infallibility of early picks. Sure some superstars absolutely do come from there; but plenty of very good footballers if not absolute guns continue to come from later on. I want to grab as many picks as possible - if not top 10, then in the 20s, 30s, 40s. As many as possible. Not all will make it - apparently there are no guarantees (real revelation right there) - but the more you keep the more likely you are to find some nuggets.

To be fair talent identification is streets ahead of where it was back then. It is much harder for the better players to slip

 

[BORIS332]

What about giving Matt Ling a rookie spot as he had an injury free season? Local. Left footer.

Can't get a kick in a street fight, should never have been a first round pick. Not up to AFL level.

 

[Big little cat]

Can't get a kick in a street fight, should never have been a first round pick. Not up to AFL level.

I can understand the hesitation on Ling. I thought based on his natural talent and that he hasn't been able to play footy due to injury and/or coved he maybe worth a rookie spot.