Rumour GFC 2024 Player Trading, Drafting FA, Rumours and Wish lists Pt 1

[Kobe Gryant]

McKercher would be hard to pass on a best available criteria. But think he ultimately ends up at North.

I think they're past that point now though. That group isn't just potential and investment, they're productive too.

It's a ridiculous amount of draft currency/salary cap strapped up in your midfield, while your defence and forward lines are still mediocre at best, and not particularly 'young' either.

It would be like us taking another first round mid this year and next, and then doing the same thing again the following year.

All things being equal, I think we'd all be in agreeance that a key forward, key back, or utility would be on the agenda in that scenario.

 

[year of the cat]

ESPN draft has us going tall and taking Caddy and Murphy.

AFL Phantom Draft - Every pick in the first two rounds

Jasper Chellappah has released his latest two-round AFL Phantom Draft for 2023, with the first of a big two-night event just days away. Who is your club looking to pick with its early selections?

www.espn.com.au

 

[year of the cat]

I think they're past that point now though. That group isn't just potential and investment, they're productive too.

It's a ridiculous amount of draft currency/salary cap strapped up in your midfield, while your defence and forward lines are still mediocre at best, and not particularly 'young' either.

It would be like us taking another first round mid this year and next, and then doing the same thing again the following year.

All things being equal, I think we'd all be in agreeance that a key forward, key back, or utility would be on the agenda in that scenario.

Interesting argument - needs v best available. I’m of the belief if you have a pick in the top 10 you go BA regardless. Pick for needs with later picks.

 

[D BRIDGE]

Boy it would be nice if the Dees took Leake with #6 and GWS took Windsor with #7.

I only say this since they have been linked somewhat to these players... Not that I expect it to happen.

 

[Turbocat]

I'll take a flag at the expense of cooking the next season every day of the week.

Rinse and repeat that forever and we'd be in footy fan heaven.

Me personally though, I just won't not acknowledge errors because of a previous flag.

Ahhh at least it gives us all something to talk about.

Man I'm hanging for this draft... It feels like the longest wait.

I think we timed our 2022 run with the precision of a 100Metre sprint who divided at the line ... probably should not be surprised if we stumble after the rope. Cooked? Out of breath? Perhaps just need a year to regroup. Supporters of my era went so long ...just hoping to see one flag... it probably contributes to an acceptance a few years of pain before and after.

 

[Turbocat]

You’d think if we take him or any other ruck it will be as a rookie.

Perhaps. I don't there is much difference between a late pick and a rookie spot but the article said we were the only club to interview him ..so perhaps rookie will be tactically the way to go.

 

[Turbocat]

Didn't get TDK... get the look alike that's younger

He does look a little like him but very different players. More like a poor mans Conway in body shape.

 

[Turbocat]

Yeah Nah... Sorry TC.
Going on a whisper or two... Hastie won't be our pick at 25.
I'll go as far to say he won't go in the TOP 30.
Just a dime a dozen HB flanker for me.
FWIW If he wasn't a Falcon we wouldn't be talking about him TBH.

And just who the whispers have us taking....

 

[Turbocat]

I could live with that based on the way the draft fell in their version. Would probably have looked to trade down to secure Leake but Edwards went with Adel original pick 14. Very unlikely we would get 8 for 10 and 14.
Hastie a nice pick up at 25.

None of these mock take trades into account so they cant really be overly accurate. If we walked away with a couple adds for our future backline ... it would not be a bad draft

 

[year of the cat]

None of these mock take trades into account so they cant really be overly accurate. If we walked away with a couple adds for our future backline ... it would not be a bad draft

Could see us trading back into a pick in the mid 30’s/40’s if there’s a player we want.

 

[Oisin_the_Goat]

I'd be happy if we took Caddy tbh...

Think our youth midfielders will pick up this year

But if we genuinely see potential in teens picks , happy to split too

 

[STPer18]

I'd be happy if we took Caddy tbh...

Think our youth midfielders will pick up this year

But if we genuinely see potential in teens picks , happy to split too

I don't follow it as close as some here but Caddy seems to be an awesome fit for us if he gets to our pick.

 

[BORIS332]

None of these mock take trades into account so they cant really be overly accurate. If we walked away with a couple adds for our future backline ... it would not be a bad draft

The News Corp one was purely based off who each of the journos rated, which is why I think it was a waste of time. No live trades taken into account, and they seemingly ignored all rumours of who clubs have been linked to.

 

[Turbocat]

Could see us trading back into a pick in the mid 30’s/40’s if there’s a player we want.

Possible. We have done it before

 

[Turbocat]

The News Corp one was purely based off who each of the journos rated, which is why I think it was a waste of time. No live trades taken into account, and they seemingly ignored all rumours of who clubs have been linked to.

I think Twomey's will be as close as it gets. Thats probably due out soon.

 

[Gee Class Loco]

And just who the whispers have us taking....

Not sure... fingers crossed we will be picking a little earlier to nab a Speedy Hairy bloke lol.

 

[Gee Class Loco]

ESPN mock draft.

Pick 8 Nate Caddy

Pick 25 Ollie Murphy

 

[foxdog50]

I'd be happy if we took Caddy tbh...

Think our youth midfielders will pick up this year

But if we genuinely see potential in teens picks , happy to split too

I agree with Caddy, I am warming towards him.
If you look at say age 22 and under these are the players are potentially to be midfielders
Willis
Clohesy
Clark
Bruhn
Holmes ( rather wing )
Knevitt

The list looks good! Obviously they all won't be playing there at the same time and few of them won't make it. But the potential is really there. And obviously next year we could pick up a Bailey Smith and that will help hugely.

So this draft how many mids should we actually take? And that's where when it comes to Pur pick, do we pick the best players or what our list needs..
Going to be interesting draft.

 

[BORIS332]

I think Twomey's will be as close as it gets. Thats probably due out soon.

Sunday night, I believe.

 

[Footy Smarts]

Older players who enjoyed the off season to much get injured. Big surprise

Hawkins was coming back from foot surgery. Stewart had his knee jarred minutes into round 1. Stanley got kneed in the guts by TDK.

I guess it serves them right for being lazy in preseason

 

[Kobe Gryant]

Not sure... fingers crossed we will be picking a little earlier to nab a Speedy Hairy bloke lol.

You're talking about your boy Demattia aren't you?

 

[Tristan34]

ESPN mock draft.

Pick 8 Nate Caddy

Pick 25 Ollie Murphy

Ollie Murphy will be gone way before 25 imo...

 

[Oisin_the_Goat]

I agree with Caddy, I am warming towards him.
If you look at say age 22 and under these are the players are potentially to be midfielders
Willis
Clohesy
Clark
Bruhn
Holmes ( rather wing )
Knevitt

The list looks good! Obviously they all won't be playing there at the same time and few of them won't make it. But the potential is really there. And obviously next year we could pick up a Bailey Smith and that will help hugely.

So this draft how many mids should we actually take? And that's where when it comes to Pur pick, do we pick the best players or what our list needs..
Going to be interesting draft.

I've chopped and changed on this a bit. Bailey Smith would be a nice inclusion, but only if we don't need to use more than a late first rounder to get him.
Would Bailey Smith make our MF instantly better? Maybe... I guess the follow up question - does removing Bailey Smith from the dogs affect them? I'd say not that much but could be wrong.

He aint Patrick Dangerfield, put it that way...

 

[Gee Class Loco]

Ollie Murphy will be gone way before 25 imo...

Mmmm. yeah i tend 2 agree.
But he is a bean pole that will need 2-3 years to bulk up which might sway teams away.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

We will have some late picks .... with a player that might have take a while to develop. I like Goad but does it makes sense to look local for a development type ? Probably.

AFL Draft 2023: Geelong Falcons prospect Joe Pike on his surprise call-up after playing elite basketball​

This Barwon Heads product hadn’t played a full season of footy since under-12s. But a helping hand from a familiar name kickstarted his rapid rise.

At 15, Joe Pike never had professional footy on his mind.
Having travelled to New Zealand to represent an Australian country basketball side at under-14 level, Pike would only chase the Sherrin with Barwon Heads when he could.

That was until he made the call to take football seriously and play with his mates, taking up development classes with former Western Bulldogs senior coach Brendan McCartney.

Without a full season under his belt since under-12s, Pike was shocked when he had a voice message on his phone from former Geelong premiership player and then Geelong Falcons talent manager Tom Lonergan halfway through their pre-season.

Joe Pike (right) was selected to represent Australia in basketball. Picture: Alison Wynd

“I was doing these sessions on a Sunday morning with Brendan McCartney … and it was sort of like, if I’m going to give a footy a go I’ll go to his sessions and can learn a thing or two from him for sure,” Pike explained.

“I’m still not 100 per cent sure but I think the way it went was he spoke to Tom Lonergan who was the talent manager at the time.

“One time randomly I got a phone call from Tom saying, ‘Pikey, here from the Falcons. Would love for you to come down and give it a crack and see how things turn out.’”

Things ended up turning out pretty well.

In September of that year, the 203cm ruckman was playing on the MCG on grand final day in the U17 Futures match.

He said Geelong Falcons graduate Oliver Northam, who had done a similar shift from basketball was behind his initial move to Aussie rules – along with a basketball coach who “sucked the fun” out of playing.

Pike is 203cm tall. Picture: Alison Wynd

Pike celebrates a goal for the Falcons. Picture: Mark Wilson

“I played (basketball) from when I was 5 or 6 to when I was 16 every year and got to a relatively high level playing state stuff and managed to go overseas to New Zealand to represent Australia Country,”

“It was sort of like, I’d played for such a long time and played around all my mates and the year before I left Ollie Northam left basketball to come play at the Falcons and that was sort of a big thing for him and I saw his career was going really well.

“I had a quite average coach who sucked the fun out of it and all my mates sort of started drifting off and playing footy so I thought I’ll go play footy with my mates and see how it goes.

“Came in with about a month before (Falcons) selections and just got really lucky, they saw something in me.”

“I got quite lucky last year to play on the grand final and reflecting after that year I went from sort of playing basketball and sort of playing with the best talent across the whole of Australia in a year.”

DRAFT YEAR

Pike went on to represent Vic Country this season in his draft year, with their trip to Western Australia to face the Sandgropers one of the highlights of his year.

The developing big man got better as the season went on in the Coates Talent League for the Falcons, impressing with his athleticism and tapwork.

He feels he has plenty of growth left in him and said he has improved out of sight since the inexperienced player who first walked into the Falcons program.

Joe Pike in action for Vic Country. Picture: Getty Images

“I think looking back on when I first started playing and vision from my first game, even before that just looking back on the trial games to try and get in and stuff I think I’ve improved 500-1000 per cent,” Pike said.

“It’s just all the little things. The athleticism and stuff stays there but all the skills and stuff I’ve picked up from the coaches.

“Obviously rucks and key forwards don’t hit their peak until their mid-20s so I think I’ve got a lot of years of hard work and improvement to go and I reckon I’ve got quite a high ceiling of where I can get to in the future.”

DRAFT CHANCES

Pike is a realist.

The cool and calm customer from Barwon Heads has spoken to one club, Geelong, in the lead-up to the draft and has plans in place if his name isn’t called out in the national or rookie drafts.

Pike has spoken to the Falcons about the possibility of VFL opportunities with Geelong if things don’t work out, and the Seagulls could end up landing him in the Bellarine FNL.

But no matter what happens, Pike is pleased with how his draft year has panned out and is proud of how far he has come.

Pike end up at Barwon Heads if he isn’t drafted. Picture: Mark Wilson

“Every week, every game I just kept on progressing and I feel like I’ve done as much as I can this year to put myself in the best position that I can be for the draft,” Pike said.

“It is sort of looking like hopefully VFL, if AFL obviously doesn’t work out, but Falcons over-age year is also on the table.

“If not then just keep training, play local footy and just keep improving. For the next few years I’ve got a few years for a ruck so just keep working hard and hope that the opportunities come my way.

“Barwon Heads has said they are keen to have a chat and I can sign back there. I love playing with all them because I’ve been around there all my life.”

I would definitely take him late or as a rookie which i have said for months or maybe we lool at hin for our vfl list if he isnt picked up.