jets

[footyman]

The big fellas do usually get quite a bit of time to develop, Laycock at Essendon and even Hille come to mind. The big fellas 6 foot 5 and over usually do need that time as well.

They are, but in my opinion five years to show something is pushing it. Particularly with only 38 players on the list. My personal view is that tall guys really have to be at a point by the end of the second year where they could play AFL footy if required. They don't necessarily have to be a superstar in their 2nd or 3rd year, just contribute otherwise they are just clogging the list.

Clubs have held onto tall blokes for a long time you're right. Some do it more than others. You named Essendon players, the Bulldogs have also done it with Cameron Wight (7 years) and Wayde Skipper (9 years). In my view, that's being too patient. There's a point where you have to cut your losses and admit they aren't going to make it.

Players who get drafted with the mentality that they have an eternity to develop in the VFL have the wrong idea. A tall is a legitimate development/project player for two years, and by year three they need to be read for senior footy, maybe not play it, but at least be ready to.

Just my opinion.

 

[footyman]

How many over age players are allowed?

Three I think.

 

[badatfooty]

They are, but in my opinion five years to show something is pushing it. Particularly with only 38 players on the list. My personal view is that tall guys really have to be at a point by the end of the second year where they could play AFL footy if required. They don't necessarily have to be a superstar in their 2nd or 3rd year, just contribute otherwise they are just clogging the list.

Clubs have held onto tall blokes for a long time you're right. Some do it more than others. You named Essendon players, the Bulldogs have also done it with Cameron Wight (7 years) and Wayde Skipper (9 years). In my view, that's being too patient. There's a point where you have to cut your losses and admit they aren't going to make it.

Players who get drafted with the mentality that they have an eternity to develop in the VFL have the wrong idea. A tall is a legitimate development/project player for two years, and by year three they need to be read for senior footy, maybe not play it, but at least be ready to.

Just my opinion.

Yeah fair call and I agree. You just can't expect the big guys to be able to turn into superstars overnight though, they do need longer than others to play consistent top level footy. Laycock needs to go now by the way lol, he has had ample time.

 

[footyman]

Anyone want to have a crack at picking who will be drafted next week, and in what order?

I see today in the Werribee Banner there's a story about it:
http://www.thebanner.com.au/news/lo...-rules/jets-flaunt-their-sixpack/1680620.aspx

I have no idea how many of them will be drafted next week, they could have two, or they could have five. Like I said previously, few probables, lots of possibles. The back end of the draft will be of most interest, they could well have one player inside the top 40, and 3 picked beyond that.

 

[Bachar43]

Tend to agree with you footyman, i think all five will make their way into the AFL system. Along with Trent McKenzie on the gold coast...a good way to end an what was by and large an otherwise fruitless year for the tac cup side.

The first one to go will be Fitzpatrick, i predict. Could go anywhere, at the start of the year he was a prospective first-rounder, but i would say in the top 40. Has slid after a pretty slow year but his enourmous potential will see him to an AFL club. He keeps his cards pretty close to his chest but my mail is Melbourne are very keen, and they have a few picks in the 30's.

Next could be either Majak Daw or Sean Tighe. Majak has a tsunami of momentum behind him at the moment and has probably recieved the most interest out of all the Jets, bar Fitzpatrick. He could go anywhere from 40+ but my prediction is if he's around at the North's last pick (53), he will almost certainly be a Kangaroo next year. I don't think the Sudanese sensation will make it to the rookie draft. Even if he slips through the draft i reckon the Bombers will take him with their 'McPhee' pick in the pre-season draft. They are keen, but not keen enough to use their last ND pick of 33. Either way Majak will be the most talked about draftee outside the top ten... and i like to think i was the first to break the story way back in January http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=536508

I'm fairly confident Tighe will go within the same range. He was the Jets' best player this year and could be suited to a number of different roles at a number of different clubs. Depending on how the draft plays out it could end up anywhere but he has attracted interest from several clubs.

The next two are the ones which i'm really hoping make it into the system, just because they are the two that have put absolutely everything into it. I'm pretty sure Hartigan will go midway through the ND, around the same time as the other two but you never know. However i don't think he'll slip through both drafts, if he does it would be a travisty. He stamped his authority on any naysayers in the last couple of TAC games and has been impressive on the track at Werribee.

My gut feeling is that Johnny Rayner will be taken high in the rookie draft... and much like his cousin Bryce Carroll last year, it woudn't suprise me if Windy Hill is his new home.

So while picking exact numbers is almost impossible because you never know how the draft will fall. my predictions are as follows -

Fitzpatrick - 34
Daw - 53
Hartigan - 40+
Tighe - 50+
Rayner - Early rookie

 

[footyman]

Majak will be the most talked about draftee outside the top ten... and i like to think i was the first to break the story way back in January http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=536508

Yep, good get, you were on the bandwagon before anybody else.

Good write up, I concur with what you have written. Certainly Fitzpatrick appears short odds to be taken first, but its a raffle after that. Interesting times ahead.