Prediction National Draft 2024

[stax on the mull]

Are the Knobel's from Gold Coast? I think that's where his father was drafted from, and I was reading something a while back about him (Trent Knobel

Trent Knobel

Age

44

Ht

204cm

Wt

105kg

Pos.

Ruck

Career

Season

Last 5

D

5.8

1star

K

2.1

1star

HB

3.7

3star

HO

15.4

5star

No current season stats available

D

1.8

1star

K

0.8

1star

HB

1.0

2star

HO

7.4

5star

) playing into his mid to late 30's in the QAFL even though his AFL career ended in his mid 20's.

 

[Tundrawolf]

At least Gold Coast showed some balls with Knobel, sorry to see him go.

West Coast who have the worse ruck stocks in the AFL could have grabbed him but once again they showed more yellow than blue and passed on him.

 

[theGav56]

Also I’d confidently say you have probably watched a sum total of 5 mins of Knobel playing in his career so far so you have no idea whether he’ll make it or not, and shouldnt be stating with such confidence that he’s not a long term AFL player. He hasn’t even players a game yet at the level and you’ve written him off!

I wonder how many minutes of Knobel playing GCSs recruiters have actually watched.

 

[theGav56]

Man poor Aiden Riddle, is a massive Freo fan and seems like a decent young ruck option and gets drafted to the team he loves to have the entire fan base be extremely angry about it lol

For the record yes this is clearly a balls up, Knobel had shown a bit, but I'm not sure it's enough of a balls up for this to be melt worthy

Not "entire", but your point is well made.

To me looks like some cover for Jackson rather than Darcy*. I had advocated that, suggesting we grab Gerreyn, so happy we have someone developing.

* just read Apuchar's post commenting similar.

 

[ignoramus]

This kid is more agile.

Looks to have Nicholls' height / marking ability and Reid's awareness / disposal. The real question is why we didn't use our first pick on him!

 

[DragoDelph]

The more I listen & see of Murphy, the more I think this kid could be a genuine difference maker.
Let's see how he goes this preseason.

(also, not calling him Reid. That name is tainted)

 

[dont bowl there]

At least Gold Coast showed some balls with Knobel, sorry to see him go.

West Coast who have the worse ruck stocks in the AFL could have grabbed him but once again they showed more yellow than blue and passed on him.

Agree. That AFL needs to be a lot more ruthless so imo bring on these types of moves. Watching team after team pass on Ashcroft the other night was a disgrace.

 

[Superkoops]

I wonder how many minutes of Knobel playing GCSs recruiters have actually watched.

I went onto the GCS website and it says they have been tracking him since his draft year. Also I liked how they just said he has averaged certain stats across WAFL league and reserves. Not pointing out that it is mostly reserves and also their audience prob have no idea but WAFL reserves is worse quality than country league.

They also said Knobel was drafted in the second round of the 2022 ND which is incorrect. He was drafted in the third round at 42.

So bit of false advertising going on there. It read like he had been playing regular WAFL and that he was drafted in the second round.

 

[FreoRicci]

It’s not bad drafting in the end.
Just annoying delisting Tabs, for a KPF draftee. Delisting Knobel for a draftee ruck.
Weird list management.

Didn’t address needs of small forward and a winger even.

How is Erasmus and Johnson meant to come in when the club has gone and drafted Reid whilst keeping JOM around with Fyfe and Brodie on the list.

 

[theGav56]

I went onto the GCS website and it says they have been tracking him since his draft year. Also I liked how they just said he has averaged certain stats across WAFL league and reserves. Not pointing out that it is mostly reserves and also their audience prob have no idea but WAFL reserves is worse quality than country league.

They also said Knobel was drafted in the second round of the 2022 ND which is incorrect. He was drafted in the third round at 42.

So bit of false advertising going on there. It read like he had been playing regular WAFL and that he was drafted in the second round.

Yeah, making shyte up I reckon.

Anyway, I wish him well and welcome the Riddler, a player with greater diversity to a team who plays 2 top end ruckman already.

 

[Joao]

Wallsy lost of lot of goodwill here it seems...

The more I listen & see of Murphy, the more I think this kid could be a genuine difference maker.
Let's see how he goes this preseason.

(also, not calling him Reid. That name is tainted)

What are you calling Murphy then if Reid is Murphy?

 

[CapitalA]

The more I listen & see of Murphy, the more I think this kid could be a genuine difference maker.
Let's see how he goes this preseason.

(also, not calling him Reid. That name is tainted)

He really does play like a top 10 pick, strange that he slid so far. I just hope he can crack into the team and doesn't get home sick.

 

[ignoramus]

This is my main gripe too, in recent years we’ve given out unnecessary overly long contracts to players who are either unproven and/or were in no danger of leaving.

I understand front-loading contracts to lock in young guns long term but we’ve gone OTT. Murphy is contracted until 2026 and hasn’t even played a game yet. Simpson has only played 2 games and is contracted until 2027. Worner would’ve 100% been delisted this year had we not given him 2 contract extensions before he’d even debuted.

List strategy can't be reduced to this kind of calculation, I don't think. It has to factor in what in the corporate world is called "People & Culture" (ironically, given how often it serves as a name for damaging both).

Treating your staff like sh*t, stringing them along on consecutive short term contracts does not do a lot to cultivate the kind of commitment to the organisation that prompts people to do more than they have to. While the dream/privilege aspect of playing AFL no doubt plays a part in getting the most out of players, like it or not professional football is still a job for all those who are involved.

I work in an organisation that is "ruthless" in a comparable way to how some want the club to submit every decision to the kind cold stretegic/economic analysis in its pursuit of a single objective. And it's f*cking awful. Staff morale is so low it's subterranean. And it's counter-productive in that it's just feeding into a downward spiral. I'm posting on a football forum rather than doing my job, because, f*ck 'em.

The club appears to be trying to build a positive workplace (lots of players talk about it in precisely these terms, how they "love coming into work"). Part of the strategy, for better or worse — and I appreciate that that is precisely the point of debate — revolves around giving employees some security. Not indiscriminately, but to players who (I can only guess) have proven their work ethic, their engagement, their willingness to play whatever roles (internal and external) asked of them. Worner, Banfield, Hughes — all these "c-grade" players, who could easily be replaced with someone who is a chance to be better, getting contracts that are slightly longer than "necessary", because they are a good fit, they play their role, etc.

Again, whether this is a smart approach or not is open to debate. But I think it's worth at least trying to make sense of what might be the rationale behind these moves.

 

[MadMundy]

I'll echo the sentiments a couple of others have stated, if our only complaint is losing our fourth string ruckman, then we've objectively had a really good off-season.

 

[thistimeforsure]

Sacking Longmuir and Walls over losing Max Knobel would certainly be a decision, that's for sure

They ain’t the top and I played with Max’s old man


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[DragoDelph]

Wallsy lost of lot of goodwill here it seems...



What are you calling Murphy then if Reid is Murphy?

Sykes

 

[chaosball32]

List strategy can't be reduced to this kind of calculation, I don't think. It has to factor in what in the corporate world is called "People & Culture" (ironically, given how often it serves as a name for damaging both).

Treating your staff like sh*t, stringing them along on consecutive short term contracts does not do a lot to cultivate the kind of commitment to the organisation that prompts people to do more than they have to. While the dream/privilege aspect of playing AFL no doubt plays a part in getting the most out of players, like it or not professional football is still a job for all those who are involved.

I work in an organisation that is "ruthless" in a comparable way to how some want the club to submit every decision to the kind cold stretegic/economic analysis in its pursuit of a single objective. And it's f*cking awful. Staff morale is so low it's subterranean. And it's counter-productive in that it's just feeding into a downward spiral. I'm posting on a football forum rather than doing my job, because, f*ck 'em.

The club appears to be trying to build a positive workplace (lots of players talk about it in precisely these terms, how they "love coming into work"). Part of the strategy, for better or worse — and I appreciate that that is precisely the point of debate — revolves around giving employees some security. Not indiscriminately, but to players who (I can only guess) have proven their work ethic, their engagement, their willingness to play whatever roles (internal and external) asked of them. Worner, Banfield, Hughes — all these "c-grade" players, who could easily be replaced with someone who is a chance to be better, getting contracts that are slightly longer than "necessary", because they are a good fit, they play their role, etc.

Again, whether this is a smart approach or not is open to debate. But I think it's worth at least trying to make sense of what might be the rationale behind these moves.

I agree with a lot of what you’re saying, but you have to remember these are professional footballers we are talking about, not auskickers. The AFL is a professional sporting league, not a charity. Unfortunately it is a ruthless industry and if you want to succeed in said industry you have to be willing to make the hard decisions necessary, even if that upsets a few people. These guys know what they’ve signed up for, they know their job is unique and it can’t really be compared to a typical office job. If the stressors of AFL football are too much they can always pursue another career.

Morale is important but so is driving up standards. Giving multi-year contracts to just about everyone doesn’t really drive up standards. I still think our club thinks they need to go above and beyond to incentivise players to stay rather than backing in our culture. Either that or we are too nice of a club. Job security should be earned, it’s a performance based industry.

It’s a spontaneous and volatile industry, it’s very fast-moving, which is why it pays to approach things on a short term basis. Have a look at Will Brodie for example. Had an impressive first year with us, we signed him on until 2026 thinking he’d be part of our best 22 for the foreseeable future, and for the past 2 years he’s been wasting away at Peel and will likely continue to do so for another 2 years until his contract expires.

 

[BeinPurplenGreen]

Have we ever done an "unwelcome to the club" post?

 

[Spirit Level]

Gotta feel for Max, without warning headed to that shitheap of a club

 

[dont bowl there]

I'll echo the sentiments a couple of others have stated, if our only complaint is losing our fourth string ruckman, then we've objectively had a really good off-season.

It’s not ideal and clearly not something the club wanted. BUT, we improved our list this off season to the point where we should be aiming for top 4 if not the flag. Off season was still a huge win imo.

 

[MadMundy]

It’s not ideal and clearly not something the club wanted. BUT, we improved our list this off season to the point where we should be aiming for top 4 if not the flag. Off season was still a huge win imo.

Exactly, I'd argue the pick up of Bolton alone makes the offseason a win, he adds so much.

 

[Superkoops]

It’s not bad drafting in the end.
Just annoying delisting Tabs, for a KPF draftee. Delisting Knobel for a draftee ruck.
Weird list management.

Didn’t address needs of small forward and a winger even.

How is Erasmus and Johnson meant to come in when the club has gone and drafted Reid whilst keeping JOM around with Fyfe and Brodie on the list.

Tabs is cooked. Him playing late in the season against Geelong instead of Reidy was the reason we lost that game. Tabs was subbed out for being completely s*#t and a liability. The flow on effect was our second ruck for the game was Voss. That should never be repeated.

 

[dont bowl there]

Exactly, I'd argue the pick up of Bolton alone makes the offseason a win, he adds so much.

100% he’s an elite afl forward/mid. Something we were severely lacking. Get Darcy through the preseason and lookout! This draft was never going to dictate the immediate success of the club. The trade period absolutely did.

 

[gungho]

I wonder how many minutes of Knobel playing GCSs recruiters have actually watched.

This might be the only time in AFL history someone has been selected to play AFL without the team watching a single video or game of the player. Sounds crazy I know but this is the Gold Coast we are talking about.

 

[Heave Ho Bro]

If we are honest here Knobel would of left once he developed anyway for a 3rd rounder. These guys want to play AFL not be stuck in the reserves. With how much we have invested in LJ and big Sean we will struggle to keep any good young backups long term. I get the argument he could have been a replacement for Sean if he can't get his body right but I think that conversation is a ways down the road.

Nicholls can also pinch hit in the ruck they mentioned and now we have Riddle to develop. We have Shai and a top 6 rated mid forward from the draft. Chill out people we did alright. Cooper and Delean should be much better this season after a year in the system and another preseason under the belt.