Opinion Number 1 pick

[Doss]

What the **** is happening

My spidey senses are a bit confused too.

 

[Wahooti Fandango]

Has gone very Peter Parker in here.

 

[eDPS]

Waiting for the draft like

 

[DapperJong]

Anyone finding this creepy is getting a bit long in the legs. A bit long-legs.

 

[JayJ20]

You'd think that the Brazilian wandering spider is the consensus number one spider. Really damaging and potent. With GWS trading up, you'd think it is for the funnelweb spider. Born and bred in Sydney, low flight risk, aggressive and potent. Brisbane could bid on the Goliath bird eating spider from the Queensland academy. Gold Coast to match, before going for the redback spider.

 

[Lance Uppercut]

Mcgrath is a certainty of what though? If he is not going to grow more or get any bigger then what we see now is the end product. I see a good afl player right now, but where is the development going to come from? The best that could be hoped is that he is a Zach Merrett. Just an innate footy beast. Well that may be the case but I'd rather go with the kid who can do it all in a regular 17 year old body. Because that shit is impressive.

That people can ask something like where is the development going to come from, in relation to a 17/18 year old kid who hasn't even entered the AFL system yet, just blows my ****ing mind

 

[table tennis]

That people can ask something like where is the development going to come from, in relation to a 17/18 year old kid who hasn't even entered the AFL system yet, just blows my ******* mind

To be fair, Tennessee had the rub of the green

 

[Lance Uppercut]

I am firmly on the McGrath bandwagon - to the point where I'll almost be disappointed if we don't call him out this month. Although, I'm sure that will last for about 6.85 seconds as I jump on board the Luggage train.

But - and I preface this by saying I know NOTHING and I am going only off second hand reports and stupid gut feel - I kind of feel that McCluggage could be a bust. Well, perhaps not a bust, but I am not convinced he can translate his game to AFL.

Now I know how stupid that sounds, and it's probably a load of complete rubbish. But trying to think why I have this impression - and why I am favouring McGrath so much, I think it comes down to one thing mainly: competitiveness.

I read the reports of the players and what I keep coming back to is the weakness in McCluggage's game seems to be a lack of competitiveness in getting the ball. I know that may be simply be a byproduct of his class and not an accurate portrayal, but I compare that to McGrath who is super competitive and I think that's where my preference comes from.

I am just unsure whether McCluggage can do what he does at the highest level. That class alone, in the absence of an elite level of competitiveness, is enough in the highest grade. But I'm probably wrong. I'm not even convinced of this myself, just trying to put in words my incoherent thoughts

 

[Lance Uppercut]

I am firmly on the McGrath bandwagon - to the point where I'll almost be disappointed if we don't call him out this month. Although, I'm sure that will last for about 6.85 seconds as I jump on board the Luggage train.

But - and I preface this by saying I know NOTHING and I am going only off second hand reports and stupid gut feel - I kind of feel that McCluggage could be a bust. Well, perhaps not a bust, but I am not convinced he can translate his game to AFL.

Now I know how stupid that sounds, and it's probably a load of complete rubbish. But trying to think why I have this impression - and why I am favouring McGrath so much, I think it comes down to one thing mainly: competitiveness.

I read the reports of the players and what I keep coming back to is the weakness in McCluggage's game seems to be a lack of competitiveness in getting the ball. I know that may be simply be a byproduct of his class and not an accurate portrayal, but I compare that to McGrath who is super competitive and I think that's where my preference comes from.

I am just unsure whether McCluggage can do what he does at the highest level. That class alone, in the absence of an elite level of competitiveness, is enough in the highest grade. But I'm probably wrong. I'm not even convinced of this myself, just trying to put in words my incoherent thoughts

come on idiot, get a clue

 

[Foxx]

come on idiot, get a clue

Don't be afraid to have your own opinion pal, be it unpopular and baseless or otherwise. Gut feelings are usually the better bet.

 

[monty1104]

You'd need a science degree to figure out this years picks...
Gosh...

I have 2. Doesn't help.

 

[Lance Uppercut]

Don't be afraid to have your own opinion pal, be it unpopular and baseless or otherwise. Gut feelings are usually the better bet.

I find it hard to imagine how a gut feeling based on second hand reports could be a better bet than anything really

 

[hurlygurdy]

That people can ask something like where is the development going to come from, in relation to a 17/18 year old kid who hasn't even entered the AFL system yet, just blows my ******* mind

Actually i'm pretty sure we are all doing exactly that. Does the development come from physical growth? Does it come from a more mature mindset? Does it come from refining a skill set? With McGrath he already does everything damn well except for his field kicking which no doubt will improve. This is why he is as good as he is now, but it might also suggest that he has less ceiling space because he lacks an obvious area for improvement. McGlug has an obvious area to improve in which is that physical development. Of course there is nothing stopping McGrath from becoming a Zach type player with extra pace, so i'm not being definitive here, just talking percentages.

 

[rumply]

Ended up voting for McCluggage, just because of the name really...was all for him after the champs but the McGrath talk is hard to ignore, so will be happy either way.

But what happens if Dodoro goes another way??

 

[Lance Uppercut]

Actually i'm pretty sure we are all doing exactly that. Does the development come from physical growth? Does it come from a more mature mindset? Does it come from refining a skill set? With McGrath he already does everything damn well except for his field kicking which no doubt will improve. This is why he is as good as he is now, but it might also suggest that he has less ceiling space because he lacks an obvious area for improvement. McGlug has an obvious area to improve in which is that physical development. Of course there is nothing stopping McGrath from becoming a Zach type player with extra pace, so i'm not being definitive here, just talking percentages.

dude, he hasn't been in a professional environment. So it's just ridiculous to speculate over what development he has "topped out" in - because it's none.

He will get physically better as he grows into a man and benefits from a training/weights/diet programme

He will get a far more strategic understanding of the game

He will get better at everything he does well

He will play with better players, and against better players

There is literally nothing that he would not be able to gain improvement on, as he goes from a schoolboy environment into a professional AFL club

 

[JayJ20]

I am firmly on the McGrath bandwagon - to the point where I'll almost be disappointed if we don't call him out this month. Although, I'm sure that will last for about 6.85 seconds as I jump on board the Luggage train.

But - and I preface this by saying I know NOTHING and I am going only off second hand reports and stupid gut feel - I kind of feel that McCluggage could be a bust. Well, perhaps not a bust, but I am not convinced he can translate his game to AFL.

Now I know how stupid that sounds, and it's probably a load of complete rubbish. But trying to think why I have this impression - and why I am favouring McGrath so much, I think it comes down to one thing mainly: competitiveness.

I read the reports of the players and what I keep coming back to is the weakness in McCluggage's game seems to be a lack of competitiveness in getting the ball. I know that may be simply be a byproduct of his class and not an accurate portrayal, but I compare that to McGrath who is super competitive and I think that's where my preference comes from.

I am just unsure whether McCluggage can do what he does at the highest level. That class alone, in the absence of an elite level of competitiveness, is enough in the highest grade. But I'm probably wrong. I'm not even convinced of this myself, just trying to put in words my incoherent thoughts

That's just more to do with the role that he plays and his size rather than effort. Remember that McCluggage didn't have a preseason due to injury and therefore, couldn't build up his body as much.

McCluggage IMO has a much bigger scope of improvement. Despite that, he was the best performed this year. McGrath is the safer option, but McCluggage could be the star of the competition. 25 goals in 12 games against other talented players his age group is nothing to sneeze at. He also complements our side more. The only way that he will be a bust is if he becomes injured frequently, or if he suddenly forgets how to kick goals and impact games.

I've said this before, but with McGrath, his game is easier to stop in modern day football. If McCluggage has a full preseason and puts on about 8-10kg in his career, he could be very very hard to match up on. Very clean with the ball, can kick goals from pretty much any angle, very good and clean in tight spaces (which actually helps when playing Bulldogs and GWS) and a classy player. His skill level is elite and that will translate very well in the AFL. Only query on him is his size. He needs to put on some size

Also, if McGrath is not having a good day, how do we bring him back into the game?
McCluggage can go forward and kick goals.

I will still be happy with McGrath, but I must admit that I would be a little disappointed, not because McGrath is bad (he will be star), but because McCluggage is just that good. A rare talent. Really am nitpicking here, but with the number 1 pick, you want to pick the best talent available and that is McCluggage IMO.

I feel as if McGrath will be better in the first 2-3 years. If we want the rising star, McGrath is the one to pick. But McCluggage to have the better career. Things that I think is on McGrath's side is lifting for important parts of the games and his leadership and competitiveness

 

[hurlygurdy]

dude, he hasn't been in a professional environment. So it's just ridiculous to speculate over what development he has "topped out" in - because it's none.

He will get physically better as he grows into a man and benefits from a training/weights/diet programme

He will get a far more strategic understanding of the game

He will get better at everything he does well

He will play with better players, and against better players

There is literally nothing that he would not be able to gain improvement on, as he goes from a schoolboy environment into a professional AFL club

And yet the consensus around here seems to be that McGlug has the higher ceiling. I'm just trying to spell out why that is the prevailing idea.

 

[BOMBERS 4 LIFE!!!!]

Mclugg could be the next Bont too good to pass up imo.

 

[GUMBLETRON]

Mclugg could be the next Bont too good to pass up imo.

Dude. Beyond both being footballers they are nothing alike.

 

[rusman]

Dude. Beyond both being footballers they are nothing alike.

Bont kicked a nice opportunist snap goal in his first year. Mcclug does that a lot. Similarities finished.

 

[Skipper_]

Dude. Beyond both being footballers they are nothing alike.

I think he meant more talent-wise.

 

[The Bomb]

I am firmly on the McGrath bandwagon - to the point where I'll almost be disappointed if we don't call him out this month. Although, I'm sure that will last for about 6.85 seconds as I jump on board the Luggage train.

But - and I preface this by saying I know NOTHING and I am going only off second hand reports and stupid gut feel - I kind of feel that McCluggage could be a bust. Well, perhaps not a bust, but I am not convinced he can translate his game to AFL.

Now I know how stupid that sounds, and it's probably a load of complete rubbish. But trying to think why I have this impression - and why I am favouring McGrath so much, I think it comes down to one thing mainly: competitiveness.

I read the reports of the players and what I keep coming back to is the weakness in McCluggage's game seems to be a lack of competitiveness in getting the ball. I know that may be simply be a byproduct of his class and not an accurate portrayal, but I compare that to McGrath who is super competitive and I think that's where my preference comes from.

I am just unsure whether McCluggage can do what he does at the highest level. That class alone, in the absence of an elite level of competitiveness, is enough in the highest grade. But I'm probably wrong. I'm not even convinced of this myself, just trying to put in words my incoherent thoughts

I think the biggest myth is the lack of competitiveness, McCluggage is like Pendles and Heppell how he reads the play and how he defends, very often getting to contests to become the extra man, always making it to the right spots, they don't look like they are chasing players down like Rioli and Tippa would.
but don't worry the competitiveness is there.
He also averages more contested possessions compared to McGrath, it's just he is silky around the contest so he doesn't crash his way through like Dangerfield and Martin would, again just makes things happen around him.
People are concerned about his physicality just like they were saying about Heppell, it wont be a problem.'

I couldn't count how many time I have read or heard Heppell is a soft halfback flanker, already I have read and heard people say McCluggage is soft around the contest, but that's not the case, has that Mercuri like feel to him around the goals.

I hate how the polished graceful type footballers get seen as soft.

 

[eDPS]

I think the biggest myth is the lack of competitiveness, McCluggage is like Pendles and Heppell how he reads the play and how he defends, very often getting to contests to become the extra man, always making it to the right spots, they don't look like they are chasing players down like Rioli and Tippa would.
but don't worry the competitiveness is there.
He also averages more contested possessions compared to McGrath, it's just he is silky around the contest so he doesn't crash his way through like Dangerfield and Martin would, again just makes things happen around him.
People are concerned about his physicality just like they were saying about Heppell, it wont be a problem.'

I couldn't count how many time I have read or heard Heppell is a soft halfback flanker, already I have read and heard people say McCluggage is soft around the contest, but that's not the case, has that Mercuri like feel to him around the goals.

I hate how the polished graceful type footballers get seen as soft.

It's not to say he is soft it's more that he wants someone who will fight for the footy and look like they are having a red hot crack. Not once have I thought that Hugh is a soft player he just prefers to stay out because he thinks it will be the better option to do he wants to be the one on the end of the play and then work up and get the footy again. He isn't a competitive player but he doesn't have to be his style of getting the footy is fine and has worked very well for him.

 

[Gumby2Hurley]

Dodo has been good in the 1st round in recent times apart from Kavanagh. Needs to nail 2 out of 20,29,41 at least.

 

[Schopp]

I thought in his first year that Hepps was tough copped some real solid knocks but showed no sign of pain.

Seen only online clips but liked how clean and quick Mcclugg was with his hands. But we haven't had a jet mid since Long pre 94 knee and T.Watson (if wingers not included in the discussion) so its a tricky one and I think ultimately it could come down to whose body holds up to the rigors of AFL.