Quayle's view on this draft IF it was "uncompromised"

[coryne]

It has been asked on BF a number of times. "Just how good would have this draft been without the GC17 concessions". Well here is a nice snippet from Emma's Blog today

How much would the players eligible under the old rules (GWS 17yo this year + GC17 17yo last year) add to this year's first round? Which guys do you think would've been in the mix? Would it be considered a super draft?

Hi John, this would be the best draft ever if those 17-year-olds were in it. Only the GC 17-year-olds would have been in this year's draft though. I would've had Josh Toy at No 1 or No 2, Mav Weller at No 3 and Brandon Matera, Luke Russell and Trent McKenzie all top 10 picks.

DAMN YOU GC17, DAMN YOU TO HELL !!!!!!!!!! hehe. Just kidding. But god the current competition would look A LOT different for next year, and years to come, if the GC17 didn't screw up the draft ............

 

[Lyyynnnchy]

Devastated we wont be able to pick up Swallow or Bennell

 

[Daytripper]

I love Emma's work but she does talk up every draft prospect as if they are all going to be guns.

And every draft is always the best ever.

 

[WALL-e]

She does have a tendancy to be too kind on some draftees.

Still, she puts in a lot of time and effort, and I much rather read her over nice stuff than other 'journo's' attempt at commenting on things they don't watch.

Still would be a fantastic draft without the concessions.

 

[Danog]

That's what clubs should be understanding. The quality will only get better as the developmental system improves.

 

[Blueboys7]

I don't understand why the GC can sign a whole bunch of 17 year olds, sign uncontracted players and then be given a whole bunch of picks. Why couldnt they just have had the second two? They would still be a good team.

It's bullshit.

 

[the mighty T]

I don't understand why the GC can sign a whole bunch of 17 year olds, sign uncontracted players and then be given a whole bunch of picks. Why couldnt they just have had the second two? They would still be a good team.

It's bullshit.

Agree'd. Aside from the fact that they'd already have a massive future with the picks from the draft, the concessions really seem like overkill.

 

[Daytripper]

Agree'd. Aside from the fact that they'd already have a massive future with the picks from the draft, the concessions really seem like overkill.

If you look at the 17yo's taken by clubs the past few years not many of them have gone on to be world beaters.

For example Essendon has taken Kyle Reimers and Michael Still as its last two bottom ages and one has already been delisted whilst the other is just so-so as a player.

Just because they're young, doesn't mean they will be good.

 

[Coathanger]

I don't understand why the GC can sign a whole bunch of 17 year olds, sign uncontracted players and then be given a whole bunch of picks. Why couldnt they just have had the second two? They would still be a good team.

It's bullshit.

I guess as they haven't played yet, they can't TANK for three years to get these picks can they?

 

[Offsider]

Yeah I mean its not like Cotchin, Dangerfield, Sidebottom, Watts, Delideo, Franklin, Roughead, Ryder, Pendlebury, and Higgins are any good are they???

Although that may be over 4 years but there will be some super players in that lot bookmark it.

People are tallking about Josh Toy being almost as good as Swallow, Weller being a top 5 pick, McKenzie is top 10 talent easy and the list goes on.

It does look a good deep draft and the top 50 are all likely types with good futures.

 

[Tas]

Yeah I mean its not like Cotchin, Dangerfield, Sidebottom, Watts, Delideo, Franklin, Roughead, Ryder, Pendlebury, and Higgins are any good are they???

Although that may be over 4 years but there will be some super players in that lot bookmark it.

People are tallking about Josh Toy being almost as good as Swallow, Weller being a top 5 pick, McKenzie is top 10 talent easy and the list goes on.

It does look a good deep draft and the top 50 are all likely types with good futures.

A lot of them will be starved of opportunity, there are only so many mids you can realistically play and develop to their potential. They will likely lose a fair few top class players after their first contract and they would expect that and not be too phased as they will get compensated and it will give them a better spread age-wise.

 

[tigers_of_old_08]

I just cant believe that all the clubs agreed to the GC concessions. WTF.

 

[WALL-e]

I just cant believe that all the clubs agreed to the GC concessions. WTF.

While this is the bottom line, clubs weren't jumping at saying yes, but knew they had to fill players somehow, and as the 16 current clubs owned the entire current AFL talent base (at the time) they didn't like what would have been forced, uncompensated stripping of players from their team.

Our head of recruitment has been quite vocal in his dissaproval of the concessions for some time.

I'm sure AD knows what he's doing, they're meant to be successful.

 

[Pharaoh]

It must have been a tough juggling act for the AFL to guess how many draft picks and concessions would be sufficient to build a competitive AFL team.

I have a feeling they have got the balance wrong and have given the Gold Coast way too many benefits - particularly the stupid loophole that allowed them to trade uncontracted players and juniors to other clubs for yet more draft picks in future years. Now they are obliged to give GWS the same thing.

These concessions could really ruin the balance of the competition in a few years' time and many clubs may struggle to compete for the next 10 years.

 

[morebeer]

If you look at the 17yo's taken by clubs the past few years not many of them have gone on to be world beaters.

For example Essendon has taken Kyle Reimers and Michael Still as its last two bottom ages and one has already been delisted whilst the other is just so-so as a player.

Just because they're young, doesn't mean they will be good.

Did you read the OP? They are commenting on expert view of this years draft. Who said that they would be good because they are young?

Still and Reimers were drafted under different circumstances than Gold Coasts kids such as Toy and Weller. They were both relatively late, speculative picks.

 

[Reg Hickey]

I don't understand why the GC can sign a whole bunch of 17 year olds, sign uncontracted players and then be given a whole bunch of picks. Why couldnt they just have had the second two? They would still be a good team.

It's bullshit.

It's simple. The AFL wants both GC and GWS to win at least one and preferably 2-3 flags inside this decade, to build ground-level supporter bases for those clubs and set them up for long term success.

The existing clubs already have strong supporter bases (for the most part), so the AFL figures it can afford to burn them for a few years without doing too much permanent damage to the level of support in the heartlands for both the clubs and the game in general.

And you know what? They're absolutely right. GC and GWS will win their flags while the rest of us waste our time whingeing and sooking about it, but in 10-15 years' time we'll still support our clubs, we'll still buy our memberships and we'll still go to the 'G to watch our boys. And the game nationally will be much the stronger for it.

 

[Scootyb]

Damn you gc, damn you to hell

 

[Flashhh]

I highly doubt Josh Toy would have been pick one or two, but each to their own.

 

[fremantlefcfan]

I disagree, Josh Toy would almost definitely been pick 1, perhaps pick 2 because of the great year that David Swallow had.
Such a great draft to establish a team on.

 

[WCE_phil]

I disagree, Josh Toy would almost definitely been pick 1, perhaps pick 2 because of the great year that David Swallow had.
Such a great draft to establish a team on.

Almost definitely. Oh ****ing really. There is a train of thought that swallow is the best draft prospect in the last 10 years. For someone to be significantly better to the point they they would almost definitely go beforehand is a tad daft

 

[fremantlefcfan]

Almost definitely. Oh ****ing really. There is a train of thought that swallow is the best draft prospect in the last 10 years. For someone to be significantly better to the point they they would almost definitely go beforehand is a tad daft

You obviously didn't follow the players development before this year, I didn't say he was significantly better either. Both are great players and will be stars.

It is crazy to think that he has escaped all the hype because he signed that year earlier, obviously was going to happen though.

Toy only played the 4 games this year compared to the 15 that Swallow played.
I think that if Toy had played more, his hype would be just as high.
Swallow is obviously a deserving number 1 pick.

Don't think someone like Harley Bennell would have been able to take the pressure.

I guess it really doesn't matter what the order for the top 3 is this year, they're all going to the same club.

 

[mehow2g]

Matera pick 3...

 

[Juddernaut33]

really will be anti gold coast for a very long time. Just given a premiership

 

[Daytripper]

Did you read the OP? They are commenting on expert view of this years draft. Who said that they would be good because they are young?

Still and Reimers were drafted under different circumstances than Gold Coasts kids such as Toy and Weller. They were both relatively late, speculative picks.

Every club can choose one 17yo (if they want) and Still and Reimers were Essendon's choices. Its not different at all really to Toy, Weller etc.

People are panicking unnecessarily IMO. A lot of these drafted kids will not make it. Most clubs have the same amount of first rounders on their books as what Gold Coast will. The difference being is that GC will have them all at the same age.

As for the experts views of this draft. I'm sorry, I read the same thing every year. "This draft is the best ever."
"The No 1 pick is the best in the last 10 years."
"This draft has the most depth ever."

Its in people like the recruiters, Kevin Sheehan and journos like Quayle's best interests to talk players up. Do you think player managers would be allowing Emma access to their young players for interviews if she slammed them and said they couldn't play?

And thats not a slight on Emma either. She does a fantastic job and is super knowledgeable.

Ditto for recruiters and Kevin Sheehan. If Shifter came out and said this was the worst group in 10 years, you'd think his bosses at the AFL would be asking him WTF he has been doing then.

best way to get perspective is to look at where players are now from previous drafts. As I said, al lot of the 17yo's don't make it. Far more than do make it. And not all top 10 picks are guaranteed, sure fire superstars. Most go on to just be average players like your Farren Ray's etc.

 

[fremantlefcfan]

You're exactly right, I'm sure some of the young gold coast boys would realise that it's not going to be easy for them to get a game either. The players who were struggling to get a game in the VFL side will almost have no chance of getting a game in their Senior side.

Will be interesting to see what trades are made in a few years, since there will be talented players not getting a game.