Game Day The 2024 Draft Day Thread

[Keys]

Draft Day is here

Unlike last year when the excitement of adding No.1 pick Harley Reid to our list was palpable (and also near certain), this draft is uncertain and viewed with equal parts excitement and trepidation

We go into the first night with pick 12, which is expected to slide to 15 after academy and Father Son selections and a lot of guesswork on who we’ll take. Or even if we actually use that pick with rumours circulating that we might trade up or back

Night two we have pick 26 (subject to change) along with a gaggle of late picks. Again, there’s the possibility of trading into the draft with another pick using one of our later future picks and even less certainty on who we might pick

The one near guarantee is that NGA product, Malakai Champion, will be an Eagle at some point over the next couple of days

So sit back and watch to see how the draft unfolds whilst praying we don’t do something stupid

 

[JoshWoodenSpoon]

Like Grego's clean hands off the deck, has no problem picking up the footy even under duress.

 

[Ace McKane]

Seems more and more like it's all in for Warner next year. Drafting a midfield and half back line full of grunts, with Warner to be the polish on top. Guys like Reid and Hewett to keep the polish through the midfield. Chesser might find himself in a more suitable role.

Clever draft strategy, creating pick 46 for free and a pretty handy get at 44. Hopefully it pays off for us.

 

[Happy Mastenator]

So will Champion be our next and last pic?

Not necessarily. Don’t have to take him as then. We could take someone else and then take him even later (think we can rookie/cat b him)

 

[Icanwalk]

Plus, we have enough classy players who go to water when the pressure ramps up. Good to have some tough campaigners that will dig in when the game is on the line.

Who? Maric is our best field kick of the next gen, and he's a KP-sized player picked in the MSD. Johnston? No class or skills across any line in the side as far as I can see

 

[bzparkes]

Yes was trying to come up with someone and Baker is a great comparison.
We are going to play quick footy and that’s exciting. Be mistakes a plenty while we get it burnt into our DNA but the end product could be exciting as hell.

Big, fast and powerful making mistakes whilst learning the pace of the game is much better to watch than slow, small and easily pushed off the ball, that's for sure.

 

[Elite Pete]

I got told today that if we passed on a pick (on the hope Champion goes onto our Bat B list as undrafted) that we can’t trade back in and match if someone bids on him? Hard spot to be in if true

 

[pantskyle]

Think Urquhart might get taken by North.

 

[BrotherDodge]

We won't be bullied, that's for sure.

Reid's probably going to be our 'smallest' FT mid

"Just saying, Harley, if you demand a trade home you'll have to play against these guys and they'll be very pissed off."

 

[random260]

If the game plan is to protect harley reid with bulls then okay it may work. But they can't be timid

 

[Mr Q]

Not necessarily. Don’t have to take him as then. We could take someone else and then take him even later

I think if he's not bid on, we can take him as a Cat-B rookie, which you definitely would do.

I'd like to keep a spot on the list for a SSP player (even Burgiel getting another go)

 

[greatwhiteshark]

Big, fast and powerful making mistakes whilst learning the pace of the game is much better to watch than slow, small and easily pushed off the ball, that's for sure.

Spot on mate

 

[LewyBroome]

Love the Greggo pick!

 

[Happy Mastenator]

I got told today that if we passed on a pick (on the hope Champion goes onto our Bat B list as undrafted) that we can’t trade back in and match if someone bids on him? Hard spot to be in if true

We have a few picks remaining. Normally don’t use them

 

[TerryFilk]

Pretty happy with our haul but I don’t like how the draft / recruiting team seemingly don’t value players with skill and good ball use

 

[Happy Mastenator]

Can we get a love YouTube feed of training? Going to be a royal rumble out there

 

[greatwhiteshark]

If the game plan is to protect harley reid with bulls then okay it may work. But they can't be timid

It will be to add to Harley not to protect him. Develop good players with Harley and they all can flourish .

 

[Keys]

We have 3 list spots left, one of which has to be a rookie

Can take another pick and still draft Champion if we want

 

[MeltMan]

Grego has a nails background. Hard as rugby.

Rugby background better than basketball background?

 

[Coasters7]

Big, fast and powerful making mistakes whilst learning the pace of the game is much better to watch than slow, small and easily pushed off the ball, that's for sure.

We shouldn’t have many problems winning the ball. Keeping it may need working on as well as kicking in transition.

 

[Happy Mastenator]

Hamish Davis still available right?

 

[bzparkes]

Pretty happy with our haul but I don’t like how the draft / recruiting team seemingly don’t value players with skill and good ball use

It's not that they wouldn't value it, it's more so that they want to draft players who complement McQualter's game plan.

Club's done enough trying to fit square pegs into round holes, it's how we ended up with players like Brander, Ainsworth, etc.

 

[LewyBroome]

We’ve done really well from pick 30 onwards, Greggo and Shanahan are steals imo

 

[Crimson King]

Who? Maric is our best field kick of the next gen, and he's a KP-sized player picked in the MSD. Johnston? No class or skills across any line in the side as far as I can see

Err, I wasn't talking about our future prospects/young players.

 

[Keys]

I think if he's not bid on, we can take him as a Cat-B rookie, which you definitely would do.

I'd like to keep a spot on the list for a SSP player (even Burgiel getting another go)

We have no Cat B spots available

Draft him or take him with pick 3 in the rookie draft

 

[Proeagle]

Pretty happy with our haul but I don’t like how the draft / recruiting team seemingly don’t value players with skill and good ball use

Richmond chaos ball coming up