Draft talk for 2009

[Bloods05]

People always assume Roosy is playing games. He always seems pretty straightforward and honest to me. I think that's what confounds people, because it's such a rare quality.

[SimonH]

Roos says it's Rohan at 6, and is confident he'll slip to us.

However, never underestimate his ability to play a li'l game with the media. The fact that he's gone public with this suggests one of two things:
a) He really does have reliable information to suggest that the Roos and Freo are locked in.
b) He rates one of Morabito or Cunnington (I expect the former) significantly higher than Rohan, and so is playing a 'go on-- I dare ya!' double-bluff game, probably with Freo.

Remember that we offered Richmond picks 6 and 14 in exchange for 3. You wouldn't do that in the abstract (wouldn't make sense if the player you'd get at 6 would be even reasonably similar in quality to the one you'd get at 3). The offer can only mean that we regarded a particular player (presumably Martin and/or Morabito) well above the range of players we expected would be available at 6.

[mocaholic]

The Minister for War & Finance ...

Hmmm...I like that term, but imho the best - and most apt - is "The Leader of the Opposition".

It'd be great to have a Speaker to shout "order, order" when TLOTO starts making baseless attacks (or worse, attacks with solid basis) on me (ie, the PM), or requests a policy / procedure change, or wants funding for their specific electorate, or - even worse - threatens to block supply!

It depends I guess on whether TLOTO has a supportive upper house. I end up having to do a bit of pork-barrelling.

[Big Al]

Enjoy the night,

The Minister for War & Finance in my region wont be in parliament tonight. Backbenchers will also be out, so I've got the TV to myself. Heaven.

I'm the leader of the Democrats so I've got the house to myself with no chance of interruptions.

[Doctor J.]

Yep.

The Minister for War and Finance had to visit the dentist this morning, so I had to drive her to the train station afterwards so she could go to work because the parking options at that time would be zero.

She told me she'll call me when she is nearing the station from the train so I can go and pick her up.

"What time?" said I

"Whenever" said she

"Well I will be sitting my ass in front of the TV to watch the draft between 6:30 and 8, so u better work around it"

She then gave me the 'you gotta be joking?' look.

I countered with the 'do I bloody well look like I'm joking?' look.

She just called to say she'll be home by 6.

Enjoy the night,

The Minister for War & Finance in my region wont be in parliament tonight. Backbenchers will also be out, so I've got the TV to myself. Heaven.

[707]

and she's thinking "a footy draft is that important? but he looks serious so I'd better get home by 6 or he may not answer my pick up phone call after 6.30"

Latest mail on the AFL site could see both Lucas and Jetta being available at pick 14, what a dilemma that would be. Think I'd go the father-son option with Lucas.

[Triple B]

Looks a fascinating and exciting evening coming up.

Yep.

The Minister for War and Finance had to visit the dentist this morning, so I had to drive her to the train station afterwards so she could go to work because the parking options at that time would be zero.

She told me she'll call me when she is nearing the station from the train so I can go and pick her up.

"What time?" said I

"Whenever" said she

"Well I will be sitting my ass in front of the TV to watch the draft between 6:30 and 8, so u better work around it"

She then gave me the 'you gotta be joking?' look.

I countered with the 'do I bloody well look like I'm joking?' look.

She just called to say she'll be home by 6.

[caj23]

Not a prediction but more of a wish list based on who might reasonably be expected to be around at various picks. And it's based more on combinations of type of player rather than indviduals themselves, given I've seen nothing more than few highlights reels.

6 Rohan
14 Stevens or Bastinac

OR

6 Cunnington
14 Jetta or Moore (Very different types of player but if we've taken a "pure mid" with pick 6, then it would be good to get a less mainstream player at 14)

Then

38 Grimes or Shaw or Reid
54 Tutt or Hooper (Andrew)
55 A "utility" like Dea or Michael Barlow

If someone like Black or Talia is available at 14, would be good to get them under either scenario. But I suspect both will be gone.

And I really hope we don't get JMP at 14. He may be a good prospect but I think we have half-back flankers coming out of our ears (including a number of developing, unproven players for whom that appears to be the most logical position - like Heath, Gilchrist, new Irish bloke). Even if none of the unproven ones turns out any good, in any draft there are normally a good number of outside, athletic, quickish players with decent kicks for whom HBF is the most realistic position so we can always get more of this type in the future. With later pick I wouldn't care if we got him but at 14 I hope we'll pick someone who might fill a "harder to fill" or "more pressing need" position.

I couldn't agree more with your post Liz, although I'd like to pick another tall at 54 and hope Tutt or Hooper fall to the rookie draft (Tutt we would have a free hit at as a NSW/Canberra boy, and Hooper seems likely to be taken there)

[707]

Looks a fascinating and exciting evening coming up.

Hard to fathom that Jetta looked fairly firm with Weagles at pick 7 but if they don't take him then he could slip all the way to us at pick 14. Just like having picks 6 & 7!

Panos has some serious upside to him as he's only taken up footy seriously last year. He is a good mark and beautiful kick. Another tall forward is needed and I for one would be very happy if he is still there at pick 38 because I don't think he will be at pick 54.

[eggbeater]

Emma Quayle's First Round Prediction:
First Round Predictions

1. Scully
2. Trengove
3. Martin
4. Morabito
5. Cunnington
6. Rohan
7. Sheppard
8. Butcher
9. Melksham
10. Lucas
11. Talia
12. Black
13. Mcmillan-pittard
14. Jetta
15. Moore
16. Vardy
17. Menzel

[Primmy]

Gary Rohan eyes No 4 spot in national AFL draft | Herald Sun

Rohan's Rooster Story.

If we do draft him I hope that's the photo they use for his profile.

I agree with you Hell. Also, from a fashion sense, Rohan in our red jumper.....make your eyes water. Guaranteed to startle the opposition.

[Bloody Hell]

Gary Rohan eyes No 4 spot in national AFL draft | Herald Sun

Rohan's Rooster Story.

If we do draft him I hope that's the photo they use for his profile.

[liz]

I was delighted (and pretty flabbergasted) by this one, simply because most of the mock experts, at least until a few weeks back, had Panos going borderline first round, and certainly no later than the 20s. It's hard to think of a single list in the AFL where you think, 'geez, they just have too many quality tall forwards' (could have been Brisbane, but isn't!), and plenty where you can say the reverse. Indeed, a lack of 'em has clearly cost at least one club a flag (West Coast 2005).

We'll have to wait and see where Panos actually goes, but there seem to be a few Grundy-parallels. He was touted earlyish as a teens pick, his stocks dropped a bit (in the public eye) as the draft approached, and he made it all the way through to the latter rounds of the rookie draft.

He's taken a bit of time but he's proven himself to be, at worst, a capable AFL player. I suspect he's outperformed many of those actually taken in the teens of that year's ND.

[ugg]

Roos pretty much says we'll take Rohan if he's there at 6.

Sydney Swans look set to pick up Gary Rohan in AFL draft | The Daily Telegraph

[SimonH]

Matt Burgan has us taking Rohan with pick 6, JMP with 14, Crichton with 38, Panos at 54 and Barlow at 55.

Panos is a tall forward so I don't think we need him. ...

I was delighted (and pretty flabbergasted) by this one, simply because most of the mock experts, at least until a few weeks back, had Panos going borderline first round, and certainly no later than the 20s. It's hard to think of a single list in the AFL where you think, 'geez, they just have too many quality tall forwards' (could have been Brisbane, but isn't!), and plenty where you can say the reverse. Indeed, a lack of 'em has clearly cost at least one club a flag (West Coast 2005).

So I'd be very happy to take him; let's be frank, White remains a project with a lot of potential (that dreaded word), and no-one yet knows whether Lewis Johnstone's AFL career will exceed even Ryan Fitzgerald's. We don't have too many tall forwards on our list.

As far as I can guess, Panos' stocks would have dropped because he's seen as too much of an old-school lead-mark-kick forward. But he's the best in the draft at doing what he does (hence being AA U/18 full forward) and his athleticism and ability to go upfield is by no means terrible. At the ND, it's more about your ability to learn, develop and improve, than what you've achieved to date in your career, anyway. Bloody good value if he makes it to 54, for mine.